- The topic of "the last book you read" was a lot of fun. Allan did a good job recaping below. At this point we would like everyone to make a comment to this post with the last book they read.
- From Allan...
- Without the participation of Jeffrey Adam things weren't quite the same...you were missed. The discussion of all the books covering Clinton's life, the Bosnian uprising, the memoir of Jennifer Walls, the Chef's book, Nick Hornby's suicide stories and my South African cop story showed some pretty interesting diversity....not to forget Ross' house buying guide ( and his other book which I cannot recall) and my "reading to my child" books which are always offering up something of a treat to me.I am looking forward to the change of venue suggested and also the topic to be dealt with at our next get together, which may or may not include the evasive Phil Tucker. oh yes...I forgot to mention the most interesting book of them all Lovell's "comments from a spy"or something, that apparently poorly written but well received because of family ties...I can relate to that. All in all it was low key and stimulating conversation...there were no "fart jokes" thank you very much!
9 comments:
1. Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story,
by Christopher Moore
> funny light read.
2. War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, by Chris Hedges
> really interesting book about war and it's psychological effects on people. A must read given the current climate in the word.
The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House
by John F. Harris
>a comprehensive account of Clinton's tenure in the White House by a former White House coorespondent. It's a bit policy-heavy at times, but highly recommended if you have any significant interest in either Clinton himself, or the inner workings of the presidency and its immediate sphere of influence (advisors, Hillary, the press, etc). You even get to ride on Air Force One.
The Company We Keep, by John Abrams
--subtitle: Reinventing Small Business for People, Community, And Place
--Part memoir, part small-business how-to, this tells the story of a small design/build firm on Martha's Vineyard...the owner, John Abrams, is devoted to employee ownership, long-range planning, craftsmanship, sustainable building practices, and social justice. Good stuff. He's teaching a workshop this weekend at Yestermorrow in the Mad River Valley called Thinking Like Cathedral Builders.
Of Spies and Strategems, by Stanley P. Lovell
--This book was published in the early '60s by my wife's great-grandfather. He was a chemist recruited during WWII to help create the OSS, the precursor to today's CIA. He developed or managed many of the secret weapons and strategies deployed throughout the war, from counterfeiting operations to tracking devices to James Bond-like lethal gadgetry. Poorly written, a little confusing chronologically, but interesting for its insight on history...and for the family connection.
I was unable to attend. However, durng my time away from "the society" I discovered the venerable 'Powells Books' (Portland, OR). Check it out for yourself at: www.powells.com A bit more personal and comprehensive than Amazon...
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls...
a memoir about one girl's wacky upbringing with an alcholic father and a free-spirited mother who wasn't all that into raising kids. as the back of the book says "a revelatory look into a family at one deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant."
it's a little odd, but i reccomend it.
as far as really great bookstores...my favorite is the northshire bookstore in manchester, vt. it is amazing: lots of little nooks, a really great cafe and seating area, an amazing children's section, and just a lot of overall charm!!!
jay p decima
http://www.fixerjay.com/
start small profit big in real estate.
he restates most of the ideas you've ever had about making monsy in real estate, and then confuses you with a few more schemes...
yep... i'm a geek
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
A book about four random people who meet on top of a famous London suicide spot, to do just that. The characters are annoying and they basically realize that something small, like meeting someone new, can make enormous difference in one's life. No one dies and well...they must live happily ever after.
Shannon Roesch
Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain. Entertaining, quick read. Self-deprecating, but funny. A bit kitchen-technical at times, which might have been my least favorite part. I enjoyed the anecdotes on what never to eat and why vegetarians aren't fun (okay, he didn't really say that). I would like to hang out with Anthony Bourdain after reading Kitchen Confidential. I would also like to invest in a nice knife.
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