Passion & Principle--#11 finished

This book is about John & Jessie Fremont a very interesting and very much involved in life in the 1800s.  John Fremont, the Pathfinder, explored the West and played a large role in getting California away from Mexico and part of the United States.  He by accident seemingly ends up with thousands of acres that becomes part of the Californian Gold Rush, makes his millions, becomes a Senator and eventually becomes the Republican Party's first presidential nominee in 1856.  Loses the election through dirty politics of the day.  After Lincoln's election and the civil war starts becomes a general in St Louis in charge of the West but again in the dirty politics of the day and his pushing emanicipation of the slaves before Lincoln was ready, Fremont is relieved of his duties.  Poor business decisions and he basically loses everything and family slips into near poverty.

All of this going on, Fremont's wife Jessie is daughter of powerful Democratic Senator from Missouri Thomas Hart Benton.  Jessie leads an interesting but devoted life to her husband.  Their marriage was much more partnership with both helping the other.  She helped him publish his exploration books, plays large role in is Presidential run, and is beside him during the civil war but unfortunately stays out of his business decisions.  She becomes a writer later in life and what she earns then supports them.

A truly interesting couple and a very good book.  I will probably post it on PBS but right now keeping it--not sure I want to let go of it.  

Lucky Strike--#10 finished

I kind of liked this book, it was a little different, something I hadn't read about or thought about.  The mining for uranium in the 1950s in the Utah desert.  You young widow with two children leave Ohio and head to Utah to become uranium millionaires and meet some interesting people.  Good story, good characters--nothing in book flys out at you or shocks you but overall good story.

Still reading the Fremont's book and The Life of Pi, both moving very slowly.  Also started The Last Templar.  Not sure if I will add a 4th yet or not.

Downtown Owl--#9 finished

I really enjoyed this book about small town North Dakota in the 1980s since I grew up in small town Nebraska in the 1980s.  Very similar in many ways from what I can tell, I moved away for college and only return to see people other than my parents very rarely.  I liked the characters and what was going on but didn't really like the tragic ending but I guess it had to end somehow.  I don't remember much about the other Chuck Klosterman book that I read, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs except that I really didn't like it.  I guess I could look up what I typed up about it but don't feel that inspired and would rather finish this up.  Good read and I will probably look into reading more of his books now.

I am still working on the Fremont book and the Life of Pi.  I also started Lucky Strike a book about the 1950s in Utah looking for uranium I guess--not far into it.

The 33-Year-Old Rookie--#8 finished

The rest of the title is How I Finally Made It to the Big Leagues After 11 Years in the Minors.  This is a book by & about Chris Coste.  A pretty good read about his baseball life starting in little league & high school and up to getting to the majors.  He ended up getting 4 or 5 years in the majors.  A really good story in preserving, he was basically not recruited out of high school--living in Fargo, ND, it is not really as baseball hotbed.  I year at Junior College with a crazy coach and then transferring to a small college in Fargo area.  He was a star at the small college but again really unnoticed.  Gets on with an Independent League team that folds midway through season and then catches onto another Independent League team that is bad & he plays bad.  One of his breaks happens when a new Independent League team forms in Fargo and he gets a position because he is a hometown kid and he turns that into a starting job.  Couple years later into the minors and eventually into majors with winter ball worked in as well.  If you are a baseball fan you will like this book.

I have already posted it on PBS, there were 2 copies a head of it but I think it would move at some point.  Still reading the John & Jessie Fremont book, that is really a hard book to read fast--I am only on page 108 I think.  I am also kicking slowly along with The Life of Pi.  I should be adding a 3rd into the mix later today.

Brownsville--#7 finished

This another short story book with all the stories happening in Brownsville, TX.  Good stuff, I really liked most of the stories even if some were a little different.  In just a few pages, the author was able to reel you in and keep you interested about the people.  Also all of the stories were good in their own way as well.  Some short story books seem to have a couple stories that just aren't very good or at least not my taste and those stories seem to be more filler than entertaining.  I did enjoy these stories and will look to see what else the author has written.

I have already posted it on PBS, there are 3 copies a head of it.  No idea how long it will take to move but some short story books do seem to move quickly.  I am still reading the John & Jessie Fremont book and also just started The Life of Pi.  I am also probably going to start a book on Chris Coste, I think the title is something like 33 Year of Rookie.

Running

I haven't posted anything besides my books read stuff for a while so let me do a quick update on my running.  I am still trying to get in shape to do a half marathon at the end of March.  I was off work on Thursday and got 7 miles in then--around the neighborhood.  Today I got in 6 miles at Forest Park.  Both good runs I felt.

I am on my way.  I have been running 3 times a week.  I know I have some weekends coming up where I will struggle to get runs in but will just have to see then but so far so good.

Earrings--#6 finished

Kind of a slow and only sort of interesting book about earrings worn by Josephine during her coronation as Queen while married to Napoleon.  Lots of history about the time and people involved but as a story just sort of okay.  The author's family was involved around this time as a jeweler and I am not sure how much if any of this really happened or if it was all made up as a possible way his ancestor started his jewelry business.  Written as kind of a mystery, it was really confusing with names and titles of people going back 100 or so years.  I have been busy with other things lately so not giving the book my full attention at times probably didn't help either but part of that lies on the book just not being exciting enough to keep my attention. 

Oh well, I have posted it on PBS and I think it is the only copy in the system.  No idea how long it will take though before getting requested since seems to be a kind of obscure type book.  I just started reading Brownsville and have been really slowly reading Passion and Principle about John & Jessie Fremont.  Might think about a 3rd book in the next few days.