Ambrózy báró esetei az idegbajjal

Instagramon (@themokkapot) már esett szó párszor az Ambrózy báró esetei könyvekről, de a blogon is szerettem volna egy bejegyzést szentelni a könyveknek, mert egyszerűen zseniális az egész sorozat, utoljára a Harry Potter ragadott magával ennyire. Böszörményi Gyula stílusa elképesztő (az is elképesztő, hogy mennyi kutatómunka áll a könyvek mögött), élmény őt olvasni. Egyszerűen minden klappol az Ambrózy báró eseteiben: a történet, a szereplők, a cselekmény helyszíne és ideje... Tökéletes, na.
Azalatt a pár nap alatt, amíg a könyveket olvastam, Ambrózyékkal keltem és feküdtem, és minden szabad percemben az éppen aktuális kötetet bújtam. A barátom meg is jegyezte, hogy ő még ilyen gyorsan embert nem látott olvasni.  📖

Ebben a bejegyzésben szó lesz az összes megjelent részről (és a teljesség igénye nélkül bemásolom ide az instás bejegyzéseimet a három fő kötetről), megmutatom a kedvenc idézeteimet és spoileresen okot fejtek arról, hogy szerintem kivel mi fog történni az utolsó könyvben. Ez hosszú lesz, szóval hozzatok valami rágcsálnivalót meg nyugtatót, mert újra fel fogjuk emlegetni a harmadik rész végét. 😑

A bejegyzés folytatása a kotyogóson!

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Kate Atkinson - A God In Ruins

Title: A God in Ruins

Author: Kate Atkinson

Year of Publication: 2015

Keywords: historical fiction, World War II, 20th century, family drama

Blurb

In Life After Life Ursula Todd lived through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. In A God in Ruins, Atkinson turns her focus on Ursula’s beloved younger brother Teddy – would-be poet, RAF bomber pilot, husband and father – as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have.

Story

The God in Ruins follows the life of a former RAF pilot, Teddy, and his family. Even though the war ended in 1945 and everybody seemingly moved on, it had certainly left its mark on generations to come - it definitely affected his marriage and his daughter's and grandchildren's lives. The novel tells the story of a family that never was, with flashbacks to Teddy's time in the air force.

☙❧

Don't be mistaken by the blurb: this is not a sequel to Life After Life (which I haven't read), it's a companion book that can be regarded as a stand-alone novel.

It begins and ends with Teddy (in the most infuriating way I must say), who is the focal character. The book is not solely about him and his life - it's about the war and its influence on generations who grew up after the war. As the years pass, other people in Teddy's life get their own narratives and tell their own stories about failed marriages, illness and childhood trauma that has affected their lives.

It's a funnily structured book, the not-so-linear narrative is segmented by Teddy's flashbacks to the war. These war scenes get more and more intense as the story evolves and the reader learns more about Teddy, Nancy and Violet. I wasn't the biggest fan of the structure, simply because I enjoy chronologically told stories more - but I was amazed by the writer's style and eloquence. I think The God in Ruins is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read.

Our relationship, however, wasn't off to a great start. The first ~90 pages were really hard to get through: I was annoyed by the constant jumps in time and by the references to events that will happen to Teddy and his grandchildren in the future. I like time travel, but not this much.

Despite the initial difficulties, I must say that I loved this book. It isn't something I would normally pick up but I'm so glad I did. This book is truly - as it says on the cover too - heartbreaking, with many unexpected turns that give you a lot to think about. The futility of your life, for example.

Last edited on 23 April 2017.

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Nagyon mérges vagyok erre a könyvre. Többek között azért, mert az első ~90 oldal nagyon szenvedős volt, többször is gondoltam arra, hogy feladom és valami más után nézek. Aztán ott volt még az is, hogy az író ide-oda ugrál az időben, amitől szerencsétlen olvasó már a 10. oldalon tisztára megkavarodott, és még semmi sem történt, csak egy mezőn néztünk madarakat.

De milyen jól tettem, hogy kitartatottam, mert az első száz oldal után végre igazán beindul a történet. A főszereplő Teddy, a második világháborús pilóta, aki a háború után próbál normális életet élni a családjával. A God in Ruins az ő története, ám nem mindig csak az ő szemszögéből látjuk a dolgokat - a felesége, a lánya és az unokái is mesélnek a saját életükről és Teddyről. 

A God in Ruins az egyik legszebben megírt könyv, amit eddig olvastam - magamtól pedig soha nem vettem volna le a polcról, ezért örülök, hogy itt hagyták nekem. Annyi mindenről szól ez a könyv és annyi apró váratlan fordulat van benne, hogy sokszor vissza kellett olvasnom, hogy pontosan tudjam követni az eseményeket. A fő témája az élet a háború után és hogy milyen hatással volt a következő generációkra. Ami számomra meglepő volt, de biztosan csak azért, mert nem olvastam sok második világháborús könyvet, az az, hogy milyen gyorsan visszatértek a "rendes" életükhöz a szereplők és próbálták elfelejteni a háborút, így téve tönkre a házasságukat.

Ha egy kicsit komolyabb és elgondolkodtató olvasmányra vágytok, sok szeretettel ajánlom ezt a könyvet - és ha elolvastátok, gyertek vissza és beszélgessünk a végéről, mert én még mindig nem tettem túl magam rajta.

Azt hiszem, magyar fordításban nem jelent meg, de Book Depository-tól elérhető (itt).

🐇📖🐇

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2016 in Books

Amióta befejeztem az egyetemet, megállás nélkül olvasok. Reggelente alig várom, hogy felszállhassak a metróra és olvashassak - és ilyenkor még jól is jön, hogy a kettes kábé 3 km/órával halad a stadionoktól, mert több idő jut a könyvemre. :)

Összegyűjtöttem egy pár 2016-ban olvasott könyvet, már csak azért is, hogy lássam, miket szerettem olvasni. Egészen biztos vagyok benne, hogy egy csomó mindent kihagytam, mert eléggé lusta vagyok ahhoz, hogy Goodreadsen vezessem az olvasmányaimat (2017-ben megpróbálom), de azért igyekeztem a legtöbbet összeszedni.

Mindenféle sorrend nélkül:

1. The Versions of Us 2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 3. Remembrance 4. A Dangerous Fortune 5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

6. China Rich Girlfriend 7. The Graveyard Book 8. The Light Between Oceans 9. Labour Day 10. Me Before You 11. Tulip Fever

Előre is bocsánat, de amit angolul olvastam, arról az eredeti címével fogok írni, mert hát na. :)

The Versions of Us (Laura Barnett) volt a tavalyi év legjobb könyve, egészen biztos vagyok benne, hogy többször újra fogom olvasni (angol nyelvű bejegyzés itt) - végigbőgtem az egészet. Hatalmas meglepetés volt a Krumplihéjpite Irodalmi Társaság (Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows), ami a  második világháború utáni Guersney szigetén játszódik, és az ottani lakosok mesélik el egy írónőnek (először levélben, aztán személyesen), hogy mi történt a háború alatt a szigeten. És hogy miért volt meglepetés? Mert hogy ez egy levélregény, én pedig soha nem tudtam végigolvasni egy levélregényt sem, de ezt konkrétan nem bírtam letenni! Anyukám a "cuki" szóval jellemezte a könyvet, szóval ha valami cukit akartok olvasni, akkor a Krumplihéjpitét tudom ajánlani. Annyira angol és annyira aranyos, hogy csak na. Majdnem kifelejtettem a Light Between Oceans (M.L. Stedman), amit azt hiszem, a Versions Of Us után olvastam (még több sírás 😭). Egy ausztráliai világítótorony őréről és a feleségéről szól, akik egy nap egy kisbabát találnak egy partra vetett csónakban. A filmet csak most februárban láttam, lesz majd a filmről és  a könyvről egy külön bejegyzés, de addig álljon annyi, hogy ez egy csodálatosan megírt és szívszorító történet, mindenképpen olvassátok el (és sírjatok 😁).

Nagyon tetszett még a Graveyard Book Neil Gaimantől, ami egy gyerekeknek szóló horrormese. Izgalmas és nagyon érdekes a történet, Gaiman stílusa is nagyon tetszik, fogok még tőle idén könyvet olvasni, az biztos. Ezt követte a Dangerous Fortune Ken Follettől, ami nem annyira összetett, mint az eddig olvasott történelmi drámák tőle, de így is nagyon nehéz letenni (annyira, hogy több alkalommal is majdnem elfelejtettem leszállni a jó megállónál). Ha még nem olvastatok Ken Folletet, szerintem ez majd segít ráhangolódni a többi könyvére. Tavaly végre befejeztem a China Rich Girlfriendet is (Kevin Kwan). Az első könyv (Crazy Rich Asians) jobban tetszett, és már nagyon várom a harmadikat. Nagyon nehéz összefoglalni, hogy miről szól a történet, mert több szálon (és több kontinensen) történnek a dolgok, a középpontban pedig egy szingapúri család fia és annak barátnője áll. Engem valamiér a Gossip Girlre emlékeztetett az egész, de egy jól megírt és érdekes Gossip Girlre. :)

2016-ban jött ki az új Mediátor könyv, a Remembrance Meg Cabotól, ami azért nem volt annyira jó, mint a Mediátor sorozat többi könyve (vagy csak lehet, hogy öregszem 👵), de nekem így is nagyon-nagyon tetszett. Tavaly ilyenkor olvastam a Me Before You-t (Jojo Moyes), tetszett, viszont a filmet még nem láttam.

2016 talán "legnagyobb" könyve a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child volt, amivel kapcsolatban nagyon vegyes érzéseim vannak: örültem neki, mert Harry Potter, és nem tetszett, mert nem volt Harry Potter. Olyan volt, mintha egy fanfictiont olvastam volna - aranyos, meg cuki, de KOMOLYAN? És: MIÉRT? Értem én, hogy színdarab, élőben lehet, hogy jobb, de akkor is nagyon erőltetett volt benne a bonyodalmat okozó dolog. Nem mondom, hogy borzalmasan rossz volt, mert egynek elment, de nem fogom soha többet elolvasni. Ahogy az egyik barátom mondta: azért kell a gyűjteménybe, no.

A könyv, ami egyértelműen nem tetszett, az a Tulip Fever (Deborah Moggach) volt. A történet szuper lett volna - Amszterdam, érdekházasság, viszony egy festővel - de az össze-vissza történő narrátorváltás egyszerűen felidegesített, így nem tudtam élvezni. Lesz majd belőle film is Alicia Vikanderrel, azt viszont nagyon várom.

Ti miket olvastatok 2016-ban? Hogy tetszett az "új" Harry Potter? 

📚📖📚

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I thought it would be fun to have a look at the books I read in 2016 - which, for me, was the year of rediscovering reading. Since finishing university, I've been reading almost every day, mostly during my morning commute. 

I tried to collect all the books I read last year - I'm awfully bad at doing it on Goodreads, although I am trying to do it properly this year -, here they are, in no particular order:

1. The Versions of Us 2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 3. Remembrance 4. A Dangerous Fortune 5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

6. China Rich Girlfriend 7. The Graveyard Book 8. The Light Between Oceans 9. Labour Day 10. Me Before You 11. Tulip Fever

I've already written about The Versions of Us, which is by far my favourite book I've read last year - see my post on it here. 

M.L. Stedman - The Light Between Oceans

There will be a separate post about both book and film very soon. Until then, suffice to say that The Light Between the Oceans was also an emotional rollercoaster. It's a very beautifully written book, check it out if you want to read something wonderfully heart-wrenching.

J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I have very mixed feelings about the "new" Harry Potter book. Even though I had a huge smile on my face while I was reading it, I kept thinking that it was only a fanfiction written by J. K. Rowling. It was just so far off everything I've known about Harry Potter that I refused to look at it as an extension of the world of Harry Potter. In other words: it was rather disappointing. Disappointingly cute and full of so many plot holes - I don't even know. REALLY? And: WHY? It wasn't super horrible and I'm sure when you see it live it's much better but it's unlikely that I will ever read it again. As one of my friends said: you need it in your collection. 

Neil Gaiman - The Graveyard Book

If you are looking for a spooky fairy tale / murder mystery, look no further than The Graveyard Book. I really enjoyed it (even though it says it's a children's horror book - how?) and made me want to read more of his books; I'll start with American Gods.

Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 
I loved this book so much. My mum said it was cute and I have to agree: it was cute. Cute and heart warming. It's an epistolary novel, which is not my cup of tea, set on the island of Guernsey just after the Second World War. Be sure to pick it up if you want to read something genuinely nice - I will surely re-read it in the future.

Ken Follet - A Dangerous Fortune
If you are after a truly exciting and well-written book, look no further than Ken Follett’s historical novels. The Pillars of the Earth? Classic. World Without End? HOLY COW. My favourite. The Century Trilogy? Wow. My latest addition to the list is A Dangerous Fortune, a novel set in Victorian times. It had all the Ken Follett elements - a family saga, dark secrets, murder, revenge, love - but I felt it was a bit lighter than some of his other books - not as if murder and bankruptcy were light topics. It was lighter in terms of the involvement it required from the reader: I didn’t lay awake during the night thinking about the characters and the story and eventually get up to finish a chapter or ten… (that’s the World Without End in a nutshell for you).

It’s a very easy and exciting read - so exciting that you almost forget to get off at your stop if you are reading it on a tram. If you are looking for a good book to read and/or something to introduce you to Ken Follett’s style and books, start with A Dangerous Fortune.

Meg Cabot - Remembrance
A new Meg Cabot book, a new addition to the Mediator series - oh my heart. Although it wasn't as good as the original ones (or maybe I just got older? 👵) I really enjoyed the more grown-up version of one of my favourite book series.

Kevin Kwan - China Rich Girlfriend
Sequel to Crazy Rich Asians, which is, well, about crazy rich Asians (a Singaporean family, in the first book at least). It took me ages to finish this one because I always found something else to read, but it was surprisingly easy to get back into after a few weeks (or months). Which, to me, shows how brilliant the story is - hard to explain because of the various plotlines happening on various continents, but so easy to get lost in: you almost forget that you are sitting on a metro and not in your weekend sports car, wearing heritage jewellery and the latest designer clothes from Paris, going to your Granny's for a nice brunch cooked by the best cooks in Singapore.
The series reminds me of Gossip Girl - a well-written and super extravagant Gossip Girl. Can't wait for the third book!

Deborah Moggach - Tulip Fever
The odd-one-out. I don't usually finish books that I don't like, this one is an exception. I would have liked the story if it hadn't been for the most horrible narration. I'm just angry because it had so much potential: set in 17th century Amsterdam, young wife, adultery, tulips... but no. We have to switch between first person and third person narration all the bloody time. I hope the film (with Alicia Vikander) will be better - in fact, I'm sure. No silly narration changes at least...

What did you read in 2016? Any new favourites? Did you like the 'new' Harry Potter book? 

📚📖📚

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Book: Sharh (commentary & Explanation) of the book Mafaheem Hizb Ut Tahrir in English now available in print.

Since the middle of the twelfth century A.H (eighteenth century AD.) the Islamic world has rapidly declining from the level it should be and has sunk horribly to the abyss of decline. Despite numerous attempts undertaken to revive it, or at least to halt its continued decline, no single attempt has succeeded. The Islamic world remained fumbling in a state of gloom anarchy and decline, and it still suffers the pains of such backwardness and confusion.

And in an attempt to stop the decline and revive the Islamic Ummah many movement arose to halt this decline and this was because these groups did not address the basis due to which the Islamic ummah was declining and how it could be revived.

The book Mafaheem Hizb Ut Tahrir by the eminent Jurist, Thinker and statesman, Sheikh Taqiuddin An Nabhani is a deep and unbiased research into the conceptual reasons of the failure of the Islamic movements that arose in the past 2 centuries. This book mainly was written with the objective to clarify the key thoughts and concepts which the Ummah was confused in and therefore had been unable to stop the decline in the Islamic Ummah. 

Alhamdulillah the Translation of the Sharh (Explanation & Commentary) of this book by Shekh Hafez Saleh (one of the early pioneers of the Da'wa) is now available in print in English. You can check the book out on MaktabaIslamia. 

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Travels With Casey

Confession time: I have really hard time passing up a dog-themed book on the sale table. Seriously, if said book came with a glass of wine and a brownie it would be completely irresistible. So when I saw a hardback copy of Travels with Casey for less than 5 bucks at Books-a-Million you know I bought it! In all fairness, I had just spent that much on a caramel macchiato at the in-store coffee shop. (Froofy coffee, another one of my vices. Yep, I've got issues . . .)

The book sat on my to-be-read pile for a few months before I got to it. The basic premise of the book is:

Neurotic New Yorker rents an RV and travels the country with his dog. He visits various dog-centric people and places along the way.

For the most part I liked the book. I've always thought it would be exciting to rent an RV and travel the country. It's fun to read about somebody who actually did. Other interesting things about the book that appeal to me are:

• Apparently this author knows Josh Dean who wrote the book Show Dog that I reviewed back in March. It sounds like they were writing their books at the same time.
• Benoit and Casey came to Jacksonville. In fact, they were doing doga on the beach. I wonder if I saw him? Wouldn't that have been freaky?
• During his travels he met Amy Burkett from Go Pet Friendly -- one of my absolute favorite blogs!

And there were a couple things I didn't like about the book:

• The story tends to meander. That's not bad, but it's not my style. I prefer more of a in-your-face John Grisham kind of story to a we'll-get-there-when-we-get-there Alexander McCall Smith kind of story. 
• I couldn't care less about the author's love life. I'm NOT a romance reader by any means. I want to read about dogs, dragons and dead people, period.
• I really wish there had been more pictures.

All in all, it was entertaining and definitely worth the $5. Now if only I could talk Hubby into selling everything and buying an RV. I tried really hard when Leah and the pups from Let's Go Dog stopped by here on their perimeter tour of the U.S. last year. Hubby said no. Unless I can either win the lottery or write a million dollar novel, we have to continue working to pay the bills. Dammit. But I'll keep trying! Until then . . . -- K

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Deann Art in Jamie and Josh's Entry

A couple of weeks ago we shared the new Deann Art canvas that we added to our dining room and today we are excited to share a new piece of hers that we added to Jamie and Josh's entryway. We absolutely LOVE her work. Each piece is so stunning - I love the colors and the flow of each work of art. This piece is called "Love Deep".  She has become my favorite artist and I can't wait to add more pieces of hers to our home. She has so many beautiful creations. 

I love the rich colors.

And if you are wondering where the Minted artwork that was in here went - not to worry -it is in their family room and looks perfect there! 

And you can see more images of their beautiful entryway here. 

Source List:

Wallpaper - Wallpaper Direct - Kamala in Dark Blue

Trim and Door Color - Existing when they moved in so not sure

Artwork - Deann Art

Chair - HomeGoods several years ago 

Pillow - Target

Books - miscellaneous 

Copper Urn - Antique  

Dresser - Antique Shop

Lamp - Joss and Main 

Mirror -Antique shop

Moss Ball - White Home Collection similar here

Books - passed down from family

Silhouette - Antique

Light Fixture - Existing

Boots - Jamie's

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may get a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links.  Painting provided by Deann Art in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own. 

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Good News for those who are interested in Books from the Islamic ideological viewpoint

Maktaba Islamia is now hosting English & Arabic print editions of some really important books by Sheikh Taqiuddin Nabhani, Sheikh Abdul Qadeem Zalloum, Sheikh Hafez Saleh, Sheikh Fawzi Sunuqrut,  Sheikh Ata Abu Rashta, Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud and others.

They have over 10 books by Sheikh Taqiuddin Nabhani including the English translation of the first 2 volumes of his master piece on Aqeedah & Fiqh , The Islamic Personality volume 1 and The Islamic Personality Volume 2. They are also hosting Volume1 & 2 of the Draft Constitution and its evidences issued by Hizb ut Tahrir. Click here to see all of Sheikh Taqiuddin's books available for sale. 

One of the expected books to be out soon is the Commentary and Explanation (sharh) by shekh Hafez Saleh for the book Takattul Hizbi, Structuring a party by Sheikh Taqiuddin Nabhani. You can Sneak Peek it here- http://www.maktabaislamia.com/sharh-takattul-hafez-saleh

For those who do not want to purchase the books, the brothers have been courteous to provide free PDF versions of some of the books to download from their website. You can contact them for PDF's of other books they have at info@maktabaislamia.com

The site is continuing to bring some amazing stuff which will be of immense benefit for the work to revive the Islamic Ummah and restarting the Islamic way of life.

Links to some of the interesting books on the website.

The Draft Constitution and its evidences Part 1 & 2 - http://www.maktabaislamia.com/draft-constitution-dastoor

The Islamic Personality vol 1 & 2 by Sheikh Taqiuddin Nabhani - http://www.maktabaislamia.com/shaksiya1-2

Drawing close to Allah by Sheikh Fawzi Sunuqrut - http://www.maktabaislamia.com/taqarrub-drawing-close-allah

War of Civilizations has begun by Aabed Moustapha - http://www.maktabaislamia.com/war-civilizations-begun

Dawah to Islam by Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud - http://www.maktabaislamia.com/dawah-islam

Here is a link to the website - www.maktabaislamia.com

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The Curious Incident of the Dog

I got this book for Christmas. The book is titled The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time but to be honest, there's not much dog in it. It's British and the story is told by a teenager who probably has some form of autism (it's described but never labeled). Calling the story "odd" would be an understatement.

The book opens with the protagonist, Christopher, wandering the neighborhood late at night. While out he discovers his neighbor's dog lying on the lawn. Quote from page 1: "There was a garden fork sticking out of the dog." Quote from Kelley: "WTF is a garden fork?"

Christopher goes on a quest to find out who killed the dog, all while avoiding strangers and anything colored yellow. Christopher loves prime numbers, hates being touched and doesn't understand metaphors. Yeah, it's weird like that.

This book was an easy read, though definitely strange. In the beginning the story was quirky but interesting (think Neil Gaiman) but somewhere in the middle the characters became tiresome and I no longer cared what happened to them (a la Stephanie Meyers). Still, I read the book to the anticlimactic end. This is definitely not one of my favorite dog stories. -- K

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The Promise

I haven't been reading much lately. I don't know why, but I do know that I don't like it. Reading is a great way for me to decompress. (So why do I watch mindless television instead?) My mother sent the latest Robert Crais book to my Kindle saying she really liked it. (She sent me one of his books in the past and I reviewed it here.) The Promise ties in with the last book. The review on Amazon.com says:

Loyalty, commitment, and the fight for justice have always driven Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. If they make a promise, they keep it. Even if it could get them killed.

When Elvis Cole is secretly hired to find a grief-stricken mother, he's led to an ordinary house on a rainy night in Echo Park. Only the house isn't ordinary, and the people hiding inside are a desperate fugitive and a murderous criminal with his own dangerous secrets.

As helicopters swirl overhead, Scott and Maggie track the fugitive to this same house, coming face-to-face with Mr. Rollins, a killer who leaves behind a brutally murdered body and enough explosives to destroy the neighborhood. Scott is now the only person who can identify him, but Mr. Rollins has a rule: Never leave a witness alive.

For all of them, the night is only beginning.

Sworn to secrecy by his client, Elvis finds himself targeted by the police even as Mr. Rollins targets Maggie and Scott. As Mr. Rollins closes in for the kill, Elvis and Joe join forces with Scott and Maggie to follow a trail of lies where no one is who they claim -- and the very woman they promised to save might get them all killed.

I know -- OOOOH. So, what did I think?

First of all, it was a quick read. I found it engaging. I liked this story better than Suspect, even though the dog -- a German shepherd! -- plays a much smaller part in this one. Now that Jedi and I are doing nose work, I really liked how the story touched on Maggie's scent work skills. However, I've never known a dog to be trained in tracking people and find explosives (it's always been either/or) as the alerts are very different. Think about it: an excited dog who jumps on his bad guy target cannot behave the same way when he finds a bomb. Other than that, it was a nice escape.

How about you, have you read anything good lately? Please share! -- K

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Download F-Netter Atlas of Anatomy - Azaaditv.blogspot.com

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Download F-Netter Atlas of Anatomy - Azaaditv.blogspot.com

Download F-Netter Atlas of Anatomy

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2014-2015 Novels

There are so many books I want to get through this year.  

My shelves are FULL.  

Currently I am Reading

Raising Cain

The Well Trained Mind

The Feeling Good Handbook

Next I Want to Read

The Night Circus

Unconditional Parenting

Big Little Lies

Outlander

Books I want to Read Again

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids

One Thousand Gifts

Women, Food and God

One and the Same

The Birth House

Heaven is Here

Novels

Flight Behavior

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Divergent Series

Bent Road

Snow Falling on Cedar

Little Face

The Funeral Dress

Sister

Three Junes

Casting Off

Deep Down True

The Shack

Don't Let Me Go

The Tenth Circle

Waiting To Surface

The Pearl

Two Little Girls in Blue

Midwives

Iron & Silk

Tuesdays with Morrie

She's Come Undone

Deception Point

Self Help

Brain Rules

The Lies We Believe

Charlotte Mason Companion

Conscious Discipline

Terlingua Teacher

Happier at Home

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What to read?

Read whatever you like. What do I care? **

However...

The last 24 hours I have been reminded from several sources of how difficult it is to discern knowledge and truth from propaganda and trash in today's media landscape.

E.g., CNN has given the conflict in Israel/Palestine over 50x as much coverage as Kongo, despite the ratio of casualties being even worse than the inverse. 5m people have died in the Kongo conflict - on par with the Korean war.

Also, Mike at D&P yesterday asked his readers what they are reading instead of newspapers (that are too slow* and too biased).

I agree with Mike that newspapers and other old media often miss the point completely (and probably deliberately too). On the other hand, even if there are bloggers that write objectively, they are hard to find among the millions of charlatans.

So what do I read? It really shouldn't concern you anymore than what music I listen to, but just in case you are still interested, here it is:

Non fiction books. High quality NFBs are well researched, written slowly, subject to peer review and relatively timeless. There are more of these than any person can read in a lifetime, so instead of wasting time on yet another news broadcast or morning paper, keep searching for and read the best NFBs.

My all-time favourites are:

How an economy grows and why it crashes
Gödel Escher Bach
The user illusion - Cutting consciousness down to size
The singularity is near
The naked ape
Engines of creation
The universe in a nutshell

The black swan

Abundance

A short history of nearly everything

(and a podcast: TED radio hour)
 

You could also include among worthwhile books:

The road to serfdom
The most important thing
Tomorrow's gold
Thinking fast and slow
How to create a mind
The great crash
Men are from Mars
Bull!

 

And for dog lovers:

Dog Sense


And fictional books that I think have important things to teach about the political system:

Withûr Wé
Atlas Shrugged
The Moon is a harsh mistress


And finally just a couple of good reads with no purpose or message:

Neuromancer
Post-Human
Reamde
The diamond age
Prey

(Just tell me if you are interested in any of the above and need the author)

Blogs are much harder to list or recommend. There are so many that come and go and the quality varies a lot over time. Among the ones I have kept on my reading list for a long time are:

KurzweilAI - technological progress
Zerohedge - counterweight to the polyannish financial commercial media
Hussman - weekly objective comments on the stock markets by one of the best asset managers

Nota Bene that I am probably searching for something completely different than you are. I am already retired and 'done'. I am not trying to get ahead or further my career or earn more money. I am simply trying to understand the world, man and the nature of intelligence and consciousness.

You would probably be much better served by checking out reading lists from Mike or Victor Pride or some other Man, Career or Entreprenurship blogs. At least if you are looking to get big, ripped, strong, rich, successful or admired.

Here, you'll only find a Swedish nerd's personal interests in nature, albeit a nerd that somehow happened to reach the upper echelons of international finance while bench pressing over 300 lbs, only to give it all up.

Btw, I am writing this on my phone so I just might add a few books or descriptions later this evening.

* Which is why I have lost interest in Financial Times and am starting to give up on The Economist too

** Actually, I mean it; read whatever. I have found that I get some of my best ideas and impulses no matter what I'm reading. It can be deep, difficult, easy, stupid, superficial or just strange or funny and it just stirs something in me, makes me want to comment, contradict, defend or memorize. Sure, it is nice to be served smart and deep thought but often it works just as well with simply infecting yourself with somebody else's memes and see what happens.

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A Fun Read

As I've mentioned before, I like to read. Most of my book choices are about dogs, dragons or dead people. So when I saw Dog On It by Spencer Quinn on the sale table at Books-a-Million I had to get it. This is the first in a mystery series about Chet and Bernie. The story is narrated by Chet -- the dog! -- as he follows his human, a private detective. It's actually quite funny. Like Jedi, Chet eats everything, marks often and is perplexed by certain human emotions. But his hypersensitive nose and keen observation of human behaviors help solve the case. It's a fun summer read and definitely worth the $5. -- K

P.S. I've already ordered the next book from Amazon.

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Dieting with My Dog, Part 2

Way back in September of 2012 I reviewed a book called Dieting With My Dog: One Busy Life, Two Full Figures . . . and Unconditional Love. I ordered it because the author, Peggy Frezon, and I had some of the same issues: high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose combined with a sweet tooth and an aversion to exercise. I said: 

"It's not a bad story, but I wish there were more examples. I know the formula for weight loss: less calories, more exercise. Sometimes I just need things spelled out." 

Peggy listened! She wrote a sequel called The Dieting With My Dog Guide to Weight Loss & Maintenance -- and I bought it. I started reading it, misplaced it, found it and finally finished it. Best of all, I enjoyed it!

The book is divided into five sections: Weight Loss, Diet, Exercise, Maintenance and (my favorite) Resources. Each section is broken down into "YOU" and "YOUR DOG" so you can easily follow along. And just like I needed, things are spelled out: What are good healthy snacks for you and your dog? How do you get started walking with your dog? What kind of things should you pack if hiking with your dog? There are motivational stories as well. The resource section is chock full of web addresses so you can follow up on everything from a BMI calculator to dog food reviews to a free Pooch to 5K training program (oh yes, I'll share that one later). I enjoyed the book. Whether or not I put it into practice . . . I'll keep you updated! -- K

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American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic

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NEW BOOK: American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid-Atlantic Brand new botanical art book from Lydia Inglett Ltd. Publishing and the BAEE Lydia Inglett, Ltd. Publishers announces the release of a new book, American Botanical Paintings: Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic. This book features 60 original works of juried art from 40 artists, including text describing each plant, how it is beneficial to gardeners and/or the environment and a number of paintings of insect pollinators and their relationship to the plants. Reviews: Don't just take our word for it!"This is a delightfully illustrated book, beautifully designed and with lots of variety in the choice of plantsubjects. I admired the standard of painting and the fresh, appealing studies which will be attractive to bothnaturalists and gardeners." Dr. Shirley Sherwood OBE, Botanical art collector "Native Plants of the Mid Atlantic – a beautiful book on botanical art that speaks to the mind, the heart, and the environment. — Derek Norman, President, American Society ofBotanical Artists (ASBA) The U.S. Botanic Garden was thrilled to be a part of this book as it embodies what we know to be vital—our world is better and richer with fine botanical art, and the plants in our backyards, in our woods, and along the roadsides are amazing! — Holly Shimizu, Executive Director, U.S. Botanic Garden For wholesale information, call 843-290-9900 or email  Pamela@starbooks.biz Format: 8.5 x 11 Hardcover Pages: 144 Pages Retail Price: $39.95 ISBN: 9781938417115 Visit the Starbooks Bookstore to Purchase What a Great Event! The original paintings featured in the book will be on display at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., February 15 through June 15, 2014. Botanical Artists for Education and the Environment (BAEE) produced the book that is funded solely through donations. Profits from the sale of the book will go to nonprofit organizations working on native plant education, conservation and horticulture. Enjoy this beautiful art while giving back to the community. A book is the most elegant expression of friendship, and a gracious gift.

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