WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 6,701-6,750 of 10,669

[Barbara]

I'm reading Dance of Death by Douglas Preston

[Stuart]

I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett as it is the current read for my offline book club.

[Jerry]

Just finished the latest thriller by Baldacci, Zero Day. In it the author introduces a new protagonist and very likely, a new series. This one is an agent in the Army CID (criminal investigative division). Think NCIS in fatigues. Another quick, fun read by one of my go-to's.

[Tory]

I'm reading Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford. It's been on my to-read list for ages and I'm glad I finally got the courage to tackle it. Absolutely fantastic so far.

[Graeme]

Reading The Warriors Tale, book 1 of the Imago series by Lorna Suzuki. There are 7 books and each is about 200,000 words!! Wow. Apparently the first 3 are in pre-production for a motion picture. Way to go Lorna!

[Ruby]

Hi, Bonnie. Your book sounds very interesting. Unfortunately I don't have Kindle yet...

[Ruby]

Hi, Werner. This sounds like a great book

[Judith]

I just finished The Fifth Servant set in the Jewish quarter of 16th century Prague. Great details about the place and Jewish custom, but I was a little disappointed with how overwhelmed the story got at times by the information he had researched. An interesting book in any case. Here's my review.

[Werner]

Hi, Ruby! Yes, I'm enjoying it --though since the selections go back as far as the 1500s, and most are 19th-century, some modern readers would dislike the old-fashioned diction.

[Ruby]

Hi, werner. With this wealth of knowledge in your hands, maybe you could write a different kind of history books.

[Melanie]

I'm reading by Ron Chernow. Excellent book!

I'm wanting to read a book on each of the US Presidents in order of election. I'm hoping this will help me to memorize the order and important events of their presidency for trivia.

[Werner]

Ruby, I was a history major, but I don't have any ambitions to write nonfiction history. It's hard enough for me to find any time to write fiction! :-)

[Ruby]

I like to read history books about people rather than the most popular types which only deal with rulers and powerful empires, etc. I am from Iran and all we know about our past is how great the Persian Empire was! People learn to be very proud of them too... What was happening under those "great empires" seems to be irrelevant. Who supported those wars? Who fought them? What did they earn from that?
Unfortunately even today, that is not a history worthy to be written.
And about writing the history of today and tomorrow? Well they are still thinking of the inglorious past and sadly enough efforts are being made to return to that system.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Werner wrote: "Ruby, I was a history major, but I don't have any ambitions to write nonfiction history. It's hard enough for me to find any time to write fiction! :-)"

OYYYYYY!!!The amount of research that must go into writing non-fiction! I am amazed at the bibliographies at end of non-fiction books I read!

[Caron]

You said it Rick! Hey, anyone, what are considered "pulp" books?

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Caron wrote: "You said it Rick! Hey, anyone, what are considered "pulp" books?"

Here is a link which gives a pretty good overview on Pulp Books (many that I have and enjoy!!! Sax Roemer ect)

http://www.pulprack.com/

[Caron]

Thanks for the link, Rick. Someone mentioned pulp books in another group and it sounded as if he looked down on it but those are some of my favorites! :)

[Susan]

Melanie wrote: "I'm reading [bookcover:Washington: A Life] by Ron Chernow. Excellent book!

I'm wanting to read a book on each of the US Presidents in order of election. I'm hoping this will help me to memorize ..."

Wow, that quite a goal to set for yourself. I sat down and memorized them a few years ago, but I have to have a refresher course every few months because I always forget Rutherford B. Hayes. When you get to James Garfield, I highly recommend by Candace Millard. A very interesting book that made me think very highly of James Garfield, when prior to that I had rarely thought of him at all.

[Bonnie]

I am currently reading The Secret life of Emily Dickinson. Emily is one of my favorite poets and I am feeling her come alive under the pen of Jerome Charyn. He begins her story in Mount Holyoke, a school for proper young ladies in Amherst. Emily is a hold out on declaring that she has given herself to Christ which is the first indication that she possessed a different "slant" on life.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Caron wrote: "Thanks for the link, Rick. Someone mentioned pulp books in another group and it sounded as if he looked down on it but those are some of my favorites! :)"

quite welcome!! I love pulp fiction books too!!! alot of action and dialoque!

[Scott]

Currently reading The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust. Great book.

[Fiona (Titch)]

This morning I finished Parched - Z.L. Arkadie. I am going to carry on reading The Man From U.N.D.E.A.D. - The Curious Case Of The Kidnapped Chemist - Darren Humphries.

[Joe]

This is what I am reading now. The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell, Hammerhead Ranch Motel by Tim Dorsey, The Red Church by Scott Nicholson and I think I am going to start this one very soon, Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore. He is my favorite author..

[Scott]

Joe wrote: "This is what I am reading now. The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell, Hammerhead Ranch Motel by Tim Dorsey, The Red Church by Scott Nicholson and I think I am going to start this one very soon, Sac..."

I read The Red Church. Pretty good book. Hope you enjoy it!

[Gabby-Lily]

Right now I'm working on finishing up The Inquisitor's Key, Kiss of Pride, Covenant of War, The Union Quilters: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel, Red Cell: A Novel, The Balance of Silence, and Unexpected Daddy - all for review.

[Robyn]

OK - this is for the Parents & Grandparents - I just finished "Agrippina - Atrocious and Ferocious" from the new Shirin Yim Bridges series "The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Dastardly Dames". These books are a FABULOUS and visual way for preteens to learn history...I thoroughly enjoyed it!
http://www.amazon.com/Agrippina-Atroc...

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

These are the three books I am reading now- a good representation of how I choose a current thriller, classic and non-fiction


Three right now- quite different- so easy to navigate

[Minnie]

Rick wrote: "These are the three books I am reading now- a good representation of how I choose a current thriller, classic and non-fiction


Three right now- quite different- so easy to navigate



[bookcover:..."

Rick, I'd like to know what you think of Mary Tudor and who wrote it.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Minnie wrote: "Rick wrote: "These are the three books I am reading now- a good representation of how I choose a current thriller, classic and non-fiction


Three right now- quite different- so easy to navigate

..."

Anna Whitelock is the writer

She is very sypathetic to Mary- yet as I read the bio on Mary's brother Edward before- much of her facts match- my opinion of Mary is that she was a very true believer in the "old religion" Catholicism- she was given so many chances to do as her step-sister Elizabeth did- convert to the anti-Papist religion in which the King of England would become the head of the Church of England- and had she done that- she would have lived quite a nice life- yet she was so very dedicated to her Mother Katherine of Aragon- and refused- she was a true believer- and caused Edward and his Privy alot of headaches- I admire her for standing by her faith- I do feel the moniker "Bloody Mary" is unfair- and I do feel that had she been more able to compromise her beliefs- she would have been Queen as long as her sister- Elizabeth- who was far more pragmatic than she-

[Minnie]

Rick wrote: "Minnie wrote: "Rick wrote: "These are the three books I am reading now- a good representation of how I choose a current thriller, classic and non-fiction


Three right now- quite different- so easy..."

Thank you. I wasn't sure of the family and the King of England. Was he King Edward the 1V or V1?

[Per]

Rick wrote: "Minnie wrote: "Rick wrote: "These are the three books I am reading now- a good representation of how I choose a current thriller, classic and non-fiction


Three right now- quite different- so easy..."

Agree, for some reason Mary is Bloody Mary but Elizabeth who was responsible infinetly more deaths because of sheer cruelty is a saint. It must have something to do with anti catholicism being fed to the people for hundreds of years.

[KOMET]

I'm now reading SPITFIRE PILOT by Roger Hall, DFC both because of my deep-set fascination with aviation and my profound appreciation for those people who gave their all to ensure victory for the Allies in the Second World War.

The author, Roger Hall, flew Spitfires during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and the narrative is so vivid given that he had written SPITFIRE PILOT shortly after the war, when the memories of his combat experiences were still fresh in his mind.

[Michael]

I'm in an MFA in creative writing program, and one of the books required for me to finish tonight is "The Man With the Golden Arm," by Nelson Algren. It's about the seedy underbelly of crime and criminals, both petty and professional, and also deals with drug addiction. I wish I didn't have to rush through it for class. It deserves a more leisurely read. It did win the National Book Award, but has virtually fallen off the map. A pretty good read, exploring a world others might not be familiar with.

[Matthew]

I'm reading The Hunger Games right now. Why? Because I have to! I promised my followers I'd review it, gorram it!

[Per]

Reading Pan by Knut Hamsun, I've read Growth of the Soil before and liked it.

[Minnie]

Michael wrote: "I'm in an MFA in creative writing program, and one of the books required for me to finish tonight is "The Man With the Golden Arm," by Nelson Algren. It's about the seedy underbelly of crime and c..."

Michael, are you aware that The Man with the Golden Arm was made into a movie? I think Frank Sinatra played a part in it.

[Per]

Minnie wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm in an MFA in creative writing program, and one of the books required for me to finish tonight is "The Man With the Golden Arm," by Nelson Algren. It's about the seedy underbell..."

Indeed, as I remember it it is a very good movie, although it was a long time ago I saw it.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Per wrote: "Minnie wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm in an MFA in creative writing program, and one of the books required for me to finish tonight is "The Man With the Golden Arm," by Nelson Algren. It's about the ..."

Minnie wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm in an MFA in creative writing program, and one of the books required for me to finish tonight is "The Man With the Golden Arm," by Nelson Algren. It's about the seedy underbell..."

of all folks- Arnold Stang had a standout role in that film!

[Camille]

I am currently on the third book of E.L.James trilogy, "Fifty Shades Freed". I am reading it because it completes the series. I'm having a hard time getting into it.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Camille wrote: "I am currently on the third book of E.L.James trilogy, "Fifty Shades Freed". I am reading it because it completes the series. I'm having a hard time getting into it."

How did you feel about first two books in series?

[Camille]

Rick wrote: "Camille wrote: "I am currently on the third book of E.L.James trilogy, "Fifty Shades Freed". I am reading it because it completes the series. I'm having a hard time getting into it."

How did you..."

The first one was unexpected. I went into cold turkey and had no idea what I was getting myself into. After the initial shock (by the end of the book) I figured I had to read the second. I actually liked the second book more than the first.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Camille wrote: "Rick wrote: "Camille wrote: "I am currently on the third book of E.L.James trilogy, "Fifty Shades Freed". I am reading it because it completes the series. I'm having a hard time getting into it."..."

curious how you find the third- and your final verdict!

[Roy]

I am reading 'Harlot's Ghost' by Norman Mailer (all 1300+ pages) and I'm reading it because it's plot is about the darkness within the C.I.A., I love stuff like that.

[Werner]

Minnie, in answer to your question, the Edward referred to in message 7119 above ("Bloody" Mary's brother) was Edward VI, and they were part of the Tudor family. (Edward IV, of the house of York, ruled in the latter part of the previous century, the 1400s, and was the father of the famous two little princes in the Tower that Richard III was accused by the Tudors of murdering.)

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Werner wrote: "Minnie, in answer to your question, the Edward referred to in message 7119 above ("Bloody" Mary's brother) was Edward VI, and they were part of the Tudor family. (Edward IV, of the house of York, ..."

correct Edward VI was known as the boy king- he died at 15- setting the stage for Mary's coronation- I HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Roy wrote: "I am reading 'Harlot's Ghost' by Norman Mailer (all 1300+ pages) and I'm reading it because it's plot is about the darkness within the C.I.A., I love stuff like that."

call me what you may- but I can never read Mailer- as I feel he is responsible for the murder of that young waiter by Jack Henry Abbott- the person he used his connections to free- had he not- Richard Adnan (cannot recall his name correctly) would still be alive
Mailer will always have blood on his hands to me

[Ethan]

I just finished reading The Book of Madness and Cures. While it had a very intriguing premise, the book itself lacked consistency.

Now I'm reading The Inquisitor's Key. I received an ARC of this. I have never read any of "The Body Farm" series, but the plot to this one seems really interesting.

[Ken]

I broke down and started reading The Hunger Games. have to admit I'm enjoying it. Author doing a nice job keeping all the little details and locales in order. Fun story.

[Anne (Booklady)]

I just finished re-reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It has been 37 years since I first read it in 1975.

Now I am reading Black Oil, Red Blood by *Diane Castle for the Authors Requesting Reviews program. I received a free e-pub and my review will reflect no bias to this novel because I was selected as one of its reviewers.

[Ken]

S.b. wrote: "My wife is reading Fifty Shades of Gray...not sure how that will turn out."

You'll come back and share won't you?