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!!
Infinite Jest by Davidn Foster Wallace and The Rightous Mind by Jonathan Haidt.
Mod
I keep telling myself I have to read Infinite Jest!!!
Other books keep crreping up- but facinated by Wallace
Finished Footprints on the Beach - Aleksandar Žiljak, was a nice relaxing story of love from 2 different time zones. Now I am going to read Abide with Me - Ian Ayris.
Reticence of Ravens by M.M. Gornell. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like it has a kind of haunting quality to it. Really enjoying it.
I am reading The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose. Looked very interesing from the summary, a combination of History, suspense, archaeology and mystery.
Rick wrote: "Aley wrote: "Infinite Jest by Davidn Foster Wallace and The Rightous Mind by Jonathan Haidt."I keep telling myself I have to read Infinite Jest!!!
Other books keep crreping up- but facinated by W..."
It is VERY dense...but so far so good...1097 pages...!
Just started
, my lunch reading, because it sounded good. Also, just started
A Crafty Killing because it's a cozy and should be a good evening read.
Mod
, my lunch reading, because it sounded good. Also, just started A Crafty Killing because it's a..."just nice to read a cozy mystery sometimes!! love a good Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers every few months!
True true! I just finished
by Agatha Christie. Going back to re-read some of them so I can compare to the PBS Mystery series to see how true they are to the book.....
I'm currently finishing up
(which is incredibly good). After that I'll be concentrating on catching up with the brain pain group's last few books and upcoming reads. I have many nonfiction books I want to get to this summer as well. I'm also slowly reading the koran out of curiosity and because a friend of mine is muslim.
(which is incredibly good). After that I'll be concentrating on catching up with the brain pain group's last few books and upcoming reads. I have many nonfiction books I want to get to this summer as well. I'm also slowly reading the koran out of curiosity and because a friend of mine is muslim.
Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley. Why? Fun, hilarious, goofy, politicians whacked.......His father would be so proud......
Mod
His father would be so proud......"
I read
some years ago- LOVED IT!!!!!
Mod
safe mind journey to Scotland! Are books not wonderful- can take us anywhere!
Mod
pretty good noir mystery
Lois Lowry, blast from the past, I read and loved all the Anastasia series! Sadie wrote: "I just finished The Giver by Lois Lowry last night, am listening to Flora Segunda, and reading Frankenstein with my husband...which we should finish right around Christmas at the rate we are going!..."
Rebecca Cantrell has a new book coming out in her Hannah Vogel series. This one is set in Poland and Berlin on the eve of Krystallnacht. I love the way Cantrell gets in big ideas and themes into nail-biting, exciting reading. She's a favorite of mine these days. My review of A City of Broken Glass.
Rick wrote: "pretty good noir mystery"
Buying on your recommendation for a buck. It had BETTER be good. Don't make me come over there.
Mod
pretty good noir mystery"
Buying on your recommendation for a buck. It had BETTER be good. Don't make me come over there."
hahaah! actually it really is quite good in a Raymond Chandler Noir-ish way
Right now I am reading "Heresy" by SJ Parris and I am loving it!
Finished Borkmann's Point by Hakan Nesser and I LOVED it! Leaving Sweden for Scotland once again with Flesh House by Stuart MacBride. And to Rick, yes, books ARE wonderful ways to "see" the world and learn about our neighbors all over the globe. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: I simply cannot imagine a life without books!
Now reading
by Victoria Laurie. I have a slew of paperbacks passed on via the lobby of my apartment. It's the second in this series and the first was an enjoyable read. And, I enjoy light reads in the evenings at times....
Mod
Just finished Mary Tudor- facinating portrait of a very unique person- England's first Queen- The author was very sympathetic to her- trying to change the "Bloody Mary" myth- and in some ways she did- but some very horrific things (burned alive) done to those who would not conform to her Catholicism. Interesting in that with her successor- Elizabeth - the whole religious tide was turned- now reading
Love the whole Tudor period
Rick wrote: "[bookcover:Mary Tudor: England's First Queen]Just finished Mary Tudor- facinating portrait of a very unique person- England's first Queen- The author was very sympathetic to her- trying to change..."
The funny thing is that Elizabeth executed many more innocents in horrifying ways, but she is seen as a saintly figure, I'm not a catholic but I think that is probably the anti-catholic sentiment of britain rearing it's head.
I'm currently reading Wigs on the Green by Nancy Mitford. It's an enjoyable book which is much like an inverted "Pride & Prejudice" with 2 men of the upper middle class in search of 2 marriageable, wealthy women in early 1930s Britain. I've already chuckled a few times while reading this book on the subway.
This morning I finished Abide with Me - Ian Ayris. Now I am going to see what the hype is about and read Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James
During lunch hour, I began reading Scarlet Fields: The Combat Memoir of a World War I Medal of Honor Hero by John Lewis Barkley. Barkley was an enlisted man in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for holding off, singlehandedly, at least 100 German soldiers, who tried to overrun his position in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. I came across this book by accident and was amazed to learn that, unlike Sergeant York and Eddie Rickenbacker, Barkley was a largely overlooked war hero. (I enjoy reading books about obscure war heroes from the World Wars.)
I'm reading Wolf Hall in honor of the Queen's Jubilee. :) I'm loving this book, although I appreciate the comment that some reviewers have made that the pronoun use is somewhat confusing--especially in the beginning. I'm only about a fourth of the way through the novel, but I like how Mantel has crafted Thomas Cromwell, who appears as a villain in most fictionalized accounts of Henry VIII's life but who is smart, witty, and interesting in this version.
Bill wrote: "I'm currently enjoying 
by Joseph Conrad"Great book. Love Joseph Conrad.
Mod
Just finished Mary Tudor- facinating portrait of a very unique person- England's first Queen- The author was very sympathetic to her- try..."
good point- just amazing to learn about the history of the split from Rome- and how it started with the Pope refusing to annul Henry VIII's marriage so he could marry again and have a male heir- so Henry decided to cut ties with Rome and make himself the head of the New Church of England..facinating!
Reading and enjoying Secret Gardens - beautiful photos glimpsed initially through small cut out 'windows' in the preceding pages - lovely lyrical text too.
I am reading Deterring Democracy by Noam Chomsky because I am open to seeing the truth behind the so-called democracy that news either omits to report, mis-reports or lies about. The level of hypocrisy and delusion paraded as information is amazing.
Mod
There is a sequel that was just published-
I have Wolf Hall- love that period- just got a biography of Cromwell which is on my short list to read!
Mod
by Joseph Conrad and 
by Dale Van Every."Bill have you seen the 1936 film version The Secret Agent? great movie!
Rick wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm currently enjoying by Joseph Conrad and by Dale Van Every."Bill have you seen the 1936 film version The Secret Agent? g..."
Rick - I tried to find a listing on imdb and couldn't find that version. There is one listed for 1996 with Bob Hoskins that has an excellent cast. But no, I haven't seen and will keep an eye out for it.. it might be one that TCM will show.
Per - it's definitely well-written..
Mod
by Joseph Conrad and by Dale Van Every."Bill have you seen the 1936 film version The Se..."
Here is some info on 1936 version
Secret Agent (1936)
86 min - Comedy | Drama | Mystery - 15 June 1936 (USA)
6.7
Your rating:
-/10
Ratings: 6.7/10 from 3,975 users
Reviews: 54 user |29 critic
After three British agents are assigned to assassinate a mysterious German spy during World War I, two of them become ambivalent when their duty to the mission conflicts with their consciences.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writers:
Campbell Dixon (from the play by), W. Somerset Maugham (based on the novel "Ashenden" by), and 4 more credits »
Stars:
John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll, Peter Lorre and Robert Young
seems to be based on another novel though
What I'm reading now and why:The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King : Because I'm working my way through ALL of King's works for the second time. I want to re-read the Dark Tower series and for some reason, I decided to read this first to sort of get into the mood.
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien : Many reasons actually. 1. Never Read It; 2. Huge Tolkien fan; 3. One of my Dusty Bookshelf Group challenge books for this year; 4. Group Read book in J.R.R. Tolkien group; 5. My stepdad got it for me for my birthday a few years ago and I felt a little guilty for not reading it.
The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey by Rebecca Hamilton : Given a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for a review. I'm liking it so far.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane : It's a classic that I've never read and I also selected it for one of my Dusty Bookshelf Challenge books for 2012.
Dragonlance Campaign Setting : Because I'm a dork and because I can.
Black Seas Of Infinity: The Best Of H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft : I'd never read any Lovecraft besides one short story in a Science Fiction literature class in college and he is a key figure in the development of modern Science Fiction and Horror literature.
Rick wrote: "Bill wrote: "Rick wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm currently enjoying by Joseph Conrad and by Dale Van Every."Bill have you seen the 1936 film v..."
It does indeed.. I don't think I've seen it though..
Hitchcock did do a film based on The Secret Agent called Sabotage that same year.
Games Traitors Play, No Longer a Gentleman, Legends of the Dragonrealm, Volume III, The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, My Lady Mage, Banner of the DamnedBanner of the Damned, and Regby Dornik by Garth Tuxford for review.
This is an invitation, for all of you, to join my new group called... Time is ticking, books are publishing! In my group (Which I just created) We get to read books on or own (I know, not being rushed to read a book) and we then post a discussion all about the book (how we felt, predictions for the series and so forth) I just started to invite members and have more than one opinion on the books. Don't worry! I'm probably going to make list of books (or make a poll) for at last 5-7 choices of books to read! Don't be rushed to read them all!!!! And if you don't want to see the spoilers, just don't look at the discussions on the book until you've finished or your comfortable to. If you already read the book, start a discussion then people would finish reading the book and start to post thoughts on the discussion that they thought of. I've put a lot of thought into it (LOL) for my members to not be rushed and to feel comfortable :) The first list of books I was thinking of for the members to think of reading was... Marked (#1), Vampire Academy (#1), Blood Red Road, The Immortal Rules, Wither, Intertwined, Angelfire, The Iron King, Daughter of Smoke and Fire, Hush Hush, and Cinder. If anyone has anymore suggestions they could email me.. and i would add that to the list! Hope you join and have a blast! HAPPY READING :)
Mod
Was that the one that starred Oscar Homolka?
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...
She really seems to have done her homework. :)