Author Topic: Non-Fiction (Read 439636 times)

mabel1015j · « **Reply #960 on:** May 05, 2010, 01:35:48 PM »

TO NONFICTION BOOK TALK

What are you reading? Autobiographies, biographies, history, politics?

Tell us about the book; the good and the bad of it.

Let's talk books!

Discussion Leader: HaroldArnold

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marj - Grandmama of Europe was publ'd in 1973, it very well may be out of print. i found it at my library.
donna - i think i probably read at an average pace and not quickly, i frequently renew a book from my library and we get a month at a time, altho i get 4 - 6 books at a time, partly because i'm assuming that i'm not going to read 1 or 2 of them...........but i don't worry about what my pace is, it suits me, so what does it matter how fast others read? .............jean

marjifay · « **Reply #961 on:** May 05, 2010, 06:42:36 PM »

I found the book, Jean. I had missed one of the ma's in grandmama.
Thanks. Sounds good.

I just watched the movie, YOUNG VICTORIA. Had been afraid it would be just a boring romance, but it was very interesting. Even my son liked it.

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #962 on:** May 06, 2010, 08:31:58 AM »

I do that, too, MARJ....go look up something I run across in my reading.
Of course, that's much more likely to happen with a non-fiction book but
I've also done it with historical fiction. I'm as pleased to learn somethng
new as a kid with a new toy.
I don't enjoy politics, esp. 'nasty' politics, but Atwater does at least
appear to have had an original outlook and sense of humor.

marjifay · « **Reply #963 on:** May 06, 2010, 02:08:57 PM »

Yes, Babi, I feel that way too about learning something new from reading a book. I love history and some historical fiction. WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel was one that kept me looking up characters and events. Thank goodness for Wikipedia, even though it's said to not be error-proof by a long shot, but at least it points you in the right direction.

As for the Lee Atwater book, Bad Boy, it probably is more for someone interested in politics. But I was fascinated by him, he had an awesome mind. Was an intellectual, but played up his image of Southern old-boy
regular guy. He really enjoyed the game of politics more than the party issues. He also loved to sing and play rhythm and blues songs on his guitar and made a record that I just ordered, "Red Hot and Blue," with B.B. King and others. He was working on his PhD, and wanted to eventually teach, but sadly died in his early 40s from a brain tumor.

Marj

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #964 on:** May 06, 2010, 07:30:24 PM »

I guess I have a one track mind of a sort. That’s not exactly true, but while doing “Troublesome Young Men” I do seem to have ignored the activities here. In any case I'm, back and will add a comment or two concerning recent posts.

First "GEORGE, NICHOLAS AND WILHELM" raises an interesting question. It seems to me that there should another Monarch added to make it "GEORGE, NICHOLAS.WILHELM and CHARLES". The added name being the Austrian Emperor, Charles I. It would seem appropriate in as much as the assassination of the Austrian heir was the immediate cause of WWI and that monarchy too did not survive the War.

Also regarding the Comment regarding the English Queen Victoria who was maybe not the best example of a Victorian. In her younger days she was quite a party person. Truly she loved her husband Prince Albert. Also as a middle age widow she shocked Victorians by taking long country carriage rides alone with her carriage driver. Also is it not true that the only real Victorians were Americans? English society in the early 20th century society of the ”Troublesome Young Men” was hardly Victorian.

Several years ago I posted here a rather long comment on how Victoria came to be in line for the Crown when her Uncle William IV died in 1837. Does anyone remember the story in that post?

In closing Click the following link for photos from my Chandler House Players', current Reader’s Theater Project that currently includes 2 short plays, “Frosting” and “Almost Murder.” http://www.morningsidemin.org/Chandler/chandler-players.html

serenesheila · « **Reply #965 on:** May 06, 2010, 07:53:16 PM »

I"ve just begun reading a book called: "The Duchess of Windsor", by Charles Higham. It is surprising me to learn that Wallis, had a cruch on the Duke of Windsor, when she was 17 years old. She had relatives who were socially and financially upper class. Her uncle financed her education, and her debut. In her early 20s she and the Duke were at several social events.

I am finding this book interesting. I look forward to learning how they met, and more about their courtship. I also want to know more about their German support. I am wondering how things would have turned out if they had never met. If he had remained King of England, would he have negotiated a peace with Hitler? Since reading "Troublesome Yound Men", I have become fascinated with this time period.

Sheila

mabel1015j · « **Reply #966 on:** May 06, 2010, 09:46:07 PM »

I see Harold's back - this is a post i made on April 26 - any comment?

I haven't seen Harold in here recently, but i tho't about him when i picked up a book at the library earlier in the week. It is a fiction book, but it's about his neck of the woods - Texas!

Janice Woods Windle wrote a great historical novel about Texas pioneers in the 19th century called True Women, so when i was this book by her, i checked it out. It's titled Will's War. Both books are based on her ancestors stories. This one was inspired by a court transcript she found about her grandfather's (?) trial during WWI. He was a German-Texan who supported a farmers and workers union and 50-some of them were accused of threatening to kill Woodrow Wilson and other officials. It sounds as tho it may be a trumped up charge based on the anger against Germans and populists - fear of socialism - the more things change..........amazing isn't it?

I've just gotten into the trial, but it sounds like 2 very good attorneys facing off against each other and she's using the very words from the court transcript.......................sounds like something Harold might know about, or enjoy, as well as the rest of you............jean

Babi · « **Reply #967 on:** May 07, 2010, 08:59:04 AM »

HAROLD, I see the Chandler House Players are quite popular. You have
a busy performance schedule lined up, and I see you are co-starring in
the first play. Congratulations.

JEAN, back in my college days I managed to find a transcript of the trial of William Penn in
London, back before his move to America. I'd been considering writing a play about it, but after
reading the fascinating transcript, I couldn't figure out what I could add of any significance. The
transcript pretty much covered it all.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #968 on:** May 07, 2010, 10:16:00 AM »

Y es, I see Harold's post and he is busy and having fun! Here is a website of a retirement village I am considering in my near future with a good array of activities. Am not sure yet that I am mentally ready for it, but my body is saying let's go:

http://www.oprs.org/westminster_thurber/

I just finished Carol Burnett's book THIS TIME TOGETHER. I loved her show but I should have skipped her book, she's not a writer and is not funny.

Am starting GAME CHANGE, which seems to be a popular book, and it is starting off well.

I have the book FORDLANDIA about Henry Ford's jungle city in Brazil and it looks good.

I am well prepared for spring - flowers to plant and books to read.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #969 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:19:25 PM »

Jean, I have read , “Texas” by James Michener? It is one of several novels of a style that I think are styled geographical novels in which a geographical area is written into the plot. Others by Michener include Alaska and Hawaii. I thought Michener did a good job in his inclusion of Texas history episodes that became a part of his story. Others including the Northrop & Hall Bounty Trilogy distort history to the point of rewriting it leaving me with an underlying suspicion of historical novels .

I have not read the Novel you mentioned by Janice Woods Windle, but I remember some 15 years ago a CBS TV mini-series also called “True Woman. This was the story of a young woman who heroically organized a group of Settlers and successfully led them to escape the advancing Mexican Army after the fall of the Alamo in 1836. The story supposedly based on a family tradition has no support that I know of from actual history and in fact seems to conflict with history since it failed mentioned the role of Juan Seguin who was active in the area at the time and is credited with the same activities as the woman in the story. I enjoyed the TV mini-series but I find it hard to accept as history. Others I agree might view it otherwise.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #970 on:** May 07, 2010, 05:53:49 PM »

Ella, another thing I like about living at Chandler is the activity schedule here. We have each month several area day trips. Last week for example we went to Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch about 70 miles north of San Antonio. There we visited LBJ Texas White House and had an Excellent lunch at a fine hill country eatery in Jonson City. In June or July we will go to Fredericksburg to pick peaches from the orchard trees. We always have 1 or 2 such road trips each month. Also we go as a group in the Chandler mini bus to local museums or events such as the Fiesta river parade, or Folklife Festival. Maybe even a Spurs game. This morning we toured San Fernando Cathedral and the old 18th Century Spanish Governors Palace with lunch at El Marcado. This morning we had a professional tour Guide. I sometimes lead the tours at the Institute of Texan Cultures and the National Historical Park sites. We also have in-house lectures particularly a series by a local astronomer. Even though individuals pay the cost of admissions and outside dinners are dutch treat, it is the availability of activities like these that make the rather sizable rents worthwhile.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #971 on:** May 08, 2010, 11:24:51 AM »

Harold - the tv series was based on Windle's book and Juan Sequin is mentioned in Will's Trial. He may an ancestor of Windle's, i'll have to recheck that...................jean

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #972 on:** May 08, 2010, 02:04:58 PM »

HAROLD, all of those day trips sound great. I know Thurber Village has similar trips which is one of thre reasons I am thinking of going there, but leaving my condo is leaving independence in many ways and, even at 82 years of age, it is such a big decision.

LYNDON JOHNSON, what a big character he was, both in size and personality. What did you learn about him by touring his ranch that you didn't know before?

If we have not discussed a book about him before, we should do it don't you think?

JEAN, your book sounds good, whether true in fact or not. We missed you in our discussion of TROUBLESOME YOUNG MEN.

marjifay · « **Reply #973 on:** May 08, 2010, 02:39:42 PM »

Robert Caro has written three books of a projected 4-volume biography of LBJ, Ella: THE PATH TO POWER, MEANS OF ASCENT (which won the 1980 National Book Critics Circle Award for biography), and MASTER OF THE SENATE. I keep meaning to read these (along with a kagillion other books).

Marj

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #974 on:** May 08, 2010, 08:15:00 PM »

MARJ! No way, can't even think of four volumes of one man! I know he was a powerful man, but really, who is going to be reading that much, except for researchers?? I would love to read one book.

Did you listen to THE BRIDGE by Dave Remnick about Obama? We seem to be watching BookTV together today. I would like to have heard more about Obama's mother; perhaps I'll have to read the book.

maryz · « **Reply #975 on:** May 08, 2010, 10:36:57 PM »

John's read Caro's Master of the Senate. He said it's not only a great look at LBJ, but an incredible overview of how the Senate works. I'm waiting for them to be available on Kindle - they're too big for me to hold to read.

marjifay · « **Reply #976 on:** May 09, 2010, 07:21:58 AM »

I own the 2nd and 3rd volumes of Robert Caro's bio of LJB, so I'll eventually read them. I want to read the first volume, Path to Power. Just finished a very interesting biography of Lee Atwater (BAD BOY; THE LIFE AND POLITICS OF LEE ATWATER) and that first LJB volume was Atwater's "bible." He kept one copy at home, one in his car (he had a driver), and one at his office. (There is a hilarious quote at the beginning of the 4th chapter of Atwater's bio, about what LJB said he expected in the way of loyalty from someone. I'd quote it, except some people might be offended by the language he used.)

As to the Obama biography, Ella, I didn't listen to the author on BookTV. It can be watched on the CSpan channel, so maybe I'll give it a listen. I read Obama's autobiography, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, one of my best reads of last year. He talked about his mother's having doubts about the education he was receiving in Indonesia, so she bought a good educational program somewhere, and made Obama get up early every morning to study from it. He would complain, and she'd say "Listen, Buster, this is no picnic for me either, but it's important!"

Marj

Babi · « **Reply #977 on:** May 09, 2010, 08:55:39 AM »

I really liked 'Dreams of My Father", too, MARJ. It seems to me Obama inherited his father's intelligence and charm, while managing to avoid the arrogance and impatience that led to his downfall. I have been invariably impressed by Obama's ability to remain cool, courteous and
firm under verbal attack.

FlaJean · « **Reply #978 on:** May 09, 2010, 09:29:08 AM »

I also read Dreams of My Father and enjoyed it. It's been a while since I read and enjoyed his Audacity of Hope which is more of a policy book, but the last chapter was personal about family. When he met Michelle and her family, it seems he found not only a person but a family that he had been longing for. If you aren't interested in policy ideas, it is worth checking out the book for that last chapter.

maryz · « **Reply #979 on:** May 09, 2010, 09:54:57 AM »

Master of the Senate is now available on Kindle, and I got it last night. (Plus one of our daughters and family gave me a nice Kindle gift certificate.)

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #980 on:** May 09, 2010, 06:56:05 PM »

Regarding "Master of the Senate" by Robert A Caro it is Vol 3 of a 4 volume comprehensive Biography of Lindon B. Johnson, of 37th President. This is the only volume I have. Though I have never read it through, I have found it a great research source particularly in connection with other book discussions. Click the following for more on Master of the Senate. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Master-of-the-Senate/Robert-A-Caro/e/9780394720951/?itm=1&USRI=Master+of+the+Senate

Several weeks ago my Chandler House group visited the LBJ Ranch . The old ranch house now known as the Texas White House is now open for visitors and we took the tour. The house is not large enough to be considered a mansion but it is a decent size comfortable Texas ranch house with I suppose 8 to 10 rooms. At the time the Front Lawn was covered wit a carpet of Blue Bonnets The national Park service now operates the site that is open daily for visitors. I had been there before but the House was off limits for visitors while Lady Bird was alive and living there. There are many fine restaurants in the adjoining towns of Johnson City and Fredrickdburg.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Master-of-the-Senate/Robert-A-Caro/e/9780394720951/?itm=1&USRI=Master+of+the+Senate

ANNIE · « **Reply #981 on:** May 10, 2010, 09:23:44 AM »

Our F2F group at the senior center is now reading "My Life in France" by Julia Child. Also authored and edited by Alex Prud'homme who is her grandnephew. That would be one of her sister's children or grandchildren? I was unaware of the family connection. What a surprise. And that's not Paul Prud'home, the chef!

"With Julia Child's death in 2004 at age 91, her grandnephew Prud'homme (The Cell Game) completed this playful memoir of the famous chef's first, formative sojourn in France with her new husband, Paul Child, in 1949." Amazon

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #982 on:** May 11, 2010, 01:39:25 PM »

I just finished reading "Return to Joy" by Charlotte and Virginia Parker.
(It is listed on Amazon, should anyone be interested). If you have a friend, loved one or relative with dementia, this is an excellent telling of how these sisters dealt with their mother's decline. We had the pleasure of having the author address our Library Friends group, and others who wanted to attend. I could have used a lot of this information about 4 yrs ago w/MIL.

ANNIE · « **Reply #983 on:** May 11, 2010, 04:59:15 PM »

Sounds very interesting and timely, Tomereader!

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #984 on:** May 12, 2010, 12:19:31 PM »

TOMEREADER: What did you do with your MIL? I've been fortunate that none of my family or friends have had this problem; although they have had many more. Years ago, a friend's mother had dementia, it was difficult. The mother accused her daughter of stealing and breaking in her house and she got so very angry. And also she started wandering out of the house and losing her way. My friend then had to place her mother in a nursing home where they can care for her.

As you said, any information would be helpful. Thanks for the post about the book.

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #985 on:** May 13, 2010, 03:14:53 PM »

MYSTERIES. I cannot read them anymore before I go to sleep; they are agitating. That's not to say I have given up on them.

But I finally found a good nonfiction book to read at bedtime; a chapter an evening is good.

"COMMANDER IN CHIEF" How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future.

To paraphrase, and I shouldn't because GEOFFREY PERRET, the author of several books, documentaries, has done an excellent job of writing. WWII, and preceding wars, had a beginning and an end. Three wars since have not, they are wars that we crept into, mismanaged, and withdrew without honor.

Truman, Johnson and Bush all confronted wars that no amount of American power or prestige could win, and each reacted similarly.

Perret states that the presidency has become too powerful, it undermines the checks and balances built into the Constitution; thereby creating a permanent threat to the Constitution itself.

Further - "There is a limit to the number of people that the United States can kill, capature, or incapacitate...... There are limits to what even a superpower can do without turning the entire civilized world against it."

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #986 on:** May 13, 2010, 04:11:14 PM »

Regarding Seniors and dementia, My grandmother had the problem. She had no trouble remembering her life back to the 19th century, but she couldn't remember back to yesterday. She died in the 1950's. Neither of my parents was affected. Here at Chandler I have observed some with symptoms. One was a 97 year old lady who when she first arrived had initial trouble finding her way around the campus. After several months, the layout seemed to register in her mind and actually today she is very adequately sharp. She certainly appeared to comprehend our docent led tour of the Museum of art the other day. Another somewhat more serious case involved a long term resident in our independent living apartments who last year had to move the assisted living apartment. A few weeks ago while he was visiting his wife in the nursing home he became confused and could not find his way back to his apartment in the assisted living wing.

Here in our independent living apartment we have an interesting compute machine that is supposed to keep our minds sharp and active with 4 to 6 half hour sessions per week. I am finding it hard to make two or three such sessions, but I do find them interesting and stimulating. I frequently score in the 90’s. I am particularly good at questions involving numbers and fairly good at questions requiring memory, both short term and long term. I am less good on questions involving recognizing faces.

ginny · « **Reply #987 on:** May 14, 2010, 08:06:14 AM »

Harold, what's the name of that computer program to keep one's mind sharp?

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #988 on:** May 14, 2010, 11:28:59 AM »

Ginny and all: for more information on the Dakin Brain Fitness Machine, Click the following http://www.dakim.com
Probably about 25% of the 45 residents living here at the independent living apartments are taking advantage of this machine. A minimum of three or four a week half hour programmed sessions are recommended. I am finding it hard to make that schedule but I am making two to three times a week. I generally do well on questions involving numbers or words. I tend to do less well in memory recognition involving artistic figures or human faces. I just went up to check the spelling of the machine’s name and did a secession in which I did my highest score, 98. My last previous secession was my lowest 78. Of my six completed session four scored in the 90’s and two slipped to the 70’s.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #989 on:** May 15, 2010, 10:07:17 AM »

Both days this weekend my Time Warner on screen TV Guide for C-SPAN 2 shows almost continual “Nonfiction Books and Authors” all week end. Also Click the following C-SPAN 2 site for more information and also a number of past interviews are available for on line watching. http://www.booktv.org

In the past I have watched C-Span TV Book reviews. In recent years however I have not been able to watch since I do volunteer work on Saturday at the Institute of Texan Cultures and on Sunday at the National Park’s Mission San Francisco de la Espada site.

maryz · « **Reply #990 on:** May 15, 2010, 11:30:22 AM »

CSpan2 is always all non-fiction books and authors all weekend. Check their web site (booktv.org) for specific listings.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #991 on:** May 15, 2010, 06:33:34 PM »

“Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America, By Jack Rakove.” Publication date May 2010.

Ella: The ink is scarcely dry on this one, but is sure appears the kind of book we like to discuss. I heard a radio interview with the author on my way home from the Institute. Perhaps you might find an early copy in your library and comment on it. I’ll check for it at the local B & N store.
Click the following for a synopsis, publishers review and information about the arthor.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Revolutionaries/Jack-Rakove/e/9780618267460/?itm=1&USRI=Revolutionaries

Ella Gibbons · « **Reply #992 on:** May 16, 2010, 11:52:45 AM »

HAROLD, looks very interesting. My library bought 12 copies of it (always an indication of how popular they think the book will be). I reserved a copy and I am 17th on the list. If I get to B&N soon, which I doubt, I'll take a look.

ginny · « **Reply #993 on:** May 17, 2010, 08:14:31 AM »

That's very interesting, Harold. I watched several videos of it, it would be a great thing, I think. I wish we could have something like it here, I'll scout around and see what I can find out.

Thank you Mary on the non fiction, do you know why they confine themselves to non fiction authors on Book TV?

I am enjoying so far the Men Who Would be King, already it has some surprising facts in it, it's Spielberg, Katzenberg and not Ovitz at all but rather David Geffen, a man I know nothing about, so it's going to be interesting, and already we can see Eisner's name popping up in the book.

maryz · « **Reply #994 on:** May 17, 2010, 12:08:39 PM »

I don't know, ginny - just the way it is.

CubFan · « **Reply #995 on:** May 17, 2010, 12:23:23 PM »

Greetings -

I remember Brian Lamb explaining his policy for C-SPAN books several (20 or so) years ago so I may not have this exact - but it seems to me that he felt that fiction writers received attention throughout all forms of media and he wanted nonfiction to have a platform. Initially I think he also expected to limit them to biographies, history, politics and government - the issues dealt with by C-SPAN. The format was expanded to include most non fiction (science, religion, human relations) topics because they are all part of culture, laws, and life in general and are reflected in government actions and policy. When they do the In Depth programs the first weekend of each month, if the author has written fiction as well as nonfiction, I think they have discussed both. I know that Booknotes was more restrictive than Book TV in that he also only allowed an author to appear on Booknotes once.

Mary

Babi · « **Reply #996 on:** May 18, 2010, 07:46:34 AM »

FYI, as a little side note...remember Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea", about the building of schools in Afghanistan? He and a co-author have also written a children's version of that book.
My initial surprise quickly turned into 'Of course, children would like such a story'.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #997 on:** May 21, 2010, 11:19:48 AM »

The following new book was just released by the publisher: The Supreme Court: A C-SPAN Book Featuring the Justices in Their Own Words, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Supreme-Court/C-SPAN/e/9781586488352/?itm=2&USRI=The+Supreme+Court

It will be the subject of a C-span panel discussion this week end. Saturday, I plan to leave the ITC early to catch the 4:30 PM broadcast.

Panel Discussion: Coinciding with the May 2010 release of the book "The Supreme Court: A C-SPAN Book Featuring the Justices In Their Own Words", C-SPAN and the Library of Congress are sponsoring a panel discussion that takes a look at the current Court. Participants include Associate Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, journalists Joan Biskupic of USA Today and Lyle Denniston of SCOTUS Blog, and attorney and former Rehnquist Law Clerk Maureen Mahoney.

•   Saturday, May 22nd at 4:30pm (ET)
•   Sunday, May 23rd at 2:30am (ET)
•   Sunday, May 23rd at 9am (ET)
•   Sunday, May 23rd at 10pm (ET)

marcie · « **Reply #998 on:** May 21, 2010, 11:27:28 AM »

Thanks for the information, Harold. That should be an interesting discussion.

Frybabe · « **Reply #999 on:** May 21, 2010, 11:37:22 AM »

Thanks for the heads up, Harold. I have in my library The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. I will be sure to tune in. The book could be an interesting addition.

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Author Topic: Non-Fiction (Read 439636 times)