The Russians by Hedrick Smith

I have always intended to keep track or make note of the books I read here. Today's book was one I finished before the end of last year. I read a lot of older books since many of the books I read come from and go back to thrift shops.

The Russians by Hedrick Smith is not a novel but a study of the Russian people, their culture and their government. It was first published in 1976, so much has happened since then, but I enjoyed the look back at the country that was. Mr. Smith's observations of daily life in a county that I will probably never visit helped create an understanding that feels very much as if I had.


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Books 2014 Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly

My granddaughter had to report on a famous American and chose Nellie Bly. I posted a picture of her in her costume from the day it was presented. As part of her project she used a lot of materials to learn about one of the first female reporters to go beyond the society and gardening pages.

After the report was done she loaned me this book. What a terrible time it was to be trapped in the mental health system. Nellie was lucky to be rescued for many being commited to an asylum was a death sentence or led to a lifetime of abuse, neglect and horrible living conditions. I do wonder even with t,he money she was able to get for Blackwell's Island by bringing this all to the attention of a grand jury to be investigated, if conditions improved much and for how long.

I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
I pin - cozyatoz
I socialize - on Google Plus and on Twitter .

Books 2014 Yellowstone Has Teeth

I am not sure I could ever say enough how much I enjoyed this book. I am in awe of the people talked about in Marjane's chronicle of her time spent living in Yellowstone. I found this review by M Baker on Amazon and it echoes very well what I felt while reading including the tears the part about leaving and at the loss of a friend to the hazards of the park in winter and slowing down, not wanting the experience to end. I found myself reading sections of it out loud to family to share the wonderful storytelling.

What a fabulous book! My first experience with Yellowstone was in October 1988 shortly after the fires were extinguished by snow and I have been in love with and intrigued by Yellowstone since. To read Ms. Ambler's first hand account of living in the Interior transports the reader back in time and place. She tells you what it was actually like to live at Lake year round and how truly isolated they were from November-April. It was not a life of glamour and ease. She includes her own first hand accounts and those from many former Park employees. For me, to have the human aspect of a subject is as important as the historical facts. What good are plain facts if you don't know or can't understand how they affect someone?? The book is well written in understandable format. I didn't need a dictionary for word definition and it follows logical sequence. I do have to say, near the end of the book when she and Terry were driving out of the Park I had tears running down my cheeks just as she did. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it had to end! I found myself slowing down reading it so I could make it last longer! (me too!)On the author's website there are pictures of some of the people she speaks about in the book. It is nice to be able to match faces to names. Please, Marjane, I would be interested in reading more of your Yellowstone stories!

I have had the gift of living in the Jackson Hole area for about 3 years now and know I won't always be here. The day I leave will be a rough one too.


I sell - Zibbet
I blog - A Cozy Life and Group2020
I tumble - CozyAtoZ
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Yellowstone Has Teeth

I live in a very small Idaho town and to do any kind of big box shopping it has to be online or drive more than an hour. On weekends we like or rather Jim really likes to get out of town to relax away from his duties at work.

This weekend found us in Riverton, Wyoming. On the way home we stopped at a gas station in Dubois (around here it is pronounced due-boyz) and while waiting my turn for the only restroom I looked at a display of books in the aisle right by the door. I can tell you, Marjane Ambler, that your book is well placed. I saw the title "Yellowstone Has Teeth" and of course read the back cover. If you know me at all you would know that I buy most of what I read at thrift shops and library books sales so full price is a splurge but that is what I did.

I read the first couple chapters before bed last night and am loving the story and the way it is told so far. I can think of a few folks in my family who would really enjoy this too and will be passing it on to them when I am done. If you have an interest in Yellowstone National Park, wild life, surviving winter in small communities, you will definitely want to get a copy of this one for yourself.

I will post more about this when I finish.

Books 2014 Ratlines by Stuart Neville

I don't usually read to study but rather to enjoy. The terms some use when reviewing books don't fit with how I use books to entertain myself so if you are looking for a deep analysis here I recommend looking this book up on Good Reads. That said, I really did enjoy this story. I like nearly all historical fiction and this one kept me tuning pages in my spare time for a couple days. The setting is Ireland in the 60's. It has a hero who gets the girl and some bad guys and those who get caught up in between. Want to know more? I recommend you read the story.