TN Read-Along #14: The Great Influenza
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on February 27, 2012 – 4:08 PM14 Comments
(cue “I don’t see what’s so great about it” jokes)
Hey, remember everything that ISN’T the Oscars Death Race? Me neither! Awesome! …I’m so sorry about the protracted service interruption, guys. I’ve missed you, and all the fun things we used to do together, like collaborate on advice, make fun of Booker, admit to bygone crushes, and make up words. Let’s hang out and read about millions of people dying. It’ll be just like old times. But with more sputum.
Our next read-along book is John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History. It’s available in paperback, Kindle, and audio editions.
Thanks so much for your patience, and I’ll open a comments thread Monday 12 March.
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Tags: books John M. Barry The TN Read-Along
Cool! Got this one for Christmas and Spring Break is coming up! I may actually be able to take part in the discussion this time! Yay!
Off to the bookstore!
I’ve resisted for weeks, but this is for the TN Read-Along! I HAVE to!
I also reallywant to pick up a few others that have come out recently….
But it’s mostly for the Nation, I swear.
Can anyone shed some light on why the Kindle edition is twice (TWICE!) the price of the paperback?? This makes no sense to me. I’m not sure I want to pay 18 bucks to read about plague and pestilence.
Blergh. I started it to have a bit of a leg up… but I just finished “Infinite Jest” and my brain isn’t work so good yet now.
OMG. I loved Grieco back when I was 13. Also Christian Slater, Jean Claude Van Damme and god knows who else. I had terrible taste.
Mercifully I’ve graduated to George Clooney now. (And I still LOVE your post involving the term “Cloons” … I believe it had to do with daydreaming and daisy-chaining powerstrips… if I could find that again I’d be VERY happy.)
This book also shows up with the title, “The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History” (which might help folks looking for a library or used copy.)
Am I the only one who went, “SQUEE! Just like Downton Abbey!”? Ahem, yes, it’s true, I just dropped a DA reference. I’ll be hunting this down. I promise to keep my, “That one time? At Downton Abbey?” comments to a minimum in the open thread.
For cheapskates like me, check your library for the Kindle edition. I’m #3 on the waiting list, so fingers crossed I’ll have it done in time!
@Sara: That was my reaction, too: “How timely, just like Downton Abbey!”
My local library doesn’t have it, but I put in a request to borrow it from another branch. I should have it by the end of the week. The audio version was also available, but it’s 16 disks. It takes me about two weeks to get through an 8 disk book. Also, no pictures.
I was thinking the same thing – poor, sweet Lavinia, succumbing to Spanish Influenza (though really, we needed a plot device to get Matthew and Mary back together).
We have to wait until March 12????? WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNE.
:)
@MinglesMommy: The post with the Cloons is here. (I like how I can’t remember the plot of the book I read two months ago, but I can dredge up the title of a nearly-five-year-old TN post in a hot second. Brains are funny.)
I’ve been lurking here for years and years…and decided to jump in and join this book reading. You know, since I’m finishing my Masters in a month and have nothing but free time. Ugh. :)
Colin – your brain is AWESOME. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!