Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
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What are U reading these days? (Part Five) (begun 3/12/09)
So far, all I've read is her Twilight series. I would say, start with Twilight, unless you have interest in reading a book of a movie you've already seen.If you give me a week or so, I can tell you how The Host is and you can borrow it when I'm done.
Jackie wrote: "So far, all I've read is her Twilight series. I would say, start with Twilight, unless you have no interest in reading a book of a movie you've already seen.If you give me a week or so, I can tell ..."
I suppose it would be a good idea for me to start with _Twilight_ (Twilight, #1) since I've seen the movie and would be able to make comparisons. I enjoy making comparisons. OK, I'll put it on my To-Read Shelf. Ooops! It's already there! LOL
P.S. Thanks for offering to let me borrow _The Host_. If I ever get to it, I may take you up on your nice offer. It would be a good chance for us to meet for a visit. Maybe lunch somewhere in LG where we can gaze at the lake. :) We'll invite Linda too. :) Hi Linda! :)
I don't know why I do this same omission all the time! I leave out the 'no' or 'not' from a sentence and it completely changes the context of it.What I meant to write was: unless you have NO interest in reading a book of a movie you've already seen.
Why do I do that? It's a constant mistake. One I'm aware of but never seem to be able to correct.
Jackie wrote: "I don't know why I do this same omission all the time! I leave out the 'no' or 'not' from a sentence and it completely changes the context of it. What I meant to write was: unless you have NO interest in reading a book of a movie you've already seen. ..."Jackie, I realized what you meant from the context of your sentence. Leaving out words is a common oversight. Our minds think faster than we can type. I'll go back and put the "no" in the quoted text of my post.
I'm about half way done with The Pillars of the Earth - what an awesome book so far! I've just finished The Sea of Monsters, and loved it! I can't wait to start the next Percy Jackson book. I'm also currently listening to the audio book of Stardust. I like it so far!
Jenni wrote: "I'm about half way done with The Pillars of the Earth - what an awesome book so far! I've just finished The Sea of Monsters, and loved it! I can't wait to start the next ..."Jenni, I was almost going to borrow a book by Ken Follett from the library this week. But I have the impression that his stories are complex. Are they? I'm not ready for complexity at this busy time of year.
I tried the first Percy Jackson book (_The Lightning Thief_ by Rick Riordan) and it wasn't for me. So I read only part of it.
Now I'm anxious to try Neil Gaiman's writing. Can anyone recommend a good one for me to start with?
I read Pillars of the Earth many years ago, twice in fact, and loved it, haven't read the sequel sitting on my shelf yet though.
Right now, I'm still reading 2666 Part B, and enjoying it, but I've also, just last night picked up The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second in the series that begins with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Right now, I'm still reading 2666 Part B, and enjoying it, but I've also, just last night picked up The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second in the series that begins with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stardust is my favorite by Gaiman.I lent it to my niece and never got it back, now my sister don't know where it is, I am so annoyed because that was one of the books I wanted to keep.
Joy,I've read The Graveyard Book book, and would highly recommend it! Stardust is great so far, and I think I'll end up reading it too.
The Pillars of the Earth doesn't really seem too complex to me. Yeah, it's a long book with several stories inside of it - but it is a fast read. I think you might just enjoy it. :) And do pick up Stardust or The Graveyard book - I think you'll like them! :)
I read The Graveyard Book too but I think Stardust is a much better book.
OK, I'll put both Stardust and The Graveyard Book on my To-Read list. Thanks!Guess what. I just realized that if you hover your cursor over the hyperlinked title of a book, it will show the author of the book! For example, hover over the following hyperlinked title:
_The Graveyard Book_ .... Voila! Neil Gaiman! :)
Jenni wrote: "Joy, I've read The Graveyard Book book, and would highly recommend it! Stardust is great so far... ... The Pillars of the Earth The Pillars of the Earth doesn't really seem too complex to me. Yeah, it's a long book with several stories inside of it - but it is a fast read. I think you might just enjoy it. ...:)"Thanks, Jenni, I now have all three books on my To-Read list. I don't know when I'll get to them, but at least they're in the running. :) Right now I'm reading a couple of light romance books just to get myself out of a reading slump:
_The Touch_ by Colleen McCullough
_Joy_ by Jayne Ann Krentz
My biggest problem at this point is where we're going to find a place to put the Xmas tree. Our house is saturated with stuff. So, to relieve the tension of the holidays, I like to relax with a few easy or light books, while I'm reading others at the same time, bit by bit.
As I mentioned above, I've been reading the following 2 books in the Romance genre:_Joy_ by Jayne Ann Krentz
_The Touch_ by Colleen McCullough
The book _Joy_ was a light romance mixed with a simple mystery. I enjoyed both. The ending was pretty exciting.
Colleen McCullough's _Touch_ is turning out to be an interesting family epic set mainly in Australia, starting out in Scotland and California about the time of the gold rush. McCullough tells a great story. Her bestseller, _The Thornbirds_ was made into a movie. _The Touch_ (2003) is her 16th book. It's a good read.
McCullough intersperses her story with interesting true facts giving background to the setting and other aspects of her story. It's easy to become involved with her characters. Her plotting keeps you turning the pages. She's an Australian. Besides being a writer, she has had a career in neurophysiology. The copyright identifies her as Dr. Colleen McCullough.
I loved The Thornbirds! I read the book and saw the movie.
I can't remember if I read _The Thorn Birds_, but I'm pretty sure I saw either the movie or the miniseries.Here is a link to both at Netflix: http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=thor...
I do remember Richard Chamberlain as the priest. Who could forget!
I have the feeling I read the book too.
PS-I just realized that it wasn't a movie. It was a miniseries on TV. See the IMDb page at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085101/
That's right, it was! I forgot that fact.The book was really good. But that's the way it is, books are always better than their film counterparts.
I remember seeing "The Thorn Birds". Richard Chamberlain was a priest. That's about all that has stuck after all these years. I think I read the book too.
I think we all probably read the book first. It was THE book to read in the late 70's. The mini-series was aired about 5 years later.Every once in a while it's aired again on the Hallmark Channel.
As I said above, Colleen McCullough intersperses her story with interesting true facts." Here's an example from from p.364 of _The Touch_:"His hair is combed back as if he loaded it with macassar oil -- he must need antimacassar flaps on the backs of tall easy chairs."
Now I know where the word "antimacassar" comes from. Strange word!
Definition of "antimacassar": a piece of ornamented cloth [like a doily:] that protects the back of a chair from hair oils
Pic of one in use: http://www.free-crochet.com/images/pa...
macassar oil:
1. an oil derived from materials said to be obtained from Macassar (a district of the Island of Celebes), formerly used as a hairdressing. 2. a similar oil or preparation for the hair.
Macassar - a city in Indonesia
Map of Indonesia: http://www.streetdirectory.com/img/ma...
More detailed map of Indonesia: http://sunsite.nus.sg/SEAlinks/maps/i...
Most novels are written with true facts alongside total fiction. So while novels aren't true stories, you can still learn a lot. A good author will spend plenty of time researching the facts to be used in their story.
Jackie wrote: "Most novels are written with true facts alongside total fiction. So while novels aren't true stories, you can still learn a lot. A good author will spend plenty of time researching the facts to be used in their story.""Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life."
-Linus Pauling (1901 - 1994) US chemist
"I am always happiest when learning something new!"
-Frank Pelkey, leader of Glens Falls Crandall Library's Monday evening book group, 1/19/09
Tell Frank, I'm with him!I love to learn new things. I feel my day would be wasted if I didn't learn something.
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "I am always happiest when learning something new.!" Frank Pelkey, leader of Glens Falls Crandall Library's Monday evening book group, 1/19/09Words I live by! That's why I'm happiest when taking a new course; reading a book and learning another person's perspective, or a new word; driving down a new road for an adventure or bird sighting - keep the mind going and the body alive with learning and personal growth.
I like that quote, Joy!
Linda wrote: "Words I live by! That's why I'm happiest when taking a new course; reading a book and learning another person's perspective, or a new word; driving down a new road for an adventure or bird sighting - keep the mind going and the body alive with learning and personal growth. I like that quote, Joy! "Hi Linda. Well said! Yes, even learning a new word is stimulating. For example, while reading _The Touch_, I came across the word, "accoucheur". I make a note to remind myself to look up the word. The meaning is:
=========================================================
"ac·couch·eur [ àkoo shúr :]: obstetrician: a man who works as a midwife or obstetrician
[Mid-18th century. < French< accoucher< coucher "put to bed":]
=========================================================
I'll tell Frank that his words were appreciated! Next meeting is Monday night. We'll be discussing _Outliers_.
Joy, you can tell Frank his words are appreciated down this way, too! :-) That's a beautiful attitude, and one that I hope to have all my days as well. Life in this world is too full of wonder not to be excited about learning and experiencing more of it every day.I'm currently reading All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt. Broadly speaking, it's in the Christian romance genre, but has more in common with the world of Austen (and perhaps, Hornblower :-)) than the world of most of the paperback "romances" that us guy readers usually disdain: it begins in Regency England, and the heroine was raised by an uncle who's an Oxford dean. He indulged her desire for book learning --and her interest in fencing, which she's become very good at. When she decides she has a calling to be a missionary to China and heads off for that destination on an East India Company sailing ship (she's impulsive :-)), that skill might come in handy, since the Napoleonic Wars happen to be going on. My wife read the book first (I bought it for her as an anniversary present) and once she got into it, "couldn't put it down;" she recommended it to me, and I'm liking it so far.
Werner wrote: "Joy, you can tell Frank his words are appreciated down this way, too! :-) That's a beautiful attitude, and one that I hope to have all my days as well. Life in this world is too full of wonder no..."Werner, I'll pass that message on to Frank at the library.
I notice that the GR description of _All the Tea in China_ says:
"This first novel in the Rollicking Regency series will delight readers who like high adventure, twisting plots, and a fun bit of romance."
I like a book that you can't put down. It might include some interesting historical information as well.
Werner wrote: "Joy, you can tell Frank his words are appreciated down this way, too! :-) That's a beautiful attitude, and one that I hope to have all my days as well. Life in this world is too full of wonder no..."Werner, sounds like a good book. My 20th anniversary is coming up - perhaps I'll request this as a gift from my husband - in addition to a trip to Montreal!
antimacassars: they protected the arm rests in the the first class train section seat arms when I travelled in Europe in the seventies and eighties. I don't know if they are still used. My travel agent used to say that was the only difference between first and second class so I usually took second class so can't verify this. nina
Happy anniversary, Linda! Hope you do get to go to Montreal.
Werner wrote: "Happy anniversary, Linda! Hope you do get to go to Montreal."Thanks, Werner. With the book, _All the Tea in China_ tucked safely in my luggage!
Nina wrote: "antimacassars: they protected the arm rests in the the first class train section seat arms when I travelled in Europe in the seventies and eighties. I don't know if they are still used. My travel a..."Nina, interesting that they used antimacassars on the trains in Europe. We have them on our armchairs, but they are always falling off the arms. A bother, but worth it. Sometimes when Eddie gets up, he has the antimacassar across his shoulders. They seem to stick to him. LOL
Happy anniversary, Linda! 20 years is fantastic. Your husband is nice giving you a trip. My wife & I actually were separated for 5 or 6 weeks on our 25th anniversary. In some ways, that was a very good thing. Made both of us appreciate the other a lot more.
Linda, when is your anniversary? Whenever it is, congratulations and much happiness to you both.Jim, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess that was true in your case. :)
Just now finished The Host by Stephenie Meyer.My review, which I like to keep short without giving anything away:
I really enjoyed it. What a unique premise! What I love most about Stephenie Meyer's writing is the depth of her characters. They are completely believable; I become so enamored of them, totally drawn in by them. I care what happens to them.
Stephenie Meyer has a way of illuminating the worst of humanity and the best of humanity at the same time. This is no frilly little romance novel, though it is all about the many ways love manifests itself and shapes our lives.
Jackie wrote: "Just now finished The Host by Stephenie Meyer.My review, which I like to keep short without giving anything away: I really enjoyed it. What a unique premise! ... What I love most about Stephenie Meyer's writing is the depth of her characters. ... I care what happens to them."
Jackie, that's quite a recommendation for Stephanie Meyer's writing. The GR description says that _The Host_ is her first novel for adults and that Meyer is "one of the most compelling writers of our time." I really should give her a try. I like "compelling".
You can borrow mine if you'd like. Let me know if and when you're ready.
Jackie wrote: "You can borrow mine if you'd like. Let me know if and when you're ready."Thanks for your generous offer, Jackie. I usually borrow my books from the library. By the time I get to it, perhaps the demand for _The Host_ will be down. Right now, it's #32 on the NY Times Bestseller List for Hardcover Fiction:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/boo...
The NY Times says: "Ms. Meyer was recently selected one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people for 2008."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/boo...
Jim wrote: "Happy anniversary, Linda! 20 years is fantastic. Your husband is nice giving you a trip. My wife & I actually were separated for 5 or 6 weeks on our 25th anniversary. In some ways, that was a v..."Oh, I've never been sepated from my husband for more than a week. You both survived the absence, which has a lot to say about your relationship.
When I was in Finland last year, we hooked up Skype (think I may have mentioned this several weeks ago) and had the opportunity to see and speak to one another daily. Then, instead of me taking the airport shuttle at JFK to the LIRR to Penn Station to take the Amtrak train to Albany, NY (after I've already traveled 10 hours not to mention the time zone change) - my husband drove 4 hours to pick me up at JFK!! He couldn't wait to have me back home - he's a wonderful man. My soulmate.
You were lucky to find each other, Linda.
We decided to skip the movie The Skeptic til tomorrow, so I went to my shelves. I decided upon Next by Michael Crichton. I've had it sitting there for a while and today's the day. I've read a lot of Crichton's novels and liked them. I like how he takes up and coming technology and turns it into a moral/ethical dilemna. This one is about genetics, a subject I find fascinating. His research is impeccable so I often learn some interesting facts along the way.
Linda, we talked for quite a while every day, but the big thing was that we suddenly re-appreciated all the other person does in our lives. A few minor things broke around the house & I wasn't there to fix them. She had to pay the bills. No one was there to get stuff off the top shelf or do the heavy lifting.I had to make my own dinner, grocery shop & wash my own clothes. I had to buy my own clothes. I suddenly realized that I hadn't bought any for decades & I didn't know what size I wore!!!
Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder.
Okay, it took me 5 years after every other living soul on earth had read it , but I started "The DaVinci Code"(haven't even seen the movie). I got to page 80 and came to the realization' "Wow, this is really a badly written book!" and quit.
Just to make sure it wasn't just me, I checked the critical responses to the book and they almost unanimously panned it (One critic said "It gives bad books a bad name!")
This is the book that was the sensation of the publishing world for a few years??
What does that say??
Anyone feel free to jump in here with a contrary opinion.
I liked it a lot. I'm not looking for the Great American Novel, just to be entertained and that it did. The subject was interesting, I liked the clues and the fast paced adventure of it. I'm into symbology and etymology so this was a book that held my interest. I didn't bond with the characters, though, I liked Robert Langdon, but I didn't love him. Don't bother with the movie, it sucked big time. Tom Hanks as Robert was their first mistake and from there it went downhill.
I thought it was OK. About run of the mill for that sort.
I didn't like it, saw nothing to it, way overblown. The story just wasn't presented well, and IMO, Brown could use a few writing classes. JMO
I didn't like it, saw nothing to it, way overblown. The story just wasn't presented well, and IMO, Brown could use a few writing classes. JMO Hear ! Hear!!
As capote once said "that's not writing---that's TYPING!!"
Arnie wrote: " ... I started "The DaVinci Code"(haven't even seen the movie). I got to page 80 and came to the realization' "Wow, this is really a badly written book!" and quit. ... Anyone feel free to jump in here with a contrary opinion.Arnie, I read the book (_The Da Vinci Code_ by Dan Brown) and finished it, but I came away feeling that there had been too many twists and turns. I didn't mind the first few, but then they seemed to go on and on. I became disenchanted.
The religious "history" was interesting to think about but a bit far-fetched in places. I remember being pulled in by the mysterious atmosphere.
I don't remember thinking about the quality of the writing. I was focused on trying to follow the plot.
Arnie, can you elaborate as to what made Brown's writing "bad writing"? I'm not disputing your opinion, I'd just like to hear more specifics, for my own edification as an armchair critic. :) At times, when I read (in general), I know there is something lacking, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Sometimes I blame the author for lack of clarity, but then I wonder if it's I who lacks the ability to understand. I'm never quite sure what it is.
Jackie wrote: "Don't bother with the movie, it sucked big time. Tom Hanks as Robert was their first mistake and from there it went downhill."Jackie, I didn't think Tom Hanks fit the part in "The DaVinci Code" movie either. He was miscast. IMO, the book was better than the movie as far as the mysterious atmosphere is concerned.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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The story is written from the perspective of a 15 year old British boy who has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. We see the boy's point of view in everything: his dealings with his parents, his neighbors, his pet rat, as well as his experiences travelling alone in the subways of London. It's engrossing to read as he relates his unusual adventures and family relationships. The plot, which starts out as a mystery, moves you easily forward, especially as told by the boy in a weird autistic style. His autistic point of view and observations are fascinating.
From the book flap: "At turns funny, heartbreaking, and compulsively readable, this novel is sure to find a cherished place on readers' book shelves."
Don't miss this book! It's the December selection of the Tuesday Afternoon book discussion group at our public library. An easy read too.
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About the author: "Mark Haddon's knowledge of Aspergers syndrome, a type of autism, comes from his work with autistic people as a young man."
FROM: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
PS-I've posted a new separate topic about this book at:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...
The new topic starts with a duplicate of this post.