Currently reading _The Botany of Desire_ by Michael Pollan. Just getting into it, so can't say a whole lot about it. It's about how plants have manipulated us to do their bidding.

Jigme Datse

Now I've just finished "The Stone Gods" by Jeanette Winterson and have found it to be the most enjoyable of her books so far. There are some marvellous passages that i must note down somewhere- they are really deeply emotional and descriptive of the mood behind this strange set of linked tales. I've started Alan Hollinghurst's "The Line of Beauty" and oddly for me, I'm finding it less enthralling than the TV series I saw a year or so ago on Australia's ABC (like the UK's BBC- no advertising). It seems to me as though the author just jumps into the middle of a young guy's life and doesn't really give any setting or reason for the feelings and action. I guess H will explain it later in oblique fashion, but it just struck me as a device that wasn't working for me at this stage. If I didn't know it was a good story, I might have dropped the book and turned to something else- all a bit discombobulating! Anyone else read this?

I've dropped off a quarter the way into "Drood" by Dan Simmons- it was starting to grate on me, but maybe I can re-adapt later. Now I'm 3/4 the way through Robertson Davies' "Murther and Walking Spirits", which is fairly gripping- RD is such a fantastic writer- sucks me in, wonderful characters, superb storytelling- he should get the Nobel Prize! I sooo recommend his writing- give "The Deptford Trilogy" a try.

Contemplating Reality by Andy Karr. I think that's the right author... Also have In The Realm of the Hungry Ghost by Gabor Mate on the queue, but haven't started it yet.

Jigme Datse Rasku

Karen wrote: "I am just starting Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I am so thrilled to be able to read novels (vs. texts) now!"

YOU will LOVE that book, one of my favorites! Great book!

I am just starting Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I am so thrilled to be able to read novels (vs. texts) now!

Saintseester wrote: "For what it is worth, it's pretty easy to put down and pick up without forgetting what was going on. I've been reading it in 15 minute snippets in car-line.

I usually read 2 books at a time. One ..."

LOL! I love that I am NOT the only one who keeps books in my car for traffic jams and waiting at car pool pick ups! I have several books at different spots in the house also that I read when I happen to be in that room of choice. Yes, I am a HUGE multitasker! :)

For what it is worth, it's pretty easy to put down and pick up without forgetting what was going on. I've been reading it in 15 minute snippets in car-line.

I usually read 2 books at a time. One I keep in the car for waiting in places where I get bored. The other is on my nightstand and is whatever one I am most into.

Saintseester wrote: "I just started Atlas Shrugged and loving it. I was scared because it is so darn long, but I got sucked in quickly. "

That book has been suggested to me so many times to read and I haven't yet, I guess I have to pick it up and read it.

I just started Atlas Shrugged and loving it. I was scared because it is so darn long, but I got sucked in quickly.

I'm starting Versailles by Kathryn Davis. It's a novel about Marie Antoinette....We'll see if it's any good!

I'm reading First Family by Baldacci. So far so good, I love all his books.

I finished Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" last week and it was awwesome- just so comple, well written, full of believable and unusal characters- frantic to read the sequels! Currently I'm just concluding Barbara Nadel's "River of the Dead", referring to the Euphrates in Turkey on the borders with Syria and Iraq.It is a very relevant detective tale centred around the Middle Eastern drugs trade, especially involving Afghanistan.

I found The Gold Coast a bit disappointing comapred to his other books- a bit disjointed or something- maybe I was delirious with some germ or other!

Saintseester wrote: "Well, I loved it 3/4 of the way through. Then, not so much. It will be interesting to discuss it in book club later this week.

Now. What to read, next?"

Exactly, I'm starting a new discussion on that very subject.

The Double Bond, a Primo Levi biography.

I'm currently reading the True Blood series and LOVING it.

Sookie Stackhouse novels

Well, I loved it 3/4 of the way through. Then, not so much. It will be interesting to discuss it in book club later this week.

Now. What to read, next?

I'm now reading Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell...I'm on page 1 (LOL) we'll see how it goes!

I've been reading _Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times_ I'm sort of working through the poems from beginning to end. But there are some really good poems that I've read multiple times now...

Jigme Datse

Ha! Enjoy!

Laura, I didn't know what to expect. I had not read or heard anything about it before my friend announced it as her pick. Will let everyone know what I think when I am finished with it. Which could be sometime in the middle of the night, LOL!

that sounds interesting Saintseester!

I started reading The Brief History of the Dead for book club the other day, and OMG, I can't put it down. But, I have to, because I must get some sleep.

I have started reading (just in the last week) Inside Lightwave 3D v9, and Quick Start Guide to Flash CS3. Or something like that. So far I can't say they are particularly gripping, but that's OK, what do you expect from school books?

Jigme Datse

I've not been able to put down "Everything Bad is Good For You," by Steven Johnson - a defense of pop culture and how the "lower arts" actually contribute to one's ability to reason.

I've been playing with my camera, so I am reading photography books. LOL! I just bought Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, and I hope to crack it open this weekend.

I'm currently reading something by Nora Roberts ... but for the LIFE of my I can't remember the name of it. Darkest Death or... something.

Nobody has started a new book in 14 days!?! I don't buy that for a minute! I just started Heat Lightning by John Sandford. I'm on a mystery/thriller kick right now!

I just finished Salvation in Death by J. D. Robb. It was a pretty good read. I wasn't too sure of it until about 1/3 of the way through or 1/2 (Whenever the 2nd murder occurs.) which is weird for me. I usually am TOTALLY into this series from the very start of each book. It wasn't her best but it was enjoyable.

Saintseester wrote: "I've been trying to read a book called Tailchaser's song, but I keep getting sidetracked!!! I haven't had much time to read over the past few weeks. I need to fix that."

I loved that book! I read it a dozen times when I was about 10. It's sooooo good! Let me know what you think when you finish.

I just finished the first "100 Bullets" graphic novel. It's gritty, not your superhero stuff. I enjoyed it; however, for anyone not "into" comics, I'd suggest Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. His 10 books are real literature.

I'm currently reading "Your Heart Beongs to Me" by Dean Koontz. I can't decide if I like it or not and I'm halfway through... not a really good sigh with me.

I've been trying to read a book called Tailchaser's song, but I keep getting sidetracked!!! I haven't had much time to read over the past few weeks. I need to fix that.

I just started Choke last night. I'm not very far yet, but it's interesting to compare to the movie, which I saw in December.

I am on page 100 in Neal Shusterman's Unwind. I am halfway through To Kill a Mockingbird. When I am sitting in front of the computer I read Dune.

Topsurf wrote: "Notameangirl I have NEVER seen a movie that does a book justice....NEVER. To me a book is like a movie theatre for your mind."

In general, I completely agree, although there are a few that do a pretty good job... The Princess Bride comes quickly to mind.

Topsurf wrote: "My daughter just turned 12 ands so badly to read the twilight books. I am not letting her yet. I feel she is not quiet ready for them. Am I misinformed?"

I think she's old enough. They were written by a Momron soccer mom and any adult themes are VERY tame. They were written for her age group and I know several girls between 12-24 who have read them and LOVED them.

I read Danielle Steele when I was 12, Stephanie Meyer should have been around then! Oy vey...

Notameangirl wrote: "It probably wasn't. Movies tend to rewrite the books... which is what I HATE.
"

You're probably right there. I know they have in cases I've checked things about. Almost (if not all) every time I've checked my memory was correct. I much prefer books for the most part. But it doesn't take as long to watch a movie.

Jigme Datse

Jigme wrote: "Notameangirl wrote: "Topsurf wrote: "Notameangirl I have NEVER seen a movie that does a book justice....NEVER. To me a book is like a movie theatre for your mind."

OMG EXACTLY! I swear to you, w..."

It probably wasn't. Movies tend to rewrite the books... which is what I HATE.

Notameangirl wrote: "Topsurf wrote: "Notameangirl I have NEVER seen a movie that does a book justice....NEVER. To me a book is like a movie theatre for your mind."

OMG EXACTLY! I swear to you, when I read a book I d..."

I know that if I've read a book relatively recently, I have images in my mind a clear picture of what is going on. There is a lot of visualization. The thing is, I don't really notice it until I see someone else's wrong images. If it's well enough written you should really pretty much have more or less the same picture in your mind. That drove me crazy about some of the stuff in the movie. I can't really believe that my picture was *that* far off of what was written.

Jigme Datse

Topsurf wrote: "My daughter just turned 12 ands so badly to read the twilight books. I am not letting her yet. I feel she is not quiet ready for them. Am I misinformed?"

The writing is certainly easy enough to read. I thought the first book conveyed a bit of sexual tension, even as an adult! Nonetheless I let my 12 year old daughters read it. One of them put it down, completely uninterested. The other devoured it. And then we talked about them! That was fun to compare the book to the movie (by the way NAMG-don't bother with the movie!),but also the other books in the series.

Topsurf wrote: "Notameangirl I have NEVER seen a movie that does a book justice....NEVER. To me a book is like a movie theatre for your mind."

OMG EXACTLY! I swear to you, when I read a book I don't actually READ it. It plays through my head like a movie. I SEE it all... not the words... the reality of it.

Notameangirl I have NEVER seen a movie that does a book justice....NEVER. To me a book is like a movie theatre for your mind.

Jigme:

I haven't seen the movie. I was SO excited about the prospect of it but then... I chickened out because I loved the book so much. Figured there was NO WAY it could live up to it.

Topsurf wrote: "Thanks Jigme for your feedback. She has always been an advanced reader, so I know she could handle the writing. I'm pretty sure she will read them all this summer. I will probably shadow her and..."

That makes a lot of sense to me. It's not really that challenging in some respects, but the movie really over sexes thing. Wasn't impressed with Twilight the movie...

Jigme Datse

Thanks Jigme for your feedback. She has always been an advanced reader, so I know she could handle the writing. I'm pretty sure she will read them all this summer. I will probably shadow her and read along too just for kicks so we can discuss it together.

Topsurf wrote: "My daughter just turned 12 ands so badly to read the twilight books. I am not letting her yet. I feel she is not quiet ready for them. Am I misinformed?"

I wouldn't say that you are misinformed in any way. I guess maybe because I don't have enough information about why you don't think that she would not be quite ready for them. The writing I'm pretty sure she could read. And I'm not really sure about the third/fourth books, but the first two I can't say there is anything in there that I wouldn't let my 12 year old read. Mind you, I don't have any children.

Jigme Datse

And yes I have a ton of books sitting around various rooms of my house waiting to be read.

My daughter just turned 12 ands so badly to read the twilight books. I am not letting her yet. I feel she is not quiet ready for them. Am I misinformed?