What Are You All Reading?

I am currently reading Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway.

It is my intent to work my way through our book review grid as a means to respark my love of reading. I used to devour novels but it has been a few years sense I last sat down and read. Now that I make the time, I find that I love it! Reading just before bed is starting to become routine.

Just got done reading Sepp Holzers "Desert or Paradise".  I was really trying to find a hard copy, but the cost at the moment is outrageous, so I opted to buy a digital version.

Anybody know if the glorious Mr. Holzer will have these books printed again?

Now I'm reading an online version of "Sepp Holzers Permaculture", which I am enjoying just as much as his other book.  

The picture below shows what I was finally able to get hard copies of. Some of the most often recommended books here on Permies. Getting them to Poland was a pain in the arse...  

I also ordered Kates "Natural Small Batch Cheesemaking", Josephs "Landrace Gardening", Brad Lancasers "Rainwater Harvesting", and a book that was highly recommended by Dakota Coen "Freshwater Aquaculture: A Handbook for Small Scale Fish Culture." Most of these should arrive in Spring when family comes to visit from the US.    

Hoping to gain a level or two...or three!?... on the Wheaton Eco-Scale after putting this knowledge into practice...  

Big dreams and visions ahead.  

I'm currently reading (and enjoying) three books:
Fermentation Journeys by Sandor Katz
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
Blackwater by Michael McDowell

This morning I finished Doppleganger in the list just above and slotted in The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin to replace it. I'm not very far into it but it's already pretty interesting.

I'm reading Enchantment by Katherine May, Cave in the Snow by Vicki Mackenzie and I'm just getting into The Forest Unseen which is about biologist David Haskell's experiment in observation of a one-square-meter patch of old-growth forest. I'm very excited about this one!

Two nights ago, I finished Blackwater and started All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

MEND! a refashioning manual and manifesto  by Kate Sekules

Good overview of historical fabric/clothing practices in the first half.

I'm hoping the second half, which includes more about techniques, will have practical applications for me.

The problem is that many books like this are written by people who are "into fashion". I'm into staying warm while dealing with wet weather and animals!

Finally getting around to Jane Austen - I found a single book that supposedly has her complete works, in chronological order of their writing. I think it would more accurately be described a her complete adult works, as there is at least one of her earlier works, missing. I've never read her books, and the Regency linguistic somersaults, herkeies, and back flips present plenty of challenge, on my foggy days, though they're no trouble, on a decent day.

I'm a few chapters into Sense and Sensibility, now. It's rather enchanting, and the character development, while gentle, is distinct.

Edited to add: 21 chapter's in,  and I'm NOT enjoying Sense & Sensibility. I find the storyline frivolous, tedious, and petty. The linguistic gymnastics are ridiculous, even though I've read my fair share of Regency period dialog, and the characters are utterly nosey & pushy imbiciles, to a one. Twenty one chapters. I was really trying to like it - or at least understand why so many others do... But, it's not working. I can't give Jane another moment of my life.

A couple of these appear in posts above, but my current three books are:
Fermentation Journeys by Sandor Katz (I read this only in little chunks, so it's taking ages.)
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (almost done)
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (just started)

I have an interest in controversial books, especially books that are actually banned, either now or in the past (not just books that are controversial in the public school system, even though I like those too). Here ar few of my recent ones. Currently waiting on mein kampf, along with Mr. Wheatons book.

(Just to b clear, I don't agree with all the ideas espoused in these books. I just enjoy them for the fact that some people think I shouldn't be allowed to own them).

I'm reading the Acorna series by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough for fun. To further my botanical education, I just bought the Botany Bundle from Thomas Elpel. I've seen his YouTube videos and love the simple method he uses to identify plant families! I'm reading the Shanleya's Quest books first then the playing cards to practice plant identification.

Thomas Elpel's Botany Bundle

I remember when all the Cave Bear books came out years ago! Those were the days when you went to the library to check them out, and the wait list was long. I actually just passed my set on only a couple of years ago when cleaning out my bookcases prior to a move. This winter I had high hopes of curling up in my chair with feet of snow and spending days reading, creating a herbal medica, and so many other things. Unfortunately, none of it materialized, and now it's finally getting warmer to clear out the old gardens and start replanting. All that being said, I have become very interested in old gardening books, and have picked up all but one of the books written by Helen and Scott Nearing (those radicals and socialists!). What a life they managed to create for themselves and to think they're farms are still standing, and I think are still productive. I've also picked up a couple of Storey's books; Basic Country Skills has been tagged, marked, and pages much loved.

Auel's  Earth's Children Series are all great reading. You can kinda get hooked on those!

And "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End" by Follet are great as well.

However, I'm currently working my way through all of the many Louis L'Amour books on my shelf again, and again, and again. I'm wearing those out and need to hit a local used book store for replacements.

Non Fiction: Earth Restorer's Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow. She considers permaculture to be ‘sacred knowledge’ to be carried and shared with others and has travelled extensively to do this.

Fiction: I am reading my way through Chris Hammer's latest series, Scrublands, Silver, Trust, Opal Country, Dead Man's Creek, Cover the Bones, a Crimes series I'm totally hooked on and highly recommend.

I Just finished rereading Richard Proenneke's first two Journals: "The Early Years (1967-1973)" and "More Readings From One Man's Wilderness (1974-1980)".  Now I'm starting the next one, "A Life in Full Stride (1981-1985)".

One either loves or hates these journals. I can't get enough. Read the first two books three times no. and feel I have thoroughly grasped the geography, the people and the issues of the time.  Looking forward to reading the rest of them.

Among other things, I hope to gain insight on "reaching the end of the trail" with dignity, gracefully surrendering the abilitiies that often disappear as we age.

I think I accidently sent a 'thumb down' to someone (are we allowed to mention names? I still get confused by some of the buttons). My apologies. I meant it as a thumbs up! Someone posted the Outlander series. Enjoyed up to a certain point until I got tired of people having to chase after Claire b/c she wouldn't stay put. The history was very interesting, tho. Pillars of the Earth and Fall of Giants also excellent. Right now reading thru books by Anya Seton, and currently reading one mentioning an ancestor in Virginia. I've found an old herbal book by Jethro Kloss called Back to Eden from 1930s that was considered back in the day (his description of a good nurse is wishful thinking these days, but makes me smile to read how they must be cheerful, hold their patient's hands, uinselfish, kind and faithful). I've picked up a few books by Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Descriptions and herbal info very easy to understand. Her travels around with world and raising her children very unconventionally must have been something. So many books, so little time to read! My most favorite book from the last year is called Left Neglected. I cried thru much of it b/c it felt like someone was looking at my life.

Currently, I'm in between 3 books
John Grisham- A Time To Kill
Isaac Asimov - Foundation's Edge, book four of the Classic Foundation Series
Kate Downham- Natural Small Batch Cheesemaking (reading and reading)  

I spent several hours this afternoon with Leigh Tate, Five Acres & A Dream The Book.  

It was pure pleasure. Most enjoyable.  

So far it has been a delightful read.


Peace

I read a lot of medicinal plant books, and I also read up on essential oils.

That said, if you are into pleasure-reading.... I have read "The Ranger's Apprentice" series by  John Flanagan. The series is so awesome. If you are a LOTR fan, then I believe your personality type would like The Ranger's Apprentice.

I've been up since 4 this morning.  It's an ok trade off, not sleeping, gives one more time to read!

I will be ordering Leigh Tate's The Sequel and Critter Tales!!!

Hoping that she will try her hand at writing some Sci Fi one day!!!


Peace

A good book that reflects todays temper is Albert Camus "Resistance, Rebellion and Death".  An easy read.

Bees and Beekeeping by Irmgard Diemer, published 1988, Merehurst Press, and a newly arrived Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land by Gary Paul Nabhan.

I am currently reading The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan. It is part of the Wheel of Time series and a good fantasy series. If you enjoy Lord of the Rings, it is the same high fantasy vibe.

Hi, just finished "The Light Eaters" by Zoe  Schlanger. Its about all the new research into plants.  One of the most interesting questions raised is can plants see? Not just follow the sun but see details. There is a plant in south America that can mimic any plant it grows near, they took it into the lab and placed it next to a plastic plant and it mimicked it. So how did the plant know- there was no air or soil borne chemicals , no swamping of dna . Many other curious qurstions. Highly recommended.

I've been reading one page per day from a recent gift, a 1938, edition T-3 Ball Blue Book.  Ball brothers of Muncie Indiana, no price printed on the cover.

They were still selling the zinc lids and the all glass wire bail jars then.

Also have another Blue Book, a 1969, edition #28, cover price - .35!


Peace

Dumas’ Three Musketeers. In typical fashin I read the sequel “20 years later” a few years ago.

I found this little book on the library's sales rack this morning (cost: 25 cents) and knew I had to share it with permies - not only does the man cook, sometimes while wearing his hat, he also discovers he can forage for food, and decides to start a garden, as well! Published in 1981.  

Wow, I haven't posted here since April!

I finished Fall; or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson just half an hour ago.
I'm currently reading Foxfire 2 and Solid State Fermentation for Foods and Beverages
and I just started Polostan also by Neal Stephenson

Carla Burke wrote:I can't give Jane another moment of my life.

Don't if you don't want to - there are plenty of books in the library....

Persuasion was always my favourite of her books.  I don't think we are supposed to like all her characters and they certainly do not share our modern values.

I've been trying to read 'the man in the ice' about Otzi - the man found in a glacier in the alps. But I put it down and read some fiction instead - The dark gifts trilogy by Vic James. Bit dark for me but I enjoyed it, although the ending was a little weird.

So, Around the world in 80 days by Jules Verne, the intro to Platos Republic and still Three Musketeers.

Philias Fogg is such a frustrating person!

I bought myself a little Christmas present called Five Acres & A Dream by Leigh Tate.


I can't wait to read it!