USVI-On-Line

Ruth, I did not know that you took books either! I will definitely bring you mine instead of leaving them at the villa.

I have not read Housekeeping, so I'd love to borrow it. I'll trade you whatever I read on the plane on the way down.

I have been really disorganized and didn't get stuff together in time to ship a box (SO stupid of me!), so I won't be sending my usual 40 pound box of books. I really hope that the bookstore in the Marketplace is still open!

It was open two weeks ago!
AH

The bookstore is open.

- Ruth

Hey all, FYI...I just started "Empire of Blue Water" by Stephan Talty. It is primarily about Captain Morgan's great pirate army and the epic battle for the Americas...and it is starting off great, just what I was looking for....

It is a good mix of Caribbean history, Pirate History, facts with assumptions and fiction sprinkled in to make it fun...so far we have sailed from Englad to Hispaniola and Jamaica...well, we also stopped at St Kitts Nevis and others along the way to get more men...got our butts kicked on Hispaniola so we went to Jamaica and took that instead...

This book is alot of fun so far, will post update after I'm done...
Peace-out.

Sherban that sounds interesting - I am about a third of the way through this:

<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&b ... 0345349571" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>

And it is fascinating so far - every couple of paragraphs seems like they could be a book of its own. The detail is amazing, but it is also really readable - just a romp.

This may not appeal to the females on board but it is an amazing story. "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis. It is the story about the Raven's draft pick Michael Oher. There are a few strictly football info sections that one can easily skip and not lose a thing in the story.It is unbelievable how this kid ended up where he is and nice to read about a rich family who spend their time and money doing great things for kids.The movie is going to be made with Tim McGraw & Sandra Bullock.

I really like Michael Lewis as an author. I have read books by him where I had zero interest in the subject but ended up enjoying the book because of his writing.

I am going to check out both of the books mentioned by Sherban and Anthony.

I am halfway thru House of Cards by William Cohan about the collapse of Bear Sterns (and maybe others) Quite interesting if you like business stuff.

Anthony wrote:Sherban that sounds interesting - I am about a third of the way through this:
xxxAnd it is fascinating so far - every couple of paragraphs seems like they could be a book of its own. The detail is amazing, but it is also really readable - just a romp.

I forgot to mention that right before I started that book I watched Mel Gibson's movie "Apocalypto"...
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Apocalyp ... kid=921403 Wow- violent but eye opening about the "pre pirate era" of the americas...

Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson moves on from biblical fare to tackle the end of the Mayan civilization in this gripping action-adventure set just before Spain's conquest of Mexico and Central America in the 16th century. When an invading force threatens..

Just finished Pat Conroy's latest, "South of Broad" at the beach last week. Very good, engrossing read. If you like (or love like me) Charleston it will take you there in a second.

It is a wee bit disturbing (as are all Pat Conroy reads) but very worthwhile.

It's nice to see this thread revived!

I'm finishing the Twilight series and I'm having trouble with the 4th book (1/2 way through). #4 is not at all like the others so it's kinda off-putting. The series went from romantic first love with a vampire/werewolf twist to Stephen King horrific violence and the segue never actually happened so I've lost focus. Without finishing #4, I give the series a C. #3 was the best!

I also recently read Sarah's Key. Very good. Historical account of France's involvement in rounding up Jews and sending them off the concentration camps mingled with some family fiction. I like this a lot.

I also read Pope Joan. Historical mixed with fictional account of the one and only female pope. Very interesting.

[quote="LysaC"]
I also recently read Sarah's Key. Very good. Historical account of France's involvement in rounding up Jews and sending them off the concentration camps mingled with some family fiction. I like this a lot.
quote]

LysaC,
I have not read Sarah's Key yet. A good counterbalance might be:

Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Philip P. Hallie

From Amazon.com
"During the most terrible years of World War II, when inhumanity and political insanity held most of the world in their grip and the Nazi domination of Europe seemed irrevocable and unchallenged, a miraculous event took place in a small Protestant town in southern France called Le Chambon. There, quietly, peacefully, and in full view of the Vichy government and a nearby division of the Nazi SS, Le Chambon's villagers and their clergy organized to save thousands of Jewish children and adults from certain death."

- Ruth

"Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed" by Philip P. Hallie

Thank you Ruth! I'll have to put that on my list. There were several farm villages that housed women and children who managed to escape or run off before they started rounding up the Jews. I guess they started with the men only then decided to take all the women and children too. Amazing courage.

I have a backlog of books right now and just started "A Million Little Pieces" the book that Oprah loved then pooped on then apologized then loved again. My mother read it and said it's one of the best best she's ever read.

I am glad to see this thread back. I was thinking about resurrecting it the other day.

I'll confess that I've been reading lots of fluff lately. I recently read Sandra Gulland's Josephine Bonaparte trilogy, which was enjoyable:

http://www.amazon.com/Josephine-Bonapar ... 657&sr=1-2

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. It would make a good beach read:

http://www.amazon.com/Physick-Book-Deli ... ooks&qid=1

And yesterday I picked up Margaret Atwood's new novel, The Year of the Flood. I know I recommended Oryx and Crake earlier on this thread, and this story is linked to that one.

I know I am a little behind the times, but I am flying through "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - a mystery set in Sweden. VERY good read.

I didn't read this whole thread so I hope I'm not being repetitive, but J Maartin Troost has 2 hilarious books about his travels in the South Pacific: "The Sex Lives of Canibals" and "Getting Stoned with Savages". Highly recommended for good, light-hearted fun. Bill Bryson is great too. "In a Sunburnt Country" is one of my favorites.