Announcing the August Tag: Share Your Reading Plans and Suggestions

[Kathy]

Megalion wrote: "Somewhere above people mentioned reading circus themed books? In one of my yearly challenges, I'm reading 16 books that fit circus and any other kind of vintage/traditional entertainment before TV ..."

Love your list! You have some temptingly "dark" choices . . . The Troupe, The Pilo Family Circus, Church of Marvels.

[anarresa]

I'm okay with "entertainment" as the industry around professional entertaining as well as books that are just for the fun of it. I would probably tag those "beach reads" but I think it's same idea some "entertainment" taggers had.

I'll start with industry, since that's what I would use the tag for, but then just pick up some cheesy sci-fi action books, romantic comedies or cozy mysteries... it's summer!

For industry I'll read:

As You Wish by Cary Elwes... I love the Princess Bride.

If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell... a book on my TBR for an embarrassing number of years, I think a decade... I love Brisco County, Jr. more than Evil Dead but I imagine filming both were fun.

[Megalion]

@Kathy, you're very welcome. Twilight Eyes by Koontz has been a life long favorite about a traveling carnival too. Definitely dark.

@anarresa, I meant to read Cary's book this month but happy I can do it next month.

And Bruce Campbell, adore him from Xena:WP. Autolycus, King of Thieves! Have never seen Evil Dead. I loved If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. My review might not have made it over from Shelfari though. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

BTW, I've had this website for almost a decade now: BruceFacts.com. Heehee.

ETA: whoa, his official website still links to mine. I feel especially honored as it's actually the only non corporate owned website linked in his Links section. *bounce*

[Ladyslott]

Michael wrote: " Less compelling for me are ones for actors like Alan Cumings, Monroe, or ..."

Alan Cummings memoir was excellent, I read it his past month and I loved it.

[Denizen]

The circus subcategory definitely works for me. Running with that idea, I second Kimber's suggestion of Geek Love. I read it when it first came out (1989) so stretching the memory a bit. I would lay in bed reading and would read a passage to my husband because the writing was so wonderful. A few pages later, I would groan and read a passage out loud because it was so outrageous. It definitely qualifies as dark and you will walk away from it with a strong opinion one way or another. Fascinating book.

The Book of Speculation is likely to be my first choice, but I'm also interested in The Marvels, Tipping the Velvet, and The Circle

[Joi]

Ok, I think I've made a reading plan that's actually doable, also trying to knock down some 2016 books at the same time.

Two highly anticipated books coming out this August fit:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Amy Schumer's The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. I'm sure the latter will be kind of awful, but great in it's own way. I really like Amy Schumer.

Also, I happen to have the play Spring's Awakening sitting on my bedside table, and In the Country We Love: My Family Divided leftover from this month, memoir from an actress from Orange is the New Black-but mainly on the subject of immigration.

Yay plans!

[Amy]

I'm shocked! I thought everybody wanted dark! Tell you what! I'm going to read the dark book I got out of the library anyway. Just to stretch myself. I have a list of like 20 entertainment options at home. But along with the play or movie idea, I am going with either, Outlander #1, Wicked, or Gone with the Wind. I think 100 years of solitude was on the list as well as the Art of War. I'm not worried about folks finding something. I'm worried about dark coming back and my having to find a second option - lol...

[Elise]

Joi wrote: "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided leftover from this month, memoir from an actress from Orange is the New Black-but mainly on the subject of immigration."

My mom saw her speak at the ALA conference last month, apparently her story was very interesting, so her memoir should be too!

This is the second month I thought I wasn't going to participate and ended up finding something that fit exactly! This time I just remembered Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is coming out soon, so that will of course be my choice for this month!

[Barbara M]

Sounds like you are all getting a good handle on how you want to define "entertainment." For those of you who want to read about the industry I would recommend two, one actor and one musician:
This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection in audio is read by Carol Burnett and can be laugh out loud funny. On the other, very serious side is No One Here Gets Out Alive

I'm going with books made into movies with a possible book or two in the entertainment field - Just Kids comes to mind! Of those made into movies, there are tons of the best books! Certainly The Help comes to mind as does To Kill a Mockingbird

As for me I'll probably read:
City of Bones - I own it.
Me Before You - own the e-book
Coraline (mix a little dark in)
I'm also considering George Carlin's Last Words and The World of Downton Abbey which got a lot of 5 star ratings.

[Jen]

That Princess Bride thing sounds awesome! Adding it to my list!

I was thinking of these:
After Tupac and D Foster
The Love Song of Jonny Valentine
Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey
Modern Romance

[Jen]

I also have to suggest Kill the Boy Band
I have already read it and highly, highly recommend it for anyone who was every a boy band fan (or knew a boy band fan). It is very, very funny.

Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper is also great if you ever wondered about Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. It is a thinly veiled roman a clef.

[LibraryCin]

Ok, some options for me:
- As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride / Cary Elwes
- Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street / Michael Davis
- Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter / Randy L. Schmidt
- Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light / Patrick McGilligan

Street Gang or Little Girl Blue are more likely, as I own them. Street Gang and Alfred Hitchcock are ones I wanted to get to this year for Trim the TBR. So, it's most likely going to be Street Gang that I read.

[Jgrace]

LibraryCin wrote: "Ok, some options for me:
- As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride / Cary Elwes
- Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street /..."

Thanks for the reminder! Street Gang has been on my TBR for years.

[LibraryCin]

Jgrace wrote: "Thanks for the reminder! Street Gang has been on my TBR for years. ..."

I like the idea that it's not another biography (though I do love biographies), but I really think it fits "entertainment" well.

[Margaret]

Barbara wrote: "Sounds like you are all getting a good handle on how you want to define "entertainment." For those of you who want to read about the industry I would recommend two, one actor and one musician:
[boo..."
Thanks for mentioning Carol Burnett, Ellen. Love her so that's what I'll read. As for recommendations, I recommend [author:Michael J. Fox|77162], Lucky Man Other than that, I have nothing. I did read a memoir by Willie Nelson for July, not reviewed yet, but it was just so-so for me.

[Katie]

How do you search books by tag on here? I miss Shelfari :(

[Jgrace]

Katie wrote: "How do you search books by tag on here? I miss Shelfari :("

You can say that again. Anita posted a link at the top of this discussion. It will allow you to see books that have been shelved as 'Entertainment'.

[Katie]

Thank you!

[Nicole D.]

Susie wrote: "I just started House of Leaves! I'll have to drag it out until August. I ordered it and it was sitting there looking at me so I had to start. It's been so long since I carted a big book around with..."


That was the right decision!

[Nicole D.]

Geek Love

YES! Great choice!

[Nicole D.]

Play made me think of Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays by Steve Martin. Short and funny. I should re-read if it survived the move.

[Red52]

the only books i would not consider Entertainment would be text books and reference. and even researching and reading about a topic can sometimes become a research rapture scenario but maybe thats just me. if you enjoy reading the book its entertaining you. IMHO. in other words, everything is fair game next month!

[Regina Lindsey]

Nicole wrote: "Hmmm...I was also hoping for dark, partly because I have no idea how to define an "entertainment" book.

Maybe I will find a book that has been made into a movie? Or, the new Liane Moriarty book c..."

The Fault in Our Stars is shelved entertainment, it was turned into a movie; just saying (unless you read it while I was away

[Katie]

I tried to read House of Leaves a few years ago and just couldn't get into it. I saw it at a used book store a few weeks ago and can't get it out of my mind now. Trying to decide if I should try it again.

[Anita]

Jen wrote: "Part of the plot around House of Leaves involves a documentary. That is a good recommendation! Clever"

Ahhh, yay. So I have two good options now. Thank you.

[Sarah]

I'm going to read Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan and maybe Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling. I will recommend Audition by Barbara Walters and I Am America by Stephen Colbert.

[Megalion]

Jennifer wrote: "I also have to suggest Kill the Boy Band
I have already read it and highly, highly recommend it for anyone who was every a boy band fan (or knew a boy band fan). It is very, very fu..."

Lol, I have to read that now. Serious NKOTB addict here. Formerly.

And tom & Katie? Leah Remini's memoir contains several sections about them. Especially attending their wedding.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology. Was a very good read overall IMO, she grew up inside Scientology. Didn't leave so much as was thrown out for being heretical.


As for this thread's theme, if you loved Little House on the Prairie. .. you'll LOVE this memoir.
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated. Minor spoiler, she and "Laura" were actually great friends. It was the blind sister who was a stuck up b*tch off camera.

Nothing but feel good anecdotes.

[JoLene]

I like Megalion's break-down.

I've had The Night Circus on my TBR forever, but right now it's packed in a box because we had a water leak and had to take down our built-ins that I was using for book storage.

If someone wants a "dark" entertainment book, I would recommend Night Film. It's fiction and a main character is a cult film maker.

[Nicole D.]

JoLene wrote: "I would recommend Night Film. It's fiction and a main character is a cult film maker. .." night film is PERFECT

[Kimber]

JoLene wrote: "If someone wants a "dark" entertainment book, I would recommend Night Film. It's fiction and a main character is a cult film maker."

Night Film--great suggestion! And I have it on my bookshelf already, too. :)

[Denizen]

Nicole wrote: "JoLene wrote: "I would recommend Night Film. It's fiction and a main character is a cult film maker. .." night film is PERFECT"

I'm another person heartily recommending Night Film.

[Ladyslott]

Denizen wrote: "Nicole wrote: "JoLene wrote: "I would recommend Night Film. It's fiction and a main character is a cult film maker. .." night film is PERFECT"

I'm another person heartily recommending Night Film."


I agree, great choice.

[Anita]

Ok, now I jave too many op

[Anita]

*too many options!

hate the GR app

[Ladyslott]

Anita wrote: "*too many options!

hate the GR app"

Me too.

[Susie]

Isn't it terrible? I hate that you can't edit posts.

[Anita]

Susie wrote: "Isn't it terrible? I hate that you can't edit posts."

Yes, that is exactly my biggest frustration. Followed by the fact that you can't reply directly to other people's posts.

[Michael]

I have an odd recommendation, a dark and ironic tale of an act of three Elvis personators, young, mature,.and old phases, in the cocktail lounge circuit in the Phillipines: Biggest Elvis. Nancy Pearll led me to it in her Book Lust.

[Kristel]

That's a really good suggestion, Michael.

[Karin]

Hi, recently back from holidays, and lo and behold, someone very kindly and I think correctly, tagged the book I came to post a review on today (will wait until things are set up :) ) with this. There is a movie star and a movie producer who are integral to the story as are a couple of other things. So, my read will be The Luck of the Bodkins.

As for my suggestion, My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek (well done on audio, I might add).

[Blueberry]

Michael wrote: "I have an odd recommendation, a dark and ironic tale of an act of three Elvis personators, young, mature,.and old phases, in the cocktail lounge circuit in the Phillipines: [book:Biggest Elvis|1531..."

I may have to read this. I'm not pulled in by the Elvis impersonators but my husband is from the Philippines and I would like to read about life there.

[Jgrace]

Blueberry wrote: "Michael wrote: "I have an odd recommendation, a dark and ironic tale of an act of three Elvis personators, young, mature,.and old phases, in the cocktail lounge circuit in the Phillipines: [book:Bi..."

It sounds sounds quirky. Years ago I had a kindergartner whose father made his living as an Elvis impersonator. It made for interesting parent conferences.

[annapi]

I will be reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

[Blueberry]

Jgrace wrote: "Blueberry wrote: "Michael wrote: "I have an odd recommendation, a dark and ironic tale of an act of three Elvis personators, young, mature,.and old phases, in the cocktail lounge circuit in the Phi..."

"It sounds sounds quirky. Years ago I had a kindergartner whose father made his living as an Elvis impersonator. It made for interesting parent conferences. "

How funny, JGrace !

[Charlie]

I've chosen to define "Entertainment" as those books that I read for pure fun and nothing more...you know the ones, just a great story to get lost in without too much to think about. I should read more just for entertainment but as I get older it seems irresponsible not to consume a healthier diet of books (which is why I like PBT as it forces me to stay balanced in what I read).

That said, my recommendations for Entertainment include: Patriot Games, Matarese Circle, Plum Island and Blood Work.

I am going to read The Fireman. I've never read anything by Joe Hill and so I'm looking forward to using my liberal definition of this month's tag to do so. God knows I've read enough Stephen King, here's to hoping the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree.

[Charlie]

Michael wrote: "The Selznick books seem a gifted suggestion, as are biographies or autobiographies of comedians like Bob Hope and Tina Fey. Less compelling for me are ones for actors like Alan Cumings, Monroe, or ..."

Apologies for the delayed response to your post but noticed you were/are contemplating Let the Great World Spin. Hope you picked it and if so are enjoying it. I read it 3 or 4 years ago and it's one of my favorites. My review (which has no spoilers) was as follows: "A great big little book. It took me a few times to finish but not because I didn't like it. It's like wading into a pool and not realizing its depth until you're treading water. Lots going on in it but worth it. I plan to re-read it some day to suck out more of the marrow. Although it's based in the 70's, it's timeless."

[Nicole R]

Charlie wrote: "I've chosen to define "Entertainment" as those books that I read for pure fun and nothing more...you know the ones, just a great story to get lost in without too much to think about. ..."

I like this definition a lot. I definitely have those go to authors that are purely for fun and because I know that I can whip through a book in relatively short time and close it with a sense of satisfaction.

[Book Concierge]

Just came across this book - I won't have time to read it this month, but maybe someone else might

Ghosts of 42nd Street: A History of America's Most Infamous Block
from the book blurb: Once a quiet neighborhood of brownstones and churches, the area was transformed in the early 1900s into an entertainment hub unlike any in the world.