Monday, December 06, 2021
Wednesday, December 01, 2021
November: Books I read
Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake Basis for the movie and just a little bit of a tweak of the ending, otherwise completely faithful.
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (library) If you like books like The Man Called Ove, then you will like this one, plus it is about books too. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (audiobook) so I have never liked this book, and I thought I'll give it another try as an audiobook, maybe listening to the language will help me like it better. Nope, still don't like it. Don't think that Heathcliff and Katherine deserve any sympathy. I think Katherine especially is a horrid person. I don't feel sorry for her and then Heathcliff's revenge on the family and the next generation is just Bleh...I prefer stuff like Jude the Obscure or even Gone with the Wind for "Star Crossed Lovers" drama.
The Big Roads by Earl Swift the story of how the interstate highway system was built in America, I recommend it
Under Orders by Dick Francis This is one of the Sid Haley books (there are 5) Sid is Dick Francis' only recurring detective to appear in more than 2 books.
Adventures in the Skin Trade by Dylan Thomas novella and short stories by Dylan Thomas.
Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey Murder mystery in an exclusive girls school. I recommend (especially if you like cozy mysteries, Miss Marple type stuff)
Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart (library) based on true stories, Amy Stewart interweaves fiction and fact with these Kopp books. Highly entertaining and a learning moment also. I highly recommend.
They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie mystery set in Baghdad, more of spy intrigue in this one. I really enjoy reading these, like comfort food for me.
The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts If you love horses, you need to read this one. A horse rescued from the slaughterhouse becomes a champion.
Blood Sport by Dick Francis a jaded and depressed mercenary soldier is the protagonist. But the setting goes to the USA and Montana, Wyoming near Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. so it was good although a bit predictable in my opinion
The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (library) The first Jack Reacher book co-authored by Lee Child and his brother. (James and Andrew Grant)
Shattered by Dick Francis this one has a glass blower as the protagonist and that was interesting because I was also watching Blown Away the Christmas Edition on Netflix and had Glass Blowing on the brain! Serendipitous
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist dystopian future where 50 year old people who do not have children and do not "contribute to society" are kept in a unit where they live comfortably and in leisure as their organs and other body parts are harvested until they die from making the "final donation" Similar to Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I read this book 10 years ago and enjoyed it and I still like it a lot and I like it better than the Ishiguro book (where people are cloned to provide organs etc for harvesting)
Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks extremely interesting book about the history of Sign Language and the Deaf community. Highly recommend.
Monday, November 29, 2021
Monday, November 22, 2021
Monday, November 15, 2021
Monday, November 08, 2021
Monday, November 01, 2021
2021 Postcards from Friends
Saturday, October 30, 2021
October: Books I read
Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales about how we survive-- following stories of folks who survived catastrophic events
Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood (library) memoir about a girl whose father is a catholic priest (they converted after he was already married and had children. supposed to be funny like David Sedaris type stuff, but I found it just meh.
Early From the Dance by David Payne a "beach read" coming of age in North Carolina-ugh, not that great.
Sanatoriums and Asylums of Eastern North Carolina by Dr. Randy K. Kearns This is one of those Arcadia Publishing books. I have been fascinated with Asylums lately. We have so many abandoned ones in the PNW and what with the homelessness crisis in America, I find it fascinating that there used to be places that held these people and they were actually self sustaining as farms and they grew their own crops and canned their food and had beef and milk dairies and eggs etc And often sold the surplus to the local communities. Yes, there were abuses, but we have that now in hospitals and the foster system and nursing homes.
Flight 232 by Laurence Gonzales (library) about that United DC-10 crash in Sioux City, Iowa. Very good highly recommend
One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson (library) about voter suppression
I Can Hear You Whisper by Lydia Denworth (library) The Science of Sound and Language
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter (library) creepy stalker thriller It was okay
The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts (library) the story of Annie Wilkins, who rode a horse across America in 1954, very good! recommend to my horsey friends!
The Appalachian Trail: A Biography by Philip D'Anieri (library) excellent about the making of an popularity of the Appalachian Trail. From Arnold Guyot to Bill Bryson. Each chapter concentrates on a man who made the AT what it is today. I highly recommend.
The Wild Inside by Jamey Bradbury Set in Alaska with a family of Dog Sled folks. Coming of age after the death of her mother story.
The Breaker by Nick Petrie (library) Peter Ash is a vet with PTSD who rights wrongs. This book concerns inventions and modern technology. Petrie says he was influenced by Tom Swift books in his youth. Highly recommend.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (library) thriller it was okay
Monday, October 25, 2021
Monday, October 18, 2021
Monday, October 11, 2021
Monday, October 04, 2021
Thursday, September 30, 2021
September: Books I read
Trail of Tears by John Ehle History of the Cherokee Nation depressing for sure
Three Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell Sort of like Mad Men, but in the publishing world instead of the advertising world.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (library) chick lit/romance it was okay
Nobody's Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh (library) YA book about a family where the children have dreams that do not mesh with what their family expectations of them.
Nick by Michael Farris Smith (library) prequel to The Great Gatsby concentrating on Nick of course, his experiences during the war and why he ended up renting that house between the mansions.
The Lampshade by Mark Jacobson (library) The story of a lampshade found at a rummage sale after Hurricane Katrina made from human skin. Did it come from the Holocaust? They try to trace it through DNA etc
American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser one of my all time favorite books and I like to reread it every once and awhile. Based on a true story of a murder and trial in the Adirondack region of New York State.
The Auschwitz Photographer by Luca Crippa and Maurizio Onnis (library) another Holocaust book. I always seem to read these in waves. Based on the true story.
Aloha Rodeo by Julian Smith and David Wolman (library audiobook) Great story of the history of cowboys in Hawaii and their appearance at a Cheyenne Rodeo in 1908. Highly recommend!!
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child (audiobook) Jack Reacher book. I had to do an impromptu 20 hour car drive and got some audiobooks knocked out!! LOL
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory (audiobook) Mary, Queen of Scots Ugh, just got sick of hearing about women being manipulated by men (or used as pawns by men) in the politics of the time.
Everyday Survival by Laurence Gonzales (library) fun, about how our brains work and poise us for survival (or also disaster) very interesting I recommend
Monday, September 27, 2021
Monday, September 20, 2021
Monday, September 13, 2021
Monday, September 06, 2021
Wednesday, September 01, 2021
August: Books I read
Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui (library) wonderful book about swimming.
Sometimes You Have to Lie by Leslie Brody (library) The biography of Louise Fitzhugh who wrote Harriet the Spy and other books and was an artist as well. I learned so much about her!! I highly recommend, especially if you are a Harriet the Spy fan.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (library) sister of the bride and the best man go on the honeymoon trip when the wedding is cancelled.
Out Cold by Phil Jaekl (library) A book about hypothermia very interesting
Clean and White by Carl Zimring (library) a book about racism and how immigrants and people of color are usually assumed to be dirty, they get the dirty jobs (janitorial, garbage etc) and their neighborhoods are the ones where the water treatment plants, the landfills and etc are located.
Gulp by Mary Roach (audiobook) About digestion from taste buds to rectum! very interesting.
Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini the author choses a difficult knitting project
Knitting Yarns edited by Ann Hood stories about knitting
Blackbeard's Ghost by Ben Stahl fun children's adventure book
Hard Truth by Nevada Barr set in Rocky Mountain National Park and since Ryan and I were just there I thought I would reread this one again.
Tangled Vines by Frances Dinkelspiel The story of an arson in a California Wine Storage facility and how it spurs the author to research her family's contribution to the creation of the wine industry in California. Lots of great history about the different California vineyards.
The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick (library) Based on the history of The House of Mercy, a home for destitute and immoral young women that the church operated as a laundry in New York City in the late 1800's early 1900's. Basically these "homes' were prisons for women where they were forced to work the laundries and make lace and they were operated by the Episcopal Church. Very interesting history.
Backwards and In Heels by Alicia Malone a look at women who worked in the film industry.
Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne (audiobook) It often amazes me when I listen to books on tape how much of the book is repetition, that I did not really notice when I read it physically. This is an account of the history of the Comanche People and other Plains Indians primarily in Texas. Highly recommend.
It's the last chance to donate to Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon! Any amount from $1 to $100 is welcome. You can click on this link to go to my WTA fundraiser page
It is too late to send cash or a check, but I want to thank everyone who contributed through-out the month!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Last hike-a-thon hikes for 2021
Wow, so I made my goal of 31 miles (actually got 31.5! LOL) for one mile a day for the month of August. My last two hikes were here in the Seattle area not too far from home. I did 2 miles on the Longfellow Creek Trail. I do this trail pretty much every year for hike-a-thon because it is so close to my house.
Then the next day I did 3 miles on the Green River Trail in Kent, WA because it is nice and flat. I parked at the Neely-Soames Historic Homestead. It is a pioneer home with a garden representing what the pioneers would have planted.
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| The Green River Trail runs right by the Homestead |
Part of my hike went by a golf course! Be on the lookout for balls!!
This is a pedestrian bridge over the Green River, I went up to see what everyone was looking at....Salmon in the river, running upstream to spawn!
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| The salmon were negotiating this little bit of "rapids" |
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| See the Salmon??!! |
Thanks so much to Gretchen, Mark and Donna for their contributions! There is still some time if you have not donated yet. The cut off date is September 7th. So you can still follow this link (or cut and paste) It has been a good year and I was very happy with all my hikes and that I did not twist an ankle this year!!
https://give.wta.org/fundraiser/3328554
Thank You again!
Monday, August 30, 2021
2021 Postcards from Friends
August is Hike-a-thon month!!
Thank you to everyone who has donated this year, There is still time to get in some last minute donations. If you haven't given anything yet. Just the cost of a cup of coffee can help make a difference.
You can click on this link to go to my WTA fundraiser page
https://give.wta.org/fundraiser/3328554
Thank You!
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