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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
This is a wonderful historical thriller. I've never liked thrillers or mysteries that take place in the modern era. They just seem too "regular" or too much like what you can watch on TV. But historical thrillers have really intrigued me lately.
This one takes place in the late 1100s mostly in England. Hideous murders have caused Cambridge to revolt against the Jews whom they think are responsible for the dead children. An unlikely trio arrives in the town to uncover the truth behind the mystery.
It's an excellent book and is very well researched. Historical figures appear in the book and events and lifestyles are portrayed accurately. The author spent 15 years researching the Middle Ages to instill authenticity in her book.
Check it out, it's well worth it!
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6/15/2009, 7:28 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Times by Will Durant
At first, I thought the title of this book was a bit pompous. Who entitles this guy to tell me who the greatest people and ideas were? Well...turns out, he's not just some blowhard with big opinions. He wrote the 11 volume The Story of Civilization and The Story of Philosophy along with about 40 other books on various historical and philosophical topics. He won the Pulitzer in 1967 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. So who am I to questions this guy's authority on the subject!
It was an interested read. It's a posthumous work of collected essays written in response to the many questions such as "who would you like to most meet in history" or "who is your favorite historical hero?". Durant always had snappy answers for such questions, but he eventually took the time to write intriguing essays on the questions.
The chapters of the book are:
A Shameless Worship of Heroes
The Ten "Greatest" Thinkers
The Ten "Greatest" Poets
The One Hundred "Best" Books For an Education
The Ten "Peaks" of Human Progress
Twelve Vital Dates in Human History
While each essay was extremely interesting, this was one of those audio books that the narrator almost completely ruined! The 100 page book is read in less than 2 hours...that's a break neck speed! During the recitation of ballads and poems, you almost feel yourself holding your breath and turning red in the face before the end of the quote!!!
So if you run across this in paper form, I recommend you pick it up. I have to admit that I'm sorely lacking in education on the classics. Perhaps this is just the inspiration I need to pick up Homer or Plato or Voltaire...
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6/17/2009, 12:02 am
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
Justinian's Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe by William Rosen
Wow, this book also took forever to read. VERY in depth look at what lead up to the Bubonic plague and it's aftermath. And by detailed, I mean REALLY detailed - everything from the evolution of the plague bacteria, to the entire history of the Roman Empire, along with much of the Persian and Chinese Empires.
It was a good book. I probably only absorbed a quarter of the information in it though. Almost too dense for casual reading. I had no idea how horrible the plague was. Constantinople (the capitol of Rome at the time) saw the death of 5,000 people A DAY! It's quite astonishing.
If you are a Roman Empire or epidemiology buff, give this book a look!
(I've only read NINE books this year...wow, that's really pathetic  )
Last edited by TexasMadness, 7/17/2009, 10:33 pm
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7/17/2009, 10:33 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
The Darkest Evening of the Year and Seize the Night by Dean Koontz
After being so nauseated and dizzy I couldn't read for a month, I devoured several books at once. I just grabbed whatever hubby was reading and took it over! Turns out, we don't have the same taste in books at all!
Anyway, I loved the Odd Thomas books by Koontz but these other books were not to my liking. Yes, they were page turners. Yes, I do think I enjoyed myself while reading them. I actually finished the first one in the middle of the night during a bought of insomnia. I read the last sentence and proclaimed out loud (at 3 in the morning) "That was stupid!" Woke up the cat, the dog and the hubby. No one was very impressed!
I guess I just like something with more umph too it. Something that makes me think. Reading these books is like watching some mediocre sitcom on TV. You sit there mesmerized while it's on, but once it's over, you never give it a second thought...and might even wonder where your time just went!
So if you are going to pick up a Koontz book, try the Odd Thomas series. Not sure why it struck me as so much better. Perhaps because it's the first Koontz I've read.
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10/28/2009, 3:57 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
Passage to India by E.M. Forester
This book takes place (and was written) in the 1920s during the British rule of Indian. It's one of the 100 great works of English literature by the Modern Library. I have a feeling it was so fresh and awe inspiring before people knew as much about India and the rest of the world as we have the ability to know now. Despite our more intimate knowledge of "orientals", it is still quite an interesting book.
The book centers around both Indian and British characters and how they are forced to interact with each on occasion and how friendships might or might not be possible. The disparate cultures of the two peoples leads to many problems both nationally and on a more personal level. It certainly has some interesting characters in the book and I enjoyed it.
And now to watch the movie again. I'd seen it once, years ago, and hardly remember it!
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10/28/2009, 4:05 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
I really enjoyed this book. A good quick read with plenty of interesting characters and events. It's a 'contemporary' fiction - a book about everyday people today, a kind I don't usually read. It's hard to give any details without spoiling the entire plot though! Even the description on the back cover (which I only read AFTER I finished the book) seems a bit too revealing. So I will leave you with a quote from the review in the New Yorker:
"Her finest novel...Patchett's lush and suspenseful story is also a portrait of America, which - with its big dreams, vast spaces, and disparate realities lying side by side - proves to be the perfect place for miraculous transformations, including Sabine's [main character] own."
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10/30/2009, 3:46 pm
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Firlefanz
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Re: Books in 2009
That sounds great! Might put it on my wish list. 
A question: Would you like us to post books we read in this thread?
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10/30/2009, 4:59 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
Or maybe since we have a small community, everyone could start their own threads for the books they read each year - especially if we have any voracious readers that read tons and tons! It wouldn't be too many threads and I think it's interesting to see the trends in what people read.
It's fun to go back and see what I've read - especially when people ask for me to recommend a book to them!
I'd love to hear what other people are reading!
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10/30/2009, 5:30 pm
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Zephra2
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Re: Books in 2009
 Ishmael an adventure of the mind and spirit by Daniel Quinn
I usually have a book or two going at any given time but this book moved me so that it was all I could think about for days. It was written in 1992 and it came into my hand quiet by accident. It was in a basket of books left beside the recycle bins. ??? Now if the person who discarded this book had actually read it I would be amazed.
It puts into perspective how we are killing the Earth and everything on our wonderful planet. Including us. It has been around awhile so many people have read it. There are groups and Ishmael societies all dedicated to saving the Earth. This is a philosophical novel that I would highly recommend. Has anyone else read it?
I would like to keep track of all the books I have read and hear the recommendations from others.
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11/1/2009, 11:17 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Books in 2009
Hmmm...I'm not sure I've ever heard of that book! It has an oddly familiar sounding ring though...I'll add it to my list!
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11/3/2009, 1:11 pm
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