Books on the Nightstand discussion
What Are You Reading April 2014
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Emgee wrote: "Finished Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden and Simon Van Booy's Love Begins in Winter: Five Stories.I'm gonna start on Ruth Rendell's The Water's Lovely."
I loved The Forgotten Garden, it starts out slow, but then the story really picks up.
Eric wrote: "
Damn.
Books like this are why I read.
A big, bold, multi-generational tale of Texas, as exciting and hair-raising as it is literary and serious.
Comparisons abound...."
I loved this book as well but I felt that the sections with Peter kind of dragged the book down at times. I loved Eli and Janie.
At the point where Maria came in, I became very engrossed in Peter and Maria's story.
I wholeheartedly agree. It definitely picks up at that point. Prior to that he is an almost unbearable whining sad sack.
Eric wrote: "
Damn.
Books like this are why I read.
A big, bold, multi-generational tale of Texas, as exciting and hair-raising as it is literary and serious.
Comparisons abound...."
A million times yes. As soon as I was done I had no qualms calling The Son an American classic.
Damn.
Books like this are why I read.
A big, bold, multi-generational tale of Texas, as exciting and hair-raising as it is literary and serious.
Comparisons abound...."
A million times yes. As soon as I was done I had no qualms calling The Son an American classic.
In my audio book journey I stopped listening to two books,one was about drinking and were the drinks came from(not really a good book for listening)and this
so here goes.
I would be interested to hear how Name of the Wind is as an audio book. I LOVED it as a regular book. Wonderful story-telling. The sequel is also very good.
Would a person who is not really crazy about reading about the Wild West/Texas/cowboy/Indian stuff enjoy The Son? I did love the Kent Haruf books which were sort of western.
I'd say a good test would be whether you liked any of the following books: East of Eden, Lonesome Dove, Blood Meridian, or the first two books of Robert Caro's LBJ series.
I'm reading Louise Penny's first Inspector Gamache book. So happy.
Denise wrote: "Would a person who is not really crazy about reading about the Wild West/Texas/cowboy/Indian stuff enjoy The Son? I did love the Kent Haruf books which were sort of western."
I don't like "Westerns", but I do love gritty Southern fiction and this felt more like that to me.
I don't like "Westerns", but I do love gritty Southern fiction and this felt more like that to me.
Kalen wrote: "I'm reading Louise Penny's first Inspector Gamache book. So happy."My favorite series! I enjoy Inspector Gamache and am so jealous you are starting. I am always happy reading about the Surete!
Finished
The Fortune Hunter which I received from BookBrowse.com. Not my cup of tea. Last night I restarted
Five Days at Memorial, which I had started and then consciously put down as it is the May selection for one of my book groups. I wanted to read it closer to the time of discussion.
Just decided to pick up a book from my home library,just to read. So today I picked up " Gilbert,the man who became C.K. Chesterton".Coren is supposed to be a somewhat controversial author,commentator and critic in Canada so I was hesitant to read the book when I did a google search.Being a conservative Catholic myself I bought the Chesterton book a while ago not caring who wrote it.
I'm 3/4 of the way through reading
by Ann Patchett. I'm enjoying this novel about Opera, Hostages, and Romance. This is first novel I've read by Ann Patchett and she's a good storyteller. I will post a review when I'm finished.Marion
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery...one of the sweetest stories I've ever read.
Marion wrote: "I'm 3/4 of the way through reading by Ann Patchett. I'm enjoying this novel about Opera, Hostages, and Romance. This is first novel I've read by Ann Patchett and she's..."I enjoyed this too, & I had it sitting here for ages...
Finally finished A Suitable Boy, and I really loved it. Now I'm feeling like a few more Indian books. Does anyone have any books to recommend in the vein of A Suitable Boy or perhaps an Indian author you really like?I may read And Son soon. Lately it seems that every time I read a book out of my comfort zone, I'm so glad I did.
Denise wrote: "Finally finished A Suitable Boy, and I really loved it. Now I'm feeling like a few more Indian books. Does anyone have any books to recommend in the vein of A Suitable Boy or perhaps an Indian aut..."Denise, have you read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry? Also I enjoy all books by Thrity Umrigar
Just finished The Gin Closet - the debut novel by the author of the recent The Empathy Exams: Essays. It was one of the worst novels I've ever read, but I've heard good things about her book of essays, so I will give Leslie Jamison another shot. Next, I will start Thirty Girls, which may be an even more harrowing read due to recent events in Nigeria.
I'm also still listening to - and loving - A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.
I loved A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. A very bleak tale, but great writing and characters - a real sweeping epic with a good bit of history thrown in that blends seamlessly into the story. I listened to the audiobook with a great narration by John Lee. Denise wrote: "Finally finished A Suitable Boy, and I really loved it. Now I'm feeling like a few more Indian books. Does anyone have any books to recommend in the vein of A Suitable Boy or perhaps an Indian aut..."
I was considering A Fine Balance and was also checking out Umrigar! I may start with A Fine Balance. Karen, do you have a favorite Umrigar?
I'm reading A Tale for the Time Being right now and really loving it. Next up, my husband and I who have vastly different tastes in books have decided to read one together so we are starting The Son. i read a little faster than him so I'm going to also pick up The Age of Innocence.
Marion - If you like Bel Canto also try Truth and Beauty, Patchett's memoir of her friend Lucy Greely. Wonderfully written and moving.
Denise wrote: "Finally finished A Suitable Boy, and I really loved it. Now I'm feeling like a few more Indian books. Does anyone have any books to recommend in the vein of A Suitable Boy or perhaps an Indian aut..."Try Shantaram ..... Fascinating story of authors experiences in India.
I'm reading several things right now.The Iliad - Homer
The Arabian Nights - Richard Francis Burton
And then there's this one. One of the strangest, and most intriguing, things I've ever read. Beautiful, melancholy imagery, and stories that are just WEIRD . . but I like it.
St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
I am happy to say that I finished Shantaram Shantaram while I was still in Mumbai (Bombay). It was really neat to see places he mentioned in the book, like Leopold's.
I second the suggestion for Thrity Umrigar.
almost done withe martian then on to sous chef
Loved The Signature of All Things, but was not impressed by The Burgess Boys. Currently reading A Feast for Crows and listening to The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, and loving both so far.
Shantarum is now on my list. I started Umrigar's The Space Between Us and really like it so far. Thanks!
Just finished Keep Quiet, Lisa Scottoline, which I bought the day it came out... Enjoyed the book, although it didn't include the her usual wit...series topic. Just downloaded from my Ocean City library, The Cuckoo's Caling, J K Rowling, anyone read it?
I really enjoyed The Martian and The Cuckoo's calling was a fun read.
James wrote: "Just finished Keep Quiet, Lisa Scottoline, which I bought the day it came out... Enjoyed the book, although it didn't include the her usual wit...series topic. Just downloaded from my Ocean City li..."I listened to the audio of Cuckoo's Calling and enjoyed it very much.
James wrote: "Just finished Keep Quiet, Lisa Scottoline, which I bought the day it came out... Enjoyed the book, although it didn't include the her usual wit...series topic. Just downloaded from my Ocean City li..."I agree with your review ... quick read and interesting story, and I actually think it might be a great book for a book club of parents.
Denise wrote: "Finally finished A Suitable Boy, and I really loved it. Now I'm feeling like a few more Indian books. Does anyone have any books to recommend in the vein of A Suitable Boy or perhaps an Indian aut..."I haven't read A Suitable Boy, but one of my favorite books by an Indian author is Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. Can't wait until she writes another book..
has anyone read how to get filthy rich in rising asia by mohsin hamid? i've read the first fifty pages or so and am struggling to get into it. debating whether to carry on or table for awhile.
This book has caused me to forsake all others! I love books where an author weaves a very personal story around a moment in history that "belongs to all of us" for lack of a better way to say it. I think "Monday Monday" was just released, but it's definitely worth checking out.Monday, Monday: A Novel
Virginia wrote: "Marion - If you like Bel Canto also try Truth and Beauty, Patchett's memoir of her friend Lucy Greely. Wonderfully written and moving."Thanks for the recommendation, Virginia.
Denise wrote: "I was considering A Fine Balance and was also checking out Umrigar! I may start with A Fine Balance. Karen, do you have a favorite Umrigar?"Denise, I love all but The Space Between Us is my favorite with The Weight of Heaven next. Happy Reading! :)
Kalen wrote: "I second the suggestion for Thrity Umrigar."Kalen, she really is a good author, it appears she has a new book coming out later this year!
Adore wrote: "has anyone read how to get filthy rich in rising asia by mohsin hamid? i've read the first fifty pages or so and am struggling to get into it. debating whether to carry on or table for awhile."I loved it! I say keep reading :)
I read The Space Between Us. It was depressing but beautifully written. Now I'm reading A Fine Balance and am really enjoying it!
I read a series of four books modeled (clearly!) on "The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books by Alexander McCall Smith. These four are set in India--"The Marriage Bureau for Rich People" by Farahad Zama. Always on the lookout for something my 85 year old mother will enjoy, I loaned her the series of Smith books and also the series by Zama. She was bored by Smith but really enjoyed Zama. So--lighter Indian fare than "A Fine Balance" or "A Suitable Boy" but also very enlightening re: culture, relationships, politics and more accessible for less obsessive readers (as I presume all of us on this page probably are!).
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
Monday, Monday (other topics)The Signature of All Things (other topics)
A Feast for Crows (other topics)
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History (other topics)
The Burgess Boys (other topics)
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I'm gonna start on Ruth Rendell's The Water's Lovely.