Not good at this

So I am not good at keeping track of what I have read. I know I have read more that this, but these are the only two I can think of.

Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott- I got this at the library when they didn't have Eight Cousins or Rose in Bloom (our book club books which I then got on Amazon and am waiting patiently for.) Good Wives is actually just the second half of Little Women. I loved rereading it. Especially as the mother of boys I thought a lot about what this book says about raising good boys. It was sweet and had more depth than I remember.

I also read the Amazing Journy of Prince Jen (or somehting like that) by Lloyd Alexander. I love Lloyd Alexander and think I would love anything he wrote. I like this even though it isn't his best work. I think the first half is really good- but it peters out and gets a little predictable towards the end. Nice message.

Still tons to catch up on

I haven't been reading too much this month, but still have a lot of books to log about. Apparently when I am stressed I am incapable of reading anything with any depth. All I want to do is devour romance novels and bury my head in the senseless fluff. Let's just say I read a lot of romance novels this month. But my attitude must be looking up because I am reading a book about the history of Alexandria- and enjoying it. I also read a Biography about Henry Eyring (the chemist) in one day- so must be feeling a little more optimistic. Able to accept some real life in my reading.

SOOOO- I have been reading with Marika's Sr English class. They just read A Brave New World by A. Huxley (am I spelling that right?) I highlighted many passages to share some thoughts with you- but that was a month ago and now I can't find the book. It is under the bed I think . I have to find it tonight because I need to take it back to the library when we go tomorrow. Anyways- I liked it. I don't know why I avoided reading it for so long. One of the ideas I kept thinking about was the scripture in Revelations (I think) about calling good evil and evil good. This book talks a lot about the importance of being a virtuous woman- which in this culture means forming no lasting attachments, having sex often and indiscriminately, avoiding any maternal feelings- the opposite of what virtue is. It is just an obvious example of the twisted values in this imagined future. To me the women seemed very much just there for men's pleasure- not valued for anything beyond physical attributes. I had many more comments than this so when I dig the book out from under the bed (I hope it is there) I will write some more ideas. Any on else ever read this?

The Tipping point by Malcom Gladwell. I had read Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking- a book about the subconscious which I thoroughly enjoyed. I especially remember the chapter about racism. Well I liked this one a lot too. I like any book that thoughtfully makes you examine your world in more detail. To see that around you in a different way. These sociology type books are also interesting to Alma- so we can talk about it too. This book looks at how trends or fads begin and spread. It talks about the different types of people who spread information and trends. Made me wonder- am I a connector or salesman? Read it and let me know what you vote for.

I also read two memoirs by Harry Bernstien. This is an author who has written for himself most of his life but didn't really publish anything. Then his wife died and in his nineties he has written and published two best sellers. He said he finally had some time to write after Ruby died. His first book, The Invisible Wall, is a look at his childhood in Lancashire. Very poor- very divided by religious lines. In fact he lives right on the edge of the Jewish ghetto and across the street is the christian ghetto. It was a mesmerizing. His writing in clear and poignant. His memory is amazing. I was especially touched by his mother and the way she struggled to feed her large family. The story of his sister's romance with a Christian boy was also very touching. His second book, The Dream, is about his families life after they immigrate to the United States. The poverty and ghettos here in the land of plenty- and yet I wonder if the life he ended up being able to make for himself and his family- even in the depression would have been possible in England. I thought both of these were worth reading.

So for Christmas Dad and Holly got me Mormon Scientist. This in the biography of Henry Eyring. So nice of them to remember that I wanted to read this. I read a collection of essays by him about science and religion when I was in High School and it had a big impact on me. I still think about many of his points on a regular basis. Anyways- some one in the academic world I admire tremendously. That all said this book was a little disappointing. It covers some of his childhood and his career well- but his personal life is ignored but for a couple of cute antidotes. The book was a like brief overview of his life without any real introspection or discussion of any detail. More like a time line of his life than a biography of the man. I enjoyed it, but it left me wanting more. This is the problem with a lot of Mormon writing. It too often wants to present just a glorified picture of life and brush over the difficult or awkward facts. Henry Eyring was a great enough man- formed by both the good and bad in his life- it in no way decreases his greatness to look honestly at both. His relationship with his children and wives was completely left out save a few short stories- how can you write about a man's life and not cover these areas in more detail. By the way his book of essays is out of print and I would love a copy of the book I value so much (the one I read belonged to Thelma Hunter) so if anyone has a copy or knows where to get on let me know.

I know I am forgetting some books I have read- but these are the ones still floating around the house.

Update- long over due

I know I know - a month? What is wrong with me. It has been pretty busy, and I am sure no one actually reads this soooooo- not too compelled to write.

What have I been reading the last several weeks?

I read 4 or 5 Charles Todd mysteries- I read these while I was reading Justinian's Flea. They were good, easy reads, but I really like Ian Rutledge and it is so nice to read a book with interesting and compelling characters. And there is a little romance starting- of course a little twisted and just a hint so far- but it left me looking forward to more books.

Justinian's Flea by William Rosen. This is an informative book about the great plague that hit during the reign of Emperor Justinian. It has been a fascinating look at the late Roman Empire. I am mostly amazed at how little I know about ancient history. Like I didn't know Attila the Hun came between Constinian and Justinian. I didn't know who the goths were (okay no one really knows who they were- not even this historian who quotes an ancient goth writing to describe who they are and where they came from and then said that no one believed this was true! my favorite part of the crazy book that yammered on and on) but now I know all about the Visigoths and Ostrogoth's. Also tons of information about early Christianity and the different sects- but I feel like it just brushes on the surface of this and I want to read a much more detailed book about this time period and religion. Anyways I am at the very last bit of the book- and it is just getting to the plague. This so far is sadly lacking in any really good medical history, or epidemiology- which is why I read the book in the first place. Sigh. Here is my favorite quote from the book- which also illustrates how dry it is. Also mind you- this is only three sentences! Oh how I love a rambling history geek.
"The forces that transformed the Mediterranean world of late antiquity into the medieval Europe were considerably greater in number than the significant gravitational forces acting on Apollo II, and any history that proposes a precise account of their interaction is bound to be, in some respects, unsatisfactory. These forces include, in no particular order, the geography and climate of the Mediterranean and surrounding territories, the eastward shift of the Roman empire from its Italian home to Asia Minor; the resulting westbound migrations of numerous peoples- preeminently the Goths- from the Black Sea region into the Italian and Iberian peninsulas; and the encounter with successive waves of nomadic horse archers emerging our of the Eurasian steppe (whose presence initiated a series of military innovations that led to the armed, armoured, and stirruped cavalry of the European Middle Ages). Other forces, no less powerful, acted directly on the minds of the peoples of the Mediterranean: the centuries-in-refinement philosophy of Plato, particularly as seen in the late antiquity development retrospectively known as Neoplatonism; messianic Christianity, with all its attendant and perhaps inevitable, doctrinal disputes; and the growth of powerful educational institutions drawing on both traditions, whose pupils rose to the highest positions in government."
I am exhausted just typing it, and this is pretty much how the whole book is written. It has been a very slow read as I am trying not to miss too much in these dense paragraphs.

So is it any surprise I had a crazy romance novel fit in the middle of reading this? I think I read one bought at a drug store in a fit of bath needing depression that requires lots of hot water mindless drivel, and silence. And surprise surprise- I really liked it. It was hysterically funny. Both intentionally and unintentionally. There was enough lead up that it was easy to flip past any icky sex scenes (Why why are they even there?). Soooo in a fit of the crazies I ordered the rest of the series (there was one book each for the 8 siblings- all very loud and opinionated) and then I was hooked. It took about twenty books and I am finally stated. The best part was the author is a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe, she started writing romance novels during a break before she started medical school at Yale and they were so successful she eventually dropped out to write full time! What- how crazy is that! The other author I read (they use each others supporting characters) was a Miss Massachusetts and finalist in the Miss America pageant. She graduated from somewhere amazing too. But my favorite part about her was her picture in the back which is very sexy mall photo place and doesn't change over the course of a decade!

I have several other books to tell you about but this post is too long ans I am tired so I will have to write about them tomorrow.

A Flaw of the Blood by Stephanie (?) Baron

This is another mystery from Laura. I have been reading a lot of mysteries lately thanks to Laura feeling good enough to want to read again and then passing some of her books onto me. This author had written an earlier series where Jane Austen was the sleuth and they were okay- but definitely not great. This book was even worse. It is a mystery set around the time of the death of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert. Here is my issue. When you write a historical novel with such well known characters and time period you have to have done a tremendous amount of research. Ms. Baron failed to do this. Putting the gross historical inaccuracies aside the book was still not any good. WHY are we expected to believe that this young women was bright enough to graduate from Edinburgh Medical college, to be a scientific advisor to the late Prince Consort- but is too stupid to not send for her things at her home when she goes into hiding. Well you say she is not a spy- just a young woman who doesn't realize how to hide effectively. Not so I say- this incident happens at the end of the book after hiding on the continent for months, sneaking out of one place after another as the bad guys track them down, after countless physical fights and shoot outs. No after all of these close calls- this"brilliant" woman still sends to her home for her luggage with a note saying where she is hiding. This is just one of countless things that made me grit my teeth while reading the book. Also if you are going to do a medical mystery on something from history do it on something that wasn't recently solved (and even more embarrassing she got it wrong). By the way it was solved several years before the book was published.

Houskeeping by Marilynne Robinson

This was not what I was expecting. It is a book about two sisters and their difficult childhood. As many of you know I hate the current fashion of depressing fiction about horrible abusive lives. It sounds like this book falls into that category- but it didn't really. It was beautifully written. One of those books you find yourself reading passages out loud just because the language is so beautiful. And the situation of their childhood is described but not is stupefying detail. And so much like life most of the things that happen to these girls is just life and inadequate people doing their best for the two little girls- it just isn't enough. I was surprised by the ending and a little befuddled by the main characters progression and would love some one else to read it so we can discuss, because I am still turning it over in my mind.

The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

Alma kept telling me this book was historical porn any time I tried to talk to him about it. It was fascinating- but really has there ever been people with fewer morals. Georgianna Cavendish was a troubled woman who was thrown into a completely amoral environment at a very young age. Seeing her struggle with all she lived through was heartbreaking. Hello- she lived most of her adult life with her best friend/husband's mistress living in her home! Not to mention all of their children. (just not her children born from her affairs).

The really interesting part of the book to me was how involved she was in the politics of her time. This was a very interesting time in politics- and she was an intimate of Grey, Fox, and Prinny. She was not only one of the first women very actively involved in politics, she was one of the first people to realize the importance of a party system and a party identity. She was the great organizer of the Whig party during a time when the leadership was torn apart by jealousies and inadequacy. She rallied the troops, she spread the message, she orchestrated group stands. She also brought the great thinkers together and helped them formulate a cohesive party platform. She was also a great public relations expert. She knew with out the king on their side they needed the people and developed some of the first publicity campaigns around a central idea and with simple symbol all could recognize. A very interesting read, well researched and well written. But- I have no desire to see the movie based on the book. Partly because I am sure it will not dwell on her political work- just the salacious little bits (okay major bits) of her life.

White Fang by Jack London

This was read for my online book club. I had read it as a child and loved it. I still found it interesting as an adult- but couldn't quite see what had caught my attention as a child. And the ending was a little toohappy-happy to flow with the rest of the book. Jack London is a wonderful writer and just reading his words is inspiring. (I have a thing for London and Stienbeck- my California feeling of kindredness).