What is Everybody Reading?

[FarmOR]

Adventures of Captain Bonneville. Finished. Great stories and easy to read chapters. A couple of interesting highlights.

There were at least three tales of romance about native American belles.
I found that unique to most other local history texts that don't dwell on the subject. One tale was of a rogue black feet couple who defected and joined the nez perce. And a couple other tales of "amorous" free trappers and what they had to give up and provide for the company of a beautiful native bride. Hint: it was quite expensive even back then!

And the tales of the vaqueros of Monterey. From authority that would know, were every bit the dashing and creative horsemen previously only witnessed of the best riders of the Plains Indians. But they had peculiar cruel entertainment in their amphitheater? They'd rope a wild bruin and drag it until it played out sufficient for bounding and transport to the "games". Then they'd release a wild bull as the pugilist for the crowd's delight. Kinda pre-wallstreet battle of ages?

Entertaining adventures during the competition for westward expansion and the beginning of the West as we know it

 

[Bacpacker]

I just started reading: Story of the Wild West and Camp Fire Chats by Buffalo Bill Cody. Copyrighted 1902.
Recently read; Days of Noah: book 1 by Mark Goodwin

I just purchased Days of Noah series and Days of Elijah series. Goodwin is a good writer. Ill enjoy both of these.

 

[Weedygarden]

A friend of mine and I are doing our own book study. We typically are meeting once a week, having breakfast and going through a book. She has led book studies in previous churches.
The book we are going through now is "Beyond Loneliness, The Gift of God's Friendship" by Trevor Hudson.

 

[NotMeantForTheCity]

Esther?

Not Esther!

I love that book. It is the prototype of the good and faithful win in the end.

Ben

It's the only Book in the Bible that doesn't mention God. The Jews' deliverance from Hamaan(SP?) is the source for the Jewish holiday of Purim. Neither Purim, nor Hanukkah are instituted by God, but according to the Gospel of John Christ celebrated Hanukkah anyway. I take this as a point in favor of celebrating Christmas even though it isn't expressly commanded by God.

Ages ago I saw an article in Parade Magazine that drew a parallel between the Book of Esther and the main Nuremberg war crimes tribunal. In both instances 10 of the Jews' enemies were ordered to be executed by hanging, but in both only 9 were actually hanged while the 10th committed suicide. But, then nobody at the main Nuremberg trial was indicted expressly for crimes against the Jews.

 

[Tacitus]

...nobody at the main Nuremberg trial was indicted expressly for crimes against the Jews.

This is not true. Many were tried for Crimes Against Humanity, and many of the listed crimes were crimes against the Jews, including murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts. The plan to exterminate the Jewish race falls under the category of Crimes against Humanity. Also, experiments conducted by the Nazis on the Jews fall under this category, the charges coming from the following accused acts, among others:

• Low Pressure and super cooling
• Tests of the possibility of drinking sea-water
• Hepatitis & Typhus Research
• Sulphonamide Tests
• Experiments on Bone Transplantation
• Phlegmon Experiments
• Mustard Gas and Phosgene Experiments
• Collection of the Skeletons of Jews
• Euthanasia Program, 'Direct Elimination' and Mass Sterilization

 

[NotMeantForTheCity]

This is not true. Many were tried for Crimes Against Humanity, and many of the listed crimes were crimes against the Jews, including murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts. The plan to exterminate the Jewish race falls under the category of Crimes against Humanity. Also, experiments conducted by the Nazis on the Jews fall under this category, the charges coming from the following accused acts, among others:

• Low Pressure and super cooling
• Tests of the possibility of drinking sea-water
• Hepatitis & Typhus Research
• Sulphonamide Tests
• Experiments on Bone Transplantation
• Phlegmon Experiments
• Mustard Gas and Phosgene Experiments
• Collection of the Skeletons of Jews
• Euthanasia Program, 'Direct Elimination' and Mass Sterilization

But, the main trial lumped the Jews in with everybody else. For example, most of the people who were killed at Auschwitz were Jews. Rudolf Hoess, the Kommandant was called as a defense witness for Kaltenbrunner, only to be turned over to the Poles for his own trial and hanging. Most of the Jews who died at Auschwitz were not from Poland.

The only trial I am aware of prior to Eichmann's, that came about specifically because of the Germans' murder of Jews was when Oswald Pohl and others were charged by a U.S. military court for crimes against humanity with the Final Solution being used for most of the prosecution's evidence.

 

[Tacitus]

Very evil things were done by the Nazi's. I'm sure we can all agree that those who were caught got what was coming to them.

 

[Patchouli]

Got a few books on tracing Scottish ancestry and checked out a few books from the library on archaelogy and cave paintings (it's not what you'd think).

 

[FarmOR]

"Proof of Heaven". A neurosurgeon journey into the afterlife.

The title piqued my interest. But I had some hesitation of reading it. Fear of death maybe. Deep and sensitive subject? But once I started into it, quickly became one of those books that I could not put down.

Incredible story. Crazy rare things happen. To exclusive highly educated and dedicated person. A perfect storm? And the vivid detail of what was witnessed.

And the applying of scientific method to affirm the experience? Amazing.

Thought provoking in so many ways. Makes me think of often times that the truth is more fantastic than the fiction. And the truth is available. Albeit so muddled in so many counterfeit versions.

The question that everyone at some point should honestly ask themselves: " are we human beings having a spiritual experience or are we spiritual beings having a human experience? "

 

[Wingnut]

SIX BITS A DAY, by Elmer Kelton... and it is HILARIOUS! I like Elmer Kelton, that ol' boy knows Texas, lol...

I literally laugh out loud while reading his books, and this one is so funny, all about the misadventures of Hewey Calloway and his brother Walter, as well as their fellow cowpunchers who ride for the CC brand. Good stuff, that's for sure...

I found a whole shelf or two of Westerns in a separate room in our local library, enough Westerns to keep me busy for years, lol. Brought home some Elmer Kelton, Will Henry, Max Brand & Louis L'Amour novels...

One thing I like about libraries in the boondocks of Arizona & New Mexico, they sure have a lot of Westerns for readers who like the genre... this Alamo library has a room full of Western nonfiction too, I haven't even started on that yet.

 

[backlash]

I read 2 to 5 books a week depending on my mood.
Mostly military fiction about WW2.
This week it a series about a submarine right after Pearl Harbor.

 

[Bacpacker]

Proverbs 2, 1-13, Isiah 58, 2 Chronicles 7
Proverbs is one of my favorite books. So much to learn from them.
2 Chronicles 7, I wanted to get the do a study of the full story around verse 14.

 

[Neb]

Proverbs 2, 1-13, Isiah 58, 2 Chronicles 7
Proverbs is one of my favorite books. So much to learn from them.
2 Chronicles 7, I wanted to get the do a study of the full story around verse 14.

Thank you for that.

While I can not ( without effort) cite references I have heard reports of both George Washington and Abe Lincoln consecrating the US to serve God. As was the case in soooo.... many stories in the Bible nations flourished when God served as the standard, the focus, the north star by which a government or organization navigated and suffered when they shunned God.

In my lifetime I saw prayer taken out of schools then soon thereafter Time magazine had a cover asking "Is God dead?". Then free love with the Hippies ( Nancy is of that generation) to start the slide into social decadence.

So we find ourselves in the situation @Bacpacker highlights where we need only turn to God and let him work out the details. Without him we are a ...

"
Rudderless ship adrift on an amoral sea.
"
(Original author unknown).


Ben

 

[Amish Heart]

Reading the 4th book in the Edge of Collapse Series, by Kyla Stone. Called, "Edge of Anarchy". An EMP story

 

[Haertig]

3 days ago I went to a book signing by my favorite author. He signed the very first book of his that I bought, 20 or so years ago.

That book signing event was so fun, I'm so glad I went. It prompted me to start reading another of his books (they're all great IMHO). I just now started "The Bone Labyrinth" by James Rollins. Book #11 in the "Sigma Force" series.

 

[Magpie]

I can't 'get into' a full book here, I've so much reading to do for college. So I'm 'skim reading'- reading the first and last chapters, and skim in between, it's easier if I've read them before. Doing a module on the classic novel; so last week was Robinson Crusoe and Ooranoko. This week I'm on Moby Dick and Thoreau's Walden. We also have to select the best opening line of a novel ever.

 

[Patchouli]

Cave Art, forget the author. Amazing artwork thousands of years old.
It was referenced in a Scottish genealogy book I bought recently. Have been trying to understand Scottish history and where my particular ancestral line stood, with England or Prince Charles? Woohoo, Prince Charles and what did that mean. It meant Scotland sovereignty all the way. (No wonder I’m so stubborn). Then no wonder they came to America. It’s fun to research the family tartans and crests too.

 

[Haertig]

So I'm 'skim reading'- reading the first and last chapters, and skim in between ...... This week I'm on Moby Dick

I tried to read Moby Dick once. I second your plan regarding skimming. For this book, I think you could improve the plan by skimming the first three pages, then abandoning the rest. That's what I ended up doing.

Many of "the classics" are incredibly tedious and boring for me. Just not my cup of tea. I enjoyed the movie version of The Count Of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel. I tried reading the book, and almost died of narcolepsy in the first chapter.

 

[LadyLocust]

I can't 'get into' a full book here, I've so much reading to do for college. So I'm 'skim reading'- reading the first and last chapters, and skim in between, it's easier if I've read them before. Doing a module on the classic novel; so last week was Robinson Crusoe and Ooranoko. This week I'm on Moby Dick and Thoreau's Walden. We also have to select the best opening line of a novel ever.

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." C Dickens Never read the book, but sure know the opening line.
Walden was interesting. I've not read Moby Dick.


I'm nearly finished with my Christmas book. It's historical excerpts from various pieces so actually interesting as customs have changed quite a bit just in the last century.
Not sure what's next on the docket as I've got a stack yet to read.

 

[Magpie]

Just came across this book - a non-fiction classic being reprinted - wondering if anyone has read it, and is It any good?

It Can’t Happen Here – Renard Press

Published during the heyday of fascism in Europe, It Can’t Happen Here is a chilling cautionary tale by one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century, which is still startlingly relevant almost a century later.

Charting the rise to power of Berzelius ‘Buzz’ Windrip, who whips his supporters into a frenzy while promising drastic reform under a banner of patriotism and traditional values, It Can’t Happen Here decries the tactics used by politicians to mobilise voters, and exposes the danger of authoritarianism arising from populist platforms, and the chaos such regimes can leave in their wake.

 

[LadyLocust]

@Magpie have not read it but sounds interesting except that maybe a little too relevant in today’s world (I have to gauge how much I let me be exposed to with some of this stuff).
@Wingnut you mentioned laughing out loud while reading. I used to have a commute so would get books on CD to listen to while driving. I think the written book would be just as good as the audio, but “Furiously Happy” was one of the funniest books I have ever “read.” I sure I looked like a loon in a car by myself laughing hysterically

 

[Caribou]

Just started "The Foxfire Book".

 

[LadyLocust]

Just started "The Foxfire Book".

If you find you like it, might check out Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer. Same "author" but the story of an incredible man.

 

[BBLife]

I'm not much of a reader. I like to skim through reference books of all kinds but will either pick one up looking for information on something specific or I'll flip through and read about something that strikes my interest. Outside of that, I've read the same book from front to back, back to front and various orders for the past 16 years. Probably read the Bible (several versions) in full about 30 times in that time and learn something new about myself or God every time. This morning was 1st and 2nd Samuel which are really my favorite 2 books.

 

[Weedygarden]

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide:

967 pages, but not all full pages, from @dademoss

 

[Neb]

I'm not much of a reader...

This morning was 1st and 2nd Samuel which are really my favorite 2 books.

Samuels prediction about why a king was a bad thing is spot on to this day.

Ben

 

[BBLife]

Samuels prediction about why a king was a bad thing is spot on to this day.

Ben

Yep. I actually have hit several Bible verses in the past few weeks that point out things bout our leaders. One being that we should show our leaders respect because (good or evil) God put them there. One passage I recently read pointed out that if the people under the king follow God that it will lead to a king that follows God. So, WE as the people of this country are the reason for what we have leading us. I was speaking to a group about prayer and pointed out Daniel's prayer in that he took blame in the situation when he said "WE have sinned".

Until the people of the country turn to God, there is no rebellion, signed petition or anything else that will change our situation. The leaders are simply a reflection of the people.

 

[Neb]

Yep. I actually have hit several Bible verses in the past few weeks that point out things bout our leaders. One being that we should show our leaders respect because (good or evil) God put them there. One passage I recently read pointed out that if the people under the king follow God that it will lead to a king that follows God. So, WE as the people of this country are the reason for what we have leading us. I was speaking to a group about prayer and pointed out Daniel's prayer in that he took blame in the situation when he said "WE have sinned".

Until the people of the country turn to God, there is no rebellion, signed petition or anything else that will change our situation. The leaders are simply a reflection of the people.

Amen!

Ben

 

[LadyLocust]

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide:

967 pages, but not all full pages, from @dademoss

That's a good one!

 

[jishinsjourney]

The Resilient Gardener, by Carol Deppe. It’s been an interesting read so far. I’m not sure how many of the takeaways will be practical for me, but her perspective and how she handles her version of homesteading are different and refreshing.