The BOOK/MOVIE Club discussion
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I've read many of Stephen King's books. In the 1980s, I read everything that had already been published and then when a new one came out, I jumped on it. Later, I sort of slowed down and was concentrating on a more mixed bag. "Cell" was one of the first I read when I took the author up once more. I liked it, but there are others which have stayed with me longer. One of my favorite scenes (obviously this stayed with me) is in the beginning when the cell catastrophe begins. In all the chaos, a man is so wild, he tears into a dog with his teeth. In the newspaper business, they say, "Dog bites man isn't a news story. Man bites dog? There's news!" I got King's inside joke because I was a journalist at the time.
I agree with you, Dylan, about the movie The Dark Tower. I called it a 'train wreck,' which is pretty close to your estimation. Anyone who read the entire series (as I did) would see they left out some of the best stuff. That series could have easily been a three-parter. Or more. I guess the film company and producers decided the public wouldn't support that. And of course, to them it's all about money. So they made one bad movie instead of three good ones.



On the Road
Jack Kerouac
This is one of those American classic novels that always gets recommended on "Best Books of All Time" lists and th..."
Wow, Max, you just mentioned two of the books I always say I dislike very much which, as you say, end up on You Must Read This lists. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. But I found "On the Road" to just be a travelogue for a couple of guys who wanted to smoke weed, sponge off others, and have s*x whenever they wanted to. Perhaps the beatnik subculture admired that. meh


Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamela Smith Hill..."
Max, I try to read at least one bio/memoir a year. The best one I've ever read, mainly because the writing is so good and thorough, is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas. Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for colluding with a group who had a plan to assassinate Hitler. He was eventually executed. Metaxas does his research well; has written other bios; and seems to love each subject he writes about. "Bonhoeffer" is a long book, but worth the time if you're looking for a bit of true story about another aspect of WWII.

Have you never read the Harry Potter series before now?

As a matter of fact, I have not. Had no interest until recently when I picked a copy of the second in the series while I was in the hospital. (they have a little library, which I believe is a great idea)
I'm listening to it on audio/CD while I drive around town running errands. Love the narrator.
Paula wrote: "Max wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamel..."
Hi Paula! I think it's a great idea and a worthy goal to read a biography or memoir every year. I loosely try to do the same, having read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt last year and working my way through An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 now. It can be very rewarding to examine the lives of extraordinary people, and the times in which they lived. I've learned more about history through this process than I ever did in school.
Thank you for your recommendations, I am delighted to see how different and varied they are. I love being exposed to things that wouldn't normally cross my radar, and the Bonhoeffer book sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Same with Frankenstein in Baghdad- what a premise! You'll have to let us know how it was when you finish :)

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamel..."
Hi Paula! I think it's a great idea and a worthy goal to read a biography or memoir every year. I loosely try to do the same, having read Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt last year and working my way through An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 now. It can be very rewarding to examine the lives of extraordinary people, and the times in which they lived. I've learned more about history through this process than I ever did in school.
Thank you for your recommendations, I am delighted to see how different and varied they are. I love being exposed to things that wouldn't normally cross my radar, and the Bonhoeffer book sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Same with Frankenstein in Baghdad- what a premise! You'll have to let us know how it was when you finish :)





Book: Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me
Kindle: Why Not Me - Mindy Kaling
Audio: Boundary Waters - William Kent Krueger (love books set in MN-just found this series!)
I normally don't read more than an audio and kindle/book at a time, but the Chelsea Handler one started to bore me - not sure if it was because I had just read "Are you there vodka" or what, but here we are! I am clearly on a comedy memoir kick right now.



Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder E..."
In answer to your request, Max, here is my review of Frankenstein in Baghdad. It made the Man Booker shortlist this year after being on the long list. (I'm hoping it wins.)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...



http://www.goodbooksdaily.com/2018/04...

If you're anything like me you love nonfiction books. I've put together a list of what i think are the best of the best.
http://www.goodbooksdaily.com/2018/04...





1)The Diary of a Young Girl


I have already read this book in 2016, but I am again reading it as I find it quite inspirational. When we look at the problems she faced when in hiding, our daily life problems seem nothing.
2) Why I am a Hindu


This book is written by a highly educated left-liberal politician from India who is actually proud of his religion (Hinduism). In today's India when being a Hindu is equated to being right-wing extremist or politically incorrect, it is interesting to read Tharoor's view on my religion.
3)The Four Million


O'Henry's short stories never get old. The Four Million contains O. Henry's best and most characteristic work:


It's incredible. It's over 500 pages but reads very quickly. Good pacing and you're immersed in another culture. Loving it.

The Stranger is a completely different book. I’m only on the second chapter and the main character is just so interesting and complex and I’m loving it atm.

I checked out the book (The Stranger) and it seemed interesting. 6 of my GR friends have already added it 'to-read' which means the book is quite famous.
I am also planning on picking up the Stranger by Albert Camus this summer. I would love to see your review when you finish!




My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read it with r/bookclub and I wasn't a fan. I feel like my expectations for it were completely off. I didn't really like her writing style either.

I am about to finish this book. He has never let me down as an author.

I am about to finish this book. H..."
Hi sukanya, if I am not mistaken I think u forgot to introduce yourself in this group.



I am about to finish this book. H..."
I read the Reacher books in order. I think it helps in giving background to his character. That was helpful to me because often he just seems all testosterone unleashed. Oh, Tom Cruise does not strike me as Jack Reacher. Here is a list someone compiled of actors who might be better candidates. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls050464918/
I am not sold on them either.

This is interesting to me. I didn't know this title is a book. Netflix has an original series of the same name, which is probably adapted from the book. I see it has a dystopian type story line. I have considered watching it because I enjoy the occasional dystopian story. Thanks for the heads-up.

I finally decided to watch the movies in order after they'd long since left theaters. I enjoyed them more than I wanted to admit. This year, I put the book series on my personal book challenge and I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Scholastic edition. Again, this old lady is enjoying them more than she'd like to admit.

For me, reading Harry Potter books was like taking a vacation.


I have read 2 prior Urrea books and they were great. This one is impressive so far because it addresses an aging patriarch and his family as long time illegal immigrants in America. They strike me as any other American family so far. The good, bad and ugly.
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Kimberly McCreight (other topics)Kimberly McCreight (other topics)
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Karin Slaughter (other topics)
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What made the book difficult to read? Is it more of the concept or the writing style? What was your overall opinion?