Publisher's Summary: "Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home." ABOVE IS FROM: https://www.audible.com/pd/Educated
BELOW IS FROM THE GOODREADS DESCRIPTION: "_Educated_ is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes and the will to change it."
COMMENT FROM A GOODREAD MEMBER: "Where the book does succeed is as a portrait of physical and emotional abuse." FROM: Emily May's Reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Literary Awards: Audie Award for Best Female Narrator (2019) Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Biography (2018) ALA Alex Award (2019) Wellcome Book Prize Nominee for Longlist (2019) National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Autobiography (2018) Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir & Autobiography (2018), PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Nominee for Shortlist (2019) Reading Women Award for Nonfiction (2018)...more
I first heard of this book when MichelleCH posted a comment about it at the GF Litwit Lounge Group 10/Added 10/6/16. (first published April 1st 2013)
I first heard of this book when MichelleCH posted a comment about it at the GF Litwit Lounge Group 10/6/16. She called it "very different and enjoyable". I read the GR description and it sounded interesting. I hope to have time and energy to read it someday, even though I don't usually go for fantasy.
LITERARY AWARDS: Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (2013) World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2014) Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (2014) Cabell First Novelist Award (2014) Harold U. Ribalow Prize for Jewish fiction (2014) Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Author Best Fantasy (2013) James Tiptree Jr. Award Honor List (2013)...more
Added 9/14/16. (first published 1964) Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (1965) Recommended by Jim in my GR group. See Jim's review at: https://www.goodreAdded 9/14/16. (first published 1964) Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (1965) Recommended by Jim in my GR group. See Jim's review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neither of my 2 public libraries have this book but they do have other books by John Brunner....more
Added 10/29/13. _Their Eyes Were Watching God_ by Zora Neale Hurston (first published in 1937.)
I was reminded about this book while watching the SmithsAdded 10/29/13. _Their Eyes Were Watching God_ by Zora Neale Hurston (first published in 1937.)
I was reminded about this book while watching the Smithsonian Channel. The name of the program was: "Soul of a People: Writing America's Story". Many famous writers were mentioned. It's about time I read this book!
A book description from online says: "The novel narrates main character Janie Crawford's 'ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny'. Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century..." FROM: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
The GR book description says: "... the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose."
Awards and honors: Audie Winner (2001.19|Solo Narration - Female,2001) Time's All-Time 100 Novels selection Daniel S. Burt's Novel 100 (83) 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2010 Edition) Guardian 1000 (Love) 125 Great Southern Books (8) Oxford American Best Southern Books of All Time (Novels, 10) Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century (23) The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books (81|18 points) Library of Congress Books that Shaped America (Above list is from LibraryThing.com.)
Last week I watched the film adaptation of the play, A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee. I found the film to be very boring, despite theAdded 5/8/13.
Last week I watched the film adaptation of the play, A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee. I found the film to be very boring, despite the great cast. Cast: Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Paul Scofield, Lee Remick, Kate Reid, Joseph Cotten, Betsy Blair http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069958/?...
NETFLIX DESCRIPTION: "Part of the American Film Theatre series, Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play gets the star treatment with Katharine Hepburn and Paul Scofield playing a long-married couple who'd rather be alone than entertain visitors. The first interloper is Hepburn's drunken sister (Kate Reid), followed by the couple's much-divorced daughter (Lee Remick). But the duo's limit is reached when friends (Joseph Cotten and Betsy Blair) show up unexpectedly." FROM: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/A-Delica...
Below are some Netflix reviewers' negative comments (although there were positive comments too): ================================ "Hated it. Great cast but did not want to spend two hours watching characters claw at one another."
"Reparte alone does not a good play or a good film make. It was almost unbearable." ================================
FROM THE GR DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAY: "A dark comedy about unfulfilled lives, broken promises, and family jealousies"
Personally, I found it unrealistic that friends would have the nerve to move in to their friends' home without being invited (despite the fact that they were supposed to be very good friends). Real friends wouldn't do that; they would have more consideration and wouldn't automatically assume that they'd be welcome. Seems like a false premise to me. I think the daughter had every right to be angry that the friends took over her room without any consideration for her. ...more
_Maisie Dobbs_ (Maisie Dobbs, #1) (2003) by Jacqueline Winspear This review has private notes. 4/1/11 - Started reading this book. I'm enjoying it. 4/4/1_Maisie Dobbs_ (Maisie Dobbs, #1) (2003) by Jacqueline Winspear This review has private notes. 4/1/11 - Started reading this book. I'm enjoying it. 4/4/11 - Finished reading. This book is a well told combination of mystery, history, and romance. It's a true cozy mystery, an absorbing story and an easy read, one of those books you like to curl up with.
The story is divided into 3 parts: Spring 1929; Spring 1910 to Spring 1917, and Summer 1929. In 1929 we meet clever Maisie Dobbs who resolves a missing person case which leads to other interesting developments. From 1910 to 1917 we see a younger Maisie coming of age. Then back to 1929 for the resolution of the story. Most of the story takes place in England with a bit of time in France.
The World War One love story is truly affecting, bittersweet as well as heart-warming. It's similar to many wartime love stories, but is told perfectly. All Winspear's characters are well developed. I felt that I knew all of them... and liked them too.
Throughout the novel, there are bits of the wisdom from Maisie's mentor, Maurice Blanche. Maisie remembers his sayings and uses them as coping mechanisms. This added charm to the story. An example: p.205 "...he also told Maisie to pay attention to coincidence. Coincidence was a messenger sent by truth." In other words, look for facts which are connected; they may lead to the solution of a mystery.
I'm so glad this is the beginning of a series. I'd like to spend more time with Maisie.
BTW, before I read this book, I sampled the third book in the series, Pardonable Lies, as an eBook at: http://books.google.com/ebooks/reader... I decided I liked Winspears' style and her character, Maisie Dobbs. So I borrowed this first book in the series from our public library. It's been a good experience.
AWARDS: Agatha Award (First Novel, 2003) Macavity Award (First Novel, 2004) Barry Award nominee (First Novel, 2004) Edgar Award Nominee (Novel, 2004) Anthony Award Nominee (First Novel, 2004) Anthony Award Nominee (Historical Mystery, 2004) Alex Award (2004) AWARD LIST ABOVE IS FROM: http://www.librarything.com/work/25708...more
RE: _Three Junes_ by Julia Glass (This book won the National Book Award for Fiction (2002).
The records in my notebooks show that I read to only page 56RE: _Three Junes_ by Julia Glass (This book won the National Book Award for Fiction (2002).
The records in my notebooks show that I read to only page 56 of this book, but I copied 3 pages of quotations. I must have appreciated the writing, but perhaps wasn't drawn in by the plot.
Below are some of the words I copied from the book: =========================================================== p.4 "By no means beautiful, this girl, but she has a garish spirit, a laugh she makes no effort to stifle."
p.8 "...of the virtues ... discretion seemed to be the most rewarding: it kept people guessing and sometimes, by default, admiring."
p.35 "All I meant was that people take their same old lives wherever they go. No place is perfect enough to strip you of that. And some places have a way of magnifying their demons." ===========================================================...more
Added 2/1/11. (first published 1948) Below are the comments I made about _King of the Wind_ at my GR group:
I recently listened to the audio version ofAdded 2/1/11. (first published 1948) Below are the comments I made about _King of the Wind_ at my GR group:
I recently listened to the audio version of King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian (first published 1948) by Marguerite Henry. It won the 1949 Newbery Medal, an award given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
This fictionalized story is based on fact. The Godolphin Arabian is the ancestor of the finest thoroughbred horses. The story tells about a swift and spirited Arabian horse named "Sham" who is sent by the Sultan of Morocco as a gift to Louis XV of France. Sham eventually sires a colt which is the beginning of the Goldolphin Arabian breed.
Although this is a book for young readers, it's an interesting, touching, well-told tale which appeals to older readers as well. A customer review at Amazon says: ================================ "Marguerite Henry's fictionalized biography of the Goldolphin Arabian, one of the three founding thoroughbred sires, follows the horse Sham and his mute groom Agba from the stables of the Sultan of Morocco through hardship in France and England to celebrated triumph at stud. ... Agba, who never speaks a word, is one of the most absorbing characters in children's fiction. ... it's a must for horse lovers." ================================
ADDENDUM - 3/22/16 I just discovered that there is a film adaptation of this book, King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian. FILM: "King of the Wind" (1990) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097668/?... ============================== TWO SUMMARIES FROM ABOVE-LINKED IMDb page: "In 1727, an Arab colt is born with the signs of the wheat ear and the white spot on his heel: evil and good. And thus begins the life of Sham. He is a gift to the King of France, through a series of adventures with his faithful stable boy, Agba, he becomes the Godolphin Arabian, the founder of one of the greatest thoroughbred racing lines of all time."
"Based on author Marguerite Henry's popular children's novel, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1949, King of the Wind is a fictionalized account of the emergence of Sham, the renowned Godolphin Arabian who fathered a long line of outstanding race horses. The ancestries of Man o' War and Seabiscuit can be traced back to the Godolphin Arabian." =============================== Our public library has the DVD! Good news all around!...more
Added Oct 11, 2010. (first published 1985) (I read this book only once , no matter what the Goodreads info shows. I finished reading it in January 201Added Oct 11, 2010. (first published 1985) (I read this book only once , no matter what the Goodreads info shows. I finished reading it in January 2017.)
In November 2016, Amazon offered to sell me this Kindle book for $2.99. (They had seen it on my Want-to-Read shelf.) So I accepted the offer because it's a bestselling award-winner and I had always wondered what the book was about.
The book description in the offer said: "In a society where women have lost their rights, Offred, Handmaid to The Commander, is valued only because she is able to bear children—unlike so many others. Offred spends her days with The Commander's wife, hoping she'll become pregnant, and remembering the life she and her husband once had."
An interesting Goodreads review (by Pollopicu) is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Pollopicu gave the book only one star. A comment under the review said: " I completely agree. I got halfway through before I realized how much I was dreading picking it up and that life is too short..."
Another review by GR member, Karl, said: "I felt the book didn't really go anywhere." But it also said: "The prose is undeniably well written throughout the story and Atwood does an admirable job of retaining the mystique of the characters and the world they inhabit." Very true. FROM: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As of 12/17/16, I have read about 130 pages in my Kindle and am beginning to realize that the story is rather depressing. Do I want to continue reading? We'll see.
1/18/17 - I have finished reading this book. It was very dark. A slow read. The ending wasn't satisfying at all. (view spoiler)[It leaves you wondering what will happen to her. (hide spoiler)]
3/30/17 - I have just discovered that this book was adapted to film with a great cast! "The Handmaid's Tale" (1990) https://www.amazon.com/Handmaids-Tale... "Following a coup, America is a country still at war with itself and ruled by a repressive Bible-inspired regime. Past pollution means only 1% of women can bear children, and female criminals found to be potential mothers are put into an institution to be indoctrinated. One such is Kate, who finds that there are others prepared to resist." Starring: Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth McGovern, Robert Duvall
2/18/11 - I've finished reading this book. I have to say that I enjoyed the film more. The plotline with the Coalhouse WRe: _Ragtime_ by E.L. Doctorow
2/18/11 - I've finished reading this book. I have to say that I enjoyed the film more. The plotline with the Coalhouse Walker, Jr. character was diluted in the book because the book (as opposed to the film) included more characters and subplots. Much of the text was taken up with the blending of the fictitious characters with the true-life historical personages and historic events. Although it was interesting the way Doctorow wove the fiction and non-fiction together, I could have done without all those details which became tedious or dry in spots. One GR review said: "...there were quite a few extended tangents ... that could have been stricken without the book suffering from it." I agree.
I also feel that there could have been more paragraph breaks. The long paragraphs seem to run things together too much. I don't appreciate that aspect of Doctorow's writing style.
I'm glad I had watched the film first because the scenes in the book about the Coalhouse Walker, Jr. plot were much more vivid to me.
I'm not sure I want to read any more of Doctorow's books because I find his writing a bit tedious in certain parts. However, when he pulls you in, he REALLY pulls you in!
I've read descriptions of a few of Doctorow's other books and, sorry to say, the subject matter didn't appeal to me.
Below is a link to an interesting review by a GR member: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... (Excerpt from above link: "The most powerful portion of the novel is devoted to Doctorow's fictitious character, Coalhouse Walker ... This is an amazing story and I wish Doctorow had centered his whole novel on this amazing tale.")
According to librarything.com, this book received the following awards and honors: National Book Critics Circle Award (Fiction, 1975) Time's All-Time 100 Novels selection The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Board's List (86) New York Times Best Books of the Year (1975) New York Times bestseller (Fiction, 1975) Nebula Nominee (Novel, 1975) 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006/2008/2010 Edition) Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay Nominee (1981) The Modern Library: The 200 best novels in English since 1950 (1970s)
2/15/11 - I watched the film last year. Now I'm reading the book (large print version).
Critic Roger Ebert wrote: ===================================================== "He (the director) decided to set aside the book's kaleidoscopic jumble of people, places, and things, and concentrate on just one of the several narrative threads. Instead of telling dozens of stories, his film is mostly concerned with the story of Coalhouse Walker, Jr., a black piano player who insists that justice be done after he is insulted by some yahoo volunteer firemen." FROM: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p... ====================================================
I found this movie (set America in the early 1900s) totally absorbing. It has a great cast. I especially enjoyed Howard E. Rollins, Jr., who played the black pianist. (Too bad Rollins died comparatively young, at the age of 46.)
Literary awards for _The Graveyard_ Book by Neil Gaiman: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2009) Newbery Medal (2009) Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel (20Literary awards for _The Graveyard_ Book by Neil Gaiman: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2009) Newbery Medal (2009) Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel (2009) British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009) Cybils Award (2008) Audie Award Nominee for Thriller/Suspense (2009) American Library Association (ALA) Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers (2009) (Above list was copied from GR the description.)...more
I listened to this book via audible.com. Such great writing! Very rich with allusions and metaphors. Wallace StegAdded 9/7/13. (first published 1976)
I listened to this book via audible.com. Such great writing! Very rich with allusions and metaphors. Wallace Stegner is remarkable!
This was a heartrending story. Stegner poignantly describes the agony of being torn between two loves. There is also a detailed back-story with ominous overtones, but the romantic scenes are always pure.
The audio book was read by Edward Herrmann who definitely added to my enjoyment of the story.
One GR reviewer wrote that the main character's "interior monologues are delightfully curmudgeonly". I agree!
This book won the National Book Award for Fiction (1977).
JULY 28, 2019 - Although I listened to this book back in 2013, I'm coming back to it again now, in 2019, to try to hear the whole book again, since I still have it in my Audible Manager. I paid for it when I first got it in 2013. A good investment! Listening to Stegner's words is a delicious experience. So many wonderful and original turns of phrase!...more
3/15/10 - I've begun reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. At first I gave up on it because of its obscure beginnRE: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3/15/10 - I've begun reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. At first I gave up on it because of its obscure beginning*. Then I gave it another try. I'm glad I did because the story is good one and is well told.
*About the obscure start of the book, I plowed through it, not understanding at all what the narrator was trying to say. I figured things would become clear sooner or later. The meaning is slowly starting to make sense, but not entirely. It's the well-drawn characters which are keeping me reading.
3/21/10 As I said, I'm glad I didn't give up on this book. The weird beginning threw me off initially. I'm happy to say that it became a page-turner for me. Although the subject of Nazi Germany is a sad one which can be difficult to handle, the unusual approach the author took made the story very readable. One can't help but be drawn in by the touching characters.
3/25/11 (revisiting my review a year later) Below is a link to a literature guide for this book: http://books.google.com/ebooks/reader... (This is a sample but provides quite a bit of information. It explains that the narrator is the character, "Death", who lingers in the background making comments. He is responsible for the weird beginning.)
NOTE: Wiki says: "Although American publisher Knopf has marketed the 552 page book set in Nazi Germany as a young-adult novel, it was originally intended and published in Zusak's native Australia specifically for adults." FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book......more
Edit (added 1/17/12): Angle of Repose (published in 1971) is an excellent book about the West. It's not a "Western" in the usual sense. Added 11/16/08.
Edit (added 1/17/12): Angle of Repose (published in 1971) is an excellent book about the West. It's not a "Western" in the usual sense. It centers around the mining industry. The title refers to "the maximum angle to the horizontal at which rocks, soil, etc, will remain without sliding".
At LibraryThing.com I found the following awards for the book: Pulitzer Prize (Fiction, 1972) The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Board's List (82) New York Times bestseller (Fiction, 1971) San Francisco Chronicle list of The 20th Century's 100 Best Fiction of the American West (1999) Esquire's 75 Books Every Man Should Read FROM: http://www.librarything.com/work/16878
I read the book as part of an online book group in the late 1990s. I'm so glad I had the experience of reading it. I recommend it. I've never forgotten how good it was. Stegner was a wonderful writer. I just now discovered that Goodreads' description of him says: "Some call him 'The Dean of Western Writers'." ...more
Loading...
