usvi-on-line
Books
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naturegirl
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
I second Shadow Divers. While I have no interest in extreme diving or submarines, I could not put the book down.
Another interesting read is Katharine Grahms' Personal History. Her father owned the Washington Post and it is as much as an interesting history lesson as it is her biography.
Naturegirl - I understand what you mean about life being too short to read uninteresting books! I also share your opinion about "A Short History of Nearly Everything." I did not like it one bit. I read the first chapter and returned it to the library.
Neither Here nor There is about Bill Bryson's jaunt thru Europe with the infamous Katz (his hiking buddy from A Walk in the Woods) Because I took a similar trip and because half my family is German, I found his observations about the people and places he encountered to be very funny.
Another interesting read is Katharine Grahms' Personal History. Her father owned the Washington Post and it is as much as an interesting history lesson as it is her biography.
Naturegirl - I understand what you mean about life being too short to read uninteresting books! I also share your opinion about "A Short History of Nearly Everything." I did not like it one bit. I read the first chapter and returned it to the library.
Neither Here nor There is about Bill Bryson's jaunt thru Europe with the infamous Katz (his hiking buddy from A Walk in the Woods) Because I took a similar trip and because half my family is German, I found his observations about the people and places he encountered to be very funny.
A second vote for "Adrift" I mentioned it in a previous post months ago. If you really want to get into the caribbean vibe and way of life -- this will help you immerse yourself.
I also had a lot of fun with any of Jimmy Buffet's books but specifically "A Pirate looks a Fifty" http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Looks-at-F ... 117&sr=1-1
I also had a lot of fun with any of Jimmy Buffet's books but specifically "A Pirate looks a Fifty" http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Looks-at-F ... 117&sr=1-1
*Another fine scatterbrained production
Good Book
I will also nominate "A Walk in the Woods" as a great read, and would like to share a little personal story with you about my reading this book.
I recievd this book in mid-summer of this year in the mail from my son, who is presently hiking the Appalachian Trail. I did not even read it at first, as I was very angry with him for having undertaken such a foolish journey at 37 years old.
After his father-from whom he was estranged since our divorce many years ago- died very suddenly and prematurely last year, my son left the very secure teaching position he held for 10 years, broke up with his fiancee and cancelled their wedding plans, and set off to do a through hike from Georgia to Maine. My son has lead a pretty sedentary life since the days when he and his dad hiked and camped when he was a teenager. Despite, my anger, I missed him a lot, and decided to read this "silly" book during my August trip to St John.
Not only did I laugh loud and often, I also gained a real appreciation of what these folks go through, and maybe why someone would do this. How that he is in the north, I hear from him more and I often refer \to his "doing a Katz" when he related something he did or saw that is also mentioned in the book. He also sold his dad's house and settled his estate, all from the trail- no small feat considering the lack of phones, fax and Fed Ex available in trail towns.
He flipped from Harpur's Ferry to Katadin in August and will complete the entire walk in early December. Think I am only now starting to know why.
In short, I loved the book, and may look for another Bryson book to take with me next month.
I recievd this book in mid-summer of this year in the mail from my son, who is presently hiking the Appalachian Trail. I did not even read it at first, as I was very angry with him for having undertaken such a foolish journey at 37 years old.
After his father-from whom he was estranged since our divorce many years ago- died very suddenly and prematurely last year, my son left the very secure teaching position he held for 10 years, broke up with his fiancee and cancelled their wedding plans, and set off to do a through hike from Georgia to Maine. My son has lead a pretty sedentary life since the days when he and his dad hiked and camped when he was a teenager. Despite, my anger, I missed him a lot, and decided to read this "silly" book during my August trip to St John.
Not only did I laugh loud and often, I also gained a real appreciation of what these folks go through, and maybe why someone would do this. How that he is in the north, I hear from him more and I often refer \to his "doing a Katz" when he related something he did or saw that is also mentioned in the book. He also sold his dad's house and settled his estate, all from the trail- no small feat considering the lack of phones, fax and Fed Ex available in trail towns.
He flipped from Harpur's Ferry to Katadin in August and will complete the entire walk in early December. Think I am only now starting to know why.
In short, I loved the book, and may look for another Bryson book to take with me next month.
