tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745487810274778462023-11-15T06:03:39.165-08:00Non-fiction Book Club - Wingate NCA forum for discussion for members of the non-fiction book club in Wingate, NCPastor Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798749256919213100noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-32346614766570971302013-06-01T19:03:00.001-07:002013-06-01T19:05:13.912-07:00The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21996.The_Devil_in_the_White_City" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312066724m/21996.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21996.The_Devil_in_the_White_City">The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5869.Erik_Larson">Erik Larson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/594391342">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America chronicles the building of the “White City” of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893, also called the Chicago World’s Fair. The Exposition was held to commemorate the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America. Over 27 million people attended the Exposition which covered 600 acres and included almost 200 new buildings, all in a neo-Classical style and painted white. Hence, the name, the “White City.” Parallel to the story of the Fair, Larsen details the life of H. H. Holmes a serial killer operating at the same time.<br />
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First and foremost, this is a history book. The bulk of the story revolves around the Exposition, also called the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, and takes you from the decision to hold the Fair at Chicago to its conclusion. The main character in this part of the story is Daniel Burnham, the architect who is responsible for overseeing its development. At stake is the reputation of Chicago as a city that can compete with New York City. <br />
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In the process, Burnham deals with some of the biggest names in architecture for the era including George B. Post, Charles McKim, and Richard M. Hunt, all from the east coast, which adds fuel to the fire of rivalry between New York and Chicago. Frederick Law Olmsted appears frequently. Often referred to as the “Father of Landscape Architecture,” Olmsted is known for his design of Central Park in New York City and the Biltmore House grounds in Asheville, NC. <br />
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But development of the fair isn’t all about architecture. You need engineers, construction crews, interior designers, and exhibits. The stories and people Larson tells us about add color and charm to the book. For example, Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show was rejected as an exhibit, but Cody got around this rejection and made far more money than he would have had he been included. Sol Bloom’s exhibit idea was also rejected. When he took another approach, he ended up being responsible for the design and management of the Midway Plaisance. It was so successful that we still call the exhibit area of fairs the “Midway.” Oh and Bloom was only 23 at the time. <br />
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Other people you will encounter include George Ferris (as in Ferris Wheel), Harriet Monroe, Annie Oakley, Susan B. Anthony, Theodore Dreiser, Clarence Darrow, George Westinghouse, and Thomas Edison. It was a time of dramatic change in the country and the fair exemplified it. <br />
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The parallel story told by Larson is that of H. H. Holmes, serial killer. Holmes takes advantage of the coming Exposition to establish a business and build a cheap hotel. He is also a con man who avoids creditors through the use of aliases and his ample charm. The way he avoids suspicion and deals with it when it occurs is fascinating. He also has special needs for his chosen modus operandi as well as accomplice help. Larsen details all of this. He does take some liberties in describing Holmes’s murders, but he documents his choices and sources nicely in the notes and Epilogue. <br />
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All of this takes place against a backdrop of turmoil in the country. The Panic of 1893, the worst until the Great Depression, makes the success of the Exposition questionable and financial choices critical. It also brings hundreds of unemployed people to the city looking for work during a time when labor concerns and disputes were prominent. <br />
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Larson weaves all of this together beautifully and wraps the book up with a look at how the Exposition made an impact on the country overall. If you’re looking for a true crime book, you might be disappointed. Although true crime is definitely an element, in spite of the title, I don’t think it is the main focus of the book. If instead you are looking for a history book about Gilded Age America with a lot of interesting people and color, I think you’ll enjoy it. I certainly did. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5923433-susan-ozmore">View all my reviews</a>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-53256370874127339172012-05-31T07:34:00.000-07:002012-05-31T07:35:18.051-07:00May Catch UpWell <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Broker-Robert-Moses/dp/0394720245/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338474107&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Power Broker</a></i> by Robert A. Caro proved to be too much for one month. That wasn't really a surprise. It is excellent reading however, interesting and nicely paced. I haven't made nearly the progress that I wanted to. I've been distracted by my women's history blog which I love writing for.<br />
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A friend from times long past has joined me in writing for it. She is very enthusiastic which has encouraged me to write at a faster rate than I have in the past. Her name is Susan as well and her expertise is in European royalty, primarily British royalty. Susan's expertise is much more extensive than mine. She majored in history and has continued to read everything she could get her hands on about the areas that interested her. Unlike moi, who took a detour into STEM. People seem much more interested in reading about her queens than my mathematicians and scientists. Go figure!<br />
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While I continue through <i>The Power Broker</i>, I am reading a couple of other things that you might find interesting: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Other-Powers-Suffrage-Spiritualism-Scandalous/dp/B0058M9AK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338474450&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>Other Powers: The Age of Suffrage, Spiritualism, and the Scandalous Victoria Woodhull</i></a> by Barbara Goldsmith, which I've read before, but am rereading while I start a blog series on women's suffrage, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-The-Lives-Americas-Suffragists/dp/0809087030/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338474556&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><i>Sisters: The Lives of America's Suffragists</i></a> by Jean H. Baker about five of the women who were instrumental in American women getting the vote (Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frances Willard, Alice Paul.) I just got it, but am very excited about reading. <br />
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Well, I have a lot of reading to do! What are you reading?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-55246117941310650412012-05-01T11:55:00.000-07:002012-05-01T11:59:44.069-07:00Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11084145-steve-jobs" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Steve Jobs" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327861368m/11084145.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11084145-steve-jobs">Steve Jobs</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7111.Walter_Isaacson">Walter Isaacson</a><br />
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I'm not a technophobe or a "gadget geek" as I call a friend of mine. I use technology when it suits my needs, but don't feel the need to run out and get the latest, sexiest new device. That may explain why I've always been a PC gal, but the people I know who have Apple products love them. <br />
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Steve Jobs was a genius at combining technology with artistry, which was one of his goals along with building a great company. This is also a somewhat simplistic statement. Jobs' goals, along with the man himself, were complex. From his feelings about being adopted to his abandonment of his own daughter, from his refusal to work with anything less than "A players" to his "reality distortion field", Isaacson does a superb job of walking us through the complexities of the life and accomplishments of the man behind Apple and Pixar. <br />
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I am old enough to have taken Fortran IV and used keypunch cards to submit my programs, so I remember when Apple computers were first introduced and the fierce debates between PC and Apple fans over the years. However, I have not followed the career of Jobs, so much of the book was new to me. If you follow technology news closely, I suggest that you read a number of reviews before buying the book. If you are looking for a rundown of events, or a history of Jobs' companies and the technology, you might be disappointed. If you read biographies for a look inside the person, to try to understand what makes them tick, their admirable and non-so-admirable traits, and what contributed to their success, I don't think you will be disappointed. I wasn't. <br />
<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-23591931796218604222012-04-28T23:10:00.000-07:002012-05-01T11:58:49.187-07:00May's Mammoth TomeWell, April is basically done and so is the Steve Jobs biography. I'll write a review soon, but it was a good book and I enjoyed it. Isaacson is an excellent author. We've selected the book for May - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Broker-Robert-Moses/dp/0394720245/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335898668&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>The Power Broker</i> </a>by Robert A. Caro. It won a Pulitzer and Francis Parkman prize and is considered a must read. The book is on at least one "One Hundred Best Books of the Century" list. So it comes highly recommended, but whoa! The book's over 1100 pages long excluding the photos and the notes!<br />
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Now don't get me wrong. I love a good, big book and we certainly haven't shied away from reading them for the book club, but it's May. May means that the grass has to be cut, bushes have to be pruned, and the battle with the ivy and wisteria has commenced. I guess it's commendable that we make our selection based on the merits of the book, and I didn't pay any attention to the length until I picked up the box from Amazon on my front porch. (This book is definitely not made of lightweight recycled paper.)<br />
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Nevertheless, this is our selection. We have been known to extend a book through two months when necessary, but I'm going to give it my best shot. Who knows it may be worth every minute that I spend on it. I'll let you know how it goes. If you're up for the challenge, don't be afraid. Even though Carolyn and I are both former teachers, there are no tests at the end of the month!Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-15186096157949816262012-04-23T21:51:00.000-07:002012-04-29T23:03:29.342-07:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6966823-the-shallows" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1264537321m/6966823.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6966823-the-shallows">The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/151353.Nicholas_G_Carr">Nicholas G. Carr</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/317854486">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I really enjoyed this book. It includes a little for everyone who enjoys non-fiction. Carr goes into the history of different media and how they changed society, such as the written word, printing press, TV, etc. This sets the stage for how the internet is affecting us. <br />
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There is good news and not so good news. It seems that use of the internet is very distracting (as if we needed to be told that.) But it's not just distracting us from the rest of our lives, but distracting us while we are surfing. There are so many links, ads, banners, etc. that we are getting better at multitasking and filtering out what is important. But imagine this - You're sitting in a comfortable chair with a good cup of coffee or tea. It's raining softly, maybe a little chilly, and you're sitting there with a soft afghan and one of your favorite books. You quickly get absorbed into the book. Well apparently frequent surfing on the web can decrease our ability to think deeply about what we are reading. <br />
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Carr goes into the science of how our brains work, how memory works, and what it takes to hold knowledge in our working memory. He cites many different studies that show our ability to comprehend information that we read decreases in proportion to the number of links and distractions in our material. But this inability to concentrate carries over to reading off of the internet. <br />
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The internet is here to stay and we have to make adjustments. When reading material became easily accessible to the general public, the need to memorize knowledge was lessened. Eventually, educators began requiring less memorization which actually decreased our ability to memorize. Now with information at the touch of our fingertips, we are keeping even less information in our working memories. This is no problem for things that are not required for critical thinking, such as logarithms or functions that a calculator could perform for you. But for example, when evaluating current political events in light of historical events, you need to remember the things you've learned. <br />
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It's obviously more complicated that this, so I would recommend reading the book for yourself. It's readable and full of interesting information both historical and scientific, which of course made it perfect for me.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5923433-susan">View all my reviews</a>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-10102874519728828012012-04-10T14:48:00.001-07:002012-04-10T14:48:28.144-07:00Catching Up - New Books and SuchIt's been a busy couple of months with spring and the Lenten/Easter season. Carolyn's yard is beautiful and well manicured. Mine is not, but a wonderful friend from church is helping me get a handle on the ivy and wisteria that have taken control, so I have hopes of being able to keep up this year after it's tamed. We are still reading though, in spite of my neglect of the blog.<br />
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For March we read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Path-Between-Seas-1870-1914/dp/0671244094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334091804&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>The Path Between the Seas</i></a> by David McCullough about the building of the Panama Canal. It was a feat that had a huge impact on the world by uniting the 2 great oceans. There was so much more to the story than I knew including scandal, civil and criminal court trials, conquering disease, and of course a lot of political maneuvering behind the scenes. The story spans 50 years and includes the monumental effort of both France and the US, not to mention countless West Indians who gave their back breaking labor and often their lives. McCullough is a master story teller and this book did not disappoint.<br />
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For the month of April we are reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648537/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334092620&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>Steve Jobs</i></a> by Walter Isaacson. I'm about halfway through and enjoying it. Jobs is definitely an interesting person and Isaacson is an wonderful author. The combination makes for an excellent book. I will say this though, I knew very little about Steve Jobs before beginning the book beyond who he was. If you are well versed in his life and career, you may want to read a number of reviews before buying it. I rarely read biographies of contemporary people and it is interesting recalling the "old" days of key punch cards and personal computers with 128k of memory.<br />
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We are meeting on April 27 this month, so you still have time to pick up the book and join us if you like. The more the merrier!<br />
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-43344830141964372182012-01-28T00:30:00.000-08:002012-01-28T00:34:44.448-08:00February BookAs usual we had a great time last night at book club. We are finally finished with Team of Rivals and moving on to a little science. Our book for February is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shallows-What-Internet-Doing-Brains/dp/0393339750/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327739301&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains</i></a> by Nicholas Carr. Should be interesting. Hope you'll consider joining us.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-23355029834115871862011-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:002011-12-19T00:39:37.688-08:00We Wait You - A Book Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5377454-we-wait-you" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="We Wait You" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255797054m/5377454.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5377454-we-wait-you">We Wait You</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2315376.Taryn_R_Hutchison">Taryn R. Hutchison</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/248433575">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Taryn Hutchinson goes to Eastern Europe after the fall of communism with Campus Crusade for Christ. In this memoir she recounts her life there over a period of ten years. Ultimately, what began as a short one year mission trip became a life choice that changed her outlook on life and her feeling of belonging in the world.<br />
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Hutchinson began her life as a foreign missionary in Eastern Europe in Romania as a "college student" studying the Romanian language. She and her colleagues ministered to the other college students. As Romania became more open, they were able to be more forthcoming about their intentions in the country and openly minister to students and their neighbors. She does an excellent job describing the living conditions in this newly free country and the openness of the people there.<br />
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After a couple of years in Romania and in Hungary, Hutchinson takes on a more supervisory role and begins to work with staff and volunteers in the other Eastern European countries. She weaves in information about the history of the region, the living conditions in each country, the varying receptions they received from the people, as well as more personal information. She doesn't shy away from describing her own difficulties in dealing with the lack of basic necessities or the spiritual struggles she experienced.<br />
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At the end of 10 years there with only short trips home to see family and connect with sponsors, she returns to live in the US. The transition is not an easy one. Life in Eastern Europe has changed her. Returning in 2000, she has missed the 1990s and has to adjust to many new things. Most of the people she knows don't understand her perspective, and she often feels like she doesn't belong in either world. She takes the reader on this personal journey of reintegrating into life in the US.<br />
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This book is on the recommended reading list for the United Methodist Women for 2012. I picked it up because I have always been interested in Eastern Europe. I was not disappointed. The book is funny, sad, sometimes a little scary, and very informative. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the area or in mission work.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-82930877090449300002011-12-04T20:41:00.001-08:002011-12-18T06:53:08.303-08:00A Jerusalem Memoir - A Book Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1240815.It_s_Easier_to_Reach_Heaven_Than_the_End_of_the_Street" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="It's Easier to Reach Heaven Than the End of the Street: A Jerusalem Memoir" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182184409m/1240815.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1240815.It_s_Easier_to_Reach_Heaven_Than_the_End_of_the_Street">It's Easier to Reach Heaven Than the End of the Street: A Jerusalem Memoir</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/599712.Emma_Williams">Emma Williams</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/242462643">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Emma Williams' memoir of her time living in Israel is an important book to read if you want to understand the nuances of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Williams and her family moved to Israel just prior to the beginning of the second Intifada in August, 2000. Her husband works for the UN; she is a doctor who tries to work and provide some normalcy for her 3 children and a 4th born in Bethlehem. They live in Jerusalem in a village with one Jewish family and an extended Palestinian family. <br />
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Throughout the book Williams weaves personal stories and events with the bigger picture of the struggle between Jews and Palestinians. She is in a unique position to develop friends and colleagues on both sides of the issue and tries to convey the fears, desires, and attempts to maintain daily life on both sides. She is also open about her own attempts to understand and how difficult it is at times to face the reality. She quotes frequently from conversations with journalists, soldiers, politicians, and ordinary people. Keeping close and frequent communications with friends and family in the US and Britain, she is also able to compare what appears in the press in those countries with what is happening in the country. We definitely don't see the entire picture here.<br />
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The Williams lived in Israel until 2003, just before the invasion of Iraq, when her husband was transferred to another country. She continued to visit frequently through 2006 when the book was first published in Britain. The edition I read was an updated edition published in the United States in 2010. <br />
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It isn't necessarily an easy book to read. It's beautifully written, but the reality is harsh. As with any emotion packed issue, there are people on both sides of the issue who have extreme views, but also people on both sides who above all else want peace. I get the feeling that this is a situation that is almost impossible to understand unless you've lived with it. For that reason, this is an important book to read, especially if you think that you understand the issues you owe it to yourself to read this. It might give you a different perspective or at least a more in depth understanding of the situation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5923433-susan">View all my reviews on Goodreads</a>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-28392539219088153282011-11-24T15:20:00.001-08:002011-11-24T15:43:15.390-08:00December Book Club meetingDon't forget the book club meets on Friday Dec 2 at 6:00 pm at Tokyo Bistro in Wingate. We are discussing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322176990&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln</a> by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Don't worry if you haven't read or finished the book, I'm not finished either. It's good and flows nicely, so it's easy to read, but it is long. After this meeting we won't meet again until the last Friday in January. <br />
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I got sidetracked by a book for the UMW Reading Plan <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easier-Reach-Heaven-Than-Street/dp/1566567890/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322177098&sr=1-1" target="_blank">It's Easier to Reach Heaven Than the End of the Street: A Jerusalem Memoir</a> by Emma Williams. Emma Williams is a doctor who moved to Israel in 2000 with her husband and three children. Her husband worked for the UN. They were there during the second Intifada living in a village in Jerusalem that was home to a Jewish family and an extended Palestinian family. She made both Israeli and Palestinian friends during her time there and began writing news articles to send home. In this book she provides a unique insight to both sides of the ongoing conflict. I'm not finished with it yet, but hopefully I'll have it back on the shelf at the church soon, so that others can read it. <br />
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If you're interested in American History, or just good conversation, please consider joining us next Friday.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-40365389007156349092011-11-06T10:44:00.000-08:002011-11-06T10:44:49.686-08:00November Book and MeetingJust a reminder, our November book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320604406&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln</a> by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's not available on Kindle, but I did find a nice hard back copy at the used book store. This month we will meet on Dec. 2 at Tokyo Bistro in Wingate. Anyone is welcome. Although, to date most of the people attending have been members of our church, anyone is welcome.<br />
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The original intention of the book club was not to be a church book club anyway. I had originally planned to advertise at Waldenbooks, but that's long gone. If anyone else has ideas for how to get the word out that are not church related, please comment. We always skip the last Friday in December because of holiday obligations, which makes our next meeting the last Friday in January. This will give everyone plenty of time to read January's book. We will decide on that book on Dec. 2. If you have any non-fiction ideas, you can leave them as a comment here as well. We are a non-fiction book club, but read a wide range within that genre.<br />
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Happy Reading!Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-38249637782721189502011-10-28T20:28:00.000-07:002011-10-28T20:31:40.448-07:00November MeetingOur November meeting will be in December! We will do the same thing that we have for the last couple of years. Because the last Friday in November is the Friday after Thanksgiving, we will meet on the first Friday of December instead (Dec. 2.) Then we will delay our next meeting until the last Friday in January. This will give us plenty of time to read the next book, hopefully, even with busy holiday schedules.<br />
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Our book for Dec. 2 is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319858549&sr=8-1">Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln</a> by Doris Kearns Goodwin.<br />
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I'm still trying to finish <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-David-Herbert-Donald/dp/068482535X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319858781&sr=1-1">Lincoln</a> by David Herbert Donald, that I wanted to finish first. Better get busy.<br />
Hope you can join us on Dec 2.<br />
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-66657575609992487902011-10-11T02:36:00.000-07:002011-10-11T02:36:55.357-07:00A Woman Among Warlords<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6588979-a-woman-among-warlords" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255740594m/6588979.jpg" /></a><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6588979-a-woman-among-warlords">A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice</a> </b>by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2976466.Malalai_Joya">Malalai Joya</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/219342933">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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First off let me say, there have been 2 versions of this book released. I just bought it for my Kindle last week, so I have the latest edition. I did not find the writing as objectionable as some reviewers have. I'm sure as in most books there are areas where it could be improved, but it was not a distraction to me at all.<br />
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There are many extraordinary men and women in this world and this book is the story of one of them. Although Malalai Joya is a young woman, she has an important story to tell. Born into war-torn Afghanistan, she was fortunate to have a father who was educated and wanted his children to be educated as well - an estimated 80% of Afghan women are illiterate. Her father also instilled in her a love of democracy.<br />
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Malalai Joya is not her real name, but it is the name she goes by in most areas of her life in order to protect her family. Born in 1978, she has never known a time when her country was not at war. In <u>A Woman Among Warlords</u>, Joya describes her life in rural Afghanistan, refugee camps in both Iran and Pakistan, teaching in underground schools for girls, and finally being elected to the new Parliament only to be ejected for speaking out. Her life is constantly in danger, and although she has traveled outside of Afghanistan to speak and carry her message, she won't consider staying out of the country. Love for the real Afghanistan, the people, comes through on every page.<br />
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The book gives a brief history of Afghanistan to fill in background for the current struggle. She speaks knowledgeably about the roles other governments have played in this history and credits the research team who helped her gather this information. I have read several other books about Afghanistan and the facts are consistent with what I've read.<br />
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Although the book carries a message of hope, it is not a feel good book. She conveys a picture of the horrors that the Afghan people have had to endure and is critical of the people who have brought it about. This includes both Afghans such as the warlords and the president Hamid Karzai, but also the former Soviet Union and the current US/NATO occupation. However, just as she is able to distinguish between the Afghan government and the people of Afghanistan, she distinguishes between the people of western countries and their governments. Joya is thankful for being able to carry her message to Europe and the US, and for the help she has received from some western organizations.<br />
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The message could sound hopeless, but she doesn't see it that way. In the last chapter Joya gives suggestions to people who want to help. As an American, I have often wondered how we could leave Afghanistan with so many problems, many of which we caused, knowing that there are so many warring factions. Joya is insistent that, if democracy is to be attained in Afghanistan, it will be because the people secure it for themselves. The message I get from this book is that yes they would like our help, but from a distance. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5923433-susan">View all my reviews</a>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-18730990140163877422011-09-30T17:45:00.000-07:002011-09-30T18:33:12.640-07:00What are you interested in reading?Do you have something that you want to read? Carolyn and I have been the only regulars for a long time and have gotten used to picking things interesting to us, but we are certainly both open to reading a lot of different types of books. So please make suggestions. Hopefully we can decide on a book by the end of October which will give us all time to get ready for the last week in November. Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-31512930293560815182011-09-30T16:17:00.000-07:002011-10-11T02:46:14.535-07:00Eleanor and RooseveltSometimes life just catches up with us and we have to adjust. So, we are currently taking a break from the bookclub. There will be no meeting in October, but I do hope we can resume in November.<br />
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In the mean time what are you reading? I have been reading in the area of US history lately, more specifically about US presidents. Within the last few months I've read biographies of Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, and Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt. They were all books that I pulled off of my bookshelf or my Dad's bookshelf. Both of us have been buying at used book stores at a faster rate than we read for years. My current economic situation has required that I slow my rate of buying and as a consequence I have discovered some gems that I had overlooked.<br />
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One of these is <u>Eleanor and Franklin</u> by Joseph Lash. It was originally published in the 70s and based largely on Eleanor Roosevelt's correspondence. The book is dense, but fascinating. Eleanor is the focus as the author was a long time friend of hers. For this reason, it may be more forgiving than other biographies, but it is well documented. The biography covers the time from her childhood through FDR's death in 1945. You get insight into this fascinating woman who, because of her childhood, began her adult life with an intense desire to please. Where she has a desperate desire to connect intimately with other humans, she marries a man who rarely shares intimacies with anyone and brings with him a very dominating mother. Franklin's father was much older than his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, so when he died, Franklin was her life. She would dominate his life until she died, even to the point of building Eleanor and Franklin a townhouse in New York City next to her own with sliding doors on each floor connecting the two homes.<br />
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In the book, Lash shows how Eleanor evolves through time, gradually freeing herself from the influence of Sara and to a degree from Franklin. By the time they are in the White House, Eleanor has become a force independent of Franklin. The transformation began with her discovery of his affair with Lucy Mercer. Although they stayed together, in many ways Eleanor was set free from that time. She was still his partner in and always sensitive to not wanting to hinder his political success, in fact wanting to enhance it. She kept him in the public eye, after he was struck down by polio, when he couldn't do it himself. <br />
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While FDR was focused on his health, Eleanor began to get involved more and more with politics. She made new friends, learned about social issues, and developed skills in speaking and writing. <u>Eleanor and Franklin</u> tells the story of how Eleanor discovered her own causes, how she influenced FDR, and how she couldn't influence him. She was in many ways an idealist, where he was a realist, but she was also often his conscience. <br />
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Lash has written another book about Eleanor's life, <u>Eleanor: The Years Alone</u>. Fortunately, my Dad has it, so I may have to raid his book shelf again. Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-76089711203936133452011-09-03T08:26:00.002-07:002011-09-03T08:35:36.914-07:00Well, we've neglected this blog for quite a while even though the bookclub is still running. Over the next week or so I'll try to update books we have read, etc. We've dwindled down to 2 or 3 members, but still publish the book to read in the church newsletter each month.
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<br />The fact that only 2 of us are regulars may account for a more narrow selection of books and therefore less interest from others. However, we are definitely open to suggestions from others, so here's your chance. Hopefully with a little prodding we can get some others interested and expand our choices for books over the next few months.
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<br />If you happen to stumble upon this blog and have any suggestions, please leave a comment. We're always open to new ideas.
<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-29221060853425607402010-03-10T10:50:00.000-08:002010-03-10T10:50:15.346-08:00March Selection: Stones Into SchoolsSince everyone loved, "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson, we decided to do the sequel. Carlolyn Lowder has read it and highly recommended it. If you haven't got your copy, Amazon has used ones for pretty cheap. Happy Reading!Pastor Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798749256919213100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-7128983821395289102009-10-06T08:35:00.000-07:002009-10-06T08:40:38.860-07:00The World Is FlatGreat discussion on Ophelia! --missed Susan O. :(<br />This month we are reading: The World is Flat: A brief history of the 21st century by Thomas L. Friedman and for November: Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. Get your copies now and get started reading. Walden Books in the mall has them both and the Borders e-coupon is a 25% off any item---Pastor Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798749256919213100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-53953136569934958462009-09-03T14:13:00.000-07:002009-09-03T14:15:29.359-07:00Father Chacour-"Blood Brothers" will be in CharlotteI just found out thatFather Chacour, author of Blood Brothers, will offer a free lecture at Queens University's Belk Chapel, 1900 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte, on <strong>Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.</strong> He is coming to Charlotte after the Peace Conference at Lake Junaluska.<br />Anyone want to go with me to hear this lecture?Pastor Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798749256919213100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-12579263362351040842009-08-20T10:21:00.001-07:002009-08-20T10:24:44.116-07:00Reviving OpheliaHi all,<br />There has been some confusion about who wrote "Reviving Ophelia." Mary Pipher is the author and Ruth Ross is listed as designer (don't know what that means). There are tons of used copies ($.89+) and new copies ($10+) available at amazon. I'm sure there are copies in the library. IF I can find it, I have an extra copy I usually loan out to others--just don't know if I got it back.Pastor Rhondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798749256919213100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-35856920293341310242009-08-18T07:42:00.000-07:002009-08-18T07:43:08.647-07:00What are you reading this month?Are you reading <em>Blink </em>or <em>Outliers</em> or both?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-2978543104689903132009-08-11T02:53:00.000-07:002009-08-11T02:59:09.811-07:00Choosing October's BookWe need to go ahead and select our book for October. Our list currently contains the following:<br /><br /><em>The World is Flat</em> by Thomas Friedman<br /><em>This is Your Brain on Music</em> by Daniel J. Levitin<br /><em>Musicophilia</em> by Oliver Sacks<br /><em>My Stroke of Insight</em> by Jill Bolte Taylor<br /><em>John Adams</em> by David McCullough<br /><em>Reviving Ophelia</em> by Ruth Ross<br /><br />We want to make sure the title gets in the September newsletter.<br />Any thoughts or anything to add to the list?<br />SusanSusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-76242007747316741222009-07-21T15:34:00.000-07:002009-07-21T15:42:35.669-07:00A Case for Studying HistoryI thought the idea that lack of writing contributed to the fall of the Inca to be fascinating. In Chapter 3 Diamond says that the Incan chief had no experience with previous invaders and no knowledge of invasions from other parts of the world. This included the recent conquest of the Aztecs in Mexico. For this reason, he showed a marked lack of suspicion when meeting Pizarro and was captured. Whereas the spaniards were "heirs to a huge body of knowledge about human behavior and history." Just an awareness of other people's fates might have made the chief more suspicious and saved him.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-80135239481295922482009-07-16T17:32:00.000-07:002009-07-16T17:33:59.431-07:00I passed <em>Founding Mothers</em> on to Doris S. Don't know if she's had a chance to read it, but you could ask her if you see her. Her area of expertise is American History.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374548781027477846.post-30527079804016418522009-07-16T17:27:00.000-07:002009-07-16T17:28:44.154-07:00Just getting started with the blog. I'm enjoying the book so far. He is an excellent writer with interesting material.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11123764150864009250noreply@blogger.com2