What Are We Currently Reading?

[JustHereForFood]

I finished reading On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder. For those who don't know, he's a historian who specializes in Eastern and Central Europe and he wrote this book after the 2016 US election, mentioning parallels between the political situation today and back in the 1920's, 30's and 40's in Europe.

I know how it looks, but I actually bought the book a while ago and started reading it before I knew how much it would be relevant again. But it certainly resonated a lot right now. Honestly, I would recommend this book as a required reading in schools in every country that wishes to remain democratic. It's not just a problem in the US, so many countries in Europe are having a crisis of democracy and honestly, It's even more shameful for us, since we went through all of that really not that long ago. One would think that humanity is at a stage when we are able to learn from our own history, but sadly it looks like we are still so damn stupid.

That being said, the book is not really that depressing. The author gives us tips what to do to keep our integrity and stand against tyranny, even as regular people. Small things, like being kind to people, donate to what we believe in, support independent journalism, etc. If I have any complaint, it's how short it is, just around 100 pages.

I've already started his new book, On Freedom, which is quite longer, we'll see if I like it just as much.

[sugarbaker design]

13 hours ago, JustHereForFood said:

I finished reading On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder.

I got this a Xmas gift from my bro in 2017.  It's one of my favorite non-fiction books, I dare not lend it out.

I've been taking a leave of news-related podcasts for my mental health.  I recently discovered, after years of subscribing to Spotify, that audiobooks are available (Duh!).  I've only really listened to books that I've already read.  I'm looking for that comfort factor.  Since election day I've listened to Bel Canto, and I'm halfway through Death In Holy Orders by PD James.  It's been a godsend.

[Rushmoras]

I'm almost at the end of James Clavell's Tai-Pan.

Spoiler

Right now, the heroes of the story are facing a typhoon.

Overall, I like it less than Shogun, primarily because it seems that it's more drama than action. Struan is all talk, but when push comes to shove nothing happens or his enemies are dispatched off screen by other forces.

Spoiler

Like, I have yet to read the battle against Vu Kvok pirates, but it seems that he's been dealt with off screen, and there's only like 30 or so pages left to the entire story.

 

[Zella]

I started Ruth Downie's Gaius Petreius Ruso series and have been enjoying it. The books are murder mysteries set in Roman Britain and feature a legion's doctor as the sleuth. They're surprisingly funny. 

Also been reading about the Borgias. First Christopher Hibbert's The Borgias and Their Enemies, which was fun, and now Paul Strathern'sThe Borgias: Power and Fortune. It's a more substantial history. Also have both their books on the Medicis and contemplating reading those next.

Also debating whether I want to read all the Ruso books now or reread Frank Tallis's Viennese murder mysteries because I am rewatching Vienna Blood. LOL 

Edited November 20 by Zella

[Bookish Jen]

I'm finishing up "The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir" by Janine Kovac. I was able to interview Ms. Kovac for my blog and she sent me an advanced copy of her book to review for my blog. It's about her life as a ballet dancer and her involvement with the iconic Nutcracker ballet. She also connects this with her life as a girl, growing up, marriage, raising children, and working outside of the world of dance. I really like it. It's very charming.

 

 

 

[grommit2]

Lucky Loser by Buettner and Craig (both won Pulitzers for other works). The title is poorly chosen.  But, the book is the best so far about the Trump family business successes and failures. Thorough description of the elder Trump's successes as a developer. And then we get into the myriad Donald projects. Say what you want, but the guy was a significant player in various businesses, not just as a builder, but also as an entrepreneur.

[Rushmoras]

Started re-reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit: There and Back Again, the last time which I've read was probably in middle school, so more than twenty years ago. The first chapter, of course, talks about how Bilbo Baggins consented to an adventure -

Spoiler

journeying to the Mountain with thirteen dwarfs in order to figure out a way on how to break-in to the Mountain, steal back the treasures from the dragon, and kill the dragon in the process.

Um, rereading this as an adult - man, Gandalf is an asshole:

Spoiler

the dude comes out of nowhere, acts snarky to Bilbo for saying good morning to him, then carves a symbol on Bilbo's door for the dwarves to believe that Bilbo is a master thief, and the next day - all thirteen of them unannounced barges in, demands to be wined and dined, and then ropes the poor sucker in to an adventure.

But Bilbo is no better,

Spoiler

after hearing what the dwarfs think of him, he tries his best to make them believe that he can do his job even though he clearly does not want to. 

Though, it is interesting to read that not all of Hobbits are (were) pacifistic lazy type of persons -

Spoiler

one of them killed themselves a goblin in some local hill type war.

 

[Anduin]

Yep, Gandalf really seems to have 'the ends justify the means' attitude. 'Let's uproot his whole life and send him into dangers he doesn't even understand.' What makes it worse is that he's right! Bilbo's actions do lead to Smaug's death, a stable situation, and denying Sauron a resource for the upcoming fight. Yeah, Tolkien retconned that that was Gandalf's goal all along.

Though Corey Olsen, the Tolkien Professor, once said that the unspoken joke of the Hobbit is that Bilbo is too polite not to agree to these strangers turning up on his doorstep, and furthermore not going on adventures. If he'd just had more strength of will at the start, the whole book wouldn't have happened.

[Spartan Girl]

Read Cher’s memoir. Whew, her family backstory is a lot. Compared to her mother’s tumultuous love life, her own doesn’t seem as dysfunctional—and hers was pretty dysfunctional. Already can’t wait for part 2!