Paper--#74 finished

 This is another Mark Kurlansky book, just a really good read about the history of paper.  Something really I have taken for granted like most people without ever realizing how we got to this point with paper.  Tons and tons of detail in this book, interesting but at times seems too much.  Good read and really interesting points about technology through the ages.

There are WL for the book but I will see if group of friends wants to read it first--one mentioned he might be interested.  I don't always get books back so not sure if will be mailed off in future or not.

Between Gods--#73 finished

This is a memoir by a Canadian author that I have enjoyed a couple of her books--Alison Pick.  She seems a little young for a memoir but once I started reading I can see why she wrote this, almost as a way the help work through her feelings.  She was raised Christian and family practiced but she finds out that her father's parents--her grandparents had fled from Czechoslovakia at the start of WWII because they were Jewish.  Several of the relatives were murdered in the Holocaust.  She starts to study Judaism and starts to see where she sees where her life already matches some Jewish practices.  She is also engaged to be married but he does not really have any faith.  She starts to study to convert to Judaism but is not sure she will be accepted because of the possibility of a mixed marriage--both not Jewish, the Rabbi and group that decides this normally don't allow it.  At several points in this book it is very emotional for her and she is crying--I really felt for her because of everything going on and how she wasn't getting simple answers in any direction.  I really good read and interesting story/life.

I have posted it on PBS, there was 1 WL for it & it has been accepted.  Will mail off at some point this week.

The Widow of the South--#72 finished

 An interesting historical fiction based on a true part of the Civil War.  In one of the last battles of the war, the South in TN came upon the Union in Franklin, TN.  A bloody charge and battle happened.  A southern style mansion was close by and became a Confederate hospital that lasted for months I guess as the soldiers recovered.  Some recovered and left quickly and others once recovered the Union came & took to a prison camp for the remaining few months of the war.  The lady/family of this house nursed the sick and then eventually donated land and had bodies moved a few years after the war to a cemetery there on the land next to the house.  She wrote letters to family all during this time and this is now basically a historical landmark.  The author took this story and wove a fictional account of what this was like.  Interesting read and interesting characters.

I have posted it on PBS, there are 2 copies ahead of it for the hardback and probably a few paperbacks.  Not sure it will move anytime soon but never know.

The Submissive--#71 finished

 I am embarrassed to even put down that I read this book.  I did not read the whole 50 Shades of anything books and when I saw this one I figured it was like that.  Since at a library sale & I think a quarter for paperbacks, I bought it.  I decided I would read it but kept in the basement--kids didn't need to see this book.  I was about like I expected, not great writing, not great story and characters are basically out of some kind of fairy tale.  Some sex and I guess S & M stuff here but really didn't seem worth it.  I just about stopped reading a few times but pushed on for some reason.

I have already posted it on PBS, there were already 3 copies in system so I doubt it moves but I don't really want to put into a little free book library either.  Might just give back to library as donation at some point.

Inside Out--#70 finished

 This is a memoir by Demi Moore.  One of those books I found at a library sale for a $1.00 and figured should pickup.  I had sort of forgotten much of her career in acting before reading this.  I sort of remember she was part of the Brat Pack because she was in St Elmo's Fire, didn't remember her dating & being engaged to Emilo Estevez.  Remembered her being married to Bruce Willis and soon after that ended dating & marrying Ashton Kutcher.  GI Jane and Ghost being the other big hit movies she was in.  Interesting to read about her struggles in growing up--parents that were a little shady and always moving to stay ahead of trouble.  Really lucky she made it out of there sane enough to live a life.  I didn't know modeling was her way in and she didn't talk much about acting lessons & getting her start, just that modeling got her noticed & kind of went from there.  Book ended with her struggles with her children, now adult or close to it.  I think I have seen recently photos of her & all 3 girls so hopefully all is going well with her now.

There are 35 WL for the book so will get it mailed off at some point.

Seldom Seen--#69 finished

 This is a book from the early 1990s, where the author decides about a year in advance to break away from his normal living.  He is in KC area and decides he wants to walk to Helena, MT and then get a canoe and come back to KC down the Missouri River.  This book is about his walk, I guess he has another book out there about the canoe trip.  This being the early 1990s, there is no cell phone for him so lots of stops and calls back to his young daughter from pay phones.  Story about the people he meets during this journey.  Some interesting and a couple scary type people.  He doesn't walk the whole way, he doesn't hitchhike but does accept rides.  Enjoyed hearing about small towns.  Sad hearing about the people with really no opportunities in those small towns and how the Walmarts and fast food places really have taken over back then & expect it to be much worse today.  Since I grew up on small town NE, this book was written just before large numbers of Hispanics moved into some of these towns, be interesting to see the changes that I would expect for the better because of this.

I got the book from PBS but is not really postable, water stain at bottom of at least 3rd of pages.  I would like to mail on but really cannot.  Will probably go in my give away pile instead.

One Minute Out--#68 finished

 This is the next in the Gray Man series.  This is one where he is no longer working for the CIA but is instead rogue.  He has a job to assassinate an old general from the Serbian war days.  Killing him he finds a bunch of women--young women that are being held & moved for the sex trade.  He gets involved with a lady that is trying to find her sister and follows this group killing off bad guys & eventually breaking up most of the group.  The top bad guys are helping US government though in other areas so he cannot kill them but does best to bust up.  Book ends with CIA picking him back up for his next job.  Good Gray Man stuff--action, smarts, travel all that.  A good series.

There are 17 WL for this book so will get posted on PBS at some point & send off.