Here in Florida we are all tracking Hurricane Lee. I'm worried. It will be a category 5 soon and everything hinges on it making a northward turn on Tuesday and therfore no landfall as I understand. But no one can say for sure. The maps I am seeing right now are scary.
But on a positive note I was at the library today and checked out five books I am looking forward to reading:
The Everglades: Rivers of Grass by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas - Marjorie Stoneman Douglas devoted her life to preserving the Everglades. Sadly too many (including me) first heard of her after that terrible mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School. But I would like to know more about The Everglades and this book is her classic.
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Between Breaths by Elizabeth Vargas - Saw Elizabeth Vargas interviewed by Diane Sawyer about a week ago about her battle with addiction and how she recovered. I was pleased to see her memoir at the library and I wish her the best.
Walter Benjamin at the Diary Queen by Larry McMurty I keep promising myself I will read Larry McMurty's Lonesome Dove because he's an excellent writer. But until then I will read his memoir about growing up in West Texas.
All That Is Bitter And Sweet by Ashley Judd - Loved her in Ruby In Paradise. Always interesting on and off the screen. Tragic about her Mom, Naomi Judd. RIP.
Florida: A Short History by Michael Gannon - Might as well find out something about the history of where I am living. And as I understand Michael Gannon is one of the best historians out there when it comes to Florida history.
So a pretty good book haul today. Stay safe and happy reading!
Thinking about you as regards Hurricane Lee. I can't imagine how scary it must be.
ReplyDeleteThe Everglades book sound very interesting, look forward to hearing what you think of that if you get to it. They all sound good though!
Thanks Cath, what I am doing is checking the hurricane news once a day and no more because a person can drive themselves crazy by continuing to scan the weather channels. I hope it doesn't hit land.
ReplyDeleteRight now I have started Larry McMurty's memoir Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen about McMurty's grandparents, parents and growing up in West Texas as a boy and oh wow is it good! And it's not a very long book either.
These look like a good book haul. And I really hope the Hurricane does not get near your location. I will pay attention as not sure the path and details are too clear yet. These storms are frightening. The McMurtry memoir does look interesting ... I believe he once owned a bookstore in the DC/Georgetown area when I was living near there. He was book hoarder I think, Lol. And his book collections were pretty legendary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. I am hoping that when Lee makes the northern turn they are predicing that it stays pretty far off shore that way the entire east coast would be okay. But what can you do?
ReplyDeleteLarry McMurty is such a great writer and I am really enjoying his memoir and he wrote another nonfiction work about his love of books. I heard that too, that he was a collector and I believe at one point ran his own bookstore but not sure.
My husband has read a few books on California history, even though we both first came hear in the early 1970s. That book about the Everglades sounds the most interesting, but I don't read a lot of nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteI have been attempting to read about the path of Hurricane Lee but I don't really understand the parts about where it could make landfall or even cause damage if it doesn't. Regardless I hope you and others in Florida are not badly affected. I used to have some relatives in Florida (Gulf Coast) but no more.
Thanks Tracy, It looks like depending on what happens that regions above Florida could be affected by Lee. I hope not. I want Lee to stay far enough away from land so it doesn't cause trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy parents used to live in New Port Richey right on the gulf. I am looking forward to the Everglades book but I am hoping Marjorie Stonenman Douglas is a good writer. That makes all the difference.
That is a good book haul! And fingers crossed Hurricane Lee turns away from Florida ...and doesn't do a lot of damage to any other state. A category 5 is such a scary storm.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lark, Hurricane Lee may be downgrading a bit. I am seeing category 3 now mentioned. The hope is that it stays far enough off coast that it misses the entire entire eastern seaboard. That would be the best. I was pleased with my book haul too because my library is too small but when in doubt I find a person should head for the biography section.
DeleteInteresting choices, Kathy. I particularly liked the McMurtry memoir...but then, I've liked everything that McMurtry has written, so that's probably not an unexpected endorsement. I hope you stay safe regarding hurricane season. If this pressure system ever leaves my area, I suspect that there's still plenty of time for one to threaten Texas and Louisiana. It's been a strange summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam, I feel bad because I am so focused on Lee hitting Florida that I need to be concerned about other areas too and I am. Louisiana and Texas have had bad storms. Any storm along the gulf coast where my parents used to live is a problem.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read as much from Larry McMurty as I want to but everything I do read I am always pleased and Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen is another great find. West Texas fascinates me because it's real open country, very similar to the pioneer days I think and McMurty describes his town so well.