Non-Fiction

[Frybabe]

Just started reading The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by  Mike Duncan. It covers the period between 146 and 78 BC and the events leading up to the more well known (more widely covered) personalities and events of the last years of the Republic.

Trivia bit: Cicero and Pompey the Great were born the same year (106BC), while Julius Caesar was born in 100BC. I didn't realize that Pompey and Cicero were the same age.

[Frybabe]

This could be interesting: The Library Book by Susan Orlean.  To be released on October 16, it is about the 1986 unsolved Los Angeles Public Library fire, called the most damaging library fire in US history.

[hats]

Frybabe,

Oh, I would love to know more about that one. 

[Jonathan]

I've just started reading FEAR. How much can I believe? The president, it seems to me, is the voice crying in the wilderness.

[BarbStAubrey]

Jonathan in these parts there are a lot of damaged and crying trees - fear holds no candle to reality

[mabel1015j]

i’m reading “Louisa” about Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, by Louisa Thomas. It’s very good reading. She’s a very interesting person and there is quite a lot of evidence that JQA would not have been president without her social skills, even though he was probably the most prepared to be president, of any, maybe before or since. JQ was as pompous and arrogant as his father. So many president’s wives were so important in their husband’s political career, we just don’t know about them. Of course, Louisa follows the famous Dolley Madison. Maybe Louisa learned from Dolley, as well as from her mother-in-law. I haven’t gotten that far into the book yet.

[nlhome]

There are so many good books out there, aren't there? The one you are reading, Mabel, sounds interesting.

Right now my nonfiction book is "Chicago Yippie! '68" written by a man who was in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic Convention. He was just a teen, 17, and originally went down to Lincoln Park for the music that was supposed to be performed. He thought it was an anti-war music festival, but there was little music. He got pulled into some of the protests. It's an interesting perspective of that turbulent time, with many pictures and memories, his and others who contributed to the book. It's slow going, though, as I started it before August, thinking I'd be reading what happened right during the 50-year anniversary, but here I am, still reading.

[bellamarie]

Jonathan, let us know how you like your book Fear..... a voice crying in the wilderness.  I just spent a day at one of our local parks yesterday, and I was in awe at how many trees were lined up together.  I imagined myself in the midst of them trying to yell for help.  Isn't that funny?  A picture is worth a thousand words....

Jean, As Mark Twain said, "Behind every successful man, there is a woman__"  I love reading about the First Ladies in the White House.  Wouldn't it be a great idea to have a book discussion on them? 

Frybabe,  A Quantum cat!!!  Now that conjures up a few images.   

[mabel1015j]

I woule love to read about First Ladies. The hardest part would be choosing which ones to read. Of course Carl Anthony has written two volumes that include all of them. Vol 1 is 1781- 1960 and the second volume is 1961 - 1990. They take us up to Barbara Bush.

Jean

[bellamarie]

I found these books on Thriftbooks and am going to purchase them.  There is also a book by Susan Swain that I am interested in that take us up to Michelle Obama.

[Jonathan]

Bellamarie, I'm glad you asked. FEAR is an absorbing book. But then Bob Woodward is such a keen observer of presidential politics. His book, no doubt, will become part of the history of the times. What do trees have to do with it? I liked the photograph you found on your walk in the woods. But why the cry for help? You've been reading Dante, haven't you, the Inferno:

'I woke to find myself in a dark wood...this wood of wilderness, savage and stubborn...a bitter place!'

Can it be that President Trump will manage to drain the swamp only to find himself in the dark wood?

I have just the book on women in politics: Affairs of State, by Gil Troy...'the biographies of ten presidential marriages from the Trumans to the Clintons'. Bess, Mamie, Jackie, Betty, Nancy, Hillary, Lady Bird, whom have I missed? They were all more than First Ladies.

[bellamarie]

Jonathan the cry for help in the trees was me imagining getting lost in the maze.  No Dante.

As for Bob Woodward, I thought he and Carl Bernstein were fantastic journalists back in the days of Watergate, but Woodward has become so politically biased, and hates Trump, that I would caution in how much of his book to believe.  I watch him on TV commentating, and Bernstein on CNN, and it saddens me to see such bias after they were such great investigative reporters back in the days.

I'm all for draining the swamp, it's long over due, and I think our president will find more sunshine than darkness in doing so.  The American people are tired of the establishment's self serving, good ole boys behavior.  I am not a Republican or Democrat, I am an Independent who is happy to have the change.  Woodward says in his book Trump almost got us into war with North Korea, yet look who is the first American President to meet with their leader Kim Jong-un, and make headway to disarming nuclear weapons. 

[BarbStAubrey]

Yes, I too thought Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were fantastic journalists back in the days of Watergate - since, Bob Woodward has become a crotchety old man full of his own self importance where as, Carl Bernstein has the good sense to tackle his retirement  - all these political analysts writing about a businessman is sad if not funny. None of them have ever been in, much less worked in a commercial real estate office to know this president is typical of a successful commercial broker who gets things done but comes across as a big blow heart - they are measuring his appearance and way of work to how politicians play the game and unfortunately the political game only allows them to get half as much done. Ah so...     

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the heads up on the bias in the book. I'll watch for it. I'm finding the book very informative. And there's such a fine picture of the author on the dust jacket, that I have a hard time seeing him as  a crotchety old man. Rather more like a benign, kindly, elderly Benjamin Franklin in Paris. I give the President a lot of points for trying. Despite his style, there's change in the air. Korea is a good example. We're seeing the end of the war. North and South are considering reunification. But rumour has it that New York and/or California may secede. Steve Bannon is in  town tonight, engaging in a debate with  David Frum (speech writer to George Bush's talk to the nation about going to war in Iraq) "Be it resolved, the future of Western politics is populist, not liberal."

Time for a break. I've found an international anthology of gypsy stories on my shelves, including Ernest Hemingway's Finito. I think there may be a  bullfight in this one.

[bellamarie]

Jonathan,  I am a political junkie.  I follow everything possible, and I pretty much know the party each of the stations and their commentators are affiliated with.  The lengths they are willing to go to in efforts to either impeach or discredit this president is shameful.  The reason why the president was elected and will very likely get elected for a second term is partly due to his "style."  Americans are fed up with the polite politicians who say what they think we want to hear in order to get elected and then serve their own lobbyists, and self agendas.  Trump can't be put in a box and handled by the media or anyone else.  We were ready for someone like him, in spite of his brash, sometimes crude comments.  I'm not fond of his tweets at times, but I must say I LOVE how he has gone after the media and these news programs who purposely lie about him and show absolute hatred toward him.  I was just hearing the other day how other presidents feuded with the press.  One thing I can say for certain, Trump like other presidents have from day one "used" the press to his advantage.  He has dominated attention from the press from the day he announced his intention to run for the presidency.  Good or bad, like a misbehaved child, he gets the attention he demands. 

Check out this:

https://www.history.com/news/presidents-relationship-with-press

Another thing I was listening to the other day was all the past presidents who were having prostitutes brought into the White House, having affairs and parties with their wives asleep upstairs.  Bad behavior is not something Trump brought to the White House, he's just the one the media has decided target and make it look like his behavior is the worst ever.  I still cringe imagining old LBJ having his ladies of the night brought into the White House while Lady Bird was asleep. 

 

[Frybabe]

Ohhhhh, didn't know about LBJ's little trysts.

I recently started the audio book version of Adrian Goldsworthy's Augustus. I would have preferred print, but I have just about run out of room on my shelves and I couldn't resist the Audible price. Goldsworthy is one of my current favorite historians along with Mary Beard.

One problem with audio books for non-fiction is that it is difficult to go back and double-check something you read earlier (is there a way to bookmark stuff in audio books? Hmm! will have to investigate). The other is that you miss out on all the photos, maps and illustrations in print. 

[BarbStAubrey]

Agree frybabe - going back is a challenge because too often when you read something you do not realize later it is going to be something to double check and so even highlighting is nice but I never know what to highlight for future reading - I only highlight because I have a reaction to a phrase or few sentences.

Hadn't realized but I guess our phone numbers are charted by party headquarters - my phone was ringing off the hook - at least 7 or 8 calls a day about voting - most of the time I just let my phone ring - I've it set to ring 3 times and then my voice message that says to leave a message and I will get back as soon as I can - well no message from those calling about voting or any robo calls which was the original reason I was no longer answering the phone - but the annoyance of that phone ringing all hours of the day and night - they were calling here as late as 11: at night and as early as 6:30 in the morning - well I voted the other day - I think it was Wednesday - and ALL voting type phone calls stopped - peculiarly interesting - not even any over this weekend - somehow my voting stopped the calls - peculiarly interesting...

Found this on Amazon - unfortunately no used copies or Kindle copy available - but reading the excerpts I was surprised to see how much of the book is available - it appears the entire book except the first two chapters on online as a look see...
Voting and Vote-Getting in American History by Robert J. Dinkin  -

Seems our early voters were swayed by parades and banners etc. and the idea of actually explaining issues was not a part of voting til the very late 1800s and then issues became more involved and folks had to be educated on things like Tariffs. I'm thinking that is what we need now, any explaining is so one sided from that parties point of view we are not really given a chance to sort out the pluses and minuses or trade offs much less the purpose of various legislature and who is affected. All you hear is those who see it as a negative give you every which way why it should not take place, which often has more to do with agreeing or not with a party who wants power and therefore, they will agree or disagree with anything that helps them attain power positions.   

Now here is a winner - two books absolutely free for your Kindle on Amazon - I downloaded both - catch that there are two separate authors for each edition.
Building the American Republic, Volume 1: A Narrative History to 1877 by Harry L. Watson
Building the American Republic, Volume 2: A Narrative History from 1877 by Jane Dailey

I'd forgotten that property ownership was a must to be allowed to vote during our early history till I saw this - do not think I will buy it but it was a good reminder: Removal of the Property Qualification for Voting in the United States: Strategy and Suffrage (Routledge Research in American Politics and Governance) by Justin Moeller and Ronald F. King

So that is how women and the majority of blacks were excluded from voting - never put that together.

And evidently No political party has every won an electoral majority on a program offering a socialist transformation of society. The authors explain why. Explained and laid out in:   Paper Stones: A History of Electoral Socialism – November 1, 1986 by Adam Przeworski (Author), John Sprague (Author)
Ha get this - the price of a new copy $3,053.01

Golly there is so much on Constitutional Law - fascinating -

Well I did it - was not going to add another book and could not pass up finding out more about Constitutional Law - Amazon and the Kindle make it too easy - a press of the button and I've now downloaded: A Short and Happy Guide to Constitutional Law (Short and Happy Series) by Mark Alexander - had no idea that Constitutional law was a separate study - I thought all law was as a result of our Constitution and therefore, it was the basis for all study - I guess in a way but it evidently Constitutional Law is a study of its own. The titles of information listed in the index sound interesting - let's see how these titles relate to our current national state of affairs. I wonder if there is anything said in our Constitution about trade. Since I learned that Trade is one of a nation's biggest sources of revenue I'm really curious to learn how that works.

Did you know that there is such a thing as, Gender Equality & Trade Policy - had no clue - Evidently issues like: Gender Equality in the Context of Globalization, Trade Liberalization and the UN Development Agenda, Gender Perspectives in Trade Policy, Effects of Trade on Gender Equality in Labour Markets and Small-scale Enterprises, Trade, Agriculture, Food Security and Gender Equality, The Global Economic Crisis and its Impact on Trade and Gender Equality, Implementing Gender- Responsive Trade Policies: Obstacles and Good Practices are areas of discussion at the UN. Wow...

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/trade/The-Way-Forward.html

https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/free-trade-or-womens-rights

Big question here - the more I'm reading on these various site the more I can see the benefit for those nations with a history of poor representation allowed for women and the limited economic benefits for women - however, what I also see is, in order to raise these women it appears, especially by the plans and assistance of the World Trade Organization, a flattening economic advancement for women who have enjoyed the economic advantages and more gender equality then they had during previous decades. Globalism has its feet in the door here and that is a plan for the money powers of the world to be the total power, overpowering national Constitutions and, a power in place without people participation through elections - hmmm there must be a way to raise the level of gender equality without depending on organizations like the WTO.  Looks like lots to read here...

[Jonathan]

An interesting link that...presidents and the press. It's sent me back to my TBR shelf, to a president who didn't make it to the list. The book is Lincoln And The Power Of The Press By Harold Holzer. 2014.

From the flap: 'But, as the nation was tearing itself apart, Lincoln authorized the most widespread censorship in the nation's history, closing down papers that were "disloyal," even jailing or exiling editors who opposed enlistment or sympathized with secession. The official telegraph, the new invention that made possible instant reporting from the battlefield, was moved to the office of the secretary of war to deny access to newsmen.'

As presidents go, how does Preident Trump fit in?To my mind he has something of both Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Woodward has Trump calling in four soldiers to brief him on the fighting in Afghanistan, as Lincoln did in the Civil War. And like Roosevelt, Trump likes to rise to the occasion.

Don't be to hard on 'old LBJ'. He needed sex as a stimilus. Lady Bird needed a good night's rest.

'Trump can't be put in a box.' I fear he may put himself into the box. As he seems to with his policy regarding the caravan of people walking to the U.S. border. Why not infiltrate them and persuade them to turn around and take back their country? Helping them to do it would get a lot of support around the world. Perhaps even solve the worldwide refugee problem.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...presidential/press controversy sells newspapers and 'gets the president the attention he demands.'

[BarbStAubrey]

Jonathan at the risk of turning this into a political discussion I need to share, your observation needs some updating - he had infiltrated the caravan and there was a lot of infighting with about half either turning around or taking Mexico's offer of jobs and housing - looked calmer for a few days except what the press was dragging back into the news that was all older news and repeats of their storming the gates so to speak when they got to Mexico but, a new kink today - seems out of no where scores and scores, transported by trucks,  joined what was left of the 7000 (about half) so now the so called caravan has swelled to 10,000.

Think about it - Thousands of Honduran's decide to walk 1,500 miles at the same time. Over 4000 buy new back-pack, many get new cell phones, they arrange for food for 14,000 meals every day for 2 months, get money for travel expenses, have water for 7,000 every day for 60 days, get directions for the best route, have extra clothes and sanitary items, have medical care available, prepare for rain with tarps, sleeping bags and some tents, have new tennis shoes as flip flops wear out, although poor, push new, just under $400 baby strollers, as these inexperienced hikers attempt to cover 25 miles a day in order to arrive in time for our election. Since the caravan cannot keep that pace they pay for and hire trucks and buses to assure the timing of the journey - logic tells anyone this is a planned and paid for operation - and then along the way we see them waving their flags from Honduras as well as chanting 'down with Trump' and now they have a law suite filed against Trump -

The international community are being sold a bill of goods and all they have to do is watch the photos streaming out of Mexico that shows all of this including the destruction to towns that the caravan passes through, leaving behind extra and soiled clothing, unopened packs of food along with the debris that is typical of a 1500 mile hike. 

Where I was emotionally caught by the stories of the last group in the Spring this group is not fitting that scenario at all and now we understand a second wave has started their so called caravan and a third wave is being organized now in El Salvador - this is all orchestrated. Many think Soros is behind it but that is just speculation.

And yes, I agree Trump is much like Teddy Roosevelt with a bit of FDR thrown in and yes, I can see Lincoln in there with an overlay of General Patton but more, he is so far removed from the ways of a modern politician that most do not get past his demeanor.

I am a Dem and a 3rd generation Dem at that, I did not vote for him or Hillary - it was my first none Dem vote that I can remember - Since, I knew we have a president, like him or not, the practical thing in my mind was to read the books he has co-authored. Then I watched with such embarrassment the reactions by the Dems and Hillary so I too walked away - I thought they treated very badly Bernie Sanders but since, I see he has buckled and supports the current Dems - actually, the Dem Party is no longer the party I knew - they walked away from me...

Then I've been holding in a rage - for Ford to admit nothing happened at this party, it was all a lie and she never even met Kavanaugh after what she and the Dems put that family through - Kavanaugh's wife gets death threats, he could not bring his children to the remaining Congressional meetings plus hearing this about their father, Kavanaugh's mother and father in tears, he and his name dragged through mud - and then at the confirmation his wife is still upset - all this as a political game??!!?? Beyond my ability to forgive - despicable. 

Again, I cannot say it often enough - to get a none emotional view of how these things can happen please read the book written by the Greek minister of Finance - Adults in the Room: My Battle with Europe's Deep Establishment by Yanis Varoufakis.

[Jonathan]

'a planned and paid for operation...this is all orchestrated....'

Thanks, Barb. You've given me so much to think about. I'm surprised at my naivite. So it's all just a dirty trick. As well as the Ford accusation. I'm going to look for the Y. V. book.

[bellamarie]

Barb, I agree with everything you had to say in your above post.  I have never seen myself as a one party person, but I can tell you in the past, up through Bill Clinton, I have voted for the Democrat for president.  But..... becoming more and more involved and informed, I can tell you I will NEVER vote for another Democrat or Socialist.  They have chosen to make hatred and divisiveness their agenda.  I have heard many Democrats say the exact same thing you have.... " the Dem Party is no longer the party I knew - they walked away from me... "   Bernie did cave, he ended up with two new million dollar homes as he bowed out and cowed down to make a clear path for Hillary.  Just as Hillary bowed out and cowed down when she met with Obama and Feinstein, and then chose to take a hefty amount to pay off her campaign debt, and clear the path for Obama.  Believe it or not, my hubby and I were actually active making robo calls FOR Hillary against Obama.  I was a member of a PAC to help get her elected back then.  Today, I can honestly say, I am thrilled she never got the nomination, and Obama did, and I am glad she did not become President of the United States.  In my own personal opinion, with a ton of facts to back it up, she and Bill Clinton have used their power of position to make themselves millionaires.  He used his foundation for their own personal gain, and their daughter Chelsea has become just as involved as the two of them.  I suspect they actually imagined her in the future becoming politically involved, possibly climbing the ladder to run for positions.  I'll take Trump any day over them. 

Yes, the caravan is a highly political, organized, funded ploy, using the desperateness of these Hondurans and others.  Sadly, the women and children are put in the front lines to shield the ninety-five percent of healthy young to middle age males.  Trump is not ignorant, he sees it for what it is..... an invasion into our country, to cause an uprising and unrest because the Democrats have no policies to run on, so they continue to create situations so they can blame this president, just as the Kavannaugh opposition was meant to be. Their timing is what always gives them away.  When will they realize with social media, Trump's tweets, and thank goodness for Fox News, their shenanigans are all for naught.  Americans have awoken, and refuse to allow this to go unanswered.  The media be it newspapers, TV programs, magazines, talk shows, late night comedy shows, and even award shows, have all been exposed for the bias and hatred they represent.  The drop in viewers tuning in has drastically dropped, and yet they continue to push their agenda. 

Jonathan,  I just was listening to Levin talk about Lincoln the other day, and he said pretty much what you posted.  I don't see Trump "in a box."  I see him "in a White House."   Trump is clearly going on with his oath of office, and to the United States, refusing to let these childish, immature, hateful op posers deter him from what he feels is in the best interest of this country, while upholding the Constitution of the United States.  I voted for him, and will again in 2020, if he continues to Make America Great Again.... which he has been doing for the past two years.  The numbers don't lie, we are at record highs in all the areas that matter to the average American.  The Dems can't come up with any policies to beat what he has accomplished so far, so they incite hate and other tactics to disrupt and distract. 

Barb, thank for the recommendation of the book, I will check it out.

No matter what your affiliation is.....  VOTE!!!  You can not sit out, and then complain about the results.  Your voice IS on your ballot, no matter what the outcome brings.

[BarbStAubrey]

Here of late many of us wonder about the role of the news media - are they reporting or manipulating attitudes - many books written and some movies available usually about editors and reporters, their work, viewpoint and their integrity - so we have that view of the news media with expectations of impartial reporting as the reporters and editors goal.

After seeing this movie, I had not read the book, I'm questioning our trust and our, to use Jonathan's word, naivete over the real power of the news organizations.

It appears they are either partners with or in control of the CIA and its equivalent in Canada. Which may even included other nation's intelligence and national policing community - makes me see in a new light why the major news organizations are so heavily invested in reporting about the murder of a foreign reporter, Khashoggi. There have been lots of reporters killed in the past few years, mostly in the middle east plus, Khashoggi was not a US citizen - Is his murder opening Pandora's box of the media's relationship with the intelligence community in some way?

All this did not puzzle me till I saw the Christoper Plummer movie "from Ian Adams' book of the same name, "Agent of Influence" A very good movie available free with Amazon Prime, based on a real story of the intrigue surrounding the mysterious death of one of Canada's most accomplished foreign diplomats, John Watkins."

The role of an American News organization is startling - they seem to have planned this man's death without even confiding with the President and, they could expect the CIA to follow their demands. Amazing - however this is above the level of any department editor or reporter. Is this atypical I wonder - if it happened once, as this almost documentary shows then, it is not out of the ballpark to assume it happens - how often, who knows - but it sure puts a different viewpoint on the current news reporting slant by many news organizations. And it is even easier now to arrange and re-arrange national and international politics with only 6 major news organizations in this country.

[Jonathan]

Your posts are scintillating. Democracy is alive and well in America.

'listening to Levin talk about Lincoln'

Is that the senator I met on Capitol Hill many years ago? It was in the eighties. President Reagan was in Moscow and had just concluded an arms deal with the Russians. The senator and some colleagues were on the lawn commenting on its significance.

[bellamarie]

Not so sure he was a senator but I do know this:

Mark Levin hosts FOX News Channel's "Life, Liberty and Levin." The program aims to explore the fundamental values and principles of American society, politics, culture, and current events and the impact that these things have on the nation's future and the everyday lives of the citizens. Levin also hosts "The Mark Levin Show," and prior to joining FOX, he served as an adviser to some of President Ronald Reagan's cabinet members.

[BarbStAubrey]

Jonathan I think you may be talking about Carl Milton Levin (born June 28, 1934) an American attorney and retired politician who served as a United States Senator from Michigan from 1979 - 2015.

Bellamarie is talking about Mark Reed Levin (born September 21, 1957) is an American lawyer, author, and radio personality. He is the host of syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show, as well as Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News. Levin worked in the administration of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese. He is chairman of the Landmark Legal Foundation, has authored seven books, and contributes commentary to various media outlets such as National Review Online. On September 1, 2015, Levin became Editor-in-Chief of Conservative Review

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the information on the Levins...both Mark and Carl.

Congratulations on the electoral wisdom when put to a vote. Pretty smart decision.

[bellamarie]

Seems each party is declaring a victory, the Dems got the house back, and the Republican held the Senate, and picked up a few more seats.  Now, just if they would work together for the greater good of this country.  Ho Hummmm....

[Frybabe]

Can't resist posting this - an account of wigmaking and barbering in 18th Century Williamsburg.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58384

[hats]

I love villages. I think of Williamsburg as a village. I have always wanted to visit Williamsburg, Va. I suppose there were many people who needed wigs during that time. Oh, and let's not forget the candlemaker. Snap, Snap of the fingers, I'm there.

[mabel1015j]

TY Frybabe - that was interesting, I love Gutenburg!

Yes, Hats, Williamsburg is a fun and informative place to visit. I would love to go at Christmas.......someday........ Jean

[Frybabe]

I finally finished The Black Count by Tom Reiss. The book wasn't as long as I expected. It finished at about 66% of the total number of pages; the rest was footnotes, bibliography and a rather long acknowledgement. The author sure did a heck of a lot of research. One of my take-aways from the book if that I like Napoleon even less than I ever did before. According to the author, Napoleon was supported by large land owners and slave holders. He paid them back by pretty much rescinding France's anti-slavery and equal equality laws, and stripped black officers of their positions while other freedmen were relegated to positions of servitude. I think I remember reading that some freedmen were even sold back into slavery.

Alexander Dumas father was a General, was captured and spent about 18 months in captivity in Italy. When he was finally released, the new laws were in effect. He never received his back pay nor his pension and his requests to be put back into military service were ignored. Napoleon apparently expressly told his bureaucratic underlings they were to ignore any correspondence from him. Napoleon did not like General Dumas but I didn't quite grasp why exactly. It seemed mostly like a jealousy thing to me. The adventures and trials General Dumas went through had a huge influence on his son's writing.

[Frybabe]

Here is another short, but very interesting find in Project Gutenberg, The Apothecary in Eighteenth Century Williamsburg by Thomas Ford. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58490

This one I have downloaded. It includes plenty of illustrations, and includes laws applying to the profession, at least one example of the fees charged, and a list of practitioners among other things.

[nlhome]

I started The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone, had to return it to the library but plan to get it again after New Year's. It's a fascinating story about a woman who decrypted codes in WWI and into WWII. I was listening to an audiobook, and the reader was a little too dramatic, so I'm hoping to get a hard copy of the book to finish it.

[Frybabe]

For anyone interested in post Civil War history and particularly Washington, DC, I found this book of letters written by a newspaper correspondent.  The Olivia Letters by Emily Edson Briggs http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58604 The writing is a bit "stuffy" for my taste.

Emily Edson Briggs was one of the first female correspondents in Washington, DC and was one of the first to be admitted to the Congressional press galleries. Her columns, mostly categorized as social commentary, were written for the female audience. http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2016/07/emily-edson-briggs.html

[PatH]

I was listening to an audiobook, and the reader was a little too dramatic, so I'm hoping to get a hard copy of the book to finish it.

Nlhome and Frybabe, do you often find audiobooks overdramatic?  I have this problem a lot with things read aloud.  Partly I think it's because whenever I read something I hear it in my mind too, and my voice is rather understated.

Frybabe, as a DC native I would find the Olivia Letters interesting indeed.  As a small child I lived near Fort Stevens, now a little park, where  Lincoln got his hat shot off while visiting the troops.  (A soldier pulled him down, saying something like "get down, you idiot").  The bank I used until it was bought out by one of the big players had been Lincoln's bank, and my engagement ring came from the jeweler that used to clean Lincoln's watch.

[nlhome]

PatH, I haven't noticed a lot of overly dramatic voices in the audiobooks I've listened to, but this particular one was very noticeable. Sometimes I just don't like the reader. I tried twice to listen to Y is for Yesterday but the reader's voice distracted from the story. I listened to an Ian Rankin (Rebus) book and had to slow it down because of the accent, but that was fun to listen to. And some are boring.

[BarbStAubrey]

Wow Pat you are full of historical associations - how wonderful is that - not much along those lines in Portland or Seattle, some in California but not like the east coast -

Frybabe can you actually get anything done while listening to a book read aloud - while driving I used to listen to books on tape and then later they were CDs but there was another part of my brain used and it kept me not only awake but actually more focused on the Road - many a trip on I20 or I10 got me through the dark listening to a book on tape. I have tried at home and I have to sit and listen - do not know why the difference so I wondered how you listen - completely or while doing something else.

[Frybabe]

Barb, I usually just listen to the audio books when my eyes are two tired and unfocused to read, or when I am doing my jig puzzles. My sister and her husband, on the other hand, do most of their listening when they are in the car. Sue says when she tries it at home, she misses too much because of distractions or concentrating on housework, or she falls asleep while listening if not busy.

The things I miss by not using a physical book, especially non-fiction, are the photos, illustrations, maps and such, and being able to easily page back to find something you want to recheck. I don' even know if you can bookmark a page in an audio book. I don't think so.  Maps and such, I can usually find on the net and print out if I want, but that lack of ability to find and reread some passage or other can be a big disadvantage. My main reason for trying Audiobooks is twofold: lack of space for the books, difficulty of holding large, heavy books out of the way of the inevitable furry lap attacks. Lucy particularly likes to get up as close to my face as possible.

PatH, although I was born in DC, we weren't there long. I spent the first 10 months in an apartment (don't know where), my first birthday was in a little house in Suitland, MD. The only recollection of that I have is the woods behind the house and the porch (which Mom claimed I headed for with my ears covered every time a plane came in or out of the airport), and then we moved for a year or so to Silver Springs, MD. That one I remember the outside of the house and the woods at the end of the street. We moved up to PA by the time I was five. I was still five when I began first grade.  I think you were quite fortunate to have been raised in such a rich environment of history, parks, and museums all relatively close by.

[PatH]

Frybabe, I totally agree with you about my good luck in growing up here.  The Smithsonian dinosaurs were my friends, and the National Gallery of Art was my home turf.   The music scene is good too, though New York probably still sneers at us.

[Frybabe]

This is the opening paragraph of Canterbury (part of the Beautiful Britain series) by Gordon Home.

t was on April 24, 1538, that a writ of summons was sent forth in the name of Henry VIII., "To thee, Thomas Becket, some time Archbishop of Canterbury"-—who had then been dead for 368 years—-to appear within thirty days to answer to a charge of treason, contumacy, and rebellion against his sovereign lord, King Henry II. But the days passed, and no spirit having stirred the venerated bones of the wonder-working saint, on June 10 judgment was given in favour of Henry, and it was decreed that the Archbishop's bones were to be burnt, and his world-famous shrine overlaid with gold and sparkling with jewels was to be forfeited to the Crown. Further than this went the sentence, for Thomas of Canterbury was to be a saint no longer, and his name and memory were to be wiped out. The remains were not burned, but throughout the land every statue, wall-painting, and window to the said Thomas Becket was rigorously searched out and destroyed, and from every record his name was carefully erased. And so it came about that the year 1538 saw the last pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas the Martyr.

Okay, I knew a little about Thomas  Becket, but I didn't know way after his death Henry VIII tried him way after his death, convicted him, and then proceeded to wipe out his grave and confiscate what must have been a boon to his coffers as well as a blow to the Catholic Church.

Lots of lovely illustrations and two maps, one of Canterbury and on of the cathedral layout.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13890

 Oh, Oh! I must pass this on to my sister. My Mom's Mom was a Clapham. Mom had said that her family had come from just across the border in England, and in fact, there is a Clpaham Creek near the Welsh/English border. She had also said there was family in Yorkshire, though she never had any contact with them. Our Aunt TaBitha lived in London when we visited, but I have no idea if she came from a family branch that stayed in London. Mom never talked of a Clapham in London. Something to look into, isn't it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapham_Sect  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapham I am still looking into how the original land came to be named Clapham, but it wasn't (and isn't still) uncommon to name a founding town or homestead after the family that began it all.