Scottysize
iPF Novice
Rogue One a Star Wars Story. Hoping to finish next week, then go see the movie, then get back to reading the Sith Lords.
What are you reading now?
- Thread starter Snowmaven
- Start date
NSquirrel
iPF Novice
The Life of the Bee by Maurice Maeterlinck (written in 1901)
from Amazon
'In an exuberantly poetic work that is less about bees and more about life, Maurice Maeterlinck expresses his philosophy of the human condition. The renowned Belgian poet and dramatist offers brilliant proof in this, his most popular work, that "no living creature, not even man, has achieved in the center of his sphere, what the bee has achieved." From their amazingly intricate feats of architecture to their intrinsic sense of self-sacrifice, Maeterlinck takes a "bee's-eye view" of the most orderly society on Earth.
An enthusiastic and expert beekeeper, Maeterlinck did not intend to write a scientific treatise, even though he details such topics as the mathematically accurate construction of the hive, the division of labor among community members, the life of the young queen and her miraculous nuptial flight, and the movement and meaning of the swarm.
An enchanting classic by one of the most important figures of world literature in the twentieth century and winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize in Literature, this fascinating study is a magnificent tribute to one of the most orderly communities in the world. It is also filled with humble lessons for the human race.'
from Amazon
'In an exuberantly poetic work that is less about bees and more about life, Maurice Maeterlinck expresses his philosophy of the human condition. The renowned Belgian poet and dramatist offers brilliant proof in this, his most popular work, that "no living creature, not even man, has achieved in the center of his sphere, what the bee has achieved." From their amazingly intricate feats of architecture to their intrinsic sense of self-sacrifice, Maeterlinck takes a "bee's-eye view" of the most orderly society on Earth.
An enthusiastic and expert beekeeper, Maeterlinck did not intend to write a scientific treatise, even though he details such topics as the mathematically accurate construction of the hive, the division of labor among community members, the life of the young queen and her miraculous nuptial flight, and the movement and meaning of the swarm.
An enchanting classic by one of the most important figures of world literature in the twentieth century and winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize in Literature, this fascinating study is a magnificent tribute to one of the most orderly communities in the world. It is also filled with humble lessons for the human race.'
The Sleeper and the Spindle, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell
It's a short book (72 pages, less than an hour of reading time), just right for reading in-between. It tells a "different version" of two fairy tales in one: Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The book won last year's Cilip Kate Greenaway Medal.
It's a short book (72 pages, less than an hour of reading time), just right for reading in-between. It tells a "different version" of two fairy tales in one: Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The book won last year's Cilip Kate Greenaway Medal.
Martians Abroad, a novel written by Carrie Vaughn
The book was published this year, a little more than a week ago, and tells the story of a typical teenager, Polly Newton, whose only dream is to become a starship pilot and travel the galaxy. But her mother, director of the Mars Colony, sends Polly and her twin brother Charles to Earth, to Galileo Academy, where they are the first Martians. Most of the story takes place on Earth, where Polly and Charles have problems accepting their new school and home. Both adolescents have to face prejudice and competition. When mysterious accidents happen, Polly has to work together with her classmates, to find out what's going on.
The book was published this year, a little more than a week ago, and tells the story of a typical teenager, Polly Newton, whose only dream is to become a starship pilot and travel the galaxy. But her mother, director of the Mars Colony, sends Polly and her twin brother Charles to Earth, to Galileo Academy, where they are the first Martians. Most of the story takes place on Earth, where Polly and Charles have problems accepting their new school and home. Both adolescents have to face prejudice and competition. When mysterious accidents happen, Polly has to work together with her classmates, to find out what's going on.
NSquirrel
iPF Novice
Alice by Christina Henry
From Goodreads.com:
A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.
In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.
And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
From Goodreads.com:
A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.
In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.
And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
twerppoet
iPad Fan
The ARRL Ham Radio Licence Manual.
More like skimming it, as a refresher before studying to upgrade my licence. This book is for the Technician licence, which I already have.
Also playing with a couple of flashcard apps and some practice quiz apps; for the same reason.
I'll probalby read The Gathering Edge in a couple of days. It's another Liaden Univers book by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller; just out as an eARC.
More like skimming it, as a refresher before studying to upgrade my licence. This book is for the Technician licence, which I already have.
Also playing with a couple of flashcard apps and some practice quiz apps; for the same reason.
I'll probalby read The Gathering Edge in a couple of days. It's another Liaden Univers book by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller; just out as an eARC.
twerppoet
iPad Fan
I liked this one more than I thought I would. I was not part of the golden gaming era the book's world is built around. Many of the references went over my head. Still fun.
NSquirrel
iPF Novice
Just finished and really enjoyed 'The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden' by Jonas Jonasson, who also wrote 'The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window And Disappeared'.
From the author's website
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden challenges fundamentalism in all its forms, and the fallacy that some sorts of people are worth more than others.
Nombeko Mayeki started working at the age of five, was orphaned at ten, and run over by fifteen. There was no indication that she wouldn’t live out her life in her shack in South Africa’s largest shanty town, and then die, with no-one to mourn her. If she hadn’t been who she was: Nombeko Mayeki, the illiterate girl who could count.
Destiny, along with her talent for numbers, leads her away from Soweto to international politics, to the far side of the globe, to two identical and very different brothers. During the trip, she manages to upset the world’s most feared security service before, one day, finding herself trapped in a potato truck.
-----
From the author's website
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden challenges fundamentalism in all its forms, and the fallacy that some sorts of people are worth more than others.
Nombeko Mayeki started working at the age of five, was orphaned at ten, and run over by fifteen. There was no indication that she wouldn’t live out her life in her shack in South Africa’s largest shanty town, and then die, with no-one to mourn her. If she hadn’t been who she was: Nombeko Mayeki, the illiterate girl who could count.
Destiny, along with her talent for numbers, leads her away from Soweto to international politics, to the far side of the globe, to two identical and very different brothers. During the trip, she manages to upset the world’s most feared security service before, one day, finding herself trapped in a potato truck.
-----
NSquirrel
iPF Novice
Back again and I have just finished 'Apollo Pilot' by Donn Eisele.
Fascinating to me, the Apollo missions, especially as I was fortunate enough to see the last Apollo, 17, lift off live and, like may of us, sat up all night watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on TV. I have read several astronauts' biographies and autobiographies over the years; all giving a different perspective to the missions. This book, while compiled from the incomplete notes and makings of a book, gives a clearer idea of some of the conflicts and personalities of the whole project.
From Amazon:
In October 1968 Donn Eisele flew with fellow astronauts Walt Cunningham and Wally Schirra into Earth orbit in Apollo 7. The first manned mission in the Apollo program and the first manned flight after a fire during a launch pad test killed three astronauts in early 1967, Apollo 7 helped restart NASA’s manned-spaceflight program.
Known to many as a goofy, lighthearted prankster, Eisele worked his way from the U.S. Naval Academy to test pilot school and then into the select ranks of America’s prestigious astronaut corps. He was originally on the crew of Apollo 1 before being replaced due to injury. After that crew died in a horrific fire, Eisele was on the crew selected to return Americans to space. Despite the success of Apollo 7,
Fascinating to me, the Apollo missions, especially as I was fortunate enough to see the last Apollo, 17, lift off live and, like may of us, sat up all night watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on TV. I have read several astronauts' biographies and autobiographies over the years; all giving a different perspective to the missions. This book, while compiled from the incomplete notes and makings of a book, gives a clearer idea of some of the conflicts and personalities of the whole project.
From Amazon:
In October 1968 Donn Eisele flew with fellow astronauts Walt Cunningham and Wally Schirra into Earth orbit in Apollo 7. The first manned mission in the Apollo program and the first manned flight after a fire during a launch pad test killed three astronauts in early 1967, Apollo 7 helped restart NASA’s manned-spaceflight program.
Known to many as a goofy, lighthearted prankster, Eisele worked his way from the U.S. Naval Academy to test pilot school and then into the select ranks of America’s prestigious astronaut corps. He was originally on the crew of Apollo 1 before being replaced due to injury. After that crew died in a horrific fire, Eisele was on the crew selected to return Americans to space. Despite the success of Apollo 7,
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