Tuesday, April 30, 2019

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros; ~ A Stone for Danny Fisher; Harold Robbins



Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read.  This one is a book my husband and I started listening to on a road trip last week. He had read the book 40+ years ago and loved it so we decided to try the audio. What do you think?

A Stone for Danny Fisher; Harold Robbins
(originally published in 1952 - Blackstone Audio 2009

"There are many ways to get to Mount Zion Cemetery. You can go by automobile, through the many beautiful parkways of Long Island, or by subway, bus or trolley. There are many ways to get to Mount Zion Cemetery, but during this week there is no way that is not crushed and crowded with people.

Why should this be so? you ask,  for in the full flush of life there is something frightening about about going to a cemetery -- except at certain times. But this week, the week before the High Holy Days, is one of those times. For this is the week that Lord God Jehovah calls His angels about Him and opens before them the Book of Life. And your name is inscribed on one of these pages. Written on that page will be your fate for the coming year.

For these six says the book will remain open and you will have the opportunity to prove that you are deserving of His kindness. During these six days you devote yourself to acts of charity and devotion. One of these acts is the annual visit to the dead.

And to make sure that your visit to the departed will be noted ad the proper credit given, you will pick up a small stone from the earth beneath your feet and place it on the monument so the Recording Angel will see it when he comes through the cemetery each night."

Curious? The audio is long (we are about 1/2 way through) but it's quite addictive.

Monday, April 29, 2019

April Books in Review




April was a very good reading month for me.  I read (15) books and posted short reviews for them as well. I was pretty happy that I got to a good number of newer books sent to me for review. (49 books YTD.

I did give up on, 3 books early on, chocking these up to my DNF list for 2019:

 - NOSA42; Joe Hill (April) - animal cruelty

 - The Hunting Game; Helene Tursten (April) animal cruelty
 - The Italian Wife; Ann Hood (April) just boring

 In April my armchair travels took me to some of the same countries it seemed: Germany, England, and a few new ones too: Amalfi Coast and Scottish Highlands. I also traveled to California, New York and Florida within the US.

I liked most of what I read but if I had to pick just (1) fiction and (1) NF it would be these:
















What I Read

  1. A Bite in the Apple; Chrisann Brennan - 3.5/5 (print-library-April)
  2. Alias Grace; Margaret Atwood - 4/5 - (audio-library- April)
  3. My Life in a Cat House: True Tales of Love, Laughter & Living with Five Felines; Gwen Cooper - NF - 4.5/5 (my shelves-print-April)
  4. Mr. Posey's New Glasses; Ted Kooser and Daniel Duncan (4.5/5) (my shelves-April)
  5.  Hello, I'm Here; Helen Frost and Rick Lieder - 5/5) (my shelves-April)
  6.  A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park; Ashley Benham Yazdani - 5/5) (my shelves-April)
  7.  Princess Cora and the Crocodile; Laura Amy Schiltz and Brian Floca - 4.5/5) (my shelves-April)
  8. I Want My Hat Back; Jon Klassen - 1/5) (my shelves-April)
  9. The Other Woman; Sandie Jones - 3.5/5 (audio - library April)
  10. Wingspan; Chris Bohjalian - 4/5 (eGalley-April)
  11. A Ladder to the Sky; John Boyne - 4.5/5 (ARC-April)
  12. The Club; Takis Wurger - 4/5 (ARC-April)
  13. The Hunting Party; Lucy Foley - 3/5 (audio-April)
  14. Inheritance: a memoir; Dani Shapiro - 4/5 (library-April)
  15. The Immortalist; Chloe Benjamin - 4/5 - book group (my shelves-April)
Breakdown

Fiction - 12 (5 were kids books) NF - 3 - DNF - 3

Audios -  3
eBooks  - 1
print     - 11
ARCS/Review Books - 8
audio/eBook Combos - 1
Borrowed from Library - 5
Off my physical Shelves - 9
May Plans
(so far)
Hope everyone had a great month!

Sunday, April 28, 2019

The Hunting Party; Lucy Foley



AUTHOR:  Lucy Foley
PUBLISHER:  William Morrow
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING:  Scottish Highlands
FORMAT:  - Harper audio/library
RATING - 3/5

An Agatha Christie inspired debut follows a group of nine Oxford University friends, now in their 30s, who travel to a remote hunting lodge to celebrate New Year's Eve.  As the group talks about old times and all that has happened since they left school, it's clear there is plenty to dislike among some members of the group.  A blizzard threatens outside and a body is found in the snow, worry sets in as it's clear no one can leave the lodge and the killer might be a member of their own group as the only other people around are a manager of the lodge, the game keeper and one other employee.

My favorite thing about this one was the setting, cold, isolated and inescapable because of the blizzard. Told in flashbacks from members of the group, the entire story takes place in a 48 hour period. It's clear there are plenty of secrets and, you don't know who the victim is until later.  With nine characters and all of the dialog taking place inside the lodge, I found it tough to follow the various POVs on audio and at times it felt like a bit of a slow burn. There were five different narrators for this production, each with an accent that made listening somewhat challenging at time.  If you plan to try this one try the print version. In some ways this one reminded of Shari Lapena's, The Unwanted Guest - that one I loved!

Inheritance; Dani Shapiro, a memoir


AUTHOR:  Dani Shapiro
PUBLISHER:  Alfred Knopf
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING:  n/a
FORMAT:  -  print/library
RATING - 4/5

Blond, blue-eyed author Dani Shapiro was told on a few occasions that she didn't look Jewish even though she grew up in a Jewish Orthodox family with roots from Eastern Europe.  One day in 2016, on a whim she decides to have a DNA test done in conjunction with Ancestry.com.  When the results come back, her life is turned upside down.  She learns quickly that the only father she had known, was not her biological father. 

With both parents now deceased, but a husband willing to help her unlock the mystery of her conception, she was quickly able to piece together just who her biological father was. Her biological father was a 1960s University of Pennsylvania medical student and sperm donor and now, a retired physician.

Deeply personal and moving,  as I read her story it began to raise all sorts of questions for me.  I found this memoir fascinating and a real page-turner. I thought it was sad that many of the questions that she would have liked to have answered were ones that only the two people  she thought she knew  best took to their graves.

If you have any interest in genetics or paternity, try this memoir.

A Rainy Sunday and Week in Review

 It's been a rainy weekend so a good reason to stay in and get organized. Just packed away a lot of winter clothes and out with the spring weather stuff.  My husband bought me a Talbot's gift card for Valentine's Day and I saved it for some spring purchases.  These are a few of the newbies I picked that really seem to brighten up my spring wardrobe. I also picked a J. Jill white linen shirt, some linen pants and a couple of pairs of sandals and capris.



 Lobsters and Lemons 

Lemons are in this year so I simply couldn't resist these 2.

This past week we were away for a bit and we caught up with an old friend who will be moving to FL next month. We had a nice, visit over lunch and even happened to see an old neighbor that we hadn't seen in 11 years at the restaurant where we were dining.

Easter - We had a nice Easter dinner and birthday celebration last weekend. Our (2) sister granddaughters turned 5 and 7 in April -- hard to believe. The youngest granddaughter will also turn 5 this summer.


Bookish Stuff

I've been busy reading and need to catch up on some reviews as well. I can be easily swayed by the book reviews of respected bloggers so even though I hadn't planned on reading Daisy Jones and the Six, but, thanks to Ti @ Book Chatter's review I'm now listening to it and enjoying it.


My book group met last week to discuss The Immortalist; Chloe Benjamin - this book was a DNF for me last year, but I decided to give it a shot once again when my group picked it. I was glad I tried it once again - 4/5 stars.

Basically, it's a story about 4 siblings who back in 1969 lived in NYC. They visited a psychic who told each of them ( ages 7 thru 14 at the time) the dates that they would die. The story then plays out by seeing how each child choose to live their adult lives once they learned this information.

Out of the (13) or so that showed up for the meeting, only me and one other member wanted to know how long they would live if that info was available.

My book group consists of mostly older women 65+ with one newbie who is in her 20's and is a real delight.  Because this book starts out with some sexually explicit details regarding homosexual sex, I feared many of the women might not finish the book, but  that was a very small part of the story. Mostly everyone finished the book and the entire story made for an excellent and lively discussion. Honestly, the sexual explicit part was really a small part of the book.

Have you read the book? Would you want to know in advance the day you were destined to die?

New Books

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The River; Peter Heller


Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read.  Here's an except from a book I've been looking forward to. What do you think?

The River; Peter Heller
Knopf - 2019

PROLOGUE

"They had been smelling smoke for two days.

At first they thought it was another campfire and that surprised them because they had not heard the engine of a plane and they had been traveling the string of long lakes for days and had not seen sign of another person or even the distant movement of another canoe.  The only tracks in the mud of the portages were wolf and moose, otter bear."

What do you think? It's been getting some great reviews.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

The Club, Takis Wurger



TITLE: The Club
AUTHOR:  Takis Wurgen
PUBLISHER:  Grove Press
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING:  Germany; England
FORMAT:  -  ARC
RATING - 4/5

The Club, is a work of fiction that tells the story of a group of elite, privileged, young men at Cambridge University's Pitt Club, behaving badly.

Hans Stichler, grew up as an orphan. He was shy and bullied and learned to box early on as a way to defend himself.  An invitation from aunt Alex to spend time at Cambridge university where she teaches art history will ensure him a place at St. John's College.  In exchange, aunt Alex needs his help. She needs him to find out more about a secret society, referred to as, The Pitt Club.  The Pitt Club was a long time fixture at Cambridge where the very rich and often very obnoxious, felt as if they could do whatever they pleased without consequences.

Hans, because of his boxing background and likable ways is able to gain access to the club, despite his upbringing and social class being so different than the other club members.  What he discovers is shocking.

This is a very short, concise, well-written novel (fewer than 200 pages). The characters were surprisingly complex for a short work as well.  The book does contain some off-putting passages which include racist overtures, rape and other acts of violence, making this a book some readers might want to avoid.  It does, however, leave the reader with plenty to think about.  The translation, overall, was very good and it's the type of book that can be easily read in one sitting.  I'm happy I had a chance to try it.

A Ladder to the Sky; John Boyne


AUTHOR:  John Boyne
PUBLISHER:  Hogarth
PUB. YEAR: 2018
SETTING:  Germany, Amalfi Coast, NYC and London
FORMAT:  -  ARC
RATING - 4.5/5

Just who is Maurice Swift, the protagonist and sociopath, of this delightful literary novel?  We first meet him in 1988 when he is working as a waiter at a West Berlin hotel's restaurant.  He's a guy who wants to a writer but, he's lazy and has no talent; he does have charm though.  He figures he doesn't have to give up on his dreams to become a success, why not just find another way to achieve his goal.

His first opportunity to achieve that literary success is when he meets a somewhat famous, but lonely, older novelist named Erich Ackermann.  Maurice is full of charm and compliments and quickly has won the trust of Ackermann who in a weak moment shares some private, secrets from his past which Maurice sees as excellent material for a successful novel. He takes what he's learned and turns it into his own successful book. He isn't satisfied just yet either,  he's certain he's capable of even more literary success, and you can be sure he'll find another unsuspecting, talented victim soon.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delicious novel. The handsome, but sinister Maurice is not a character I will easily forget. Was he unlikeable, yes, but memorable all the same. This is a guy who knows when and what buttons to push to manipulate others for his own personal gain. There were a few parts which were a bit slow, but overall, this a pleasant treat. I must say that I loved the ending as well. Try It!

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Wingspan; Chris Bohjalian



TITLE: Wingspan
AUTHOR:  Chris Bohjalian
PUBLISHER:  Knopf/Doubleday 
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING:  Transatlantic flight from NY to London
FORMAT:  -  eGalley
RATING - 4/5


I've read most everything Chris Bohjalian has written so I was naturally curious about this novella.  At first I though it might be a prequel to The Flight Attendant, but it was not.

Originally a one act play staring Grace Experience (Bohjalian's daughter) and K.K. Glick, it's a very quick read, basically dialog between two flight attendants. There's veteran attendant Karen and  a newbie, Emily who is on her first transatlantic flight from NY to London. Emily is extremely nervous about this flight and starts talking pretty much non stop, unloading her secrets in the process.

I read this from start to finish in bed the other night and thought it was enjoyable enough to recommend.


First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Club; Takis Wurger


Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read.  Here's an except from a book I've been looking forward to. What do you think?

The Club, Takis Wurger
Grove Press - 2019
Hans

"In the south of lower Saxony is a forest called Deister, and in that forest there was a sandstone house where the forest ranger used to live.  Through a series of chance events, and with the help of a bank loan, this house came into the possession of a married couple who moved there so the wife could die in peace.

She had cancer, dozens of little carcinomas lodged in her lungs, as if someone had fired them in with a scattergun.  The cancer was inoperable, and the dozens of doctors said they didn't know how much time the wife had left, so the husband left his work as an architect to stay by her side.  When the wife became pregnant, the oncologist advised her to have an abortion. The gynecologist said a woman with lung cancer could still bear a child.  She gave birth to a small, scrawny infant with delicate limbs and a full head of black hair.  The man and the woman planted a cherry tree behind their house and named their son Hans.  That was me."

Would you read more or pass?

Monday, April 15, 2019

The Other Woman; Sandie Jones



AUTHOR:  Sandie Jones
PUBLISHER:  Macmillan Audio 
PUB. YEAR: 2018
SETTING:  England
FORMAT:  -  audio/library (9+ hours)
RATING - 3.5/5

Emily Havistock is fresh out of a bad breakup. When she meets Adam in a bar one night, it isn't long before she thinks that he is the man of her dreams. But, it isn't long before she realizes she has some competition -- Pammie, Adam's manipulative, medaling mother who Adam seems to defend at every turn. At first Emily likes Pammie, but things quickly change when the couple gets engaged and plan to move in together. She then goes out of her way to be mean and to embarrass Emily in an attempt to breakup the relationship. She even goes out of her way to push Adam's younger brother James on Emily and to fake a cancer diagnosis.

This is a story with plenty of secrets and twists -  what really happened to Rebecca, Adam's former fiancee who is now dead? 

Told from the POV of Emily, this was what I'll have to call a sometimes entertaining psycho thriller, but, it's certainly not without flaws.  The twist at the end seemed kind of odd and came out of nowhere.  You might want to consider this for a beach read this summer, but, probably not at the top of your must-read list.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

(5) Quick Kids Book Reviews - Candlewick Press


Mr. Posey's New Glasses; Ted Kooser and Daniel Duncan
2019 - Candlewick Press - Grades 1-4

Just look at this delightful cover art and meet Mr. Posey. He's a senior citizen / grandpa type who is feeling a bit sad as if perhaps his eyesight is failing him.  A trip to the Cheer Up Thrift Shop with his neighbor seems to be the cure and, suddenly, he finds that his world is looking very different depending which of the quirky glasses he tires on. But, please, no cat-eyed frames as he learns fast that dogs don't like them.

A charming story with plenty of words to challenge the new reader. The paragraphs are a bit long but, what a fun story with terrific illustrations as well.

 Hello, I'm Here; Helen Frost and Rick Lieder (photography)
Candlewick Press - 2019 - Ages 2-5 - Pre school to K

A beautifully illustrated, easy to understand story about a majestic Sandhill Crane couple and their newborns that just have hatched. The parents teach them the way as their sometimes wobbly legs follow their parents here and there.

I loved the story with rhyming verse and the photography with it's many 2-page spreads are gorgeous.  Perfect as an Eastern gift or for any occasion.

Candlewick Press 2019 - Ages 9+

Did you ever wonder how Central Park in New York City came about? If so, this is a book for young and old alike. 1858, NYC, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmstead came up with a winning design  for Central Park A stunning place with some 34 unique bridges, master gardens everywhere, fountains, pagodas and so much more.  This book is detailed and fascinating and, whether you are young or old, I'm sure you will enjoy learning about the park's creation. Stunning illustrations as well.

 Princess Cora and the Crocodile; Laura Amy Schiltz and Brian Floca
Candlewick Press - 2017 - ages 4-8

Not just another princess story, I loved that Cora is not your typical, fairy-tale princess. She just want to have some free time to play because her life and schedule is much too busy for a little girl. She writes a letter to her fairy godmother wishing for a dog but ending up with a crocodile and so the adventures begin.

I loved the story, the message and the illustrations. New readers will get the giggles after reading about Cora.

I Want My Hat Back; Jon Klassen
Candlewick 2011 - Board Book - 2019 -  ages 4-8

The first book in a 3-book series and I might be in the minority here but, I have to say "pass" on this story.  It's a simple story but, I didn't care for it.  A bear has lost his red hat. He's a very polite bear that asks the other animals whether they have seen his hat.  You see the rabbit has taken his hat but, in the end the bear gets revenge on the rabbit in the form of dinner!! Simple art work, I just didn't care for what I guess you would call subtle humor. PASS

My Life in a Cat House; Gwen Cooper


AUTHOR:  Gwen Cooper
PUBLISHER:  Ben Bella Books
PUB. YEAR: 2018
SETTING:  FL, NY, NJ
FORMAT:  -  print/my shelves (288 pp )
RATING - 5/5


My Life in a Cat House, is a delightful collection of 8 stories about the cats that shared a home with the author, a woman who grew up in a home with dogs. 

Although the author never considered herself a "cat person" it just took just one special rescued kitten to change all that. Over the years the author has given a home to 5 cats, some who now have passed on. Her stories about Scarlett, Vashti, Homer (the blind cat who has a whole book dedicated to him), Fanny and Clayton, each with their own personalities and quirks, resonated with me in some way. From the lap cats, a 3-legged cat, a blind cat and the cat that taught himself to fetch like a dog, most stories reminded me of a cat that graced my life over the years.  

I found it funny but true, how cat lovers rearrange their homes to accommodate their cats. Shoe boxes become home decor, tissue boxes on night stands, aspirin bottles and heating pads for aches and pains, all become amusement for our furry-feline friends. How it's never too much trouble for a cat-lover to put aside a good book or the laptop when the cat wants to snuggle on your lap. Then, of course, the more trying times like when the dreaded cat-carriers make their appearance for that trips to the vet. I found the stories to be lively and engaging, funny, sweet and sometimes sentimental. Cat-lovers will appreciate this collection of stories and most will be able to relate to their own personal experiences.

This book would make a great "mom's day" book or just a "thinking of you" book for the cat-lover in your life. 

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Alias Grace; Margaret Atwood


AUTHOR:  Margaret Atwood
PUBLISHER:  Random House Audio
PUB. YEAR: 1996
SETTING:  Canada
FORMAT:  -  library/audio (15+ hours)
RATING: 4/5

Having enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale on audio last year, I wanted to try Alias Grace as an audio as well. Elizabeth McGovern did a great job and although this is a very long book, I thought it was time well spent.

The novel is based on the 1843, murders of Canadians Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, his housekeeper and mistress.

Grace Marks, 16 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to life for the murders. Her partner, James McDermott was hanged as a result.  Now after some 30 years, a reform group has petitioned that Grace be pardoned, believing she is innocent.  Although she confessed initially to the crime, Grace seems to have no memory of the events now.

Dr. Simon Jordan, an up and coming expert in the field of mental illness from Massachusetts takes on the task of trying to determine if Grace is insane or was she a murderess?

The story started off slow and this is not an action packed story but, I did find the interview process pretty fascinating.  Atwood's wring is so good and occasionally infused with humor as well. I liked her keen observations. She really delves deep into what makes Grace tick.  The story is told from Grace's POV as well as the third person POV of Dr. Jordan.  While I really enjoyed this overall, the ending did feel like a bit of a let-down.

Friday, April 12, 2019

A Few New Books


Over the last few weeks I was so pleased to receive review copies these new releases. Are any of them on your TBR list?

Thursday, April 11, 2019

The Bite in the Apple; Chrisann Brennan


AUTHOR:  Chrisann Brennan
PUBLISHER:  St. Martin's Press
PUB. YEAR: 2013
SETTING:  California
FORMAT:  -  library/print (320 pp)
RATING: 3.5/5


I love Apple products so have been long interested in the genius who made the company the empire it is today.

I think many people already know that Steve Jobs might have been brilliant but he was also a deeply flawed individual.  He met the author of this memoir when the two were in high school in the early 1970s. They had an on again off again relationship for over 5 years which resulted in the birth of Lisa Brennan.  For several years he denied paternity of his first-born, but in 1979 a paternity test proved otherwise.  But, just who was this flawed, brilliant man?

Steve Jobs was given up for adoption as an infant and adopted by a couple who were also flawed. The father was often cruel and hard on Steve.  From Steve's earliest months as an infant, his adoptive mother never got too close to him, fearing his birth mother would change her mind as she wanted him placed in a wealthy Catholic home. So for the first 6-months of his life, his adoptive mother showed him no love. He soon became a somewhat difficult child.

Bullied in school, he developed a propensity toward unexplained verbal attacks on others, often coming out of nowhere, described as similar to "Tourette's." Even when he obtained unimaginable wealth, he was described as cheap.  He often caused friction between his daughter and her mother once he became more involved in Lisa's life.

I didn't think this story was perfect, but, it was a rather human story giving more insight into perhaps the circumstances which shaped the negative aspects of Steve Job's personality.  I thought Chrisann's story almost felt like she forgave him for his verbal assaults over the years. The memoir felt real and very personal and this not so much about his professional successes. Overall, I'm happy I read this one but admit to skimming a few pages here and there.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The Silent Patient; Alex Michaelides


AUTHOR:  Alex Michaelides
PUBLISHER:  Celadon Books
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING:  London
FORMAT:  -  print - my shelves ( 336 pp)
RATING: 4.5/5


I had read so much hype about this book that I wondered whether it would be a "me" book or not.  It's terrific; so happy I read it and, I was happy to read that Brad Pitt has purchased movie rights to it as well.

The story revolves around Alicia Berenson, a famous painter from London who seemed to have it all. Married to Gabriel, a well known fashion photographer, one day when her husband returns home from work, she shoots him five times, killing him and then slashing her wrists.  But why? Oddly, from the day she kills him, she never speaks a word, making this case very intriguing to the public.

Locked away at The Grove, a place for violent female offenders, she soon gains the interest of Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist, who is interested in unlocking the secrets hidden deep inside the "silent" Alicia.

I loved the way this story plays out. There's her diary which serves as a clever narrative to the past leading up to the day her husband is killed. There's a good deal of psychoanalytic detail as Theo works with Alicia, hoping for a breakthrough and her speaking once again.  Highly suspenseful, I liked that some of my suspicions panned out but, I didn't have it all right. Read this one if you enjoy psychological thrillers.


Tuesday, April 9, 2019

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - A Ladder to the Sky; John Boyne



Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read. 



A Ladder to the Sky; John Boyne
Hogarth - 2018

PART 1
BEFORE THE WALL CAME DOWN

1.
West Berlin

"From the moment I accepted the invitation, I was nervous about returning to Germany. It had been so many years since I'd last been there, after all, that it was difficult to know what memories might be stirred up by my return."

I've been wanting to begin this one for several months and I'm so glad I finally did - such an addictive story.

What do you think? Have you ever tried this author's books before?

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - A Bite in the Apple; Chrisann Brennan



Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read. 

St. Martin's Press - 2013

One

The Creatives

" I first met him in early January of my junior year of high school. It was 1972.  He wore thin blue jeans that were full of big holes, the torn material hanging in loops around his legs.  He was dressed in a nice pressed shirt and tennis shoes and walked then, as he did as an adult, in a forward-falling gait, arms swinging with a contained reserve in his hands.  It was a sunny California afternoon in early spring and he was standing in the quad with a small book in his hand.  I don't know why I hadn't seen him before, since, as I would find out later, many of my friends knew him.  I was drawn to him immediately, and when he walked off campus I followed him, wanting to say something but having no idea what or how.  I surprised myself, because I ended up following him out to the edge of the campus three times over the next week.  I finally gave up because it was too big a leap for me to introduce myself out of the blue to a boy I thought was cute. I never even learned his name."

Even though this intro seemed pretty boring to me, I'm obsessed with all things "Jobs and Apple" and, since I read (2) other books about him I wanted to see what else this one might have to offer.

Any interest?