I finished THE MAZE RUNNER (by James Dashell) yesterday, and ergo the DystopYA Reading Challenge. Now I just have to post a review!

I've decided to read SATURDAY (by Ian McEwan) next. It's a Man Booker 2005 longlist title that I hope to finish off before I leave for the East Coast on Monday.

For the flight, I have David Small's graphic novel, STITCHES and, while I'm away, HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET (by Jamie Ford) and A FRACTION OF THE WHOLE (Man Booker 2008 shortlist title by Steve Toltz.) I'm looking forward to both reads, but I have to say I am completely unimpressed with Nathan Burton's cover design for the paperback edition of A Fraction of the Whole. The cover is perforated with holes so that you can see a contrasting color and the title of the book though the apertures. Despite careful handling, its already showing wear and I haven't started reading it yet! Want to take any guesses as to how long this cover will remain intact?

I'm currently reading Sunday Money by Jeff MacGregor which is non-fiction. He's a sports reporter who buys a motor-home and travels to each NASCAR race. Since I'm a NASCAR fan, it's a pretty easy read.

Once I finish this one I'm going to read New Moon.

Last year I listened to WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (by Sarah Gruen; narrated by David leDoux and John Randolph Jones) and really liked it; but this year I tried to read it in print and it really fell flat for me. It was too easy to skim the text and miss the lush details (i.e. "flash of pink sequins") so despite being intrigued by the archival photos, I ended up not finishing it this time around.

Last week, I started ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY (by Rose Connors; narrated by Bernadette Dunne.) This is mystery set in Cape Cod involving a lawyer who may have had the wrong guy convicted for homicide. It's a very carefully read story so no fault there, but it's not terribly exciting. It's a first-in-series (Marty Nickerson) and it doesn't look like I'll continue with the series.

This past week-end I read two books: Dexter by Design (by Jeff Lindsay) and Bed of Roses (by Nora Roberts.) DEXTER BY DESIGN is the fourth in the series upon which the TV series is based. Jeff Lindsay has managed to recover from the debacle that was Dexter in the Dark and write a novel which genuinely gives pause to those who might have been merely expecting clever bon mots. The art exhibition in Paris, "Jennifer's Leg," sets the tone of the story and adds thematic depth by providing the subtextual topic of "perspective." This theme is underscored by the deaths and corpse mutilations from the basic linear narrative, by the tension between his sister (Sergeant Deborah Morgan) and himself and, by the multi-generational legacy of the tutelage of the monsters within. The line between perspective and rationalization is as thin as ever and one that Jeff Lindsay treads with as much care as ever. This is Jeff Lindsay's best Dexter novel yet.

BED OF ROSES is the second title in the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. I don't usually read modern romances in general but decided to read Vision on White (first-in-series) and Bed of Roses because Bed of Roses has been so prominently displayed in bookstores and blogged about. I was disappointed with Vision in White, because frankly, the sex scenes (chemistry+romance+consumation) were rather tepid. I know Nora Roberts can write steamy stuff (i.e. Naked in Death, first in the In Death Series by J.D. Robb) so the mediocre fare offered by Vision in White was a bit of a surprise. In Bed of Roses, the sex scenes were hotter, but overall, the story was just as forgettable as in Vision in White. I don't think I'll continue with this series and if I want to read a romance, I'll probably pick up a regency, though admittedly I kinda "read out" the genre years ago.

I'm currently reading THE MAZE RUNNER (by James Dashell) as the third and final title for the DystopYA Challenge.

I'm about 1/3 into "The Thirteenth Tale", recommended by a friend, but also suggested in your podcasts. Next up will be "The Sweet Edge" by Alison Pick, I think, though I'm always torn between the books on my nightstand and the books on my "To Be Read" list, which number more than 160.

Debbie, I'm so sorry about your father-in-law, but I'm glad that the two books have helped. I never did read The Lovely Bones, but of course The Book Thief is an absolute favorite.

I just finished reading "The Book Thief" and listened to "The Lovely Bones". This was an interesting happenstance - since both books are told from an unusual point of view, and since my father-in-law has just recently passed away. Each book brought some comfort to me in their own way. The writing in "The Book Thief" was so skillful, I felt like I was right there with Liesel and Rudy. The narrator's observations about people struck a deep chord with me. In "The Lovely Bones" the narrator's vision of heaven seemed to fit my own thoughts, and it helped to think of my father-in-law in a heaven of his own, and I wondered who and what would be there with him. Even having known him for 35 years, I'm not sure I would guess correctly. At any rate, both these books resonated for me, maybe due to recent circumstances in my own life, but I really think they would have regardless.

Need a fun, light, bedside read this Dec.? Try Fannie Flagg's "A Redbird Christmas." Also just finished Katherine Lanpher's "Leap Days" - a memoir from the St. Paul, MN journalist/author who moved to NYC at midlife to cohost 'Air America' - Al Franken's now-defunct answer to the right wing talk radio. But it's really about mid-life introspection and what life holds for the second half - with a healthy dose of humor and self deprecation! I could certainly relate to all her references about the Twin Cities and the Midwest in general.

Lmj wrote: "Finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and have now started Sarah's Key. I fear this one will be a tear jerker. It partially takes place during World War II ..."

Sarah's Key is excellent. I wasn't a fan of the writing style but it's a great story.

Finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and have now started Sarah's Key. I fear this one will be a tear jerker. It partially takes place during World War II and partially now. So far the short chapters are alternating and are easily to tell which age I am reading because the font changes.

I loved "Expecting Adam" too. It is really a great personal account of how society and make judgements about people's choices. It is Martha Beck's first book and I still think it is one of her best.
Just finished listening to the unabridged, "While I am Falling" by Laura Moriarty. I loved this book, sort of a chick lit but a good read and gives a good view on how divorce can effect a family. Also read the "Crying Tree" Don't know if I mentioned this before but it was sooo good, deserves another mention.

I'm listening to Waiting for Columbus - loving it. I'm reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, and A Jury of Her Peers.

Finished Juliet, Naked A Novel this was my first Nick Hornby. I really liked the book until I had to draw conclusions about the ending.

Now I've started listening to Steve Martin's memoir Born Standing Up A Comic's Life. I haven't listened to much, but what I've heard verifies what I've thought about Steve Martin. That he is funny, intelligent, well-spoken. Now I know he's introspective, too.

Scott wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Started another installment of "classics I missed along the way" the other day - Les Mis; plan to do library runs early next week for Bee Season by Goldberg and The Illumination by ..."

Turns out I unrealizingly picked up an abridged version - only 400 pages. How long is the unabridged?

I've finally finished Sherlock Holmes and am now completely engrossed in The Feathery by Bill Flynn. Never been a big golf person, but this book has me hooked.

Rebekah wrote: "Started another installment of "classics I missed along the way" the other day - Les Mis; plan to do library runs early next week for Bee Season by Goldberg and The Illumination by Gregory and Tant..."

Good luck on Les Mis. Great book and story, but a veeeerrrrryyyy long read. :)

I just finished reading The Living Dead in Dallas, the second in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Waiting for a copy of the third book to fall into my hands! In the meantime, I'm reading Real World by Natsuo Kirino. I received it as a gift quite awhile ago, and it's been gathering dust. Time to read it, and put it up for swap!

Oh, I *loved* Nine Parts of Desire! I read it before Geraldine Brooks was *the* Geraldine Brooks!

I haven't read "Nine Parts of Desire," but I'd like to. Maybe I'll put it on my Christmas list. I also haven't read the one about Brooks' penpals.

Irene wrote: "HI all,

But THE BEST thing I've read in ages was EXPECTING ADAM by Martha Beck. It's an unforgettable memoire, deep and funny in equal parts. Has anyone else read it?"

One of my friends lent me that book in 2008 and I'm ashamed to admit that I still have it sitting here unread. One of my resolutions for 2010 is to read the half dozen or so books that people have lent me and return them. Sounds like I should start with EXPECTING ADAM!

I'm reading the brilliant SCHINDLER'S LEGACY, which is non-fiction regarding the experiences of some of the Schindlerjuden after their liberation. This author has gotten a fair number to tell their stories (many others didn't wish to discuss it anymore, or couldn't be found, or had already passed on). There is anger, determination, sheer guts, heartbreak and, surprisingly, a bit of humor. Highly recommended.

I just finished listening to a GREAT audio book, too, SUMMERLAND, written and read by Michael Chabon.

HI all,

I haven't had time to keep up with all of you for a couple of months, so it's nice to catch up. I loved WATER FOR ELEPHANTS too. I found YEAR OF WONDER interesting but it didn't really "get" me. I'm about two chapters from the end of SHADOW OF THE WIND and I'm enjoyin it. But THE BEST thing I've read in ages was EXPECTING ADAM by Martha Beck. It's an unforgettable memoire, deep and funny in equal parts. Has anyone else read it?

Started another installment of "classics I missed along the way" the other day - Les Mis; plan to do library runs early next week for Bee Season by Goldberg and The Illumination by Gregory and Tantori; The Birds' Christmas Carol is sitting atop my desk beckoning for the annual re-read (a tradition I've kept almost every year for the last 30 or so).

Jeweleye wrote: "Libby wrote: "I just started "Year of Wonder" by Geraldine Brooks. Her writing is so wonderful that I immediately got pulled into 1666, the year of the plague. I've had the book since it came out..."

That sounds like an interesting book -- I'm putting it on my TBR list.
Another non-fiction book by Brooks worthy of mention is Foreign Correspondence A Pen Pal's Journey from Down Under to All Over where as an adult she tracks down pen-pals she had while she was young. Her novel People of the Book is also very good.

Libby wrote: "I just started "Year of Wonder" by Geraldine Brooks. Her writing is so wonderful that I immediately got pulled into 1666, the year of the plague. I've had the book since it came out in 2001, beca..."

Libby, have you read "Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women"? It was published in 1994. Brooks travels to several different Islamic countries and visits with the women there. She is thus able to present a different side of Islamic culture than what we usually see. (Since those cultures are patriarchal, the women's thoughts and opinions are pretty much invisible to Westerners.) I didn't even realize that this was the same Geraldine Brooks as the other books you mentioned until I looked her up on Goodreads! Now I will definitely add her other books to my TBR list!

I have been reading away in the fall as much as I could, but I am teaching an overload this semester and there is basically no time left for reading. At the moment, I am reading by Nicola Keegan. I am not sure, but I think Anne might have talked about it, and I really like it so far. I also put back on my nightstand. It's interesting and an easy read.

I just finished The Handmaid's Tale. Definitely on my all time favorite list. I don't know what I will read next - I'm still in Gilead with Offred...this story will stick with me for a while...

Libby wrote: "I just started "Year of Wonder" by Geraldine Brooks. Her writing is so wonderful that I immediately got pulled into 1666, the year of the plague. I've had the book since it came out in 2001, beca..."
Year of Wonder is a good book - I read it about a month ago. I didn't care for the ending so much, but I loved the strength of the female characters.

Tanya wrote: "I'm supposed to be reading WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (by Sara Gruen.) I listened to the audio last year (narrated by John Randolph Jones and David LeDoux) and wasn't really planning on covering the mater..."

Tanya, I've read this book 3 times - including the second time for my book discussion. Each time I felt I got more out of it than I did the previous time. There are few books that I have read more than once let alone more than twice. Good luck with your support for your reading group.

Linda

I'm supposed to be reading WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (by Sara Gruen.) I listened to the audio last year (narrated by John Randolph Jones and David LeDoux) and wasn't really planning on covering the material again so soon, but it's the book the library's fledgling book club selected for this month. I want to show my support for their endeavors by being able to actively participate in the discussion, but my heart's just not in it, so the goings slow. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book and, in fact have recommended it to others, but right now I find myself just looking at the pictures!

In audio, I'm listening to SUDDEN DEATH (fourth in the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt; narrated by Grover Gardner.) There are two titles in the series that are abridged, and only abridged (meaning that there is no unabridged audio available,) Bury the Lead, the third title in the series, and this one. In Bury the Lead, I had no idea what the abridger(s) left out, but with this title, there has already been one continuity error :-(
I'm young and I'll get over it, but I'm glad the rest in the series are unabridged!

I just started "Year of Wonder" by Geraldine Brooks. Her writing is so wonderful that I immediately got pulled into 1666, the year of the plague. I've had the book since it came out in 2001, because it got such good reviews, but just got around to reading it. I loved "People of the Book" and "March," too.

Picked up The Feathery on my Kindle. If you like fiction thrillers and golf, here's a good way to blend your passions. Liking it very much so far.

Shona wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I loved The Handmaid's Tale. I also enjoyed Oryx and Crake. I am looking forward to reading Year of the Flood. I put it at the top of my Christmas lists, so I have high hopes of see..."

The Handmaid's Tale is on my top 10 list of all time favorite books. Glad you are enjoying it.

Melissa wrote: "I loved The Handmaid's Tale. I also enjoyed Oryx and Crake. I am looking forward to reading Year of the Flood. I put it at the top of my Christmas lists, so I have high hopes of seeing it under the..."

melissa,
I loved oryx and crake and I just finished the year of the flood and I liked it so much. Even better than oryx and crake. Its one of my favs of this year!

Melissa wrote: "I loved The Handmaid's Tale. I also enjoyed Oryx and Crake. I am looking forward to reading Year of the Flood. I put it at the top of my Christmas lists, so I have high hopes of seeing it under the..."

Melissa,
I am really loving The Handmaid's Tale - I found myself today asking everybody at work whether they had read it because I just wanted to talk about it with somebody else! I like your term speculative fiction - it describes it quite well.

I've been away from Goodreads for a few weeks, so I'm catching up on what everyone is reading. It is so thrilling to hear that so many have taken my recommendations and are enjoying the books:

Lekeshua with The Secret History
Carol with World War Z
Lmj with Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

It's wonderful that so many books I love are getting more love from all of you!!

I loved The Handmaid's Tale. I also enjoyed Oryx and Crake. I am looking forward to reading Year of the Flood. I put it at the top of my Christmas lists, so I have high hopes of seeing it under the tree. I listened to a podcast interview of Margaret Atwood, and she tried to describe her genre of writing. She said she didn't consider it Science Fiction because it didn't concern outer space and aliens, but of course most of her stories are set in an alternate reality. I would describe it as speculative fiction. Her books demonstrate the possible results of current social trends, political agendas, or scientific exploration divorced from moral guidance or common sense.

I just started reading The Handmaid's Tale. I'm only on page 72 but it has just captivated me -- it's going to be a long night :)

I finished With Wings Like Eagles (a history of the RAF during the Battle of Britain) and started Masters and Commanders by Andrew Roberts. It is about the relationships between Churchill, Roosevelt, Marshall, and Brooke. I also started The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, but it hasn't captured me yet. It's strange, but once school starts, I seem more drawn to non-fiction. I guess after teaching fiction all day, I need a break.

Ann wrote: "Rebekah, have you read Bee Season by Myla Goldberg? It's wonderful -- I thought of it after your description of The Book of Names. It deals with Judaism and Kabbala, but also adolescence and spelli..."

No; I'll definitely have to check it out, especially since hundreds of years ago in my adolescence I was a spelling bee champion, and have two sons who went far in spelling competitions as well! Thanks. Off to the library website!

Hi Maureen,

Oh, you're in for a treat! My favorite Bryson is A Walk in the Woods, and I confess that audio was not the right format for me to enjoy Short History of Nearly Everything, but I did love the book.

Thanks for de-lurking!

Hi all ~

Long time lurker, first time poster. :-) I'm reading my first Bill Bryson travelogue, Notes from a Small Island. (I've previously listened to A Short History of Nearly Everything on audiobook.) Enjoying it so far.

Rebekah, have you read Bee Season by Myla Goldberg? It's wonderful -- I thought of it after your description of The Book of Names. It deals with Judaism and Kabbala, but also adolescence and spelling bees and family. I read it many years ago, but I loved it! Not heavy at all, but deep enough to resonate and stick with you.

I'm back to reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. It's my last entry in the DystopYA challenge.

Melissa wrote: "I don't use a cookbook on Thanksgiving. I use a collection of old, stained slips of paper with the family recipes for dressing, Waldorf salad, and pumpkin pie. The family forbids any straying from the traditional recipes. "

LOL, For 25 years, my Mom served the same Thanksgiving dinner which included the mandatory Waldorf salad, Jello with fruit and rolls. Then my father retired and he started watching cooking shows and ordering cookbooks. He announced that he was going to do Thanksgiving dinner that year, and it was Wonderful (yes, that's a capital "W"!) Everyone oohed & aahed and said "it was the best Thanksgiving dinner ever!" My mother was so mad! This was the start of The Thanksgiving Wars with my family which has had many interesting culinary battles!

I finished The Book of Names by Gregory and Tantori last night - excellent book for anyone interested in Judaica, specifically gematriya, Kabbala, mysticism...What to read next? I'm still plodding through Sophie's World, which I seem to hate more and more as it goes on, but having invested this much time in it I refuse to quit without seeing if it does actually resolve into something. I have lots of non-fiction on hand that I want to read, but like to intersperse with some lighter, faster, less-concentration-demanding fare.

I don't use a cookbook on Thanksgiving. I use a collection of old, stained slips of paper with the family recipes for dressing, Waldorf salad, and pumpkin pie. The family forbids any straying from the traditional recipes.

I'm still reading The Thirteenth Tale and am really enjoying it...have about 50 pages left and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all gets wrapped up. I'm currently on vacation in Garmisch, Germany and was in a bookstore yesterday (yes, I can't even pass a bookstore where all the books are in a language I don't even speak, lol). But they had a small English section and found a book by William Boyd called Ordinary Thunderstorms - I haven't heard of that one - wondering if anyone else has?

Finished The White Tiger which was very enjoyable. I never knew where it was going. The more I think about it, the more I like it. A lot of symbolism.

Now I'm reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. so far, it is enticing - a mystery which takes place during the year I was born. This is the author's first book and his is 70. There's hope for me! I see he has another book coming out in the spring. I think I'll be in line for that one.

After 2 or 3 rather gripping serious novels, I need to choose something light. As my nightstand soon will collapse under the weight of so many "to read" I jumped the library due date queue and picked The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. I am on page 124 and am enjoying it.