Monday, January 6, 2014

It's Monday!



It's Monday and What Are You Reading?

I finished two books that really went well together.




One Summer: America, 1927One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the older I get the more interested I seem to be in history. ONE SUMMER, AMERICA 1927 was interesting and entertaining. Easy to read until the last several chapters that seemed to drag a bit. 1927 was very busy -- Lindberg's flight probably the most exciting event. There were massive floods along the Mississippi and Hoover was put in charge of arranging help for the victims. He was quite a guy, not very likable, but great at organization (as long as he got the rewards). In Bryson's words "Hoover was also extremely intolerant of anything that seemed likely to diminish his eminence." There was Alvin Kelly who was a well known flag sitter -- an occupation that was sure to incite the onlookers. Radio broadcasting. Newspapers and tabloids. The very beginnings of television. Talking movies. Buildings that got taller and taller and cities got larger as the workers poured in. Babe Ruth hits 60 homeruns. The bombing of an elementary school. A secret meeting held at a Long Island estate that would lead to lowering of interest rates and the crash of 1929. Mount Rushmore. .Sacco and Vanzetti. Prohibition. Al Capone. Henry Ford (what a crackpot). And on and on. What a ride!



The Aviator's WifeThe Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I finished Bill Bryson's ONE SUMMER: AMERICA, 1927, I was left with a desire to read more about the Lindbergs. I knew of Lindberg's flight, alone, across the Atlantic and Anne's success as a writer before reading Bryson's book, but very little else. When I found THE AVIATOR'S WIFE at Half-Price books, I grabbed it and continued my journey with the Lindbergs. I thought the two books were quite complimentary. Author Benjamin is careful to state in her afterwords where she took liberties and she took very few. The historical facts are all there. Benjamin added the emotion. Shy, thoughtful, Anne finds out just how strong a woman she is by marrying the American hero, Charles Lindberg. From learning to fly and setting a few records on her own, to flying with him, the kidnapping, the constant interference in their lives by the media -- what an interesting ride. I don't give 5 stars to books as I don't think anything is perfect, but I came close with this one. A very very enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

What are you reading?

Wishing you well and much joy.

Happy New Year!

**

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11 comments:

ACreativeDreamer said...

Aww, thanks for the post card swap plug Snap!

I just finished a really, really, REALLY short book that I found on Amazon, Buddha in Blue Jeans by Tai Sheridan. Definitely one I needed to read.

Temps are dropping like a rock here all day, I woke at 19 degrees, it's dropped to 7 degrees currently, and is supposed to continue to fall. Wind chills will make it feel like -25 to -35 degrees... YUCK!

Anonymous said...

I read The Aviator's Wife and thoroughly enjoyed it -- I've enjoyed all of Melanie Benjamin's books...I love how she takes either a fictional character (like Alice in Wonderland) and tells the story of how Alice came to be -- she did Mrs. Tom Thumb and Anne Morrow Lindbergh and did them all justice.

My reading has slowed somewhat...I've been working my way through the Laurie King mysteries -- Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes and then adding a different book in between all of those to keep my brain "fresh".

With the nasty weather we've been having and seem to continue to be having I think there will be much more reading done over the next little while -- if I can get to the library to pick up the books that are waiting for me on the "hold shelf"!

Michelle said...

I am reading, "Gone with the Wine". A memoir on my kindle.

Vee said...

I am reading In Falling Snow, which oddly enough says right on the cover that if you enjoyed The Aviator's Wife, you'll enjoy this book. Hmmmm...interesting.

Dorothy Borders said...

Bryson's book is one of the presents I got for my husband at Christmas. I'm looking forward to reading it when he finishes.

Deborah said...

Well, I'm reading YOU!

**blows kisses**
Deb

Pat - Arkansas said...

I'm currently reading some not-too-bad free fluff I downloaded onto my Kindle, Snap, but I just finished P.D. James' The Private Patient, which I very much enjoyed.

Janet said...

Thanks for the book reviews. I always enjoy them. I've had The Aviator's Wife on my list at the library so I should be getting it soon.

simply bev said...

Just finished The Golden Compass and have a request in at the library for The Aviator's Wife!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Two interesting sounding books, Snap! Since I moved to Colorado I've been reading a lot about the history of the West. I'm halfway through Stephen E. Ambrose's book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Both books sound great…. I love reading historical books like that… I may have to check these two out… THANKS!

Thanks for your wonderful comments on my blog post.
Hugs,
Betsy