Cindy's Cats Cradle and Antique Books, under new managment

Well I did have a challenge that I thought would be interesting: finish reading books from the Noah Perrin listed as his favorites that I didn't get to the first time around. Unfortunately severall things happened: the books were so old that they couldnt be found anywhere without a steep price , and a few that I did find didn't age well. and honestly got distracted by the challenges and themes that often form my reading.

So I am starting a new challenge just to list my books and get some feedback from others who read them

note about my ratings:

1 DNF, usually ends up in goodwill pile

2 managed to finish but not happy
about it usually ends up in my trade pile

3 a ok read, often one that starts great but
doesn't hit the landing. in trade pile

4 A darn good book a few glitches but otherwise one to keep, and goes up on my shelves

5 A book that I fell in head first, lost in its world and didn't come up for air for a few days; and w I did, I thought about the story and/or characters for days later, and maybe reread, or read another by the same author and obviously one that goes on my shelves

acronyms

AC Asian Challenge

RBC Rebeccas book challenge

RT Reading through Time group themes

RG Reading Globally group themes

RLBG Real life group

January-March

fiction

the five thousand and one nights 5*

The Island of missing trees 4*AC Turkey

a sadness in the mind 4*AC Turkey

spinning silver 3 RLBG

the silence of shehezerade 5 * AC Turkey

the swallowed man4*

queen of hearts 4* Author of the month Wilkie Collins

Damnificados 5*

The midnight library 2* RLBG

My uncle napolean 1*AC Iran

a thousand ships 5*

Nonfiction

Autumn rounds 4*

White Ships 3*

Chasing spring4* theme country side

wrong end of the telescope5* AC

Traveling with Pomegranates 3* AC

Day of Honey 4* AC arab states

Memories of Eden3* Rebeccas challenge and AC arab states

April

fiction

Blood of Flowers 4* AC Iran

Hitchikers guide to the galaxy5* time/beginning theme

city of brass3* RLBG

caspian rain3* AC Iran

by the sea5* ac arab states

children of jocasta 4*

my fathers notebook 5*AC
Iran

nonfiction

pandoras jar3*

I write you from Tehran 4*AC Iran

memories: Moscow to the black sea 5* global theme outcast and Castaway

tolstoy rasputin and me 4* global theme Outcast Castaway

MAY

fiction

sea of tranquility 4* RTT technology

when women were dragons5*

glass hotel5*

A day lasts more than a hundred years AC stans a day lasts more than 100 years 4*

wanted to give this a 5, but there is a sci fi portion that really is only minimally about the book. Would have loved if the author made this into a short story at least, with more info on the different view,and more info on the exiled characters. I might just have to imagine my own! Otherwise I really loved this book

JamiliaAC Stans 4*

Non fiction

sovietistanAC 5* the stans

a hard place to leave 4*

JUNE
Fiction

red earth and pouring rainAC India 3*

the dictionary of lost words5*

the far field AC India 4*

a woman is no man RLRG 3*

Nonfiction

Adventures of a Hollywood Secretary: Her Private Letters from Inside the Studios of the 1920s For RT June Theme California48 4*

The border : a journey around Russia through North Korea, China, Mongolia,… 3

the wanderlust 3*

packing my library 4*

July and August

fiction

the monkey king AC China 3*

the mother in law RLBG 5*

the dragon kingdom AC China 3*

Afterlife 5*

she who became the sun AC China 3*

convenient store womanAC Japan 4*

territory of light3*

klara and the sunAC Japan 3*

companion piece 4.5

before the coffee gets cold AC Japan 3*

setting free the kites 4*

the wizard of loneliness 4*

the great passage 5*

non fiction

the history of reading 4.5*

Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man: 15 Years at Studio GhibliAC japan DNF

September

Fiction

we never talked about my brother RTT Sept theme Harvest Moon 4*

the private live of trees

autumn RTT Harvest Moon 5*

the impossible lives of greta wells 3*

the marriage portrait1*

non fiction

Crying in H Mart AC Korea 4*

My Brillant Life 5* AC Korea

October

the hired man DNF

ancestor stones

the blue skyAC Mongolia 3*

our missing hearts 5*

book of illusions 4.5 *

behind the mountains

non fiction

paul mccartney a life RTT october theme music DNF

terry pratchett a life with footnotes 4.5*

Always nice to start a new thread/challenge. I like your ratings descriptions.

Next up: my fathers notebook

I wish I could adequately express my feelings about this extraordinary book. I did somewhat in the asian challenge thread but I just cant do it justice. I at first thought the book was an autobiography for it is written as such, but the author brings all these lives into focus as if he was living them himself. Several reviewers on the book page do it much better than i. All I can say the characters, the story, the ending were just what a reader loves; a book I can fall into and not come out of for days. And of the books I read about Iran this month I learned more about the country the people the history than all of the othrs 5* would give it more if posible

>6 cindydavid4: Between you and Mark, I had to add this to my wishlist.

looking forward to your comments

now reading sea of tranquility almos finished in fact May need to read her glass hotel immediatly after

I just finished Sovietistan and it is undoubtly one of the best travel/history books Ive read in a long while. Honestly I was expecting a slog but I neednt worry, I was in very good hands.
The writing is easy and interesting and and rarely dry; I had trouble putting the book down it was such a page turner (the only slog was a chapter about the great game, but it was important history to make sense of what happened in this region.)

The author takes us on an amazing trip through these countries; their cultures their politics their people struggling to survive. What I esp loved about it is her connection to the past, whether it was the Soviet era or the days of Ghengis Kahn and Tamerlane or the days of the silk road - she makes it all come to life. She brings up serious issues: famine, forced migration, dictators, nuclear testing, disappearing lakes, bride kidnapping, human rights; poverty yet she is able to add humor or at least irony to her observations. Also appreciated the excellent maps (didn't realize that the borders look like a child's scribbles), i referred to them frequently, and appreciated her interviews with regular people. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading novels from these countries in the Asian Challenge for this month.5*

Well, if the borders do not look like a scribble, they are drawn on paper first and not where borders are supposed to be determined - in the field, paying attention to where people and wildlife actually live.

Oh I agree with you, how it should be. But take a look at a map,you'll see what I mean. :)

finished jamilia Loved it except I wasn't ready for it to end. Wanted to know what happens later. But still enjoyed it

now reading a day lasts a hundred years which im liking, tho wasn't expecting the sci fi component. Interested to see how these two storys fit together

>12 cindydavid4: I really enjoyed Jamilia when I read it last year. I have another of his books to hand, but haven't started it yet. Hopefully this month.

Just finished a day lasts more a hundred years and loved it. Probably could have done without the sci fi part, which was interesting all by it self and could see is as a novella, expanding on the characters involved and actuall testimony of the debate thae ensues, plus more about the new planet itself. That part does eventually affect the characters tho It wasn't totally nec to the story. by itself it was still interesting.

The setting of this book is a railway junction in the middle of the Central Asian steppe just after WWII. Apart from the railway lines crossing each other, there is nothing for hundreds of miles around. There are small villages by each station and the peoplle who live there work so maintain the rails in extremem conditions of heat and cold. Yedigel tells the story of the people around him going back in time. When he hears that a dear friend of his has died he decides to make a journey to the areas legenary cemetery which is where his friend wanted to be buried. Riding on top of a camel with a mind of its own, followed by the friends dog, and son, tractor trailers, and son in law, they journey forth. As they go he thinks about his experiences as a child, during the war,and the people living there. at one point a man is arrested for 'treason' for trying to write a book. The questioning is Orwellian and what happens to him causses Yedigel to do something that will effect both families.

Really loved the writing in this book, the descriptions, the characters (including the came) 5*

rereadingAdventures of a Hollywood Secretary: Her Private Letters from Inside the Studios of the 1920s for RTs June Theme of California. Great read even the second time around, telling about her life in Hollywood as a secretary for Goldwyn and details of the early movies Lots of fun

>14 cindydavid4: Probably could have done without the sci fi part,
Yes, that was the book's only disappointing element for me. I can't help but think that the non-SF part was the book Aitmatov really wanted to write, and the SF figleaf was added either because he was tasked with writing a science-fiction novel, or to ensure the book wouldn't be censured!

Hee good point. But I would love him, or someone, take that section and run with it. Would make a great short story if nothing else.

Just finished glass hotel loved the characters the different plots and really loved how she tied things up in unexpected ways 5*

next up dictionary of lost words should finish May for me

I saw in the "What Are You Reading" thread that you were keen to talk about The Dictionary of Lost Words so here I am! I loved it too. You can find my thoughts about it here.

hi rhian! Sorry for the late response, had a crazy day. My mom was born the year that the US gave women the vote, and was told that her mom went to the polls whild she was still pregnant. I am still in the world of that book, and would love a sequel about Megan. But by itself it was a wonderful story; Her way with words and language was lovely. loved how most of the characters took care of each other, esp of Esme. And loved when Esme spoke up 'you are a librarian, it is not your job to decide what words are appropriate" here here. There were some section towards the middle that were repetitive and obvious - knew poor Garrett would die. Liked how letters were used to give information.cried when I saw that Esme died so young. Loved Dieti.

just read your review, I totally agree!

>21 cindydavid4: It's been awhile since I read it so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but I definitely liked Esme, especially the fact that she wasn't perfect. I too was sad when I saw she'd died young.

In general I enjoy reading the untold stories of women in history, so I liked seeing how women were involved in compiling the OED. It was also interesting to consider how the dictionary when it was originally began was quite elitist by excluding the language of women and the "lower" classes.

I've just requested One Italian Summer from the library which isn't fiction but hopefully it will be as well written.

I would love it if she would make a copy of the book Gareth prints for Esme, expanded perhaps, as a companion read. Was also thinking how much she wrote the male characters. They were complex themselves, and with a few exceptions encouraged Esme in her work. Her Da was so wonderful and supportive; I cant think of too many fathrs that would have been supportive of an unmarried pregnant daughter

I love travel narratives and would like to see one italian summer as well. Do you know when its coming out?

ETA it came out in 2017 in great britain, 2021 here.

I gave up on The Border I really liked The artic ocean and the asian sections the most.. I thought it would be the same going thro Europe, I knew all of these countries (causus, baltics, scandivian were deeply affected by WWII and I understand the need to explain history of each place in that time as background But I am just overwhelned. I think she I lost some of the jouranistic style she showed in Sovietistan. This should have in two books. one being Asian the other European. Anyway Im giving a 3 because of what I liked.

So I was reading red earth and pouring rain but then the book I was needing for my Tues RL BG just arrived: a woman is no man. I was surprised that they picked this one, they usually stay close to home.but they also voted for wrong end of the telescope so my infl=luence may rubbing off. So I need to read it first, then Ill go back to the Chandra which I am enjoying so far.

Well a woman is no man was certainly important bring a voice to those who have none - be them in Arabic countries or in the US I admire for writing this. However I found it so depressing and frustrating that I had trouble finishing. Lots of repetition, lots of pain and next to no hope. This is a book that should be read by anyone with no knowledge of the cycle of domestic violence, there is much to learn there. Ill give it a 3, but honestly I cant really recommend it (my book group was pretty much on my page)

still reading packing my library this isn't a book to read quickly; I find myself slowing down; there were lots of good book quotes about books and reading, but I found the focus more on the digressions than the books, but do appreciate the book will finish it

Finished wanderlust, felt the essays were uneven, but enjoyable enough

Now reading innocence which Im liking so far

Just finished packing my library and despite some of my misgivings find this an amazing piece of work about owning books, reading books, the purposes of libraries, banned books. and the importance of justice and empathy in our lives. Really loved his 10th digression that spoke of his charge as the directore of the national library of Argentina, and what he sees as his duties to a diverse community. I loved his quote by Richard Leakey,"We are humans becous our ancestors learned to share their food and their skills in an honored network of obligation" Out of our need to work together, to develope better skills in order to expore distant horizons, empathy became an incentive to our natural curiousity. If only all people felt that obligation. Thanks again Mark for recommending this. I am interested now to read his history of reading

Finished Far Field The writing was very good and I liked the first part much better than the lat.but I did not like the narrator/protanganist. I think maybe she was truly sorry for the trouble she caused, but not totally sure. Did find out more about the Kashmir conflict For the writing alone Ill give it a 4.Not liking the protaganist is probably more my problem than the authors

My favorite bookstore in san diego is Bluestockings, selling new and used books since we bagan visiting there 30 years ago,. Found a couple of serendipitous books that couple with my recent reads. the magician's elephant ('i just loved the miraculous journey of edward tulane and the meaning of everything the story of the oxford english dictionary which goes along with the dictionary of lost words Also landed this one is mine loved her Where'd you go bernadette Finally Alpha Better juice or the joy of text which should be tons of fun. not sure which I want to read next, but am set for the week!

Finally finished ed earth and pouring rain a rathere bloated book that badly needed an editor. it was intriguing at first, this monkey who comes back to life as former self and strikes a bargain with a god to remain living as long as he keeps telling stories. They were interesting at first, but I kept putting the book down and losing my way, and at the end really not sure what I just read. Descriptions of life in India, and the revolt after partition was realistic. It was the writing that kept me going. But it was a real slog towards the end. this is well loved apparently and has good reviews here so I suspect some here will love it. Ill give it 3*

last month I read packing my library which was a journey of how a library starts and the decisions made, with many essays about books and reading. The one I m reading now the history of reading starts out with the history of his own readiing, when he started, what he remembered.

There are many dirctions he could have taken with this history: facts of dates, names, inventions; instead he focuses on the necessary sense for reading - sight, and gives us theories proposed by many in ancient and medievl times that explain how our eyes perceive sight, how they read. Really fascinating how much they got right. All this early in the book. Cant wait to find what comes next

>31 cindydavid4: The History of Reading has been on my wishlist for ages, so it's interesting to read your thoughts.

As time goes on people are realizing there is a connection of all senses to the brain, and they are of equal importance. There is also work on linguestics - how the brain must have images for language to attach to. I was always told that language developes from the images in the brain. Writing is symbols of those images. He then talks about memory, and concludes that reading and writing is not inate, it must be learned. Anyway not anything new just interesting how they filled in the gaps. Hope you can get to it.

>31 cindydavid4: >32 MissBrangwen: Are you talking about Manguel's A History of Reading? Your touchstones go to a different book. Anyway, I have had Manguel's book on my shelves for an age as well and will look forward to your review, Cindy.

Yes it is ill fix it thanks 😊

I am not far into this book but I am discovering things about reading that never occured to me. for examplel before Luther arrived on the scene, readers read outloud. "Readers with others in the room implied shared reading, plus it allowed listeners to ask for clarification. " The rise in silent reading allowed the reader to ponder on their own. The church did not like this first because how did anyone know if the reader was really reading, perhaps he is just being idle. The other reason was that silent reading was troublesome "a book that can be read privately reflected upon as the eye unravels the words,is no longer subjec to immediate clarification, guidance or censorship by a listener' What? they were thinking on their own?! I am not far into this book, I suspec there will be more of these surprises!

Well I was reading three books, but history of reading and Monkey king will have to wait; the mother in law has me under its spell. Fabulous writing and pacing, plus hating a character one minute but then suddenly understanding her. None of us know what others are going through If this ends the way it started, Ill surely read more from this author

dropped Monkey King; Just got tired of him winning all the time, it got boring. Tho loved the introduction that explained its history and how it influenced us even to this day gave it a 3 just for that

Finished afterlife I love julia alverez's in the time of butterflies and how the garcia sisters lots their accents and loved this as well. a recent widow in new hamshire helps a young hispanic man to rescue his fiance from coyotes in mexico. Usually you find these stories closer to the boarder, but that far north, there is plenty of hate for immigrants. Really loved her characters; very satisfying ending 5*

Mother in Law turned out to be a surprising gem. She is dead, who killed her and why. The ending surprised me but very satisfactory 5*

I tried a few of her other books but they are all basically the same plot with different charactrs.

Still slowly reading a history of reading I am loving it but its taking its sweet time

disappointed with dragon kingdom a poor sequel to the firt. Hated what was don with the main character, Rin, she turns into a whiny child. ah well

Reading she who became the sun for this months asian chalenge. Looks fun

just finished with she who became the sun and really loved it, its a gender twist on the story of the founder of the Ming dynasty, with the character the same name, but its definitely a fantasy, . Like my previous read dragon republic the main character has desires of greatness that she comes to understand comes at great costs. but I liked her strenght, intelligence, compassion despite what she she has to do to get what she wants. The ending lends itself to a sequel which I hope comes soon!

Note: people are comparing this with Mulan and Song of Achille. Dont be decieved: its not a heart warming tale of female empowerment, and except for the battles I have now idea how its connect to the Achilles story. But regardless its very much worth reading!

Just finiished convenience story woman wow this was taking pressure to conform to the nth degree. The ending reminded me of Jonathan Swift. With all that pressure, she manages to finally turns into herself , sort of. really not sure how to rate it...

Ok still reading a history of reading I keep going back to it because it is fascinating, but it so dense I can maybe get a chapter in at a time. its a lot. Right now Im on the chapter about stealing books where he talks abuot how books started becoming valuable enough for theives to start stealing them.Guglielmo Libriwas considered in the 19th centur the biggest book theif of all time..The nobleman stole more than 30,000 books and documents and managed to get away with it

Later the author goes off on a tangent that he does frequently and starts talking about his own library, and how hard it is to let go of books, "Ive had to abandon these books of mine before,for good reason at the time; but I also have to acknowledge a great loss...my memory keeps going back with mornful loss. And now with the years my memory is recalling less and less of these books. It seems to me like a looted library with vandals destroying my memory, The more decrepit my memory becomes the more I want to protect this repository of what Ive read...possesion of these books become all important to me, because Ive become jealous of the past"

something tells me that many readers here may have a similar feeling. Anyway each time i jump back into the pages, I learn more.

finished territory of lightg single mother trying to raise her child while everyone was yelling at her and judging her, (similar to what happened in convenience store worker) and having to deal with the constant nighttime crying of her child. and having no resources or options. all of it was very universal to women everywhere. I really got tired of what she was doing leaving her child alone while she went drinking I appreciated the language, there were some lovely images here, but it was such a depressing bookit was difficult to read; it was a book I was eager to finish; needed more joy I guess, still giving it a three*because the writing was really good

Finished Klara and the Sun. Like never let me go it left me cold. And sad. I liked Klara and her observations, but the rest was just slow. It didn't help that I was expecting a story about Japan; this story could have taken place anywhere. Thats ok I have other sources to go to

When I ordered the book, iI received something nstead a full interpretation of Klara and the Sun the blurb on the back says 'dying to read books but dont have enough time? WeReadYouListen is devoted to you finish a book in a fragment of the time' Sort of like Cliffnotes but even shorter. After 22 pages, the last page says 'congratulations you have finished the book!' This is not an audio book. anyway I know there is a need for it, just laughed coz it wasn't what I ordered. got my money back and got the real book

next up Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man: 15 Years at Studio Ghibli and companion piece

Im not sure what to think about companion piece Ive only read short stories from this author, so this my first novel. First of all the writing is stunning. As one of her characters says, you have a way with words. I have several pages marked with interesting quotes, Lots of the story concerns communication and language, as well as connection with stories I love her referencing the pandemic and how it was affecting her characters lives. And I absolutly loved the narrator. A pragmatic no nonsence professor who doesn't suffer fools gladly, and yet the kindness and compassion even for others who were trying to hurt her was rather moving

that being said, the first part, which Id read in the new yorker, was really good but it was just ignored. Then at the very end, quite a long story about a woman blacksmith, living in a village where they think she is a witch. I wasn't sure how this connected to the rest of the book, unless it was a way to tell the narrator's story which now that i think about it might be the answer. In the end I really liked it and want to read my by Ali Smith 4* stars tho that may be higher as I think about it some more

not sure how many people actually read this thread, but I am at a loss what to do

on another thread a poster mentioned how maddening and terrifying the world was now. Ive been thinking about this quite a lot and no longer know what to do

I am terrified about our future. If Russia doesnt blow up the nuclear plant, or climate change destroys us, our country is about to be controlled by people who do not care about the truth, or our democracy.

in my state, a trump supporter and election denyer might become our governor (interesting, the candidate running agains her in the primary was supported by Pence. It was a very close race and I think it would be a great irony if she demanded a recount but probably wont.) and we have a man running for sec of state we is a denier who may very well change the way we have voted for decades. Finally our state superintendent, a long time teacher, is running against a former senator who was removed from office for fraud, who's signs say 'stop critical race theory'. This is not to mention all the people against the Jan 6 committee and think the FBI agents should be shot

The Pikei Avot 'teachings of the fathers' has always guided me in my social justice activity: "Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly NOW. Love mercy NOW. Walk humbly NOW. You are not obligated to complete the work but neither are you free to abandon it." but I fear my little donations and petition signing and such will not matter one bit.

Sorry about ranting but I needed to post what I am now feeling. I look around me and see such beauty and delight and I think it will all be swept away. Just wondered, how are others dealing with all this?

>48 cindydavid4: Many of us are feeling the same way. I'm lucky that I live in California, where we don't have to fear an imminent takeover of anti-Democrat forces locally, at least on a statewide basis. But the way forward is very difficult to see. I may look into signing up to go to one of the battleground campaigns and do some organized knocking on doors come November. Not everybody has the freedom of retirement/no kids, etc., to consider such an activity, though. But we do know that, even in the face of all the factors you've outlined, there has actually been quite a bit of positive movement in Washington lately. I have my fingers crossed that things won't turn out as badly as we're fearing in the mid-terms. But then again, I thought McGovern was going to beat Nixon.

Also, no need to apologize about what you post on your own thread, I don't think.

>48 cindydavid4: I couldn't agree with you more Cindy. I am so fearful for the future, especially for my children and grandchildren who will be dealing with these messes long after I'm gone. I am ashamed to say that many days, as more bad news follows more bad news, I tell myself that I won't be around that much longer to have to deal with it, but then I think of my kids.
Right now I'm holding out hope that some of the more ridiculous and deluded candidates are only candidates because in the primaries they won, only the most extreme people voted. I extremely anxious about the November general election, hoping that reason will prevail, and trying not to panic until then.

>48 cindydavid4: Cindy, where do you live?

I read your thread faithfully, Cindy, although I don't always comment, or I comment on a different thread on the same topic. And I agree with Jerry, post as you like on your own thread. I think you are voicing fears that many, if not most, of us have. In the US, everything seems dire to everyone: some, like us, fearing the far right; others fearing the exact opposite. I fear Trumpism, others see him as their last great hope. What happens to a fearful country so evenly divided politically? I guess we'll find out. Sometimes I feel a bit more secure in my rural area where things seem to move slower, but then again we had white supremacists outside the Kittery Trading Post with signs reading "Keep Maine White," so how secure is it anywhere?

>51 dianeham: arizona that actually voted for Biden in the last election.

>52 labfs39: I hear you. We have a guy whose lawn has been mowed to show Trumps name on it. ive got my signs up wondering if Ill loose any When they start taking about shooting FBI agents I just have to wonder what this will all lead up to. like you say, guess we'll find out

>49 rocketjk: Thanks. And I thought Kerry would beat Bush silly me. You know that was about the time of the swift boat and tea party who were railing against Kerry, saying he didn;t get a purple heart and that his wife was too rich. so now we have a former president who is rich and got out of enlisting in the military.

Question about Humphrey; I was still little when he was running against Nixon. Why did he lose and lose so badly?

>55 cindydavid4: "Question about Humphrey; I was still little when he was running against Nixon. Why did he lose and lose so badly?"

My memory of that (I was 13 at the time) was that there were several factors:

* He was boring
* He had been LBJ's Vice President and was painted with the brush of having favored the Vietnam War, rather than being able to bask in the glow of LBJ's Great Society programs. But then again, if Vietnam hadn't been such a terrible weight, Johnson would have been running for reelection, anyway.
* He was attacked from the left by Eugene McCarthy, and the country was also still reeling from the recent assassination of Robert Kennedy. Remember that RFK, who had rather belatedly but quite forcefully taken up the cause of social justice and reform, was murdered on the night that he had just won the California primary. There was the feeling that Democrats had thereby been left with Humphrey as a default, and it was hard to be enthusiastic. This was just past the zenith of the counter-culture, which was nevertheless still roaring throughout much of the culture and the body politic. Humphrey was caught in the middle. He was too establishment to catch the imagination of young Democrats, and he couldn't out-hawk Nixon when it came to Vietnam.
* George Wallace, running as a third party candidate, took 13.5% of the popular vote. And while Nixon beat Humphrey handily when it came to electoral votes, the popular vote breakdown between Nixon and Humphrey was only 43.4% to 42.7% in Nixon's favor. Wallace won five southern states, and Nixon won the rest, except for Texas, which Humphrey won,* probably because LBJ was a Texan.
* Nixon took advantage of, and certainly stoked, an anti-counter culture and anti-Civil Rights backlash (to the extent that he could, given Wallace's presence in the race and ownership of the racism issue.)

Wikipedia has this to say about the Wallace candidacy:

The support of civil rights by the Johnson administration hurt Humphrey's image in the South, leading to the prominent Democratic governor of Alabama, George Wallace, to mount a third-party challenge against his own party to defend racial segregation on the basis of "state's rights". Wallace led a far-right American Independent Party attracting socially conservative voters throughout the South, and encroaching further support from white-working class voters in the Industrial North and Midwest who were attracted to Wallace's economic populism and anti-establishment rhetoric. In doing so, Wallace split the New Deal Coalition, winning over Southern Democrats, as well as former Goldwater supporters who preferred Wallace to Nixon.

It would seem from that that Wallace took more support from Humphrey than from Nixon overall, but this is Wikipedia. I don't know what more knowledgeable historians have to say on this point.

* To be clear, I had to look all that up!

fyi: I read an extremely fascinating memoir about RFK last year called We Band of Brothers: A Memoir of Robert Kennedy by Edwin Guthman. Guthman was a journalist in Seattle and got to know Kennedy when he was doing anti-corruption work for the Justice Department in that town. Later, Guthman served on Kennedy's staff when RFK was Attorney General under his brother, John. The book was written only a few years after Robert Kennedy's death.

I was 18 during that election, and it would have been the first time I could vote except that back then the voting age was 21. It was a big thing that guys were being sent to die in Vietnam at 18, but couldn't vote. By the next presidential election in 1972 the voting age had been lowered to 18.
I think Humphrey lost because of Vietnam and because of his association with LBJ. One thing that wasn't known at the time was that Nixon while a candidate interfered in the ongoing peace negotiations. He promised the South Vietnamese a better deal if he was elected, and had them throw a monkey wrench in any proposed peace deals. It is quite possible that had Nixon not interfered the war would have been over before the election, or at least much sooner than the 5 or so more years Nixon conducted the war. There is a tape that came out years later of LBJ talking to Senator Everett Dirksen (I think he was the majority leader), telling him what Nixon was doing and calling it treason. However, LBJ didn't want to make it public during the election because it might look like he was playing politics. (Another example of Dems acting too honorably where Repubs are involved?)

>56 rocketjk: thanks for that, I was 11. I get what you are saying about why Humpheys didn't make it. Totally forgot about Wallace. My dad and I were watching the news when RFK was assassinted. When asked what the news event I remember, usually I say JFK. But I was only six, and complained that there were no cartoons on during his funeral However the death of RFK made a huge impact on me and always wondered what would have happened if he were alive and won the election. Would like to read that book

>57 arubabookwoman: Great point about Nixon's scuttling Johnson's peace deal.

yeah Id never heard that before! One of those what if questions; if johnson was able to make peace, I suspect he would have run again and probably won. And it just proves how awful Nixon was. He had to have realized that so many more men would die.

just remembered how th peace talks were made difficult because of disagreement over who sits where at the table, even the shape of the table. Wonder if that was one of the 'monkey wrenches' they threw in

May be the only reader around not in love with before the coffee gets coldbut there is it. I like the premise and the rules, and like the lesson that we cant change the past but we can make the future. But the writing is so full of repetition, and the characters rathr leave me cold. I'll finish it because I want to know what happens, but disappointed coz I wanted to love it. oh well

I am however loving setting free the kites. Cant remember who recommended this one but oh my its wonderful; spent the day reading it, about half way done and may spend the night finishing it. I suspect this will not be the last book I read by this author. Thanks again for the rec!

>48 cindydavid4: - I think many of us are currently depressed and anxious about what is happening in the world. But I think it's important to keep an eye out for all the good that's happening, Cindy. It gets a lot less attention, but it really is there. Unfortunately, especially the negative news gets a lot of attention and that generates a lot of anger, fear and frustration.
I am not blind to everything that is happening, but on the other hand you can only handle so much. The only thing we can do is to continue to focus on the good, to lead by example and to try to contribute positively to our society in every possible way, no matter how small. And also to keep everything in perspective, no matter how disturbing some signals are today. Because all this attention to the negative contributes nothing essential to its reduction while our only hope is to keep focussed on the positive. You are not alone. We're here to support each other.

>62 Trifolia: The only thing we can do is to continue to focus on the good, to lead by example and to try to contribute positively to our society in every possible way, no matter how small.

I agree with you, and appreciate the support But the world will not change if we dont attend to the wrongs and injustice, and find ways to solve them. I think its possible to be positive and have hope, while working to make change.

Its hard to reduce the amount of news I take in with the 24/7 news cycle, but I am trying to pick and choose my sources and decide how I will reacts to it. I used to watch the news with my dad, starting when I was 10 or so, so the habit is deeply ingrained in me. But I am going to try to back off a bit. Thanks!

Finished setting free the kites,someone compared it to a separate peace and I think thats about right. Very well written, with complex characte4rs that you cant help care about. , I did have some trouble towards the end of the story, one of the characters does something that is so out of character that is impossible to believe. but it still works. I sorta wish there was no epilogue, didn't think it was needed, but it did bring the story full circle. Definitely will read more from this author! 4*

>48 cindydavid4: I'm with you completely, Cindy. I feel more hopeful now that I've moved back to Pennsylvania from Georgia, especially since it seems likely that our new governor (Josh Shapiro) and US senator (John Fetterman) will both be Democrats. I was also encouraged by the upset wins by Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the senatorial races in Georgia in 2021 that switched the Senate back into Democratic control. I would like to think that several recent events (January 6th, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the FBI raid on Trump's home) would energize people to vote against extreme conservative candidates, and that we've perhaps turned a corner away from fascism and back towards a true and equal democracy that we and the world can be proud of.

Chiming in. Yes, the world does feel quite depressing at the moment, so I limit myself on the amount of news I allow myself to consume each day. I balance it by thinking how people must have felt during previous periods of major war, disease and political upheaval - perhaps it's just cyclical but all feels extra depressing on the back of 3 years of Covid. It's also a different world now with different levels of weaponry, so yes - I'm also scared by the thought of what someone like Putin will do if he stays in power but feels all avenues forward closing off to him.

I ordered oil for my tank last week, and know the girl who owns the fuel company well. We were chatting about whether or not it was a good time to buy, and she was telling me that they are advising that it's best to have the oil in the tank for this winter as there are fears that supply could be restricted by Russia. Every day the headline news in the UK seems to be about how much more energy prices are going to hit people, just when it feels like it can't get any more expensive, and of course it's the knock on effect of the price of food, etc. which is going up at a rate of knots. Inflation is sky high.

We also seem to have returned to the era of union action in the UK. Last week when I was in London there were both train and tube strikes. Now the port of Felixstowe is on strike for 8 days which will have a huge impact on UK trade as it handles almost half of all UK shipments. Criminal barristers are also going on strike. I'm struggling to sympathise with these strikes. The dockers, for instance, want a 10% pay rise due to the cost of living rising so highly. It's also rising for those working in the private sector too, most of which have never had a 10% pay rise year on year in their working lives, but we don't down tools. The criminal barristers have already turned down a 15% from the government.

Sigh. Everything feels out of control.

These are scary times, and to be a compassionate person looking outside your own periphery is to invite in still more pain, but it's necessary to be a human being right now. Just watching grocery, gas, and utility prices go up and thinking of the many, many ways that people on the margins are being shut out of participation, comfort, ease from fear. And that's just worrying domestically.

I also try to keep my news consumption down—I'm not a TV watcher, so that makes it easier, I think. And while I do have to keep on top of a certain portion of the news cycle for work that just makes me see red, I try to take some comfort in the fact that I'm paying such close attention because I'm addressing it, and channel my anger into my work. I'm pretty removed from the mainstream in many senses—politically, professionally, even physically (my daily view is of a leafy quiet back yard, even if I'm four blocks from the subway)—and sometimes I just need to lean into that and feed my soul accordingly, make my own serenity a priority so I can get up and fight when I need to. Because it's a shitty world out there.

Thanks Lisa; like you I am paying attention and addressing anger by writing donating and supporting. Unfortunately I am home frequently bedauxeI am retired. So Ihave way too mudh time on my hand being on line doom scrolling I am volunteering, and need to do more. But its usually in the back of my mind. Oh this vale of tears

Speakingof which a young AA boy was stopped last night because his bike had a broken front lighy (I guess if he was older he'd say tail light) He tried to run but was shot (he did have a gun did not point it, just tossed away) when he fell to the ground he was shot again

I dont know how but his grief stricken mother posted this (don't know if she wrote it)

Do good despite the unfairness the world has to offer. Do what is right, even when the world does you wrong. Be good and succeed, despite where you grew up and who is trying to hold you down. Show the world you were put here for a reason. Anthony changed many lives just by being a part of those lives. Take that spirit and drive that Anthony had and change the world. Anthony believed in you and so do I.”

I will do what I can

ok back to books ---please??

juggling 4 books, one I found in the beach bag from this summer and the other I just happened to look at while dusting

a dance for emilia something for the sept theme of Harvest Moon. Love this author and so glad he now has all his material in his hands

the wizard of lonliness another coming of age that sort of sounds like setting free the kites

along those lines written by a book friend of mine (and lisas!)He writes like the late tony horowitz being serious but has a sense of humor

Oh the last book is for the Asian theme-Japan
about a man who spent 15 years living in the Ghilbi house.

so what are you all reading?

So I am at big sisters house, helping take care 0f her for a few days
Yesterday she fell and broke her humerus. She's doing fine just sore. So I brought wizard of loneliness to read but instead I saw Paul McCartney the life that I bought for sis for her birthday. She had not read it yet but let me start it. A much better choice enjoying it so far

>70 cindydavid4: I bought my brother a book a year ago and he hasn’t read it and probably won’t. I don’t live close enough to go take it back. Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne. My brother told me he thinks I’m a narcissist so no more presents for him! More for me! Lol 😆

>71 dianeham: ha! My sis never mind ded taking her books but expected returns without dogears, so I know the drill. No presents indeed!

finished the wizard of loneliness enjoyed it for the most part. A teen is sent away from his grandparents house to his uncles family for being trouble. As usual in these cases, there is more than meets the eye; he is troubled but wants to be wanted. His mother died and father is at war. Eventually he does accept and is accepted in his new family. Im giving this a 4, rather than a five, because there were just way too many incidents that got tireing after a while. The writing is just as good as his the milagro beanfield warthinking I may need to read another by him. I recognized the title the sterile cuckoo, think we had it at home but was never interested. Might try that one

My first read for the month was the great passage about a bookish solitary man who ends up working on a new dictionary. He ends up having a love interest, that the love letter he ends up writing would please any reader, I think. I had trouble in the beginning because his coworkers were rather mean to him, and I thought one of them was going to try to steal her away, but he didn't. Nice story with a happy ending. Read this for the august asian challenge, just under the wire! *5

reading we never talk about my brother for sept rtt Harvest moon theme, crying in H mart for the sept AC Korea. also the private lives of trees, paul mccartney the life just for my own self.

Finished we never talk about my brother, a really excellent collection of stories that definitly fit the sept autumn feel. Think my fav story was the tale of junko and sayuri. My only complaint was that this edition's print is very small, esp on the introductions to each one. Needed a magnifying glass for heavens sakes.Just weird but worth it I guess 4*

Really liking autumn hope she hits the landing in the end.....

I really loved the seasons quartet.

Aaaaaand thats a 5* landing. Definitely reading the rest of these. Interesting writer; when I first was reading this (along with companion piece) it felt like she was all over the place and wasnt sure I liked the style. Glad I was patient and saw more or less where she was going. Looking forward to the next one.

Smith is not afraid to experiment, yet she makes it work.

Now reading crying in H mart Im not a foodie but I can so relat to how the traditional foods that connect family together. I can also relate to my very critical and judgemental mother suddenly being her other self when she was ill, and I was able to became the daugther that she needed as she was dying. There are still moments of guilt and anger, but we all realize our parents as people, and morn them when they leave us An excellent memoir, filled with Korean recipes. I'd like to go to a Korean restauant here and try them! probably finish it tomorrow.

Finished crying in H Mart} I lilked it, certainly got a taste (pun intended) of what Korea is like.I loved her expressing her emotions and grief through food. That being said, towards the end I could have used less description. Did like how her life came together so well.Wonder what she'll write next 4*

Now reading the impossible lives of Greta Wells This is the book Midnight Library wanted to be but failed. Just excellent time travel via a cue for depression. Hoping this continues to be great til the end; I have read max tivoli ( much better than benjamin button ) and story of a marriage. Need to read some more by him

Hi Cindy, I didn't want to hijack Darryl's thread with an ongoing conversation, so answering over here. To be quite honest, starting out as a Deaf Studies concentration was a happy accident. I didn't know what I wanted to do and wasn't really thinking of going to college at all, but one of my local community colleges had a brochure and I saw it. I'd always loved sign languages and had an interest in learning, so I signed up and went. I didn't stay in the community, but I have a great appreciation for it and have continued to read up on it. I chose not to go into the interpreter program, though to be honest it's in the back of my mind that if I ever wanted a complete career change I could go back and do it. I have a lot more confidence in myself, and my ability to correct an error, than I was at 19-20.

By the way, I've been interested following along with your Asian Book Challenge reads. I still have Sovietistan on my TBR list, and hope to make time for it sometime soon. And I'll be getting Crying in H Mart from the library soon, though we'll see when I get a chance to pick it up. I have at least one chunkster lined up as my next read. Have a good weekend!

Oh I was blown away by Sovietistan Would love it if she wrote something about the other areas (she did write Borders, which started out good but got so repetitive by the time she got done that I could not remember who was what. ) hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

>85 cindydavid4: I have Sovietistan on my shelf, too, it was a BB from spiralsheep who hasn't posted anything on LT for a long time. Have you heard anything from her?

No its been over a year. Worried about her and miss her. I still have ancestor stones from her and need to finish it.

>87 cindydavid4: "Worried about her and miss her." Me too :-(

Actually decided that I want to read Ancestor Stones and The Hired Man, thinking of her.

finished Greta Wells, very interesting time travel concept, really more parallel universes, with a twist: the characters in one time know the characters in the other. The end got convaluted tho, many times i lost track of which characters were where, when iykwim. Still, credit given for imagination 3*

Going in to the hospital for some long postponed surgery that no longer can wait. Ill be there at least over night, possibly two. I have three books, think thats enough? Im rather anxious about this but its for the best. I still plan on posting afterwards when I can.

>90 cindydavid4: All the best. I had surgery in April and brought two books, but never opened either as the drugs were too good for me to be able to concentrate on reading. I don't know if that will be your story, of course. At any rate, the important part of this message is that I'm wishing you complete success, as low-stress an experience as a hospital event can possibly provide and a quick recovery.

thx!!!

Good luck, Cindy. I hope your stay there is as uneventful as possible.

Good luck for your surgery!

Hope all goes smoothly, Cindy, and that you're back home with your books before you know it.

>90 cindydavid4: Good luck being able to read in a hospital... :)

More seriously though - good luck with the surgery and hopefully all goes well.

Hope you have the best highly skilled surgeon.

Good luck with your surgery, Cindy. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Best wishes! Hope all went well yesterday.

In principle you can never have too many books in hospital, because it’s so hard to work out in advance what you will want to read/be able to focus on. The down side is that the nurses start borrowing from your pile…

Ha never heard them wanting my books but did hear some nurses interested in my music I played

Thx guys, ses to have gone smoothly just waiit for his release approval. We'll looks like they need to do more tests. Sigh...

Surgery is over? Oh good.

I hope you are released back into the wild soon. I know I can never sleep well in hospitals.

Thx for all your wishes. Surgery was a success. just Took is forever to get of there, but Im home with plenty of meds and diets for the next four weeks I can walk but not drive or excersises for abot 3-6 weeks. No restrictions of books however!

Glad all went well. Rest up with some good books.

>104 cindydavid4: Good to hear!

Congratulations on the successful event and especially to being back home. Great news.

thx.it is good to be home! trying to figure out all the meds they sent home as well as my usual meds and how they work together or not..Ill figure it out, in my spare time.

Finihsed my brilliant life that was just lovely to read. Now finally starting marriage portrait that Ive had for a month and haven't gotten to it yet!

>103 labfs39: hee really. This time wasnt so bad as last ones they didn't poke me every 3 hours for bloodwork so I could get some sleep!

Cindy, where do you live? Lots of you on here have known each other a while so you all probably know things like that.

>110 dianeham: ?know things like what? :).

I live in the phx area and there are few others here as well And I have only been on since 2016, never have had the pleasure of face2 face events tho we often had them during the readerville days (earlier book online group) but I feel like I have made buddies here,

>111 cindydavid4: just always think you guys are old friends.

heh, yes it does seem that way, even tho we have never met!

Happy New Year, l'shanah tova to all of you! may this new year bring you joy, good health, good reads, prosperity and peace!

>112 dianeham: I just "met" Cindy in the last year or so, but have enjoyed following along. Getting to know one another is one of the nice things about a smaller group like Club Read.

>114 cindydavid4: L'shanah tovah to you too!

I am very sad to report that I could not finish marriage portrait First book of hers this has happened to I tried to give it many chances but I kept thinking there are other books to read. Itsreally a bloated book with way too many descriptions and repetitionsand a sense of why bother if you already it told us what happens. The historical character herself was interesting in her own right and deserves a good book written about her. This wasn't it 1*

I know author has a chronic illness and has a child with a disability, so who knows if that is affecting her writing. Crossing my fingers that the rest of her work has the quality of storytelling I have enjoyed from her.

Some one here suggested I try a newer book by guy gavriel kay. I used to love his stuff till all the plots, characters sounded the same. So I just started a brightness long ago so far even the map is a different world and the plot interests me. so crossing my fingers

I will be reading the blue sky for the asian challenge oct theme, indochin. reminds me of the book I read for the stans a day lasts one hundred years

I was in love with the blue sky, aIts a gentle and humorous story of a young boy from Mongolia, and love how the story tells of his family culture and lore as he grows. And then - this is not a spoiler as its told on the book flap, but his beloved dog eats poison that his father had put out for the worlves to keep them from the lambs. Oh my god what this boy does to drag him and keep him alive doing this and that while the dog is suffering horribly. The boy screams to the sky to save him, and this goes on for several pages. Nothing about putting him out of his misery.
I skimmed a lot of the end and despite my early love this isnt a fav. Giving it 3 stars because I really was enjoying this, and I learned quite a bit about the area during the Stalinist era. But no more

I have given up on the Macartney book which is too bad because it started out great. But this is an example of a data dump. Everything about him is over analized and by the time we got to 1958 I just couldnt do any more, life is too short. The author was given permission to all sorts of people and events and such but no one gave him an editor! Too bad cuz I gave this to my sis for her birthday, but she let me read it first. Saw him in concert here this summer. Ah well

Started reading the twilight world for the RTT November theme of Endings. This book is about the japanese soldier found in the phillipines in the 70s who toward the end of the war had been ordered to stay guard. I remember reading about it in school. Ive not read anything by Herzog but know of his movies.should be interesting.

So for the last two weeks, with one more to go, I have been stuck at home due to my surgery and not being able to drive on medication (thank goodness for DH and friends who have picked me up to het out of the house) so what have I been doing you ask! Well I have had a box of videos sitting in a closet, filled with films of my students from the years 1988-2001. I always said I needed to go through them and so guess now was the time. Oh my, Not only do I wonder how I had that much energy, but see my little guys playing laughing and learning. Reminded me how much I love teaching, and what a joy it was to be part of these kids lives (many of them are on FB so I get to see them grow up!) Enjoying the heck out of them. Not sure why I stopped at 2001 but have plenty of photos of those classes) Suspect Ill be done by the time of my dr appt next week. They will probably go right back in the box but I no longer think about tossing them. Im keeping them for a very long time!

>121 cindydavid4: I downloaded the sample of that book but haven’t read it. Herzog can be pretty crazy.

mmm in what way?

>124 cindydavid4: dragging a steamboat over a mountain for the movie Fitzcaraldo. Threatening to kill Klaus Kinski.

14 Insane Stories From The Strange Life of Werner Herzog
https://www.ranker.com/list/insane-werner-herzog-stories/anncasano

Oh my!!!!! Well that explains his fascination with this soldier, who lived in the jungle for 30 years. Ill keep all that in mind as I read it. Thanks for the heads up!!!

Just finished reading our missing hearts and sat outside with the book in my hands, thinking for a while. Not saying anything else. but Im giving it 5* just read it

Put down hired man just too slow for me. Started book of illusions which Ive been meaning to read forever and just found it at a used book store. Anything about silent movies has my attention, and besides I like his writing

Oh oh oh, Natalie Haynes has a new book stone blind about Medusa. Its not out until February, but no matter I am preordering it now!

book of illusions is quite good, about a man who loses his family in car crash, and ultimately notices news about a silent film comedian who disappeared 50 years earlier. There wasn't a wrong move here and makes me think I need to read more of him

Now reading terry pratchett a life with footnotes Its long, but very good. Not a haigography that might be expected from his assistant, but a well researched and thought out semi first person account of this excellent writer his successes, his personality (not all sunshine and rainbows) and in the end the chronical of his death after being diagnosed with early onset alzhiemers. You probably need to be a fan, but if you are, you are in for a treat (Make sure you have kleenex handy)

Finished terry pratchett life with footnotes The first part, talking about his childhood through writing his first book was excellent as was the last section after his diagnosis until his very untimely death, was even more (and required several kleenex to get through.) In between was lots of talk about book selling,book awards, times when Pratchett behaved very badly various anectdotes from various people, things that the author of the bio was involved in, and some parts of Pratchetts personality which led me to rather dislike him somewhat (tho understood why he did the things he did). Very little surprisingly about the actual writing of books, some here and there that were interesting. But more than the awards and accolades and such, thats what I wanted to know the most. so... I started out with 5 stars went down to three. still not sure. I remember meeting him, and loving his work. Maybe I should just start rereading Discworld. That might help

then I happened upon this review "I had to take a star off my rating, because the main character dies. Surely a mistake. With the familiarity of deep friendship, and obvious respect, Rob Wilkins shares with us Sir Terry's irascible views, easily kindled curiosity, and unfailing satisfaction with tinkering. the biography is told with a deft hand, never hiding the fact that this is *not* being written as an unbiased account of a literary figure. It is instead a loving reminiscence of a life lived large.

Mind how you go."

new thread here https://www.librarything.com/topic/345386#n7961477