Does anyone read? Part II

[Schmeelkie]

Almost finished the The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Great fantasy with lots of twists and fun with main character who seems pretty invincible at first, then tripped up well by bad guy, waiting to see how he recovers. This is, I believe, Lynch's first book and it's a whopping good one. One of the few books I've read with lots of flashbacks that really fill in information in a timely manner and help bring the story along, rather than draw it out. Sequel is out - will have husband pick up soon...

[Nicole Marie]

I'm reading Peter Lovenheim's book called "In The Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time". Great read! This is a true story about Peter's neighborhood. He lives on a street that has very little interaction between neighbors. After a tragic murder of a neighbor, he asks neighbors if he can sleepover thier houses to get to know them better. Few agree and most say no. It is a sad commentary on how defensive of a culture we have become where we can't even invite the person next door over for a cup of tea.

I live in a very friendly neighborhood with lots of interaction so I was amazed at how segregated some streets are. This should be required reading for all Americans.

[Shapley]

I live in a very friendly neighborhood with lots of interaction so I was amazed at how segregated some streets are. This should be required reading for all Americans.

One of the old drug store philosophers in my home town blamed air conditioning for the decline of the neighborhood. Used to be, on hot nights, you sat out on the porch, walked the neighborhood, or went to the park on warm evenings. Now, the doors and windows are shut tight to 'keep the cold in' and people don't venture out because 'it's just too dang hot out'.

I noticed that, in China, Rome, Vencie, and Greece, where air conditioning is not so prevalent, people still hang out on the porch or in the park.

[piqaboo]

he asks neighbors if he can sleepover thier houses to get to know them better. Few agree and most say no. It is a sad commentary on how defensive of a culture we have become where we can't even invite the person next door over for a cup of tea.

sleepover, cup of tea : these things are not equal, NM.
I've hosted a number of sleepover visits of various sorts, and of this I can assure you.(*)

I tend to agree with the AC thing. Keeps us separate, and indoors, where we gain weight, which makes us even less likely to invite you over to see us in our pajamas. Plus, the less we know you, the more we fear you, and the more we fear you, the less we try to get to know you.


(*) well, unless your name is <deleted>, in which case 'tea and crumpets' was the code you gave your teenage sons to tell them you were planning to spend the night with your girlfriend and wouldnt be home til morning.

[Schmeelkie]

Nicole Marie - I read a review of that book - very intriguing. Ancedote - next door neighbors invited all the neighbors on our cul-de-sac to their daughter's HS grad party. They are very friendly and we've had good exchanges with them. She introduced us to other neighbors we hadn't really met, but them seemed a bit standoffish - all are couples in their ~50s with kids out of the house. between my little kids running around and their not really making an effort to get me involved in their conversation made me feel less than welcome, but I also didn't have much opportunity to get into conversation with said kids running around and needing attention/intervention. Husband and I had a long chat with a resident who is only here about 3-4 months a year - has a place in Florida for winter. Oh, well.

I agree with the AC thing. After I pick up the kids from daycare, they're especially unmotivated to go back out if it's been particularly hot. I wish for more opportunities to go around the block as I know there are several families with Pumpkin and Bella-aged kids down the street... guess I just have to make the effort...

On topic - finished Scott Lynch's Red Seas Under Red Skies - sequel to Locke Lamora - another great read! Had fun with the fact that most of the last half is on board ship and I read much of that while on the cruise. Looks like third book is due out next year - apparently someone optioned Locke Lamora for a film and that's delayed the completion of book 3. I just worry about what they'd have to cut to make a good movie...oh well.

[Nicole Marie]

Sorry to hear about your neighbors Schmeelkie. As long as there are a few good neighbors then it helps to make up for the rest.

This coming weekend is our neighborhoods quarterly BBQ. So looking forward! There is a cemetery at the end of my road and there are only 10 houses on my street plus the guys who work in the cemetery. We close off the road, roll out the beer and food and have a great time. There is a mix of ages. Young couples in their 20's to Frida and Joe in their 80's. Some have kids, some don't but we all like each other. Some of us even have keys to each others houses when we vacation so we can get our mail and feed the cat. I am blessed to have neighbors who care so much about where we live.

I just started to read "The Girls Come Marching Home” by Kirsten Holmstedt. She is a reporter who has covered the war for some time. She put together a book highlighting the role of US female military members in this current war. I picked it up at my husbands AF Base and a few of the pilots I know had just read it and recommended it. So far so good!

[Shapley]

Reading about the preacher wanting to burn the Quran, and recalling all of the countless preachers and others that have burnt everything from Huckleberry Finn to the Bible, I think it's time we try to drag these people into the 21st century.

I propose that we encourage them to buy electronic books, and then hold mass 'book deletings' to get rid of the unwanted texts. It's more environmentally friendly, less antogonizing, and shows that they are not trapped in some sixteenth-century mentality. What say you?

[piqaboo]

Works for me!

Reading "Captain Blood". Nice recounting of the ugliness when the Duke of Monmouth (pretend son of Charles II) tries for the throne and the nasty way the rebels were handled. A different perspective from a simple recounting of facts.

[piqaboo]

Altoid is reading "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" to me. She doesnt like reading much (yet. Fingers crossed, that its 'yet').