Comments on: Weeks 26 and 27 of the “52 Books” challenge http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/ my progress as I write, revise, send to my editor, re-revise, fact-check, galley-read, and promote a multi-volume history of the world. While living on a farm, educating my kids, and teaching. And doing a few other things too. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:35:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Carolyn Hansen http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87514 Carolyn Hansen Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:42:20 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87514 Just pre-ordered my medieval history copy. Thank you, and can't wait! Just pre-ordered my medieval history copy. Thank you, and can’t wait!

]]> By: Denise Moore http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87497 Denise Moore Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:41:14 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87497 Wondered if you were familiar with the site: Goodreads.com?? Another site to spend time on.... Wondered if you were familiar with the site:
Goodreads.com??
Another site to spend time on….

]]> By: Colleen in NS http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87483 Colleen in NS Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:08:14 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87483 BTW, I like those long subtitles - they give me more of a sense of what the book will be about. BTW, I like those long subtitles – they give me more of a sense of what the book will be about.

]]> By: Colleen in NS http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87482 Colleen in NS Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:07:09 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87482 You might like this book http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Bound-Doctors-Incredible-Survival/dp/0786866845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246986113&sr=8-1 about a doctor's survival in Antarctica - first, how she took care of scientists/engineers/mechanics/builders there with little to no medical supplies/equipment, and second, how she GOT supplies and trained her fellow "Polies" to care for her when she found she had cancer while there, and had no hope of getting out to civilization soon. Then there is the dramatic rescue at the end. Ironically, I watched the movie a few weeks ago, then reserved the book from the library - the day before I was to pick it up, I heard on the news that she died that day. You might like this book http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Bound-Doctors-Incredible-Survival/dp/0786866845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246986113&sr=8-1 about a doctor’s survival in Antarctica – first, how she took care of scientists/engineers/mechanics/builders there with little to no medical supplies/equipment, and second, how she GOT supplies and trained her fellow “Polies” to care for her when she found she had cancer while there, and had no hope of getting out to civilization soon. Then there is the dramatic rescue at the end.

Ironically, I watched the movie a few weeks ago, then reserved the book from the library – the day before I was to pick it up, I heard on the news that she died that day.

]]> By: Trish Lawrence http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87474 Trish Lawrence Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:06:16 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87474 Then you would like Terri Jentz's Strange Piece of Paradise. Gripping, gripping read and you know what happens right away, but you still stick with her through the entire book and can't get enough. I know I liked it because it was set in Central Oregon (where my entire family is from), but a really good memoir about facing death, survival, and healing. Her writing is incredible and she's now one of those people I plan to meet someday just so I can shake her hand. I loved Perfect Storm, too by Junger. Incredible book. Trish L. http://www.trishlawrence.com/blog @trishlawrence Then you would like Terri Jentz’s Strange Piece of Paradise. Gripping, gripping read and you know what happens right away, but you still stick with her through the entire book and can’t get enough. I know I liked it because it was set in Central Oregon (where my entire family is from), but a really good memoir about facing death, survival, and healing. Her writing is incredible and she’s now one of those people I plan to meet someday just so I can shake her hand.

I loved Perfect Storm, too by Junger. Incredible book.

Trish L.
http://www.trishlawrence.com/blog
@trishlawrence

]]> By: Sheila http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87473 Sheila Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:45:01 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87473 I've read Krakauer's book at least 8 times and I wonder about this all the time, because it isn't as if K is a stellar writer, is he? Yet this is probably one of my all-time favourite reads. It's incredibly gripping. I’ve read Krakauer’s book at least 8 times and I wonder about this all the time, because it isn’t as if K is a stellar writer, is he? Yet this is probably one of my all-time favourite reads. It’s incredibly gripping.

]]> By: Karen http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87472 Karen Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:41:34 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87472 P.S. Please ignore egregious error in above comment: I meant "there are no tumblers in the lock of fate." This is what happens when I am interrupted by a child while writing. P.S. Please ignore egregious error in above comment: I meant “there are no tumblers in the lock of fate.” This is what happens when I am interrupted by a child while writing.

]]> By: Karen http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87471 Karen Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:40:05 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87471 "Tumbler in the lock of their fate"??????? I just finished reading Giles MIlton's "Paradise Lost" [sorry, can't figure out how to italicize here], about the destruction of Smyrna and the horrific loss of life there in 1922: another example of a writer who puts the end up front, then holds you glued to the pages as he backs up and starts the narrative proper. I also love "The Ghost Map" by Steven Johnson, about the London cholera epidemic. I realize of course that you are not writing about single/singular events and therefore your writing challenges are very different; but still, both these guys begin by presenting their readership with a known catastrophic ending yet manage to keep the suspense level very, very high. Both combine writing about personalities with larger social and historical issues. And their styles are elegantly straightforward. Although Milton can get a little long-winded, their are no "tumblers in the lock of fate" here! Read on Twitter that you are using "The Martian Chronicles" for your writing series: I am so curious about how you are using it. Can you say? Is it for dictation, summary, what? “Tumbler in the lock of their fate”???????

I just finished reading Giles MIlton’s “Paradise Lost” [sorry, can't figure out how to italicize here], about the destruction of Smyrna and the horrific loss of life there in 1922: another example of a writer who puts the end up front, then holds you glued to the pages as he backs up and starts the narrative proper. I also love “The Ghost Map” by Steven Johnson, about the London cholera epidemic. I realize of course that you are not writing about single/singular events and therefore your writing challenges are very different; but still, both these guys begin by presenting their readership with a known catastrophic ending yet manage to keep the suspense level very, very high. Both combine writing about personalities with larger social and historical issues. And their styles are elegantly straightforward. Although Milton can get a little long-winded, their are no “tumblers in the lock of fate” here!

Read on Twitter that you are using “The Martian Chronicles” for your writing series: I am so curious about how you are using it. Can you say? Is it for dictation, summary, what?

]]> By: Sebastian (a lady) http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/what-ive-been-reading/weeks-26-and-27-of-the-52-books-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-87470 Sebastian (a lady) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:34:57 +0000 http://www.susanwisebauer.com/blog/?p=847#comment-87470 Hmm, your response to Into Thin Air reminds me of my feelings reading Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm. Even knowing the end of the book, even having seen the movie, I found it a gripping story. I even found myself stepping back occasionally to appreciate the historian's craft that he brought to the book. To create a storyline where not only the end is known but almost none of the principles are around to interview is really a feat to enjoy. Hmm, your response to Into Thin Air reminds me of my feelings reading Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm. Even knowing the end of the book, even having seen the movie, I found it a gripping story. I even found myself stepping back occasionally to appreciate the historian’s craft that he brought to the book. To create a storyline where not only the end is known but almost none of the principles are around to interview is really a feat to enjoy.

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