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Super Contributor
Posts: 339
Registered: ‎08-17-2012

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

Recently, Stephen Hawking issued his warning of humanity’s next great threat—autonomous weapons. He believes their versatility and capability will make autonomous weapons “the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow.” With the perspective of thirty-years as the CEO of private and public technology companies, Thomas Banks reached a similar conclusion. Like Hawking, Banks believes drones pose a genuine, maybe indefensible, threat to national security. In only twenty years, drones have expanded beyond the battlefield to be used by the likes of Amazon and common citizens. And soon.....terrorists. 

 

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Frequent Contributor
Posts: 95
Registered: ‎11-23-2014

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

Just finished Elin Hilderbrand's latest, Here's To Us. A good summer read. Was hoping to start the second book by Julia Keller, Bitter River, but the copy I ordered has not arrived yet. I have the third in the series, Summer Of The Dead, so have to decide whether to start that or wait a bit longer. Decisions, decisions!

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Posts: 5,928
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

 

Last week I read The Dinner Party, by Brenda Janowitz and I just loved it so much!  It does help if you are Jewish or understand Jewish holidays, but I think everyone would enjoy it. 

 

I also read Alice & Oliver, by Charles Bock, which I generously gave one star although I didn't think it deserved even that. Sad depressing book with two unlikeable characters. I admit I read half the book and then skimmed until the Epilog. I wasted precious reading time on that one.

 

I also read Reconstructing Amelia, by Kimberly McCreight. I've had it on my list of books to read for years, and finally got around to it. It was an okay book, not great, not terrible. I generously gave it 3 stars although I only thought it deserved two.

 

Now I'm reading The Longest Night, by Andria Williams, which takes place on an army installation in Idaho in the 1950s, and moving ahead. The book is fiction, but is based upon a true disaster that happened with a faulty nuclear reactor. I'm really enjoying it.

 

And that's it for now. Happy reading!

"That's a great first pancake."
Lady Gaga, to Tony Bennett
Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,620
Registered: ‎09-22-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

@catmama

 

Everybody's Fool is next up for me as soon as I finish Happy Family.  Glad to hear your review.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 15,167
Registered: ‎01-02-2011

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

[ Edited ]

@catmamma wrote:

Just finished Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo.  It's the sequel to Nobody's Fool and most of my favorite characters were back.  The book is well written, the characters are solid and Russo has a great sense of humor.  The movie version of Nobody's Fool starred Paul Newman and the only negative is that they can't do a movie version of this book because no one can replace Paul Newman.


I reread NOBODY'S FOOL before reading EVERYBODY'S FOOL -- both wonderful books.  I was surprised at who the main character was in the sequel.  AND, we just watched the Paul Newman movie which is very good but the book trumps it.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,437
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

Just finished Redemption Road by John Hart - Poetic grittiness is how I described his writing.  I did take exception to a few points but it's tense, fast and exciting if you like that sort of book.  

 

I gave it 4 Stars.  I've read 4 of his now and will look forward to what he comes up with next. 

~Dogs are my favorite people and my favorite people are dogs.~
Super Contributor
Posts: 482
Registered: ‎04-20-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

@MrsSweetieBear

 

I am also a John Hart fan - his books have enver disappointed me!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,945
Registered: ‎02-20-2016

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors. I'm about halfway through Everybody's Fool, and have read everything else he wrote. I had really enjoyed Nobody's Fool, so I'm delighted the story is continuing.

 

A bonus for me is that I started out reading a hard copy of Everybody's Fool, then switched to the audio version because my very favorite reader (MARK BRAMHALL) is doing the reading. I have listened to Bramhall read many books I would never have picked up to read. He is fabulous!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,352
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

First of all, thanks to Sunny for taking this thread over from Lainey.  I know you'll do an excellent job and if it ended, I don't know what I'd do w/out this thread where I find a lot of good reviews, and many recommendations.

 

Just finished The Two-Story House by Lynda Cohen Loigman.  Can't say enough about this wonderful book.  I'm exhausted since I practically finished it in one day and it left it's impact on me w/wonderful characters and genre -- jewish families that I love.

 

Onto Here's To Us by Elin Hilderbrand which is my first library book since I retired in October.  With all the Goodreads wins I have and expecting soon, it might be a while until I go again.

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 32,107
Registered: ‎05-10-2010

Re: What are you Reading? July, 2016

I'm trying to finish a Danielle Steele book, granted her books are as light and sweet as marshmallows but I like her writing.  But 'Perfect Life" is slow, dull and actually boring.  I want to finish it only because I paid for it.  I'm anxious to move on to my next book.  Elin Hilderbrand's "Here's To Us".  Her books are all set in Nantucket, a place I love although I only visited twice years ago.  I read several of her books and enjoyed them.