WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 6,101-6,150 of 10,669

[Ruth]

I am reading The Bird Sisters because I noticed it on someone's list and read the except available and fell in love with it today.

[Ruth]

Cyn wrote: "I just finished Shattergrave Knights. Plus I am reading as many 99 cent novels I can find in the ebook fantasy before they all go up in price. And yes, a couple of these books I couldn't finish, bu..."

All all ebooks expected to go up in price on a certain date?

[MissSusie]

Ruth wrote: "I am reading The Bird Sisters because I noticed it on someone's list and read the except available and fell in love with it today."

Great book!

[(Alice) Aley]

Picked up Joan Didions book" Blue nights" and read it in a few hours...it was phenomenal. Then read "The Future of US' in four hours. Reading DH Lawrence " Mr
Noon" and Metaphors we live by..." by Lakoff. Am a reading nut, only have 3 weeks to read before school starts again and tax season. Teaching 8 classes, taking two and doing income tax is no conducive to much reading for pleasure!

[(Alice) Aley]

love Massie and Russian history too.


Kath wrote: "I am currently listening to Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie on CD and I have 6 more discs to go. Russian history has always fascinated me and I really ..."

[MissSusie]

I am listening to The Boy in the Suitcaseby Lene Kaaberbøl, Kaaberbol Friis narrated by,Katherine Kellgren Hoping it lives up to the hype!

[Kath]

Susie wrote: "Kath wrote: "I am currently listening to Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie on CD and I have 6 more discs to go. Russian history has always fascinated me ..."

It is a truly great book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[Kath]

Lexi wrote: "Kath wrote: "I am currently listening to Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie on CD and I have 6 more discs to go. Russian history has always fascinated me ..."

I have never seen that movie but will have to look for it now. Thanks for mentioning it.

[David]

Ruth wrote: "Cyn wrote: "I just finished Shattergrave Knights. Plus I am reading as many 99 cent novels I can find in the ebook fantasy before they all go up in price. And yes, a couple of these books I couldn'..."

Link about ebook pricing

http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/8/262...

[Judith]

I took a delightful break from serious fiction and read the hilarious second Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy called You Might As Well Die set in New York in the 1920's. Here's my review. Its zany cast of characters includes Dorothy Parker and Harry Houdini, along with a bunch of fictional characters who are truly "characters." A great way to cheer yourself up and laugh yourself silly.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Judith wrote: "I took a delightful break from serious fiction and read the hilarious second Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy called You Might As Well Die set in New York in the 1920's...."

I love the Round Table!! Benchley, Parker, Woolcott, FPA, Harpo Marx!, George S Kauffman, Sherwood,Heyward Braun ect ect!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Aley wrote: "Picked up Joan Didions book" Blue nights" and read it in a few hours...it was phenomenal. Then read "The Future of US' in four hours. Reading DH Lawrence " Mr
Noon" and Metaphors we live by..." by..."

I recently read a profile of Joan Didion, and quite frankly- I found her to be very self-absorbed and elitest. Of course- it is a horrific tragedy to lose a child- yet during the article- Didion seemed to be more interested in her own image as a tortured writer first, and then as a grieving mother, second. I cannot recall where I read the article- but the comments from readers below the article seemed to mirror my impression that she is a very self-absorbed person, one who was far more interested in her career than her daughter, (she admits to alot of this-and her daughter showed quite alot of signs of instability that Didion writes freely about NOW- yet where was she to help when this poor child was alive?)- and left me with a negative view of her as a person.

[(Alice) Aley]

Well Rick, she may be self absorbed, but she is a brilliant writer. Her recent absorption may be her aging, as she is struggling with becoming older and still an effective member of society. Her daughter was adopted and this chronicles the fear her daughter had of abandonment and perhaps a bit of mental illness, which was not of course created by Joan. Didion has a meticulous way with her words, and they make you feel as though you are listening to her speak. I am not a fan of most modern writers, and so it is unusual of me to even read this or any other piece of literature. I try not to hold anything against writers, or artists in general as they are usually VERY strange people....as their creativity sets them apart from many others and their quirkiness makes them an interesting study in contrasts!

Thanks for your post!




Rick wrote: "Aley wrote: "Picked up Joan Didions book" Blue nights" and read it in a few hours...it was phenomenal. Then read "The Future of US' in four hours. Reading DH Lawrence " Mr
Noon" and Metaphors we l..."

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Aley wrote: "Well Rick, she may be self absorbed, but she is a brilliant writer. Her recent absorption may be her aging, as she is struggling with becoming older and still an effective member of society. Her da..."

Very true Aley- and I do not question her skills as a writer. While I have not read her books, I have read enough reviews to know she is, perhaps, the finest essayist of the last 50 years. (I would give that honor to the late Chris Hitchens- a tragic loss of a true modern day Mencken)

My issue is with Didion the person. True many writers and creative people are "different" - many times, in my opinion, this is a manufactured difference. There are execeptions - Oscar Levant was VERY DIFFERENT (IN A WONDERFUL WAY!)for real!- I can only judge Didion from her interviews in print and TV- and she comes across as someone who views events and other people as mere props to use in her "Creative Life"- her husband died suddenly- perfect prop for a book (Year of Magical Thinking) - her daughter died shortly thereafter- now she gets to be the "Doyen of Death" and to boot- another book. The photos that accompanied the article I referenced were so very distasteful- they appeared so staged as to be more an attempt at "performance art" rather than a mother in grief over the death of her daughter. So much of the article was Didion talking about herself- with her daughter a convenient device to showcase her "brilliant" theories on grieving and death and aging.

I know that many were greatly touched by her last two books (She states in the article that she "performs" when approached at airports by fans of her last book)
but I simply find her utterly pretentious- opposite of her late brother-in-law Dominick Dunne- who showed true emotion and outrage after the horrific murder of his daughter.

Now this is why I love this Group! great debate! while total respect for the opinion of fellow James Masoners! And I do respect your views Aley, or I would not be so verbose in my reply!

[(Alice) Aley]

Understood. and yes, I also appreciate the comments and opinions of others in the group. I sometimes think readers can be "stand alone" people, those who are so invested in their reading that they are not interested in discussion...and I find it stimulating! Thanks!!!

i>Rick wrote: "Aley wrote: "Well Rick, she may be self absorbed, but she is a brilliant writer. Her recent absorption may be her aging, as she is struggling with becoming older and still an effective member of so..."

[adlin]

Judith wrote: "I took a delightful break from serious fiction and read the hilarious second Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy called You Might As Well Die set in New York in the 1920's...."

Lovely review. I'd heard of this series, but hadn't read them... now going on the list.

[Judith]

adlin wrote: "Judith wrote: "I took a delightful break from serious fiction and read the hilarious second Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy called You Might As Well Die set in New York..."

Thanks!

[Jenn]

I picked up "Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town" by Nick Reding for $2 yesterday. Since I knew absolutely zip about meth, I thought this would make for an interesting read. I've never really understood what makes a person even want to try a homebrewed drug especially something you inject in your body.

[Stuart]

I am reading Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky as it the current book for my offline book club.

[Gerald]

I just started reading Heat Wave. I bought it early this year, and I thought I should read it before I buy another book.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Gerald wrote: "I just started reading Heat Wave. I bought it early this year, and I thought I should read it before I buy another book."

I'm curious Gerald as to why you chose Heat Wave as your next book to read.

[Carly]

Just finished The Time Machine - I've forgotten which group is discussing it. I'll come to it, I guess.

I made my 100 books goal here. That was about 10 days ago - I'm now up to 107!

Audio, of course.

[Gerald]

Rick wrote: "Gerald wrote: "I just started reading Heat Wave. I bought it early this year, and I thought I should read it before I buy another book."

I'm curious Gerald as to why you chose Heat ..."

I like the series Castle, and Heat Wave was the fictionlized book that the TV character Richard Castle wrote from season 1 to season 2 within the show. When I heard that Heat Wave had actually come out as a book, it caught my interest. So I bought the Kindle addition, and I'm finally getting to reading it.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Gerald wrote: "Rick wrote: "Gerald wrote: "I just started reading Heat Wave. I bought it early this year, and I thought I should read it before I buy another book."

I'm curious Gerald as to why ..."

very interesting! thanks!

[Barbara]

I'm reading These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

just finished by a James Mason Member Writer-

very well written and affecting novel

also finished
great action/thriller debut- though bit too much action and too little plot

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Carly wrote: "Just finished The Time Machine - I've forgotten which group is discussing it. I'll come to it, I guess.

I made my 100 books goal here. That was about 10 days ago - I'm now up to 107!

Audio, o..."

I loved The Time Machine!! read it this year too!
congrats on surpassing the 100 book mark!

[Marian]

Last week I read "JFK and the Unspeakable" by James W. Douglass. This is a throughly researched book with copious end-notes and - looking at the world today - a tragedy that has affected our modern world. Democracy in the USA ended violently and tragically on 22 Nov. 1963. Those of us who remember Kennedy as president are now slowly shuffling off the scene. Oligarchy has been our style of government for almost 50 years, this book is a painstaking task as the author sets down the details of how it happened.

[David]

Thanks for the recommendation. I looked you up and good for you. Keep on reading, posting and remembering. I am 62 and I too recall those days. We didn't know it then, but the result has not been pretty. Alas, for many alive today, it is ancient history and it could be McKinley, not Kennedy to many of them. I agree it was the first coup d'etat in the US.

[Jenn]

I am reading "The Boys of Santa Cruz" by Jonathan Nasaw. I didn't know he had another book out until I saw it in the remainders section of Chapters two days ago.

[Vincent]

i'm reading the 6th Target by James Patterson... Lt Boxer is my heroine

[Alan]

It has been sitting on my bookshelf for about a decade. I picked it up and got perhaps forty or fifty pages into it at least twice, but then put it back for reasons I don't recall. But now I am well into Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and enjoying it a lot.

Part of it is Chabon's mastery of language, his ability to create mental images, part of it is the story about two young men in the late 1930's, early 1940's who create an iconic comic book character, and part of it is how Chabon mixes in the real with the fictional. I'm glad I gave it another try.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Alan wrote: "It has been sitting on my bookshelf for about a decade. I picked it up and got perhaps forty or fifty pages into it at least twice, but then put it back for reasons I don't recall. But now I am wel..."

Always curious about that book Alan- curious as to how you feel about book once finished- also have had it on my bookshelf since Reagan was in office!

[Alan]

I will report as soon as I finish. Might be a while, though! My reading time is usually confined to about twenty minutes just before nodding off for the night.

[MissSusie]

Started The Drop by, Michael Connelly so happy to have a new Harry Bosch book where he is the main focus!

[Diane]

I am reading . Reading it for my book club, but I have been wanting to read it. So now I have the chance.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

currently reading Black Monday-

fast paced,holding my interest- but cannot get the idea out of my head that the writer is trying to preach a message about our dependance on fossil fuels- valid issue- but this is a fictional thriller- not a political treatise

[Deborah]

Reading two (as usual) "I, Lucifer" and the final proof of my sequel "The Brotherhood"

[Meb]

Since I write now, reading requirements have become a task rather than a pleasure. So, sometimes I treat myself to a good book just for the sheer enjoyment. Right now I'm reading The Affair by Lee Child. I think I might be in love with Jack Reacher...please, don't tell my husband.

[Di]

Hi, I'm new to this site, but have enjoyed getting great recommendations. Right now I'm reading A Life Lived Ridiculously, a hilarious book by a British author.
I hope to get more recommendations from others. My style is women's fiction and humor. Anything like A Life Lived Ridiculously and Bridget Jones' Diary is right up my street.
Di xxx

[Per]

Reading by Evelyn Waugh, I have read A handful of Dust and Brideshead Revisited and loved both.

[MissSusie]

Finished The Drop by, Michael Connelly it was worth the wait!

Now listening to Divergent by, Veronica Roth narrated by, Emma Galvin supposed to be a good one seems to be on alot of people's best of 2011 list.

Also still working on my christmas books now reading Wishin' and Hopin' by, Wally Lamb

[[deleted user]]

Just finishing The Ballad of Young Tam Lin by Patricia Leslie (second read), and partway into book one of The Science of Diskworld by Terry Pratchett.

[[deleted user]]

The Ballad of Young Tam Lin

[Seana]

Per wrote: "Reading by Evelyn Waugh, I have read A handful of Dust and Brideshead Revisited and loved both."

I read Handful of Dust fairly recently and yes, it's great.

[Rick]

I took my kids to the library yesterday so my wife could finish wrapping presents and piked up "Life" by Keith Richards. I'm only two chapters in but enjoying it so far.

[Brandon]

I'm reading A Dance With Dragons because the evil author George R. R. Martin ensnared me with his first four books in the series and I really have no choice. Finally have a break from work to read it and I'm thoroughly excited about it.
Brandon Charles West

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Recently finished - Outrageous Conduct: Art, Ego, and the Twilight Zone Case - a facinating and no holds bar- account of the horrific and UTTERLY PREVENTABLE accident that killed the wonderful Vic Morrow and two young (Illegally Hired-they were paid under the table to avoid child labor laws about working at night) children. Very hard to watch a John Landis film after reading how utterly callous he was - and apparently still is as he has never accepted any responsiblilty although the book presents overwhelming evidence of his contempt for anything but his ego - including the lives of Morrow and the children - difficult book to read- especially for fans of Morrow yet important work as it shows how the only thing that matters to many in Hollywood is money- also one must never forget how Landis - regardless of the many great films he has made- can never be thought of without remembering FIRST- how his actions caused three senseless deaths.

[Barbara]

Susie wrote: "Finished The Drop by, Michael Connelly it was worth the wait!

Now listening to Divergent by, Veronica Roth narrated by, Emma Galvin supposed to be a good one seems..."

I'm putting The Drop on my TBR list.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Barbara wrote: "Susie wrote: "Finished The Drop by, Michael Connelly it was worth the wait!

Now listening to Divergent by, Veronica Roth narrated by, Emma Galvin supposed to be a ..."

Connelly can always be counted on for a wonderful read!
Curious how you find his new book
Loved his first books in series and quality has remained top notch!