Cindy's "Finish the Year" challenge
Forum"Five and Dime" Category Challenge
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1cmbohn
I am looking forward to the 11 in 11 challenge, but I noticed that most of my categories for that are for fiction. I want to read some other things before I start that, so this will be perfect! Thanks for starting this group, ThrillerFan!
And I reserve the right to switch this to a 10 book category if I want to, or just repeat it. We'll see.
And I reserve the right to switch this to a 10 book category if I want to, or just repeat it. We'll see.
2cmbohn
5 of History
1. Aristocrats: Power, Grace, and Decadence - 3 stars
2. Redcoats and Rebels - currently listening
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens - 4 stars
4. Undaunted Courage
5. one more, maybe about the Hoover Dam, maybe something else
1. Aristocrats: Power, Grace, and Decadence - 3 stars
2. Redcoats and Rebels - currently listening
3. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens - 4 stars
4. Undaunted Courage
5. one more, maybe about the Hoover Dam, maybe something else
3cmbohn
5 of Health
1. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain
2. Valley of Sorrow - currently reading
3. A Handbook of Chakra Healing
4. Another Day in the Frontal Lobe - 4 stars
5.
1. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain
2. Valley of Sorrow - currently reading
3. A Handbook of Chakra Healing
4. Another Day in the Frontal Lobe - 4 stars
5.
7cmbohn
Finished book #1 -
Aristocrats: Power, Grace, Decadence by Lawrence James
Most English history books focus on the kings and queens of the land. Occasionally you'll read a book, usually fiction, about some other aspect of history - towns or village life. But this is the only book I've read that talks exclusively about the aristocratic class and how history worked from THEIR perspective. Which doesn't mean that kings and peasants don't get their fair share - they do. It's just that the emphasis is on the 'upper class' and their role in the history of Great Britain.
Some of it was review. I was glad to get a chance to read about the signing of the Magna Carta. Some was entirely new. I never really understood the history of the House of Lords or the Glorious Revolution, for instance. And some was confusing. I still don't really understand the War of the Roses.
While I enjoyed this book, and it sure gave me much to think about, it was overload in the amount of names that were thrown around. I had a very hard time keeping things straight. The writer also assumes that the reader already knows about English history and society, and doesn't explain things as much as he occasionally needs to, especially during the modern era. I got kind of overwhelmed.
It's safe to say that this book will not overcome my own republican tendencies - that's with a lower case r, to be sure - but it did give me a lot to think about. I am still very much a populist at heart, but when the aristocratic tradition worked as its best, a tradition of honor and public service, it produced great things for England. But when it went wrong, it was amazing how much suffering it caused.
Off to a good start! I'm pretty much just cutting and pasting my reviews from one thread to another, but I really don't have time for anything else.
Aristocrats: Power, Grace, Decadence by Lawrence James
Most English history books focus on the kings and queens of the land. Occasionally you'll read a book, usually fiction, about some other aspect of history - towns or village life. But this is the only book I've read that talks exclusively about the aristocratic class and how history worked from THEIR perspective. Which doesn't mean that kings and peasants don't get their fair share - they do. It's just that the emphasis is on the 'upper class' and their role in the history of Great Britain.
Some of it was review. I was glad to get a chance to read about the signing of the Magna Carta. Some was entirely new. I never really understood the history of the House of Lords or the Glorious Revolution, for instance. And some was confusing. I still don't really understand the War of the Roses.
While I enjoyed this book, and it sure gave me much to think about, it was overload in the amount of names that were thrown around. I had a very hard time keeping things straight. The writer also assumes that the reader already knows about English history and society, and doesn't explain things as much as he occasionally needs to, especially during the modern era. I got kind of overwhelmed.
It's safe to say that this book will not overcome my own republican tendencies - that's with a lower case r, to be sure - but it did give me a lot to think about. I am still very much a populist at heart, but when the aristocratic tradition worked as its best, a tradition of honor and public service, it produced great things for England. But when it went wrong, it was amazing how much suffering it caused.
Off to a good start! I'm pretty much just cutting and pasting my reviews from one thread to another, but I really don't have time for anything else.
8cmbohn
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
Did you know that Genghis Khan was noted as a fair and enlightened ruler? Well, in part. He believed in a fair trial, a code of rules, and women's rights. In fact, his sons were all mostly washouts. But his daughters were pretty darn talented. So he made them administrators and generals and sent them out to maintain order along the borders of his empire. But then he died, and his heirs starting squabbling.
I really enjoyed this. Every once in a while, I got a little bogged down in details. But overall, it was a very interesting read.
Oh, some parts are not for the squeamish. Some super nasty torture descriptions that I would have been happy to skip, if I had known they were coming. Ew. But I loved the story of Queen Mandhuhai the Wise who united the Mongols against the Chinese
Great story and recommended. 4 stars
Did you know that Genghis Khan was noted as a fair and enlightened ruler? Well, in part. He believed in a fair trial, a code of rules, and women's rights. In fact, his sons were all mostly washouts. But his daughters were pretty darn talented. So he made them administrators and generals and sent them out to maintain order along the borders of his empire. But then he died, and his heirs starting squabbling.
I really enjoyed this. Every once in a while, I got a little bogged down in details. But overall, it was a very interesting read.
Oh, some parts are not for the squeamish. Some super nasty torture descriptions that I would have been happy to skip, if I had known they were coming. Ew. But I loved the story of Queen Mandhuhai the Wise who united the Mongols against the Chinese
Great story and recommended. 4 stars
9cmbohn
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik
Maybe it's because I have my own neurological issues (want to see my MRI?), but I find the brain fascinating stuff. So this book is right up my alley. It starts by talking about the texture of the brain. Is it more like tofu or toothpaste? I'm not sure, but it was sure an interesting image.
Firlik is both a doctor and a good solid writer. She compares neurosurgeons (they don't just work on brains; they do spines too) to mechanics. Sometimes it's medicine, but sometimes it's tinkering. They are not psychiatrists. They don't worry about how your MIND works. They just fix the brain itself, when they can.
This is not for the squeamish. If you can't make it past the first paragraph, then put the book down. It contains some graphic descriptions of surgery. And maggots. OK, that was gross. But it was still really cool, at least, to me. And surprisingly addictive stuff. 4 stars.
Maybe it's because I have my own neurological issues (want to see my MRI?), but I find the brain fascinating stuff. So this book is right up my alley. It starts by talking about the texture of the brain. Is it more like tofu or toothpaste? I'm not sure, but it was sure an interesting image.
Firlik is both a doctor and a good solid writer. She compares neurosurgeons (they don't just work on brains; they do spines too) to mechanics. Sometimes it's medicine, but sometimes it's tinkering. They are not psychiatrists. They don't worry about how your MIND works. They just fix the brain itself, when they can.
This is not for the squeamish. If you can't make it past the first paragraph, then put the book down. It contains some graphic descriptions of surgery. And maggots. OK, that was gross. But it was still really cool, at least, to me. And surprisingly addictive stuff. 4 stars.
