Have you read any good books lately?

[Boomer]

Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure can help to pass the time.

I like biographical historical fiction. Recently, I have read two by Therese Fowler.

Z is the story of Zelda Fitzgerald. Wow. F. Scott sure was a jackazz.

Another one by Fowler that I liked a lot is A Well Behaved Woman. It is about Alva Vanderbilt and the family she married into. She had the pedigree. Vanderbilt had the money. I guess that was often the case in our country just like Downton Abbey.

Alva Vanderbilt was a woman trapped in time. She was an advocate for women’s rights. But she also knew how to play the social climbing game that was run by Mrs. Astor and the NYC 400 . Alva threw a masquerade ball in 1883 that was excessive beyond belief. It got her in and up the ladder.

When I read about real people, I always have to look up their pictures on the internet. I also looked up the pictures of the costumes worn to that masquerade ball. One woman wore a hat made out of a cat that must have been supplied by a taxidermist. Hideous.

The regular people lined the street to watch the costumed guests go by. The newspapers talked about it for weeks.

Mr. Boomer just finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. That is a brand new book by Erik Larson.

Larson also wrote The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America , published in 2004. I never read about serial killers, but I could not put that one down. Larson weaves the maniac’s story with the story of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

How about anybody else? Book suggestions?

Boomer :read:

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I am currently reading the maintenance manual for my Club Car which has severe transaxle problems. Gears on order. Once that job is over, I will read either James Lee Burke or Randy Wayne White, two of my favorite authors. I have already purchased a couple of their works to read on my motorhome adventures this summer but things change and who knows if that will even happen.

[Velvet]

I inherited the book “The Lost Girls of Paris” by Pam Jenoff. A person on a tour bus I was on last September gave it to me. I finally got to start reading it this month and it makes for light, easy reading. It’s about girl spies during WWII.

[Madelaine Amee]

Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure can help to pass the time.

I like biographical historical fiction. Recently, I have read two by Therese Fowler.

Z is the story of Zelda Fitzgerald. Wow. F. Scott sure was a jackazz.

Another one by Fowler that I liked a lot is A Well Behaved Woman. It is about Alva Vanderbilt and the family she married into. She had the pedigree. Vanderbilt had the money. I guess that was often the case in our country just like Downton Abbey.

Alva Vanderbilt was a woman trapped in time. She was an advocate for women’s rights. But she also knew how to play the social climbing game that was run by Mrs. Astor and the NYC 400 . Alva threw a masquerade ball in 1883 that was excessive beyond belief. It got her in and up the ladder.

When I read about real people, I always have to look up their pictures on the internet. I also looked up the pictures of the costumes worn to that masquerade ball. One woman wore a hat made out of a cat that must have been supplied by a taxidermist. Hideous.

The regular people lined the street to watch the costumed guests go by. The newspapers talked about it for weeks.

Mr. Boomer just finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. That is a brand new book by Erik Larson.

Larson also wrote The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America , published in 2004. I never read about serial killers, but I could not put that one down. Larson weaves the maniac’s story with the story of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

How about anybody else? Book suggestions?

Boomer :read:

No suggestions, but I liked yours and I intend to read the one on Churchill. Great thread Boomer, thanks.

[Redstonelady]

I just finished A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell. It's about an unknown American female spy, Virginia Hall, who worked in France as a contact with the French resistance fighters. You get some background on the starting days of our modern day CIA. I am constantly reading about WW II.

[Redstonelady]

I also just finished Dragon Tears written in the late 90s by Dean Koontz. He always makes me chuckle.

[Two Bills]

Just read Ken Folletts brilliant Kingsbridge trilogy.
The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and A Column of Fire.
Very pertinent with todays problems and the present virus.

Thank your God we are not back in those days of plague!

[asianthree]

We bought 25 books at the Savannah book sale. I thought it would last me til June. NOT. Have 8 left. No important titles, just time passing

[valuemkt]

Not sure if you are limited to historical "fiction", but I generally orient myself to biographies of famous and not so famous business people. The First Tycoon (Corneius Vanderbilt), The Tycoons (Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller, Jay Gould, JP Morgan), TITAN (John D Rockefeller), Meet You in Hell (Andrew Carnegie and henry Clay Frick), Andrrew Carnegie by David Nasaw, Dark Genius of Wall Street (Jay Gould), House of Morgan (JP Morgan) give an interesting overview of the men,often called Robber Barron's that were part of the Gilded Age. As a new Florida Resident, I took interest in Last Train to Paradise, about Henry Flager's (John D's quiet number 2 man at Standard Oil) and his attempt to extend the Southeastern Railway to Key West. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a great look at Lincoln and his 4 key Cabinet Members, none of whom liked each other.

Going further into the 20th centrury .. The Devil's Chessboard about Allen Dulles (John Foster's brother) and the beginnings of the CIA and the SWAMP. Some under the radar books are The Forgotten Man (great Depression) and Coolidge by AMity Shlaes. I was a Jack Welch fan, and Noel Tichy's book on him "Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will" was a great read. Also a big fan of Ken Langone, the third founder of Home Depot. His more recent book "I Love Capitalism" was a very interesting autobiographical sketch.

If you like Bill O'Reilly (his writing style) , his killing series of books are quick and interesting reads ..

Hope you can find something that you;re interested in here..

[lpkshop]

Historical fiction
The Nickel Boys by Colton Whitehead based on the Dozier house in Tallahassee
The Sandcastle Girls By Chris Bohjalian World War 1and the Armenian Genocide which I had never heard of


If you like true stories read Devil in the Grove and Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King stories of nearby Groveland and Fruitland Park

Enjoy

[Nannyof3]

A Higher Call by Makos. Non fiction

[davem4616]

Knowing that the movie was coming out just for kicks I read "The Call of The Wild"...I find that it's easier for me to follow a movie plot if I've read the book...I haven't seen the movie yet. It will be interesting to see how they brought this one to the silver screen. It's an interesting 'guy book'.

[londonsquare]

My Dear Hamilton....authors....Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

[ladyarwen3]

I read the biography of Fred Rogers before the movie came out .... its by Maxwell King "the Good Neighbor- The Life and Work of Fred Rogers". I also the biography of Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jones.
I personally like detective-type novels. Love Dick Francis. Almost done with the Sue Grafton series. If you need more books I strongly recommend BookBub.com. They have reduced prices on many good ebooks; some are $.099 or even free ebooks.

[Bmillard11]

I loved The Only Woman in the Room-the story of Hedy Lamarr

Loving Frank - Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress

The Atomic City Girls

The Sweetness of Forgetting isn’t exactly historical fiction but similar and a good read.

[greenflash245]

how the heck did that happen? took the teeth right off

[greenflash245]

ran out of lube!

[MandoMan]

This is a great time to read or reread Stephen King’s “The Stand,” about a super-virus that kills 99% of the people on earth. Once it happens, things seem so lonely. What happens in New York City reminds me a bit of what is happening now.

[Beagee]

I am reading The Jacobite Chronicles by Julia Brannan. This is a 6 book series set in England, Scotland, and France in 1745-1746 during the time of the wars fought between the Jacobites, supporters of James VIII of Scotland and III of England and the Hanoverians, the supporters of George II (the Elector). It is extremely well written and historically rich. Highly recommend this series.

[Pinellas0311]

I have read 104 books since I moved to the Villages in the summer of 2017. Maybe the favorite is Bel Canto by Anne Patchett. BUT . . . don't find out anything about it before you read it and plan to read it quickly, within a couple days. It's billed as a "love story," but it's much, much more. It will leave you breathless.
Others I really liked:
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley – Woman wakes up in a London park surrounded by dead bodies and no memory of who she is. But she (her former self?) apparently has left herself clues to her past, exactly as if she knew this was going to happen. Suspense, espionage and the supernatural. A real winner!
Between the World and Me by Ta’Nehisi Coates – “A bold and personal literary exploration of America’s racial history by “the single best writer on the subject of race in the United States” (The New York Observer)” A father’s message to his son about living as African American in a White world. It tells the story from such an incredible perspective that I bought a dozen copies to share.
Lincoln and Darwin: Shared Visions of Race, Science and Religion by James Lander (Lincoln and Darwin were born on the same day)
And especially for the Villagers:
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know by Alexandra Horowitz - The answers will surprise and delight you as Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human. Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draws a picture of what it might be like to be a dog. What’s it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to smell sadness in humans, or even the passage of time? How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane? What is it like to hear the bodily vibrations of insects or the hum of a fluorescent light? Why must a person on a bicycle be chased? What’s it like to use your mouth as a hand? In short, what is it like for a dog to experience life from two feet off the ground, amidst the smells of the sidewalk, gazing at our ankles or knees? Personal comment – You’ll never look at a dog the same way . . . ever again!

[meridian5850]

I am re-reading Frank Herbert's "The White Plague"

http://www.sciencethrillers.com/wp-content/uploads/white-plague.jpeg

[Betty Wagner]

Right now reading the Outlander series books. They are very good. Also Greg Iles. Clive Cussler is always a good read.

[llmcdaniel]

My book club read The Empress Romanov last month. Fascinating look at the lives of Russia’s czars and czarinas of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Was also eye opening in how imp it was for royals of European countries to marry each other even though politically the countries did not get along.

[raynan]

Bookbub.com is an amazing sight with lots of books for .99, 1.99 and up. Most I've paid is 4.99 since the virus started. You sign up for ebooks on whatever device you may have.

[Julieb123]

Thank you! Great suggestions! I recommend America’s First Daughter. The story of Thomas Jefferson and his daughter.

[chvlt57]

Great book about racism in Lake County, FL in the late 40's, early 50's, including rise of Thurgood Marshall as the NAACP fought segregation. You will recognize many locations near us.

[Cindy619]

No suggestions, but I liked yours and I intend to read the one on Churchill. Great thread Boomer, thanks.
I'm reading a Churchill biography now. Got it from the library before it closed. BTW, it's 1000 pages! Glad now that I can keep it until library opens again!

[joanb]

Since I can't tell from your email address if you are male or female, I highly recommend the Outlander series (8 books) if you are a female because I think a female would enjoy them more. (don't mean to be sexist- just giving my opinion)

[Heytubes]

“Requiem for the Dead” by Victor M. Alvarez is a fictional military thriller when a rogue general seeks vengeance on North Korea and the U.S. when the N. K.’s kill his son while the U.S. failed to secure his release. Many accurate facts on locations, weapon systems and military law enforcement. Kind of a read like Tom Clancy and James Patterson. Found it on Amazon.

[fdpaq0580]

Knowing that the movie was coming out just for kicks I read "The Call of The Wild"...I find that it's easier for me to follow a movie plot if I've read the book...I haven't seen the movie yet. It will be interesting to see how they brought this one to the silver screen. It's an interesting 'guy book'.

Just curious, have you seen the 1935 version with Clark Gable?
I like old movies and almost always prefer the original to remakes. This one has been done many times.

[2BNTV]

I like biographies, mostly of past Presidents. In no particular order:

1. FDR by Jean Edward Smith. Everything you needed to know about FDR.
2. Washington by Ron Chernow.
3. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, (winner of Pulitzer Prize). Story of Abraham Lincoln.
Others are:
a. The Bully Pulpit, (story of the friendship between Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft).
b: No Ordinary Time, (story of FDR and events during WWII).

4. Franklin and Lucy, (story of FDR, Lucy Mercer Rutherford and other extraordinary woman in his life). By Joseph E. Persico who I met at a WWII club meeting.

5. Grant by Jean Edward Smith.

If you plow through all of those, Hamilton By Ron Chernow. Happy reading!!!

[rsibole]

Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure can help to pass the time.

I like biographical historical fiction. Recently, I have read two by Therese Fowler.

Z is the story of Zelda Fitzgerald. Wow. F. Scott sure was a jackazz.

Another one by Fowler that I liked a lot is A Well Behaved Woman. It is about Alva Vanderbilt and the family she married into. She had the pedigree. Vanderbilt had the money. I guess that was often the case in our country just like Downton Abbey.

Alva Vanderbilt was a woman trapped in time. She was an advocate for women’s rights. But she also knew how to play the social climbing game that was run by Mrs. Astor and the NYC 400 . Alva threw a masquerade ball in 1883 that was excessive beyond belief. It got her in and up the ladder.

When I read about real people, I always have to look up their pictures on the internet. I also looked up the pictures of the costumes worn to that masquerade ball. One woman wore a hat made out of a cat that must have been supplied by a taxidermist. Hideous.

The regular people lined the street to watch the costumed guests go by. The newspapers talked about it for weeks.

Mr. Boomer just finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. That is a brand new book by Erik Larson.

Larson also wrote The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America , published in 2004. I never read about serial killers, but I could not put that one down. Larson weaves the maniac’s story with the story of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

How about anybody else? Book suggestions?

Boomer :read:


Love Wins by Rob Bell. I have read it over and over and given away dozens and dozens of copies. Get a paperback copy or download on line, just do it.

[Boomer]

For a quick, light read — Dave Barry’s Best State Ever: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland — each chapter is about a different place in Florida.

There is even a chapter about The Villages. Barry came to TV to do his research and writes about things very familiar to Villagers. His treatment of TV is fair and direct, not opinionated or critical.

As Florida writers go, I have been a fan of Carl Hiaasen for a long time. Hiaasen has created some memorable characters, especially Skink. Skink is a former governor of Florida who, when he could not stand it anymore, bailed to live by himself in the Everglades. Skink is known for his “appropriate” form of justice when it comes to making sure bad guys get what they deserve. Skink shows up in a lot of Hiaasen’s books.

In addition to Hiaasen’s off-the-wall books for grownups, he also writes books for middle school kids.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

ran out of lube!

Nope.

[bp243]

Thank you! Love historical fiction as well!

[cathy34787]

Love Devil in the White City

[kendi]

"The Beekeepers Promise" and Fiona Valpy's other books. Her books are all very different, yet the connections between them are interesting.

Robot Check (https://www.amazon.com/Beekeepers-Promise-Fiona-Valpy-ebook/dp/B0776PXPFK)

[JanBrown]

Here are books I’ve read that I thought were EXCELLENT:

• The Heart Mender: a Story of Second Chances, by Andy Andrews (true story of Nazi’s off Alabama coast)
• Paris Architect, by Charles Belfoure (hiding Jews)
• The Tempting of America – the political seduction of the law, by Robert Bork
• The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown (2936 Olympic towing team)
• Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana DeRosnay
• Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah (she also wrote The Great Alone, which was awful & didn’t finish)
• I Am Pilgrim, by Terri Hayes
• Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand
• The Devil in the White City, by Eric Larson
• Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas
• 7 Women, by Eric Metaxas
• A Chance in this world, by Steve Pemberton
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

[Rich42]

Boomer, I think I have a good recommendation for you. Steve Berry writes international intrigue fiction, based around major historical events. At the end of the book, he spends several pages separating fact from fiction. Both his stories and his in depth research on the actual event are fantastic.

[valuemkt]

I like biographies, mostly of past Presidents. In no particular order:

1. FDR by Jean Edward Smith. Everything you needed to know about FDR.
2. Washington by Ron Chernow.
3. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, (winner of Pulitzer Prize). Story of Abraham Lincoln.
Others are:
a. The Bully Pulpit, (story of the friendship between Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft).
b: No Ordinary Time, (story of FDR and events during WWII).

4. Franklin and Lucy, (story of FDR, Lucy Mercer Rutherford and other extraordinary woman in his life). By Joseph E. Persico who I met at a WWII club meeting.

5. Grant by Jean Edward Smith.

If you plow through all of those, Hamilton By Ron Chernow. Happy reading!!!

Since you;re interested in FDR, I recommend adding Franklin and Winston by jon Meacham (I hate his current political rants, but this book is well researched and written).
Also, another plug for The Devil's Chessboard. Few people have heard of Allen Dulles but his reach over 3 or 4 decades of behind the scenes activities was remarkable.

[Polar Bear]

I'm currently reading Recursion, by Blake Crouch. It's science fiction about changing memory gone out of control. I started it simply because I like the author. But after getting a ways into it, I've been a bit taken aback by the fact that the memory condition is considered a disease. There are multiple references to the CDC and such. The connection to our world's current condition is inescapable. But so far, it's very good and interesting. The parallels don't detract from the book at all. If anything, it adds to the appeal in a hard-to-define but interesting way

The book series that made me a huge Crouch fan is Wayward Pines. Simply excellent. And it was made into a TV miniseries which did it total justice. I loved it. And what was the clincher for me to read Recursion is that it's set to come to Netflix next year. If the book/miniseries combo is anywhere near as good as Wayward Pines...well...I'll just put it this way...I'm excited. And so far the book is very good.

[daveb48]

No suggestions, but I liked yours and I intend to read the one on Churchill. Great thread Boomer, thanks.

Good suggestion. If you like this genre, try "Leadership" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

[paulat585]

[QUOTE=Boomer;1735493]Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure

Villages authors are suffering like musicians these days. I have had 7 speaking engagements cancelled in the coming weeks. We may have a post this week about our books available on Amazon.com, but in the meantime, might I suggest my memoir, an eyewitness account of a recent historical era: Surviving: A Kent State Memoir, available for free on Kindle Unlimited. (Kindle Unlimited is free on Amazon.com for the next month). For fun reading, I'm catching up on all the books I haven't finished, plus I just downloaded "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" from the library. Happy reading, folks! Paula Stone Tucker

[Joe V.]

Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure can help to pass the time.

I like biographical historical fiction. Recently, I have read two by Therese Fowler.

Z is the story of Zelda Fitzgerald. Wow. F. Scott sure was a jackazz.

Another one by Fowler that I liked a lot is A Well Behaved Woman. It is about Alva Vanderbilt and the family she married into. She had the pedigree. Vanderbilt had the money. I guess that was often the case in our country just like Downton Abbey.

Alva Vanderbilt was a woman trapped in time. She was an advocate for women’s rights. But she also knew how to play the social climbing game that was run by Mrs. Astor and the NYC 400 . Alva threw a masquerade ball in 1883 that was excessive beyond belief. It got her in and up the ladder.

When I read about real people, I always have to look up their pictures on the internet. I also looked up the pictures of the costumes worn to that masquerade ball. One woman wore a hat made out of a cat that must have been supplied by a taxidermist. Hideous.

The regular people lined the street to watch the costumed guests go by. The newspapers talked about it for weeks.

Mr. Boomer just finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. That is a brand new book by Erik Larson.

Larson also wrote The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America , published in 2004. I never read about serial killers, but I could not put that one down. Larson weaves the maniac’s story with the story of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

How about anybody else? Book suggestions?

Boomer :read:
Meditations- Marcus Aurelius. A great book on stoicism. Helpful in these times.

[Marty411]

Couldn’t put this book down.

[vivacious32162]

I am listening to the author tell the story at Hillsdale College online courses. Hillsdale.edu.
Hillsdale offers currently 25 online courses on various subjects:economics, philosophy and religion, politics, literature, economics, and history. They are free, to anyone, supported by donors. If you wish, you can take quizzes.

[CFrance]

Couldn’t put this book down.
If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, you might like Before We Were Yours.


My favorite book recently was Little Fires Everywhere, which I understand has now been made into a series on Hulu, but read the book first.


Then on the WWII theme, I liked Those Who Save Us. It takes place outside the camps but has a very strong Holocaust theme.


The Tatooist takes place inside Auschwitz-Birkenau.

[E Cascade]

Margaret George's books are historical novels, great and long: "Memoirs of Cleopatra", "Mary the Magdeline", Helen of Troy", "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles", "Autobiography of Henry VIII"...... I learn so much history from a good historical novelist
"Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss.....tactics, habits of billionaires, icons, and world class performers. short little chapters with pointers, ideas, suggestions, great book

[Villageswimmer]

Lessons from Lucy - Dave Barry - funny and touching
Great thread. Thanks OP.

[The Great Fumar]

Just another plain GI , by Elvis Presley ,,,,,,as told to GENERAL OMAR T. BRADLEY !!!!

[Boomer]

Just another plain GI , by Elvis Presley ,,,,,,as told to GENERAL OMAR T. BRADLEY !!!!


OH MY GOSH! OH GREAT ONE! :bigbow:

I have not seen you around this joint in years!

You bring back fond memories of the good old early, early days of TOTV — all that terrific banter back then. Such fun! I think a lot of people looked forward to your funny posts. I know I did.

I am honored that you have joined this thread. Thank you. And who knew General Bradley was taking notes from Elvis.

By your picture, I can see that you have not changed a bit. Lookin’ good. :)

Sincerely,
Boomer

[Boomer]

I think Mr. Boomer has read almost every book written by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. She is now teaching a Master Class on US Presidential history.

I am thinking of subscribing to Master Class again. They have added several new classes since I last looked, including one on mixology by a couple of award-winning bartenders.

If you think you might be interested in a class on a favorite topic — or maybe a brand new interest — you can go to masterclass.com to see what classes are offered.

A Master Class subscription offers all-access to a wide variety of topics. Categories include Sports and Games. Photography. Writing. Music. Entertainment. Culinary Arts. Business. Photography. Fashion. Film. TV. And more.

All classes are taught by people who are well known in their field. There are more than 80 classes. That could help to pass some time. Might as well learn something new while we wait.

[kfierle]

The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan

The untold story of the women who helped win World War II.

[Redstonelady]

The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan

The untold story of the women who helped win World War II.

Read it and loved it.

[Halle]

Have you seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Of Windmills and War by Diane Moody

Lately I'm reading about 5 books a week these are two of my recent favorites.

Welcome back Fumar you bold but never old Fly Boy.

[jojo]

Be it an actual book, Audible, or Kindle, a good book sure can help to pass the time.

I like biographical historical fiction.

Mr. Boomer just finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. That is a brand new book by Erik Larson.

How about anybody else? Book suggestions?

Boomer :read:

These are some of my recent reads – several being historical fiction. Your husband may enjoy Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict,, the story of the powerful influence of Churchill’s wife. I’ve always liked David McCullough and being from Ohio, particularly appreciated The Pioneers based on the opening of the Northwest Territory. Other books that I’ve enjoyed, including some from our book club
-The Last of the Romantics - Ruth Harris
-Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
-Beneath a Scarlet Sky - Mark Sullivan (WW II based in Italy)
-The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom (Civil war era)
-My name is Mary Sutton (story of a woman who became a doctor in the civil war era)
-The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker (interesting with lots of twists – based in Burma)
-All the Flowers in Paris by Sara Jio
-The Only Woman in the Room - about Hedy Lamar
-Wallis in Love by Andrew Morton - fascinating book about Wallis Simpson, a seriously flawed woman
-Paris: A Love Story by Kati Marton who was married to Peter Jennings (controversial reviews because she too led an interesting life but with issues)

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I read Dave Barry's
Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland a VERY FUNNY look about Florida

[Boomer]

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

Blanche Auzello, an American, was married to Claude, a Frenchman who managed the famous Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Working together and living at The Ritz, the Auzellos hosted the rich and famous, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Coco Chanel.

But their glamorous lives changed drastically when the Nazis occupied Paris and set up headquarters at The Ritz. (Coco Chanel continued to live at The Ritz with her lover, a high-ranking Nazi. That’s another story.)

[Redstonelady]

Thank you, Boomer, for starting this thread. I'm picking up information on a lot of good books to read. Stay safe and read, folks.

[Boomer]

My old-fashioned, actual phone conversations with friends lately sometimes turn to the topic of what we are reading.

I have not read this one yet, but it was highly recommended to me this morning:

You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe

On the Amazon page, there is a blurb from Doris Kearns Goodwin who says, “Every now and then, a fresh, new biography told by a gifted storyteller on a familiar figure captures our imagination.”

I rarely read plain biography, but this sounds like it is pretty entertaining. The reader even gets to find out all about George’s teeth.

[paulat585]

A good escape...Dared to Run, "Kate Anderson, a young parole officer, discovers an underground network helping women escape abusive men when she is stalked by a politically-connected deputy sheriff. When the sheriff is killed, Kate is accused of the crime. Rather than face a possible murder charge, she goes on the run, determined to prove her innocence. ...Take a high-tension ride with Kate. Can she unravel the crime? Can she find the real killer? ..."

[missouri50]

I’ve read Paula’s book and attended one of her speaking engagements. She worked very hard to capture the scenes of the 60’s. A piece of U.S. History—on the page. Support local villages authors! Paula Stone Tucker’s book available on Amazon and Sunbury Press.

[Larry G Wells]

If you have never read the entire Bible, start with the book of John. It is the world’s number one selling book & has been for all time. I am on my 25th time through it. My father started me reading it every day and have done so for over 50 years.

[paulat585]

From my friend, Barb Rein, who is a local Villages author. She writes eerie/macabre short stories and is working on putting an anthology together. All of the books she mentions are available on Amazon.com, some free for the next month.

“Reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are.” Mason Cooley

The coronavirus has us trapped in our homes wishing we could be somewhere else. Your ride is here. Pick up a book and be transported. The creativity of local authors flourishes in our community. Here are a few recommendations, available on Amazon:

Ripple Effect, Because of the War by Jenny Ferns
Veronica's husband is called to war. Her sister disappears in war-torn London. The decision to adopt the child her sister left behind causes far-reaching ripples when they both return, demanding more of Veronica than she can give.

Coach in Cottage C by J. R. Minard and R. R. Imregi
Matt Grazi was in over his head. The first-time coach was charged with building a sports team with the young inmates at a Florida reform school. Could he change the life of the toughest kid there?

Dared to Run: A Kate Anderson Mystery by J. J. Clark
When Kate Anderson, a young parole officer, is falsely accused of murdering the sheriff who'd been stalking her, she discovers an underground network for abused women. With their help, Kate goes on the run, determined to prove her innocence.

[2newyorkers]

Some light reading. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared.

[Polar Bear]

Undaunted Courage, by Stephen E. Ambrose.

A wonderful book about the Lewis and Clark expedition.

[Taltarzac725]

David McCullough’s The Pioneers, reviewed. (https://slate.com/culture/2019/05/pioneers-mccullough-frontier-history-book-review.html)

Very good book about very early settlers and the development of science and higher education.

[cmj1210]

I loved The Only Woman in the Room-the story of Hedy Lamarr

Loving Frank - Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress

The Atomic City Girls

The Sweetness of Forgetting isn’t exactly historical fiction but similar and a good read.
The Girl With The Louding Voice. One of Jennas picks. Excellent read.

[Boomer]

The Address by Fiona Davis

A novel about The Dakota and the lives entwined with NYC’s most famous address

[jojo]

David McCullough’s The Pioneers, reviewed. (https://slate.com/culture/2019/05/pioneers-mccullough-frontier-history-book-review.html)

Very good book about very early settlers and the development of science and higher education.

Yes I recommended The Pioneers by McCullough too, a must read if you are from Ohio.

[Barborv]

Where the Crawdads sing was very good. Just finished Tattooist of Auschwitz. Very good. If you really want to get in heavy with a book try reading MILA 18. BIG BOOK. EXCELLENT. Non fiction historical.I read a lot of WWII books. In between the heavy duty books, I like to read a lighter story. I usually go to a Mitch Albon book. Another Great book was A thousand splendid suns. Same author as the Kite Runner.

[CFrance]

Where the Crawdads sing was very good. Just finished Tattooist of Auschwitz. Very good. If you really want to get in heavy with a book try reading MILA 18. BIG BOOK. EXCELLENT. Non fiction historical.I read a lot of WWII books. In between the heavy duty books, I like to read a lighter story. I usually go to a Mitch Albon book. Another Great book was A thousand splendid suns. Same author as the Kite Runner.


Mila 18--read that years and years ago. Also, The Wall (Hershey), the inspiring story of forty men and women who escape the dehumanizing horror of the Warsaw ghetto. And of course, Exodus by Leon Uris.


Right now I'm reading Whatever Happened to Raoul Wallenburg, by Morris Wolff about a man who went to Budapest to help the Jews and was arrested and detained by the Russians.


Then there was Schindler's List. I had to read that in chunks, taking breaks.



On another hardship subject, Searching for Tamsen Donner, by Gabrielle Burton.


Hosseini (Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns) has another book out, And the Mountains Echoed. That's up for me next.


If you like WWII books, I suggest Those Who Save Us, by Jenna Blum. It's fiction.

[Boomer]

The End of October by Lawrence Wright

This book is brand new, released on April 28, 2020. The author started writing it in 2017 and turned in his final draft in summer 2019. These dates are eerie because the book is about a global pandemic.

The End of October is a thriller, a novel, with virus research behind it. Wright has won a Pulitzer for his non-fiction but this one is in the fiction category — or is it really? Now?

Confession: I did not read this book because I knew it would be scary, actually maybe terrifying, because of its timing and detail. I bought it for Mr. Boomer who read it cover-to-cover, fast.

[danders3]

I love Dick Francis as well. I think I’ve read them all

[jojo]

Hosseini (Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns) has another book out, And the Mountains Echoed. That's up for me next.

I have found some good reads thanks to this thread, including Mistress of the Ritz. I noted several recommendations for Hosseini's new book. His daughter and my granddaughter are best friends so I think I need to put this on my list.

[Boomer]

Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box by Madeleine Albright

Remember Madeleine Albright's pins? When she was in the public eye, those beautiful pieces of jewelry were in the public eye, too. At least for jewelry lovers.

Read My Pins has stunning, glossy, close up photos of those pins, along with the stories behind them.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Some light reading. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared.

I would suggest " The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sachs
Sacks chose the title of the book from the case study of one of his patients, whom he calls "Dr. P"; P has visual agnosia[1], a neurological condition that leaves him unable to recognize even familiar faces and objects.

[positiveinlife]

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is my top pick of the last two years

[Boomer]

“The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook: 650 Recipes For Everything You’ll Ever You’ll Ever Want To Make” by America’s Test Kitchen

[CFrance]

///

[Clarinet]

I have read several excellent books by Jeff Shaara. He writes historical fiction that is so realistic that you find yourself right with the characters. Some of the books are of various wartime events and you will see the viewpoints from the generals to the privates in the trenches. Highly recommend you give this author a try.

[Sydney]

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is my top pick of the last two years

I have read Killers of the Flower Moon and A Gentleman in Moscow and throughly enjoyed both of them. Based on your recommendation my next selection will be Beneath A Scarlet Sky.

[sandy777]

I have around 100 books that i am selling from my personal library
make an offer
great for someone who loves to read or someone who re sells on amazon.
would like to sell the whole lot to 1 person
all non fiction books. email sandyinthevillages@gmail.com
or call 763-784-2446
thank you

[runkcrun]

Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay - fiction. WWII German occupation of France.

[chrisinva]

MANY thanks for this thread! Have added many to my spreadsheet of "Books to Read" Appreciate the annotations re: book content & why someone read it.

I'm reading Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl. She became the food editor for Gourmet & this book is her 'food gourmet memoir" If you like cooking & how flavors come together, this book is fascinating. Got it from library. There's a few special recipes in here, but only a few.

[Boomer]

Has anyone read “Little Fires Everywhere”?

I am tempted to skip the book and watch the movie tonight on Hulu.

We just finished watching “Defending Jacob” on Apple, but I thought the book was much better. When Apple turned it into a series, it seemed like the storyline was being stretched to run for 8 episodes. There were changes, too. The television version got a little unwieldy. The kid playing Jacob did not have to memorize a lot of lines. He mainly had to just look sullen and not say much. But it was interesting to see Lady Mary from Downton Abbey in a completely different role.

When my book club read “Defending Jacob,” it generated a lot of discussion, especially about “Nature vs. Nurture.”
I thought the book was a whole lot better than the movie.

But I don’t know anything, yet, about “Little Fires Everywhere” except that if I watch the movie first, I probably never will get around to reading the book.

[CFrance]

Has anyone read “Little Fires Everywhere”?

I am tempted to skip the book and watch the movie tonight on Hulu.

We just finished watching “Defending Jacob” on Apple, but I thought the book was much better. When Apple turned it into a series, it seemed like the storyline was being stretched to run for 8 episodes. There were changes, too. The television version got a little unwieldy. The kid playing Jacob did not have to memorize a lot of lines. He mainly had to just look sullen and not say much. But it was interesting to see Lady Mary from Downton Abbey in a completely different role.

When my book club read “Defending Jacob,” it generated a lot of discussion, especially about “Nature vs. Nurture.”
I thought the book was a whole lot better than the movie.

But I don’t know anything, yet, about “Little Fires Everywhere” except that if I watch the movie first, I probably never will get around to reading the book.
Please, read the book first. Please! You will dive into it--you won't regret it. The series is slightly different from the book in a few areas. If you read it first and then watch the series, PM me your thoughts.

[CFrance]

MANY thanks for this thread! Have added many to my spreadsheet of "Books to Read" Appreciate the annotations re: book content & why someone read it.

I'm reading Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl. She became the food editor for Gourmet & this book is her 'food gourmet memoir" If you like cooking & how flavors come together, this book is fascinating. Got it from library. There's a few special recipes in here, but only a few.
If you like Save Me the Plums, read some of her other books. They're all good. The one about her mother is rather short, so go for another one.


I wish Gourmet Magazine had not lost its focus and gone all political/earth friendly/sustain this/don't do that. It was such an elegant magazine about cooking.
I was a subscriber right up to the bitter end, but the changes that took place were unfortunate.

[Boomer]

Please, read the book first. Please! You will dive into it--you won't regret it. The series is slightly different from the book in a few areas. If you read it first and then watch the series, PM me your thoughts.

Thank you. I will take your advice. Book first.

I think you just rescued Mr. Boomer from watching the movie with me, tonight. He just finished reading “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” by Lawrence Wright. That’s the book that won the Pulitzer for Wright. It is also a Hulu series now. Mr. B. is watching it, but I don’t want to.

Lawrence Wright is the writer who just published “The End of October” that was mentioned earlier in the thread. It’s fiction, about a pandemic. He started it a couple of years ago and gave it to his publisher last year.

Mr. Boomer and I have very different reading lists. I try to keep him supplied with books I think he will like. I am always right, but I do think there is a good chance he would leave me for Doris Kearns Goodwin if she ever gave him a come hither look. :) I think he has read almost every book she has written. “Team of Rivals” is his favorite.

[CFrance]

Thank you. I will take your advice. Book first.

I think you just rescued Mr. Boomer from watching the movie with me, tonight. He just finished reading “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” by Lawrence Wright. That’s the book that won the Pulitzer for Wright. It is also a Hulu series now. Mr. B. is watching it, but I don’t want to.

Lawrence Wright is the writer who just published “The End of October” that was mentioned earlier in the thread. It’s fiction, about a pandemic. He started it a couple of years ago and gave it to his publisher last year.

Mr. Boomer and I have very different reading lists. I try to keep him supplied with books I think he will like. I am always right, but I do think there is a good chance he would leave me for Doris Kearns Goodwin if she ever gave him a come hither look. :) I think he has read almost every book she has written. “Team of Rivals” is his favorite.
Celeste Ng's first book, Everything I Never Told You, is not bad either. Not as good as Little Fires, but a close second. She really has family dynamics down pat.


BTW... In Little Fires Everywhere, you're gonna wanna slap some people.

[Boomer]

I loved The Only Woman in the Room-the story of Hedy Lamarr

Loving Frank - Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress

The Atomic City Girls

The Sweetness of Forgetting isn’t exactly historical fiction but similar and a good read.



Re. The Only Woman in the Room — about a week ago, I came across a bio of Hedy Lamarr on PBS, American Masters. I knew that she was a famous movie star and among the most beautiful of women, but I had no idea that she was absolutely brilliant. Now, I know. You can probably find the PBS episode online. Fascinating.

Speaking of brilliant women, The Other Einstein is by the same author as the book about Hedy Lamarr. The author is Marie Benedict.

Turns out, Einstein’s wife, Mileva Maric, was studying physics in Zurich and was running circles around the male brainiacs in her classes. But, then, Albert Einstein noticed her, hit on her, made her his wife, and then overshadowed her. Was she “the wind beneath his wings”? How much of his genius was “inspired” by her? What did she contribute to Einstein’s theories, uncredited?

I refer to books like these two titles as being about women trapped in time. (sigh)

[John_W]

I never read fiction, I figured if I want a made up story, I'll just watch a movie and be done with it in two hours. PLus, I prefer to learn somthing, so non-fiction is it for me. The last book I read is 3 years old, it's Red, the Life of Sammy Hagar. I first saw him live in '84 when he opened for ZZTOP on the Eliminator tour. He put on one hell'va show. I watch his show on AXS TV when he goes on the road and interviews rock stars that have a worthy career.

The guy has been rocking for 50 years, he not a lightweight, he's been around, but he's not a tough guy, or a tattoo poser, he's a real rocker. Very interesting about his time in Montrose and his solo career and his time in Van Halen. If you like rock music, read it, I got it at the library at the Gold Dome.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uzTf5B44L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

[Polar Bear]

I never read fiction, I figured if I want a made up story, I'll just watch a movie and be done with it in two hours. PLus, I prefer to learn somthing, so non-fiction is it for me...
Heheh. Talk about different drummers. Sounds like I float around a bit more than you do...

I enjoy reading non-fiction, but I often find when I get well into a book that I am reading one person's slant on a person or an event and I'm not necessarily getting an accurate, detached description. So I tend to be very careful and research non-fiction books before I jump in.

I read more fiction than non-fiction. The real world is staring me in the face every day, and I love a good book to keep it at bay for a while. Plus, I love science fiction, which by definition is not available in non-fiction, so there ya go.

And as far as movies...I love movies too. But the fact that a good book takes much longer than the running length of a movie is a plus for me, not a negative. Nothing better than immersing in a fictional world that isn't here and gone so fast! Love it. Example you say? There are many, but to pick one of my favorites...Asimov. Get into his universe and you have some wonderful story-telling to settle into for a very long time. :)

[bandsdavis]

I've been a Sherlock Holmes fan for many decades and over the last few years have found a number of book series set as British mysteries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially the Charles Lenox, Ian Hamilton, Ian Lavendar, and Sebastion St. Cyr series. Not only are they well crafted mysteries, but they provide a fascinating view of life in Great Britain during that time, with strong emphasis on the inequities in the lives of the fifferent classes. I'm also reading Peter Ashers "The Beatles from A to Zed", and Mo Rocca's "Mobituaries". Both are very informative and interesting, and they have the advantage of being books you can put down and come back to sometime later without having to worry about where you are in the story!

[John_W]

I've been a Sherlock Holmes fan for many decades and over the last few years have found a number of book series set as British mysteries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially the Charles Lenox, Ian Hamilton, Ian Lavendar, and Sebastion St. Cyr series...

I too love Sherlock Holmes, did you happen to watch the British TV show Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman? I think I've seen everyone at least twice. They were like mini-movies, each was 90 minutes and no commercials and took 28 days to shoot. Really good show, makes the American show "Elementary" seem like kid's stuff. If you haven't you should, I originally saw them on the public channel WUCF channel 24 and they they were rerun on BBC America and sometimes they have on demand. Unfortunately they only made about four a year since they took so much time to make.

I became a fan of Martin Freedman who played Dr. Watson, he was the original "Jim" character on the British version of The Office. I watched as many of those as I could on Netflix and he was a featured character on the first season of Fargo on FX Channel, excellent 10 episode series with Billy Bob Thornton as the antagonist. That's available on demand I believe. Of course Benedict Cumberbatch has become a big star, I think that part of the reason that the American show Elementary fell out of favor, it just didn't hold up against the British version.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sherlocked/images/1/1d/Sherlockbbc.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/398?cb=20180407173034

[Spikearoni]

Here are books I’ve read that I thought were EXCELLENT:

• The Heart Mender: a Story of Second Chances, by Andy Andrews (true story of Nazi’s off Alabama coast)
• Paris Architect, by Charles Belfoure (hiding Jews)
• The Tempting of America – the political seduction of the law, by Robert Bork
• The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown (2936 Olympic towing team)
• Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana DeRosnay
• Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah (she also wrote The Great Alone, which was awful & didn’t finish)
• I Am Pilgrim, by Terri Hayes
• Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand
• The Devil in the White City, by Eric Larson
• Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas
• 7 Women, by Eric Metaxas
• A Chance in this world, by Steve Pemberton
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I have read and enjoyed most of the books you listed herein including The Great Alone. It was an amazing story, quite sad in parts, as well as very descriptive about the reality and hardships of life in the Alaskan wilderness.

[SacDQ]

I’m an American history buff and frequent old book stores everywhere I go. I just finished reading America Fist published in 1953. It details the creation of the “America First Committee” established in1940 to keep America out of the European conflict that became the Second World War. Very interesting in depth study of the politics and the behind the Seen moves by President Roosevelt to get us involved. After Pearl Harbor their the movement fully supported the war effort. The powerful People behind the movement was and interesting list. Many WWI Generals, Hebert Ford, Charles Lindbergh, Igor Sikorsky, the list goes on.

“Those who forget their History are sure to repeat It”

[Challenger]

The Lincoln Conspiracy -Meltzer

[bandsdavis]

Have not seen them although I was aware of them. Will have to find them, thanks. We enjoyed Elementary also not because it tried to be authentic to Holmes, but because the writing and acting were pretty good for TV. I did watch the Holmes series from the 80's-90's starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes. Exceptional series and I agree with people who consider Brett's protrayal of Holmes as the definitive onscreen portrayal of the character.

[flkayaker]

I tend to read a wide variety of subjects, but just finished a historical fiction I stumbled across on amazon. "A Matter of Corruption: Revenge can turn you into the person you despise". Pretty good read especially if you like New York City history.

[Boomer]

I just finished The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson.

It is one of the most memorable books I have read in a long time.

It is a novel based on the real story of the Blue People of Kentucky. A recessive gene caused a blood disorder that made their skin turn blue. The main character, Cussy Mary, is one of the blue people.

Cussy Mary is a Packhorse Librarian. These were brave, smart women whose job it was to carry books into remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains between 1935 and 1943. The project was a part of the WPA.

As every librarian knows — the right book, in the right hands, at the right time can make a big difference.

The setting is in 1936 and its story of time and place and people makes the book a treasure.

I guess I could sum this book up faster by saying it is about humanity and inhumanity. It gives the reader a lot to think about — past and present.

Boomer

[manaboutown]

"Shock of Gray" by Ted C. Fishman. Kind of scary...

[Boomer]

I mentioned this, a few weeks ago, in the thread about books set in Florida, but I thought I would put an update in here.

I have been listening to A Land Remembered on Audible. There was a time when I did not like listening to books — mainly because I had to keep rewinding because my mind always went wandering around. I usually use Kindle or an actual book. But lately, I am getting hooked on Audible.

A Land Remembered takes a family back to the time of the Civil War and brings them through generations. The things they have to go through to survive and make their way to success engages the reader (listener) in quite a saga.

The person narrating the book does an excellent job.

If it has been a long time since somebody read a story to you and you think you would like to try that — maybe to take your mind off 2020 — you might like listening to A Land Remembered.

Boomer

[Polar Bear]

For you Sherlock Holmes fans out there...

I’d like to start reading Holmes novels. Any particular ‘best’ way to get started?

[tophcfa]

Currently reading the book “Why We Swim” and very much enjoying it.

[Boomer]

“Book Concierge” is back. There are more than 380 titles for 2020.

What I like best about using “Book Concierge” is that it catalogues the books by subject, making it easy to find what you are looking for, and it gives you a quick summary of the book.

“Book Concierge” can be found at npr.org

Boomer

[Boomer]

“Book Concierge” is back. There are more than 380 titles for 2020.

What I like best about using “Book Concierge” is that it catalogues the books by subject, making it easy to find what you are looking for, and it gives you a quick summary of the book.

“Book Concierge” can be found at npr.org

Boomer


Yes. I know. I know it is gauche to quote myself. But just this morning I was thinking about the readers who might be out there wondering what to read (or listen to) next so here I am, repeating myself, pushing “Book Concierge.”

I have used “Book Concierge” twice this week. Once to buy a cookbook gift for a millennial who is a serious cook and is now a full time vegetarian. The book is “Cool Beans” and is reviewed in the cookbook section of “Book Concierge.”

“Cool Beans” arrived at my house today. I looked through it and saw a couple of recipes I might try. I will scan those recipes so I do not sticky-up the gift book. One of them is the “Root Vegetable, White Bean, and Mushroom Cassoulet.” (I picked this one because I recognized the ingredients and because it looks like comfort food without the beef.)

Carnivore/Omnivore Me would like to add more meatless meals to this now constant cooking, but tofu makes me want to gag. I like beans though so this cookbook might give me the protein answer I have been looking for.

Amazon gave “Cool Beans” some rave reviews, but other reviewers said the ingredients in some of the recipes would not be easy to find. But in the back of the book there is a list of online sources for unusual types of beans and for spices.

At first glance, I see that there is forgiveness in some of the recipes that say canned beans and store-bought vegetable broth can be used. (I do perhaps sense a withering sneer behind that statement by the probably quite sophisticated author, but I don’t care. At least, it’s there.)

Some of the Amazon reviews grumpily pointed out that this is actually a vegan cookbook and needs more pictures.

Anyway, “Cool Beans” will be a Christmas present for a millennial in our life and just might change the repetitive menu that Mr. Boomer and I are cooking — cooking — cooking. Aaaaugh, how I miss those dinners out.

And, now, damn, damn it — for the rest of the day, I will have that song from camp in my head. . .

”No matter how old a bean may be
It’s always full of energy,
A baby bean is like its dad,
But it’s not fired up quite so bad,
We have beans for every meal,
Later on, the effects we feel.”
— (Then start over and sing the same thing again and again and again.)

Geez. I just segued from writing about book reviews to writing about farts. Oh well, that was my mental exercise for today — which tells you something about how I am missing real life. (sigh)

Boomer