What books are you into recently?

hypochondriac

Senior Member
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Australia
I might sound snobbish in my taste here. I returned to Christianity a few years ago so that is certainly going to shape what I read now. Im trying to fully grasp G K Chesterton but its a challenge. Everlasting Man is one.
Dostoyevsky. The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov
All Quiet on the Western Front. I should have read this book ages ago. it is absolutely awesome.
Laurence Freeman. But Im not sure Im into his version of Christianity.
Will mentioning Christianity ostracise me here? :)
 

Oh and the Book of Kings on the Divided Kingdom. There is a message there for current world leaders. Any leader who is not accountable to some higher principles greater than themselves needs to go. We dont need you. Take your Totalitarianism/Dictatorship to another planet.
 
I'm reading: Never Play Dead - How the Truth Makes You Unstoppable. It's written by young woman of 26 who is a political Constitutional Conservative commentator (yes, controversial). However, the book is more inspirational and self-help than about politics. Standing your ground without being a jerk, working hard, liking yourself, not being concerned when others don't like you, being a voice for the voiceless, trusting God's plan, knowing you can't please everyone but always being authentic, articulate, and unafraid of the backlash because...when you know what you're talking about and what you believe in and you're willing to fight for that, it will never fail you.
 
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I am more into lighter reading. Always have been. Suspense, mystery and the like. Recently I have been working through a stack of Chicken Soup for the Soul books I have. A friend reads them as well, and we usually have a Chicken Soup exchange. She is coming out for lunch next week, and I plan to pass on a couple.
 
I like fornsic-based crime/mysteries - like Sue Grafton or Kathy Reichs.
Wasn't Sue Grafton the one who wrote the Alphabet series of mysteries? I think I remember reading that she passed away before completing the letter Z. I tried a couple of Kathy Reich's books because of watching Bones on TV. Could not get interested, but probably would have had I not watched the TV show.
 
I'm currently reading 'The Drama of the Lost Disciples'...about the beginnings of the Christian Church. The Church was established here in Britain first and the Britons took Christianity to Rome. The first Bishop of Rome was St Linus, the son of a British king. I don't think any of this is taught in schools...and it should be! Britain has an illustrious past and our children should be proud of that. Also, the Romans met their match when they tried to invade...it was not a bunch of undisciplined barbarians they were up against, but cultured, educated people. This book has really been an eye-opener for me.
 
Father James Martin SJ
The jesuit guide to almost everything.
ive had my doubts about this guy and still do. Is he really taking us in a good direction or up the garden path?
he has become an lgbqti advocate which angered many conservative catholics. im just more confused than ever. the pope seems to be supporting his stance so maybe hes right. who knows. so much is left up to our discernment these days it is a concern.
i know Martin has become popular on tv in america and appears on colberts show. not that i know much about colbert.
One thing is sure. Reading this book ive discovered that he has done his homework and he is very smart. There is a vacuum he is filling. Between dry conservative Catholic doctrine and real down to earth faith. Ive come to be interested more iIgnatian Spirituality. He makes it sound much more appealing than anyone else has. we need more peiple like him to promote the faith.
But i think he might overdo the humour sometimes. And be too hard on conservatives. People get sick ofcstand up comedians too. They want someone they can respect.
 
As a retired Social Worker, and mental health advocate, I am always interested in issues surround mental health, OCD and other things I have dealt with.
My current read is "The Secret Life of Hoarders" by Matt Paxton. Matt is a clean up specialist who worked on the show Hoarders. But it does not exploit the people. He uses made up names. He discusses some hoarders, and the mental health issues behind their hoarding. What was involved with the clean up, and what was behind the hoarding. Often (but not always) it is triggered by an emotional loss, or tramatic event. You see it happening often after death of a loved one, divorce or whatever.
Some hoarders are professional people (one he profiles is a college professor) some are not. I am quite interested.
 
social worker marie? Im originally a teacher but i spent 4 years as a support worker in a psychiatric hostel.
i got to know the world of social workers and mental health.
its a tough job with minimal reward was my impression. you need to be tough as nails but still have a kind heart. i could never do it.
 
I spent most of my career working with people with disabilities. That is about 30 years (got my degree in my 30's.) It is what I felt drawn to, and would not have done things differently
 
I spent most of my career working with people with disabilities. That is about 30 years (got my degree in my 30's.) It is what I felt drawn to, and would not have done things differently
I did a brief stint as a support worker for severely disabled. i never mastered the practical side like hoisting showering dressing feeding and toileting. and my colleagues lost their patience with me so i quit.
 
Another book ive just read is an autobiography by Greg Sheridan. a famous jounalist who writes for a conservative Australian newspaper.
He is friends of some pretty controversial and polarising politicians on the Aussie landscape.
it gave me an insight into the world of journalism. i wouldnt be tough enough for it unfort. maybe the people pleaser gene in me would sabotage my efforts.
i hate being hated. I suspect you have to have a level of fake diplomacy and tact which might rule me out too.
and there is the feeling that you are just peddling your own political view with minimal or cliched facts.
having said that i envy his work experiences and rich life.
 
My all time favorite book is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. It's a tear jerker, and about to have a movie come out, on Aug 9th. I'm excited! It really is good. Narrated by a dog, which I found very interesting.

I'm currently reading the third book in a trilogy about the King Arthur legend, though I don't remember the name of it. That time frame fascinates me. I do remember the name of the first book though, which is "Hawk of May". It's about the Knight Gawain. Supposedly he was the first knight of the round table.

Ahh, as you can see, starting me on books is a mistake. I love books.
 
I think i could get into crime ....oops i mean reading crime stories

Have you ever heard of M. William Phelps? He is a true crime write, who I really enjoyed speaking with. He wrote a book about a man who drowned his wife in their background pool here in Pennsylvania and which I was a member of the investigation team back in 2008. The book is titled “Love Her To Death.” He didn’t just drown her, but you’ll have to read the book to find out the rest.

Phelps interviewed me by phone after receiving written permission from the Pennsylvania State Police. He later sent me a signed copy of the book, which I gave to my mother, who loved true crime books. Last year, I donated the book to a local book auction for charity. Because the book had been signed without mentioning my name as I requested, the book brought almost $300.00 for charity, which was organized to feed the hungry.
 

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