A great boat ride---
"The Boys on the Boat" by Daniel James Brown tells several stories. It is the 1936 Olympics-in-Berlin story that equals the Jessie Owens feat of defeating the best Germany had to offer. It is a story about the roots of shell racing and the emergence of the West Coast colleges to challenge the traditional Eastern Ivy League dominance. It is a story of poor farm boys working their way through school vs. the rich kids who normally take up shell racing. I attended a shell racing college and had some friends who were varsity rowers. In fact, I have rowed in a 8 man shell. This story takes you inside the boat as you and 8 others (don't forget the coxswain) work in unison to make that magnificent sculpture in light weight material (wood in the 1920-30s) glide through the water with 2,000 lbs of human power driving the oars.
It was a great read that is probably on it's way to a Hollywood story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_in_the_Boat
Been very busy, I'm catching up on the March reads.
I like the quote by Isaac Asimov, concerning death, posted by Loruach:
“Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.
I also like one by Koontz: "Death is but a comma".
My favorite is by Woody Allen: "I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens".
Gonna read, Being Mortal.
Just finished The Husband Secret- could not figure how it was going to end good for everyone-author did a good job of tying up all the ends. Also just finished Still Life and Bread Crumbs-Ok, with for the book clubs.
Just finishing up Joyce Carol Oates' quasi-biographical novel, "The Gravediggers' Daughter." I have been a reader of Oates for decades and have lived in the upstate NY region much of story involves. http://www.amazon.com/The-Gravediggers-Daughter-Novel-P-S/dp/006123... Abused women and abusive men follow from one generation to another as the characters are trying to forget their past in the horrors of Nazi Germany. Their demons follow them here to America. There is a $4.99 price on the book from Amazon.
I am going to keep this book in mind as I am going to read We are The Mulvaneys next. If I become a fan of hers this will be my next book. I am pretty sure I have never read any of her books before.
Mandy, that sounds good & the library actually has it... no waiting list... thanx for the suggestion.
I finished Sister by Rosamund Lupton. The print size & pale font made the reading a chore. The story was strange and the ending was weird... sorry I wasted my time on it... not recommended!
I'm almost finished with Innocence by Dean Koontz. It's another strange story but he does develop likable characters that you care about. It a bit of Beauty & the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera. I'm hoping for a happy ending for Addison Goodheart and Gwyneth.
Yes, free is always better than $4.99. I use my library in Kentucky all the time as there are five branches and one generally has the book I want in. This one in Florida is not quite as good and has long waiting lists as the population of the city of Sebring doubles in the winter. But we do have a book exchange at the Retirement Center activities area that is kind of hit or miss. Some of the reviews call this book her classic.
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