What are you reading?

[MAPPLEBUM]

I thought I'd update that I'm about halfway through Middlemarch. (53% on the Kindle, LOL!) The plot is starting to actually show itself, and I'm getting to know the characters a little better, so I'm getting more and more into it. Totally ignoring most of the important deeper meanings and imagery and just enjoying the story. But I'm also getting to the bit where we are learning a lot more about the difference between Lydgate (who wants to apply a scientific method to medicine) and the country physicians (who just want to dispense physic and drugs according to the "humors".) So that's kind of a fun insight into where medical training has come from.

Did you finish? I haven't read since November. The best I can do are watch videos on teaching / education during moderate cardio sessions at the gym

[spotty_dog]

Did you finish? I haven't read since November. The best I can do are watch videos on teaching / education during moderate cardio sessions at the gym

No, I had to re check it out at the library and the first time, I got the same kindle version and it saved my place, but the second time, I couldn't find the same version again. So I've been reading nonfiction. I should try to figure it out, e book was getting interesting!

[MAPPLEBUM]

No, I had to re check it out at the library and the first time, I got the same kindle version and it saved my place, but the second time, I couldn't find the same version again. So I've been reading nonfiction. I should try to figure it out, e book was getting interesting!

I've been too brain dead to read anything at all. Hope I'll get back to it this summer. Maybe I'll bring it to Mexico. But I typically never read on vacation.

[spotty_dog]

I've been too brain dead to read anything at all. Hope I'll get back to it this summer. Maybe I'll bring it to Mexico. But I typically never read on vacation.

Yeah, me either. Sometimes a real fluffy read for bedtime. Anyway, I went ahead and bought the book, so I don't have to keep checking it out. But I won't get back to reading until after this latest novel nfiction book I think.

[MAPPLEBUM]

Yeah, me either. Sometimes a real fluffy read for bedtime. Anyway, I went ahead and bought the book, so I don't have to keep checking it out. But I won't get back to reading until after this latest novel nfiction book I think.

Getting in your financial read for 2016 early?

I bought a used copy of Cats Eye a few months ago. Might just bring that to Mexico since I know her stuff reads easily.

[spotty_dog]

Getting in your financial read for 2016 early?

Ugh, I need to. I ran my rate of return for 2015 and it was abysmal (I didn't compare to a good benchmark, but just eyeballing the indexes, I should have done better). I don't know what went wrong. I need to start by re-reading the basics I think.

No, I keep picking up random topics on health and self-improvement. I'm basically done with Proteinaholic, and just started Happier at Home.

I really liked the Handmaid's Tale, but couldn't figure out which Atwood to turn to next. So don't be surprised if I copy you again soon!

[MrsK]

Catseye was mediocre. Same mold as the rest.

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[MrsK]

Finished All the Light We Cannot See. Started The Hundred -Year Flood.

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[MrsK]

[MENTION=1498]MrsK[/MENTION] I'll be interested to know your thoughts on ATLWCS because I thought the writing was beautiful but something about it didn't grab me the way I'd expected.

I've just finished Fates and Furies, and started Ready Player One and Notorious RBG


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Ok, now that I've finished All the Light We Cannot See and I've had some time to marinate, here are my thoughts.

The writing is beautiful. In some moments even poetic or romantic. I've read one review which criticized the book for romanticizing WWII which I can see. However, I think there is room for romantic or hopeful stories even during the most brutal of circumstances.

Without giving away spoilers, I think the writing was compelling in part because of how it mimicked the triangulation of radio signals discussed in the book (von Rumple, Marie-Lurie, and Werner closing in on a single point). The echoes and ironies in the book are thought provoking without being heavy-handed. For instance, the metaphor of a frog in a boiling pot. I thought it was very fitting and it gave me some new insight regarding the *how* and *why* of the atrocities of WWII. Also, as I mentioned before, the lightness and dark. German children so fair that they practically glow in the dark, young men and valuable art disappearing into underground mines....

Marie-Lurie's blindness was written convincingly and added a different dimension to the book. Whereas many books introduce new characters by describing their appearance, Marie-Lurie's first impressions were sounds and smells. At the same time, Werner was at his best when he relied on hearing and intuition more than on intellect. He struggled with the incongruence of his thoughts and feelings; I would have enjoyed reading more of his inner monologue.

Marie-Lurie is an exceptionally well-written literary character in part because the characters surrounding her are so well written. Her father, uncle, Madame Manec, the baker....they are all "real" people with vibrant inner monologues. Werner is not as written with as much depth. The characters surrounding him are broadly written. Jutta is not a strong enough counter-point to Marie-Lurie's father; in part because of her youth, because she stops talking to Werner, because she is censored... It's unfortunate that we don't get any real insights into her until 30 years after the events of the book have passed. Also, due to his circumstances, Werner and the characters surrounding him had little opportunity for candid conversation. Characters like Frederick and The Giant had so much potential but could only be judged by their actions since they were unable to honestly share their thoughts. Even minor characters like Federick's mother could have been fuller. We never know Werner's final thoughts. I think this is why you might have felt disconnected from this book.

Also, von Rumple. He was written over-broadly, as a stereotype of the single-minded, festering, smelly Nazi. Making him into an actual human rather than a type would have strengthened the book too.

Overall, though, I thought it was an excellent, insightful read and I'm looking forward to my book club's discussion later this month.

[MrsK]

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni

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[gem]

I also thought All the Light We Cannot See was beautifully written but also slightly disappointing. I think because it was so gorgeously done I had higher hopes for the ending being more powerful, but instead I felt like it just sort of petered out. I'm not sure how I would have ended it differently, but I thought much of the ending seemed kind of random, in contrast to the rest of the story, which was so tightly crafted.

[spaz]

Organic Mentoring.... a really good book on speaking into the lives of younger women and how the "old ways" don't work... Younger women are much more into authenticity and sharing your life rather than an organized meeting each week.

[ballibeg]

Stasiland- Tales from behind the Berlin Wall

Fascinating social history from the years just before the wall came down. Very interesting and really looking forward to visiting Berlin soon.

[Thirteen]

What are you reading?

Organic Mentoring.... a really good book on speaking into the lives of younger women and how the "old ways" don't work... Younger women are much more into authenticity and sharing your life rather than an organized meeting each week.

We dig authenticity. Oh, and coffee.


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[spaz]

We dig authenticity. Oh, and coffee.


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Grin, yep she talked about just meeting them for coffee works so much better than mentoring programs at the church. I'm a coffee addict as well!