I've read Ellen Dugan's non-fiction books and liked them, like her writing style
923605
I've read Ellen Dugan's non-fiction books and liked them, like her writing style, so I took a chance on reading her fiction and was well rewarded. This is a fun story and I think what is most compelling is that I really liked the characters - the kind you'd want to hang out with. Clearly she knows her stuff where Magick is concerned and that plays a vital part of the story. It was a very enjoyable read and I sped right through it!
4043372
I HAVE READ HER BOOKS AND NOW I'M , WELL, NOT EXACTLY SUPERMAN, BUT PERHAPS GETTING THERE .  .  .  .
2480444
I read this book because it was a book club pick.  I'm not a fan of non-fiction in the first place; that said, a 3 star rating is a good rating for me.
1201979
Despite not being a great fan of books written in first person,
I still felt Mortality by Kellie Sheridan a pretty interesting
book and probably will read the rest of this series.
3499095
memoirs are fine, I prefer ones written by people who are talented writers. A self published book, that surely supplied some new understanding of  emotional time in her childhood.
574832
I like the writing style & plan to read more of her books. This was the first one for me.
3665437
I would like to give two reviews: one for the writing, and one for the worldviews.  i was initially impressed and copied out a couple of the thoughts expressed in a particularly clear way.  Her writing carried over the story, and is written in such a way you don't even notice the author's style.  Outside of being a bit soap-opera-ish, it was a really enjoyable read.  I loved Tom and Sal. Even though Tom was talking off the cuff, lots of his stuff was pithy, and ultimately, useful to Guy, the main character.  Never did develop a liking for Guy, and this was because of his chauvinistic views on "what a real man is", etc. He was hard to like, and the other characters said so, which I thought was an interesting thing for her to write about. Loved James, but didn't quite get why it was so important for him to be with a 'real woman' (which in modern times would be described as in an awake and aware relationship) and of course, didn't need his views on Fascism.  The entire book had a fiscally conservative slant to it, which was partly because of the era, but not entirely.  If this was written in the 70s, things were changing rapidly, and America was getting polarized around liberal and conservative views.  So I believe this was a choice the author made, to take this stand. I was thinking about the eras while reading the 'rants' about what weren't so much social issues as financial ones, since their world was not very wide in this novel. Portrayal of Guy's wife and children was laid on a bit thick, but maybe true to form for east coast preppies; I wouldn't know, but it didn't seem quite real.
3401390
I rarely read non-fiction, but this book kept my interest.  The author was quite good about making the principle participants interesting, whole people. I don't think this book has transformed me into a non-fiction reader, but it did hold my interest.
3398071
I read Richard A. Clarke's fiction to expand upon his non-fiction.
4213371
This book has been very helpful to me.  I particularly like her down-to-earth writing style.
4257941
Guess this is partially my own fault.  I don't like biographies, but I love historical fiction, which is what I thought this was.  Unfortunately, it's got that dry, speculative tone that most biographies have; a lot of "it is possible that Katharine and Juana walked on the very flagstones that grace the Alhambra today" and stuff like that.  They might have sat staring out the window dreaming of their futures.  This is the kind of thing that put me off biographies in the first place, and this is no exception.

However, if you like that style, this is a worthwhile read.  Nice to read about Katharine from a non-Henry-historian's point of view.
4660626
The Society of Timid Souls is an exploration of stories of bravery from the mouths of those who have exhibited bravery and courage.

The stories themselves are rather engrossing and we learn the narrative surrounding those moments of bravery and courage as though we are sitting across from them, sharing a cup of tea or a pint of beer.  I enjoyed the stories immensely.

I wasn't so crazy about the exploration of those individuals and their stories and the concept of this book as her journey from timid soul to a broader awareness of the definition of bravery, seems weakly structured and doesn't compel me to even want to get from one intriguing tale of bravery to the next because it seems like she is thinking aloud, and I think I understand where that comes from.

As I read the "about the author" blurb at the end, I realized why this particular book had me feeling like I enjoyed it but not really.  As it turns out, Polly Morland is a documentary filmmaker.  That explains so much that bugs me with the structure and patterns within this book.  I feel like Ms. Morland is trying to tell us what she would typically be showing us visually, via film/video.  It feels like she has to find the words because it's a book, for adults and sans illustrations, but the old adage of "show, don't tell", seems to have escaped her.  She refers to the reader as a fellow "timid soul", which frustrated me a bit because I am not such a soul and I have indeed been to hell and back but I read this because I was hoping to find narratives on the post-bravery experience, to some degree.  That expectation, is my fault, not the authors or the publishers.

Now, looking back at the book, I can clearly see the documentary film structure in Polly Morland's writing and as a whole, being aware of that structure, I can appreciate the cadence of the piece, much more than I could without that awareness.  It really does read like a documentary film.  I do hope that there will be a documentary of this, as I think the emotion and storytelling by the subjects and the in between analysis and comparison by Morland, would be more accessible on film (I keep thinking that her book would make a fantastic episode of PBS's "This Emotional Life").

So, it is a good read, even just for the stories of bravery.  I did find myself sharing those stories with my family, as I read them.  The in between stuff didn't teach me anything I wasn't particularly aware of (being a non-timid soul, generally speaking).  I think if she could show us, instead of dictating to us, her collecting and processing of stories and experiences, and perhaps share more of her own vulnerability (beyond declaring herself and the reader "timid souls"), the entire piece would have been worthy of four or five stars and would be a piece I'd suggest to friends and family who are curious about the definition and catalysts of bravery.
3613467
This is not the usual reading fare I like, but it seemed like something different enough that I thought I'd give it a try. There were quite a few disatrous marriages mentioned, some with a duration of only two days! The problem with the book is that because it covered so many maladjusted marriages each story seemed more like an overview and didn't achieve any real depth.

Many years ago I read a few Ann Rule books on true crime. When an author devotes an entire book to a story the reader will obvious understand the people and the events leading up to the crime a lot better than when a book with many stories packed into it. So, while this book wasn't bad for what it claimed to be (a collection), for myself I would have preferred a book which covered only one of these crimes in depth. Also, while I was reading these stories, it struck me as to how many of them I had seen on TV on one or another of those "Investigation Discovery" or other true crime shows.

As far as the writing, it wasn't bad. I recall reading one awkwardly-worded sentence, but it wasn't egregious enough for me to mark it down, so it wasn't that bad. The stories were certainly interesting, to say the least. There were a few that I wouldn't mind reading an entire book about. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book, but just know in advance that you won't be getting into any of these mal-adjusted marraiges and the people involved in any great depth.
317673
I've enjoyed Anna Quindlen's nonfiction and her appearances on tv, but this is the first fiction book of hers I've read, and I thought it was wonderful.

Rebecca Winter is a 60-year old woman, a well-known photographer who hasn't done anything new for a while, divorced, supporting her elderly parents .... and broke. She sublets her Manhattan apartment and rents a little cottage (translation: no neighbors and no outlets in the bedroom) in upstate New York as she worries about money and dissects her career and marriage. The story begins when Rebecca wakes in the night, having heard a .. gunshot? Raccoon in the attic?

When I first saw "Room with a View", I was expecting a quiet period piece with nice people in pretty clothes, but shortly after the movie started I was delighted to find that it was quite funny as well, and that is the same discovery the reader makes here. The chapter titles are clever and there are many moments that bring a smile, if not a guffaw: "When she got into a cab at dinner's end, her head a little muddled by the wine, she felt the way she always did when she was traveling, as though she was enjoying the novelty but would be happiest when she could consider it all from the vantage point of home, with her suitcase unpacked, in more comfortable clothes."

The book covers a few months in Rebecca's life, her relationships, her career, new friends. She's at a turning point and a time of uncertainty and assessment, so there's a lot of introspection, which may not suit some readers. There are no car chases or murders to solve, just an older woman, in the woods, re-experiencing teenage angst.

The narrative voice is interesting, with a kind, warm, casual vibe, though some reviewers have found it intrusive; for instance, the narrator gives us the history of the cottage Rebecca is staying in: "The architect and the book editor had bought it one summer and brought [the big pot] up from the city for a lobster feast that had gone awry because of too much Chardonnay, sun, and a certain sexual overlap between and among friends of which they'd been unaware." Ha! I find these asides a lot of fun, hinting at the multitude of stories that surround us, but others have said this takes the reader out of the story. So you can decide if you might like this book.

The structure is quite nice, varying from a straightforward telling by the occasional use of a montage chapter, a memo or a news blurb, but generally a story told chronologically.

So the story is interesting and there are quite funny bits, and I liked the narrator and our protagonist Rebecca. But what I really loved was the writing -- casual, elegant, absolutely lovely.

I will be looking for more fiction by Anna Quindlen -- a quiet genius.
2729328
Before reading Ellen Glasgow's fiction, I recommend that you read her autobiography 'Woman Within'.  It will add much to the enjoyment of reading 'Virginia'.  In Glasgow's autobiography, Glasgow was the 'other woman'.  The main character, Virginia Treadwell, is the wronged wife in this story.  I see other parallels as well.  The playwright traveled to New York City to get his writing noticed.  Cyrus Treadwell was portrayed in a way that resembled Ellen's own father.  There is plenty of suffering for Virginia during her married life.  In fact, the book goes on and on and on about that.  Ellen Glasgow went on and on and on about her suffering from losses of loved ones, etc.  In fact I was rather irritated about that characteristic of both the autobiography and this novel.  But, after all, you cannot deny that women of that time suffered greatly again and again and again.

I enjoyed the book for its historical content.  This novel allowed me to travel back to an earlier time in the Virginian South and see how people lived then.  I am particularly interested in the post-civil war Virginia right now.  I got a glimpse of the green shoots of women's attitudes toward equality during the 1880's - 1930's.

The characters in the book seemed very real to me.  I found it an enjoyable read and plan to go check out more of Glasgow's fiction from our local library.  You probably won't find her books in most libraries even though she was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1945.  But here in Virginia her books do have historic value and human interest so they are easier to borrow.
4825951
I like to read books .There was a time when I would  regularly  borrow books from  school library  and read them , often a book a day .It was generally a book of fiction .Over the years , I started reading books on philosophy , management, self help as well as fiction .Often ,there were  long gaps in reading books , so much so that my reading was confined to reading  official reports , magazines , self help books and newspapers .Only once in a while , I was inspired to read a novel or a  book on philosophy .My "to read" list became longer and longer .
  Recently , I read "Tolstoy and the Purple Chair  - My Year of Magical Reading" by  Nina Sankovitch. It is a memoir .It  vividly  reminded me that the literature is there "to connect us to our truest selves." I loved this book .It  brought me back to my habit of reading  books. But unlike Nina , I have decided to read and review one book in a week .And I intend to continue it for long .
  Nina Sankovitch could not cope with the loss of her sister , whom she loves very intensely .To overcome her grief, she decided to read one book a day for one full year .She  also decided to review every book that she read on the same day and post it on her blog ReadAllDay.org. She started reading a book a day from her Forty Sixth birth day .Her four  children and her husband agreed to give her this as a  birth day gift , by supporting her on this project. After the end of one year , Nina is fully back into life  with a better understanding of self and the world .In the process , she indirectly establishes the restorative power of literature .We read not to eascape from living , but to escape into living. (Cyril Connolly"The Unquiet Grave").The 365 books that she read in one year from October28,2008 to October 28,2009 are published alphabetically at the end of book.
  Nina chose books of 200-280 pages which she could finish in one day .These were fiction as well as non-fiction .She admired not only the message of the book she read but also its style and choice of words. In fact , her own style is very captivating and has a  spontaneous flow .Her speed of reading is about 70 pages an hour .Mine at present is 30 pages an hour .Perhaps , it is good to read slowly .
  I find that most of the books quoted by Nina are fiction . Fiction helps us to discover and help self more than the self help books .In fact , self-help books are based on generalizations , and are  therefore less  precise .In works of fiction , we have a better camaraderie with the author. Nina  also keeps a "Quotes Journal" where she notes the interesting and insightful quotes from the book she just read .Then she shares these with others through her reviews.
 I recommend you to read this beautiful book , written in an honest and emotional style .It has inspired me to revive my habit of reading books , which I had nearly lost in the humdrum  routine of life.
 - -Vidyanand-
2635724
Ellen Dugan is very easy to ready.  I appreciate the personal way she writes and this book is loaded with good information.