MikeDI

Another poor selection among my classics.  First time I've seriously considered quitting a book. But I can't. However, I can, and will, shelve it for awhile. Will continue it in a couple of weeks after my trip. 

Why? It's boring and repetitive. Just the same descriptions of various places he visited in Asia. Inhabitants religion, currency, ruler, and wildlife.  Very factual. It's not really a novel. And, as they are all the old names for cities and countries (?), I'm usually lost.

One reviewer said his copy saved him as it had a glossary of the names, along with their current ones, but alas, my copy does not. 

It's a very OLD travel novel of facts. Marco go home.

Book Three for my Paris Trip.

What better book to read on a trip to Paris?

One of three books taking to Paris.

So, I finally finished. I really liked Verity, and, while other reviews thought her ballroom dancing hobby interfered with the story, I strongly disagree. After all her conditioning from her 'hobby' is what helped her through her ordeals. While this series jumps between her and her siblings, if I get a chance to read anymore, I'll cherry pick Verity's episodes. 

Having a huge backlog of books with new ones all the time, and my own writing, will make it hard to find time to pick up another one though. Today my daughter and grandkids arrive for a week's stay then I'm meeting them for ten days in Europe before they return home to Bahrain, so I'll sort of be busy and, I already have two books (Circe and The Little Paris Bookshop) set aside for that trip. As it is I'll have to pass on reading The Inner Life of Cats in July. Just too much. I'll still read it in the future but I don't want to just skim it. I'm no scientist but thanks to a lifetime with cats, especially Io and Iris, the two teenage girls I have now, I know them pretty well.  

Review to come .

I used to read Overboard everyday on the commuter train to Chicago and work. I just loved the adventures of pirates, The Captain, Nate, Boof, Charley, Seahawk and all the creatures they dealt with including The Green Ship, Sharks, Sea monsters, snakes, girls and other denizens of the deep. I found these two books that contained reprints of the classic comics and they brought back lots of memories. We can always use a good chuckle. Thanks to Chip Dunham for his creativity.

Review to come in  a few days.

Okay, as I explained in an earlier post I've decided to delve into some 'Classics.' At a Writer's Conference in San Diego about two years ago, I had heard a pair of young female agents discussing how they would never have agreed to represent the likes of Hemingway or Fitzgerald. They found their work 'not up to standards.' As I am old enough to be their grandfather I dismissed their ramblings. Later while talking to an older female agent I mentioned this. She told me that's the problem in today's publishing world. Too many young female agent with a narrow point of view.
It nagged at me though as I had not actually read many 'classic' books since my youth. 
So, about a month ago, as previously posted, while I was rearranging book shelves (actual book shelves, not on line ones) I took a hard look at the dozens of 'Classic' novels that I had but never read. The words of my minimalist daughter rang in my ears, "Dad, if you're never going to read these old books get rid of them." So I decided to add a classic book to my current readings. This one, As I Lay Dying , was the first. 
It started out weird. I was told to never imitate people's dialects in writing, yet here Faulkner was doing just that. And, I found it annoying at first, I wanted to quit. But, I ALWAYS finish a book, so I stuck it out. I got more into the characters and toward the end the story blossomed. I give it two stars because it is hard to read but I'm glad to have read it. Is it a Classic? Don't really know, you tell me.

Fascinating book by someone who has lived his life among trees. I gained a much greater understanding of tree life from Mr. Wohlleben's observations. I've always believed that plants and animals have a greater awareness than'science' gives them credit for. Recent writings seem to bare this out. Highly recommended to anyone who has an open mind.

I used to read Overboard everyday on the commuter train to Chicago and work. I just loved the adventures of pirates, The Catain, Nate, Boof, Charley, Seahawk and all the creatures they dealt with including The Green Ship, Sharks, Sea monsters, snakes and other denizens of the deep. I found these two books that contained reprints of the classic comics and they brought back lots of memories. We can always use a look chuckle. Thanks to Chip Dunham for his creativity.

Okay my new thing is not to act out of the moment so I'm going to wait a few days then write a review.  

I'm looking for recommendations on Non-Fiction Nature Books.  Please Help.

Okay my new thing is not to act out of the moment so I'm going to wait a few days then write a review.  My review is favorable though.

Last night I read an additional 10 pages before falling asleep. ASLEEP! Woke up 2 hours later. A lost 2 hours. All because of this boring book! So I created a new shelf and removed it from my reading stack to Temp Stop. Maybe, someday ... Don't judge the book by me however,  many people like it. I'm sorry, I don't find it imaginative; It's just too screwy. My previous note (it's written by Spin a Dial) stands. 

 Wow I read 20 pages and this is crazy so far. I moved this up on my reading schedule because so many raved about it but . ... It reminds me of someone spinning a dial when they need to introduce something in their story. Let's see ... I need something to ride on ,, Spin the Dial ... Oh, a leopard, that's good ... Now I need ... 

So far i do Not Like it. Imaginative? I think not. Spin the Dial.  If it does not improve tonight I set it aside.