tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post7977599612290905927..comments2024-03-27T17:34:52.560-05:00Comments on A Garden Carried in the Pocket: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, The Black and the White by Alis Hawkins, The Falling Girl by R. Allen Chappell, and Some Loreth Anne Whitejenclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-72245359142558007182020-04-03T05:17:14.264-05:002020-04-03T05:17:14.264-05:00Some really interesting titles -- I know that Lars...Some really interesting titles -- I know that Larson cover. I think it was one I was mulling over, but never got around to reading. Too much book for me to handle, I think ;) Verushkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640500646511533020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-71117509206225268602020-03-30T21:16:29.638-05:002020-03-30T21:16:29.638-05:00I have to check out some of these and while The Bl...I have to check out some of these and while The Black Death sounds the most interesting, with our current situation I think I need to go for cozier reads. I hope you are doing well and keep on practicing your yoga!Ilianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026669671843769219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-52512436060455501202020-03-26T08:12:48.346-05:002020-03-26T08:12:48.346-05:00I'm jealous of your goldfinches!I'm jealous of your goldfinches!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-87160182249379565272020-03-26T08:11:33.119-05:002020-03-26T08:11:33.119-05:00Adding Isaac's Storm to my list. Anyone who l...Adding Isaac's Storm to my list. Anyone who lives in a coastal state would be interested in hurricanes!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-57355684445463596312020-03-26T08:09:07.318-05:002020-03-26T08:09:07.318-05:00Cathy, while I loved The Terror (it sent me on a r...Cathy, while I loved The Terror (it sent me on a reading itinerary that was engrossing as well), I abandoned Drood. Haven't read anything else by Simmons; I am interested in The Fifth Heart that Sam mentions, though.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-51501172596669103492020-03-26T08:06:19.477-05:002020-03-26T08:06:19.477-05:00Kay, the facts about the World Fair were fascinati...Kay, the facts about the World Fair were fascinating. I was amazed at all of the considerations that had to go into building, landscaping, getting the equipment and supplies, and on and on. Building a small, but temporary city, required so many experts and so much problem solving! I loved The Terror by Dan Simmons--it was an excellent fictional account of the Franklin Expedition. The title referred to the name of the ship and to the horror of the experience.<br />jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-63424923218702844072020-03-25T14:44:44.594-05:002020-03-25T14:44:44.594-05:00I sat very quietly during an event at The Poisoned...I sat very quietly during an event at The Poisoned Pen in which Simmons appeared with another author. I seem to be one of the few readers on earth who doesn't care for his writing-- and I've tried three of his books. I posted a negative review of one of them on Amazon and was almost massacred by his fans.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-17103488409577018622020-03-25T14:42:04.133-05:002020-03-25T14:42:04.133-05:00Try Isaac's Storm. (And this post also reminde...Try Isaac's Storm. (And this post also reminded me that I haven't gone back to Chappell's series. *sigh*)Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-33652089061190300352020-03-25T13:52:06.410-05:002020-03-25T13:52:06.410-05:00First of all, I'm grateful that Sam mentioned ...First of all, I'm grateful that Sam mentioned that Dan Simmons book. I'll watch for it. It's possible I already own it. I do own more than one Simmons novel (unread as yet). Our mystery group discussed The Devil in the White City several years ago and it went over pretty well. We don't actually do much non-fiction crime books. Probably because it's true - something different about fictional crime and true crime - at least in my head. I remember liking the book, but also liking the part about the World's Fair better.<br /><br />We've had a bunch of rain too, good for the wildflowers but not so good for wandering about outside. It was over 90 yesterday and will be again today. And very humid. Still - fresh air is good. I have Kindle Unlimited too and want to read something by White. Think I might own In the Dark. Soon, soon. Today I started a book on my Kindle and it's going OK so far. I'm still listening to audios, but hope I'm 'over the hump' of no reading. Take care, Jenclair!Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495669354860191042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-10714326799926284152020-03-25T12:30:09.121-05:002020-03-25T12:30:09.121-05:00I'm jealous you get cardinals. We never get th...I'm jealous you get cardinals. We never get those. :DLark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-16694065267149116432020-03-24T20:48:51.148-05:002020-03-24T20:48:51.148-05:00Oooh! Dan Simmons! Will check it out, Sam!Oooh! Dan Simmons! Will check it out, Sam!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-47112188632088702872020-03-24T16:50:15.372-05:002020-03-24T16:50:15.372-05:00Sort of off topic, but I read a really intriguing ...Sort of off topic, but I read a really intriguing book set during the Chicago World Fair that teamed up Sherlock Holmes and Henry James (no Doc Watson here) in a detective thriller that captures that period really well. It's called "The Fifth Heart" and it's by Dan Simmons. As I warned in the link, below, however, it is 617 pages long and you really need to pay attention from the first page onward or you can get lost. Here's the link to my 2015 review of the book:<br /><br />https://bookchase.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-fifth-heart.html (Hope you don't mind the link.)Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-17638560506816304972020-03-24T13:32:38.653-05:002020-03-24T13:32:38.653-05:00Mockingbirds, cardinals, sparrows, house finches, ...Mockingbirds, cardinals, sparrows, house finches, thrush, doves. Pretty ordinary, but fun to watch. I love seeing some of the beautiful birds other areas get, but we haven't seen any colorful birds other than the cardinals and the finches. :)jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-20256878592001215762020-03-24T13:29:29.245-05:002020-03-24T13:29:29.245-05:00I need whatever I read to genuinely capture my att...I need whatever I read to genuinely capture my attention right now as I don't have much patience. Dark, cozy, mystery, thriller, humor, history--but needs to grab and hole my attention.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-34070583253880067002020-03-24T12:14:15.384-05:002020-03-24T12:14:15.384-05:00What kind of birds come to your yard? We've be...What kind of birds come to your yard? We've been getting the typical house sparrows, finches and goldfinches, chickadees and the occasional juncos. And doves, of course. I keep looking for the quail to return, but I haven't seen any in our yard yet. Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-46542821781402619262020-03-24T10:06:41.351-05:002020-03-24T10:06:41.351-05:00Typically I love darker stories but right now I fe...Typically I love darker stories but right now I feel like I need cozy or beachy/lighter reads.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-89809761427698702672020-03-24T09:25:22.991-05:002020-03-24T09:25:22.991-05:00Right now, I love anything that will keep me occup...Right now, I love anything that will keep me occupied and entertained! White's books have done that. :)jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-18851781892752483062020-03-24T08:02:32.593-05:002020-03-24T08:02:32.593-05:00I've heard so many good things about Erik Lars...I've heard so many good things about Erik Larson's books that my curiosity is piqued. :) And I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed Loreth Anne White's books! They are quick read and entertaining IMO; and I still need to read A Dark Lure. <br /><br />Stay safe and happy reading! Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848131929166247817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-54050922180251088242020-03-24T06:57:21.862-05:002020-03-24T06:57:21.862-05:00His research about the Chicago Fair was remarkable...His research about the Chicago Fair was remarkable and interesting, but almost too much detail. I will be looking for another Larson book to see more about how his style alters between The Devil and The Splendid and the Vile, which I loved.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-22728765779217409262020-03-24T06:54:52.495-05:002020-03-24T06:54:52.495-05:00I have abandoned a number of "nonfiction"...I have abandoned a number of "nonfiction" biographies and histories that use this method. Thankfully, Larson did not do this in The Splendid and the Vile, yet it was engrossing and flowed well. :)jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-74881983527082525512020-03-24T01:36:55.553-05:002020-03-24T01:36:55.553-05:00Although I did enjoy Larson's Devil, it ranks ...Although I did enjoy Larson's Devil, it ranks lower on my scale of enjoyment than all the others. With the ARCs I need to read, I haven't had a chance to read The Splendid and the Vile. I'm looking forward to it.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774383554326288663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-22195655708180369062020-03-24T01:16:16.969-05:002020-03-24T01:16:16.969-05:00I'm not sure I could read about a historical p...I'm not sure I could read about a historical pandemic right now! <br /><br />I agree with your point about Larson's suppositions about what these historical figures may or may not have been thinking. If that is his bent - right a novel. But for me it is a "no no" in non-fiction and it detracted from the book. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.com