The subtitle is a bit misleading; Linklater actually starts the book with a review of the history of measurement, before getting into how measuring land gave mankind a sense of ownership and dominion. He looks at Great Britain in terms of land ownership and carries this over to the colonies that became the United States of America. Along the way, he delves into the history of the metric system, touching on Thomas Jefferson’s model, which preceded the French version currently in use. The bulk of the book hews closer to the title; reviewing the surveying of the United States, dipping into the lives of the men who were responsible for the squaring off of the western 3/4 of the country into townships and ranges.
Despite only reading it in dribs & drabs over the past couple of months, it held together well. Linklater took what could have been a dry, dull subject and by adding in personalities, trivia tidbits and the occasional side trip, he made this book a reasonably interesting look at US history from a different perspective.
Recommended at least as a library read to history buffs and genealogy/land history nerds. I’ll probably pass this along to family or friends, as I’m not sure I need to own it. However, I will take a look to see what else Linklater has written.
Finished Odd Apocalypse the latest in Dean Koontz’ Odd Thomas series. Paradoxically, I will say it was both fast paced and slow. By that I mean, I would wiz through many pages at a time, but when I sat back and considered, I would have to say that the plot hadn’t advanced tremendously…
I enjoyed it and will read the next.
I started Fated (An Alex Verus Novel) by Benedict Jacka. I was hooked immediately when he gave a shout out to Jim Butcher: Those of us who do like visitors have to advertise, and it’s tricky to find a way of doing it that doesn’t make you sound crazy. The majority rely on word of mouth, though younger mages use the Internet. I’ve even heard of one guy in Chicago who advertises in the phone book under “Wizard” though that’s probably an urban legend. He also mentions The Council, but it isn’t yet clear to me that this takes place in Butcher’s world.
I just finished Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, about the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the serial killer H. H. Holmes, whose most prolific period was during the fair. It took me a while to get into it, mostly because the nitty-gritty aspects of architecture aren’t particularly interesting to me. But it really became a page-turner, especially during the run-up to the fair, when you’re trying to figure out how they’re going to pull this off. I managed to resist looking everything up on Wikipedia until after I’d finished the book.
Moving on to Cloud Atlas now. I’ve heard very . . . interesting things.
I had to ditch the audiobook of Stephen King’s It. I thought I was getting used to the narrator, who wasn’t bad when he was reading descriptive passages, but dialog, especially when there was panic or strong emotion was just unbearable to listen to.
Finally finished Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage- a wonderful book, although it took me some time to really get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. Then I read Anne Tyler’s A Patchwork Planet. which was a good balance as it was extremely light and fluffy and only took me two days, and now I’m just starting London: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd.
Still reading Founding Brothers. Wow, does Jefferson come off as a smug ass. Horrible. I still love John Adams. I’m sure he would have been infuriating in person.
Also reading Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist. It’s really not written in a style I like. At all. If anyone’s read the series, does it get more polished or is this as good as it gets?
I read 1491 and I found it a good read. But practically every professor I’ve ever had has warned me not to take what Mann says at face value, as he’s not an actual academic. He’s a reporter, I believe.
If you’re looking into more books about the colonial era I highly suggest Alan Taylor’s “Colonial America.”
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. It’s the first book in a fantasy trilogy about the daughter of an outcast member of a ruling family who is called back to her mother’s home city and named heir to the throne. The problem is that she has no idea how to navigate the political machinations of the city, and has two rival potential heirs in her cousins. I’m enjoying it so far.
“The Man Who Loved China” by Simon Winchester. I adore all his writing, been a huge fan since I read, “Pacific Rising”, on the plane, my first journey to SE Asia.
(Loved ‘1491’, great read!, ‘Devil in the White City’, was a page turner, right till the end, even though you know the end. Very nicely done! Next Lonely Planet read; The new Costa Rica guide due out in October (already preordered!), hoping to travel there in Dec!)
Yes, an excellent book. Did you catch the brief reference to Paul Gaugin? He was the stockbroker who was passing through Paris. Maugham would write about him more in The Moon and Sixpence, a loosely fictionalized biography.
I have met so many people like the lady artist or the Spaniard writer – mainly writers over here – people who have devoted themselves completely to their art, thrown in their heart and soul, but have no clue as to how truly untalented they really are. They are very sad cases.
Joseph Ellis. He really earned his Pulitzer for that one.
Does he mention the Point of Beginning near East Liverpool, Ohio? My hometown.
I finished two books this weekend. Muddling Through by Peter Henessy is a good collection of essays about British politics since World War II, published in 1996, just before Tony Blair moved into 10 Downing Street. A bit dated now, but still worth a read. Hindenburg: An Illustrated History by Rick Archbold is fantastic coffeetable book not just about the doomed German zeppelin, but airships of all types and nations since the Montgolfier Brothers’ experiments in 1783. Good text and lots and lots of cool paintings, schematics, cutaways and photos, many of which I hadn’t seen before.
The Heroes was good - pretty typical for Abercrombie. I think I liked it a little better than Best Served Cold, but not as much as his First Law trilogy. His new book is coming out in October, called Red Country. It’s supposed to be written like a western, although still set in the same universe as the other books.
I’m reading The Stress of Her Regard, by Tim Powers. It’s a weird, macabre story set in the early 1800s, featuring English Romantic poets (Byron, Keats and Shelley) vs. vampire/muse/succubus monster things. Not sure if I like it or not. Pretty sure I’m missing a lot of literary references.
I finished The Good Father, by Noah Hawley, I picked it up because it had been mentioned in one of these previous threads, by, I think, Elendil’s Heir. It sucked me in right away, it’s the story of a father trying to piece together the events and circumstances that led up to his young adult son, previously a harmless loner, deciding to assassinate a presidential candidate. It has now also made me completely neurotic about every parenting decision I make.
I also read the first of John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport mysteries, Rules of Prey. I’m very mixed about this, it was a fairly standard police-hunting-a-serial-killer novel, and pretty engrossing on that front, but MAN, I know it was written in 1989, but the detective’s extremely juvenile and annoying relationships with women nearly put me over the edge (it’s that terrible thing where you realize the author thinks he’s portraying a desirable guy who likes women wink wink, but it’s all just “omg eww.”) It’s enough that I’m debating whether to read more for the crime plots, or avoid for the cringe factor.
Currently reading Gone Girl, and I’m liking it a lot.
I think so - one drawback of reading the book in bits & pieces. I do remember the surveyors starting in Ohio & setting up the Meridians, but don’t quite recall the location.
Am juggling several books - including a re-read of The Neverending Story - dare I say I like the first half with Atreyu’s adventures while trying to save the Empress vs the second half once Bastian gets to Fantastica? (hmm - hope that’s not a spoiler).
Am just barely into 1Q84 Haruki Murakami’s latest. Of the 2 storylines, I’m more intrigued by Aomame (and her profession), but am curious to see how Tengo fits in.
Almost done with the audiobook of The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky. Franco is still dead, and the Basques are experiencing a bit of a renaissance in the 1990’s. George Guidall is an engaging narrator who’s doing Kurlansky’s work justice. I ought to dust off my Spanish Lit books & try to find some Unamuno or Baroja to re-read after this.
I read this recently & had much the same response - I think it was well-written and the “monsters” were quite intriguing, but I don’t see it being a re-read for me. I may read the supposed sequel, Hide me Among the Graves at some point.
Finished Fated (An Alex Verus Novel) by Benedict Jacka, and very much enjoyed it. Have already ordered the other two. Fans of Butcher will feel at home here - although I never did sort out whether it is supposed to take place in Butcher’s world. I think not, and just that they are similar. It was a fun read and I’m glad for another male protagonist in urban fantasy.
Started Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch, yet another urban fantasy with a male protagonist. So far I’m enjoying it.