returning after long absence

17 years ago

I have been an inacative member for some time but intend to do better now that I have reached my 98th birthday, if not now it may be too late. What have you been reading lately - I am half way thro Tony Horwitz book A Voyage Long and Strange but find all the torture and murder by the early explorers is almost more than I can take so have a complete edition of Clarence Day to lighten the load. Has anyone read either of these and how did you like them?

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Comments (13)

lemonhead101
17 years ago
Welcome back Hendrika. I must say that I am very impressed at how computer-savvy you are for 98. My grandma (who is considerably younger than you) isn't even half of what you are, computer-wise. Congratulations.

I have read the Tony Horwitz book, "Voyage..." and enjoyed it for the most part as I had huge vast holes in my knowledge base about the period of time he covers. Plus I enjoyed the way he made it interesting as well as accurate. You're right - it was rather a tough time back then....

Not familiar with the Clarence Day, but will check this out on amazon....
lemonhead101
17 years ago
Welcome back Hendrika. I must say that I am very impressed at how computer-savvy you are for 98. My grandma (who is considerably younger than you) isn't even half of what you are, computer-wise. Congratulations.

I have read the Tony Horwitz book, "Voyage..." and enjoyed it for the most part as I had huge vast holes in my knowledge base about the period of time he covers. Plus I enjoyed the way he made it interesting as well as accurate. You're right - it was rather a tough time back then....

Not familiar with the Clarence Day, but will check this out on amazon....
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twobigdogs
17 years ago
Welcome back! And Happy Birthday, too!

I've also read the Tony Horwitz book, A Voyage Long and Strange. Yes indeed, parts of it were quite brutal. But I tried to look at it this way: it is our history, for better or for worse, and I'd rather have the facts than a sugar-coated version. It's quite unpleasant at times, but I found the book well worth the effort. (But Blue Latitudes was a MUCH better book, funnier, too.)

As for Clarence Day, I confess I've never heard of him, either. What does he write? What is his best title in your opinion?

PAM
leel
17 years ago
You've got me about 20 years, but I DO know who Clarence Day is. He wrote, among other things, "Life with Father", later turned into a play. But I've never been particularly fond of him.
hendrika
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, and he also wrote Life with Mother and they were both combined into a play which had the longest run of any Broadway play.He also wrote while he himself was suffering from - I believe - ostea arthritis and was in great pain. I still like to read his accounts of how they dealt with Father and Mother, their eccentricities and life the way it was for the middle upper classes back at the beginning of the century.
frances_md
17 years ago
Happy Birthday, Hendrika! I recently watched Life With Father from Netflix and enjoyed it very much. His writings must be a pleasure to read.
woodnymph2_gw
17 years ago
Welcome back, Hendrika, and congratulations! I hope you will stick around. I, too, like very much the work of Tony Horwitz. Have you ever read "Confederates in the Attic"? It's entertaining and funny in places.
J C
17 years ago
So glad to see you back, Hendricka! We've missed you!
ajpa
17 years ago
Happy Birthday!
Chris_in_the_Valley
17 years ago
Welcome back, Hendricka.

I enjoyed Horowitz's Confederates in the Attic but confess I've never read Day. As a kid I'd confuse his Life with Father with Galbraith's Cheaper by the Dozen and never picked it up. Go figure.
hendrika
Original Author
17 years ago
I haven't yet read Confederates in the Attic but have it. I agree that Tony Horowitz Voyage is not as readable as Blue Latitudes, though it also had a lot of murder. But it does fill in a lot of history. I met a descendant of Cabeza de Vaca so had special interest in reading what his ancestor had done in the opening up - if that is the right expression for what he did - of America. Have you read any of Roland Wright's books on history of Ameerica before the Europeans came and the effect of their invasion. He also wrote What is America - the early part of which gives the settling of America from the natives point of view. Very interesting and an easy read. He is one of my favourites.
woodnymph2_gw
17 years ago
Hendrika, since you mentioned your interest in the opening up of what became America, might I suggest you look into Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower." I found it lively and enlightening, re the settlement of New England and the sort of Native Americans found there. Perhaps you've already read it.
hendrika
Original Author
17 years ago
I haven't read Philbrick's book but shall seek it out, and you must try and find some of Roland Wright's. He is a good writer of what can be difficult subjects - I like him. So many books to be read.
What part of the world do you come from? I am from Canada - Ontario to be exact, but have spent mamy years in South America - hence my interest in early American history

returning after long absence

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