March 2021 book of the month club

[rubysmama]

I have it from the library now. I'm not going to start reading too soon this time...

I don't want to start it too early, either. So I'm waiting, and hoping, the 2 available e-books aren't suddenly borrowed when I'm ready to start reading. Maybe I should just borrow one now, and plain to finish reading before the 3 week loan period is up.

 

[verna davies]

That's what I have done, borrowed it on Monday so I have 3 weeks to read and will leave until last couple of days.

 

[rubysmama]

Just borrowed it, so my loan is good till the 25th. Will probably start reading it around the 14th or so.

 

[pearl99]

Just borrowed it, so my loan is good till the 25th. Will probably start reading it around the 14th or so.

That’s my plan. It didn’t have any other holds and I can renew it before it’s due to extend the due date so I’m going to do that.

 

[gilmargl]

Just a warning!
I am having problems with this book - I can only take so much real-life horror at a time. I am a quarter of the way through and not enjoying the experience. Peddling on my exercise bike, I read a book to make the 30 minutes pass more quickly. But, I cannot read "From Baghdad with Love" for more than 15 minutes before having to put it to one side.

For those of you who want to start reading at the last minute, you will need an iron stomach to read this book quickly!

 

[verna davies]

Thanks for the warning, as it's not a long book I intended to read in one go, now maybe not.

 

[pearl99]

Thanks for the warning! I renewed it so I now have it until March 31st.

 

[rubysmama]

Thanks for the warning, gilmargl . Maybe I'll start it sooner than planned so I can read a little at a time, rather than a lot at once.

 

[Boris Diamond]

I meant to read this book quickly, but I've had to put this book down several times. It is a tough read!

 

[Mia6]

I meant to read this book quickly, but I've had to put this book down several times. It is a tough read!

Is there a lot of war violence?

 

[gilmargl]

Is there a lot of war violence?

It's 100 % war, which means many attrocities, a lot of violence and very little compassion. Hopefully more compassion towards the end of the book. It's fact and not fiction, so we can't expect too much.

 

[rubysmama]

I never read reviews before I read a book, but just checked out some of the ones on Goodreads, and they match what gilmargl and Boris Diamond have posted. I have a feeling I'm going to be skimming past a lot of the atrocities, as I don't want to be left with horrific images in my head.

 

[Mia6]

I don't want to be left with horrific images in my head.

Damn straight, rubes, I'll be skimming as well. My father went into a concentration camp one day
after it was liberated by the Russians and he said the images were still in his mind. Of course
reading about atrocities is not as bad as experiencing them, but I can usually tell when something
I don't want to know about it coming up.

 

[gilmargl]

I recommend you read the first chapter to get a feel for the situation and, if it's a bit too much, skip to chapters 7 or 8. You won't miss too much. It then becomes more interesting and I haven't (yet) had to put the book down simply because I couldn't take any more terror. Looking at the photographs in the book a few pages later will give you a pleasant break from the war.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I'll wade through it...although skimming some parts will certainly happen. I had to do that with parts of "Night Goblins: a Memoir," as well. Excellent book, but awfully real. I started on "From Baghdad With Love" last night. So far, so good. I may be ok. I read some really horrific true accounts of Viet Nam back in the day, but I'm not as resilient as I was.

 

[Boris Diamond]

Is there a lot of war violence?

Yes. There is some other material that is war-related that is tough to read.

My father went into a concentration camp one day
after it was liberated by the Russians and he said the images were still in his mind.

Wow! My father, too. He was medical and was one of the first to tend to people at one of the concentration camps. He took some pictures of the camp when he had time, for posterity I suppose. The pictures really bring the reality home.

 

[Mia6]

Wow! My father, too. He was medical and was one of the first to tend to people at one of the concentration camps. He took some pictures of the camp when he had time, for posterity I suppose. The pictures really bring the reality home.

Oh, Indeed.

I guess I can skim the disturbing stuff

 

[Mia6]

I recommend you read the first chapter to get a feel for the situation and, if it's a bit too much, skip to chapters 7 or 8. You won't miss too much. It then becomes more interesting and I haven't (yet) had to put the book down simply because I couldn't take any more terror. Looking at the photographs in the book a few pages later will give you a pleasant break from the war.

Thank you!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I have finished it. I will say that the disturbing stuff is most mercifully brief, and not lingered over. And I really loved the book, overall.

 

[rubysmama]

I have finished it. I will say that the disturbing stuff is most mercifully brief, and not lingered over. And I really loved the book, overall.

I've been hesitant to start reading it, but your post, and the earlier one from gilmargl , makes me feel less pessimistic.