You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What are you reading and why? Jan-Jun 2014
Esther wrote: "It did remind me that i was suppose to borrow a Lincoln biography from a friend. My knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking..."I have always been facinated by Lincoln and have read quite a lot about him. I guess that is why I was not opposed to the vampire slayer, for fun.
The Pride and Prejudice story is fun in a different way, because it was such a spoof of the real book. The story line is just the same, but totally funny! Maybe it was so funny to me at the time, because I had just finished a re-read of the real book after watching the 2005 movie with Keira Knightley and Mathew Macfadyen on TV.
I had a free preview of Lincoln Vampire Hunter but after 10-15% of the book that was free I never had desire enough to read the rest. Now you're telling me that book wasn't absolutely a true account. What a disappointment. I just figured he wore that hat to store his garlic and wooden stakes.
Cherie wrote: "Esther wrote: "It did remind me that i was suppose to borrow a Lincoln biography from a friend. My knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking..."I have always been facinated by Lincoln and have ..."
Hands down the best production of Pride and Prejudice IMO is the one the BBC did with Colin Firth.
I'm re-reading P&P for this month's book club. I've always detested the book but this time someone pointed out that a lot of it is written ironically. I'd never realised that before and it's making quite a difference to the way i'm viewing it.
I have started The Orphan Master's Son- which is set in North Korea. I am only at the very beginning but can safely mark that place off my bucket list ( haha).
I'm reading The Edwardians, by Vita Stackville-West. I am fascinated by the Victorian and Edwardian periods of British history, and am always on the lookout for fiction that takes place during these eras.
Finsished The Bat by Jo Nesbø for this month's challenge. Still working on my first chunkster A Feast for Crows.
Helen wrote: "I'm re-reading P&P for this month's book club. I've always detested the book but this time someone pointed out that a lot of it is written ironically. I'd never realised that before and it's making..."Helen,
I never liked it before either. I thought it was pretty stupid, but when you add in the irony factor, it became much more enticing and enjoyable to me. Some of the comments are so subtle and others just jump out of the page. Maybe we just needed to grow up a little, and not take things so seriously, huh?
Nancy wrote: "Hands down the best production of Pride and Prejudice IMO is the one the BBC did with Colin Firth..."I have never watched this version, Nancy, so I will look and see if my library has a copy and put it on hold. I was looking at the trailers on You Tube and it does look good. I will get back to you when I have seen it! :)
Cherie wrote: "Helen wrote: "I'm re-reading P&P for this month's book club. I've always detested the book but this time someone pointed out that a lot of it is written ironically. I'd never realised that before a..."I have never been the biggest fan of Pride and Prejudice either. We studied it A LOT in school (to the point where most of us hated the very sight of it) which I don't think helped at all. Maybe I will like it more now that a few years have passed?
Lisa wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Helen wrote: "I'm re-reading P&P for this month's book club. I've always detested the book but this time someone pointed out that a lot of it is written ironically. I'd never realise..."Lisa - it is possible that you will like it more now, but who knows? I was never forced to study P & P, but I had a room mate who took some women's lit classes in college, and we had many talks about the books she was "forced" to read. I found most of them totally stuffy and unappealing when I tried to read them, although I managed to wade my way through a few of them. I have re-read most of her books (she left them in storage at my house) and I actually found them not so bad the 2nd time around. I am older, I have read more, I have "lived" more? I think it does make a difference in our reading appreciation.
It is entirely possible that I did not appreciate the irony side of P & P until I read P & P and Zombies. It follows the story line exactly - except with bits about Zombies and fighting them thrown in. It was funny! I also never though Mr. Bennett was so amusing until I saw Donald Southerland play him in the movie.
I am readng:Woods, Sherryl Welcome to Serenity
Sharratt, Mary Illuminations
Wiehl, Les Snapshot
Leotta, Allison Speak of the Devil
Steel, Danielle Journey
Tappley, Wimmiam G. Outwitting Trolls
Fluke, Joanne Lemon Meringue Pie Murder Meier, Leslie St. Patrick's Day Murder
Cooney, Caroline B. What Janie Found
Clark, Mary Jane That Old Black Magic
Garwood, Lisa Fear Nothing
Nancy wrote: "Hands down the best production of Pride and Prejudice IMO is the one the BBC did with Colin Firth...."Absolutely agree, wonderful mini series!
This has been a slow month for me, but I finished a couple of chunksters that I REALLY enjoyed from the Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. Can't wait for the 3rd in the series... no publish date, yet! I just finished The Tooth Fairy which I'm combining with The Dead Path to make 1 horror chunkster. I read Tooth Fairy for my group Books Stephen King Recommends Jan-Feb group read. I'll soon be reading The Goldfinch for a chunkster and another of my group's group reads.
Tooth Fairy was a disturbing psychological suspense/horror book... and a coming-of-age story. It was very interesting and I think once others join in it will generate a LOT of discussion.
And then, of course February is just around the corner and I've got books to read for YLTO's group read, challenge, AND Toppler!
I gave up Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker since I found the historic part too heavy. I'm now reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant for my book club.
I greatly enjoyed Azincourt then thud morning zipped through the audio for The Importance of Being Earnest which was very enjoyable as well.
I'm reading Standing in the Rainbow. I have it on my chunkster list and thought I could read it before the new month with new challenges starts, and because it's a light-hearted book which fits my holiday next week. I had it on my list because I loved Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I'm only 12% through, but so far it's just an average book. Nice enough to finish, but not one that will stick. But who knows, maybe it's just a bit of a slow start.
Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there
Peggy wrote: "I'm reading Standing in the Rainbow. I have it on my chunkster list and thought I could read it before the new month with new challenges starts, and because it's a light-hearted book w..."I loved Standing in the Rainbow. Stick with it - it does turn out to be very poignant. Funny but there have been some other Flagg titles I didn't like but I did love her new one The All Girls Filling Station Reunion.
I am currently in the middle of Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen and just began listening to Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneress.
Nancy from NJ wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I'm reading Standing in the Rainbow. I have it on my chunkster list and thought I could read it before the new month with new challenges starts, and because it's a light-..."Thanks Nancy! I will stick with it :) For now it mostly seems to be a summation of all the people living in Elmwood Springs. I'm looking forward to reading The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion too, but like you say, there are also some of her books that based on the description don't attract me.
Did you read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe? Did you like it?
Travis of NNY wrote: "Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there"I enjoyed the audio of this but it is VERY similar to the movie - the move did a very good job at sticking to the original which I liked.
Finished reading Fever and Control Point and now I have started listening to the February group read Child 44 (I know I've started early). I have also started another chunkster on my list Life After Life. I seem to be juggling a lot of books at the moment but it's because I've started a couple and they've taken an age to read so I've starter quicker reads too.
Travis of NNY wrote: "Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there"I've been curious about Fight Club. Because of its sometimes weird element, I wasn't sure it would be an easy read.
Almeta wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there"I've been curious about [book:Fight Club|57..."
Have you ever watched the movie? Since I've watched it probably 50+ times the book gave me no trouble. I could picture the movie in my head.
Travis of NNY wrote: "Almeta wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there"I've been curious about [boo..."
I did watch the movie and enjoyed it. Probably because of the surprising twist. I just don't know how well that translates on paper.
By-the-way, I was resistant to seeing the movie. I had no interest in seeing a bunch of men beat each other up for fun. I figured it was a Man-Flick.
A friend insisted. I finally relented. Boy was I surprised. Great movie!
I would say since you know who Tyler Durden is the book makes sense. It was just a movie everyone always wanted to watch all the time so we watched it all the time. For Edward Norton movies I've always liked Rounders with matt Damon. We also watched American History X a lot of times.
I agree with Travis that you'll be fine Almeta reading Fight Club - I thought it made more sense but then I know about Tyler Durden now because of the film so it's difficult to say whether I would have been able to follow it if I hadn't - I'd like to think so. American History X is also a classic film!
Peggy wrote: "Nancy from NJ wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I'm reading Standing in the Rainbow. I have it on my chunkster list and thought I could read it before the new month with new challenges starts, and..."Yes that was my first Fannie Flagg book and I loved it along with the movie. I think the movie made me a lover of Mary Louise Parker and I see her on Broadway when I can and watched Weeds religiously even though after a while it was really way way out.
I also read and loved A Redbird Christmas. But it was Welcome to the World I didn't much like and didn't try any of her other titles yet.
Travis of NNY wrote: "Finally finished Peter Pan. I only started it in February of 2013"Because of NOS4A2 I became interested in reading Peter Pan, looking for similarities. It certainly was not the Disney version and I wasn't all that impressed.
But to stick with the "children taken to neverland" theme, I read The Child Thief which was (I thought) a re-telling of the Peter Pan story. It was much darker and had some pretty creepy scenes. Great artwork as well.
Nancy from NJ wrote: "and watched Weeds religiously even though after a while it was really way way out..."I originally thought Weeds was brilliant and was a faithful watcher, which is saying something for me. I don't often plan my day around a television show!
But after the first couple of seasons, I was done.
Almeta - I find this often happens to me. I start off watching season after season and then get bored and stop. It happened to me with ER, The Good Wife and Gray's Anatomy to name a few. But for whatever the reason I did watch all of Weeds, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. Think I need a TV intervention?The funny thing is the same thing happens to me often with book series. I find trilogies are about all I can take of the same characters etc. Just happened to me with the Masie Dobbs series and previously the Rina Lazarus series. But as of today I still read James Patterson's Alex Cross books although I'm not sure how much longer I will do this either.
BTW - when the older son - don't rmember his name was on Broadway in Godspell, we went to see him and he was adorable.
Nancy from NJ wrote: "Almeta - I find this often happens to me. I start off watching season after season and then get bored and stop. It happened to me with ER, The Good Wife and Gray's Anatomy to name a few. But for..."The novelty wears off.
Nancy from NJ wrote: "BTW - when the older son - don't rmember his name was on Broadway in Godspell, we went to see him and he was adorable. .."
Hunter Parrish?
Samantha wrote: "Going on record and recommending 
Tell the Wolves I'm Home to everyone."Samantha,
Thank you for the recommendation, the book sounds really interesting, I already add it to my reading log. :)
Nancy from NJ wrote: "I finished Tatiana and Alexander and didn't enjoy that much more than The Bronze Horseman. Taking a bit of time out from Simons books (have the last book in the trilogy left, The Summer Garden and..."You really should read Tully by Paullina Simons, you'll love it...
Well I finished one of the books A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens, and I started another one of the chunckster To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. So far loving it like I did the first time I read it.
Cherie wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Hands down the best production of Pride and Prejudice IMO is the one the BBC did with Colin Firth..."I have never watched this version, Nancy, so I will look and see if my library h..."
Wet white shirt Darcy... I'll be in my bunk.
Debra wrote: "This has been a slow month for me, but I finished a couple of chunksters that I REALLY enjoyed from the Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind and [book:The W..."If you donate to his charity with a donation ending in $.33 you can go in the draw to be a beta reader for him... http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2014/...
Travis of NNY wrote: "Fight Club was read in the middle of those two which was just like the movie except some Minot details here and there"Did you enjoy? I kinda wish I read it before the movie.
Almeta wrote: "I did watch the movie and enjoyed it. Probably because of the surprising twist. I just don't how well that translates on paper."
I thought the twist was portrayed better in the book. It is the first book I have had to put down for a breather though, as I was picturing the violence in my head, instead of it being given to me on a screen. For some reason, me imagining it impacts me much more.
And there we go, American History X is the only movie I have had to do that for.
I did like the book and the twist was better explained in the book. The movie for both Fight Club and American History X both have a couple of pretty intense scenes. The book of fight club didn't bother me, but I know what you mean with images of violence in your head. Joe Abercrombie has some torture scenes that will absolutely make you cringe at times.
Michelle wrote: "Nancy from NJ wrote: "I finished Tatiana and Alexander and didn't enjoy that much more than The Bronze Horseman. Taking a bit of time out from Simons books (have the last book in the trilogy left,..."Tully is the first book I read by Paullina Simons. When I first signed on to AOL , Paullina Simons was writing to book groups and offered a copy of Tully if we would review it for her publisher. I enjoyed this book - may even reread it. The book I loved that she wrote was Red Leaves which was a mystery set on the campus of Dartmouth College.
Almeta wrote: "Because of NOS4A2 I became interested in reading Peter Pan, looking for similarities. It certainly was not the Disney version and I wasn't all that impressed.But to stick with the "children taken to neverland" theme, I read The Child Thief which was (I thought) a re-telling of the Peter Pan story. It was much darker and had some pretty creepy scenes. Great artwork as well. "
Although I've not read the original Peter Pan, I thoroughly enjoyed The Child Thief and I agree the artwork was awesome. And as you know, I loved NOS4A2 and plan to reread it on audio one day.
Rusalka wrote: "If you donate to his charity with a donation ending in $.33 you can go in the draw to be a beta reader for him... http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2014/.."That is awesome, Rus! Thanks for the tip. I'm a big Heifer fan and have donated a little bit to it a couple of times. I think it is a great organization to back.
Finished the very enjoyable Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson and the short The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing which I apparently had already perfected and needed no help in properly procrastinating. For example putting the alarm clock by the coffee maker instead of by the bed. Did that years ago or else I am a snooze junkie
I finished We, the Drowned for the Chunkster challenge. I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...I am now starting Giovanni's Room.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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I will look for it. Thanks