What are you reading JUNE 2013?

[Janet]

This is the link to the Slate article by Jennifer Weiner which I had not read

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cu...

I think Clare Messud did overreact to the question. Likeable or unlikeable characters, I read them all.

[Junek]

Denise wrote: "I will definitely read it now! I hate it reviewers are biased by unlikable characters!"

Same here, it is waiting on my latest library haul.

[Denise]

Yes, I followed the controversy with great interest. I thought Messud overreacted to a degree, as did Jennifer Weiner. I liked what Atwood said, too. She was spot on. I just finished The Execution of Now P. Singleton and warned an avid reader friend of mine that she might not want to read it. She is one who has mixed reviews of books because she didn't like a character or didn't like how a character reacted in a situation or how the story ended. It makes me laugh because I don't like predicability in my characters or in the story. I like a mixed bag. I might criticize characters for being underdeveloped or for not reaching me but never because I don't like them.

[Antonia]

It seemed to me that, because we have access to Nora's thoughts, we are privy to a lot of perhaps unlikeable sentiments (for example, envy of her friend's life) that one would never say aloud. I guess that's true of most first-person narrators. That didn't make her particularly unlikable to me, or crazy (I've seen reviewers call her crazy), just more or less normal. Okay, I don't want to say too much, give away spoilers. I need to find a place where people who've read the book are discussing it. ;)

[Chanda2426]

Just finished . It was an OK first effort, but too much talk and not enough dialogue.
Now deciding between and (in honor of Nik Wallenda's Grand Canyon skywalk. =)

[Janet]

I think when readers say a character was "unlikeable", they are sometimes being imprecise. What they really mean is they couldn't empathize or put themselves in the place of the character, which I find pretty necessary myself to enjoy a story. Usually this has to do with the character being incompletely drawn, as all people are a mixture of good and bad and I can usually find some trait to identify with. This is why we often find ourselves cheering for the villain.

[Janet]

I started a thread under Book Specific Discussions for anyone who wants to discuss further and to get it out of the June topic.

[Becky]

Chanda-I read awhile ago & I liked it...

[Elizabeth☮]

I am starting Peony in Love.

[Chanda2426]

Becky wrote: "Chanda-I read awhile ago & I liked it..."

Thanks Becky! Looking forward to a good read!

[Becky]

Chanda2426 wrote: "Becky wrote: "Chanda-I read awhile ago & I liked it..."

Thanks Becky! Looking forward to a good read!"


I will check but I think our old reading group was a mixed bag about it lol

January 2010 we read it!!! & general feelings-everyone LIKED it quite a bit.....enjoy!

[Antonia]

Thanks, Janet, for the new topic on The Woman Upstairs. I've reposted there.

[Matthew]

Callie wrote: "Toni wrote: "Something Missing was the most fun book I’ve read in ages. Has anyone read his more recent novels? How do they compare?"

I LOVED Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Matthew Dicks' most re..."

Seconded... Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was an awesome read.

[[deleted user]]

Becky wrote: "Chanda-I read awhile ago & I liked it..."

The recent Karl Wallenda tightrope walk reminded me how much I liked this book.

[Denise]

Toni, I agree about Nora. I didn't think her crazy either. I actually sympathized with her somewhat. But Marlene....lol.

[Amy]

Toni wrote: "So far this month:

Something Missing was the most fun book I’ve read in ages. Has anyone read his more recent novels? ..."

Read them all, and really liked each one. For me though, Something Missing is still my favorite one!

[Shh]

Just finished The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry, Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic, Astor Place Vintage: A Novel and I am now reading The Rosie Project, which is a fun read.

Cynthia
http://thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/

[Denise]

I finished Crazy Rich Asians in one day. What fun it was! I wish I hadn't read it so quickly because I miss it already. I can't decide what to read next...The Rosie Project or Constellation of Vital Phenomena which I've seen mentioned a lot here.

[Janet]

Denise wrote: "I finished Crazy Rich Asians in one day. What fun it was! I wish I hadn't read it so quickly because I miss it already. I can't decide what to read next...The Rosie Project or Constellation of Vita..."

I've read both of them...Rosie is another fun one while Constellation is very serious so depends on what you're in the mood for.

[Denise]

I think I still need some fun.

[Becky]

I just finished A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary, really amazing book! It was a diary written bya 34 yr old German woman journalist about the first 8 weeks after the city fell to the Germans in 1945. Basically all the women get raped by the Russian soldiers and it's shocking how she describes it and how the women use gallows humor amongst themselves to get through the whole ordeal. . . also how chaotic things were, no one knows what's happening and how the search for food consumes everyone. A terrific read and a really unique view of WW2.

[Melissa Wiebe]

I am reading the Julia Child biography by Bob Spitz

[Denise]

Becky, I loved A Woman in Berlin!!! There's a movie, too.

[Becky]

Denise wrote: "Becky, I loved A Woman in Berlin!!! There's a movie, too."

Hey, thx for letting me know about the movie, I will definitely check it out.

[Angie]

I started both and yesterday. Enjoying them so far.

[Nancy]

Angie wrote: "I started both and yesterday. Enjoying them so far."

I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain and in particular, Enzo. Enjoy!!

[Becky]

Nancy wrote: "Angie wrote: "I started both and yesterday. Enjoying them so far."

I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain and in par..."

I loved it so much that I used a quote from the book & had it printed on a charm for my son's girlfriend when she graduated from Grad School ( a favorite book of hers also) & they now have a dog together &she is named Senna-after Ayrton Senna

[Janet]

Just coined a new term....TBRaphobia...fear of all the books you have to read...lol.

[Linda]

Janet wrote: "Just coined a new term....TBRaphobia...fear of all the books you have to read...lol."

LIKE!

[Kate]

I finally finished The House of Mirth The House of Mirth after 5 months!! Really liked it, but I kept getting distracted by shinier, newer books. I am currently readingEaster Island Easter Island. Next up, The Night Circus The Night Circus for book group and then some Booktopia Petoskey books.

[Nancy]

Janet wrote: "Just coined a new term....TBRaphobia...fear of all the books you have to read...lol."
Oh, yes. The fear that I'll somehow miss the greatest book over, or more likely, that I'll put it on my list and never get around to it because there are so many OTHER wonderful books I want to read!

[Linda]

Kate wrote: "I finally finished The House of Mirth The House of Mirth after 5 months!! Really liked it, but I kept getting distracted by shinier, newer books. I am currently readingEaster Island Easter Island..."

I hope you love The Night Circus half as much as I did. That was g-r-e-a-t!

[Amy]

Janet wrote: "Just coined a new term....TBRaphobia...fear of all the books you have to read...lol."

My fear is of all the books I want to read and the unlikeliness I will get to read them all :(

[Chanda2426]

Becky wrote: "Chanda2426 wrote: "Becky wrote: "Chanda-I read awhile ago & I liked it..."

Thanks Becky! Looking forward to a good read!"


I will check but I think ou..."
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book Becky! Thanks so much for the info! Happy reading!!

[Dianne]

Kate wrote: "I finally finished The House of Mirth The House of Mirth after 5 months!! Really liked it, but I kept getting distracted by shinier, newer books. I am currently readingEaster Island Easter Island..."

Can't wait to hear your thoughts aboutThe Night Circus.

[Gerald]

I actually did listen to THE NIGHT CIRCUS.