Book Nook Cafe discussion

I like refreshing my reading with random revisits to series i like. It's akin to visiting rarely visited acquaintances. And what catching up!

Warden Ragen of Joliet
Gladys A. Erickson
5/5 stars
Despite the age of the book (published in 1957) and the subject, this is a book that I had a hard time putting down. In this true story, Warden Joseph E. Ragen was encouraged to take over the Stateville Prison and the Old Prison in Joliet, Illinois because of conditions at the prisons and the incompetence of an earlier warden. The book discusses the time period, some of the famous criminals in the system and the reforms that Ragen instituted to turn around the prison and encourage good behaviors in the prisoners. Highly recommended!

Julie wrote: "
Warden Ragen of Joliet
Gladys A. Erickson
5/5 stars
Despite the age of the book (published in 1957) and the subject, thi..."

That does sound interesting, Julie. Thanks for the title.

What a good story that few know. Thanks, Julie.

Waiting for Gertrude: A Graveyard Gothic
Bill Richardson
4/5 stars
This delightful story is set in Paris’s famous Pere-Lachaise cemetery where many famous people are buried there including Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Alice B. Toklas to name a few. Author Bill Richardson imagines that the celebrity dead have now been reincarnated into cats who live, work, fight and bicker in the cemetery.

Julie wrote: "
Waiting for Gertrude: A Graveyard Gothic
Bill Richardson
4/5 stars
This delightful story is set in Paris’s f..."

This sounds perfect for one of my friends who loves cats and in intrigued by cemetery's. Thanks !

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
Caitlin Doughty
4/5 stars
Doughty writes about her life and how she came to work in a crematory and eventually earning her degree in mortuary science. She also talks about the history and science of cremation and much more. I thought this so interesting and hard to put down. This may not be for everyone but if you are open to unusual experiences this may be the book for you.

I second this one - definitely recommended!

What a couple of interesting books, Julie. Glad you shared titles with us.

All About All About Eve: The Complete Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Bitchiest Film Ever Made!
Sam Staggs
4/5 stars
This was an interesting look at the movie and eventually a play called All About Eve. The movie stars Bette Davis and Anne Baxter as rivals in the theater, one is on her way up and one is on her way down in their careers. Sam Staggs does a thorough job detailing the behind the scenes story of the movie, the actors and the drama on the set and off the set. He also discusses the musical stage version that starred Lauren Bacall years later after the original movie came out. This is definitely for movie buffs. I don’t think I have ever read such a detailed account of the story of a movie!

Interesting comments about the book. It must be quite detailed, but it's in the title, isn't it?

madrano wrote: "Interesting comments about the book. It must be quite detailed, but it's in the title, isn't it?"

I have the film on hold at the library. Can't wait to see the film after reading the book. I saw the film years ago so it will be interesting to see it again.

Enjoy!

The Green Mile
Stephen King
5/5 stars
Since our library closed, I had been searching through my house for books to read and came upon The Green Mile in my son’s collection. I have always enjoyed King’s books and this is no exception. I had seen the movie previously when it first came out but I was blown away again by the story and I had a hard time putting this down. The story is set in a prison on death row in the 1930’s and surrounds a black man, John Coffey who was tried for killing two young girls. Coffey is an unusual man, who has a gift for healing which comes out when he heals a dying mouse on the prison block. This leads to an event that could cause the prison guards to lose their jobs but they go ahead with their plans anyway. Highly recommended.

I've not read any Stephen King novels, although i've liked the short stories by him that i've read. This particularly movie also didn't call to me but i've never sat to watch the entire work, just bits i run across. I appreciate your comments, Julie.

Have libraries been giving warnings when they close? Bars here in Texas have been warned for 3 or 4 days they'll be closing. Not that one can "store" drinks, of course. But libraries could allow users to do so.

Our own library was closed by the time we returned home, so i didn't experience their closing. They announced the drive ups, which was nicely used. I've been fortunate to have my books stored at our unit, as well as a healthy e-book library from our town's library.

At least you are running into interesting and good books, Julie.

Julie wrote: "
The Green Mile
Stephen King
5/5 stars
Since our library closed, I had been searching through my house for books to read and came upon The..."

I've read a few King and enjoyed most of them. I haven't read The Green Mile. Thanks for the review.

madrano wrote: "I've not read any Stephen King novels, although i've liked the short stories by him that i've read. This particularly movie also didn't call to me but i've never sat to watch the entire work, just ..."

Our library is reopening today but I believe it will be drive up only again. I have been off for a month since I was quarantined when my son had covid (my husband and I tested and were negative) then when I was ready to go back, they closed for 2 more weeks cause a couple staff members had it. I am so looking forward to going back to work.

Glad to hear this, Julie. I hope you have a good day catching up with co-workers. Any sense of whether or not Covid will close it down again? While Texas numbers are still high, only the bars are closing, starting today. Library is open & ready for business.

But not accepting donations for the annual sale. We have three boxes--tapes & books--ready for them. They also don't allow entrance to the reference room.

madrano wrote: "Glad to hear this, Julie. I hope you have a good day catching up with co-workers. Any sense of whether or not Covid will close it down again? While Texas numbers are still high, only the bars are c..."

We are back to curbside only now. I worked today and having only closed for two weeks you would be surprised how many books we had to put away - in fact when I left today we still had half a dozen boxes to put away and I have never seen so many book holds ever.

Holy cow! I never would have guessed that many. The library should be proud that so many folks used that time well.

Stay Safe, Julie. You've got to be well to see the new grandbaby.

1959: The Year Everything Changed
Fred Kaplan
4/5 stars
Kaplan takes a look at the events of 1959 and the history behind them. Topics include the space race, Castro’s rise to power, the loosening of censorship, the advance of birth control, civil rights, Motown and much more. One of the most interesting sections to me was that the President Eisenhower sent jazz ambassadors around the world on a good will tour. Dizzy Gillespie and his 18 piece band toured for ten weeks going to Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and more. It was a major hit and other groups with multi-cultural members were then sent out to perform.

Julie wrote: "
1959: The Year Everything Changed
Fred Kaplan
4/5 stars
Kaplan takes a look at the events of 1959 and the hist..."

Sounds incredibly interesting!

"Jazz ambassadors"--great idea!

Julie wrote: "
1959: The Year Everything Changed
Fred Kaplan
4/5 stars
Kaplan takes a look at the events of 1959 and the hist..."

I read it back in Sept. 2014 and like you, Julie, I gave it 4 GR stars.

Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West
Cormac McCarthy
4/5 stars
In the 1850’s , a young man known as “ the Kid” follows Captain Glanton, along with Judge Holden and a crew of cowboys, to Mexico in their attempt to find gold but they only find pain, misery and death. “The Glanton gang segments are based on Samuel Chamberlain's account of the group in his memoir My Confession: The Recollections of a Rogue. Chamberlain rode with John Joel Glanton and his company between 1849 and 1850.” Info from -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_M...
Well written, but it is a dark and brutal story.

Blood Meridian is one of my favorite books because McCarthy's use of language was exquisite. Frankly, i often hesitate to share that opinion because it is such a dark story with awful details. However, his command of English impressed me too much not to say that here, among book friends.

I was unaware of the history upon which the book was based. I'd like to read some of that, i must say. Thanks for the info, Julie.

madrano wrote: "Blood Meridian is one of my favorite books because McCarthy's use of language was exquisite. Frankly, i often hesitate to share that opinion because it is such a dark story with awful details. Howe..."

It was a pretty dark story so I had to learn more about it. I probably would not have read it but I was out of books and found it in my son's collection. I previously read his book The Road and saw the movie. Another dark story!

True. I guess he dwells in the dark, as far as his fiction goes. Interesting that your son reads him, too.