So, what are you reading now?

[finnbow]

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

A tale of medieval England.

[donquixote99]

$.25 books at the sale table at the library are a great source too.

Just finished "Three Came Home" by Agnes Newton Keith. Tale of a lady interned by the Japanese on Borneo for over three years. She, her young son, and her English husband (in a neighboring camp) all survived, as the title suggests. This was nearly impossible, and she gets the biggest credit for the outcome. But all that's a prisoner story like others.

This book's appeal is the voice and personality of the author. Her pluck and wit are never quite erased by circumstances, and they make the narrative, for all the privation and brutality recounted, nonetheless appealing. And her short introduction is eloquent of the deeper insights that inform this book. I'll reproduce it here:

I have written this book for three reasons:

For horror of war. I want others to shudder with me at it.

For affection of my husband. When war nearly killed me, knowledge of our love kept me alive.

And for a reminder to my son. I fought one war for him in prison camp. He survives because of me. He belongs now to peace. I remind him that it is better to give more and to have less--and to keep the peace--than to fight.

The Japanese in this book are as war made them, not as God did, and the same is true for the rest of us. We are not pleasant people here, for the story of war is always the story of hate; it makes no difference for whom one fights. The hate destroys you spiritually as the fighting destroys you bodily.

If there are tears shed here, they are for the death of good feeling. If there is horror, it is for those who speak indifferently of "the next war." If there is hate, it is for hateful qualities, not nations. If these is love, it is because this alone has kept me alive and sane.

A.N.K.

It was a popular book when it came out in 1947, so you could find it used if you looked. There's also a movie 'based' on it, with Claudet Colbert--fictionalized plenty, to judge by the poster....

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

A tale of medieval England.

Good book.

[Dondilion]

Where Cultures Meet : FRONTIERS IN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY

An anthology of essays on the history of frontiers in Latin America.

Questions and issues re frontiers are explored...such as: Why Latifundia in South America and not in the US or Canada?

[one1]

I go to the Libray for the audio books but in this small town not much of a selection.Anyone know of a Internet source for audio books,I love to read almost anything but my vision is practaly gone.I have gotten good suggestion on music sites ,maybe I can benefit on some audio book sites as well from the learned folks at PC.

[Dondilion]

Communication And Class Struggle

An anthology of Marxist essays spanning the mid 19th century to
the 1970s dealing with communication, information and culture.

Some really withstand the test of time, some really testing the credulity:
Is Science politically neutral?

These essays are in English although many are originally from different languages.

Another quality read from my nearby second hand book dealer.

[HarmanKardon]

Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935); jewish satirist.

Complete Edition Vol. 19: Briefe (Letters) 1931/1932

[Dondilion]

Puerto Ricans in the United States:

Maria E,Perez y Gonzales.

A look at a people who has essentially given up on Independence,
but look with great anticipation to the Puerto Rican Day Parade
every June in Manhattan.

[bobabode]

'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand
Story of a crashed B-24 crew's survival in the Pacific.

[Dondilion]

THE AENEID: VIRGIL

Translated by ROBERT FITZGERALD.

An excellent translation.

I sing of warfare and a man at war.
From the sea-coast of Troy in early days
He came to Italy by destiny,

The Latin is also beautiful but a bit more succinct.
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit litora....