Week Four: Assignment One

I was introduced to Goodreads by a coworker a few months ago.  She said that she really liked it to keep a list of which books she had read.  I created an account and started using Goodreads to keep track and rate books that I had read.  I also started using it to look for recommendations for myself and others.

It was interesting to see what Goodreads recommends.  Some of the titles it recommends are ones that I have read and enjoyed, but have not yet rated in Goodreads.  Others look like something I would enjoy, and could probably find several to choose from in each category.

John
Considering your interest in the Wright Brothers biography, you may also enjoy two books written by Candace Millard.  The first is called Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President.  It provides a rich and detailed account of the life of one of our little known presidents, James Garfield.  Garfield was born into poverty, but distinguished himself from a young age by his remarkable intelligence and commendable character.  He worked to put himself through college and rose through the political ranks to achieve our country's highest office.  The book is a fascinating look at not only his life and presidency, but also the mentally ill man, Charles Guiteau, who shot him, and the incompetent and negligent physician who treated him.

Another book by the same author is The River of Doubt, about Theodore Roosevelt's expedition through the Brazilian jungle.  It offers insight into Roosevelt's love of adventure and strong desire to explore one of last unconquered territories on earth.

Sharon
Since you enjoyed Gone Girl, you may also like The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica.  Like Gone Girl, The Good Girl is a psychological thriller with several surprising plot twists.  When Mia Dennett returns home after being kidnapped, she does not remember much about her time in captivity.  Her mother and the detective assigned to her case must unravel the mystery of why she was taken, and by whom.  The tone of the book is dark, and it is hard to determine the motivations of the characters.  Part of the story is set in a remote cabin in the wilderness, providing an eerie backdrop to the events that unfold.