THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I am reading "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds Today: Swastikas, Nazis," because it describes how the socialists Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, the Kim thugs and others struggled with the question of how to distribute wealth and they always came up short (of food, clothing, shelter, medicine, etc). They not only criticized capitalism, but they brought to the table what they claimed was a "new alternative" to the capitalist economic system. It resulted in genuine cannibalistic activity due to the poverty, shortages, famines & starvation they caused. Halfway through the book, you might be searching for a long rope to hang yourself with, thinking that those criminals proved that humanity is doomed. The USSR had a spectacular finale - it economically collapsed. The book asks, "Who was the worst socialist: Stalin, Mao, or Hitler?" It claims Stalin has blame for genocides of Mao, Hitler & himself, & Pol Pot, the Kim thugs, etc. German socialism & Soviet socialism joined to launch the socialist WWII, invading Poland together, and going onward. It led to genocide under Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, the Kims, etc. Stalin had a hand in all of it.

Since the weekend I have read these

The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke

An Unwanted Guest

I am reading the Unwanted Guest... my niece recommended it to me and it sounded interesting.

The Immortalists because the Amazon summary sounded interesting.

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

I'm reading book two of the 'Brilliance' series, A Better World by Marcus Sakey

It's about what happens when people with extraordinary abilities are born into an otherwise 'average' population. Of course the normal people don't react well.

**********
This is my review of book one:
Brilliance

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Random Violence by Jassy Mackenzie

I've heard good things about this writer.

Written in Fire byMarcus Sakey

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

just got done reading these
Keep Her Safe] by Sophie Hannah I like this one alot i couldn't put it down

When the Cat's Away by Gilbert Morris Alright of a book but too much talking not enough of a mystery


Heartbroken] by Lisa Unger Okay of a book could be better. Her books are hit and miss with me

The 17th Suspect by James Patterson Maxine Paetro was okay but this series is dying up fast

Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier Okay of a book but the first 2 in the series is better

The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman

Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice

A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott

Unnatural Acts by Kevin J. Anderson

In Pieces by Sally Field

The Closers by Michael Connelly

Just finished "House of Spies" by Daniel Silva. Fabulous anti-terrorist intrigue, mostly in Europe and north Africa...lots of twists and turns. Silva has this genre down pat...

Brinn wrote: "Just finished "House of Spies" by Daniel Silva. Fabulous anti-terrorist intrigue, mostly in Europe and north Africa...lots of twists and turns. Silva has this genre down pat..."

I like Silva's books too. I agree, he's excellent with this genre. 🌞

I been fighting an upper respiratory tract infection for almost a month now so i have just been reading books i had around the house and some from my local library here the books i read

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda Finally found this book last month at my library i really liked it and was shock how it ended

Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh New Author for me and I found it on the boring side

Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross 2nd book in this Ty Hauck Series and I couldnt put down will be getting the last 2 book in the series read soon

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths My Aunt actally bought this for me off ebay for christmas she know i look good mystery book but IMO this wasnt it this book was just bloody awful

Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon Not one of her best book but i also couldnt put it down i had to find out who was the one doing the killing

The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon This one was just so damn awful

The Sister by Louise Jensen author crammed in too many ideas in this but it was just bad writen

Shannon wrote: "I been fighting an upper respiratory tract infection for almost a month now so i have just been reading books i had around the house and some from my local library here the books i read

[book:All ..."

Nice batch of books Shannon. Hope you feel better soon. 😊

But Enough About Me by Burt Reynolds

Eight Lives by Susan Hurley

The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live by Heather B. Armstrong

Just got done reading these books

Don't Close Your Eyes by Holly Seddon New Book from new Author and I really didnt care for it as i though i would. Don't know if i will read anything else from her or not

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell I really liked this one alot hope my library gets more from her

Just Desserts by Mary Daheim this was just bloody awful! Libraian told me i would like it but she was wrong dead wrong

The Cat Who Went Underground by Lilian Jackson Braun Very good book I am trying this get this whole series read

Chasing Shadows by Karen Harper I really liked this alot with her books they are a hit and miss but this one was good

The Final Victim by Wendy Corsi Staub I really loved this book i was so glad my Aunt bought this for me and send it to me in mail. My library dont have alot of her books

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith

WOW, impressive how everyone is reading a LOT of vastly DIFFERENT books! Just finished Kai-Fu Lee's fantastic overview of ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE RACE BETWEEN CHINA AND AMERICA. Not to mention the THREATS of AI: rising inequality and job losses! A must read!

Here's the author:
Kai-Fu Lee

Here's the book:
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order

Got Done reading these
Trouble by Jesse Kellerman It was okay

And Justice There Is None by Deborah Crombie

Whiskers in the Dark by Rita Mae Brown

The Web by Jonathan Kellerman

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

I.M.: A Memoir by Isaac Mizrahi

The Redemption of Time by Baoshu

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

Joe Victim by Paul Cleave

Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman by Stefan Zweig

I found this hardback tome in my boyfriend's basement. Was shocked at the year that it was published, as I had read J.E. Neale's biography of Elizabeth I that was written around the same time.

Data, A Love Story: How I Cracked the Online Dating Code to Meet My Match by Amy Webb



I was recommended this book from someone on Facebook who, like me, is a member of a book club therein. It's a very fascinating story and gives me the vicarious sense of looking directly upon the author's life as she went about finding the man who would be her future husband.

Run Away by Harlan Coben

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn, recommended to me by my mother.

Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver

One of the books that I am reading is The Queen Mother by William Shawcross. Since I saw 'The King's Speech', I have been interested in the subject. She was an amazing woman in many ways.

The Colors of All the Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith

I love Mma Ramotswe and her compatriots

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Proof of Life by J.A. Jance

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

They Must be Monsters by Matthew Leroy

Got these done last 2 weeks
Chain Letter: Chain Letter; The Ancient Evil by Christopher Pike I read this in high school and i though i would give a reread and so far I still like this book alot. I am thinking about getting all his books a reread

Ruin Falls by Jenny Milchman I love it! I havent find a book from her that i dont like

Lie In Wait by Eric Rickstad I liked it alot but i heard his 2nd book in the series is better

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris I really didnt like this one at all which is a bummer since i been wating forever for my library to get a copy of it

The Silent Patient byAlex Michaelides I really loved this one when i started to read it i couldnt put it down. it made me think though the whole book

Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin Another book i couldnt put it down! Will read more from her!