It doesn't matter how many times we do this walk [Palais Royal / Louvre / Cour Carrée], without fail I'm struck by the heart-stopping beauty of Paris.It doesn't matter how many times we do this walk [Palais Royal / Louvre / Cour Carrée], without fail I'm struck by the heart-stopping beauty of Paris. You'd think the shock would wear off, that seeing it would no longer have the power to leave you wordless. But every sighting feels like the first.
Underpinning Frédéric's reaction to warmup pants is a concept that to me is totally foreign: looking scruffy is selfish. Not only do you look like a slob but you let down the whole city.
This was another preview of French culture through the eyes of an expat. The author met Frédéric twice then moved in with him in Paris. Yikes. Many misunderstandings ensued. Her memoir highlights the lessons she learned while trying to "fit in" with France.
I'm excited to see Paris with all its iconic places. But I'm confident that I will find more pleasure in the French countryside.
I read novel this with zero knowledge of the historical back story. The first half, my skeptical side balked at all the "coincidences" relative to theI read novel this with zero knowledge of the historical back story. The first half, my skeptical side balked at all the "coincidences" relative to the horse Lexington. My curiosity aroused, I started looking up the horse and the paintings. Ahem. Yes, it was a real thing! (And I'm so glad I hadn't aired my mistaken assumptions aloud.)
I had a hard time following the multiple narrators, one of the drawbacks of audiobooks. If I could have flipped back to preceding chapters and refreshed my memory, I would have enjoyed this more, I think.
I need to discover more about the term 'official biographer.' I assume full access to the subject's personal documents. Is the tacit tradeoff that conI need to discover more about the term 'official biographer.' I assume full access to the subject's personal documents. Is the tacit tradeoff that content is limited to facts? This bio caused me to ponder official biographer-ology. If it hadn't been Winston as the subject, this style of writing would have been — dare I say it? — boring. Truly, it was anything but boring.
Having just read Paul Johnson's abbreviated Churchill bio, replete with ripe commentary and articulated opinion, Gilbert's felt like a compendium of quotes and diary entries in chronological order. Extensive and entertaining, but clinical. After Manchester's The Last Lion, a crusty, seed-filled, full-flavored wheat bread, this was white bread. Not difficult to chew, nor undelicious, nor a slog to read. It just didn't score high on zest.
Still, I gave it four stars. Well, 3.5 rounded up.
Here's what I loved: At the top of each page was the year on the left hand side and, on the right, Æ T ##, from Latin aetatis, at the age of. This was immensely helpful. And Churchill's age is almost a character of the book. Each birthday is a tent peg for the narrative. It will be a while before I forget November 30. The multitude of maps and a full index were excellent. I used them both extensively while I read.
One area where Martin Gilbert, a Jewish historian, revealed his worldview was in Churchill's friendship with the Jews. I was delighted to notice it. I learned that Churchill, a Zionist, suggested bringing Israel into the British Commonwealth.
All those comments aside, Churchill is an astonishing character; his words and life are worth the time and effort to read. So many words could describe him: puckish, imp, cunning, complicated, emotional, self-absorbed, a big thinker, genius, personable, imaginative, forceful. I copied 41 pages of quotes (OCD much?) into my commonplace journal. His storied life is an epic of worldwide involvement. His wordsmithing is sustenance to my writer-soul.
From here, I plan to read Churchill himself. The six volume WW2 memoirs are waiting; I'm eager to re-read History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
Without divulging plot points, this book is about a ten-year-old boy in Germany in 1939. He is a sponge, soaking up Nazi propaganda without question. Without divulging plot points, this book is about a ten-year-old boy in Germany in 1939. He is a sponge, soaking up Nazi propaganda without question. Two massive cataclysmic events happen in this young boy's life, changing his identity.
What a winsome protagonist! We watch him occupy a solitary life fraught with anxiety. When it is safe to make friends, he proves to be a good one.
Jackie French gives us tiny clues, strewn throughout her text, that indicate this is more complex than a Cinderella story. With a deft hand, she illustrates that children in the best foster home still continue to yearn.
Kudos to Humphrey Bower for his narration. Three accents, all done to perfection. In my immediate enthrallment I give this five stars....more
I was surprised at how drawn in I was by this depressing book. Written in 1957 (action takes place in 1963) it surmises what life would be like in theI was surprised at how drawn in I was by this depressing book. Written in 1957 (action takes place in 1963) it surmises what life would be like in the southern hemisphere after nuclear war in the northern hemisphere. The populace is waiting for radiation to drift down to Australia.
The overarching question of the book is "What would you do if you knew you had three months to live?" Would you plant daffodils? Learn stenography? Race cars with no regard to risk? Go fishing? It was an interesting thought experiment. Many of Shute's scenarios seemed false. Calm acceptance was the predominant response. I would guess there panic, violence, and chaos would reign. But most people got their little red pills and went to "sleep". The book was not only dystopian; it was nihilistic. ...more
I always wanted to marry a teacher and travel across the nation every summer. Well, I did marry the teacher, but he had side jobs in the summer to keeI always wanted to marry a teacher and travel across the nation every summer. Well, I did marry the teacher, but he had side jobs in the summer to keep us financially afloat. Cohen and his wife take this concept to another level: they took a year off and traveled the world with his family.
Cohen made it big with the concept of "The Day In the Life of ____" coffee table books. But eventually he tired of life in Marin County (CA) and wanted to divest himself of "stuff" and see the world. The book is organized as emails from each new destination. It was an enjoyable read with a few laugh aloud moments.
I think my favorite part was Sardinia: a fabulous island with white beaches, crystal-clear water, and jagged mountains, full of exquisite food, good wine, and warm hearts. "Sardinian hospitality is apparently boundless."
Carol Bakker
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