One more week....
Before things get completely upended. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Not much to report this time, other than the above. Just kind of frustrated with life right now. Weather has been decent; it's low 80s today and sunny. Supposed to rain a lot in the next week, with temps in the mid-80s. So, warm and steamy. For this time of year, I really can't complain about that.
The Book Mouse's Book Report:
32. Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism, by John Norris. An enjoyable read about a pioneer in the news business. When Mary McGrory, a Boston Irish Catholic, started covering politics (after many years of trying to crack into that beat), she frequently was the only reporter who was a woman. Her sex, however, was not the only thing that made her stand out. Her writing style captured the moment and the people involved, and her observations were unflinching. I think one of the more amusing thoughts shared about her was how she was a nice person until she got behind a typewriter. But you have to give the late Ms. McGrory credit: she was almost never wrong in her assessment of someone (she only truly regretted one column/advocation in her entire career. That's pretty darn good for a career that spanned more than 40 years. Also, on the topic in question, she was not the only person who got suckered. She often surmised a politician's true character before the rest of the world did. Her career is not the only focus in the author's book. You get a feel for the decades of news she covers. Also, McGrory was passionate about charitable causes, helping out regularly with a local orphanage. The book includes many quotes and anecdotes from McGrory, her colleagues and those she wrote about. It's a balanced book; Ms. McGrory had her human foibles, like any of us. All in all, this is an excellent read, and an informative one. It never gets dry- the pages and chapters zipped past.
33. The Passion of Dolssa, by Julie Berry. This was an amazing, artfully woven story. Berry mixes in a bit of history with her cast of memorable characters (the author's notes were fascinating and worth checking out). The beginning starts off a little slow, but after the first couple chapters the story picks up speed and the next thing I knew I was sucked in. Besides the research that went into the realistic setting, I also was impressed with the various twists and turns in the plot. Just when I thought I knew where things were going, surprise! One of the biggest surprises, towards the end, actually made me gasp out loud. The story itself centers around Botille and her two sisters, three young women whom, after a life of begging and petty crime, have managed to carve themselves a fairly respectable living in a provincial seaside town. One day, Botille is asked by the wealthy matron of the town to go find the matron's two nephews, whom she wants to inherit her estates since she has no surviving children. On the way back, Botille finds a starving maiden lying unconcsious off the road. She spirits the young woman, Dolssa, home to live with her sisters. Dolssa, she quickly finds out, is wanted by the church for heresy. Representatives from the church, led by a young, ambitious monk, are not soon far behind. But the town is thrown into a quandry when the sweet Dolssa turns out to have divine gifts for healing. The ending is heartbreaking and should serve as a powerful lesson about following leaders blindly. An added note- another feature I liked about the story is Dolssa herself. Unlike most saintly figures in stories, she is a good person, but she does have her shortcomings (mostly as a result of her sheltered upbringing and her noble background). She, too, learns and grows as a character. This was refreshing.
Currently reading: On the Burning Deck, by Tom Jones. Also have several books waiting for me at the library.
Not much to report this time, other than the above. Just kind of frustrated with life right now. Weather has been decent; it's low 80s today and sunny. Supposed to rain a lot in the next week, with temps in the mid-80s. So, warm and steamy. For this time of year, I really can't complain about that.
The Book Mouse's Book Report:
32. Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism, by John Norris. An enjoyable read about a pioneer in the news business. When Mary McGrory, a Boston Irish Catholic, started covering politics (after many years of trying to crack into that beat), she frequently was the only reporter who was a woman. Her sex, however, was not the only thing that made her stand out. Her writing style captured the moment and the people involved, and her observations were unflinching. I think one of the more amusing thoughts shared about her was how she was a nice person until she got behind a typewriter. But you have to give the late Ms. McGrory credit: she was almost never wrong in her assessment of someone (she only truly regretted one column/advocation in her entire career. That's pretty darn good for a career that spanned more than 40 years. Also, on the topic in question, she was not the only person who got suckered. She often surmised a politician's true character before the rest of the world did. Her career is not the only focus in the author's book. You get a feel for the decades of news she covers. Also, McGrory was passionate about charitable causes, helping out regularly with a local orphanage. The book includes many quotes and anecdotes from McGrory, her colleagues and those she wrote about. It's a balanced book; Ms. McGrory had her human foibles, like any of us. All in all, this is an excellent read, and an informative one. It never gets dry- the pages and chapters zipped past.
33. The Passion of Dolssa, by Julie Berry. This was an amazing, artfully woven story. Berry mixes in a bit of history with her cast of memorable characters (the author's notes were fascinating and worth checking out). The beginning starts off a little slow, but after the first couple chapters the story picks up speed and the next thing I knew I was sucked in. Besides the research that went into the realistic setting, I also was impressed with the various twists and turns in the plot. Just when I thought I knew where things were going, surprise! One of the biggest surprises, towards the end, actually made me gasp out loud. The story itself centers around Botille and her two sisters, three young women whom, after a life of begging and petty crime, have managed to carve themselves a fairly respectable living in a provincial seaside town. One day, Botille is asked by the wealthy matron of the town to go find the matron's two nephews, whom she wants to inherit her estates since she has no surviving children. On the way back, Botille finds a starving maiden lying unconcsious off the road. She spirits the young woman, Dolssa, home to live with her sisters. Dolssa, she quickly finds out, is wanted by the church for heresy. Representatives from the church, led by a young, ambitious monk, are not soon far behind. But the town is thrown into a quandry when the sweet Dolssa turns out to have divine gifts for healing. The ending is heartbreaking and should serve as a powerful lesson about following leaders blindly. An added note- another feature I liked about the story is Dolssa herself. Unlike most saintly figures in stories, she is a good person, but she does have her shortcomings (mostly as a result of her sheltered upbringing and her noble background). She, too, learns and grows as a character. This was refreshing.
Currently reading: On the Burning Deck, by Tom Jones. Also have several books waiting for me at the library.