Summer Reading Celebration

This book was great! I really loved the entire trilogy.

I worked the lecture at CHQ. I liked his lecture but this book is so special. You can tell just how personal and yet how distant this book is. It simultaneously is so close to his heart and life yet doesn't fully open the door for us to come in. This is art, this is wny.

When I have a task of drudgery to do, I make light work of it by simultaneously listening to an audiobook. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning audiobook filled that need well as I tackled some kitchen cupboards. Author Margareta Magnusson makes quick work of explaining the blunt, practical premise of “death cleaning” then devotes most of the book to describing how to implement it as a gentle art. Death cleaning is simply weeding out and organizing your personal stuff in such a way that it won’t pose an undue burden to someone after your death. Very pragmatic! The gentle art is what makes it a pleasure: admittedly, most death cleaners are older people and sometimes their friends and relations are dwindling. One can build new ties in the gentle ways they pass along possessions such as photo collections, hand tools, and all manner of things. The gentle art may include giving away curated collections of photos at family gatherings, or passing along furniture to young people just starting out. Through her chapters readers also catch glimpses of the aged author’s well lived life. It was not a long book, and I highly recommend it.

4.5 I liked that. Interesting but it didn't dwell on boring things. It knew exactly what we were in for. I needed a book about dinosaurs and got a manifest destiny, stupid boy goes on a ride of a life time for some dinosaur bones and I ate it up!

Everything about Henrietta Lacks and her family was heartbreaking. Henrietta was lost to history and not even a footnote in her own story. Her genes were used over, and over again. Her DNA was used in so many breakthroughs in science and not even a mention. What a harrowing life. Henrietta's story was tragic, dying young of cancer and so riddled with tumors that pain was her only companion. What was more tragic was her children's mistreatment, malnuroshment and torture at the hands of the people that should have protected and sheltered them in their time of grief. Circumstances were just not on the Lacks family side. Most of the children were dead or imcarcerated before the book was even published. The author, Rebecca Skloot did so much research and talked to the family extensively even when said family was very against even that for a long time. This book was good and very interesting but oh so devastating. Please read this story, if not to hear this family's story but to get the true behind the immortal genes and where they really came from.

An incredible story of survival against all odds. Watched the movie after reading the book and of course, the book is sooo much better. This is a must read!

The fascinating backstory of the creation of Disneyland in sleepy Anaheim California in the 1950’s and the influence it had on amusement parks and entertainment the world over. If you are a Disney fan this is a must read!

4.5 stars. I loved this book. Rhett and Summer have my heart!

Cute. Manga is great for light reading and entertainment

Quick, cute, interesting to a fault.