I just finished a really, really, REALLY short book that I found on Amazon, Buddha in Blue Jeans by Tai Sheridan. Definitely one I needed to read.
Temps are dropping like a rock here all day, I woke at 19 degrees, it's dropped to 7 degrees currently, and is supposed to continue to fall. Wind chills will make it feel like -25 to -35 degrees... YUCK!
January 6, 2014 at 7:00 AM
Anonymous said...
I read The Aviator's Wife and thoroughly enjoyed it -- I've enjoyed all of Melanie Benjamin's books...I love how she takes either a fictional character (like Alice in Wonderland) and tells the story of how Alice came to be -- she did Mrs. Tom Thumb and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and did them all justice.
My reading has slowed somewhat...I've been working my way through the Laurie King mysteries -- Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes and then adding a different book in between all of those to keep my brain "fresh".
With the nasty weather we've been having and seem to continue to be having I think there will be much more reading done over the next little while -- if I can get to the library to pick up the books that are waiting for me on the "hold shelf"!
I am reading In Falling Snow, which oddly enough says right on the cover that if you enjoyed The Aviator's Wife, you'll enjoy this book. Hmmmm...interesting.
I'm currently reading some not-too-bad free fluff I downloaded onto my Kindle, Snap, but I just finished P.D. James' The Private Patient, which I very much enjoyed.
Two interesting sounding books, Snap! Since I moved to Colorado I've been reading a lot about the history of the West. I'm halfway through Stephen E. Ambrose's book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition
I have to admit that the older I get the more interested I seem to be in history. ONE SUMMER, AMERICA 1927 was interesting and entertaining. Easy to read until the last several chapters that seemed to drag a bit. 1927 was very busy -- Lindberg's flight probably the most exciting event. There were massive floods along the Mississippi and Hoover was put in charge of arranging help for the victims. He was quite a guy, not very likable, but great at organization (as long as he got the rewards). In Bryson's words "Hoover was also extremely intolerant of anything that seemed likely to diminish his eminence." There was Alvin Kelly who was a well known flag sitter -- an occupation that was sure to incite the onlookers. Radio broadcasting. Newspapers and tabloids. The very beginnings of television. Talking movies. Buildings that got taller and taller and cities got larger as the workers poured in. Babe Ruth hits 60 homeruns. The bombing of an elementary school. A secret meeting held at a Long Island estate that would lead to lowering of interest rates and the crash of 1929. Mount Rushmore. .Sacco and Vanzetti. Prohibition. Al Capone. Henry Ford (what a crackpot). And on and on. What a ride!
When I finished Bill Bryson's ONE SUMMER: AMERICA, 1927, I was left with a desire to read more about the Lindbergs. I knew of Lindberg's flight, alone, across the Atlantic and Anne's success as a writer before reading Bryson's book, but very little else. When I found THE AVIATOR'S WIFE at Half-Price books, I grabbed it and continued my journey with the Lindbergs. I thought the two books were quite complimentary. Author Benjamin is careful to state in her afterwords where she took liberties and she took very few. The historical facts are all there. Benjamin added the emotion. Shy, thoughtful, Anne finds out just how strong a woman she is by marrying the American hero, Charles Lindberg. From learning to fly and setting a few records on her own, to flying with him, the kidnapping, the constant interference in their lives by the media -- what an interesting ride. I don't give 5 stars to books as I don't think anything is perfect, but I came close with this one. A very very enjoyable read.
11 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formAww, thanks for the post card swap plug Snap!
I just finished a really, really, REALLY short book that I found on Amazon, Buddha in Blue Jeans by Tai Sheridan. Definitely one I needed to read.
Temps are dropping like a rock here all day, I woke at 19 degrees, it's dropped to 7 degrees currently, and is supposed to continue to fall. Wind chills will make it feel like -25 to -35 degrees... YUCK!
January 6, 2014 at 7:00 AM
I read The Aviator's Wife and thoroughly enjoyed it -- I've enjoyed all of Melanie Benjamin's books...I love how she takes either a fictional character (like Alice in Wonderland) and tells the story of how Alice came to be -- she did Mrs. Tom Thumb and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and did them all justice.
My reading has slowed somewhat...I've been working my way through the Laurie King mysteries -- Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes and then adding a different book in between all of those to keep my brain "fresh".
With the nasty weather we've been having and seem to continue to be having I think there will be much more reading done over the next little while -- if I can get to the library to pick up the books that are waiting for me on the "hold shelf"!
January 6, 2014 at 7:21 AM
I am reading, "Gone with the Wine". A memoir on my kindle.
January 6, 2014 at 8:24 AM
I am reading In Falling Snow, which oddly enough says right on the cover that if you enjoyed The Aviator's Wife, you'll enjoy this book. Hmmmm...interesting.
January 6, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Bryson's book is one of the presents I got for my husband at Christmas. I'm looking forward to reading it when he finishes.
January 6, 2014 at 10:36 AM
Well, I'm reading YOU!
**blows kisses**
Deb
January 6, 2014 at 10:45 AM
I'm currently reading some not-too-bad free fluff I downloaded onto my Kindle, Snap, but I just finished P.D. James' The Private Patient, which I very much enjoyed.
January 6, 2014 at 10:25 PM
Thanks for the book reviews. I always enjoy them. I've had The Aviator's Wife on my list at the library so I should be getting it soon.
January 7, 2014 at 12:50 PM
Just finished The Golden Compass and have a request in at the library for The Aviator's Wife!
January 7, 2014 at 6:59 PM
Two interesting sounding books, Snap! Since I moved to Colorado I've been reading a lot about the history of the West. I'm halfway through Stephen E. Ambrose's book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition
January 7, 2014 at 10:56 PM
Both books sound great…. I love reading historical books like that… I may have to check these two out… THANKS!
Thanks for your wonderful comments on my blog post.
Hugs,
Betsy
January 8, 2014 at 3:06 PM