I Have Book Recs. Anyone Else?

[luger.cr]

These are all audio books I've listened to recently and really like:
The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed (won the National Book Award 2008)
about Thomas Jefferson's slave children

Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
both very well written books about the survival of our planet

 

[earlyexerciser39]

I am reading The Help right now and I am loving it! I just love how you can enter the lives of others through literature!

I just finished Literary Potato Peel Pie society which was also very good! I couldn't put it down.

I love these threads!!!
Jenn

 

[rjroubi]

Last week I finished my second time around with "Pillars of The Earth" - Ken Follett ( loved it even more than the first time)
This week , I read "The Weight of Silence" - Heather Gudenkauf (a Bday gift from my Hubby) I really enjoyed it , although I felt rather emotional when I finished . Tough to ingest material regarding trauma happening to children .
Now I am rereading "World Without End "- Ken Follet.
I am obsessed with Ken Follet books in general , LOL

I also loved "Pillars of the Earth." Hmm....so I guess if you're rereading "World Without End" it is also very good. Maybe I should buy that one. I also enjoy Ken Follet from his "Eye of the Needle" days (oh yes, an oldie but goodie).

You know, if I keep reading this thread without fail I will buy more books and the kindle makes it way too easy. Yikes, I already have at least 5 really good ones lined up to read....lol. Maybe I really should buy a book on patience and self control.

 

[sancho]

That is SO cool! Where are you? Maybe I'll join you for that meeting!

Yes, I knew it was based on Betty Smith's childhood. The version I had included interviews, newspaper stories about her, etc. There is a piece that says when asked if the novel was autobiographical, Smith said, "Maybe it didn't happen that way. But that's the way it should have been." And she says that same thing in the book. I think her dad says it after telling her a story and she asks him if it was really true.

I hope that your friend reconsiders and reads it again. I don't think it will take away from her original memories of the book, but will make for a very enriching experience.

I'm in Atlanta Ga. Email me if you are close and want to come. It's Monday (Aug 31) night.

 

[sancho]

I am reading The Help right now and I am loving it! I just love how you can enter the lives of others through literature!

I just finished Literary Potato Peel Pie society which was also very good! I couldn't put it down.

I love these threads!!!
Jenn

I read Potato Peel Pie Society also. I enjoyed it too.

The Help really stuck with me in terms of entering people's lives. I really was sitting in traffic one Saturday and thinking "Oh, I wonder who Hilly is after today" And I had to do a double take and remember that I don't even know Hilly. Ummm, she doesn't even exist.

The author of The Help was at a nearby bookstore for a signing last Saturday and I wanted to go but life got in the way. You may want check her website to see if you will be near you any time soon.

 

[TeTe]

These are all audio books I've listened to recently and really like: The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed (won the National Book Award 2008) about Thomas Jefferson's slave children

Luger.cr, have you ever read Clotel: The President's Daughter? It's considered the first African-American novel, and it's based on the rumor of that time (mid-1800s) that Jefferson had children by one of his slaves. It's not the most enjoyable book to read, but definitely worth looking into if you're interested in the Hemings/Jefferson history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clotel