THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives - Book Discussions
>
WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!!
Frishawn wrote: "Reading 
on audio. I am loving the lushness of the story. All the mystery and illusion. Jim Dale is narrating!!!!"This one is on my TBR list. I'm glad to hear that it's well written.
Melissa wrote: "I am getting ready to start The Woman in White as part of a group read with another goodreads group and also because I've wanted to read it for a long time. ..."
I hope you enjoy Woman In White, Melissa. I thought it was really good.
I've had such a busy couple of weeks that I've hardly read at all.I'm currently reading The Magic Mountain, which is turning into a psychological, mind bendy type of story where the characters slowly go off the rails. Not sure about more than that. It's too early to tell.
I finished listening to the audio of A Clockwork Orange and thoroughly enjoyed it.
In the background, I'm reading The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, which is really well written.
am reading mostly genre these days: just finished Feehan's new book, "Dark Predator" which I found just a little too dark and lacking in any humor for my tastes. reading mysteries, paranormal romances (which is hard because my library does not carry much in this genre). Finished J.D.Robb's "N.Y. to Dallas" and enjoyed it. Read "Retribution" by Sherilyn Kenyon and enjoyed that too. Read the latest Heather Graham, "Evil Inside".
Steve wrote: "I'm reading The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Written in the early 60s, it's an alternate history in which the United States lost WW2 and is a weakened land split up and c..."One of my Top Ten favourite books, fascinating concept and great story.
Melissa wrote: "I am reading The Enchanted April. I was curious about the movie and then discovered it was based on book. I went for the book first!
I am getting ready to start The Woman in ..."</i>
I also enjoyed reading
[book:The Enchanted April and The Woman in White is one of my all time favourites. If you enjoy this you will probably also like The Moonstone as they are two of Wilkie Collins' most popular books.
At the moment I am reading The Fishing Pool - I've enjoyed all the other books that this author has written, and so far I am also enjoying this! It's a romantic thriller set in Ireland.
:0)
I am getting ready to start The Woman in ..."</i>
I also enjoyed reading
[book:The Enchanted April and The Woman in White is one of my all time favourites. If you enjoy this you will probably also like The Moonstone as they are two of Wilkie Collins' most popular books.
At the moment I am reading The Fishing Pool - I've enjoyed all the other books that this author has written, and so far I am also enjoying this! It's a romantic thriller set in Ireland.
:0)
Mod
I haven't read Brave New World yet, will do so at some point! heh. Island was interesting, I like what he wa..."
thanks Melby!! I think there is a reason why his books have not been made into films-certainly not good ones if any were attempted! far too complex
Mod
I am getting ready to start [book..."
The Moonstone is often credited with being the first "detective novel" - like everything- open for debate- but loved it!
I'm starting to read Bonhoeffer: Pastor,Martyr, Phophet, Spy. by Eric Metaxas. Have been wanting to read this. Just finished Kitchen Boy: Last Tsar by Robert Alexander. Wonderful little book.
I just bought my new Kindle today. I am still debating what book will be my first with it. I have my choices narrowed down to three.
Diane, I can recommend Bonhoeffer, it's an excellent read. I also like Metaxas' book on William Wilberforce.
Bill wrote: "Steve wrote: "I'm reading The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Written in the early 60s, it's an alternate history in which the United States lost WW2 and is a weakened land ..."I'm enjoying it so far, Bill. Interesting to see too that Canada remains autonomous in the story.
Mod
Reading Silas Marner by George Eliot because I have heard quite a lot of positive things about it and I remember watching "In Depth" on C-span with Christopher Hitchens and he listed George Eliot as one of his favourite writers, so I though I would try one out.
Read Silas Marner in '68... Been a while.
I like it so far, although it took me a while until I was used to the writing. That happens to me sometimes with older english authors.
Mod
I may not agree with Hitchens on some issues- which is fine!! but I really think of Christopher Hitchens as the H.L. Mencken of today
Rick wrote: "Per wrote: "Reading Silas Marner by George Eliot because I have heard quite a lot of positive things about it and I remember watching "In Depth" on C-span with Christopher Hitchens and he listed G..."I feel the same way. I vehemently disagree with certain positions he takes (not many though) but he always has a good point which make you think more broadly about the issue at hand.
Just finished War Horse. A forgotten children’s novel gets the recognition it deserves. Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse tells the story of a horse named Joey, who also serves as narrator. The story takes place during the First World War. The beginning chapters describe Joey lovingly cared for by a fifteen year old farm boy named Albert. The passages relate Joey’ s interpretation of how hard life is on the farm and how different Albert treats him as opposed to Albert’s father who at first is not pleased with the fact that Joey cannot perform the tasks required of a farm horse and the father grows impatient as a result. But as time passes, Joey is trained and performs superbly. The father reluctantly accepts Joey and all seems to go well for a while until war is declared.
The pressures of running the farm take a toll on Albert’s father who is past fifty and resorts to drinking. He begins to argue with Albert about Joey eating too much and costing too much money to keep. The father however recognizes Joey as a strong disciplined horse and as the army is in need of good horses he eventually sells him to an army captain.
As Albert hears of Joey’s departure, he vows that one day he will see his beloved horse again. All of this is told from the horse’s perspective, including the bond that he has developed with Albert that must now be broken. Joey is abandoned and he knows it and describes it.
The rest of the novel is a vivid description of Joey’s experience as a war horse and of the various people and other horses he encounters along the way. The battle scenes are told simply and directly without being overbearing as Joey describes the tragedy unfolding around him. There is a lot of sentimentality in the book but that is to be expected. Some of the passages are very moving as Joey is transferred from one owner to another and has to leave his new friends be they man or beast or at times losing them violently in the course of battle. The author does not restrain Joey as narrator and allows him to assume all the characteristics as if he were human and was able to express himself as such. This aspect is what makes the story exceptional and a treat not just for children but adults as well.
By the time I finished reading War Horse- I read the original 1982 edition from my local library that ends at 148 pages, I felt pleased that the prose sufficiently covered the years that Joey has been away from Albert during the war and closed the book well satisfied that I experience a great story of love and courage under extraordinary circumstances.
Mod
Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse tells the story of a horse named Joey, who also serves as narrator. The stor..."
superb review!!!!!!
I reread Silas Marner in 2010 and got a whole lot more out of it this time than I did in 1965! Identified more with him at 63 than I did at 17.
Mod
Steve wrote: "Bill wrote: "Steve wrote: "I'm reading The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. Written in the early 60s, it's an alternate history in which the United States lost WW2 and is a w..."As it should.. ;0). I'll have to read again, it's been quite a few years since I last read it. I may have to do a Phillip Dick retrospective; I've got a few of his books on my shelves.
I'm currently reading Cold in California by Deborah Riley-Magnus. I am a new reviewer for a blog and I have the privilege of reading books that I may never have even thought to pick up :) I'm reading this book for that blog. And so far, I've enjoyed it!
Rick wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Jennifer*Thank you for admitting to 'Twilight'. It receives great scorn and derision here in GR.All I can say is, to my absolute astonishment, upon opening the first book in the..."
I am guilty as charged also :) I loved the Twilight series! I was so disappointed to see them end!
I'm reading 'One Day" by David Nicholls. I'm reading it partly because everyone else seems to be and because as a writer, I like to read books that are current and popular. Steve.
In the Blood
Steve wrote: "I'm reading 'One Day" by David Nicholls. I'm reading it partly because everyone else seems to be and because as a writer, I like to read books that are current and popular.
Steve.
[book:In the B..."
I keep hearing people mention this book - I really must check it out...
:0)
Steve.
[book:In the B..."
I keep hearing people mention this book - I really must check it out...
:0)
Reading "A Handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh, heard nice things, and I have been wanting to read him for a while.
Per wrote: "Reading "A Handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh, heard nice things, and I have been wanting to read him for a while."
I read that at college many years ago! My favourite Waugh novel though has to be Brideshead Revisited.
:0)
I read that at college many years ago! My favourite Waugh novel though has to be Brideshead Revisited.
:0)
Karen (Kew) wrote: "Per wrote: "Reading "A Handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh, heard nice things, and I have been wanting to read him for a while."I read that at college many years ago! My favourite Waugh novel thoug..."
I own a copy of Brideshead Revisited and it's on my to-read list.
Jessi wrote: "Has anyone ever read Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler? I'm reading it for one of my bookclubs and am having a tough time getting into it =( This sadly has been happening to me a lot lately although so..."I read it last year with my book club. We all made it through and had differing opinions. I liked it but remembered it never gripped me to the point that I couldn't put it down.
I just finished reading one of Alice Adams' earlier collections of short stories, Return Trips. My great aunt's recent death (she was the one who gave me this book) inspired me to pick it up again, and I found myself going on my own "return trip," as I reread it, thinking about my great aunt's somewhat turbulent life. My full review can be read at www.the-reading-list.com
I'm slowly groping my way through A Soldier of the Great War. Not the most enjoyable book I've read in recent years, but I am determined to finish. 164 more pages to go.
For some strange reason I haven't read all of the comments here, but the OP mentions reading two books at a time, which is usually what I do. Two, perhaps three. Right now my Reading Before Nodding Off book is All Creatures Great and Small. My old, yellowed, rather tattered paperback (the backcover exclaims "100,000 hardbacks sold at $7.95!" so that gives you an idea of its vintage) jumped from the shelf into my hands several days ago and I'm glad it did. Other times I'm reading and rereading as many plays as I can to assist with my current WIP which is written in the first person and whose main character is an actor.Alan
Wonderful book(s). I've worn out several copies of the Herriot books.
Hi Mike,The chapter where Herriot chronicles his first date with his future bride is priceless but then so many of the little vignettes that make up this book are gems. Chances are I will move on to the next one (we invested the hardback of that one) when I finish "All Creatures". The man was an excellent, excellent writer.
Alan
I bought them in hard cover the last time, I kept wearing out the paperbacks LOL.When I first read these (back in the '70s) I would read them at night in bed. I'm a "night person" and my late wife was very much a morning person. Often she'd be asleep while I read under the lamp on my side of the bed. When I read these, I'd try to "laugh silently", but I ended up almost convulsing trying to hold it in. I'd look over and she'd be staring at me like I was insane as the bed shaking had awakened her.
Then I'd read aloud what had caused the laughter. Often I'd end up reading the book aloud for hours into the night both of us breaking up.
Mod
"H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, Frederik
Pohl, Brian Aldiss, Ursula K. Le Guin, Thomas Disch, Bruce Sterling, William Gibson, and David Brin" WOW- SOME REALLY GREAT WRITERS INCLUDED!!!
Just finished Winter Journey by Diane Armstrong. Excellent tale of a dental forensic specialist living in Australia who gets called in to a little village in Poland to help with the exhumation of a mass grave from WWII.
Right at the moment I have Thompson's Chain Reference open in my lap as I am researching a neverending quiz question. I also started The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood but its too "goody two shoes" so doubt I will finish it.
I am also reading Fire Season and love it so far as I love NM. I just finished Julie of the Wolves which made me cry. It was so good that it needs 6 stars at least.
Holy Bible: NIV Thompson Chain Reference Bible-NIV
Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout
The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood
Julie of the Wolves
I am also reading Fire Season and love it so far as I love NM. I just finished Julie of the Wolves which made me cry. It was so good that it needs 6 stars at least.
Holy Bible: NIV Thompson Chain Reference Bible-NIV
Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout
The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood
Julie of the Wolves
Mod
intense sounding plot
Mod
haha- just finished about 30 min or so of the quiz you sent Alice- did ..so so
Yes, I can imagine as I have been working away on all the Bible questions up tonight. Quite a few require research. I learn so much from the quiz.
Death with Interruptions by Jose SaramagoA strange phenomenon. At the beginning of Death with Interruptions, the narrator tells us that at the stroke of midnight the people of a certain country that is never named will be saved from any life threatening injuries or illness. Death in essence has refused to take them. As a result all people will live.
The novel with an impossible plot is imaginative and well written. It is divided into two parts.
The first half proceeds to unfold a brilliant telling on how the world would respond to such an event. There is a sense of pride from the public that they have somehow cheated death. There is an interaction between the church and state. A cardinal and a prime minister argue on how best to handle the situation. When the prime minister broadcasts his interpretation of the possibility that God has empowered the population with immortality, the cardinal is upset as the prime minister has failed to note that without death there is no resurrection. Nevertheless, the media embraces what has happened with joy. There are detractors of course as complaints come from undertakers and funeral parlors on the sudden downturn in business; Insurance companies are paying out to people on “permanent” disability; hospitals are overcrowded as all their patients have an indefinite stay. One solution is to arrange a case by case study for those patients well enough to be turned over to their families’ care, with the hospital continuing to treat the patients by having a nurse or doctor visit their home.
There are many philosophical points in the story - a debate as to what is worse, a person with a permanent debilitating illness that cannot be cured or the prospect of dying; another is that death is as individualistic as the individuals to whom it impacts; another is that human life plays second fiddle to economic prosperity.
A twist in the plot is that death is still active across the border in a neighboring country, also unnamed. Family members pay the “mafia” men a fee to assist them in taking their sick loved ones across the border to die peacefully.
Saramago’s writing style eliminates any quotations marks or indentations and takes a bit getting used to. In the first half, what the style lacks in warmth, if you will, is more than made up with a well-researched concise presentation of the events, like an essay.
The second half is much more to my taste as the appearance of death is personified as a woman. She leaves a violet covered envelope; my imagination pictures the envelope as velvet violet, and mysteriously places it on the desk of the director general of the local television station who no doubt broadcasts its contents to the world. The letter is signed “death” and it states that she will resume her function and begin killing once again at midnight. Another rather macabre twist is that she will send her victims the same violet colored envelope and when they open it they will see a letter telling them that they have one week to live. The government is relieved as are the nursing home and funeral parlor directors.
It turns out the main reason death transformed itself into a woman was to meet a handsome cellist, who for some reason she cannot kill. He has evaded receiving the letter she mailed to him and she goes to personally deliver it and reverse this setback to her routine. She floats through the walls of his apartment and notes the layout of the rooms, the dog that he lives with, the music sheets all over the place, his cello, and a glass of water. She wonders what water tastes like as she is not really human. She wants to know more so she buys a ticket to one of his concerts, the lethal letter in her hand to give to him. When she meets the cellist, she cannot deliver the fateful envelope. She has experienced the most human of all attributes and the most pleasant, to fall in love.
Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout
I just started this one which reminds me of my time in NM. I am probably going to give it 5 stars.
I just started this one which reminds me of my time in NM. I am probably going to give it 5 stars.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I bought them in hard cover the last time, I kept wearing out the paperbacks LOL.When I first read these (back in the '70s) I would read them at night in bed. I'm a "night person" and my late wif..."
The audio versions of these books are great! The reader is fantastic, and I found myself cracking up in the grocery isle with many a strange glances my way! :)
Did you get the ones read by Christopher Timothy?
Wow, some great reads on this list! I'm scared to look at more of this thread since my "to read" list already is so long!I just finished Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption -- really excellent. I typically do not read nonfiction as much as fiction, but this was truly engaging.
I'm now back to the Aristide Ravel mysteries with the final book: Palace of Justice. I'm so sad the series will be over after I finish this book! Wonderful mysteries set in pre- and post-revolution Paris. I'm thinking of bribing Susanne Alleyn to write more. :)
Just started reading Hess: The Man and His Mission. I find Hess one of the most intriguing figures of Nazi Germany.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Books mentioned in this topic
Confessions on the 7:45 (other topics)Amity (other topics)
Truly, Devious (other topics)
We All Fall Down (other topics)
Get Even (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Monica Rodden (other topics)Lisa Unger (other topics)
Natalie D. Richards (other topics)
Maureen Johnson (other topics)
Gretchen McNeil (other topics)
More...
I really enjoyed Left Neglected and was fascinated at this condition. Brain stuff interests me. Sorry to hear about your tumor, Kathleen. Hope things are well.