War Through the Generations: Vietnam - Recap

I was excited to take part in this year's War Through the Generations Challenge because it focused on the Vietnam War, and my dad fought in that one.  I had hoped to use my reading to open a discussion with my dad about some of his experiences.  Unfortunately my parents spent most of this past year caring for my grandparents (my mom's parents) when their health suddenly declined, and that meant that there wasn't a lot of time for dad and I to talk.  Hopefully we'll still get that chance, but it definitely won't be before the end of the year.

Here's the list of the five books I read for this challenge.  The one I recommend most heartily is #5, Once A Warrior King. I have yet to find anyone else who has read it but I'd certainly love to discuss it with someone!

1. The Time In Between, by David Bergen - this book didn't really work for me
   
2. The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien - the concept of truth and the way that is conveyed through stories is a major theme
3. We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young, by Col. Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway - first-hand account of a defining battle - I also watched the movie and compared it to the book 
4. We Are Soldiers Still, by Col. Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway - got a bit preachy near the end but still a fascinating conclusion to their previous book
5. Once A Warrior King: Memories of an Officer in Vietnam, by David Donovan - excellent book that also had a strong personal impact for me

If you participated in this challenge let me know which book from your own list that you'd recommend most highly.

The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried

written by Tim O'Brien

audiobook: 7.25 hours

narrated by Tom Stechschulte

*** About the Book *** 

This book is part novel, part memoir, part short story collection in which the narrator (or is it the author?) shares about his experiences in Vietnam.


*** Why I Listened To It ***

This book is on so many “must read” lists yet I’d never even heard of it until recently. I’m reading it for the War Through the Generations: Vietnam challenge, the 1% Well Read challenge, and it will also count for the Audiobook challenge.

In addition, Sophisticated Dorkiness is hosting a read-a-long of the book this month and I’m participating in that as well.


*** My Thoughts ***

Hmm … well … what ARE my thoughts on this book? I can’t seem to pin them down. In a way I hated it. In another way I really appreciated what the author was doing. At times I wanted to cover my ears and not hear the rest of the story. At other times I wanted to smack a character for his stupidity or carelessness or whatever. Parts of it seemed very true while other parts didn’t fit my idea of reality.

The book begins with descriptions of the items the soldiers carried – weapons, food, supplies, etc. – and the actual weight of each item. Then the narrator added the intangibles – guilt, fear, memories – to the list. This was a powerful chapter and really brought me into the story.

And then … well, is it strange that the stories of dead comrades and enemy soldiers did very little to me (even though they were very sad) yet the story of out-and-out cruelty to an animal broke my heart? I guess I assume that there will be death in a war and I resign myself to that necessity but I can’t resign myself to the need for cruelty, even though it helped the soldiers become calloused enough to take a human life.

One issue I had came after I finished the book. When I was perusing the read-a-long discussion questions I noticed this one: “The narrator of The Things They Carried goes by the same name as the author, but the title page notes that this is a “work of fiction.” How did this launch your reading of the book?” Say WHAT?! The audio version of the book did NOT include this information. While I was listening I assumed it was a somewhat embellished version of the author’s own experiences. To find out that I was wrong has really soured me on this book.

At the same time, there is one chapter that deals with the idea of truth in a story. The narrator makes the point that sometimes the real truth of a situation isn’t in the factual details but rather in the story that you create about it. This chapter (it’s the one where he repeatedly describes the body of the VietCong soldier he just killed) really resonated with me. I found the repetition very powerful. And yet, despite agreeing with his thoughts about truth, I find myself angry that I can’t tell which parts of the book are “fact” and which are “stories of truth” …

Part of the issue for me with books like this is that I hope to find something of my dad’s Vietnam experience in there but I always come away disappointed. My dad enlisted in the Army by choice – he wasn’t drafted. He was proud to serve, just as his father had. He didn’t come out of the war with PTSD (at least, not from anything he or my mom ever said) or having nightmares or harboring lots of regrets (although I’m sure he has some). He was a Green Beret* and he spent most of his time living in the villages with the local people and a few other soldiers. My husband once asked him about what he’d done in Vietnam. His response was along these lines: Yes, I killed some people. But I don’t have any trouble sleeping at night. If I told them not to move and they moved, then I felt no guilt about it. So far I have yet to come across a book that reflects my dad’s experience in any way, and that is disappointing to me.

*Reading the part of the book about the “Greenies” was almost creepy for me, knowing that my dad was one of them …


*** Your Thoughts ***

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? What are your thoughts on “facts” versus “truth”? 

Also, can you recommend a Vietnam-era book that might reflect my dad’s experiences?

The Time In Between

The Time In Between

by David Bergen

audiobook: 8 hours

narrated by Anna Fields

*** About the Book ***

Vietnam Veteran Charlie decides to visit Vietnam thirty years after he fought there. When his family doesn’t hear from him for a while, two of his children, Ada and John, head to Vietnam to look for him.



*** Why I Listened To It ***

I saw it while browsing the audiobook section of my library and knew it would count for the War Through the Generations: Vietnam Challenge.


*** My Thoughts ***

I really didn’t like this book. I enjoyed the portions of the story told from Charlie’s point of view, but most of the book was told from Ada’s point of view and I just didn’t get her. Nor did I get John. If I flew around the world to look for my missing (and semi-estranged) father, I think I’d be searching a bit more actively. I do understand the appeal of losing yourself in a new place, acting differently than you would at home where people know you, but hello people! You are here to look for your father!

I could go on but it really isn’t worth my time. The only reason I finished this book was because the narrator did a pretty good job and I wanted to see how things turned out in the end. If I had been reading it (rather than listening) I’d have given up on it.


*** Your Thoughts ***

Has anyone read this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you have. Am I missing something profound here? I doubt it, but I’ll listen to your argument if you think that I am.

Vietnam Challenge: why, and what I'm reading

The War Through the Generations Challenge continues this year with a focus on Vietnam. I simply had to sign up for this one.

My dad, Hugh Bedford, was a Green Beret in the early years of Vietnam and I've always wanted to learn more about his service there. His experiences weren't exactly a regular topic of conversation when I was growing up, but Dad will usually (eventually) answer any questions that I have.

Here are the basics of what I know for sure:

• Dad was in the 441st Military Intelligence Detachment, 1st Group Special Forces, from 1965-1968
• He did Basic Training, then Advanced Individual Training in Okinawa
• Over approx. 18 months he moved between Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos - wherever he went, it was always as a civilian
• When he returned to the US, he found that the paperwork showing where he had been during his tour of duty had fallen out of a helicopter and been lost; there is now no record of where he was during those 18 months.
• He intended to reenlist for another tour of duty after his initial three years were up but when that time came, his mother had a stroke. He asked for a leave of absence to visit her but he was denied. He decided not to reenlist so he could go be with his mother. He later found out that all (or was it most?) of his unit was killed in action just a few months afterward. [Updated to add: I believe that these men were killed in the Tet Offensive, but I'm not 100% certain.]
  

I'm hoping that the books I read for this challenge will give me ideas of what to ask Dad about during the coming year as I do really want to know more about his life.

My reading list:

1. War Torn: Stories of War from the Women Reporters who Covered Vietnam, by Tad Bartimus, Tracy Wood, Kate Webb, Laura Palmer, Edith Lederer, and Jurate Kazickas
   
2. Once A Warrior King: Memories of an Officer in Vietnam, by David Donovan
   
3. Vietnam Medal of Honor Winners, by Edward F. Murphy
4. The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien
   
5. The Road Home, by Ellen Emerson White
   

The first three books are ones I already own so that is bonus. Book #2 is a reread for me; I first read it in high school and have kept my copy ever since. If I recall correctly, the book reflected much of my Dad's own experiences in Vietnam. I've wanted to reread it for quite some time and this challenge is the perfect excuse. Book #5 is a maybe; I saw it reviewed and thought it might be good, but I'm not sure.


You can learn more about the challenge and sign up at this link and you can view some suggested reading at this link.

War Through The Generations Challenge - Recap

I've completed the War Through The Generations - World War II Challenge! This challenge will continue next year with a focus on a different war - I can't wait to see which it will be.

The goal of this challenge was to read five books that pertained somehow to WWII.

I only read one book from my original list:

1. Red Rain - about the Japanese incendiary bombs that were dropped on the Western US - I couldn't get into this story

These books were added to my list during the course of the year:

1. Number the Stars - a young adult book about children in Denmark during the war - highly recommended for introducing kids to this time period
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- this book deserves all the hype I'd heard about it - it's one of my favorites this year
3. Beside a Burning Sea - fictional account of the survivors of a bombed hospital ship who are stranded on an island with a traitor - somewhat predictable but still good
   
4. A Thread of Grace - a novel about how Italians protected Jews during the war - a fabulous book
   

I intended to read the following books as well but didn't get to them:

1. The Greatest Generation Speaks
2. Once Upon A Town
3. The Rising Tide
   
4. The Steel Wave

Books 3 and 4 on that list are part of a trilogy that hasn't been completed yet. That's why I removed them from this year's list; I hate reading part of a series and not being able to finish it! I do hope to get to each of these books in the coming year though.

Anna and Serena did a wonderful job hosting this challenge. In addition to posting our reviews (yes, they did get behind sometimes, but I'll forgive them since they did so many other things too) they also posted author interviews and WWII-related news on the dedicated challenge blog. As I said, I can't wait to see which war they will focus on next year!


NOTE: I'll be posting within the next week about my Gram who lived in England during WWII and her thoughts on several WWII-era books she's read lately - I hope you'll enjoy hearing her opinions!

A Thread of Grace

A Thread of Grace
by Mary Doria Russell
426 pages

No matter how dark the tapestry God weaves
for us, there's always a thread of grace. (p421)

*** About the Book ***

There is so much going on in this book that I'm having a hard time summarizing it. So I'm going to cheat and use part of the description from the back of the book.

Tracing the lives of a handful of fascinating characters - a charismatic Italian resistance leader, a priest, an Italian rabbi's family, a disillusioned German doctor - Mary Doria Russell tells the little-known story of the vast underground effort by Italian citizens who saved the lives of 43,000 Jews during the final phase of World War II. A Thread of Grace puts a human face on history.

Seriously, I couldn't have said it better than that.


*** Why I Read It ***

Russell has written two other books, THE SPARROW, and a follow up to that book called CHILDREN OF GOD. According to THE BOOK CLUB COOKBOOK, her first book is an excellent way to introduce non-SciFi fans to the genre. As a SciFi fan, I'm always looking for books that will do this so of course I picked it up. And I loved it. Then I read CHILDREN OF GOD and loved that one even more. (I reviewed both books on this blog but it was way back in the beginning of blogging and my reviews were really just for me back then.) Russell's writing style and characterization are phenomenal. When I found out that she'd written an historical fiction novel set during World War II, I knew I had to read that book as well.

September was my month to lead the online discussion at Reading With Becky's Google Group so I chose this as the group's read. It was the excuse I needed to finally read the book.


*** My Thoughts ***

This is an amazing book. As I said above, Russell's writing is phenomenal and this book certainly did not disappoint. I shared several quotes here that really jumped out at me; they give you a taste of Russell's writing and the impact of her words. This book is not an easy read; it takes concentration and effort. The multitude of characters and locations, the occasional comments in Italian or German, and the way the story moves from person to person all mean that you have to give this book your undivided attention or you will be completely lost.

The story is told in the present tense and it works well in this case. It conveys a sense of immediacy, of being right there as events are unfolding. And in at least one case it allows you to be in the head of a person who suddenly dies.

Speaking of death, Russell is not afraid to kill off characters, even major ones, and I respect her for that; it makes the book so much more real. It was heartbreaking to read about the deaths of people I'd come to care about but at the same time it drew me even more into the story. There was one situation where I literally covered my mouth with my hand in shock when I realized one particular character had died - I certainly didn't see that one coming.

This is a book whose stories will stay with me for a long time. It was worth all the effort it took to read and I will definitely be keeping it as part of my permanent collection (a rare honor in my house!).

One more thing - at times this book reminded me of SUITE FRANCAISE, by Irene Nemirovsky, or at least, what SUITE FRANCAISE could have been had the author lived to finish it. If you liked that book you will definitely like A THREAD OF GRACE.


*** The Real History ***

The author's note in the back explains that the stories in the book were all based on actual people and events in Northern Italy between 1943-1945. Russell did extensive research for this book; she even traveled with a Jewish refugee from the era as he retraced his journey through Northern Italy during the last 20 months of WWII. Much of what she learned is incorporated into this book. If you want an historically accurate novel, this is the book for you.

As a side note, VioletCrush and I discussed this book in the comment section of one of her recent posts. At the time I thought that part of the story would revolve around concentration camps in Italy but that didn't end up being the case. This book does examine the Jewish experience in Italy, just not in the Italian camps. But I stand by my recommendation of this book as a way to learn more about Jews in Italy during WWII while enjoying a well-written and gripping story at the same time.

*** Your Thoughts ***

Does this sound like something you'd like to read? Do you like your Historical Fiction to be extremely accurate, or does that not matter to you? Any thoughts you'd like to share?

Other review can be found here:

• Quotidian Grace - she give a bit more of the plot in her review than I did - she also loved this book
• Your review could be here! Let me know where to find it and I'll add you in.
  

Beside A Burning Sea

Beside A Burning Sea
by John Shors
audio book: 14.5 hours

*** About the Book ***

It’s 1942 in the South Pacific. A nighttime explosion sends the US hospital ship Benevolence to the bottom of the sea. Of the hundreds on board only 9 make it to shore: three US Naval officers, three nurses, an engineer, a wounded Japanese prisoner, and a young stowaway. Can these very different people find a way to work together to survive on this tropical island? How long will they be stranded there? Will it be the Americans or Japanese who find them first? And will they figure out that there is a saboteur in their midst? You’ll just have to read and find out!

A quick note about the cover: this is not the same cover as on the audio book, but I can't find it anywhere online. I actually like the cover I had better than the one shown here ...


*** Why I Choose This Book ***

Hey Lady! reviewed this book back in May. In her review she said, "Bottom line: this will be one of my favorite books of the year.". I added it to my Friday Finds list based on that comment alone. When I saw that my library had an audio version available I reserved a copy right away.


*** My Thoughts ***

Although this book has some flaws I really enjoyed it. It has adventure, suspense, a love story, and it moves at a good pace. It kept my attention - I was never bored while listening. It is relatively light reading/listening and that is just what I needed this past week. I breezed through all 12 cds in just over 5 days, listening as I did the dishes, cleaned under my couch, and filed papers at work.

Minor Spoiler Alert: I’m going to talk about a few of the characters next. What I tell you is all stuff you find out in the first few chapters so I don’t think it spoils anything, but if you’d rather not read it, simply skip the italicized paragraph below.

As for the flaws, well … the 9 survivors are rather stereotypical. There’s Jake, the black engineer (African-Americans were not allowed to serve in most fighting units during World War II), from a rural farm town. There’s Akira, the wounded Japanese soldier, who just happens to be fluent in English and who never wanted to join the war in the first place. There's Ratu, the fun-loving and adventurous Fijian stowaway. And then there's Roger, the saboteur, a cruel creepy guy with no redeeming qualities. The plot is rather predictable too.

End Minor Spoiler Alert.

However, I still really enjoyed this book. It didn’t require any deep thought, it entertained me, and I’m glad I listened to it.


*** Poetry ***

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is the inclusion of many Haikus. I'm not a poetry person - I don't understand much of it, I don't really like much of it, and I'm not really interested in much of it. I've never been a fan of Haikus in particular - they are so short and always seemed to pair two unrelated ideas together. However after listening to this book I now understand the concept behind traditionally created Haikus and I have a much better appreciation of them.


*** Challenges ***

Although I didn't choose it with this in mind, this book does count for the War Through the Generations: WWII Challenge.


*** Other Reviews ***

I already mentioned Trish's glowing review above. Did I also tell you that she had absolutely NO complaints about this book? She thought it was just about perfect so please don't take my criticisms too much to heart - I really did enjoy this book in spite of them.

Has anyone else reviewed this book? I'd be happy to include your link here.




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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
304 pages

*** About the Book ***

Single gal and newly published author Juliet is on tour for her first book shortly after the end of WWII in Britain when she receives an unexpected letter. A man named Dawsey, a stranger to her, lives on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel and has acquired a book that previously belonged to Juliet. He is hoping to find other books by the same author but since there are no functioning bookstores on the island he's written to Juliet for help. So begins a correspondence which will change Juliet's life forever.

As Juliet learns about the experience of the Guernsey islanders during the war she is taken with the idea of writing a book about it. She begins exchanging letters with other islanders and eventually travels to Guernsey to learn more about these strange and unique people she's come to love.

And that's all I can tell you!


*** Why I Read It ***

My book club chose this for our August book and I was happy since it has been on my TBR list for quite some time. Then TLC Book Tours offered blog tour dates for this book the same month and I figured the stars were definitely aligned in my favor!


*** My Thoughts ***

I LOVED this book. Loved, LOVed, LOVED!!! Why, you ask? Let me count the ways ... um, I mean, let me share the reasons.

• The time and place - My grandpa fought in WWII and landed in France on D-Day. My gram lived and worked in Coventry and survived nightly bombing runs. I love reading books that make their experiences more real to me and this book fits the bill.
  
  
• The characters - Juliet, the main character, is likable but not perfect. She is aware of her own faults and she can laugh at herself. I feel like I really got to know many of the characters in this book despite the fact that the entire story is told through letters; the way in which each person writes and what they choose to write about tells so much about who they are!
  
  
• The educational content - I love books that teach me things I didn't know but that are still entertaining. This book seems light and fun most of the time but there is an undercurrent of sadness and horror due to the German occupation of Guernsey and WWII itself. I learned SO MUCH from this book! I didn't know about the German occupation of the island, the Polish slave labor sent there, the fact that the island remained occupied even after D-Day .... And there are little things as well, things I'd never considered before. Like what did women in concentration camps due when they menstruated (before starvation stopped it)? That tidbit of info horrified me even more because it was something I simply never considered before.
  

There is so much more that I could say about this book but I don't want to give too much away. Suffice it to say that for me, this book definitely lived up to all the hype.

I've already recommended this book to several people. In fact, my Gram is visiting for the month and she already co-opted my copy.* When I get it back it will have a permanent place on my new bookshelf, an honor that I reserve only for my very favorite books.


*** Coming Soon ***

I had the opportunity to speak with Annie Barrows by phone, thanks to TLC Book Tours. I'll be posting details of that interview on 8/27 ... and I'll have 5 copies of the book to giveaway (to US and Canadian addresses only).

Plus I'm working on the recap of my book club's discussion of this book. There were over 10 of us at the meeting and everyone had a slightly different opinion. I'll let you know when I get the recap posted.


*** Other Reviews ***

I know that many of you have read this but here are a few of the reviews I've seen lately. If you'd like to be included please post your link in the comments.

• Ophelia Zepp - was a huge fan
• Muse - absolutely loved it
• Rebecca Reads - enjoyed this but had some complaints as well
• and 5 Minutes for Books is discussing it in their Sept. 1 online book club - all are welcome to join in!
• Savvy Verse and Wit - it was one of her favorites from this year
• A Novel Menagerie - says it has "all the of the heart you could want and story that you need."
• The Reading Life - makes some fascinating comments about the books in this book
  

* Last summer my Gram read a book that I recommended, and it was the first time I'd seen her read a book in my life. I'm thrilled that she's interested in this book too!


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Red Rain

Red Rain
by Tim Wendel

From Amazon.com:

As the B-29 bombers began to pound Tokyo and most of the other major Japanese cities to rubble, the Japanese military became desperate to find a way to once again instill fear in its enemies. Out of such efforts was born the greatest secret of WWII the fire balloon. One woman, Yoshi, camouflaging her identity, is sent to uncover these delicate but deadly creations.

Assembled from paper by schoolchildren and women in the waning years of the war, the Japanese fire balloons were launched from fields near Tokyo and Kyoto. They often reached the U.S. mainland in just three days and two nights. Armed with incendiary bombs, the balloons original goal was to ignite forest fires throughout the western states, which they did at an alarming rate. Wendel s research at the National Archives and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., reveals that the balloons touched down in the U.S. more than 300 times from 1944 to 1945.

The balloons proved to be a better weapon than the Imperial Army ever knew. One sailed as far east as Michigan. At one point, the Japanese high command considered replacing the incendiary bombs with nerve and gas warfare. But it never came to that largely because of the U.S. military's ability to keep a secret.

I've had Red Rain on my desk/shelf/bed for about 9 months now. It is not a bad book, but it isn't a great book either. When I put it down the characters disappear from my mind and I'm not in a hurry to pick it up again. I really wanted to finish this book because it was sent to me by the publisher, the author is local (he teaches at Johns Hopkins University), the subject matter interests me, and it would count for the WWII Challenge ... but it just isn't happening. I'm giving myself permission to put this back on the shelf and not worry about it any more.

If you have a minute, check out this promo for the book. It includes actual footage from WWII of the fire balloons landing in the US. Honestly the topic is FASCINATING to me, but I just couldn't get into the book.




REMINDER: I'm currently in Disney World (yea!!!) and I won't be responding to your comments until after my return. Don't you just love the ability to schedule posts in advance?!

Number the Stars

Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
audio book: 2.75 hours

I listened to this at work one afternoon last week and really enjoyed it. This young adult book is set during World War II in Denmark. The brief story unfolds through the eyes of a young girl named Annemarie whose best friend is Jewish. As Holocaust-era stories go, this is a very tame one. It deals with difficult subjects in a child-friendly way, never going too deep but always with an undercurrent of trouble or confusion. I think it would be an excellent introduction to the time period for a young reader, perhaps progressing to The Diary of Anne Frank afterward.

This also counts toward the War Through the Generations - WWII reading challenge.

The Island at the Center of the World

The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Colony That Shaped America

By Russell Shorto
audio book: 15 hours

*** What It Is ***

From my library's website:

Before there were 13 colonies, there was New Netherland. Founded by the Dutch, this tiny community on the edge of the wilderness supported a staggering array of peoples. Surrounded by intolerant Puritans, the colony took its cue from Amsterdam, Europe's most liberal city. Inevitably the Dutch and English clashed--and a new nation was born.

*** My Thoughts ***

The original Dutch colony at Manhattan has been overlooked by English-speaking historians for many years. The Dutch influences on this small part of the world made a huge impact on the development of modern America, a fact I was unaware of until now. As they say, "the winners write the history books" and that has certainly been the case here.

About a year ago I saw this audio book at the library and checked it out for my mom to listen to. She is not a reader but loves non-fiction audio books. Since she grew up in Brooklyn, New York, I figured this would be a good one for her to try out. I was right; she raved about this book for weeks! Since then she has insisted that I check it out for myself.

I mentioned yesterday that I'm a big fan of GOOD non-fiction, and this book would fit into that category. I really enjoyed listening to it during my ride to and from work.

New Yorkers and those who live nearby will recognize many of the people in the book from modern day city street and town names. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in colonial history, influences on American society, or New York.

You can learn more at the book's website - it includes an excerpt, cast of characters, examples of Dutch influences, and much more. And you can listen to an excerpt from the audio book here.

*** Your Thoughts? ***

Have you ever read a book that opened your eyes to a new part of history previously unknown to you? Tell me about it! Are you familiar with the history of Dutch Manhattan? Does this book sound interesting to you?

The Lost Men

The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party
by Kelly Tyler-Lewis
384 pages

This is a true story, an adventure story, a story of survival in the harshest environment on earth, and it is a fascinating read. I HIGHLY recommend it.

*** What It Is ***

If you are not familiar with Ernest Shackleton's extraordinary Antarctic expedition (1914-1917) then you are missing out on an amazing piece of history. In short, Shackleton's mission to cross the Antarctic continent failed before it even began, when his ship, The Endurance, was crushed in the ice. Following the destruction of the ship, the crew spent months living on the ice. Only through Shackleton's heroism - and an 800 mile journey in an open boat - were the crew saved ... every last man. (Read more about it here.)

However, the other ship in the expedition, The Aurora, was not so lucky. Their mission was to lay supply depots along the latter portion of the cross-continental trail for Shackleton to pick up.

Yet all went tragically wrong when the Aurora broke free of her moorings in a gale and stranded ten men ashore in Antarctica, woefully ill-equipped to perform their task. Left with little more than the clothing on their backs and scavenged equipment, the men vowed to carry on in the face of impossible odds. Meanwhile, the crew of the disabled Aurora, cast adrift at the mercy of the elements, battled for survival in the pack ice. With no hope of rescue from civilization, the lost men struggled to save themselves and carry out their mission. (from the book's website)

Does that sound amazing or what?!

*** My Thoughts ***

I've always been partial to non-fiction and this book is a prime example of why that is. It is absolutely fascinating and I didn't want to put it down. This stuff REALLY HAPPENED - these are REAL PEOPLE - and their experiences are simply amazing.

The author did an excellent job with the story. The pace never dragged, and I never felt like I was reading a textbook.

The author helpfully provided a list of all the crew aboard each of the ships at the start of the book. There are lots of men, and their introduction into the story was a bit confusing for me simply because it was hard to remember who was who. What I should have done is copied that list and made a few notes next to each name as they were introduced - I think that would have solved the problem nicely.

Here are some random things I'd like to remember from this book:

• It was Shackleton's personality and ability that was the driving force behind the survival of the men of The Endurance. The Ross Sea Party didn't have a leader of that caliber, hence their experiences on the ice were very different.
• The spirit of adventure and exploration was common to this era and it came across clearly in the words and actions of the men.
  
• Their mission to lay supply depots on the last portion of Shackleton's planned route across Antarctica ended up being completely pointless; Shackleton never even BEGAN the journey. I don't know whether to pity the Ross Sea Party for this or to think of it as their saving grace, giving them a purpose to help them continue on. (Check out a map of the expedition here.)
  
• The expedition set out at the start of The Great War. The men expected it to be over by the time they returned. What they found however was a world completely changed, unrecognizable to them. Many of them joined the military as soon as they recovered from their polar ordeal ... and some lost their lives in the war.
  

This book has been on my TBR list since July 2007 when I read about it in the DearReader.com email. I am SO GLAD that I finally got around to reading it.

*** Other Interesting Links ***

• The main website, includes links to photos
  
  
• Photos from other Antarctic expeditions through the years - the ones from the Ross Sea Party have not been uploaded there yet
  

• The author talks about the book

• YouTube videos of Shackleton's expedition - includes excerpts from the men's journals and some of their photographs and videos - none from the Ross Sea Party has been posted yet
  
  

*** Your Thoughts? ***

Have you read this book? Are you familiar with Shackleton's experiences? I listened to THE ENDURANCE on audio a while back and highly recommend that one as well. Please share your thoughts on any polar-related topic that interests you. Personally I'm fascinated by people who travel to the poles ... but I'd never DREAM of going there myself. What about you?

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

I thought I was finished signing up for challenges, but this one is sort of a no-brainer. The challenge is to read 5 non-fiction books between May and September, and books for other challenges are allowed to count. Seriously, this is an EASY challenge - I LOVE non-fiction!

Here's what I'm going to read:

• The Lost Men (actually finished already, but it IS a May book so it will count)
• The Island at the Center of the World (audio, finished already, but also a May book)
  
• The Secret Doorway (started already)
• Mistress of the Vatican
• The History of Celibacy
• The Greatest Generation Speaks
  

All those books were already on my reading list for the next few months anyway, so now I just have double the incentive to read them.

There's still time to sign up for the challenge. If you're interested, click here for the details. And you can post your May reviews here.

If you are participating, please let me know in the comments. And post your reading list there - I'd love to see what you all find interesting!

2008 Challenge Wrap Up

I realized that I didn't do a recap of the challenges I participated in during my 30th year. It was my first year of blogging so there weren't that many, but I'm going to recap them here. This is for my own enjoyment really, so feel free to skim over post this if you like.

Reading Challenges Recap

Age 30: Nov. 4, 2007 - Nov. 3, 2008

~~~~~Completed Challenges~~~~~

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
This was the very first challenge I joined and I even completed it early. The goal was to read 6 historical fiction books. Here's what I read:

• Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky
• The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck
• Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks
• Cane River, by Lalita Tademy
• Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen
• Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck

And here's a link to all my reviews.


The Irresistible Review Challenge
The goal was to read 8 books that you would not have picked up had it not been for another blogger's review. I read 6 within the deadline and finished the last two afterward. Here's what I read:

• King Solomon's Mines, by H. Rider Haggard
• Last Chance to See, by Douglas Abrams
• Dracula, by Bram Stoker
• Stone Creek, by Victoria Lustbader
• Pyongyang, by Guy Delisle
• In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
• Life Is So Good, by George Dawson
• Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie

And here's a link to all my reviews.


The Summer Reading Thing
The purpose of this challenge is to challenge yourself. My goal was to read 5 specific books and finish the other two challenge I signed up for. In the end I did finish one challenge on time and 4.5 of the 5 books. Here's what I read:

• Matrimony, by Joshua Henkin
• Life Your Road Trip Dream, by Phil and Carol White
• Maggie Again, by John Husband
• Genuine Men, by Nancy Bruno
• Why The Wind Blows, by Matthys Levy

And here's a link to my reviews.

~~~~~Ongoing Challenges~~~~~

The 1% Well Read Challenge
The goal was to read 10 books from the list of 1,001 books to read before you die. This challenge is still going on. So far I've read 4 complete books and half of two others. The list is in my left sidebar.


LOST Books Reading Challenge
The goal is to read 5 books that relate to the TV show Lost. This challenge ends later this month. So far I've read three books. The list is in my left sidebar.

War Through the Generations - Reading Challenge

Now here's a challenge I can really get in to!




I'm fascinated with World War II since my Grandfather fought there. I've written about him before but in case you're new to my blog, here's the short story: Grandpa landed on Utah Beach on D-day, was wounded about a month later, met my Gram in England while he recuperated, and they will celebrate their 62nd anniversary in January 2009. Grandpa is 90 now, Gram is 84. They are who I visited for Thanksgiving.

But getting back to the point of this post ...

War Through the Generations is meant to be a multi-year challenge with each year focusing on a different war. This first year focuses on World War II. Readers can sign up each year they are interested or opt out that year if they are not interested.

There's a blog dedicated to this challenge and it's a very interesting one at that! The challenge hosts have some great ideas for content that they are just beginning to develop. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow over the next few months.

The nice thing about this challenge is that I can set my own goals. The minimum number of books you're allowed to sign up for is 5 though. To be on the safe side I'm going to stick with that number. Personally I get more satisfaction from actually completing challenges successfully than I do from trying to stretch myself to read more. Anyway, here's my list so far:

1. Red Rain (Tim Wendel) - a new book about a little known footnote to WWII, Japanese fire balloons
   
2. The Greatest Generation Speaks: Letters and Reflections (Tom Brokaw) - this is a follow up to his original book, The Greatest Generations - I've not read that one, but it may be my 5th book for this challenge


3. The Rising Tide (Jeff Shaara) - Book 1 in a trilogy following 4 different characters through WWII


4. The Steel Wave (Jeff Shaara) - Book 2 in that trilogy (the 3rd isn't written yet)

The reason I chose these four is that they are already sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. I'll need to come up with one more book but I'm sure that one will catch my eye over the next year.

I've seen several other bloggers sign up for this challenge so far. If you have, what books have you chosen? If not, is it something you are interested in? I'd love to have you join along with me!

Historial Fiction - COMPLETED! & Giveaway Reminders

I finished my first challenge!!! And get this - I did it with a few months to spare! Check out the cool button I get for that - sexy, huh?!

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge was the very first challenge I ever signed up for. It was perfect for me because about a third of my TBR list fits in this genre.

One thing I loved about this challenge - other than the genre - is that the host set up a Challenge Blog where participants can post their reviews. This makes it easy to keep up with what others are reading, and allows those who aren't book bloggers - or bloggers of any kind! - to post their reviews as well.

It drives me crazy when I hear about the good challenges after they've already started (like this one here - I would LOVE to be part of this!). No so with the Historical Fiction Challenge! If you'd like to join this one you're in luck. The challenge is now perpetual, with deadlines set depending on when you start. Go check out the blog and sign up!

Here's a list of the six books I read for this challenge. Click on the title to check out my review:

Suite Francaise - (WWII France) I liked it more for the author's life story than for the novel, but still worth the read.

The Good Earth - (1920s China) I'm not really a big fan ...

Year of Wonders - (1500s England) Quick read, well-written, enjoyable despite the depressing subject matter.

Cane River - (1700s-1900s America) FABULOUS! I loved this one.

Water for Elephants - (1930s America) After refusing to read it because "everyone's doing it!" I finally succumbed ... and it really is very good.

Cannery Row - (1930s America) Different than I expected but very good. Very short too.

Giveaway Reminders - 2 books

Read my review of Cannery Row and enter for a chance to win my copy. The drawing is set for July 25.

You have until August 3 to enter to win a signed copy of There's No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark. Click here for details.

Cannery Row ... and Giveaway

I chose to read Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck, for three reasons ...
1: I loved East of Eden when we read it for book club
2: It fit with the Historical Fiction Challenge
3: It fits with the 1% Well Read Challenge.

Knowing that I loved East of Eden, I expected something like that from this book. They are NOT similar at all.

I had a hard time getting into this book ... I couldn't quite figure out what the author was trying to do. However, once I figured it out, I loved this short little book!

Cannery Row is about the people living in on the row (it's in Monterey, California, in case you didn't know). It's about their lives, what they do from day to day, how they interact. The story is set in the 1930s when money is tight but Prohibition is over.

In brief, somewhat unconnected chapters, Steinbeck introduces you to the men and women of the town. What I realized about halfway through the book is that he's actually giving you the events of a week or so in chronological order. He updates you on one group of people, then in the next chapter fills you in on what another group is doing across town. Sometimes those stories relate to each other, sometimes not. Once I "got it" the book completely made sense to me and I really enjoyed it.

I do have to mention Steinbeck's amazing writing. His descriptions are vivid and unique. For those of you familiar with the coast of California (I've been there a few times) you'll immediately recognize the towns and physical features he includes. But even if you've never seen a tide pool, for example, you'll be able to see it clearly in your imagination. I wanted to include the entire tide pool description here but it's too long. Instead, I'll give you this snippet:

The creeping murderer, the octopus, steals out, slowly, softly, moving like a gray mist, pretending now to be a bit of weed, now a rock, now a lump of decaying meat while its evil goat eyes watch coldly. ... suddenly it runs lightly on the tips of its arms, as ferociously as a charging cat.

You really have to read that entire section - it's is so ... vivid is the only word I can come up with.

In other parts of the book the author uses interesting word choices as well. At one point some men are smelling the stew they've been cooking for hours and the smell is "heartbreaking" ... I can feel that. Several of the men say "idear" rather than "idea" ... my uncles all use that word too.

At just over 100 pages, this is an easy and entertaining read with excellent use of language. Because it's so small and because it fits in with so many challenges out there, I'm giving away my copy of Cannery Row to one lucky reader. Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a random winner on July 25. Good luck!

Also reviewed by (give me your link and I'll add you here):
The Bluestocking Society

Summer Reading Thing ... I'm IN!

Not that I need to join any more challenges or anything like that ... but THIS one is different ... really. I mean it. Don't you believe me? (imagine me batting my eyes very sweetly ... is it working?!)

The reason I'm joining this challenge is that I can choose any books I want to read - I just have to set a goal and list it here. That's the whole challenge!

Here are my goals:

1. complete the Irresistible Review Challenge
2. complete the Historical Fiction Challenge
3. read and review the following books I've promised to review for authors and publishers

• Matrimony, by Joshua Henkin (in progress now)
• Live Your Road Trip Dream, by Phil & Carol White
  
• Maggie Again, by John Husband
  
• Castaway Kid, by Rob Mitchell (in the mail to me now)
• Why the Wind Blows, by Matthys Levy

The challenge ends on Sept. 21; according to the list above, I need to read 11 books between now and then - a completely reasonable goal.

Get in on this challenge and set your own summer reading goals! Click on the Summer Reading Button above to go to the main site and sign up. Happy Reading!

Oh, by the way, there's still time to enter the two contests I'm running right now! I'll announce the winners on Friday so be sure you've got your name in. Click here and here to enter.

Weekly Geeks #9 and Show & Tell

This week on Weekly Geeks our challenge is to update our challenges! And since it's Show & Tell day today, I thought "Why not share this with the rest of the class?"

For those of you unfamiliar with reading challenges, the idea is to commit to read a specific number of books with a specific theme within a set amount of time. The reasons people sign up for challenges vary - I'll give you my reasons as I update you on my challenges. Oh, and if you'd like to read the reviews I've written for any of the books I've completed so far, just click here.

Here are the 4 challenges I'm involved in, in order by ending date. Click on the challenge logos to link to the challenge host sites.

#1: Irresistible Review Challenge

This challenge just makes sense to me. The idea is to read books that you wouldn't have decided to read had it not been for another bloggers excellent review. So really, it just means actually committing to read some of the books I've been adding to my TBR list.

Completion Date: September 1, 2008

Completed Books: 2
Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams
Stone Creek, by Victoria Lustbader

Completed Books: 1
King Solomon's Mines, by H. Rider Haggard

Completed Books: 5
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Life is So Good, by George Dawson
Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
and one more TBD


#2: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge



This is the very first challenge I ever signed up for. Why? I figured it would be easy, since much of what I want to read fits into this challenge.

Completion Date: October 1, 2008

Completed Books: 5
Suite Francaise, Irene Nemirovsky
The Good Earth, Pearl Buck
Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks
Cane River, Lalita Tademy
Water for Elephants, Sarah Gruen

To Be Read: 1
Cannery Row, John Stienbeck


#3: "Lost" Books Challenge


I absolutely LOVE the tv show Lost, so I had to join this challenge. Even though I'm only just now starting Season 3 I'm completely addicted! I'm hoping that reading some of these books (which were all mentioned on the show at some point) will give me further insight into the complexity of the show.

Completion Date: December 31, 2008

Completed Books: 0

To Be Read: 5
The Turn of the Screw, Henry James
Island, Aldous Huxley
Moby Dick, Hermann Melville
The Mysterious Island, Julies Verne
The Survivors of the Chancellor, Jules Verne


#4: 1% Well Read Challenge

As I mention in my left sidebar, the list of 1,001 books you must read before you die seems a bit daunting to me. This challenge makes the list much more doable - you only have to read 10% of the list! And since there are so many interesting books on the list I'm up for THIS challenge.

Completion Date: February 28, 2009

Completed Books: 0

In Progress: 2
King Solomon's Mines, H. Rider Haggard
Some Experiences of an Irish RM, E. Somerville

To Be Read: 8
The Moor’s Last Sigh, Salman Rushdie
Delta of Venua, Anais Nin
A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
Cannery Row, John Steinbeck
Phineas Finn, Anthony Trollope
The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton
Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, Paul Gallico
100 Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Alternates - I'm giving myself alternates on this one, just in case ...
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote
The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Herzog, Saul Bellow
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe

So that's my update. I'm pretty sure I can complete all these book on schedule ... wish me luck!

Cane River

I just finished reading Cane River by Lalita Tademy and I LOVED it! How could I have not read this book before now?!

Let me back up a bit ...

Last year sometime I read The Book Club Cookbook. In it are - among other things - interviews with a variety of book clubs, many who have rules for what they read. I read about several clubs who only read African American authors and EVERY ONE of those clubs had Cane River on their reading list. Intriguing, no? Honestly, not really. And that's because I often avoid what it seems that EVERYONE else is reading (I'm not alone in this - check out this post for proof!).

But somewhere along the way, I decided to give in and read Cane River. I figured that now would be a good time, since this book fits in with the Historical Fiction Challenge. By the time I finished I wanted to smack myself for being so stubborn for all this time. This is a REALLY good book!

Cane River is the story of the Lalita Tademy's family beginning in the early 1800s, told in the form of a novel, written after the author left her corporate life and devoted herself to researching her family's history. Genealogical research is tough and time-consuming but when your ancestors were slaves it is even tougher to find reliable records. Her book includes many of the documents and photos that she unearthed; these documents serve to remind the reader of the that this story really is true.

What I liked so much about this book was the way the author presented each of the characters as having different strengths, and how what one character viewed as a strength was often seen by others as a weakness. But as time progressed, each generation built upon the strengths and achievements of the generation before ... all leading up to (almost) present day.

This book truly does read like a novel so at times I forgot that I was reading about real people. But then I'd come across a copy of a letter written by the person I was reading about, or a receipt for tax payment from another person and I would suddenly remember "these people REALLY lived!" It was amazing.

As a side note, I think that the reason I fell in love with this book is that it is exactly the type of book I want to write. I'm not a creative writer (give me something to research and I'll write you a scholarly paper, but don't ask me to be creative) but I am our family's unofficial historian. I collect the stories from generations past and present whenever possible, and I have always wanted to turn them into some kind of book, even if it would just be read by my family. But this book showed me a way to create something out of what I've got! If only I could be creative enough to fill in the details, I'm sure I'd have something really amazing to write about.

For more about this book ...

If you'd like to learn more about the Cane River region of Louisiana, check out the Cane River National Park. The photos there give an idea of what life was like in the book.

After I finished reading I checked out the discussion questions on ReadingGroupGuides. They gave me lots to think about and helped me "digest" this book.

As always, I'd love to link up to your review of this book - just let me know where to find it!