Book Nook Cafe discussion

It sounds funny to me but in the GR description blurbs, humor isn’t one of the Goodreads descriptive words, so i guess not. Banning this book must have been for the mere idea, i suppose.

Good book for this category on your list, Julie. Glad you shared with us.

Alias Reader wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Killing Mr. Griffin
Lois Duncan
4/5 stars
A group of students in Mr. Griffin's class are tired of his berating them..."
I think so - it is a young adult book, not very long and I read it in a few days.

Thanks, Julie.

Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her
Melanie Rehak
5/5 stars
Rehak tells the fascinating story of how book serials began. These serials included The Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys and in particular the Nancy Drew stories which were written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Mildred Benson. Harriet Stratemeyer’s father had started the business in which he wrote the synopsizes and then farmed them out to other authors to flesh out the stories. These books took off and became a worldwide phenomenon and are still popular. Authors

I think that’s the one i read about the women, as well as other youth series. What a story! Five stars means you liked it as much as i did. Neat!

madrano wrote: "I think that’s the one i read about the women, as well as other youth series. What a story! Five stars means you liked it as much as i did. Neat!"
I was one of 4 sisters and we all read those books that were stored in the basement. I wonder whatever happened to the books. I wished we had saved them.

Same here, Julie! No, i wish i had my mom’s set, read in the early ‘40s!

A Natural Woman: A Memoir
Carole King
4/5 stars
This is a wonderfully, written memoir by Carole King, who relates her life and family history up to 2012. Included in the book is her rise to fame, her personal life and her collaborations with other artists. Definitely for King fans. Extraordinary Women

Thanks for the comments, Julie. I know little about her, other than the Tapestry album. Yes, i’m that old.

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
Susan Cain
3/5 stars
I loved Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. This new book of hers was very interesting. She discusses the topic that without sadness and yearning that we cannot be a whole person. If you haven't read any of her books, I would start with Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Books Off My Reading List

Thank you for discussing both books, Julie. I recall the enthusiasm for the first, on Quiet, but had forgotten the title. Now something even closer to home.

I also recall you enjoyed Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. It's been on my TBR mountain ever since. I do need to move it up the list.

Thanks for titles and reviews.

Brandwashed
Martin Lindstrom
4/5 stars
Fascinating book about how businesses use different tactics to promote certain brands, especially name brands. Lindstrom also wrote Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. I knew marketing brands was/is popular but I never knew the lengths that marketing companies would go to get a product to sell. Very interesting. This book was written in 2011. I wonder what new tactics businesses use today! Business

Good question, Julie. Sometimes i am in awe of their power and the strategies behind their success. Thanks for the title.

madrano wrote: "Good question, Julie. Sometimes i am in awe of their power and the strategies behind their success. Thanks for the title."

Sounds like an interesting book.

I'm not particularly brand loyal, especially in the supermarket. Still, I know a lot of $$ goes into advertising and product placement withing the store.

Julie, do you think this book would be easy to follow in audio format ? My library has both eBook and Audio.

Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "Good question, Julie. Sometimes i am in awe of their power and the strategies behind their success. Thanks for the title."

Sounds like an interesting book.

I'm not particularly b..."

I think either one would work!

The Little Broomstick
Mary Stewart
4/5 stars
Sweet story about Mary Smith, a ten-year-old girl who goes to visit her Aunt Sue and her family. When her aunt becomes ill, she is sent to live with her Aunt Charlotte who was kind of an outcast. But Mary and her Aunt became close and she experiences thing she has never done before, going on journeys, learning witchcraft and spells and befriending animals. Although this a juvenile book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Books Off My Reading List

It sounds neat, Julie. Thanks for sharing about it with us.

Congrats -- 40 out of 70 on your 2023 D-List and not even half-way through the year!

Well done on your prompts, Julie !

Cool Dead People: Obituaries of Real Folks We Wish We'd Met a Little Sooner
Jane O'Boyle
4/5 stars
This was such an original book about people we didn't know but still lived unusual lives. O'Boyle gathered these obituaries and compiled them in this book. Not a lengthy read but oh so interesting! Books Off My Reading List

Oh, Julie, these are just the sort of obituaries i’ve liked reading over the years. Thank you for the title! We see few of these anymore but they satisfy.

Darling Girl
Liz Michalski
3/5 stars
This is a dark remake about the Peter Pan story which revolves around Holly, whose mother is the original Wendy from the fairy tale. Holly finds out that her daughter Eden, who has been in a coma for years is gone. Holly is convinced that Peter Pan took her and she gets help from Christopher Cooke, a former soldier to find her daughter before it is too late. Fairy Tale

This sounds creative. Thanks for the title and comments, Julie.

The Premonition
by Michael Lewis
4/5 stars
Fascinating look at epidemics particularly revolving around Covid. The author discusses what caused it, who was affected by it and the men and women who fought it and tried to deter it. Well written! Science

Julie wrote: "
The Premonition
by Michael Lewis
4/5 stars
Fascinating look at epidemics particularly revolving around Covid. The author discusses ..."

I've enjoyed his books. I'm happy to hear this one is good, too. I'll put it on the TBR list.

Julie wrote: "
The Premonition
by Michael Lewis
4/5 stars
Fascinating look at epidemics particularly revolving around Covid. The author discusses ..."

I liked this one very much, too, Julie. Parts were eye opening, so i’m glad i read it.

Wonderful book. you won't regret it.
Michele

Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World
Lynn Downey
4/5 stars
This is an interesting biography/nonfiction about the life and times of Levi Strauss. Born in Germany, he left for America and ended up in San Francisco in the 1850’s dealing with imported goods. He met Jacob W. Davis, a customer who invented the the riveted denim pants. Davis partnered with Levi in 1871 to produce the blue jeans.
Never married, he supported his family and encouraged his employees to better their lives. Business

Julie wrote: "
Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World
Lynn Downey
4/5 stars
This is an..."

Sounds like a good man.

This sounds like an interesting book about the National Uniform and those who created them. Thanks, Julie.

Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey
Mark Dery
3/5 stars
Interesting biography of Edward Gorey, illustrator and writer. He published and illustrated over a hundred books and influenced other writers and artists. Was known as an eccentric and secretive. Interesting book but at times it dragged on. Authors

Julie wrote: "
Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey
..."

Thanks for that notice, Julie. I was hooked on Gorey and his humor from the first book of his that I remember encountering, The Gashlycrumb Tinies.
If you aren't familiar with this work, you can see it in this edition of The Marginalian https://www.themarginalian.org/2011/0...,
a blog/review that I think is really quite good in general.

I is for Ida, who drowned in a lake
J is for James, who took lye by mistake.

James wrote: "Julie wrote: "
[book:Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Go..."

Thanks for the link - I loved it! I've ordered a couple of his books to peruse.

Thank you, Julie and James, for this info about Edward Gorey. I’ve seen some of his art, it seems, with a name attached in my brain.

The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation
by Elizabeth Letts
4/5 stars
Snowman was a horse that was to be sent to the slaughterhouse if it weren't for Harry de Leyer. He saw this horse and ended up buying him for $80 dollars. Turns out that it was a great decision for Harry, an immigrant and his family, who cleaned him up and entered him in the sport of show jumping. What a wonderful story about their relationship! Animals

James wrote: "Julie wrote: "
[book:Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Go..."

Just the title is amusing! :-)

Julie wrote: "
The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation
by Elizabeth..."</i>

I enjoy animal stories. However, most of them are so sad. I'm looking at you [book:Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds

I like that the one you read is a happy one.

What a neat story. Thanks, Julie.

And continued success with your challenge—you are doing very well.

Edward Gorey: His Book Cover Art and Design
3/5 stars
There is not much to say about this book. There is a brief review about his artwork but the book mainly contains his book covers. Definitely, for Gorey fans! Books Off My Reading List

What a good idea for a book. Thanks for telling us about it, Julie. His PBS Mystery art is brilliant.

The Haunted Looking Glass
Edward Gorey
3.5/5 stars
This is a collection of haunted ghost stories written by several authors including Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson. However, all of the stories have been illustrated and picked by Edward Gorey. Interesting! Books Off My Reading List

Very cool -- thanks for noting it, and congrats on another tick!

Julie wrote: "
The Haunted Looking Glass
Edward Gorey
3.5/5 stars
This is a collection of haunted ghost stories written by several authors..."

I have a friend who I think would enjoy this. I'm going to pass the title on to her. Thanks for the title, Julie !

Neat idea for a short story collection. Thanks for sharing, Julie.

Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s
John Johnson Jr.
4/5 stars
The title tells it all. This is a very interesting story of the mob and the 60's dance club that they hung out at, along with the singing stars that performed there. Crime

Julie wrote: "
[book:Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s|13538767..."

Sounds like a fun read, thank you, and congratulations on the prompt, Julie.

Julie wrote: "
[book:Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s|13538767..."

I had no idea there was more than just the Joey Dee song of that title! What a history. Neat, Julie.

Julie wrote: "
[book:Peppermint Twist: The Mob, the Music, and the Most Famous Dance Club of the '60s|13538767..."

Sounds like an interesting book. I've never heard of this book. I have a friend who I think would like it. I'm passing the title on to her. Thanks !

Sounds like fun to dive into the predecessor to Studio 54. Thanks for mentioning it.
Michele