Amy wrote: "I know what you mean, I have so many books on my shelves, yet to read, but I have an addiction problem with buying them!! ha ha....I know they will all get read, but someone is always suggesting gr..."Everyone should read,"A Thousand Splendid Suns." Read it and you will understand why I say that. nina

Hi. I went to Amazon.com to read some of the reviews of _Sarah's Key_.

One customer review said: "I read this book in two days--devoured Sarah's storytelling and mired through Julia's voice. Julia's part of this story is laborious and boring."

Do you agree with that comment?

See the review at: ====>
http://www.amazon.com/Sarahs-Key-Tatiana...
(Scroll down to the review written by J. Johnston.)

Another interesting customer review at Amazon.com (by customer Roger Brunyate) said:
==================================================
"Any novel dealing with the Holocaust is full of echoes of other books. De Rosnay's portrayal of Parisians under occupation chimes perfectly with the picture in SUITE FRANCAISE by Irène Nemirovsky, who herself suffered the same fate as Sarah's family. The transit camps and deportation of French Jews feature in Sebastian Faulks' CHARLOTTE GRAY. And the story of an American in France looking into an earlier time somewhat resembles THE VIRGIN BLUE by Tracy Chevalier, an author whom De Rosnay apparently admires. Readers who enjoyed any one of these would probably appreciate SARAH'S KEY, a book that stands up well to all but the first of them."
===================================================
Good book recommendations.

I know it....It broke my heart. He must have kept telling himself, "my sister will be back soon"....ugh....I can't imagine..It's funny you wrote about this today. I just got this book back from the office circulation.
Have you read The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns?? Also great books!

Amy wrote: "I just read, Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. It's about the Holocaust. I can't stop thinking about this book. I couldn't put it down. So if anyone has read it, please let me know. I would like yo..."

Hi Amy,

I also read Sarah's Key. Such a moving book. I couldn't forget about the little boy being left in the closet, and all he must have gone through.

I'm happy to have met all of you too!
Best wishes for the New Year.
Joy

Dear Nina,

Thank you so much. As 2009 approaches, I am working on my second novel. When you have the time, please add Reason Reigns in your list of books so that it would appear in the Goodreads book data - thanks a lot.

I wish you and your loved ones everything good for 2009. Warmest regards.

Dear Ilyn,

It's almost a New Year back where you are and I wish you success with your newest book in the year to come. I wish I could give you a review worthy of your Reason Reigns. I remember turning each page and wondering, "What next," and then you would come up with another crisis. Your characters were not cardboard. They seemed real and I wanted them to get out of all their difficulties. I thiought you wove a moralthroughout the book without being preachy. Not easy to do. I usually don't like science fiction which I think your story bordered on to the extent that you had to sustain disblief, but Ray Bradbury would be proud to welcome you to his side. I am afraid I can't go into specifics with the turning of the plot and the individual characters and their names as I gave my book to my grandson for Christmas as he was visiting me from CA and he was thrilled to get it. I gave it to him because he is the one who signed me up for goodreads so he was familiar with the book.. I will ask him to give a review when he finishes it..He is Tim Halling and he has written some good reviews in the past..In the meantime have a Happy New Year and so happy to have "met" you...nina ps I am also Happy to have met all of you goodread friends..Have a wonderful new Year.

Thank you, Nina. Happy New Year.

Hello from kS,

Someone mentioned reading a life changing book and although I commented in one of my earlier messages I feel it's worth repeating; an asst. priest friend of mine(I should call him a book friend as we exchange thoughts) said when he read the last page of THE KITE RUNNER, it changed his life. It didn't do that for me but I did think it was one of the best books I've read and I also felt that way about, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS,' and although THREE CUPS OF TEA could have used some editing, it,too was simply marvelous and I would have hated to have not read these three in my lifetime.. And, Ilyn your book is another gem, nina

Yes, all went well, Jim. It was a routine checkup.

You were lucky with your grandparents, Jim. Most of mine died when I was young, but my mom's mom lived until she was 96. So I knew her, but she spoke mostly Italian. So we didn't communicate much except with smiles. I have great memories of Christmases at her house in Brooklyn, playing her player piano, the pianola, and singing. She passed on her love or music to us all.

I was lucky to know all 4 of my grandparents - 6 if you count 2 step grandmothers married to my maternal grandfather, Carl, the last of whom passed away a week ago. Carl passed first, when I was 23, just 3 weeks after my son, his first grandchild was born. Mac, my paternal grandfather died almost exactly 3 years later. All outlasted my father, the man who really got me hooked on reading, by a long time. He died back in 1969.

Pop used to leave his books around & the covers were luridly fascinating. He loved Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, John Carter of Mars) & Robert E. Howard (Conan, Kull, Bran Mak Morn). The latter had a series of books, the Lancer paperback editions, with cover art by Frank Frazetta who painted barbaric scenes with mightily muscled warriors, horrible monsters & scantily clad, curvy women. Guaranteed to interest any red blooded boy! One of my first books was The Hobbit, because Mom didn't think Conan was appropriate reading for me, for some unknown reason. I managed to smuggle them past her more than a few times though. After Pop died, many of his books were lost, but I still have a few - mostly in tatters.

I'm sorry you didn't get to know your grandparents, Amy. Mine were much better at spoiling me than my parents were.

Hope all went well at the doctor's, Joy.

How great to come home from the doctor's office and read such an interesting conversation! Medicine for the soul!

Jim, how impressive about "The Long Islander", Walt Whitman, and your grandfather! Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I liked your sentence:
"It was something to be savored on occasion or familiarity would ruin it."
...something like being wary of "too much of a good thing".

Amy, I feel the same way as you. You said:
"That's what I love, when people get excited about reading and certain books."

Enthusiam is contagious. They should bottle it and sell it.

It's interesting what makes people happy. We all have our likes and dislikes. Sounds like you had a great bond with your grandfather. You were very blessed to have him. I didn't know any of my grandparents. They had all passed before I was born. However, my mother is quite the reader. I try to get her to read some of my favorites, but she perfers her romance novels. (Which on occasion, is a guilty pleasure of mine as well.) I was able to get my sister to enjoy books this year. I've been trying for years, but she had no interest. Finally, she hurt her knee so she was home quite a bit and I brought her some easy, feel-good reads. She was hooked!! It was the best. Now, she can't stop. I bought her a book journal to keep track,so she can look back and see what she wrote about a particular author. She is loving this. I've never been more excited for her knowing all the good books out there. I wish I could get my husband into it, but I think that's a hopeless case. Never say never, I guess.

Amy wrote: "What a nice memory of your grandfather. I am sure he is proud that you are reading, regardless of what type of book. ..."

No, he was definitely a book snob. We had long, sometimes heated discussions about it. I remember one time he made fun of a book I was reading, something by Mickey Spillane, an unabashed pulp writer & the creator of Mike Hammer. I was ready for him, though.

Grandpa loved Ernest Hemingway & I knew Spillane & Hemingway had a running feud. To needle him, I told him Spillane said the measure of good writing is what sells & Spillane was out selling Hemingway by quite a bit. He told me that just showed I had plebeian tastes.

I asked what was wrong with that - he didn't drink Glenlevit (a pricey, single malt scotch) all the time, either. It was something to be savored on occasion or familiarity would ruin it. (I was actually cribbing Spillane on that. Spillane's comment was peanuts & caviar, though.) That actually ended the argument for the rest of the day while he mulled it over. It was the first time I'd ever done that to him - a day I'll treasure!

But yes, books & Grandpa are many good memories. I used to love his books & he obviously passed it on to me. He had an entire wall of his bedroom filled with them. It wasn't until after I built & filled in the bookshelves in my bedroom that the resemblance hit me. He was lucky enough to also have a big attic with another huge bookcase. I have to make do with a dozen around the house & some boxes under the bed.

We may have disagreed on what constituted 'good' reading, but we never disagreed that we loved it. Anyway, the argument between us ran for a lot of years & was a good way for us to share about our books. He'd tell me why I should read one of his boring ones & I'd tell him why he should read one of mine. Weird, but it worked for us.

What a nice memory of your grandfather. I am sure he is proud that you are reading, regardless of what type of book. It's nice to hear that your kids read as well. All the kids I know, play video games or watch tv. To be perfectly honest, I've never heard of any of the books you spoke of, but I can see the excitement you have talking about them. That's what I love, when people get excited about reading and certain books. When I find a life changing book, I have to tell all my friends and they think I'm off my rocker because I get so excited about it.

I manage the budget, acquisitions & storage, so I am the Librarian. I also read the most & the fastest. Plus, I read most everything all of them do including stuff they won't touch. They don't like SF too much, for some reason. We all read Discover magazine & love SF movies, but they're not much into reading it. Odd people.

They're always coming to me asking for 'a book to read'. Such precise requests! Marg, my wife, doesn't like too much blood, horror or sex & likes mostly fantasy. She'll read books that bore me to tears, like the Robert Jordan series.

Erin, my teenage daughter, likes paranormal romances almost exclusively now, although she likes some other fantasy, too. Blood, horror & sex are just 'spice'. She says it's my fault since I watched 'Aliens' with her when she was 2. I think her favorite is the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

My youngest boy, Brandon, likes Sword & Sorcery as well as most any fantasy & some light SF. He's the one who shares my love of Robert E. Howard & Roger Zelazny. On his latest visit, he took all my Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust & he better return them! They're based on Hungarian mythology & revolve around an assassin.

At least we all like to read even if my grandfather is probably hexing me from his grave at our choice of books. He never liked mine. He was owner & publisher of "The Long Islander" a newspaper started by Walt Whitman. He had a love of reading that was awesome, but he was a snob about it. Still, even with the teasing I got, I remember fondly our hours combing through the used book stores in Huntington. He was the only person that would ever do that with me. Now the two younger kids will on occasion.

That's fantastic!! The family librarian, too funny. I get emails from bookmovement.com which gives me the latest book club selections. I then, go to half.com and get them, but just the suggestions from others is great for me.

I thought the first Twilight was OK, but the POV, that of a teenage girl, didn't really cut it for me. My wife & daughter liked it though. They didn't like the movie much.

Me getting the books is part of my job as family librarian. We have several thousand around the place & most of them we all like. We share fairly well, although on a good series, a lot of heckling can develop if someone isn't reading a book fast enough. I'll give them first shot & read the other 3 Twilights, if they think it is worth my time. We all know each others tastes pretty well.

Amy wrote: "That's so great when you find a book that good. I am excited for you. But how can you hold on to the last one? You are good. I wouldn't have the self-control haha."

Amy-my kids think I am nuts!! I do the same thing with new clothes!!!

That's so great when you find a book that good. I am excited for you. But how can you hold on to the last one? You are good. I wouldn't have the self-control haha.

Jackie (a group member) and I saw the movie, "Twilight" together. You can read our conversation about it at the following topic: ====>
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8112...

I have read the first 3 Twilight books & I am holding on to the last one, knowing it will be over. I have enjoyed them-like I said on another thread-Vampire-lite!!

That's great. How is that series?? I've seen it everywhere. I didn't think I would like Harry Potter and once I started those I couldn't wait for the next one. I will probably feel the same way about her books....Are you enjoying them?

I wrote up a review about both sites in this group here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8711...
Read through it & see if you think it will fit you. I'm tickled to death with it.

Just now I got Twilight #2, 3 & 4. The person I'm getting them from will likely pay under $5 in shipping & get 3 book credits which she can use toward any books she wants. I got these 3 book credits for sending 1 book to Japan for about $5. So, instead of $10/book, all 3 cost me $5. Wow!

Ha Ha. I love the title of that site, Jim. BookMooch. I'll have to check that out! Thanks!

BookMooch & PaperBackSwap are excellent, too. You need to have some patience, but you'd be surprised at some of the books I've gotten. It's a lot cheaper when it works, too. Just the cost of shipping a book - less than $3.

Everyone I talk to says The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns was fantastic. I'll have to get to them soon. Half.com is the best. I have always been able to find was I am looking for. Good for you for selling too!!

Below is a link to www.half.com: ====>
http://www.half.ebay.com/

Amy wrote: "I enjoy going to the bookstores too, but check out www.half.com......sometimes you get great deals on books...it's always $3.75 shipping for each book, but sometimes you can find a book for $1, so ..."

Amy-not only do I buy books on half.com-I have been selling some recently!!

I don't like scary books either. :)

I loved reading _The Kite Runner_ ! It's a great read. Haven't seen the movie.

I tried reading _A Thousand Splendid Suns_ but couldn't get into it.

Below are the cover-links to Khaled Hosseini's two books mentioned above:
_____

I enjoy going to the bookstores too, but check out www.half.com......sometimes you get great deals on books...it's always $3.75 shipping for each book, but sometimes you can find a book for $1, so it's a pretty good deal. It's like ebay, but you dont have to bid, you can just shop away....It's always fun when the books start coming in the mail!! Such a treat.

I saw the movie The Kite Runner...it was very good but I have no interest in reading the books....

I know what you mean, I have so many books on my shelves, yet to read, but I have an addiction problem with buying them!! ha ha....I know they will all get read, but someone is always suggesting great books, so when they feel that passionate about it, I just have to get it!! Ha ha...I was going to try to not buy any books in 2009, as part of my New Year's resolution, but I think that's just setting me up for failure, I'll never be able to do that!! haha. People keep recommending The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I haven't read them yet, how about you?? Any comments?

Amy-I love SK but I can't watch his movies-I am a chicken!!! I use my imagination & don't feel the need to see things!!!
I'll tell you a little bit about Luanne someday, but I will send you a message....
I went to Barnes & Noble the other night with my husband & I walked around with my little "to read" book & wrote down some titles & authors.....not that I need any books!!

I LOVED the Secret Life of Bees.....such a cute, feel-good book...I think you will like it. I checked out your book ratings, we have a similar taste in books!! I can't read Steven King though, that's too scary for me. I am a chicken!! ha ha..But I see you like Luanne Rice, and alot of the Oprah Book Club choices....I always read her suggestions, I haven't read her last choice, the Edgar Sawtelle book yet. I read Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou last night. I was a quick, easy read, but inpirational. This morning I picked up Half-Assed, a weight loss memoir. Sorry for the title, but that's what it is...I am hoping it motivates me for the New Year!! haha.

Amy wrote: "Becky wrote: "I read it Amy-it was a very moving & emotional book-I could not put it down either. I was surprised about this time in history, I don't recall ever learning about that part of WWII at..."

I finished The Outlander last night, the longest 300 page book I ever read LOL.....I started Secret Life of Bees...

Becky wrote: "I read it Amy-it was a very moving & emotional book-I could not put it down either. I was surprised about this time in history, I don't recall ever learning about that part of WWII at all in school..."

Becky wrote: "I read it Amy-it was a very moving & emotional book-I could not put it down either. I was surprised about this time in history, I don't recall ever learning about that part of WWII at all in school..."


Thanks for the suggestions, I will have to check them out. I appreciate you responding to me. I always refer my favorite books to my coworkers but it's nice to get feedback on this site. What are you reading right now?

I read it Amy-it was a very moving & emotional book-I could not put it down either. I was surprised about this time in history, I don't recall ever learning about that part of WWII at all in school.....I would suggest The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as a similar book, very moving, very shocking & through the eyes of a child....

I hope you get some input from our members, Amy.

You might also look at the reviews found at the book's website.
Below is the cover-link to that webpage: ====>

I just read, Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. It's about the Holocaust. I can't stop thinking about this book. I couldn't put it down. So if anyone has read it, please let me know. I would like your input.