Love these photos of you with your dad and reading about the complicated-ness of your relationship. I had one with my dad too--and BTW he was Korean War Vet. But in his last few years I came to peace with so much and acceptance of what happened between us and what is now. Funny you mention THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah as I could not STAND that book--couldn't even get half way through. I feel like it reads like a dictionary to the 1960s with some plot thrown in and the wooden characters so 2D that I could not care about anything of them--even with all their chaos going on. I am fascinated with the Vietnam War though and its complicated conflicts and tragic event and have watched Ken Burns' documentary on it twice--horrific and mesmerizing and so emotional. A better novel about Vietnam I love that I've re-read is an old one from 1990 by Danielle Steele called MESSAGE FROM NAM. The characters and setting are rich. And YES, I agree with you and your dad. Watching these times unfold is a surreal, satirical nightmare--that unfortunately IS real.
Hahaha about the book! I agree it's not fantastic. The first time I started it I was reading it and quit about halfway through. But the second time I did the audio which was actually much more palatable and with audio you can keep doing other things, so I think it dragged less that way--I'd listen while driving or cleaning or yard work. Hannah's style of dropping period references and constantly describing what people are wearing drives me crazy. But I bet it's going to make a great show because she is good at melodrama. Overall it was maybe a 2.5 stars for me. I'm surprised Danielle Steele has a good one. I always associate her with romance but I've never read anything by her. She also is one of those authors who has a lot of ghostwriters though, I believe, right? The Vietnam documentary that just came out is narrated by Ethan Hawke and is all footage of the war and interviews with veterans. We have only watched the first episode, but it's good so far. I've never seen the Burns' one, but he's a great filmmaker. Here's to complicated dads and the search for good books to escape the dystopia we're living it!
Yes, Danielle Steele began as just romance but she really grew in her craft and to add many historically rich novels. I read her in my 20s and 30s and kept my faves. They all have a romantic element but many are so rich with a setting and time period. My favorite by her is Wanderlust.
She does not have ghostwriters. She actually has an amazing work ethic! She'd get only a couple of hours of sleep and write through the night--then manage her nine kids! She writes 20-22 hours a day when on a book and has published 200 or so books--7 a year now as she has no hobbies and writing is her comfort. She had her first child at 19--when she wrote her first novel. She still pumps them out at 77. Of course she has a researcher now for her historical books but she writes every word. Her characters are so well drawn and compelling and her stories are emotional reads. Anyways, she is a writing fiend! She wows me with her writing discipline. PLus she still writes her novels on a TYPEWRITER!
Oh definitely check out the Burns documentary! He shows both sides with vets from all sides/countries of the war and follows several throughout the series. It's beautifully done. I will check out Ethan Hawke's too. Always liked him :)
Love these photos of you with your dad and reading about the complicated-ness of your relationship. I had one with my dad too--and BTW he was Korean War Vet. But in his last few years I came to peace with so much and acceptance of what happened between us and what is now. Funny you mention THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah as I could not STAND that book--couldn't even get half way through. I feel like it reads like a dictionary to the 1960s with some plot thrown in and the wooden characters so 2D that I could not care about anything of them--even with all their chaos going on. I am fascinated with the Vietnam War though and its complicated conflicts and tragic event and have watched Ken Burns' documentary on it twice--horrific and mesmerizing and so emotional. A better novel about Vietnam I love that I've re-read is an old one from 1990 by Danielle Steele called MESSAGE FROM NAM. The characters and setting are rich. And YES, I agree with you and your dad. Watching these times unfold is a surreal, satirical nightmare--that unfortunately IS real.
Hahaha about the book! I agree it's not fantastic. The first time I started it I was reading it and quit about halfway through. But the second time I did the audio which was actually much more palatable and with audio you can keep doing other things, so I think it dragged less that way--I'd listen while driving or cleaning or yard work. Hannah's style of dropping period references and constantly describing what people are wearing drives me crazy. But I bet it's going to make a great show because she is good at melodrama. Overall it was maybe a 2.5 stars for me. I'm surprised Danielle Steele has a good one. I always associate her with romance but I've never read anything by her. She also is one of those authors who has a lot of ghostwriters though, I believe, right? The Vietnam documentary that just came out is narrated by Ethan Hawke and is all footage of the war and interviews with veterans. We have only watched the first episode, but it's good so far. I've never seen the Burns' one, but he's a great filmmaker. Here's to complicated dads and the search for good books to escape the dystopia we're living it!
Yes, Danielle Steele began as just romance but she really grew in her craft and to add many historically rich novels. I read her in my 20s and 30s and kept my faves. They all have a romantic element but many are so rich with a setting and time period. My favorite by her is Wanderlust.
She does not have ghostwriters. She actually has an amazing work ethic! She'd get only a couple of hours of sleep and write through the night--then manage her nine kids! She writes 20-22 hours a day when on a book and has published 200 or so books--7 a year now as she has no hobbies and writing is her comfort. She had her first child at 19--when she wrote her first novel. She still pumps them out at 77. Of course she has a researcher now for her historical books but she writes every word. Her characters are so well drawn and compelling and her stories are emotional reads. Anyways, she is a writing fiend! She wows me with her writing discipline. PLus she still writes her novels on a TYPEWRITER!
Oh definitely check out the Burns documentary! He shows both sides with vets from all sides/countries of the war and follows several throughout the series. It's beautifully done. I will check out Ethan Hawke's too. Always liked him :)
That's amazing!! NINE kids!? I must have bundled her in with someone else but I don't remember who. I'll have to pick something up!