Mer Barr
The author's mood swings rather wide depending on the subject. He can be very melodic and dreamy like [a:Frances Mayes 4826 Frances Mayes https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267654734p2/4826.jpg] or read like the hell and brimstone of [a:Dian Fossey 136081 Dian Fossey https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] when describing the atrocities done to other humans, nature, and animals.He does alot of bouncing about between history and “now”, people, places, his memories and facts; the only commonality is each chapter seems to focus on 1 or more subjects. It can get a bit frustrating with the jumping about but the message comes across.
Seems to be a very honest and balanced representation of Havana. The author explains why things are the way they are, attempts to explain the reason for certain slang words, covers history and current day, landmarks across time, the things that draw people to Havana and shows you the grime.
I'm putting Havana and Cuba on my to experience list.
This was probably the only book in my book clubs' version of “March Madness” this year that peaked my interest and it didn't disappoint. Nothing too stressful, which I'm avoiding like alot of folks this year, and an interesting plot that I don't think I've come across, other than a family trying to get back together.
The end's storyline began to fray a bit as the narrator jumped back and forth in time from one sentence to the next, making following along while driving in some traffic, a bit tricky.
I'm glad I read this suggestion instead of the others I had in my TBR queue regarding the Manhattan Project!
This covers more than just Los Alamos, it not only talks about the more well known participants but many ‘average jane's. There's a map of all the locations in the US and Canada that participated in one way or another; it really expanded my mind on the subject.
I also love that this draws on the book I'd planned to read, and now don't really need to, as well as others that I now do want to read.
Not sure if this author is expressing their opinion of the leaders of the various countries, her resources or both; I came away thankful I didn't have to be around people that think that much of themselves.
I thought the author did an admirable job of helping the reader keep up with the change of location as she moved down the timeline and most important to me, she answered the question I'd always had about why 1 assassination that didn't occur in one of the major countries, brought them all to war.
Reminded me of several mini-series that were on tv in the 70s around 2 series of books about a set of families thru several generations. It's not the families thru several generations I didn't like but some of the characters the authors have chosen to create that are not likeable, by me, at all. Nor the business and political intrigue.
The author has chosen to present her research and interviews more as a story, rather than using alot of quotes and facts, which I found I enjoyed but with many of the women being gone when she began her work, you have to wonder how much of her story of how each woman felt is interpretation.Since this is about art, I was hoping to see more of their art work; to support the work being spoken about at the moment. Instead I leaned heavily on YouTube and I borrowed [b:They Drew as They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Golden Age 25615932 The Hidden Art of Disney's Golden Age The 1930s (They Drew As They Pleased #1) Didier Ghez https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493090988l/25615932.SX50.jpg 45427536] which focused on four artists, 1 of which was in this book, presenting alot of their brainstorming and pre-production art.I really enjoyed getting to know each of the women as well as the fact that the whole department of Ink and Paint were women! I, of course, growing up when I did, didn't think about equality and equity so I'm glad to have the history set straight for me. Also working in a male-dominated industry, I understand what they had to deal with from their male coworkers and society.
I borrowed this book to be a companion to [b:The Queens of Animation 33832019 The Queens of Animation Nathalia Holt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547052991l/33832019.SY75.jpg 54760051]; about the women at Disney.This book's summary says it covers one of the women but there wasn't much there. The pages of artwork do help you get a sense of whose hand contributed what, to the tv shows and movies I watched as a kid.
This book is going on my shelf where I keep a copy of the hand-full of books that have changed my perception of my world. I highly recommend this book because the author does a great job of explaining what the topic is, uses chapters to focus on a specific topic at a time, and gives practical examples [extending his prior book [book:Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World 25744928]] with implementation ideas, which the initial book didn't always provide.
Wow! This is uber detailed! I started out with the ebook edition and it was getting harder and harder to pick up. I set it aside for a later in the year buddy read and found out at the very end of that audio read it was abridged! Sad to say, I found the abridged a better read for this year of stress. Maybe another time, Ian.
Wow, I haven't rated a book 5 is a very long time. This checked all the ‘boxes' for me. Good subject, good character and relationship building, a plot the keeps moving, not too deep in lingo, no character that is designed to antagonize and be hated, and no backbiting and politics.
I especially loved the concluding paragraph!
Creepy at times; the first chapter reminded me of the horror flick I was shown during Driver's Ed [ucation] called “Blood on the Highway”, which was intended to show all the horrors of not driving safely.
I found this one rather tough because all the numbers that were presented began to blur and desensitize me in the fact I began to scan thru the book. It did impress on me the amount of research the author, and the many other researchers he relied on, had to have done to inform their readers. It was also a tough read because of the number of words used to get a message across. Maybe someone who does scanning might enjoy this but I don't.
I'm glad I did read the book as I would never have understood the impact the mosquito has had.
