I'd like to try reading...what would you recommend?

[Leslie]

I would definitely second Everyman's recommendation of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, which inspired both Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr.

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "I would definitely second Everyman's recommendation of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, which inspired both Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr."

And our poor unknown Aldo Capitini ho started the Peace March from Perugia to Assisi, where often a lot of important leaders of different religions attended.
Here's the next, if you want to come I'm here - and if the weather is fine t is really an experience to do!
http://www.perlapace.it/index.php?id_...

[Gill]

Does anyone have a recommendation about which translation into English of War and Peace they prefer? I'll be getting it for my Kindle, and there are so many to choose between.

[Petra]

Gill, I read this translation by Anthony Briggs and really enjoyed it:
War and Peace
It was easy to read. It has no French portions but always says "he said in French" (paraphrasing; its more interesting than that) so that you know when French is being spoken. I found that easier than always flipping to footnotes for translations of the French conversations.

I hear that translations by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky (War and Peace) are very good but I'm a bit turned off by them because so many have focussed on just their translations as *the only* translation to read and ignore any other version. But I've never read any translations by them so maybe they truly are the best, I don't know.

I'm looking forward to your thoughts. I loved the book.

[Everyman]

Petra wrote: "Gill, I read this translation by Anthony Briggs and really enjoyed it:
War and Peace...I hear that translations by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky (War and Peace) are very good but I'm a bit turned off by them because so many have focussed on just their translations as *the only* translation to read and ignore any other version."

Yes, there are a lot of people who are highly impressed with Pevear and Volokhonsky. The last time I read it, which was just last year, I read the Maude translation, which I found very enjoyable. Previously I had read the Garnett translation. She's the translator Tolstoy personally chose, and she had access to him for some of her translations, and reads like a 19th century translator, which isn't necessarily bad.

Before I read Maude, which I had had on my shelf for some time, I got P&V from the library and read a few chapters in it, but for me it wasn't any better than Maude, so I went with them.

[Leslie]

Gill wrote: "Does anyone have a recommendation about which translation into English of War and Peace they prefer? I'll be getting it for my Kindle, and there are so many to choose between."

I read the public domain translation by Louise and Aylmer Maude, which was easily readable.

[Greg]

Rushyenka wrote: "I've just finished typing a paper on Francis Bacon and reading The Goldfinch so any suggestions for books about painters/paintings? Preferably fictional works and not biographies. :)"

I don't know if you would like either of these or not, but here's a couple to check out:

The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham: a fictional book loosely based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin; I found it interesting

Red by John Logan: a two character play about the painter Mark Rothko; I thought this play was phenomenal, and it's a quick read. If you are interested in art, it refers to several artists and movements - for my part, I found it enjoyable to catch the references

If you do read either of them, hope you enjoy them. Happy reading!

[Gill]

Thanks for the suggestions about War and Peace. I'll have a look to see which of them are available on Kindle.

[Leslie]

Gill wrote: "Thanks for the suggestions about War and Peace. I'll have a look to see which of them are available on Kindle."

You can get a Kindle edition for free from FeedBooks at http://www.feedbooks.com/book/83/war-...

[Laurel]

Gill wrote: "Thanks for the suggestions about War and Peace. I'll have a look to see which of them are available on Kindle."

I did a lot of comparisons of translations before I read War and Peace and read a lot of reviews. I decided to purchase the Pevear translation.

[Diane S ☔]

Greg wrote: "Rushyenka wrote: "I've just finished typing a paper on Francis Bacon and reading The Goldfinch so any suggestions for books about painters/paintings? Preferably fictional works and not biographies...."

Just bought the moon and sixpence for my nook. Thanks Greg.

[Greg]

Great Diane! I like Gauguin's paintings, such vibrant and unusual colors!; so I was fascinated by the story. Of course, some of the characters are not very pleasant as it's loosely patterned after real events in Gauguin's life, but Maugham writes beautifully. Hope you enjoy it!

[Gill]

Thanks for all the suggestions re W and P translations.

[GeneralTHC]

I would like to read some Don DeLillo. Not even sure where to start, though. I was thinking about reading either Libra or Underworld. Has anyone read either of these?

[Angela M]

Chuck ,
I read Underworld several years ago . I don't recall a lot of details but I know I really liked the writing .

[amber]

A friend of my mother's read and loved the Outlander books. I haven't read them so I don't know what other books would be like them. But I wondered if any of the Outlander lovers in the group have any suggestions?

[Petra]

Amber, do you know what she liked about the books? Was it the romance, the historical fiction and/or the time travel aspect? That would help narrow down the choices to something she may enjoy.

[amber]

It was the history part that was specifically mentioned.

[B the BookAddict]

Amber, I loved it for the history; Outlander #1 deals with the Scottish Culloden period i.e. the the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. She weaves her fictional characters into the battle, it's quite breathtaking. I loved it. Later books move to France then finally America for what is known as the Revolutionary War. Quite riveting stuff.

[Alannah]

Has anyone here read the Game of Thrones series? I was wondering how many book had already been published and is there any more due to come out?

[Sigourney]

I've read the first two Game of Thrones and really enjoyed them. I think there's about seven or eight currently published and more are going to be released. I don't know if George R.R. Martin has officially said how many he is writing.

[LauraT]

I've read all those published. But in Italianthere are more: they've divided almost all of them into two books!

[Alannah]

Sigourney wrote: "I've read the first two Game of Thrones and really enjoyed them. I think there's about seven or eight currently published and more are going to be released. I don't know if George R.R. Martin has o..."

Thanks, I have been meaning to read them for a while. But I'm not sure when I will get them.

[Genia]

There are currently five published books for GoT out of seven planned - there is no date for the sixth yet, much less the seventh, and considering the amount of time it had been between 4 and 5, nobody's holding up much hope.

I thought the books were okay, I guess? The dialogue is spry and all that, but I don't think much of GRRM's writing. Personally I am of the opinion that watching the TV series is almost as good a way to "read" the books as actually reading them - plus books four and five get bogged down a lot. On the other hand, they do go by fast.

[Genia]

Things like Outlander. Hmm. Try The Physician and Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series, maybe? Oh. And Connie Willis. Because Connie Willis.

[❀ Minesha ❀]

I want to read a book where the heroine texts the hero a mortifying message.

Or a book where the heroine and her boss/enemy message each other at night but don't know that they do so during the day.

Somewhere along these lines.

Thanks!

[Pink]

❀ Minesha ❀ wrote: "I want to read a book where the heroine texts the hero a mortifying message.

Or a book where the heroine and her boss/enemy message each other at night but don't know that they do so during the da..."

That's quite specific! Sorry I don't know any books like this.

[Leslie]

❀ Minesha ❀ wrote: "I want to read a book where the heroine texts the hero a mortifying message..."

This sounds like a single scene rather than an overall plot, so I am sure that books exist that have this but I don't know any off hand.

❀ Minesha ❀ wrote: "Or a book where the heroine and her boss/enemy message each other at night but don't know that they do so during the da..."

I don't know if it was based on a book but this sounds like the plot of The Shop Around the Corner (later remade as You've Got Mail)!

[Shirley]

Leslie wrote: " ❀ Minesha ❀ wrote: "I want to read a book where the heroine texts the hero a mortifying message..."

This sounds like a single scene rather than an overall plot, so I am sure that books exist that..."

Yes, I was thinking of that film too! Don't know of a book though...

[❀ Minesha ❀]

That sounds like a wonderful movie! Have got to watch it now.

[❀ Minesha ❀]

Cinder & Ella

I've Got Your Number

Till Next We Meet

Too Perfect

Then, there is a book where the hr texts boss embarassing love story about him. And another book where heroine hates her boss but they secretly email each other in private-he is a famous lady author and she is a fan. Can't remember the names though.

[❀ Minesha ❀]

And then there is that Hillary Duff remake of Cinderella.

[Suzanne]

Gigi wrote: "Has anyone read Ines of My Soul?"

Leslie wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "Has anyone read Nella Larsen? I just bought in a second hand bookshop for 2 Euros the book Quicksand and Passing. She seems to be an interesting author."..."
I have read Ines and it is my least favourite Allende book. better to go for earlier books or non-fiction Paula.

[Gill]

I've never read anything by Vladimir Nabokov. Where do you suggest I start? I don't intend to read Lolita,so I mean apart from that one.

[Pink]

Gill I just commented on the other thread, agreeing with Leslie to start with Pnin.

[Gill]

Thanks Pink. I realised I was in two places at once, but decided to continue with it!

[Tom]

Alannah wrote: "Has anyone here read the Game of Thrones series? I was wondering how many book had already been published and is there any more due to come out?"

There are five novels in A Song of Ice and Fire series so far:

A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons

George R.R. Martin is working on The Winds of Winter and there is a planned A Dream of Spring, along with, if goodreads is correct, an untitled eighth volume.

For those who like the Westeros setting, you can read the Dunk and Egg Tales, which are set about 80 to 100 years prior to ASOIF. Currently they can be found in Legends, Legends II and Martin's self-edited collection Warriors. The first two are anthologies of stories written by well known authors in their signature worlds - Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey and Stephen King for example. In October these stories will be published in their own volume - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Being the Adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall, and his Squire, Egg.

Other Martin-penned Westeros tales appear in other anthologies he edited - Dangerous Women and Rogues. These two books, along with Warriors mentioned above have a wide variety of genres, not just sci-fi/fantasy, it that's of interest.

More of a reference work The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones functions much as the series' The Silmarillion, filling in the back, back, back story of Westeros.

For those with a culinary bent, there's A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook, a Martin-sanctioned cookbook listing medieval and modern versions of the foods featured in the series like Sansa's lemon cakes.

[GeneralTHC]

Anyone read any Jim Harrison? If so, where to start?

[Chrissie]

Gill wrote: "I've never read anything by Vladimir Nabokov. Where do you suggest I start? I don't intend to read Lolita, do I mean apart from that one."

Speak, Memory is excellent.

[Pink]

I'm reading that one now Chrissie :)

[Alannah]

I am currently reading The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks and I am really enjoying, more so than I thought. Does anyone have any recommendations for books similar to this?

[Chrissie]

Pink wrote: "I'm reading that one now Chrissie :)"

Isn't it fantastic?! OK, I liked Lolita too, regardless of the topic, but Speak Memory I liked as much.Nabokov is an unbelievable writer.

[Chrissie]

Sandy, I personally was not impressed withPnin. I didn't like its humor. Such meanness was displayed in the book. So if you start there and do not like it, don't give up on Vladimir Nabokov.

[Leslie]

Alannah wrote: "I am currently reading The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks and I am really enjoying, more so than I thought. Does anyone have any recommendations for books similar to this?"

I haven't read that so can't recommend. Sorry...

[Chrissie]

Sandy, just another opinion.

[Tracey]

Nearly finished Kafka on the shore and torn between 2 books for my next read. The golem and the djinni by Helene Wecker or carry on with another Murakami Hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world. Thoughts please?

[Book Ninja]

I'm read in the golem and the djinni right now and it's quite interesting. I think if you have read one book by an author now you should read a book by a different one.

[LauraT]

Rahat wrote: "I'm read in the golem and the djinni right now and it's quite interesting. I think if you have read one book by an author now you should read a book by a different one."

We've had a readalong with this book here last year; nice

[Tracey]

Think I will go with Golem and the Djinni but love Murakami so much. Thanks Rahat

[Angela M]

Tracey , hope you enjoy The Golem and the Jinni . I liked it so much , I'm hoping for sequel .