tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879882641178716402024-02-20T11:03:08.180-06:00Green Bird ReadingA blog about books and sometimes, life.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-69733790086935282632016-01-22T13:23:00.000-06:002016-01-22T13:23:00.845-06:00 <a href="http://kikigreenbird.tumblr.com/post/137827247431/5-great-reads-for-a-cold-snowy-winters-day-1" target="_blank">Snowy Day Reads</a><br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-34683011102272062252015-12-31T19:54:00.003-06:002015-12-31T19:54:17.016-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej2mve8J9TJKeRGjeg7i1XjTGPFraQD-HmjlgIntvKK68jVUT2LGPJB8e3bUQHHzFXMte1_jnttX6kV0SijfDBAMncWjMhdh0xMAqw42oZQ9i_kXh4l5hfiwmAQXp438ym_TwjX7taGw/s1600/12458698_10206921866898354_334328814_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej2mve8J9TJKeRGjeg7i1XjTGPFraQD-HmjlgIntvKK68jVUT2LGPJB8e3bUQHHzFXMte1_jnttX6kV0SijfDBAMncWjMhdh0xMAqw42oZQ9i_kXh4l5hfiwmAQXp438ym_TwjX7taGw/s320/12458698_10206921866898354_334328814_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-72811981330136671152015-12-31T19:53:00.001-06:002015-12-31T19:53:24.253-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-42570102370651507732015-03-16T00:09:00.001-05:002015-03-16T00:09:28.104-05:00Virginia Woolf<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvMrIFDPuT_gAZPo6TdtbevDYOneYdjHV4tfXwKiv4275gGJnymGGQBiUUyAlW2_GYKI4I_mWPanBksUh6WHm4LD4_FmPCiWtlqvfyEJOeZIAQSqf2CT_MTbZiCKCO1vF0R1xA5n6loI/s640/blogger-image--1191313731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvMrIFDPuT_gAZPo6TdtbevDYOneYdjHV4tfXwKiv4275gGJnymGGQBiUUyAlW2_GYKI4I_mWPanBksUh6WHm4LD4_FmPCiWtlqvfyEJOeZIAQSqf2CT_MTbZiCKCO1vF0R1xA5n6loI/s640/blogger-image--1191313731.jpg"></a></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-36087584646526484542015-02-22T09:29:00.001-06:002015-02-22T09:29:52.296-06:00Nature Anatomy!A very cool book, I need a copy!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjCzD9xOsqIjtvyApll1jExzQXQ49ZmXKH78iHbMgJBXtc76y4q0vtehoJp30d22R6ofW5rSZQBN_DxcS10ZSmbICPqJjPXz2q6xcoPe4Gvq82oyqtv28pQtJcqEvNl9cbg2ZyGDrEYg/s640/blogger-image--76291581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjCzD9xOsqIjtvyApll1jExzQXQ49ZmXKH78iHbMgJBXtc76y4q0vtehoJp30d22R6ofW5rSZQBN_DxcS10ZSmbICPqJjPXz2q6xcoPe4Gvq82oyqtv28pQtJcqEvNl9cbg2ZyGDrEYg/s640/blogger-image--76291581.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtEhx1uSuzx1VcapS80B-lyKZlFYK0T0Vd5SCw0PS3qJERV-LFKfrjvuAX5eHFvHhouM3fmS-BlO6o6Cf_lYAKr-Z6YT_xis9ZyGVi8-kYiokbPDAweRdIN_TvshwzZ6TRP7v8jzHF0E/s640/blogger-image--1597156334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtEhx1uSuzx1VcapS80B-lyKZlFYK0T0Vd5SCw0PS3qJERV-LFKfrjvuAX5eHFvHhouM3fmS-BlO6o6Cf_lYAKr-Z6YT_xis9ZyGVi8-kYiokbPDAweRdIN_TvshwzZ6TRP7v8jzHF0E/s640/blogger-image--1597156334.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T5hlG-PDlVYZxa3wIPRNUHzKl6pps0JVu4ZB99GsKXhh_hCrODeJAYI69EJZimWIT0F7U-2PNzyvSx991cMPx_yL9UXplOUP8zamp8KwuzhjzED-UGVqqjPwWFAM-A11E2YHYXi_qY8/s640/blogger-image--1589999120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRWDIxDpH5LJQSgWrtukiGSXfSFOrwfYemu6km4uMqduW25RSBY7Wid2-MDhU7YIWMD7RaWrQtA8-N8EhJ_eTsKJW-tuLaahrk70Fc6x1OnLLViahKmDudOWyavgKR7xUcPntXFd5Q8A/s640/blogger-image--1690661788.jpg"></a></div>More cool infor and pictures from the book at Brain Pickings!</div><div><a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/02/20/nature-anatomy-julia-rothman/">http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/02/20/nature-anatomy-julia-rothman/</a></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-49955866726587964202015-02-17T21:23:00.001-06:002015-02-17T21:23:02.064-06:00Just a question...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMxibtwaz-H37osf2Cfer44gXN88dT63IcoxnkrvlJGTA2ps-wswNzIjKUdoUGQQzGj-rpmWIlJ0wKGR6KwzSFxMk7yAfTd2wUW27jWXObUqUtx9ugg4iOnYkDGW1mXXuRDppfwVtzF0/s640/blogger-image--1855885702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMxibtwaz-H37osf2Cfer44gXN88dT63IcoxnkrvlJGTA2ps-wswNzIjKUdoUGQQzGj-rpmWIlJ0wKGR6KwzSFxMk7yAfTd2wUW27jWXObUqUtx9ugg4iOnYkDGW1mXXuRDppfwVtzF0/s640/blogger-image--1855885702.jpg"></a></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-40879649955269999302015-02-04T15:52:00.002-06:002015-02-04T15:52:42.934-06:00A very compelling read.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm currently about half way through this new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/World-Before-Us-Novel/dp/0553418521/ref=la_B001K8SVOS_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423086192&sr=1-1" target="_blank">novel</a> that will be released in the States on March 31st, and I'm finding it to be very compelling, but also quite sad. I read Lauren Oliver's <b>Rooms</b> last year, and this book has a striking similarity to that one: ghosts, or more likely, spirits, of people who lived in places before the current livelier residents. However, they is not a haunted house novel, nor is it a book about ghosts, really. Very intriguing, I love the premise and setting, bouncing back and forth between two, different ages, in many of the same "haunts."</span><br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-19326442909395142472015-02-01T17:44:00.001-06:002015-02-01T17:44:17.834-06:00Vaccinate<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPTq0poaCoLDJQToFUoUWbWBRwUnwjRIMh4dQexoC9CQ56JWc4upFqa9F_PgCwFU0KjYwXGQXjseRKw0NTB3Hpxbv0B_BVSB_xrPsjiq17wN0TaXLxR907H2NCwTdI1wAhEHh2YUzbNo/s640/blogger-image-1989351980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPTq0poaCoLDJQToFUoUWbWBRwUnwjRIMh4dQexoC9CQ56JWc4upFqa9F_PgCwFU0KjYwXGQXjseRKw0NTB3Hpxbv0B_BVSB_xrPsjiq17wN0TaXLxR907H2NCwTdI1wAhEHh2YUzbNo/s640/blogger-image-1989351980.jpg"></a></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-29547807273357754612014-12-31T23:48:00.000-06:002014-12-31T23:48:48.320-06:00Happy Birthday EM Forster, born January 1, 1879<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-45192474787703567432014-12-31T23:39:00.001-06:002014-12-31T23:39:17.005-06:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuNFAsibDGo0I0XjFpbXhLeRYTpM-hsUB4ly2Ll8xlL5Elzavs_Z68S070xgKPEc4y4wgEY8ROC3yq2ZlMmcK3q0H1vI7wVHz1wyqBZpt7R7zqSaRNugOcAtblxHb2ppOxHONnxgfAiI/s640/blogger-image--713524161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuNFAsibDGo0I0XjFpbXhLeRYTpM-hsUB4ly2Ll8xlL5Elzavs_Z68S070xgKPEc4y4wgEY8ROC3yq2ZlMmcK3q0H1vI7wVHz1wyqBZpt7R7zqSaRNugOcAtblxHb2ppOxHONnxgfAiI/s640/blogger-image--713524161.jpg"></a></div>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-19197185520805319042014-12-29T12:23:00.001-06:002014-12-29T12:23:22.304-06:00A Book I'd Love To ReadI'd really love to read Ruth Goodman's new book, about How to Be A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/books/review/how-to-be-a-victorian-by-ruth-goodman.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Victorian</a>. It sounds fascinating. I'd love to see some her shows, too, I just love this kind of stuff!<div>
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When I was a kid, I really wanted to work at the local heritage museum on Long Island, Bethpage Village. When I grew up, I found out working there was truly a privilege, and that there actually is a waiting list! Dreams...</div>
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Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-49689356547765418682014-12-19T22:20:00.002-06:002014-12-19T22:20:40.506-06:00The TutorWell, I've been busy. Moving, working, etc. But now, I'm reading this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v9nJVAHo5kOVjZOQrYSaCPuGnEEr5rLA4K3j0ubQtnJ63uNFSuvN1hRV6Lc-R_v0X2q6nAaEs7mKndwDjw0ru0MJPR8rvim9p2_Q_zCDSSY6WjfjRaSzcOSoiYHYZZnAS-84jAolJ6w/s1600/5a1eb66741aede45f970d1fab173928b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v9nJVAHo5kOVjZOQrYSaCPuGnEEr5rLA4K3j0ubQtnJ63uNFSuvN1hRV6Lc-R_v0X2q6nAaEs7mKndwDjw0ru0MJPR8rvim9p2_Q_zCDSSY6WjfjRaSzcOSoiYHYZZnAS-84jAolJ6w/s1600/5a1eb66741aede45f970d1fab173928b.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Among other things of course. <br />
But this one is exciting! Will Shakespeare! Thi is an advanced reader copy, not due out until next year.<br />
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Other books I'm reading are Green Darkness by Anya Seton, just out of curiosity, and Ian McEwan's The Children Act. <br />
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And while tis has not been a banner year for me as far as quantity of reading is concerned, I did read some fantastic books. Next year, will be even better, I hope. I'm really looking forward to Kate Atkinson's spin off of Life After Life, God in the Ruins.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-47319007004192075012014-10-22T19:56:00.002-05:002014-10-22T19:56:57.537-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7CEFd2Ywsrw8hoERU4GIiyOLjE0kmrgbN-22KQoagScR_7mw8wVS2nV1pQUjw-akVNPejHtq7KBmt3-OFhG0PM0T2j5CygVsu0-d_EwNleyxU12dB0XyEOz_SYz5EWpQZRP7wNWr9ME/s1600/juvenile+robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7CEFd2Ywsrw8hoERU4GIiyOLjE0kmrgbN-22KQoagScR_7mw8wVS2nV1pQUjw-akVNPejHtq7KBmt3-OFhG0PM0T2j5CygVsu0-d_EwNleyxU12dB0XyEOz_SYz5EWpQZRP7wNWr9ME/s1600/juvenile+robin.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
By Brian Mckay via Flciker. Juvenile Robin. Sweet.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-6755348115653672572014-10-22T19:55:00.001-05:002014-10-22T19:55:46.602-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-85463055057562120882014-10-16T10:51:00.003-05:002014-10-16T10:51:50.828-05:00Please read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been raving about this wonderful book for a few weeks now. I'm still thinking about it just about every day since I've read it. You can find my review <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20170404-station-eleven" target="_blank">here</a> on Goodreads. <br />
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If you enjoyed The Bone Clocks (which I <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20819685-the-bone-clocks?from_search=true" target="_blank">did</a>!), you will adore Station Eleven. Yes, it is post apocalyptic/dystopian literature, but it is so superior to mostof the write-alikes out there these days (not to down The Hunger Games/Maze Runner, etc., there is a place for such novels, but this books, which would be fantastic Young Adult read!), but this novel completely transcends the sci-fi/end of world genre. It is beautiful and honest, and more about people and art and beauty than about fierce survival (although that is part of it, too.). <br />
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I came across this charming logo on the <a href="http://lizandgianna.blogspot.com/2014/09/you-absolutely-must-read-station-eleven.html" target="_blank">blog</a> Liz and Gianna's Adventures in Bookland. A very charming blog! I love the logo. I need this as a button or t-shirt to promote my new favorite novel.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-85851087741709282272014-07-03T09:55:00.002-05:002014-07-03T09:55:42.382-05:00July 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-57929938824027090932014-07-03T09:53:00.003-05:002014-07-03T09:54:00.261-05:00Seen in Venice.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-51594628250170669852014-07-03T09:41:00.001-05:002014-07-03T09:41:12.507-05:00Anthropologists' behavior examined: Lily King's Euphoria<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In online photos, the cover of the Lily King's Euphoria is fairly innocuous and unexciting. But in person, it has a definite "wow factor"! </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cover is actually a close up of a Rainbow Gum tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(for more photos/info click <a href="http://photovide.com/rainbow-eucalyptus/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will admit, I took way too long to pick this book up, but once I started reading, I was immediately taken in by the story of Nell Stone and her fellow anthropologists and lovers. One is her husband and one is not, and the trio is found initially deep in the jungles of New Guinea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nell Stone is (very) loosely based on world renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead. Many aspects of the story are nearly exactly like Mead's own life, including her recently published book (the title is different, but the subject of the book is nearly identical to the actual book Mead published), as well as her relationships. Names are changed, but even those remain similar. But take note: this is not a biography of her life, and that does becomes clear at the end of the novel. This is a work of fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the time, between the two world wars, anthropology was still finding its footing, and was not necessarily regarded as actual science, or even as necessary. Even the anthropologists themselves had very different and often extreme manners of going about their studies. And truly, it was a science of observation. This book brings up a lot of points regarding how anthropology works, and how does one observe without becoming part of the observation, or changing it with your presence. All three of these anthropologists handle this differently. They also regard their subjects differently, and part of that is due to their individual temperaments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">King touches on many different aspects of the difficulties faced by these explorers. Their interactions with the native tribes they study is often dangerous; physically, emotionally, and mentally. Nell has lost a baby with their last tribe, and while details are not given but only alluded to, she's experienced some rather traumatic scenes with that tribe. She and her husband Fen are looking for a new tribe to study, or else they will leave New guinea and seek refuge in Australia. They meet up with another busy anthropologist, Bankson, a Brit, and he leads them to their next refuge. But even in these deeply embedded jungle villages, the western "civilized" world finds its way in, as do the problems and affairs of the three outsiders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a well written novel, with fairly well rounded characters. I understood King's reasons for leaving out some of the key information about certain events that happen prior to meeting Stone and her husband, but a part of me felt like some of it was too ambiguous. A little more information might have helped me to understand Nell better. I think Bankson's character gets to reveal the most about himself, and I loved that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Definitely a good read, and one to pick up. I'm giving it 4 stars, only because I wish it wasn't quite so restrained.</span></div>
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Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-6904534966821311932014-06-14T14:37:00.000-05:002014-06-14T14:37:51.196-05:00A Whale of a Tale: Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There may be some spoilers in this review, but mostly related to character and not plot. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone about to read it, since the element of surprise is definitely part of the novel.</div>
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I didn't LOVE this book, but I was amused by it. The writing is quite good: sharp, witty, clear. I love how Shipstead creates her characters here. They've existed long before we meet them, with their foibles and hang ups, but now that we're introduced, we are almost overwhelmed by the family, and the event that is bringing them together, Daphne's wedding.<br />
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I'd like to address a few things that really captured me about this novel. Primarily, the use of the whale as a symbol, intentional or not. The whole island is dominated by whale imagery, and it is also a preppy symbol, which embodies Winn's entire life. He is a man who wants to belong. If you hang a wooden whale on your house on the Island, Waskeke, you belong. If you wear a belt with ha;es on it, you also belong to a special club. The club that Winn currently wants to join is called The Pequod, which is also the name of the whaleship in the novel, Moby Dick. A sperm whale washes up on the shore, and of course, Livia, a marine biologist in the making, must see the whale in person. It becomes symbolic for her, too. Even Dominique has a whale experience. I had to laugh when Winn becomes like Ahab himself, with his bum leg after an unfortunate bike and golf cart accident. I also couldn't help but think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest--another novel that relies heavily on whale imagery. <br />
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Another symbol that I enjoyed being tossed about was that of the club that Winn was so very proud to have belonged to back in his Harvard days, the Ophidian. The name implies, a snake or dragon, a creature full of greed and full of itself. And Winn is so caught up in his college glory days, and his time spent at the Ophidian and what he just knew it meant to his family that he belonged to the club, that he becomes rather monstrous and obsessed. He has had daughters, and Livia (the one who attends Harvard) is not admitted to the club. He is disappointed first and foremost by this fact, and the fact that he has never had a son. he is a a man caught up in his own self image and desires, and while he doesn't always act in those desires, he behaves as a man who does, causing much pain for his long suffering wife. he also insults and hurts people around him with this tunnel vision, this long term course (he is almost 60) that he has set for disaster.<br />
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The main event of this wedding is the wedding of Winn and Biddy's daughter, Daphne, who is already well into a pregnancy, to Greyson Duff, who has several caddish brothers, and is definitely the catch of his family. Livia has been dumped, after becoming pregnant, by her boyfriend, who never really felt much for her in the first place. Their relationship heavily mirrors one that Winn had with jack's mother many years prior, sans pregnancy. Livia has told everyone she is pregnant and has also terminated the pregnancy, and has no qualms about continuing to pine for her lost relationship with Teddy, who is clearly finished with her: not because she is pregnant, but because they are not a good fit. Being at her pregnant sister's wedding i very difficult for Livia, and she is rail thin and pale, and looking for "love" (or something like that) on the rebound. Obviously, this is a big mistake.<br />
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Bad things happen to these people, and they have no shame. They are all trying to behave like some superior class of people, but their behavior is equal to something we'd see on a Jerry Springer show. There is embarrassment for what they do, and rarely any kind of apology (although efforts are made to get apologies, so many times.). Everything they do is done to themselves, or the ones that they have chosen to surround themselves with for this wedding: in other words, their closest friends and family. Dominique, Daphne's dear friend from prep school is the only sane one of teh group, who long ago threw away her whale belts and polo shirts. A beautiful Egyptian girl, she is both in with the family, but clearly the outsider looking in at an American family she once felt a part of, but can now see so many ways they've gone wrong, yet continues to be a friend, a lighthouse, a beacon in their dark hours. <br />
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By the end of the novel, you find yourself asking, what else could possibly happen? This is not an Austen novel (a friend who read it made this suggestion), with weddings and happily ever afters, and Livia and Daphne are no Elinor and Marianne, or Jane and Lizzie. But I can see where the structure could be regarded as quite similar, but no respectable Austen heroine would behave like a Lydia Bennett. Mopsy, the matriarch from the Duff family, is constantly complaining of being cold (no one ever suggests she bring a sweater, either, the Duff boys do everything to care for her every complaint, even when the air conditioning is not even on!), and at one point even she observes, "This family is falling into the middle class." (Of course, this is after a particularly stinging retort from the stoned and drunk Winn.) <br />
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This is a novel very much about fitting in, and getting what you want, even if you don't know that not only do you not really want it, but that you don't need it, and if you finally get it, it's going to hurt (kind of like a large, rotting whale corpse on the beach.). There were moments in the novel I felt like I was reading The Stranger, set on a tony up-East island instead of Algiers. At other times, I was laughing out loud, and that reminded me more of the feeling I had when reading Cuckoo's Nest--bittersweet.<br />
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I was surprised by the end. Although I don't believe anyone over the age of 25 is really ever going to change, I do believe there can be redemption and realization. And there is still time to move to the village of truth tellers. A fun summer read, if you can get past the initial obnoxiousness of these characters, who are really a bunch of people in pain.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4 stars</span>Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-6433546535260569392014-06-13T20:42:00.001-05:002014-06-13T20:42:16.693-05:00Reading for Comfort.I am most definitely a creature of habit, and one that turns to the familiar when in need of comfort. Sure I love a cup of tea and something yummy to eat when I'm feeling blue, but sometimes, nothing but a book will do.<br />
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There are several books that I have turned to repeatedly for a dose of comfort on many occasions. Not only are some of these books my most favorite of all the books I've read over the years, but they are safe to read, with nothing scary, or uncertain in them: partly because they are so familiar and partly because there is no Stephen King and no thrillers on the list.<br />
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The above book is one of those reads for me. It's not the first copy of A Room With A View I've owned (I own several copies), but this one was nice since it had Howard's End as well. I love EM Forster, and he is definitely one of my favorite go to comfort authors, and A Room With A View is one of my favorite books. There are no major tragedies in the novel (although lots of minor ones, and plenty of muddles). And I love knowing what's going to happen next, although with so many books I adore, I'd love to back in time to read this book for the first time again! But I am so glad I can turn to this one and feel a sense of warmth and coziness. I love Mrs. Honeychurch, and old Mr. Emerson. The sweet romance that develops between Lucy and George is one that's I'm sure transcends their own prim time, of chaperons and propriety, and can imagine that couple living in a London neighborhood these days. But just look at this book! It's loved--it' s been bent, packed, and read and well loved for years. I'd never get rid of it, my most well worn copy of these novels.</div>
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There are more of course. I love Jane Eyre- and have been known to turn to her on my Kindle in heavy New York traffic (while my husband drove and cursed, of course!). <br />
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To Kill A Mockingbird, is another. Yes, horrible things happen, but one you know how it all ends up: the courageous Jem, the elusive but ever present Boo, and Atticus, all intersecting at the end., their presences as comforting to Scout as to the repeat reader. <br />
Gone With The Wind and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn are two more, and I've also found that as I get older, and the circumstances of my life change (from kid, to being a teen, to young adulthood, and into motherhood), I am often affected very differently than I was earlier by these novels. As a young teen, I just loved spunky Scarlett--but as a mother, many years later during a re-read, I wept as Melanie talked about decorating the graves of the Yankee war dead, just as well as the Confederate ones; her compassion and sweet spirit were what moved me to tears.<br />
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And Jack Finney's Time and Again, the world's greatest time travel novel! I think I was 12 or 13 when I first read it. I was excited! this book was incredible! Who wouldn't want to read this fabulous book over and over again in the course of a lifetime?<br />
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I am often met with disapproval: Why would you spend time on books you've already read, when there are so many new ones? My response is that I re-read the ones I love because I know they make me happy, and they beautify my life with their very presence. I'm not always re-reading a book. In fact, I often pick up these favorites and just read a few chapters or a favorite scene that I love.<br />
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I hope every reader has some comfort reads. What are some of yours?</div>
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Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-11532735233611793672014-06-09T09:55:00.001-05:002014-06-09T09:55:16.450-05:00A review of Anthony Doerr's Incandescent novel All The Light We Cannot See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Incandescent! The most beautiful writing! Lovely book, beautiful story! Anthony Doerr achieves that connection that is so important in great writing and literature. The characters connect with each other, even though they cannot see all that the reader can see. Doerr also successfully builds a bridge between that time and this one, reminding us that these were people living their lives when this monstrous war barged into their lives, wreaking havoc and changing their plans and their lives.<br />
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I cannot recommend this book enough--Doerr is obviously at the top of his game: a genius storyteller, and an artist--painting the most gorgeous pictures with the words he chooses. I wept through half this novel, not because it was sad (and it is sad), but because the writing is so perfect!<br />
<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-83566143639038490852014-05-31T11:19:00.001-05:002014-05-31T11:19:18.411-05:00And a little E.M. Forster for the weekend.<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-60256360726757724122014-05-31T10:01:00.001-05:002014-05-31T10:01:30.787-05:00I work in a bookstore (a chain, not an indie). I noticed these awesome new covers on Nancy Drew last week, and I just adore them. I know people are attached to the iconic covers from when they were kids, but the first four books were actually published in 1930, and these seem much more appropriate!<br />
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I think they are gorgeous.<br />
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<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-65041328006904852572014-05-31T09:59:00.002-05:002014-05-31T09:59:11.666-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sounds like another way of saying heaven.<br />Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187988264117871640.post-48594266896780539812014-05-26T14:54:00.001-05:002014-05-26T14:54:16.667-05:00Review of The Bees by Laline Paull<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's lots of "buzz" about this book, and most of it is well deserved. It's the story of a hive and of a particular bee in that hive. Flora 717 is a sanitation bee in an orchard hive (humans placed it there), and she is a little different from her fellow sanitation bees. Sanitation bees do the dirty work in the hive: they clean up bodies of dead bees and other messes that occur. They are low in the bee hierarchy, although most of the bees, be they foraging bees, nursery bees, drones, etc, all repeat the mantra of the hive "Accept, Obey, Serve." But our bee, Flora 717, has a different story. She is different from the other bees. She is a breakout bee, who thinks for herself, and has abilities the others don't have, even though she si regarded as not only ugly by the others, but as the lowliest kind of bee. Until the queen bee takes notice.<br />
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This book is truly a cross, or homage to Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Orwell's 1984/Animal Farm. The setting is dystopian, a society struggling to survive, but reluctant to adapt as the world around them is changing. <br />
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Well written and with a fairly compelling story line, there were a few sections where I became mired down, and wished for sharper editing: the bees activity, even that of the heroine, Flora, sometimes became repetitive. I guess that reflects the life of the hive, and the hive mind: dull, repetitive, mechanized, without feeling, or more importantly, without time or energy fro feelings. Flora, a sanitation bee with her own mind and a voice, cannot help but fight against the Melissae, and the fertility police. I did love the references to the Melissae, which means "the bees" in Greek. The Melissae in ancient Greece were a group of priestesses that were honored as having regenerative and magical powers, much like bees, and the Greeks did indeed keep bees, and appreciated their magical powers to create honey and come back after the winter to make more.<br />
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This is a physically beautiful book, I love the cover, even the ARC copy was gorgeous, as is the hardcover.<br />
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4.5 stars<br />
I'm giving this novel 5 stars on Amazon, although I feel 4.5 would be more appropriate: great novel, (although not perfect) and I expect great things from this author in the future. It would have been really cool if she expanded the connection to the ancient Greeks and bees in human history, as well as some of the other insects that appear in the story. <br />
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For further reading on The Melissae and bees throughout human history., go <a href="http://mirrorofisis.freeyellow.com/id576.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Kathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464895238624671692noreply@blogger.com0