Wednesday, July 04, 2007

A Couple of Books

I recently finished these books:

The Dragon Charmer

by Jan Siegel

2nd in a trilogy of books that started with Prospero's Children

purchased in March 2003, read in its entirety in June 2007

Once I started this book, I remembered that it took me some time to warm up to Prospero's Children. So I gave the sequel a while to get going. But. It. Took. For. Ever. I was so tired of the characters that at several points I didn't really care what happened to them, I just wanted to finish the book. The sentences are lovely. The descriptions can be intense and even evocative. The story just isn't there. And I am not willing to give book 3 in the trilogy a chance. The characters can just play it out on their own.


Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution

by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins

purchased in May 2000, started reading it in summery 2000, finished July 4, 2007

... in which the authors show how companies that operate in ways that prevents net loss of natural resources not only make money, but do so with an edge over companies that waste natural resources. In addition, that the principles necessary to save natural resources also work to improve the human condition and local economies.

This was a good book - I'm just not a regular reader of non-fiction. It took me forever to get through it because I kept putting it aside for months at a time. But I did learn from it and have some interesting facts rolling around in my head. Some may eventually come out as blog posts.



The good news?

I'm going on vacation later this month and during those 2 weeks I expect to read more than a dozen easy-read novels, some by authors tried-and-true in the craft of entertaining me. I can't wait!

4 comments:

Maria said...

Your book choices seemed a bit over my head...especially the second one.

I am currently reading Hilma Wolitzer's Summer Reading and it is great. Listening to Mitchard's The Breakdown Lane in my car on audio.

Have a great vacation...

sister AE said...

Hi, Maria,
The 2nd was was nearly over my head too! I'll post the fluffier July reading after vacation.

Speaking of which, I don't leave for 2 weeks yet - I'm just more than ready (mentally, anyway). Good thing there are lots of folks at working taking a couple vacation days (today and tomorrow) - it should make for a lighter load for my emptier-than-usual head.

Leslie said...

I had the same problem with Sarah Ash's Lord of Snow and Shadows Trilogy. The first book was great, the second one, hard to get through and the third took me almost 6 months to finish!!
Your non-fiction book sounds interesting, something my husband would read. I am not a non-fiction reader though. Thanks for the synopsis!
thanks for stopping by my blog today

sister AE said...

Thanks, Leslie.