Thursday, July 10, 2008

Books I've Enjoyed Recently, Part III?

Nursing a baby makes a great excuse for styling oneself as a bookworm.

Grandmere: A Personal History of Eleanor Roosevelt by David B. Roosevelt: I'd always felt a vague admiration for this historical figure, but knew very little of her story. Learning about her personal and family life along with her far-reaching political influence and global contributions added to my esteem of Eleanor Roosevelt. One piece of trivia: Did you know that Roosevelt (Dutch for "field of roses") was both Eleanor's maiden name and her married name, and that Theodore Roosevelt was her uncle?

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: Set in 19th century Europe (mainly France and Italy), this suspense novel starts off at a gallop from chapter one. At times I was confused by the complex interrelatedness of all the characters, which formed the backbone of the plot. Despite the abundance of melodramatic scenes, the intensity kept me turning until page 1,095. It's a tale of revenge, but also of deception, suffering, loyalty, cruelty, love, mercy, and change . Don't be daunted by the thickness!

3 comments:

  1. Hello Maria,
    Thanks for the snapshots from your life. I'm enjoying some good summer reading and recommend- A Thousand Splendid Suns. This is a window into life in Afghanistan and I found it worth the read.
    Take care
    Lois Nafziger

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the snapshots from your life. I'm enjoying some good summer reading and recommend- A Thousand Splendid Suns. This is a window into life in Afghanistan and I found it worth the read.
    Take care

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Maria, I've been having trouble with email and phone access, so i'm sending my confirmation through your blog--

    UA 921 arrives 2:18 tomorrow july 21 at IAD. i'll meet you at the baggage claim. I am very accustomed to waiting, so i'll meet you when you get there and I won't worry. thanks so much for coming.

    this is my last chance to be in contact, so you may want to double check the flight with Dulles' website before you come.

    ReplyDelete