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? Jul-Dec 2014
Yeah, Rus, I plan to read Fight Club, mostly because I liked the movie. Let me know if you read Haunted. I'd like to know what others think about it.
I'm currently reading book 3 in the Cotton Malone series. This one is The Venetian Betrayal. I like Steve Berry's books because they are fast-paced, thought-provoking, and suspenseful. A bit formulaic... not sure how far I'll continue in the series. But for pure entertainment value, they are good.
Next I'll be reading Brutal Youth for my Books Stephen King Recommends group. The author, Anthony, got a blurb from SK and has a wonderful story to tell about how this happened. We have a Q&A section in the book's discussion thread and Anthony will be piping in now and then with answers and more tidbits. He's a really cool guy and very lucky to have SK's endorsement of his book. Come join us from now thru the end of October for this group read.
Started Heroes Die interesting world has the feel of sci fi right now. Hmmm its like a sci fi world with fantasy characters I guess. Anyway summer of night had just plain begun to bore me. I'll finish it but doesn't seem like anything yo write home about. Or does a horror book usually put you to sleep.
Debra wrote: "Next I'll be reading Brutal Youth for my Books Stephen King Recommends group. The author, Anthony, got a blurb from SK and has a wonderful story to tell about how this happened. W..."I just finished Brutal Youth. We're talking about violence in the Hounded thread. While violence in fiction doesn't normally bother me, the violence in this book did, maybe because it's about bullying.
Tonight, I start The Gunslinger for the group read! Can't wait.
Wasn't sure where to put this but I know that there's a couple people reading or about to start Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch as well as some of us who have already done so and I just found out that it is being made in to a six-part Radio play which will be aired on BBC Radio 4 in December! I'm sure it can be listened to online worldwide. Dates haven't been confirmed for it yet but span a week. Very excited!
Travis of NNY wrote: "Started Heroes Die interesting world has the feel of sci fi right now. Hmmm its like a sci fi world with fantasy characters I guess. Anyway summer of night had just plain begun to bo..."No, horror should not bore you. I found the characters flat and didn't think the plot was very original. And there were many inconsistencies and typos in the edition I read. Summer of Night just didn't thrill me, either.
Janice wrote: "I just finished Brutal Youth. We're talking about violence in the Hounded thread. While violence in fiction doesn't normally bother me, the violence in this book did, maybe because it's about bullying.I'm not looking forward to reading this one because I know it will bother me. I was bullied in elementary school. It's a very damaging thing. But, I'm hoping it is well-written.
Sarah wrote: Wasn't sure where to put this but I know that there's a couple people reading or about to start Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch as well as some of us who have already done so and I just found out that it is being made in to a six-part Radio play which will be aired on BBC Radio 4 in December! I'm sure it can be listened to online worldwide. Dates haven't been confirmed for it yet but span a week. Very excited! Oh, I wish I could watch that. I loved the book and have read it twice. It was hilarious!
That sounds great Sarah! I'll keep an eye/ear out for it if I like the book (which I probably will!)
Rusalka wrote: "Thanks Travis. Hope your consultants were useful.I have had Haunted on my shelf for years Debra. I had heard that about the book too, so it kind of fell to the back of my pile. Mainl..."
Lol, that poor book. Must be lost in a new country. :p
So I just finished Spell Bound which was a quick, fun read. Just one more book to go in the series. Just started the group read Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron which I'm enjoying so far but I get the feeling I might be chatting about it on my own.
Finally, I was able to start my book Hiero's Journeyfor the Challenge!!! (August was hard, and spread til this week)
I'm reading Storm Frontfor the Be my Buddy challenge. I like the set up so far, and am excited to continue the series. I am also starting The Miniaturist tonight. It's been described as Sarah Waters meets Amsterdam. Um, yes, please! sign me up!
Sarah wrote: "Wasn't sure where to put this but I know that there's a couple people reading or about to start Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch as well as some of u..."Awesome! thanks Sarah.
Debra wrote: "Sarah wrote: Wasn't sure where to put this but I know that there's a couple people reading or about to start Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch as well as some of u..."You should be able to listen to it Debra. I can access BBC radio from over here on their websites.
Debra wrote: "I'm not looking forward to reading this one because I know it will bother me. I was bullied in elementary school. It's a very damaging thing. But, I'm hoping it is well-written."I thought the writing was very good. He did a great job for his first book. I hope you don't feel obligated to read it all the way through. If you find it too intense, it might be better to spare yourself the grief.
Liz wrote: "I'm reading Storm Frontfor the Be my Buddy challenge. I like the set up so far, and am excited to continue the series. I am also starting The Miniaturist tonight. ..."
I hope you enjoy The Miniaturist Liz. I read it last month and really enjoyed it.
May 6 1945 Chuck Norris is born May 7 1945 Nazi's surrender
Coincidence?
I think not
Travis of NNY wrote: "May 6 1945 Chuck Norris is born May 7 1945 Nazi's surrender
Coincidence?
I think not"
LOL!!
So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?
Stephanie wrote: "So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?"Which kind? Informative, entertaining, with plot, or mere facts?
Anyway, some really good are:
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals
The Art of War
The Selfish Gene
Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
Stephanie wrote: "So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?"I second the Bill Bryson recommendation from Mariab, and he writes a few different style books.
But are you after memoirs/biographies/autobiographies? Or more facts and knowledge?
A great mix between the two and another one of my favourite books is The Carpet Wars: From Kabul to Baghdad: A Ten-Year Journey Along Ancient Trade Routes. One of the first non-fiction books I ever read for fun. An Aussie journalist travels around the middle east and western asia talking to people he meets and telling their stories, while giving you a comprehensive background of the history and politics of the region. Fascinating.
Stephanie wrote: "So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?"Here are some of my favorite nonfiction books:
Portrait of a Turkish Family
The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories
Shanghai Diary
The House by the Dvina: A Russian Childhood
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World
Chasing Daylight
Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran
Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East
Mother Daughter Me
Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family
Tried to pull a mix depending on what you're looking for.
War Horse..."I m not so sure this one is non-fiction...
Mariab wrote: "War Horse..."I m not so sure this one is non-fiction..."
You're right Mariab - misfiled, need to pull that one off! :-) edited post now - thanks!
Stephanie wrote: "So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?"Stephanie, I HIGHLY recommend Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen. Some chapters I was laughing so hard I was crying; other chapters were poignantly beautiful.
A couple more recs:A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II. An amazing story
Steve Jobs while every biography Walter Isaacson writes is excellent, I was amazed by this book. I only picked it up because Isaacson wrote it, then I discovered Steve Jobs was just a fascinating man.
I started reading my challenge book which Thing Two chose for me - Memoirs of a Geisha. I'm thinking I might abandon Lolita - It's ok at the moment, but it's not pulling me in and the group read isn't that amazing for it so I might put it on the back burner for now and read some books I really want to.
Thank you all for the recommendations!!!
Stephanie wrote: "So I am trying to get into the world of non-fiction. I mostly read mystery novels by James Patterson, JD Robb, etc..anyone have a recommendation on a non-fiction book?"Stephanie, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a great one.
Thank you!! I will check it out :)
Sarah wrote: "I started reading my challenge book which Thing Two chose for me - Memoirs of a Geisha. I'm thinking I might abandon Lolita - It's ok at the moment, but it's not pulling me i..."OH! Pity to hear You give up on Lolita. It is a really good book. Perhaps You will give it a 2nd. opportunity soon.
I do want to read it at some point, just now isn't the right time I don't think. I've stopped reading for now but have not marked it as "abandoned" but as "started come back later".
Sarah wrote: "I do want to read it at some point, just now isn't the right time I don't think. I've stopped reading for now but have not marked it as "abandoned" but as "started come back later"."Glad to hear it!
I have just finished listening to the audiobook of The Eagle of the Ninth: A BBC Full-Cast Radio Drama. I enjoyed it a lot, the cast were all really suited to their roles and I liked the blossoming friendship between the two leads. However, it could have done with being a bit longer as I felt that some parts were a little rushed and for that reason I gave it 4 stars.I am now going to start The Kite Runner. I have been wanting to try Khaled Hosseini's work for a while but have kept putting it off for one reason or another.
Sarah wrote: "I do want to read it at some point, just now isn't the right time I don't think. I've stopped reading for now but have not marked it as "abandoned" but as "started come back later"."I hope Lolita works more for you on your next attempt Sarah. I read it last year during one of the topplers and found it a little slow and heavy going at the start but it's a fantastic book once you get into it.
I finished Pines last night. I'm wondering how the trilogy will turn out. Will the explanation given at the end of the book be real, or is there some other explanation. I think so. I will likely hold off on reading book 2 for now. I've read 2 really intense books, I'm sick with a cold, and I think I need something light and silly. Will My Life as a White Trash Zombie do it? I hope so because I'm starting it today.
Janice wrote: "I finished Pines last night. I'm wondering how the trilogy will turn out. Will the explanation given at the end of the book be real, or is there some other explanation. I think s..."Get better Janice!!!
That book definitely sounds silly Janice! Hope it does the job and I hope you feel better soon!
Khaled Hosseini is one of my favorites authors, Lisa, and The Kite Runner is a really good novel, a very touching story. Hope you enjoy it.
Get better Janice!On my side, I'm suffering my week 38 (and 3 days) of pregnancy... It's true... I'm suffering... My back is just destroyed! Is a fact that there's no room enough for both of us in here, and SOMEONE should start considering the possibility of go out as soon as possible!
Sandra wrote: "Get better Janice!On my side, I'm suffering my week 38 (and 3 days) of pregnancy... It's true... I'm suffering... My back is just destroyed! Is a fact that there's no room enough for both of us i..."
Uh oh. Congratulations, Sandra. Hope your back eases out.
Sandra wrote: "Khaled Hosseini is one of my favorites authors, Lisa, and The Kite Runner is a really good novel, a very touching story. Hope you enjoy it."Thanks Sandra and congratulations! I also hope that your back eases up a bit so you are more comfortable.
Get well soon Janice! Sounds like you need a nice hot toddy!
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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I have had Haunted on my shelf for years Debra. I had heard that about the book too, so it kind of fell to the back of my pile. Mainly because I find Palahniuk a bit hit and miss. Fight Club I loved, Invisible Monsters was not allowed to come back with me from Thailand. It was banished.