WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 6,201-6,250 of 10,669

[Michael]

I'm reading about corrupt politicians and murder in Boston.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I finished Cat Calls - Cynthia Leitich Smith and now I am going back to Sister - Rosamund Lupton

[Barbara]

I'm reading The Narrows by Michael Connelly

[Jane]

I have just started The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. I have heard a lot about this author and as this is his first book featuring Gervase Fen I wanted to start with this one. I really want to read The Moving Toyshop as I have heard it is a classic but I wanted to know a bit about the character first. Has anyone else read this author?

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Jane wrote: "I have just started The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. I have heard a lot about this author and as this is his first book featuring Gervase Fen I wanted to start with this one. I really ..."

Yes Jane- very well written- very witty- about a year or so ago- Crispen was quite a topic of discussion on James Mason- was not aware of him - but all the members who were, and their great praise of him prompted me to get all his books- sadly there are only a handful as he died somewhat young - I believe due to drink.

[Jane]

Which book do you consider to be the best, I have the first three?

[KOMET]

Rick wrote: "KOMET wrote: "I'm now reading by Isabel Allende. It's mainly set on the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue (Haiti) between 1770 and 1810. ..."

KOMET- notice you are interested in Napoleonic Wars-curious what peaked your interest and if you have a recomendation for a good intro book on the subject- one that a neophyte like myself can enjoy and one that emphasizes characters as well as battles- thanks!

++++++++++++++++
Hi Rick.

I have to answer your question in a twofold manner, because it was only gradually, over a few years, that I developed a deep interest in the Napoleonic Era.

The first time was in July 1994, when I read my first Patrick O'Brian novel, Master and Commander. Suffice it to say, O'Brian is the real deal. THE MAN CAN WRITE.


The second time was in 2000 (the same year I visited Napoleon's Tomb in Paris), when I bought the books La Grande Armee by Georges Blond and Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee by John R. Elting.


Now, as you are a neophyte to this particular historical era, here are 3 novels for you to check out ---

1) The Battle

" 'The Battle' opens on May 16, 1809, as Napoleon's forces confront the assembled armies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at Essling, near Vienna. Angered by the Austrians' challenge to his rule over their land, Napoleon is determined to crush the enemy troops with the quick maneuvers that won so many previous battles. Yet the French soon find that the wide-open Austrian plains are not conducive to their techniques, as the enemy's sheer manpower begins to overwhelm them."

2) The Retreat

This second novel "opens in September 1812 with the French army at the gates of Moscow. Exhausted and demoralized, they are only a quarter of the 400,000-strong force that crossed the river Niemen three months before. But the sight of this famous city feels like a triumph and a chance, at last, to enjoy a conqueror's spoils.

"Napoleon rides to the Dorogomilóv Gate expecting to be met by city elders bearing tokens of surrender, but no one appears; Moscow has been evacuated. Oblivious to their predicament, Napoleon sends to Paris for comic novels and imagines that it is only a matter of time before Tsar Alexander sues for peace. Finally, a month later, Napoleon gives up and the Grand Armée begins its tragic retreat. The French will endure their most brutal test as they lose over twenty thousand men due to fighting, the cold, and starvation.

"With the same pulse-quickening dramatic power he showed in 'The Battle,' Rambaud brings this disastrous campaign to brilliant, near-hallucinatory life in 'The Retreat'."


3) Napoleon's Exile

All of these novels were written by Patrick Rambaud and touch directly upon the battles and equally brings out the human element.

[[deleted user]]

Really got a kick out of Crispin. I particularly liked the self-referential elements - "breaking the 4th wall" in actor terms.

For mystery fans, I've enjoyed the Laura Joh Rowland books, set in Shogunate Japan.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Jane wrote: "Which book do you consider to be the best, I have the first three?"


this was the #2 book I believe- terrific!!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

KOMET wrote: "Rick wrote: "KOMET wrote: "I'm now reading by Isabel Allende. It's mainly set on the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue (Haiti) between 177..."

very much appreciated KOMET- always facinated to hear about how James Mason members came to enjoy a specific genre or genres- very interesting post!
I have put the three books on my TBR list- again-- much appreciated!!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Kyle wrote: "Rick wrote: "

Read this- quite good- adventure- thrills and superb ink sketches of the "creatures" discovered- a terrific read and very informative to boot!"

Thanks fo..."

I must say- it is a most unique and interesting read- many might think it a Jurassic Park rip-off- but thay would be quite unfair as Fragment is incredibly well researched and written - a very fine novel in it's own right- and LOVE that there are "Audoubon like" Sketches of the various species in book!!

[Gabby-Lily]

On Lavender Lane, The Puppy That Came for Christmas: How a Dog Brought One Family the Gift of Joy, Nexus, Love Means... HealingLove Means... Healing, Hearts of Smoke & Steam for reviewing at Night Owl Reviews; The Last Romanov, Prey, and a few others for my own review blog; Wayward Son, The Dangerous Journey of Sherman the Sheep, Red Wheels Turning and a few others for review at LibraryThing; and, in between all of that (I switch back and forth), I've just finished reading Harm None: A Rowan Gant Investigation, Never Burn a Witch: A Rowan Gant InvestigationNever Burn a Witch: A Rowan Gant Investigation, Perfect Trust: A Rowan Gant Investigation just for myself (and thanks to them being offered free at Smashwords Christmas weekend), will be starting re-reading the books I have of Alexis Morgan's Paladin series (missing one there) and her Talions series in between the books for review. Yes, I do tend to switch back and forth a bit.

[KOMET]

Among the books I'm now reading is The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The WWII Codebreaking Centre and the Men and Women Who Worked There by Sinclair McKay.

I've long been fascinated by the work the codebreakers at Bletchley Park performed in breaking the Enigma codes (used by the German military) during the Second World War. Considering the obstacles Bletchley Park had to overcome, the achievements made by the people who worked there are all the more remarkable.

[adlin]

I just started The Thirteenth Tale and while I haven't read much, so far, not bad. Reading this one for a different kind of mystery and it just appeals to me.

[Dave]

Reading The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan . Just blown away by it. The writing style and the perspective are incredible.

Best book I've cracked open in the past year.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

just received - will be starting soon

[[deleted user]]

Rick wrote: "just received - will be starting soon"

Thanks for the tip! Though I don't know how I'm going to find the time to read all the great books I find on goodreads.

[Geoff]

http://flavorwire.com/247875/video-of...

This book shop is the place to be for a new book :-o)

[Barbara]

I'm reading 4th of July by James Patterson.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Geoff (Scouse) wrote: "http://flavorwire.com/247875/video-of...

This book shop is the place to be for a new book :-o)"

love it! great video!!

[Rachel]

I've just finished reading "Dear Bully" by an assortment of Young adult authors, and am about to start "bystander" by James Preller. Both are in preparation for a talk I'm giving about books on bullying. "Dear Bully" was powerful, and I hope that kids will pick it up and read the stories in it, but it's also painful at the same time, knowing that kids are experiencing this all around the world every minute.

[Jane]

Rick wrote: "Jane wrote: "Which book do you consider to be the best, I have the first three?"


this was the #2 book I believe- terrific!!"

Thanks Rick, I loved Gilded Fly and have Holy Disorder and The Moving Toyshop to look forward to.

[Melanie]

The Magicians by Lev Grossman; I heard somewhere that this was a good book. I've been reading this gendre so I thought I would give it a try.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Jane wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jane wrote: "Which book do you consider to be the best, I have the first three?"


this was the #2 book I believe- terrific!!"

Thanks Rick, I loved ..."

glad you liked it! really well done mysteries- wish he had written more!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Rachel wrote: "I've just finished reading "Dear Bully" by an assortment of Young adult authors, and am about to start "bystander" by James Preller. Both are in preparation for a talk I'm giving about books on bul..."

I agree- a very important issue- now finally getting notice- I recall a student I knew in HS- who was bullied- nice kid- just not able to "fit in" - A few weeks into college- we went to different schools- I heard that he had "Choked on his own vomit" while drunk...I knew him a bit in HS- I guess I was one who "fit in" so no major problems for me- but I immediately thought that when he went to college- pressure to fit in made him over-drink- he certainly was not in the party group in HS- and trying to fit in led to his death- He was at a frat party- I heard- so no doubt alot of encouragement to have "the kid with thick glasses" drink himself silly because it was "cool and funny". I was in a Frat too- so I knew the culture- so very sad as he was only 18.

[Dave]

Currently reading Academ's Fury because I love his Dresden books.

These haven't set my world alight so far, but the first one was a fun read.

[Edward]

Hello. My name is Edward Nudelman. I'm a poet and scientist. My new poetry book, "What Looks Like an Elephant" was just nominated as finalist for the Indie Lit Award, best poetry book, 2011. http://www.edwardnudelman.blogspot.com

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I Just finished The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov- amazing how he was able to see how the idle and complacent allowed for the devious and evil to overtake them- after I finished it- discovered it was his final play- written in 1903, whhile he was dying (age 44)- tragic- would have been facinating to see what his take on the Russian Revolution was (had he not been one of the many writers purged) - he truly seemed to know what was coming to Russia-

[Glenda]

I just finished reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King and just loved it. Some of King's stuff I think is excellent and some not so much. This one was an excellent one. I recommend to everyone. Not your normal King at all. No monsters, no creepy stuff. Time travel and lots of history for 1958-1963.

As far as what I'm reading now, it is a book called The Strangler by William Landay. I read his first book, Mission Flats and enjoyed it very much. This one is coincidentally set in 1963 during the time that The Boston Strangler was doing his deeds in Boston. I have just started but am looking forward to it.

[KOMET]

I'm almost finished reading (in translation) the book A Disgraceful Affair: Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Bianca Lamblin-Women's Life Writings from Around the World by Bianca Lamblin.

Ever since I read last year a dual biography of Sartre & de Beauvoir, I have been very critical of them because of the way they tended to use or exploit some of their friends. Bianca Lamblin (nee Bienenfeld) is a case in point. She was a pupil of de Beauvoir (who was a philosophy professor) when she was in her teens in the late 1930s in Paris. Both Lamblin and de Beauvoir eventually had a personal (and sexual) relationship. (De Beauvoir soon fobbed Lamblin off on Sartre in keeping with the dictates of their special relationship, in which they shared lovers and always told each other the truth.)

De Beauvoir quickly tired of Lamblin and made excuses to end their friendship. Lamblin, who confesses to her own naivety, was at a loss. Sartre, concurrently, also gave Lamblin the boot. Lamblin, who admits to being in love with both Sartre and de Beauvoir, was deeply hurt by their abandonment of her.

Furthermore, with the arrival of the Second World War and the German conquest of France in June 1940, Lamblin, a Jew, was in grave danger. A danger which only intensified as the war went on and the Germans (with the aid of the French collaborationists) went about rounding up Jews in France and transporting them East to the concentration camps. Lamblin and her family had to leave Paris for Southern France, where they were fortunate to survive the war.


This is a very compelling book and I cannot help but feel deeply sympathetic about Bianca Lamblin's experience with Sartre & de Beauvoir.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

KOMET wrote: "I'm almost finished reading (in translation) the book A Disgraceful Affair: Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Bianca Lamblin-Women's Life Writings from Around the World by [au..."

very interesting account of the book KOMET- amazing how the "elite" can be so very self-absorbed and - in in this particular case :repulsive- never been keen on either Sartre & de Beauvoir - a couple of atrocious folks.

[Marsha]

I'm reading The Squirrel That Dreamt of Madness, by Craig Stone. Love this line from the book:

A rumble in the distance belches across the sky like God may be discovering that he is intolerant to wheat.

[Joyce]

Great line. God might be glucose-intolerant!

[Marsha]

The whole book is quite unusual. The author quits his job and goes to live in a park. (Like a homeless guy)

[Joyce]

Interesting. I liked Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie for that approach. I'll have to add it to my list. So many books to read . . .

[Marsha]

Yeah. I made a vow to read all the indie authors books that I've met on Twitter, so I have a big task ahead of me this year!

[Bill]

I'm currently reading and enjoying Black Plumes, a mystery by Margery Allingham. I'll be starting Knights of the Black and White by Jack Whyte tonight.

[Joyce]

Marsha wrote: "Yeah. I made a vow to read all the indie authors books that I've met on Twitter, so I have a big task ahead of me this year!"

Marsha wrote: "Yeah. I made a vow to read all the indie authors books that I've met on Twitter, so I have a big task ahead of me this year!"

[Joyce]

That's what's happening to me, also. I just keep downloading to my Kindle!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Edward wrote: "Hello. My name is Edward Nudelman. I'm a poet and scientist. My new poetry book, "What Looks Like an Elephant" was just nominated as finalist for the Indie Lit Award, best poetry book, 2011. ht..."

CONGRATS!! Edward!!

[Nick]

I am almost finished reading Mathion I started reading it because of How Gods Bleed. Man Mathion is shaping up to be a great read.

[Per]

Reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut because I read and liked Slaughterhouse Five

[Kelsey]

I just finished The Fault in out Stars by John Green. I highly urge you to read it if it's not already on your tbr list. DFTBA!

[Nance]

Kelsey wrote: "I just finished The Fault in out Stars by John Green. I highly urge you to read it if it's not already on your tbr list. DFTBA!"

I just finished it myself...and it was fantastic!!! Quite sad, but I couldn't put it down:)

[Beverly]

I'm reading C. Lee McKenzie's Princess of Las Pulgas and loving it. I enjoyed her first book, as well

[Fiona (Titch)]

This morning I finished Sister - Rosamund Lupton. Now I am going back to Trophy Taker, The - Lee Weeks.

[Jane]

I'm reading Interpreters by Sue Eckstein, with one of my bookgroups. Sue lives in Brighton and is the landlady of my friend's son who is a student in the city. She sounds like an inspirational and interesting person, her book is wonderful so far. We hope to have a proper Q and A meeting with her later in the Spring. I'm also reading brighton Rock by Graham Greene - another bookgroup choice. Not enjoying this as much although the theme of January certainly seems to be Brighton!

[LK]

Just finished The Virtuoso by Grace Burrowes because I won it in a blog tour and still reading Love Goes To Buildings On Fire by Will Hermes because it's a musical tour through New York City in the 70s (part research).

[Manugw]

I am reading Sophie's Choice byWilliam Styron, and from that I picked other novels featured among the best 100 of the 20th century in the list of the modern library website

[David]

Vanity Fair because it drips lovingly like poison into the ear and seems to me to have been the first novel with a cynical and manipulative woman as its heroine, one who doesn't take any shit from accepted norms and who knows exactly what she wants and how to go about getting it. Becky Sharp is my mum's heroine and from reading it I finally understand why. All the other characters come across as puerile and preprogrammed abstractions, like most of the vacuous entities I encounter on a daily basis.