Booksexy,
Don't worry about the FTC thing. Gush away! There has been some clarification from the FTC and they said they weren't worried about individual bloggers, especially arts bloggers.

Rita wrote: Carol, I'm in South Florida as well. Where will he be appearing??

I'm enjoying the book so far."

Rita,

Scott will be Oct. 25th on Books & Books (Coral Gables) at 6:00 P.M.

There will be a TeenReads forum at 5:00 P.M. More info on his website http://scottwesterfeld.com/

I am not John but thought maybe I could chime in - one of my book groups read City of Thieves a couple months ago and it was one of the few books that we have read that everyone really liked. The premise is interesting. Two people - a soldier and a young fire spotter in Leningrad during the siege are arrested and instead of being shot as expected, they are given an opportunity to find a dozen eggs for the colonel's daughter's wedding cake - in a city where people are starving to death. The author is a screen writer and at one level this is a great buddy flick but he does a terrific job of letting you see what it was like and at the same time using humor to make it palatable.

Dottie M.

Tanya wrote: "Anyway, I'm pretty much avoiding finishing Her Fearful Symmetry (by Audrey Niffenegger.) I won't officially DNF it for at least another two weeks, during which I'll clean my house, my car, and the dog as procrastinating measures. I know I'm definitely the outlier opinion on the novel, but I'm really hating it. I think the only reason I may finish it is a certain masochistic tendency to prove I'm right."

I'm officially giving myself permission to let Her Fearful Symmetry go. The inanity of it was poisoning my love of reading. Three other books have done this in the past: THE ISLAND OF THE DAY BEFORE (by Umberto Eco,) THE DAVINCI CODE (by Dan Brown) and ECLIPSE (by Stephenie Meyer.) In each case, I realized that there were better things I could be doing with my time and a "reading slump" ensued. The shortest slump lasted 4 months ("Eclipse") and the longest was two years ("The Island of the Day Before" (I (snow) skied a LOT those years and prepped for skiing in the off-season)) Anyway, I'm returning the book early. Tonight I'm going to go see Macbeth at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and tomorrow I'll probably start LIFE AS WE KNEW IT (by Susan Beth Pfeffer) for the DystopYA Reading Challenge.

Dottie wrote: "I am not John but thought maybe I could chime in - one of my book groups read City of Thieves a couple months ago and it was one of the few books that we have read that everyone really liked. The ..."

I have this book on my TBR pile and think I might have to move it up in the rotation -- it sounds like a good one.

Tanya wrote: I'm officially giving myself permission to let Her Fearful Symmetry go. The inanity of it was poisoning my love of reading. Three other books have done this in the past: THE ISLAND OF THE DAY BEFORE (by Umberto Eco,) THE DAVINCI CODE (by Dan Brown) and ECLIPSE (by Stephenie Meyer.) ."

Three books did the same thing for me: Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, an excruciating book called The Rule of Four by two Princeton grads, and The Bridges of Madison County.

Tanya wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Anyway, I'm pretty much avoiding finishing Her Fearful Symmetry (by Audrey Niffenegger.) I won't officially DNF it for at least another two weeks, during which I'll clean my house, my..."
Not exactly books but I am so jealous of you getting to the Oregon Shakespeare festival. We came across country a couple of years ago and spent a week there and it was one of my favorite trips. And they have several book stores in town so a trip is urged for all enthusiastic readers.
dottie m.

I finished The Help last night. What a great book! This will be my newest book to encourage everyone to read. I think it's interesting to think about where I would have been if I had been in that situation.

Linda

Suzanne wrote: "Dottie wrote: "I am not John but thought maybe I could chime in - one of my book groups read City of Thieves a couple months ago and it was one of the few books that we have read that everyone real..."

Tanya wrote: "Tanya wrote: "Anyway, I'm pretty much avoiding finishing Her Fearful Symmetry (by Audrey Niffenegger.) I won't officially DNF it for at least another two weeks, during which I'll clean my house, my..."

City of Thieves IS good -- I read it a while ago, and really enjoyed it. The seige of Leningrad is such an incredibly brutal event -- starvation lasting nearly three years. COT isn't as bleak as it sounds, though. Historical, but also funny. I hope you like it as much as I did!

Deb wrote: "Tanya wrote: I'm officially giving myself permission to let Her Fearful Symmetry go. The inanity of it was poisoning my love of reading. Three other books have done this in the past: THE ISLAND OF ..."

The Rule of Four was a slog for me, too! And so was The Dante Club. Never have two books had such potential, yet disappoint me so much. Sucked the joy right out of reading, which is a real accomplishment!

Hi, this is my first post. I am addicted to the Books on the Nightstand podcast, which I absolutely love and which has led me to GoodReads, to bookblogs and to lots of book recommendations. Thank you very much.
Currently, I am reading Everything I Knew by Peter Goldsworthy,one of my favourite Aussie authors. I also have 2 books of short stories on the go, My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead Great Love Stories from Chekhov to Munro edited by Jeffery Eugenides and Collected Stories 1970 To 1995 by Janette Turner Hospital.

Thanks so much for joining us Abbie and welcome!

Welcome, Abbie! We love fostering addictions (of the legal and healthy kind). I've always wanted to read My Mistress's Sparrow, mostly because I love the title!

It's a pleasure to meet you -- thanks for posting.

Jennifer wrote: "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 am listening to "Street of a Thousand Blossums". I started it due to Ann's Japanese reading challenge. I don't think I could have gotten through it reading--too many Japanese names and words but listening to it has been a real pleasure. I love the story and I've learned to count to ten in Japanese and just love hearing how the language sounds and how the words are used and compare to the English. If it weren't for the challenge I would never have picked it up. Thanks you Books on the Nightstand for getting me to read (listen to) something I never would have.

Kerry, I can't take credit for the challenge (we just mentioned that it existed elsewhere) but I think it's brilliant of you to listen instead of read. I often get hung up on name pronunciations etc., but listening is the perfect solution. I will remember that!

I'm currently reading DIRTY MARTINI by J.A. Konrath. Yes, I know it's adolescent humor and more than likely has plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through, but uts a quick and dirty interstitial read beofre I get back into the thick of things!

Next up, definitely LIFE AS WE KNEW IT (and its sequel, THE DEAD AND THE GONE) by Susan Beth Pfeffer) for the DystopYA Reading Challenge.

Tanya wrote: "I'm currently reading DIRTY MARTINI by J.A. Konrath. Yes, I know it's adolescent humor and more than likely has plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through, but uts a quick and dirty interstiti..."

I've read a few of JA Konrath's Jack Daniels series and they are good "light" (kinda creepy though) reads. I listened to BLOODY MARY a few months ago and it was freaking me out while driving alone in the car....

I have just started City of Thieves. I'm only about 50 pages into it, but so far it's great!

I finished DIRTY MARTINI (by J.A. Konrath) and I have to admit that it's the best Jack Daniels title so far! It deals with a terrorist who is contaminating Chicago's food supplies and though there is a lot of throwing up and dying, it wasn't as gratuitous as the scatological descriptions and violence of the previous books in the series. Jack Daniels and Harry McGlade actually show a teesny bit of depth too. This is the perfect place for me to stop reading the series. I understand, from a mystery group that I belong to, the J.A. Konrath reverts to (bad) form in Fuzzy Navel and Cherry Bomb.

Like a buffet where "my eyes are bigger than my belly," the library has been offering up a number of delicious new releases and I'm overwhelmed with choices! Unfortunately, as I have to be realistic, I'm going to have to return a number of them unread as I can't possibly read them in the time alloted (no renewals on new releases or books with holds on them.) So, even though NOCTURNES, by Kazuo Ishiguro is beckoning, I'm going to read the next DystopYA picks on my list, LIFE AS WE KNEW IT and THE DEAD AND THE GONE (by Susan Beth Pfeffer.)

Tanya wrote: "I finished DIRTY MARTINI (by J.A. Konrath) and I have to admit that it's the best Jack Daniels title so far! It deals with a terrorist who is contaminating Chicago's food supplies and though there ..."

I like the library as buffet analogy -- I just put THE CHILDREN'S BOOK by A.S. Byatt and JULIET, NAKED by Nick Hornby on hold yesterday and they will probably be available at the same time.

I am currently reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner and the 7th volume of Fables.

I just finished The Likeness by Tana French, that was basically my entire Sunday... great mystery. and I just started Mrs. Dalloway. Its more of a "I feel I have to" read than a real joy, at this point, but who knows? I've enjoyed some Stream of Conscience novels in the past.

Lindsey wrote: "I just finished The Likeness by Tana French, that was basically my entire Sunday... great mystery. and I just started Mrs. Dalloway. Its more of a "I feel I have to" read than a real joy, at this p..."

Lindsay - have you also read Tana French's other novel, In the Woods? Similarly creepy and atmospheric. She's a writer that I am looking forward to reading more of!

Tony- I have read Into the woods, and liked it alot as well, and I read in an interview that her third book will be told from the point of view of Frank Mackey from The Likeness.

Suzanne wrote: "TI like the library as buffet analogy -- I just put THE CHILDREN'S BOOK by A.S. Byatt and JULIET, NAKED by Nick Hornby on hold yesterday and they will probably be available at the same time"

I canceled my hold on THE CHILDREN'S BOOK as it turns out the MAN Booker Group I belong to will be reading it in February. I'll probably end up buying a copy of that one as I won't be able to control WHEN the book comes in for me if I place a request for it at the library and; I like to read a group selection as a close to the actual discussion date as possible.

SIGH, I also just returned WOLF HALL (by Hilary Mantel.) It's 550+ pages of historical fiction and I could never just "breeze" through that! I love to wallow in historical fictions and trying to cram that all in, with everything else going on, seemed like a bad idea.

Both The Children's Book and Wolf Hall are my Christmas wish list (along with The Girl Who Played with Fire). I hope that I will have time over Christmas break to read, but I usually spend the time catching up on grading papers and writing semester exams.

I'm reading Barbara Neeley, Blanche Among the Talented Tenth. It's the second book of a series with Blanche White, a housecleaner and accidental sleuth. Blanche goes to Amber Cove, an all-Black resort populated mostly with light-skinned upper-class African Americans. As a dark-skinned woman she has to deal with not only snobbery from the adults who have been coming to the resort all their lives, but her own daughter's fear of becoming darker. I'm only about 50 pages in so far so I'm not sure what the mystery is going to be but I suspect this series is like so many others where the character's activities are more interesting than the actual mysteries she's trying to solve.

learned how to download free classics to my ITouch. Now I have a book no matter where I go. app is called "Masters" and has several good books. finally starting to read David Copperfield.

I am about to start The Lost Book of Salem, by Katherine Howe, which I am looking forward to immensely. GoodReads reviews seem to be mixed about this one.
I requested the book, along with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, a BOTNS recommendation,from my newly refurbished and much improved local library.

I've got a theme going. I just finished Origins of the Specious Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T. O'Connor while we drove from central Ohio to eastern Pennsylvania. Now I've got The Grouchy Grammarian A How-Not-To Guide to the 47 Most Common Mistakes in English Made by Journalists, Broadcasters, and Others Who Should Know Better. I love reading about words as much as I love reading words. I write a Sunday newspaper column and poked at the improper use of an ad slogan "shop local" Online, several took issue with my taking issue and basically thought I should "get a life." The "Specious" has reaffirmed my sense of grammar. I think the next book will be more affirmation.

I recently finished The Unit by by Ninni Holmqvist, which I have been wanting to read ever since Ann recommended it a while back. It was a pretty good book which had me thinking back to it days after I finished it. I did feel though that the book was lacking some explanations for how this new system came about as well as information about the outside world.
Has anyone else read it?

Lmj wrote: "I've got a theme going. I just finished Origins of the Specious Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T. O'Connor while we drove from central Ohio to easter..."

Speaking of grammar, isn't it incorrect to say "currently-reading," as it appears on this site? It's driving me nuts! (The rule: Do not hyphenate adverbs or compound words that follow the verb. In this case, the verb is "am," as in "I am currently reading this book.") Thanks!

Simcha wrote: "I recently finished The Unit by by Ninni Holmqvist, which I have been wanting to read ever since Ann recommended it a while back. It was a pretty good book which had me thinking back..."

I read it in the summer also based on Ann's recommendations and really enjoyed it. I think that the system described in the book just came about over time, that is, they felt that isolating older, childless members of society and "harvesting" their bodies for the good of the rest of the population was the practical (?) solution. As one of those who would eventually be sent to THE UNIT, I don't know that I agree, but in some ways it does make sense.
This book would be great for groups, don't you think?

I haven't read The Unit, but I have read Never Let Me Go (loved it!). They sound very much alike. Has anyone read both? How do they compare?

I'm currently juggling three books and an audiobook:

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT (by Susan Beth Pfeffer)
A CASE OF EXPLODING MANGOES (by Mohammed Hanif)
THE WINGS OF THE SPHINX (by Andrea Camilleri)
THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD (by Adrian McKinty; narrated by Gerard Doyle)

I cannot remember who said it, but I'm pretty sure it was on the BOTN/Goodreads thread about reading more than one book at a time, but s/he said that for them, being a polygamus reader was about as difficult as watching two-three shows on TV in one evening. With that in mind, it put reading multiple books into perspective and I find I can handle more titles that way!

Okay, back from Pennsylvania and finished the other grammar book (no hyphen in currently reading) on the ride home. Started Dominic Dunne's first novel. I got it from the library when he died. It's now over do and haven't read anything trashy in years, so…

I'm reading The Zookeepers Wife by Diane Ackerman. It' a true to life story of life in Warsaw during the early years of Nazi occupation and a couple's determination to bravely give aid to the persecuted Jews. With Remembrance Day on November 11Th, it's even more poignant.
Exceptionally good

Suzanne wrote: "Simcha wrote: "I recently finished The Unit by by Ninni Holmqvist, which I have been wanting to read ever since Ann recommended it a while back. It was a pretty good book which had m..."

While I enjoyed the book I just felt that there was a lot of information missing that bothered me. Was this new system taking place all over the world or just in Sweden? And I also couldn't understand how so many people allowed themselves to end up at the Unit. I'm sure some kind of program would have been set up to match up desperate men and women who were nearing the cut off point. I felt these were all issues that should have been addressed to make the book more believable. But overall it was a really good book; well written with some great characters.
It would certainly be a great book club book.

Melissa,

I read both The Unit and Never Let Me Go, but a few years apart, so my memory on NLMG may be faulty. In subject matter they are somewhat comparable, but NLMG is, I think, a "bigger" book than The Unit. I hesitate to say that it's better written, because The Unit was in translation, but let's just say that I think Ishiguro is a brilliant writer and is near the top of my list of favorite writers.

I enjoyed both books, and I think a reading of the two together would be a very fun exercise.

LMJ wrote: Started Dominic Dunne's first novel. I got it from the library when he died. It's now over do and haven't read anything trashy in years, so…

I feel so stupid. Dominick Dunne died? I totally missed that. I read "An Inconvenient Woman" years ago and thought it was brilliant. I guess the subject matter was trashy but it was handled with great pathos and depth.

I recently finished a Michael can't wait to read "Big Machine" which is... a strange book. I loved the main character but I just can't get into magical realism even with a cynical urban vibe wringed around it.

Right now I'm reading "The Bluest Eye" for my book group and "Beowulf on the Beach" as it makes me feel smarter. Tell the author his appearances on your blog netted him a sale : )

Thanks, Anne. Ishiguro is one of my favorites, too. I think that's why I'm hesitant to pick up The Unit. I'm afraid that it won't compare well.

Lmj wrote: "Okay, back from Pennsylvania and finished the other grammar book (no hyphen in currently reading) on the ride home. Started Dominic Dunne's first novel. I got it from the library when he died. I..."

OK i'll be the grammatical smart ass your book is actually "overdue".
Those of you who have read DRACULA should take alook at THE STRAIN Del Toro/Hogan very interesting take on the vampire genre.

I'm currently reading Fugue Macabre: Bone Dance by C. J. Parker, Like Clockwork: Steampunk Erotica edited by J. Blackmore, and Soulless by Gail Carriger.

Melissa wrote: "Thanks, Anne. Ishiguro is one of my favorites, too. I think that's why I'm hesitant to pick up The Unit. I'm afraid that it won't compare well. "

One thing I loved about THE UNIT is that it has some relevance in the healthcare debate here in the US -- much rhetoric abounds on both sides about so called "death panels" etc. I found the book made me think about such issues, making it more than just a "what if" dystopic novel.

Right now THE UNIT is my favorite book to recommend for book groups, because I think it will generate much discussion!

Yes, my book was overdue. I guess my over do was the time in the car between PA and OH. Unfortunately, as I get older, I wonder where my brain goes at times, grammatically speaking. - And go ahead and play grammar police. That's exactly what I did in my newspaper column last Sunday - over "ly" endings on adverbs.

Domminick Dunne died the day after Senator Kennedy and the news of his death may have been gotten lost in all the news coverage of the Senator's death.

I finished THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD (by Adrian McKinty; narrated by Gerard Doyle) and THE WINGS OF THE SPHINX (an Inspector Montalbano mystery by Andrea Camilleri.)

THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD was the final title in the "Dead" trilogy and I I loved the experience! For anyone else who might be interested in an Irish vendetta tale, there is actually very little mystery, but a lot of suspense. In fact, the last words on the next to the last file/CD were such a shocker, that I had to pull my iPod from the car and finish the book inside the house! I would rate each of the books a B/B+; but as a whole, the trilogy gets an A, a rare case where the sum is greater than its parts. I probably mentioned this before but its bears repeating: There are passages of poetic phrases that are tattooed upon one's imagination and; other scenes of horrific violence that rape and mug that same imagination. But throughout it all, the characters are very realistic and it all makes for a compelling listening experience. The narrator, Gerard Doyle is so very deeply integrated into the role of Michael Forsythe, that you forget that you are not listening to Michael himself!

The Inspector Montalbano mysteries are cozies, generally not my thing, but I've developed a certain affection for European mysteries (like Iain Pears' Art History Mysteries.) I always come across some cultural item that I have to look up and I feel a teensy bit smarter by the time I've finished! In the Inspector Montalbano series, which take place in Sicily, there are these constant references to food that make your mouth water (if you're into Italian food AND seafood, which I am.)

Now I start another Inspector Montalbano mystery, ROUNDING THE MARK and; an audiobook narrated by Will Patton, THE NEON RAIN (by James Lee Burke.) This is my first foray into JLB so we'll see...

Well, now you've all done it! After reading your comments about The Unit, I ran over to the bookstore tonight after and bought it. I'm also someone who would be a Unit candidate so I find the discussion about assigning value to an individual based on their occupation, age or parental status to be an interesting one. Lately, I've been feeling sort of disenfranchised because I am a single, childless, over-40 woman. I use fewer resources than most families, yet I pay more in taxes and for social services that I don't need or utilize. And don't get me started on the whole "cult of youth" thing. If I paid any attention to the media, I should be put out to pasture right now -- there's obviously nothing more for me after 40. :-)

Toni, I hear you.

I have a very, very close friend who needed a heart transplant about 5 years ago. She was deemed to be "high risk" because of her age (50) and because of the disease that caused the issue (amaloydosis). So she was put on a "secondary" list -- she was not eligible for the "good" hearts, but would be considered if a "damaged" heart came in.

There's a lot more to the story, but basically she received a "damaged" heart and has been doing very well for the past 5 years. I found it enlightening, though, to see how we are all judged and rated and classified even in today's world.

Hi! This is my first post here. I've been listening to BOTNS for quite a while and have simply loved getting recommendations for books that I wouldn't ever have picked up. My most recent book was The Giver--wow. It has stayed with me and caused me to appreciate free will! Just before The Giver, and in response to the Japanese literature challenge, I read The Housekeeper and the Professor. True charm and grace. It ended too soon.
Thanks for all of the super recommendations and delightful podcasting. I look forward each week. (One of my favorite episodes was about audio books, of which I am a huge fan!)

Hi Gretchen!
Thanks so much for posting -- it's always a thrill to meet BOTNS listeners.

I really must get to The Housekeeper and the Professor - it's been recommended to me several times. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it.