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One reader's thoughts as she steps from book to book.
Books I've Finished
- "A Christmas Memory"
- by Truman Capote 12/8/12
- "Child's Christmas in Wales"
- by Dylan Thomas 12/7/12
- "One Christmas"
- by Truman Capote 11/29/12
- "The Thanksgiving Visitor"
- by Truman Capote 11/29/12
- Inside Mrs. B's Classroom
- by Leslie Baldacci 11/28/12
- The Bee Eater
- by Richard Whitmire 11/15/12
- There Are No Shortcuts
- by Rafe Esquith 10/28/12
- I'd Like to Apologize to
- Every Teacher I Ever Had
- by Tony Danza 10/21/12
- Corked
- by Kathryn Borel 10/15/12
- Year of Learning Dangerously
- by Quinn Cummings 9/30/12
- A Hologram for the King
- by Dave Eggers 8/23/12
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- by Harper Lee 7/18/12
About Me
- Christine
- I often have a few books with bookmarks in them at once. I enjoy classics more than contemporary works of fiction, often read historical fiction, and love to get glimpses into other people's lives by reading memoirs and biographies.
16 comments:
Getting back to my inner fish and reading "Why Evolution is True" by Jerry Coyne.
I've been looking at that book, Insomniac. Let me know what you think.
I don't get to start anything until after my presentation tonight, and my final tomorrow, but I sense some graphic novels in my near future. Maybe some Hellblazer?
Hellblazer?! My sweet, little child. Where did I go wrong? Wouldn't a little Jane Austen be nice?
Well DRD, I'm about half way through and so far I think it is an excellent overview of the evidence for evolution. Up until now I have relied on more sporadic readings on evolution from textbooks, reference books and articles. This book nicely summarizes much of what is known from fields of genetics, embryology, anatomy, physiology, biogeography, paleontology etc and gives plenty of examples of each. It thoroughly describes the, so frequently misunderstood, processes that fuel evolution including natural selection, genetic drift and husbandry.
It is an interesting and engaging read, not at all dull and boring as some texts can be - there is actually a touch of humor at some points. It helps to have a little biology background so as to be instantly familiar with some of the terms but it is written with plenty of explanations and would be very accessible to neophytes (and I know you are not one of those D ;-o).
I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the history of life on earth - so when you get a chance, grab a copy and enjoy! (and get back to me about what you think of it - please?)
That sounds pretty promising, insomniac--I may have to check that out!
I'm still hashing my way through Don's recommendation, Sunnyside. That makes it sound like it's work or something--it isn't. It's very affecting, actually: I once found myself laughing out loud and crying real tears in one sitting. It's just very dense with both characters and subjects. It tackles war, the public's relationship with celebrities, pride getting in the way of sex and sex getting in the way of pride, a leader's ability to convince people to kill perfect strangers (even those on the same side of the war), etc. And to think my most visceral reaction came during a part about...wait for it...dogs.
~Lisa
It's my rebellious phase, Christine. I'll get over it.
Insomniac, I will have to try to pick up a copy of Why Evolution is True, now that I have your resounding recommendation. It sounds like a very helpful thing to read.
DRD, I still would love to read some Emerson essays with you this summer.
Insomniac, thanks for the thoughtful review.
Anyone else lurking out there? What are YOU reading? (Don.)
Hey, wait. . .Lisa, are you writing from Spain?
WE CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE--YOUR WORDS TOTALLY CAME THROUGH IN ENGLISH! WOW, ISN"T AL GORE"S INTERNET FANTASTIC?
Haha, no Christine, although the Internet is certainly wondrous, I'm still here in the good ol' U.S. The summer semester isn't quite over so I can't escape yet. I don't leave until this Monday and in fact I'll be taking one of Susan's shifts (if it still needs taking) this Friday. I'm trying to finish Sunnyside before I leave, so I can grab something new (other than my cryptogram book) to read on the plane.
~Lisa
Oh, yeah, Emerson sounds like fun, Christine, if we can find a way to work it into schedules!
He's no Hellblazer, but he did have some good ideas.
Reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
OK everybody, you can stop posting now.
Whatever you say, Your Majesty.
Danika, Don just thinks that once he posts, nobody else will post. He's, shall we say, sillypants.
*starts humming 'Paranoia Paranoia'*
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