Athena Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 I started The Complete Polysyllabic Spree and I have to say I love it thus far and I am only 19 pages in.x I'm glad to hear this, I hope you enjoy the whole book ! Quote
Kylie Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Hey Devi, will you wave to me out of the window as you fly over NSW? Have you decided which books you'll be taking? It's so much fun deciding which books to take on holidays. Quote
Devi Posted July 30, 2013 Author Posted July 30, 2013 Hey Devi, will you wave to me out of the window as you fly over NSW? Have you decided which books you'll be taking? It's so much fun deciding which books to take on holidays. I sure will. No not as of yet, I have a few in each category so I am finding it hard to choose. I might have to list them on here for help! Quote
Devi Posted July 31, 2013 Author Posted July 31, 2013 Ok so I narrowed down my non fiction ans fiction picks for my holiday to three each. I only one to take one from each lot. Help!!! Blood Brotherhoods: The Rise of the Italian Mafia - John Dickie Description from BD: BLOOD BROTHERHOODS is the enthralling new history of Italian organised crime by the author of the international bestseller COSA NOSTRA. Mafia. Camorra. 'Ndrangheta. The Sicilian mafia, or Cosa Nostra, is far from being Italy's only dangerous criminal fraternity. The south of the country hosts two other major mafias: the camorra, from Naples and its hinterland; and the 'ndrangheta, the mafia from the poor and isolated region of Calabria that has now risen to become the most powerful mob of all. Each of these brotherhoods has its own methods, its own dark rituals, its own style of ferocity and corruption. Their early history is little known; indeed some of it has been entirely shrouded in myth and silence until now. BLOOD BROTHERHOODS is a book of breathtaking ambition, charting the birth and rise of all three of Italy's mafias. It blends ground-breaking archival research, passionate narrative, and shrewd historical analysis to bring Italy's unique 'criminal ecosystem', and the three terrifying criminal brotherhoods that evolved within it, to life on the page. The Blue Door - Lise Kristensen Description from BD: This is a unique and heartbreaking memoir of a child's imprisonment in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. '1942: It was towards the middle of the year when my friends started disappearing...' On the island of Java, the stirrings of the Second World War in Europe and the angry-looking man called Hitler seem a million miles away from Norwegian-born Lise and her siblings. Then one day, her friends and neighbours start to disappear, and she begins to realise that they are not safe after all. Through ten-year-old eyes, Lise tells of her family's two-year imprisonment in POW camps and the brutal treatment received at the hands of their Japanese captors. For respite from the rat-infested floor of their shelter they adopt a blue door, which sits on concrete posts in the ground. They live on it during the day as young Lise plots ways to protect her family from disease, starvation and the desperate behaviour of fellow prisoners. This is a little girl's heartbreaking tale of survival. Dogs of Courage - Lisa Rogak Description from BD: Dogs don't just make lovable pets. They also work at an incredible number of jobs, helping humans in countless ways. From working with search-and-rescue teams to find missing persons to helping patients recover from injuries, Lisa Rogak covers the many ways in which dogs are an essential part of our world. And she tells the surprising stories of regular dogs who have gone above and beyond to help their owners - and even each other. "Dogs of Courage" reveals the heart-warming and awe-inspiring stories of these hard-working dogs, from the training they receive to the ways we honour their sacrifices and reward their years of service. Affirming what every dog lover knows, this book shows how deep a dog's loyalty and friendship can go. I have decided to take A Game of Thrones as my fantasy read, I want to try and finsh it, even though I am not really feeling it anymore... I blame watching the tv series first before reading. Fiction picks to come next... Quote
Kidsmum Posted July 31, 2013 Posted July 31, 2013 I think i'd go with Dogs Of Courage Devi as it sounds like a light read, Blood Brothers sounds really interesting but might be difficult to concentrate on while your on holiday & as it says The Blue Door is a" heart breaking memoir " i don't think i'd go with that for a holiday read Quote
Devi Posted August 1, 2013 Author Posted August 1, 2013 I think i'd go with Dogs Of Courage Devi as it sounds like a light read, Blood Brothers sounds really interesting but might be difficult to concentrate on while your on holiday & as it says The Blue Door is a" heart breaking memoir " i don't think i'd go with that for a holiday read Sounds like a good idea - Dogs of Courage for my non fiction it is. Thank you for your input. Quote
Devi Posted August 1, 2013 Author Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) My fiction picks. I've chopped and changed so much on which one to bring, that I am about ready to just bring them all because I can't decide. A Soldiers Tale - M.K. Joseph Description from BD Normandy 1944. In a small village near Bayeux a young soldier comes across an isolated farmhouse where a woman waits alone. As they talk three grim-faced Frenchmen arrive to take her away for 'questioning' telling him she betrayed their Resistance colleagues to the Gestapo through her SS lover. The soldier is armed and forces them to leave her -- but they all know he will eventually have to move on and the woman will be theirs. What follows has been described as both appalling and the finest love story -- the grain of sand in which one can see all war. In 1976 one of New Zealand's finest novelists the late M.K. Joseph first published this stunningly simple yet devastating novel a powerful story of love and betrayal you will find very hard to forget. The Death of Grass - John Christopher Description from BD: At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to John Custance. It has decimated Asia, causing mass starvation and riots, but Europe is safe and a counter-virus is expected any day. Except, it turns out, the governments have been lying to their people. When the deadly disease hits Britain they are left alone, and society starts to descend into barbarism. As John and his family try to make it across country to the safety of his brother's farm in a hidden valley, their humanity is tested to its very limits. Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut Description from BD: Billy Pilgrim is the son of an American barber. He serves as a chaplain's assistant in World War II, is captured by the Germans, and he survives the largest massacre in European history the fire bombing of Dresden. After the war Billy makes a great deal of money as an optometrist, and on his wedding night he is kidnapped by a flying saucer from the planet Tralfamadore. So begins a modern classic by a master storyteller. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion Description from Goodreads: Because of the boyhood trauma of seeing his mother make love to another man in the presence of his dying father, Mizoguchi becomes a hopeless stutterer. Taunted by his schoolmates, he feels utterly alone untill he becomes an acolyte at a famous temple in Kyoto, where he develops an all-consuming obsession with the temple's beauty. This powerful story of dedication and sacrifice brings together Mishima's preoccupations with violence, desire, religion and national history to dazzling effect. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley Description from Far in the future, the World Controllers have finally created the ideal society. In laboratories worldwide, genetic science has brought the human race to perfection. From the Alpha-Plus mandarin class to the Epsilon-Minus Semi-Morons, designed to perform menial tasks, man is bred and educated to be blissfully content with his pre-destined role. But, in the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, Bernard Marx is unhappy. Harbouring an unnatural desire for solitude, feeling only distaste for the endless pleasures of compulsory promiscuity, Bernard has an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress… Edited August 1, 2013 by Devi Quote
bobblybear Posted August 1, 2013 Posted August 1, 2013 I look forward to hearing what you think of The Death of Grass. It's been on my wishlist for a while, but unfortunately my library doesn't stock it and it's not available on Kindle. I attempted Brave New World many years ago (I was still a teenager, or probably just out of my teens) but didn't really 'get it'. I mean to read it again at some point as it is such a talked about book, that it must be worth reading! Quote
Devi Posted August 3, 2013 Author Posted August 3, 2013 My library finally got in a copy of The Handmaids Tale for me, I've been waiting almost a month for it. So I've packed it to come on holiday with me, along with The Death of Grass, A Soldiers Tale and Dogs of Courage. I'm taking The Complete Polysyllabic Spree on the plane to read... and I'm unsure on what I will do with Game of Thrones yet. I don't even know if I want to finish it at this stage. Damn tv series. Quote
Kidsmum Posted August 3, 2013 Posted August 3, 2013 The Handmaids Tale is a great read Devi can't wait to hear what you think of it Quote
Devi Posted August 4, 2013 Author Posted August 4, 2013 Like I need more books A friend dropped off some more books for me to go through, this time they are ebooks on a usb stick, so I suppose its not so bad. Quote
Devi Posted August 8, 2013 Author Posted August 8, 2013 (edited) Hello everyone from qld! Day 2 here, and I have already taken 59 photos, if you don't count the ones on my mobile. Gone from winter one morning, to summer that evening, is a big change! 2 degree nights to 17 degrees, and the days have gone from being 14 if we were lucky, to 27 degrees today! I read a little on the plane but ended up on with motion sickness - so ended up sleeping most of it. Nothing read since, but my aunt has said she has some criminal type books for me take have. Ok, off to post some qld photos in my photo thread in the members thread. Edited August 8, 2013 by Devi Quote
frankie Posted August 8, 2013 Posted August 8, 2013 I'm happy you're enjoying The Complete Polysyllabic Spree Have you had to add a lot of books to your wishlist already? Hello everyone from qld! Day 2 here, and I have already taken 59 photos, if you don't count the ones on my mobile. Gone from winter one morning, to summer that evening, is a big change! 2 degree nights to 17 degrees, and the days have gone from being 14 if we were lucky, to 27 degrees today!I read a little on the plane but ended up on with motion sickness - so ended up sleeping most of it. Nothing read since, but my aunt has said she has some criminal type books for me take have. Ok, off to post some qld photos in my photo thread in the members thread. Say hi back to Queensland! I hope you have a lot of fun, and I hope the weather stays nice for you! Quote
Devi Posted August 9, 2013 Author Posted August 9, 2013 I'm happy you're enjoying The Complete Polysyllabic Spree Have you had to add a lot of books to your wishlist already? Say hi back to Queensland! I hope you have a lot of fun, and I hope the weather stays nice for you! Yes yes i have! Ive also been making a list of the ones I have read that he mentions too. Qld says a warm hello back! For anyone interested, this is whats planned for today! I hope. Having a bit of a painful night, its 1:31am and I still haven't slept. I did nap earlier yesterday, which turned into a few hours sleep, so that probably didn't help. http://www.ksr.com.au/Pages/Default.aspx Still very little reading done! Quote
julie Posted August 10, 2013 Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) Devi The train trip sounds really neat. I bet you'll see some beautiful scenery . I was wondering if you'd end up with much time to read since you will be doing lots of sightseeing and visiting ,but it's always good to have some spare books around just in case you have free time . I'm gonna go hunt up your pics over in the pic area now . ENJOY your trip ~ Edited August 10, 2013 by julie Quote
Devi Posted August 15, 2013 Author Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) im still here! Just enjoying the last few days of my holiday :'( I bought some books I couldn't help myself! I will list them later as I am currently getting ready to go out. Edited August 16, 2013 by Devi Quote
frankie Posted August 16, 2013 Posted August 16, 2013 Oh crap, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's very curious to hear which books you got! But have fun and be out and enjoy, you can take care of the forum business when you get home! Quote
Devi Posted August 17, 2013 Author Posted August 17, 2013 (edited) i have presents for some of my booky friends! I managed to read a few chapters of one book! One measly book so much for hoping to catch up on reading while on holidays. Edited August 17, 2013 by Devi Quote
Kylie Posted August 18, 2013 Posted August 18, 2013 We're still in suspense, Devi! What books did you buy??? Quote
Devi Posted August 18, 2013 Author Posted August 18, 2013 Oh crap! I knew i forgot something Its currently 4:30 am and i cant turn on the light as my boyfriend is still sleeping (im on the ipad). I will write them down as soon as i can. Quote
Devi Posted August 18, 2013 Author Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Its a sunny 8:30am and here is the list of books: Fiction Butterfly's Shadow - Lee Langley (this one is more for my mum, she said she would only get it if i would read it, and i wanted her to get it for herself, so said yes.) The Courier's Tale - Peter Walker The Ideas of March - Valerio Massimo Manfredi Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov The Messenger - Markus Zusak Room - Emma Donoghue Non fiction History's Worst Disasters: and the stories behind them - Eric Chaline Edited August 18, 2013 by Devi Quote
julie Posted August 18, 2013 Posted August 18, 2013 Devi Good to have you home. How did your trip go ? Tell us all about it when you get time. Sounds like you chose some good books on your trip . Quote
Devi Posted August 18, 2013 Author Posted August 18, 2013 Devi Good to have you home. How did your trip go ? Tell us all about it when you get time. Sounds like you chose some good books on your trip . Not home quite yet! We leave on the 21st Im not ready to go home and face my problems yet. My aunt said my face is glowing up here and i seem so much better than i did when she saw me back home. Though the glowing face could be due to the ms hot flushes! Quote
julie Posted August 18, 2013 Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Oh, sorry ! Boy, I am not paying attention, am I ? I thought when you were giving out your book list, that you were home and telling what books you chose. I'm glad you have more days of vacation . Hope you are having a great time . It sure sounds like you are. I bet the trip to your family did you a world of good . Edited August 18, 2013 by julie Quote
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