To start things off, I recently finished reading Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez, the late Columbian Nobel Prize winner.

The book follows a complex relationship over about 50 years and is thoroughly entertaining and emotional the whole way through.

One thing I particularly liked about it was the way the character's love and passion changed and evolved and as they aged, I think a lot of hollywood writers could learn from this book.

That being said, there is a movie adaptation of Love in the Time of Cholera that I haven't seen but I've heard good things. 

Has anyone else read this book?

Ryan,

There's already a book review area on YLC

http://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/community/member/book-reviews

I prefer to read non fiction type of books .... there is a wealth of knowledge out there one can assimilate.

I tend to read more than one book at a time.

One is on the bedside table which is my bed time read, Kindle format, easier to read in bed, currently a history on early Australian exploration.

Others are in use for various reasons during the day.

Like Abby I rarely read fiction.

Take it easy.

SD

Currently reading a great book by Dyrenfurth Nick called "Mateship: A very Australian History"

Wont give away much but found  out that   "the first Australians to call each other ‘mate’ were business partners, and many others thought that mateship would be the basis for creating a socialist society. For some, the term ‘mate’ is the nicest word in the English language but according to Nick  for others it represents the very worst features in our nation’s culture: conformity, bullying, corruption, racism, and misogyny. 

Interesting and good read

I am like Shaggy Dog - i have a stack of about 12 books on the go at any one time - but have just had the delightful experience of reading an 'unputdownable' one. It is Leap by Myfanwy Jones - a lyrical, haunting urban tale of a young man and a middle aged mother who struggle to make sense of themselves, their lives and those around them. Jones is a wonderful writer - adept at plot, but so skilful, also, in her gentle use of language. You can read the opening pages here http://www.myfanwyjones.com/leap-extract

And another book i simply adored is called 'Unforgettable' by Scott Simon, an American radio broadcaster who took to tweeting his feelings as he spent long hours in ICU with his much loved mum, Patricia, who had raised him as a solo parent. Such love between the mother and the son, and such unstinting care from the medical team. Scott remembers the small and big moments in his mum's life and so the subtitle - a son, a mother, and the lessons of a lifetime - says it all. Highly recommended. 

Hi Sandi, yes - well done for pointing out the book reviews section. But the point of Ryan hosting some here is to let all our great members have more input - we actually want to know what YOU are reading and how good it is (or not)! so we encourage everyone to let it rip with their latest books, DVDs, music so we can share the good stuff - and avoid the bad, LOL - warmest

Kaye

I don't stretch to 12 but I usually have 5 library books on the go. 4 non fiction, which are following my dilettante interest of the moment.  Sub atomic particles and Quantum Mechanics , extending Healthy life span, the American Founding Fathers belief in Deism and Masonry., and UK Deception activities during world war 2 , currently ..

Neilson d Mille the quiet end

i am a fan of nelson d Mille this is his new book just come out.,

I've just finished reading Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan. Let me tell you, it's not an easy one to review!

It's an abstract collection of surreal reflections and anecdotes of a man who goes on a long fishing trip – and may have quite possibly taken one too many fishing 'trips' in his life. It took a bit to get used to the fact that 'Trout Fishing in America' is not only the name of a character (or two, or three), it is also used in many other creative ways – as a modifier, an adjective, a place and as a symbol for American culture in the sixties.

I enjoyed the book, once I got used to the non-linear nature of the story-telling, but I imagine that it is an acquired taste. Brautigan wrote this book just prior to In Watermelon Sugar, which is one of my favourite novels. I enjoyed seeing the evolution of his surrealist literary technique and some of the characters he creates are interesting to say the least.

If you're into surrealism and non-linear stories that don't necessarily have a 'narrative' in the traditional sense, then you'll enjoy Trout Fishing in America. If not, then you won't. Sometimes things are that simple!

Read an interesting short story (or long article) in this weekends Sydney Morning Herald about identical twins who (one of each) were accidentally swapped in the hospital soon after birth. Each set were believed by their parents to be fraternal twin sons. An amazing coincidence led the boys to discover the truth when they were about 20. One set grew up in poverty in the country and received very little education and the other set were brought up in the city with a good education. There are many interesting layers to the story but of most import is the exploration of factors relating to how much our beings are determined by genes and/or environment.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/identical-twins-are-the-mixed up-brothers-of-bogota-20150710-gia03u.html

If anyone is interested in a great book on Australian history for the grandkids, I just bought this one online for one of ours, copied the contents page 

 

This is the second edition of The Big Book of Australian History, awarded ‘Notable Book’ by the Children’s Book Council of Australia in 2014. Drawing on the impressive collections of the National Library of Australia, this comprehensive book provides children with an interesting and engaging overview of the history of Australia. It covers many of the main events in the nation’s history, including: 

• Ancient Australia 
• The Dreaming 
• Voyages of discovery 
• Founding colonies 
• The explorers 
• The lure of gold 
• Settling the land 
• The growth of cities 
• Federation 
• Becoming Anzacs 
• Modern times 
• The Great Depression 
• Defending Australia 
• Building for the future 
• Controversial issues 
• Dealing with disasters 
• The sporting life 
• Embracing multiculturalism 
• On the world stage 

Packed with colourful images and interesting facts, The Big Book of Australian History introduces children to the many people and events that have made Australia what it is today. It also encourages them to think about how Australia has evolved as a nation. 

The book features stunning images from the collections of the National Library of Australia by artists (such as Joseph Lycett, John Gould and S.T. Gill) and photographers (such as Frank Hurley, Bruce Howard and Peter Dombrovskis). It also tells the stories of some of the most significant contributors to Australia’s cultural, political, sporting and social life, including Captain James Cook, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, inventor David Unaipon, aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, first female member of parliament Enid Lyons, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, land rights leader Vincent Lingiari, and the first female prime minister, Julia Gillard. 

This is a book to dip into and savour. Author Peter Macinnis’ enthusiastic retelling of Australia’s story is infectious. Among the big events and the great moments that have shaped the country, Macinnis also includes lesser-known, interesting details that bring Australian history to life. 

For example, did you know that, in 1934, the ABC developed ‘synthetic’ cricket, in which radio broadcasters gave a ball-by-ball description of the game, using sound effects to simulate the sound of bat on ball and the applause of the crowd? 

The Big Book of Australian History was created with the help of a consultant historian, Indigenous advisor, and teachers and students. 

'A magnificent, comprehensive sweep of the history of Australia from the geological formation of the continent through to the modern Australia of today's young readers' Steinberger, Magpies Magazine Nov. 2013

Fascinating Robi. We have 3 sets of twins in my family one set of identical being my brothers in law, one of those identical twins married an identical twin and had identical twins and then my twin grandchildren who are fraternal. 

Even being brought up in the same home identical twins although in most ways are very similar and hard to tell who is who,  also have opposites within their personalities and characters to counter balance each other - quite fascinating.