WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 5,901-5,950 of 10,669

[Elaine]

I am reading Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey by Sallie Nichols and The Mythic Tarot: A New Approach to the Tarot Cards by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene in order to be able to give informed Tarot readings.

[Ivan]

I'm reading Georgy Girl and also The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - both are very good. I got interrupted with these two by the masterful The Invention of Hugo Cabret by the freakishly talented Brian Selznick - I recommend this wonderous book to everyone reading this; do not let this one get away unread.

[Pierre]

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

But I'm having trouble becoming part of the story. The writing is good, uncluttered, plain and matter of fact. The narrative style, however, holds me at a distance. I would love to hear the characters speak more.

Laughing here, because I have just completed Anne of Green Gables where Anne never shuts up. Although she is very funny in her naivity.

Much respect for Betty Smith and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Fresh and original. Literary? Yah, but as I only got learned at farm school, I am not highbrow. I am drawn to this kind of storytelling and not impressed with formula genre look alikes.

I see there is a bit of a moan in the press regarding the recent Booker prize and what they call Ikea novels, Ikea being cut-to-fit, kit-put-together furniture in Europe.

Seeya.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Pierre wrote: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

But I'm having trouble becoming..."

Have you ever seen the brilliant 1945 film of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Peggy Anne Garner won a special Oscar- James Dunn was amazing as her father and Joan Blondell and Lloyd Nolan were also superb- a true classic film

[Judy]

I'm reading "The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood. I try to read at least one of her books every year.

[Shomeret]

I'm reading Passageby Connie Willis which deals with near death experiences, a subject that interests me.

[Pierre]

Rick wrote: "Pierre wrote: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

But I'm having t..."

Thanks, Rick. I'll look out for it. Because Faith and I are thousands of miles away from home in SE Asia, friends of ours look after our finances. I try to say thank you by ordering books, CDs or DVDs for them from Kalaharinet in Cape Town. Go well. P.

[Steve]

Reading Where Am I Wearing, Circus in the winter, and Star-Crossed Saga: Proto-Star. I have a variety of interests.

[Bill]

Rick wrote: "Pierre wrote: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

But I'm having t..."

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favourite films, Rick. A great book too.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Bill wrote: "Rick wrote: "Pierre wrote: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

..."

Pierre wrote: "Rick wrote: "Pierre wrote: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

Written in the 1940s, set just after the turn of the century. I had never heard of Tree and regard the work as a classic.

But..."

Always loved the film too Bill, and James Dunn truly resurrected his career with the film, as he was doing B films before- a rare instance in which the film did fine justice to its source material!

[Pierre]

Ha, ha. I watched excerpts of the film on Youtube last night. Not so easy, because we are on a boat and use a modum plugged into the notebook, and try to connect with a cellphone tower. But seeing the characters I am reading about brought tears to my eyes.

I love the nostalgia when a writer goes back in time. I did it too in my own stuff. Way back to the 1940s when there was no shortage of horse manure in the streets, and cars had running boards, spare wheels strapped into wells in the front mudguards, and a luggage carrier instead of a boot. (Okay, fenders, baggage and trunk, tee-hee.)

Do you know, before Henry Ford got his first engine to run on his wife's kitchen table, everybody was moaning that soon, New York's streets were going to be six foot deep in horse manure?

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer- stunning read- brilliant

[Barbara]

Jessi wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood."

I have this sitting on my shelf hoping to get to it within the next couple of months let me know what..."

I finished The Blind Assassin; it's not my usual genre but I enjoyed it. Interesting story about two "upper class" Canadian sisters growing up betwee the world wars. Plenty of sex (not graphic), lies, and memorable characters. I'd recommend it.

[Bill]

Barbara wrote: "Jessi wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood."

I have this sitting on my shelf hoping to get to it within the next couple of months ..."

BatI quite enjoyed The Blind Assassin as well. I don't always like Margaret Atwood, with the exception of her more futuristic stories, but this was excellent.

[Geoff]

We joined the Navy
The War of the Landing Craft
Oceana Fine

Last week I visited a small NSW town called Mudgee (over the Blue Moutains from Sydey)

Had a great time away – tasted many of the Mudgee wines, bought more than I planned, visited a potter in Lue who was very interesting to talk to as he explained how he produced his various ceramics. The weather was great (only one late evening thunder storm - Tuesday from memory) and of course I couldn’t stay out of the second hand book shops!
Visited a small old gold town called Sofala (population in 1888 was 25,000 – population in 1988 was 2) As we were a group of seven I think we outnumbered the locals.
Anyway in the small centre of town was a cafe, which also sold second hand books . . . . . enough said, so I ended up with ‘We joined the Navy’, which I read during my time at HMS Conway (nautical college in N. Wales)and the experiences of the author (John Winton) were similar to my own. Cost was $0.50 for a very good copy.
I also bought ‘The War of the Landing Craft’ as I spent time as a third mate on an LST in Borneo, so couldn’t let that go, another $0.50, and finally in Mudgee at the second hand book shop on the main street I found 'Oceana Fine' by Tom Flood ($5.00) – Miles Franklin Award Winner. This book I had to buy (and read soon). Although we have never met, Tom was kind enough to comment on my own book ‘Ice King’ and allow me to use his comments on the back of the paperback edition. So all in all a successful book buying week and an expensive wine buying week, so why do I feel so tired????

[Adriana]

Reading it for a group and because I liked the movie.

It's funny to compare my book and everyone else's.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Geoff (Scouse) wrote: "We joined the Navy
The War of the Landing Craft
Oceana Fine

Last week I visited a..."

very interesting post!

[Guy]

Waiting for Godot. My age has advanced enough for me to revisit this and because I wanted some light reading while reading my other 'heavy' books.

[[deleted user]]

I've been reading quite a variety of books lately.

Historical romance in the Travelling Matchmaker series by M C Beaton, 6 novels in all, the first is Emily Goes to Exeter - they are funny and romantic. A little bit different from the usual genre. The Travelling Matchmaker is Hannah Pym, former housekeeper who is left a legacy by her former employer and decides to spend it travelling in the new stage coaches - making matches along the way.

Then I finished off reading the Austen Addicts trilogy by Victoria Connelly by reading Mr. Darcy Forever. It's a nice series - romantic of course, but all with a Jane Austen theme.

Then I read an indie book which I thoroughly enjoyed - a romantic comedy, again a little different from the usual run of the mill romance - Sweet Ophelia by Kenneth Rosenberg.

Then I went for a memoir and read Full Hearts and Empty Bellies: A 1920s Childhood from the Forest of Dean to the Streets of London which is very well written and inspiring. It tells of an impoverished childhood but a loving family.

Now I'm on a children's classic. I read What Katy Did and the two sequels a few times when I was growing up. I didn't know then that there were two more books in the series and they are not easy to get hold of in the UK. Kindle to the rescue! I'm now reading In the High Valley which is the fifth and last book of the Katy series - I'm really enjoying it so far!

(I must come on here more often so that my posts are shorter!!)

:0)

[Avis]

I'm reading The Little Book of Bitchy Thoughts because I was in one of those moods. It was refreshing.

[Erik]

I"m reading the new Haruki Murakami IQ84. He has a special gift for making the personal monumental, constructing elaborate semi-mythological interior worlds full of symbolism and meaning.

[KOMET]

I'm now reading The Fallen Kings by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, which is Book 32 in THE MORLAND DYNASTY SERIES.

As a fan of the series, I am ABSOLUTELY engrossed in the unfolding drama in this novel. It is Spring 1918 and the Germans have launched their great offensive on the Western Front aimed at knocking the British out of the war before the Americans could enter it in strength. The Morland men are in the thick of the fighting and it can be painful when a character (or characters) who you've come to know and like so well in the previous novels of the series ends up in a tragic situation.

[Pierre]

Journal of a Novel ... The East of Eden Letters
by John Steinbeck.

Yah, I'm supposed to be reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I'm 60% through. But, like a drug addict, when I saw Journal in the Kindle Store for $9, I decided it was Christmas and downloaded it before I got the delirium tremens.

Over the years, I have read East of Eden about four times. Most of his other stuff too. Fascinated with Steinbeck's matter-of-fact story-telling.

Journal of a Novel, I read about thirty years ago and just about cried for this great man who tried so hard to give his very best.

So now I am like a hog wallowing in mire, savouring every word and looking for delights I might have missed before.

I can see trouble heading my way, because I am supposed to be doing maintainance work on the boat.

[Zuzana]

I just finished the last of the Aristide Ravel mysteries (read them in publication order, not chronological...oh well), Palace of Justice.

Just started The Book Thief.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Zuzana wrote: "I just finished the last of the Aristide Ravel mysteries (read them in publication order, not chronological...oh well), Palace of Justice.

Just started The Book Thief."

never read Aristide Ravel series- how did you enjoy them?

[Zuzana]

Rick wrote: "Zuzana wrote: "I just finished the last of the Aristide Ravel mysteries (read them in publication order, not chronological...oh well), Palace of Justice.

Just started [book:The Book..."

Love them! Susanne Alleyn, who is a lovely person BTW and very willing to discuss her books with book clubs and such, does an amazing job of bringing the period to life. On top of that, she's also a terrific murder-mystery writer (writing a decent mystery is challenging), so you get two pleasures for the price of one, lol! And personally, I just fell in love with brooding, taciturn, burdened Ravel. I truly hope she'll write more!

Here's my review of this last book: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

[Lisa]

I am reading
The Age of Innocence
The Woman in White
Jazz
Cartoon History of the United States
and working my way through
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Zuzana wrote: "Rick wrote: "Zuzana wrote: "I just finished the last of the Aristide Ravel mysteries (read them in publication order, not chronological...oh well), Palace of Justice.

Just started [..."

Thanks!! invited her to join! her books do indeed look great!!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Lisa wrote: "I am reading
The Age of Innocence
The Woman in White
Jazz
Cartoon History of the United States
and working my way through
[book:A Portrait of the ..."

The Woman in White- my all time favorite book!

[Genine]

I'm reading Greg Iles' Turning Angel. As always, I like his writing; I am, however, feeling some discomfort with the affair between a 17 year old girl and 40 year old man. "She was very mature" be damned; that's a no-no.

[[deleted user]]

Right now I'm reading:



These are all review copies I was given, and all of them are great stories so far.

Also, my friend Cambria's prequel, "Before" (prequel to Masquerade, the last on this list) comes out tomorrow! Please pick up a copy. Her website, for more info: http://cambriahebert.com

[Shomeret]

Zuzana wrote: "Rick wrote: "Zuzana wrote: "I just finished the last of the Aristide Ravel mysteries (read them in publication order, not chronological...oh well), Palace of Justice.

Just started [..."

I really liked [book:Palace of Justice|8050161]. I have a fascination with books that take place during the French Revolution. I especially loved A Far Better Rest, Susanne Alleyn's novel based on A Tale of Two Cities. That was the first book I read by Alleyn.

[Per]

I'm reading by Andrea Camilleri, the third in the Inspector Montalbano series, I usually don't like the genre but I love this series.

[David]

Just finished reading a short story by William Meikle. 99 cents for Kindle-great tale called Brotherhood of the Thorns

"It is the time of the Crusades. The quest is on for the holy relic that will unite Christendom in the war to retake Jerusalem. But holy relics come at a price. How far are you willing to go, if the Lord wills it?"

[adlin]

I'm almost finished with the premise of which intrigues me, even if it's all conjecture. Also reading , which is turning out to be just an okay book. Probably going to start as I'm housebound for a few days and am ready to get in a Christmas kind of mood.

[David]

Von Daniken is interesting, but I would look at books like Stan Friedmans or Richard Dolan. They are much more plausible and scholarly.

The Ancient Astronaut theory is fun but at times stretched.

[adlin]

David wrote: "Von Daniken is interesting, but I would look at books like Stan Friedmans or Richard Dolan. They are much more plausible and scholarly.

The Ancient Astronaut theory is fun but at times stretched."

Thanks so much! I'll add them to my list.

[MissSusie]

I am currently reading We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmatesby, Theo Coster.. very interesting so far to hear from the classmates of Anne Frank who survived the holocaust and how they did it.

[Glenda]

I am reading Mission Flats by William Landay. Very good whodunit. I haven't figured it out yet and that is rare.

[[deleted user]]

Just started and am reading this as well:

Loved the rest of the series, but was a little bit disappointed with the ending of the last book. So far, this one is good! :)

[Diane]

Just starting to read Islands in the Streamby Ernest Hemingway

Reading this for the book club I belong to. We wanted to read a classic

[Dennis]

David wrote: "Von Daniken is interesting, but I would look at books like Stan Friedmans or Richard Dolan. They are much more plausible and scholarly.

The Ancient Astronaut theory is fun but at times stretched."

I would agree that Von Daniken in some respects has not given the depth to the Ancient Astronaut theory that it deserves, bearing in mind that it is a theory which is in keeping with the move away from the scriptural simplicity of religious creationalism.
Seen in the light of a colation of ancient mysteries, and the burgeoning acceptance of the structure of the universe being infinitely multi layered; each universe being the subordinate atomic structure of the perspectively superior universe, the 'seeding' of planets such as earth with physical and spiritual dna,or the husbanding of primitive races on earth by more developed yet similar entities from other planets or dimensions, is far more credible than Daniken's writings would make it seem.

The multi-layered multi dimensional,(i.e. the cosmos, instead of being mainly empty space, in fact being crammed full of atomic structures, each occupying the same space, but vibrating with a different frequency)makes scriptural accounts of the origin and nature of the universe at best unlikely.

When I penned my own SF novel,I was faced with the task of demonstrating how my main characters could make a journey in time, to take human dna from the 'Earth' of their own dimension, and my explanation which might seem to some scientifically simplistic, caused even myself amazement at how comfortably the storyline could be inserted into the theory of Von Daniken's works.

Thus, in re reading Von Daniken's works, and with a certain instinct from my own writing, in my mind at least, Von Daniken's works are much more compelling,than they were the first time around.

Dennis Pennefather 'The Understanding: The Jump-Clones'

[[deleted user]]

Lisa wrote: "I am reading
The Age of Innocence
The Woman in White
Jazz
Cartoon History of the United States
and working my way through
A Portrait of the ..."</i>

Are you reading these all together - or have you recently finished the ones in that list? I've only read the first two - but both of those [book:The Age of Innocence and The Woman in White, I thoroughly enjoyed. Have you read The Moonstone also by Wilkie Collins? If you enjoyed Woman in White you will probably also enjoy that.

:0)

[Maggi]

Thanks for reminding me of these great books. Edith Wharton is a favorite of mine. I must revisit them.

Karen (Kew) wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I am reading
The Age of Innocence
The Woman in White
Jazz
Cartoon History of the United States
and working my way through
[book:A Por..."

[Mira]

I am reading One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd for book club, Benny & Shrimp, because that's the book the random number generator "recommended", listening to The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America on my ipod and The Monsters of Templeton in the car.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I continue to slowly make my way through The Gunpowder Plot- facinating account of 1604-07 England and an event remembered centuries later- I like to read a a few pages or so a day as it is a nice diversion from my mostly fiction reading

[Kath]

I'm currently reading The Dog Who Bit a Policeman by Stuart Kaminsky. Discovered this series featuring Inspector Rostnikov and a cast of interesting characters earlier this year and was in love from the first page of the first book! 16 books in the series and this is number 12; the author died a year or two ago so, sadly, there will be no more.

[David]

One of our (Oceanview Publishing) titles, The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen has been optioned for a major motion picture to be produced over the next few years. In the meantime, I am looking for readers who are willing to post reviews on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com to increase awareness of the book.

I am offering either an ePub file or Universal PDF of The Perfect Assassin in exchange for reviews on the two sites. Please let me know if you are interested via email at davidi@oceanviewpub.com. I'll need your preference and email address.

Thanks!
David

[David]

Dennis wrote : "Thus, in re reading Von Daniken's works, and with a certain instinct from my own writing, in my mind at least, Von Daniken's works are much more compelling,than they were the first time around."

Excellent observation Dennis. I also am becoming a fan of Nick Redfern as well, though I haven't bought the Demon concept much at all. He has a website: http://www.nickredfern.com/

Very interesting and different look at the UFO world.

[Shradhanjali]

I'm reading Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer because I did not have any other book and my friend lent this one to me.