Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Reading.........Books....

I loved these:

- "Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting"  Edmund Burke

- "The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past centuries."  Rene Descartes

- "A house without books is like a room without windows"  Heinrich Mann

- "No one can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books."  E. B. Browning

And my personal favorite:

- "Outside a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside a dog, it's too dark to read."  Grouch Marx

:-)

What are you reading NOW?

Z

39 comments:

DaBlade said...

I loved those quotes. Even if they are a little high brow for the pulp fiction that is my guilty pleasure. Can it still be called "pulp fiction" when indulged on a Kindle Paperwhite? White Fire (Pendergast), by Lincoln and Child.

Jen said...

I'm STILL reading The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse.

I go through fits and starts with my reading, and I'm wanting something new.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I'm reading 'The Decline and Fall of the British Empire, 1781-1997'.

Quite dry in many aspects, but very informative if you're a history nerd.

Always On Watch said...

Right now, I'm listening to the book audio The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I read the novel years ago when the it was first published in paperback. I decided to read it again because I have so many Chinese clients (homeschool students, private-tutoring students, and piano student).

Last night, I stayed up late listening to The Joy Luck Club. The book is so good, and the reader of this audio version is outstanding, bringing to life the words that Amy Tan wrote!

I've been reading the hard copy of Stephen King's latest novel, Doctor Sleep. I began reading it when my eye trouble struck, so I've been slowed down considerably. Have to save my "eye time" for grading students' essays. This novel is King's sequel to The Shining.

Also, I'm perusing an old book that I have: The Book of Christmas, published by the Reader's Digest Association some 40 years ago. Please see details about the book HERE.

Anonymous said...
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Always On Watch said...

Good resource: Best Books 2013 by GoodReads.com. Click on the book covers to expand the categories.

Speedy G said...

I wish that I could read again. My attention span, I'm afraid, has gone, "Kaput!" :(

Ducky's here said...

Jed Perl - New Art City

The growth of abstract expressionism and the triumph of American painting.

Quite good.

Ducky's here said...
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sue hanes said...

Z - I'm reading a biograpy of Lincoln. It's a good one and I'm really enjoying it. Also I'm reading The Old Curiosity Shop by Dickens. I like his style. Before this I read Great Expectations.

Impertinent said...

Since we're celebrating the birth of Jesus...I picked up a used copy of Killing Jesus to get another perspective.

Might as well know both sides, right?

Scotty said...

My wife reads herself to sleep. It always seems to be murder mysteries.....should I be worried???

Anonymous said...

Let's get into politics again,,, please.

Average American said...

Your blog! hee hee hee!

Sorry, couldn't hold that one back!

Bob said...

"A Chain Of Thunder", Jeff Shaara - Historical fiction about the battle and siege of Vicksburg by Grant and Sherman in 1863. Kindle Version

"Sherman's Forgotten Campaign" - A history about a campaign undertaken by General Sherman after the fall of Vicksburg. This is a well researched history, and chronicles how my Mississippi kin were terrorized and burned out of their homes by Sherman. It was Sherman's practice run that later resulted in his march from Atlanta to the sea.

"Thomas Jefrerson: The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham. Audible Version (this is what I listen to while driving).

Impertinent said...

@Scotty:

"should I be worried???"

Only if she wakes up and you're asleep.

Anonymous said...

From Z of GEEEEZ:

Avg American: VERY funny :-)

Ducky, that does sound interesting. Who's your fave American Abstract Expressionist?

Imp: I really want to read that but I hesitate because it's not like we don't know about the killing of Jesus; it MUST have something in it because people rave about it...is it just in more detail??

AOW, you're always a veritable gold mine of good books! I have NEVER read JOY LUCK, imagine? I must.
I've actually tried to get OUT of receiving Susanna's GoodReads because I'm not generally a big "latest fiction" fan, but I keep getting it ... it IS excellent; I'm really proud of her.

Jen, is that good? I remember you were reading something by Hesse last time I asked.. !!!

DB...White Fire...what 's the genre?

CI...Do you see any similarities of them and us today?

Speedy..maybe it's because your name's SPEEDY?!!

Sue,I always admire your interest and study of the presidents.
That's probably why your liberalness blows my mind :-)

I probably forgot someone but I'm busy and I'd already typed a lengthy comment and it didn'tpost, so...that's that!

Anonymous said...

Imp..that's funny! (and if he has life insurance, right!?)
xx Z

JonBerg said...

I'm rereading "The Bell Curve" in an effort to better understand certain, current societal issues/problems.

Impertinent said...

@Z:


"is it just in more detail??"

Yes..and it really delves into the people, customs and the times themselves from an historical perspective. Really interesting history too.

Anonymous said...

From Z:

Only a liberal would blame Palin for someone actually suggesting on the air (or anywhere) that someone should defecate in her mouth.

And only a liberal would make gay slurs and expect to maintain his TV show. Although, if he was, it would be only MSNBC that would still honor him.

Ducky's here said...

@Z --- Ducky, that does sound interesting. Who's your fave American Abstract Expressionist?
------
Rothko, no one really close.

"If I had tens of millions I'd buy a Rothko and the time to contemplate it."

Someone said that.

Good News! said...

BOSTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Young Americans are unhappy with virtually every major thing President Barack Obama has done since he was re-elected, but they would still vote for him today, according to the results of a Harvard University survey released on Wednesday.
The national poll by Harvard's Institute of Politics of more than 2,000 people aged 18 through 29 is intended to provide insight into the political views of the youngest U.S. voters. This increasingly influential demographic known as the "millennial generation" has been a traditional base of Obama's support.
More than 50 percent of respondents in the survey, taken between Oct. 30 and Nov. 11, said they disapproved of how the Democratic president handled key issues in his second term, including Syria, Iran, the economy, healthcare and the federal budget deficit.
Most cited the economy as their top concern.
Still, disapproval ratings were higher for both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. And a plurality of respondents, 46 percent, said they would still vote for Obama for president if they could recast their 2012 ballots, compared with 35 percent who said they would vote for the then-Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.
Some 55 percent of the survey respondents who reported casting ballots in the 2012 presidential election said they had voted for Obama, compared with 33 percent for Romney

It is not just the young people. We "older" citizens also are quite disappointed with his performance. He has shown a constant lack of leadership and ability to manage the issues and challenges facing this country. His ability to communicate ends when he leaves the podium and its tele-prompters. He has shown little interest in dialogue, especially when it involves engaging his opposition. Increasingly, there is evidence that both he and his administration are willing to say anything to reach their goals and get their programs passed, regardless if what they say is truthful or valid. He has gathered around himself ideologues who agree with his view of government and social issues; however, he has brought very few to his organization who have skills of management, leadership, or business savvy. Group think is the key characteristic of this administration. Unfortunately what the group thinks is quite foreign to the values that have made America great. Mr Obama and his administration are quite a failure. He has delivered very little of the hope he preached from his bully pulpit. I thank God that we have only 3 more years of him and his administration. Hopefully, this nation will survive his mismanagement and ill-conceived goals

Anonymous said...

FROM Z:

You don't think there's anyone close to Rothko?
Well, I have to say I adore Rothko, too....as a matter of fact, we just hung two new Rothko posters in our redesigned admin offices here. Most like him for his squares...I love his colors.

Good News...I don't think it's good news when our kids are so dumb they don't like anything Obama's doing but they'd still vote for him. Just shows they're so tied up with the liberal lies "he's black, so he's cool, he cares about us, he hates war, he's a great guy" that we're really doomed!! Know what I mean?:

Z

Anonymous, Anonymous. said...
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Anonymous, Anonymous. said...

Young people have to sign up for Obamacare in a big way for it to work, that's the way it was designed. It won't work other wise. .

Unknown said...

I’m reading, “How to give birth to a turd: the true story of Liberalman” by Liberalman’s bovine mother, Sandra fluke

Kid said...

I'm reading This One right now Z.

Next year I'm going for it.

Kid said...

Good News. Dude, .. Bottom line..... you gotta learn how to bottom line it.

Kid said...

@Robert. LOL!

@Path of Doom/ Depending. My current insurance lives until May 31 2014. If at that time I find out my premium doubles and my Deductible Quadruples, I'm canceling my insurance and will pay for everything myself out of pocket.

I'll also make sure I don't have a tax refund to allow the SS, I mean IRS to deduct and collect it.

Kid said...

Bottom Line: If people don't take a stand on oblammycare, they won't take a stand on anything.

Mark This Post! (something they said in the old days..) hahaaa

Z said...

Robert...SUBLIME :-)

Kid, VERY good reading!! Hilarious!

And yes, I believe that's true; if America won't take a stand on the ACA, they just won't take a stand.
But, what we must remember is that they don't know the details, they don't know what's really going to happen if most of the pundits are correct.

Scary stuff.

Kid said...

Z, if the polls are correct, and I both despise and don't believe polls- then the kids have focused on the "potential" for oblammycare to be an evil master in their lives.
If they put the effort in, they'll start seeing just how evil this POS is.

Lot of IF's and I wouldn't bet a penny on a libtard. They're too reliant on their fantasy life.

Z said...

I JUST ACCIDENTALLY DELETED MY WHOLE BLOG ROLL....COULD YOU SEND ME YOUR URL'S, PLEASE?
THANKS!

Z

Ed Bonderenka said...

My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen M.D.
She's got some good stuff about storytelling on youtube, also.

Always On Watch said...

Jon,
I'm rereading "The Bell Curve" in an effort to better understand certain, current societal issues/problems.

Have you ever read John McWhorter's Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America? I highly recommend it.

JonBerg said...

AOW,

Thanks for the tip. I'm thinking of ordering it.

Baysider said...

Just finishing In Sunlight and In Shadow by Mark Helprin. He was recommended as one of the best living novelists, and while I was drawn into this period piece (1946) only the last third of the book grabbed me. Switching gears to Dr. Eric Braverman's The Edge Effect and enjoying learning a lot more about how the brain functions. And then ... I will be checking out Bob's recommendation. Thanks for that - can hardly wait to get into it!

Impertinent said...
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