EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion

Ben wrote: "Thank you Lena! It's all a bit complicated right now, first I must go to a school called a Studienkolleg, which is a sort of 1 year integration school for foreigners, I am hoping to be in the North..."

Oh I didn't know that you have to do a integrational year first. Can't you choose which Kolleg you're going to?
Good luck anyways!

I'm a publisher! Alas, not anything entertaining. I work for an academic publishing house, and I'm responsible for several academic journals. I love science and research, but I wouldn't read "Introduction to Anatomy" textbook just for kicks...
I did a graduate degree in Forensics, and I still find the literature fascinating, especially criminology:D

I graduated with my B.S. in Biology from ASU a few years ago, with a minor in German, and am now working in a hospital as a sterile processing technician (basically I get to play with all the instruments they use in surgery: clean them, assemble them, sterilize them, get them ready for the next surgery, etc.) It is a lot of fun and has taught me a lot, but I am really looking forward to becoming a stay-at-home mom to my 10-week old, hopefully in the very near future haha. In my dream house there is a massive library, a foosball table, and as many dogs as will fit 😀 and a saltwater pool. I enjoy most sports, but my passion will always be soccer. I love blonde jokes, all things Disney, and being outside. Oh, and don't mess with Texas!

Lena wrote: "Ben wrote: "Thank you Lena! It's all a bit complicated right now, first I must go to a school called a Studienkolleg, which is a sort of 1 year integration school for foreigners, I am hoping to be ..."

I should have been more careful when I wrote that. It is not a requirement, but it is one method to get the qualifications required to apply to a university. It is probably not 100% necessary but it will make things alot easier when applying to my college. I can choose which Studienkolleg I go to, and there is about one in each big city. I am hoping to go to one in Berlin or Hamburg. Its a bit of a mess but I guess that is part of the thrill of it!

Lena wrote: "Ben wrote: "I am a senior in high school (not for long though!), but I have gone a bit against the grain. I have 4 classes, all with separate schools/organizations. I am taking AP Literature, which..."

Ahh, the north of Germany, cold and windy, most people tend to be quite shortspoken, beer, green cabbage, bread rolls with fish... best place ever!

I grew up there but moved to Northrhine-Westphalia (west-Germany) to study. People are so different here, loud and up-front, sometimes it's quite exhausting. :D

Right now I'm in my last bachelor semester, business administration and economics, in fall I'll start with my master. I also work in the HR department of a big firm but will look for something else once I'm done with my bachelor, HR is not for me. No kids to entertain, only a boyfriend. :3

Hi all! I just joined this group. Looking forward to catching up on books I've missed out on. I work for a telecommunications company focusing on the IT security compliance side. It's kind of crazy for four months during assessment time, then calms down after. Not the most fun work, but my company offers unlimited PTO so after the assessment is done, I take lots of vacation. I love the freedom of it. I love reading all the variety of this group!

I am employed as a nurse, but enjoy spending time with my family and pets, running, and reading in my free time.

Civil Engineer, got specialized in Urban Transportation. That led me to Urban Planning. Many years in Public Service in local government. Which led me to Consultancy in both fields when I opened my own company. Then back to Office in Government, what had already led me into politics. Managed a lot of electoral campaigns. Then got attracted by IT when it exploded in the early 90's. New company, went through all the Internet revolution as an ISP, web development and all. Then back to Government, now in the IT and Project Mangement fields. Have always liked the arts, frequent theatre and movie goer, as well as to concerts and exhibitions. Love music, all kinds from rock to jazz, Mozart to Brazilian music. I also have a passion for photography, have been photographing since very young. I've run a blog for ten years and organize photography events like photo walks. And, of course, books! Books to the ceiling! Great literature fan. Lately have been writing book reviews. Might add a lot like scuba diving, model assembling, volunteer in NGO, camping, trekking, travelling, studying languages (English, French, Spanish, German and Italian), teaching, etc. Of course, you cannot do all that at the same time and still read, so it's always more of some things than others! :-)

I am a librarian part-time, and work with horses part-time. I sometimes end up working more than full-time hours, but with my flexible schedule, I end up having a lot of extra reading time! Don't know how I magicked that into existence.

I'm studying to become an educationist

I am a Registered Nurse turned stay at home homeschool mom to 3 little ones between 6 and 2.

So many different jobs, career paths and different interests in life yet here we are reading the same books together, it's truly fascinating. There are many moms here and I love that.
I'm a university student, dams and water resources engineering college (that's a mouthful ugh). I took a gap year last year so I spent it reading, drawing, knitting and watching a lot of YouTube videos. I can't wait to go back to college when summer ends, I didn't think I would miss it.

I am a lab technician in chemistry. I work in a college and basically, my job is to prepare everything the students will need for their laboratory experiments.

A high school student

Office worker

Currently an au pair in the US

I work in GIS (Geographic Information Systems), which is basically map making.

I'm a web/mobile designer in a small company in London. I basically design how our website should be for our customer, not just the appearance but also all the steps a certain user needs to take to get to a certain point. Like for example how a user can add a comment on this page.

I love my job, it's both creative but also it's about understanding how people use technology and websites.

Chi wrote: "High school student with no idea how to balance school, friends and books."

I'm a thirty-something and I'm still working on that!!! (Sub school for 'work')

I'm a MDHHS Assistance Payments Eligibility Specialist. I process applications for 'welfare' programs like Medicaid, SNAP/FAP, CDC, and SDA.

I'm saving the world through paperwork!!!

Aley wrote: "Chi wrote: "High school student with no idea how to balance school, friends and books."

I'm a thirty-something and I'm still working on that!!! (Sub school for 'work')"


Aley, I'm with you on that! I also have a one and a half year old daughter and a husband, dog and kitties so tons of responsibility means I have to read when everyone is asleep. I work at a manufacturing company for aerospace as a Quality Engineer. I originally went to school to be an English Teacher... not sure what happened to my path, but I couldn't be happier :)

I'm a chemist at an environmental testing lab. For the most part it's fun but it can get very hectic when it's busy.

I'm a self-employed ballroom dance teacher. I run the dance studio with my mom and brother, also dance teachers. Yup! Family-run business!

.....What's funny is that I went to school to become an archaeologist. Oops!

Currently, construction--grew up doing it in my father's company. I got a degree in political science and my MBA and joined the corporate world --long long hours-- and realized it wasn't for me after 10+ years.

I'm just entering high school as a freshman!

I'm an art student. My mediums are photography and video. My goal is to become a film and video editor.

I'm an actuary. I read numbers in my day job, and enjoy reading words in my off times.

I'm an IT project manager by day and sometimes at night too. :) I love to read and try read at least one chapter of a book everyday.

Sarah wrote: "I teach 7th and 8th grade Life Skills (severe intellectual disabilities). I LOVE my job and invest most of my energy into it, meaning that while being very enjoyable, interesting, rewarding, and en..."

Holy cow, Sarah, we may just be the same person! Except for the career part, but I would enjoy that as well.

I work as an ophthalmic technician for a retinal specialty practice. My favorite day is Tuesday when we get to see all of the premature babies from the NICU! I am finishing my bachelors degree and will be applying to many masters degree programs.

Awww, that sounds like a very rewarding job as well Courtney! I love my job, I do wish it paid more though. Thank goodness it's fun! Lol

I have a B.A. in history (I minored in German, btw) and a Master's in Medieval history. Sadly, I don't do anything involving either thing :(

I work for a plastic bag & film manufacturer. I do all sorts of things - billing, inventory, new item set ups & item maintenance, odds & ends stuff.
Not what I want to do and I'm not happy, so I'm trying to figure out what comes next.

Sarah wrote: "I have a B.A. in history (I minored in German, btw) and a Master's in Medieval history..."

Medieval history?!??!?!? wicked

Kaseadillla wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I have a B.A. in history (I minored in German, btw) and a Master's in Medieval history..."

Medieval history?!??!?!? wicked"

Yeah, it is pretty cool.
Took some great classes, read some great books and some awful ones. 1,000 pages on the origins of medieval economics was good for one thing and one thing only- curing insomnia!

Hi Sarah,
So what are some of the great books you've read on Medieval history...? And when you read something like Lord of the Rings, are you always contrasting and comparing...?
:-)
Kris

That's great, Sarah! I love the theme, read some, but not academically, of course. Things like King Arthur ("Le Morte d'Arthur" by Thomas Mallory, Steinbeck and others). That's why I seconded and voted for "The Once and Future King" here! :-)

Also things like how the castles were built, knights, a lot on 1066, the Battle of Hastings, Bayeux Tapestry, Harold x William and so on. I've even been to Bayeux to see the tapestry!! :-)

Kris wrote: "Hi Sarah,
So what are some of the great books you've read on Medieval history...? And when you read something like Lord of the Rings, are you always contrasting and comparing...?
:-)
Kris"

I don't find myself doing it too much with pure fantasy. Anything that is supposed to be historical fantasy/fiction is completely different story. I am the worst person to watch any kind of historical fiction tv show or movie with.

As for books it really depends on what you find interesting. My research specialization for my master's essay was the Teutonic Knights so I did a lot of reading and took a class on the Crusades. I really enjoyed just about everything by William L. Urban. A Tale of Two Monasteries: Westminster and Saint-Denis in the Thirteenth Century by William Chester Jordan was really good. I didn't get everything listed here on GR, so if I tracked down the books lists we used it would jog my memory and I could name a few others :)


Marcos wrote: "That's great, Sarah! I love the theme, read some, but not academically, of course. Things like King Arthur ("Le Morte d'Arthur" by Thomas Mallory, Steinbeck and others). That's why I seconded and v..."

I have yet to tackle either of those. The Once and Future King will happen at some point, but Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table is on this year's agenda. I have read some other variations and have always loved the Arthurian legends.
I took a class on British History up to 1603. We spent quite a bit of time on 1066.

Thanks so much, Sarah, for taking the time to write your recommendations (and you, too, Marcos, for bringing up a few more...) I would not normally choose the Medieval period in history to read about...:-) but A Tale of Two Monasteries: Westminster and Saint-Denis in the Thirteenth Century by William Chester Jordan looks like a very interesting piece.
(BTW, I love historical fiction, and thought Herman Wouk's The Winds of War was wonderful, as well as Exodus, by Leon Uris.)

I'm a 25 year old undergraduate finishing up my BA in history and English. Hopefully I'll be starting a Master's in library science in the next year or so. I literally spend all my time doing homework! I'm currently in 4 summer classes :(

And I forgot this was an "about you" section: I'm a graphic designer and author. My new book is a true story (from the 1980s)--- about a Swiss artist who determined to travel to the end of the earth to challenge his spirit --- and find his soul ---
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Kris wrote: "Thanks so much, Sarah, for taking the time to write your recommendations (and you, too, Marcos, for bringing up a few more...) I would not normally choose the Medieval period in history to read abo..."

You're welcome :)
It really is a fascinating period to read about/study.

I enjoy good historical fiction. Both Jeff and Michael Shaara have some great stuff. The Killer Angels is one of my favorites.
I have not read The Winds of War but it sounds really good. I'll have to add it to the TBR.
Speaking of the Middle Ages & historical fiction, I highly recommend the Brother Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters.

Annika wrote: "Lena wrote: "Ben wrote: "I am a senior in high school (not for long though!), but I have gone a bit against the grain. I have 4 classes, all with separate schools/organizations. I am taking AP Lite..."
Annika, I love the word "shortspoken"! And even though you grew up where people are that way, it sounds like you are not!

Sarah and Kris, one great thing here is the interaction! :-) I'll drop some more lines! But first, thanks for great recommendations. "Brother Cadfael" has been on my radar for a while! :-)

Although I like Lord of the Rings, it is on the fantasy side. I prefer more realistic depictions of Middle Age, wether in fiction or non-fiction.

So, I haven't yet tried "A Game of Thrones", for instance - although I might. But I like very much Bernard Cornwell and his medieval books, like the Saxon Chronicles series (The Last Kingdom). Quoting from the back cover: "Like Game of Thrones, but real" - Observer, London

Other medieval reads on the TBR shelf:

- Medieval People: Vivid Lives in a Distant Landscape
- A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
- Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life

I just added Ellis Peters to my TBR list.

And I agree with Marcos for Cornwell. I just finished The Winter King and now I want to start the saxon serie.

Marcos wrote: "Sarah and Kris, one great thing here is the interaction! :-) I'll drop some more lines! But first, thanks for great recommendations. "Brother Cadfael" has been on my radar for a while! :-)

Althoug..."

Marcos, I agree the interaction here is great!

A number of cool things about the Brother Cadfael Chronicles:
1. Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters was a pen name) was from Shropshire, where the series takes place (she was also totally awesome)
2. Shrewsbury Abbey was real
3. A number of the monks in the series were real (sadly, not Cadfael himself) and so was Sheriff Prescott
A number of the books were made into tv episodes in the late '90s. Some are better than others.

Bernard Cornwell had been on my TBR for ages. Think its time to bumpy him up the list.

I have Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life and have been meaning to read it, though apparently I hadn't added it to my TBR here.

I really should go through and make sure everything I read for school is on my list so I can reference it in the future...

I teach 5th grade, and I really enjoy it. I recently finished school with a Masters in Education, whew, finally done!

I agree with Marcos as well on Bernard Cornwell. The Last Kingdom was great. I picked up The Pale Horseman and 1356 at the library the other day, planning to binge read during my time off.

I'm an independent jewelry consultant and soon to hopefully be midwife.

I'm in public policy - specifically education and health care. I sit on more boards than is healthy and have served as an elected official.

I agree with everyone else, Cadfael is amazing.

I work as a receptionist in a mental health hospital.

I am a daycare provider and i love passing on my reading obsession to all my daycare kids 😀

I'm an administrative assistant at a university. I'm saving up money in hopes of going to school to get my masters in library science next year. I would like to be a childrens or youth librarian. For now I'm in a job that makes me miserable and reading as much as I can to escape real life for a while.