Erik's Updates en-US Sat, 24 May 2025 18:40:27 -0700 60 Erik's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Rating860812032 Sat, 24 May 2025 18:40:27 -0700 <![CDATA[Erik Segalini liked a readstatus]]> /
Erik liked Mckenna’s status update
Mckenna Reichard Mckenna Reichard wants to read The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien
]]> Rating860811581 Sat, 24 May 2025 18:38:26 -0700 <![CDATA[Erik Segalini liked a readstatus]]> /
Erik liked Allison’s status update
Allison Allison wants to read Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood
]]> Review6137596316 Mon, 19 May 2025 18:17:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Erik added 'The Lincoln Highway']]> /review/show/6137596316 The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Erik gave 2 stars to The Lincoln Highway (Hardcover) by Amor Towles
When my mother died, Amor Towles provided me with a soft and tender escape within the pages of A Gentleman in Moscow. I found the book so unexpectedly comforting, so full of surprises, and wonderfully rewarding.

With these expectations, I purchased this roadtrip along the Lincoln Highway, but the two books are not similar. Although tender, The Lincoln Highway is a much harsher path. These characters have lived difficult and sad lives, or they have made them so. It offers wonderful surprises along the way -- like meeting someone very unexpected in the heart of New York City. I cheered in that moment!

I admired the decision to tell the story through a variety of perspectives, but in the end, I much preferred listening to the audiobook. The professional actor used voices, and in fact, more than one person read the different parts, and I found that they were easier and more enjoyable to listen to, rather than read. The stylistic choices to write the dialogue without quotation marks was distracting to me, not inviting.

My favorite character was Billy's second "acquaintance," a man who shared his namesake not only with an American hero but also a Greek one. The author made me to love Wooly, too.

However, this and all the other beams of brightness were snuffed out with a hiss. The book built to a terrible crescendo that left me morose more than anything else. When I closed the book, I could not imagine inviting anyone else on this road trip with so unsatisfying an end. ]]> Recommendation38702411 Sun, 18 May 2025 14:05:55 -0700 <![CDATA[<Recommendation id=38702411 from=8227432 to=51563461 book_id=208512484 status=p message= created=Sun May 18 14:05:55 -0700 2025 recommendation_request_id=>]]> Review7155777849 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:30:20 -0700 <![CDATA[Erik added 'Conclave']]> /review/show/7155777849 Conclave by Robert Harris Erik gave 4 stars to Conclave (ebook) by Robert Harris
This book made me think.

I had purchased a used copy months ago, and had set it aside with plans to read in 2025. When the Pope died unexpectedly at the end of this month (April 2025), I considered the possibility of fiction mirroring life, and could not resist. Not only could I treat myself to a little suspense (as promised by the book's publicity), but I could learn something about the real prospect of choosing a new Pope in the meanwhile.

The book caused me to think about the Catholic church. I frankly never gave much thought to the global presence of the church, often reducing it to my familiar home of New England and the Italian landscape of Rome. The story introduces us to men from Asia, South and North America, Africa, and other parts of Europe. Admitedly, the Italian cardinals have a larger percentage of representation, but the point was made that it has been since 1978 that the Pope was actually Italian. I knew it was global, but like I said, I just rarely thought about it, and the book changed that.

The author served up a piece of humble pie as the cardinals, albiet fictional, came across far more relatable than I expected. Their prayers, their fears, their ambitions, motivations, their sins, many of these often rang true inside my head. I did not expect to match thoughts with several of the men in this story.

I also learned a bit about the religious climate of our world. Truthfully, less of a learning as much as a reminder, harkening back to my years working in communications at an international mission organization. Back then, my actions as an advocate journalist for the organization sometimes had the potential of placing missionaries on the ground into grave danger, depending on the political and religious climate of the country where they served. This book caused me to think about that, once again.

And then there was the novel's ending, hated and loved alike by many people here on 카지노싸이트. I wished I had not continued to read reviews--I doubt I would have anticipated the first twist had I just read on my own. Nonetheless, the last few pages definitely left me thinking, wondering. I could not just close the book and be done. I was left in my thoughts, forced to consider something unexpected.

For all these reasons, I recommend this book. ]]> UserChallenge59634061 Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:12:59 -0800 <![CDATA[ Erik has challenged himself to read 12 books in 2025. ]]> /user/show/8227432-erik 11627 Create your own 2025 Reading Challenge » ]]> Rating801576573 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:24:23 -0800 <![CDATA[Erik Segalini liked a friend]]> /
Erik liked that Allison is now a friend of Mckenna
]]> UserChallenge47206095 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:57:49 -0800 <![CDATA[ Erik has challenged himself to read 15 books in 2024. ]]> /user/show/8227432-erik 11634
He has completed his goal of reading 15 books in 2024!
 
18 of 15 (120%)
Create your own 2024 Reading Challenge » ]]>