Jennifer's comments
(member since Aug 05, 2008)
Jennifer's comments from the Books on the Nightstand group.
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I am currently reading The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. I am torn on whether I like it or not...the characters are interesting and I am curious to see where the story ends up. However, the sentences are sometimes way too long. At times it seems like they are a stream of conscience which is weird because it is a third person narrative. I counted on sentence had 8 commas, 2 semi-colons and one colon before it ended! I am only 125 pages into it and I need to finish for my book on Monday so we'll see how it all pans out.
For every 5 books I read from my TBR pile/nightstand/shelf, I can buy myself a new book. There are just too many good books out there and my piles have gotten a little out of control.
Though since I work in publishing, I feel that my TBR pile will always be huge.
I am almost half way through And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts. It is absolutely fascinating. Each section is basically written like newspaper article which makes it very easy to digest and keep track of all the different players. Over 20 years later, it is still so frustrating to read how scientists and doctors tried to solve the AIDS crisis from the very beginning but they were met with every road block imaginable from the government, the press and the public. It is a great read.
I usually have a few books going at a time. In most cases, one book in particular with grab my attention and then I will only read that one. If a book fails to capture my attention, then it sits in the "still reading" pile for quite a while. I am known to add more books to the pile rather than read what I have started. I still feel that if I start a book, I have to finish it.
I just finished reading Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian and once I picked it up, I could not put it down. I am always drawn so completely into his books that I'll look up and realize it is the middle of the night. He is definitely one of my favorite authors.
I am about half way through with The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and I am really enjoying it. Usually, I can read a 500 copy book in about a week but I have been reading this slowly so I can enjoy it for longer.
I also started Cutting for Stone which has also grabbed my attention from the first few pages.
I have a feeling you are already doing something similar to this but...How about great books for the holidays? Since the economy is so bad, I keep telling my friends and family that people can stay at home and travel to far off worlds, if they just sit down and read a book.
Maybe a "Countdown to 2009" --- I know the books won't be on-sale yet but it could be fun to hear what you are most excited about for 2009.
My lovely and wonderful aunt who directed me on my path to a publishing career and who gives me the best books...is Joan DeMayo.
I just started raeding Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. An aunt at Random House sent me a galley and so far I am enjoying it. I started it on my commute to work today and I really appreciate that each chapter is relatively short. I like being able to finish a chapter before I get off the subway...that way I am not trying to sneak reading in at work!
I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I absolutely loved it. I am going to recommend this book to everyone! I loved all the characters and the writing was extremely witty...my only complaint was that I wanted the book to be longer.
From my childhood, I would have to say Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn . I revisit that book every couple of years and I still love her! I also find that the more I read this book, the more I sympathize with her father.
Anne Shirley was definitely another character who holds a special place in my heart. I also loved Ramona (her sister Beezus and her doll Chevrolet)--- she had gumption.
As an adult, I have read a ton of books with great characters but none of them stay with me like those of my childhood. Working at Random House and now Macmillan --- I have met too many characters to list here!
Erin --- I finshed The Witch last night. This was the first book I read by Paulo Coehlo and based on it, I will definitely pick up his other titles. I found the language to be very romantic and I would find myself re-reading passages because they were so beautifully written. I picked up the paperback edition of Witch of Portobello which included an interview with Coehlo and reading his thoughts, inspiration, etc made me like the book even more.
I just started reading The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho and I am enjoying it so far. It is for my book group and sometimes the choices for our group are hit or miss (for me at least) but I found myself pretty engrossed in the book last night. It's a rainy day here, so I am looking forward to going home after work and curling up with the book.
Though some of these books were not published in 2008, these are my favorite books that I have read this year (so far)...
- Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
- A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All by Luke Dempsey (absolutely hilarious!)
- And Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
- An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action for the 21st Century by James Orbinski
- The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
- Guernica by Dave Boling
Alexandra --- I hope you like Austenland. I am a big Shannon Hale fan and I really loved this book. It's a perfect book for summer.
I just started The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff and it is really captivating. It draws you in from the first page. I am trying to sneak reading a few more chapters at my desk, hopefully it will be a quiet day at work!
I have read 19 of the books listed though a good majority of the remaining list is in piles around my apartment just waiting to be read.
I believe I saw Books on the Nightstand in Shelf Awareness and added it to one of my fav web sites. I really enjoy the podcasts, especially the best books of 2008 (so far). I work in publishing and sometimes I am so preoccupied with reading my own list that I forget there are so many other great books out there!
My book club is reading THE COMMONER this month. It was a toss up between that and FINN. Thanks for the suggestions!---Jennifer
