Books
Combined Stream
last posted Oct. 22, 2014, 2:24 a.m.
Current Read: Second Wind: One Woman's Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents by Cami Ostman
Now that I'm not teaching, I'm trying to get back to setting aside time for some leisure reading. I picked this book up because the cover caught my attention. I'm about 1/4 the way in and it's a great book. It's a good meditation on running, independence, and overcoming self-doubt. The self-doubt piece is especially helpful for me as I'm trying to wrap up my PhD.
In my reading today, the author just completed her first marathon by herself (without her running partner/husband) in a small (31 participant) marathon in Australia. The description of her internal dialogue and struggle definitely struck a nerve within myself. I can totally identify with her emotions as I find myself looking at the past 7 years of doctoral study... Finishing this degree is equivalent to my first marathon. The way this woman writes just speaks to my soul... to the point that I found myself struggling to hold back tears when she triumphantly crossed the finished line! Time to go work on getting closer to my finish line...
I just finished the series Turn and it renewed my interest in reading more about my favorite period in history.
One of the authors that I like for this period in history is Joseph EIlis.
I have His Excellency: George Washington but haven't read it yet. I think I'll start with that one, but would like to finish these as well:
I also like David McCullough and have some of his books of various states of completion. One that I have enjoyed though didn't managed to finish and is worth a re-read (this time hopefully to finish it) is the very long John Adams.
Another volume by McCullough that I own, haven't started, but want to read is 1776.
A third author that I admire is Walter Isaacson.
Once again, there are books of his that I own and desire to read but have not followed up and actually read them yet.
One in particular is Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. I believe I have read most, if not all, of this but it's been about a decade and is worth a re-read, if not a first time read.
I got distracted by a book about a WWII Army Airman and his survival and put my reading of His Excellency on pause.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a most remarkable story brought to life by an incredible writer. I can feel as if I am in the life raft and the POW camps with these men.
The writing is so good that I simply experience the story and don't even think about the writing until reflecting on it later. It's an extremely powerful experience and am looking forward to the second half.
This book reminds me so much of what I know about my great-uncle Robert Altman. So many similarities that I wish he were still alive so we could discuss the book and dive deeper into my uncle's incredible story.
The movie looks fantastic!