WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 1,801-1,850 of 10,669

[Regine]

I'm reading Jane Eyre. I'm over halfway through the novel. I love it so far.

[[deleted user]]

Jane Eyre is my favourite book, the copy I currently own is falling apart I have read it so often. :(

[Emma]

I second that. I first read Jane Eyre in high school and it quickly became my favorite book. I own multiple copies, and have read it so many times, I can't even count. I also love the TV and movie adaptations they have made from it. I hope you continue to love it!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Jane Eyre is such a good book. LOVE IT.

I had to return Nineteen Minutes to the library as it was due. Drat, I was really enjoying it, too. I guess I will just have to re-order it. Now I am down to only three books, whew!

[Marialyce]

I am starting The Passage because isn't everyone reading this book? :)

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Marialyce wrote: "I am starting The Passage because isn't everyone reading this book? :)"

haha then I must run as far away from The Passage as possible! :>)

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I recently met quite a unique, if not eccentric writer who has written some 20 plus 1000 page plus Historical Fiction novels over the decades -I asked him how they sold- his response was "Not a single copy- I specifically write books so that they will not be published"

now- while I am not a fan of runaway bestsellers- Marley and Me was an exception - that is taking to whole different extreme which I find quite odd

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

OK - Since Historical Fiction is my thing, I would love to know who this author is and what he has written. I agree with you Rick. Does he let people read it for free? Not selling it is one thing, not letting anyone read them....what would be the point?

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I met him at Barnes and Noble- he piqued my interest when he muttered that he writes better then any of these "Captialist pigs" I asked him if he was a writer and that is when he told me what I wrote above- that he specifically writes huge books with the purpose of never having them published or read - something about the "commoners" being beneath his words- he would not tell me his name but he did say he had just completed a 2050 plus page fictional account of the translation of the Book Of Common Prayer in 1549 by Aless - I can only imagine how long that took him to write- to be honest- I love Historical fiction too- but I can't see myself reading a book like that- even if he allowed others to see it- to put it mildly he was very strange- seemed to be in his late 70's-early 80's - had alot of knowledge on books- but absolutely refused to tell me any more info on his books - he did mention a wife who he allowed to read a chapter or two of one of his books decades ago- that's really all the info I have

[Petra]

Sounds like he writes for his personal satisfaction only. Maybe his relatives will look into having the books published one day.
Interesting story, Rick.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

that is an interesting story, Rick. He sounds like the stereotype of the eccentric author!

[Jim]

I am reading my fifth travel book by Patrick Leigh Fermor, Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece, and regretting that I am closing in on his complete oeuvre. Somewhat like the guy Rick mentioned who writes 1,000-page novels and doesn't publish them, Fermor hands on to his material for decades and then publishes an absolutely brilliant and erudite book. At the age of 95, he's still working on finishing the trilogy that began with A Time of Gifts and continued with Between the Woods and the Water. Roumeli is the second of his two books on Greece, the other being Mani.

The more one knows about this guy Fermor, the more amazing he seems. During World War II, he worked as a British agent with Cretan guerrillas and, with their help, kidnapped the Nazi general in command of the island and spirited him away over several mountain ranges to where he was whisked away by the British navy.

[Emma]

This all sounds so intereding! I am very much into historical fiction, I would say it is my "main genre" and would love to get my hands on these mens' works (?). What happened to you, Rick, sounds like something that would happen to me. I am always meeting eccentric, off beat people whether in the library, coffee shop, or just walking down the street. They make for great stories, though, and I often find myself learning something anyway!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I also enjoy meeting eccentric folks- and believe me- the man was eccentric with a capital E - he was mostly polite to me - if a bit easily agitated at what he kept refering to the as the "captalist pigs" and "commoners"- he was though, very nasty to the B&N associate who politly asked if he needed assistance- he practically ranted at her incoherently until she was at the point of tears- I guess there is a fine line between genius and insanity as the saying goes..

[Emma]

Oh there definitely is! When working at the library, I learned that it was often hard to tell who was crazy with genius and who was just plain crazy :)
But it added entertainment to my otherwise mundane job.

[Lai]

Petra wrote: "Lai wrote: "Currently reading Lamb by Christopher Moore. A friend gave it to me as a birthday present last month, she said it has replaced To Kill a Mockingbird as her all time favorite book now, s..."

Loving every page of it, Petra. :)

[Shay]

Just started Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. I'm sort of pleased that the author didn't try to capture "pidgin" English, because most non-Hawaii authors fail. But, I was secretly hoping to find that he did use it and he was gifted, like Zora Neale Hurston at capturing dialect in a lyrical, poetic way.

[Leslie]

Shay wrote: "Just started Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. I'm sort of pleased that the author didn't try to capture "pidgin" English, because most non-Hawaii authors fail. But, I was secret..."

I agree that Zora Neale Hurston makes brilliant use of dialect. Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my favourite novels! Hurston's background as an anthropologist may have given her insight into "folk" aesthetics, but she never falls back on using dialect in stereotypical ways. Janey and Tea Cake are such unique, distinctive voices....

Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com

[Shay]

Reading Drood because I kept hearing about it on several discussions and who can resist a book narrated by Wilkie Collins about Charles Dickens? The one criticism I've heard is about the book's length, that it could have been better if edited and shortened. I tend to disagree as it's pleasant to spend the "extra" time with Collins and Dickens. Also, without spoiling it too much, a lot of what Collins goes on and on about helps to establish the often tense relationship he had with Dickens.

[Marialyce]

I am reading Hate List as I heard good things about it and it is due back at the library by Friday!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Just started Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn for a group read in another group.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Shay wrote: "Reading Drood because I kept hearing about it on several discussions and who can resist a book narrated by Wilkie Collins about Charles Dickens? The one criticism I've heard is about..."

I have Drood on my TBR list- it is LARGE!!!- and takes up about half my garage:>)

[Ronyell]

I have just finished Tender Morsels and it was pretty good!

[Shay]

Rick wrote: "Shay wrote: "Reading Drood because I kept hearing about it on several discussions and who can resist a book narrated by Wilkie Collins about Charles Dickens? The one criticism I've h..."

I just finished and enjoyed every page. It was one of those books that just sucks you into a different time and place and once it's gone, it's jarring. You get to a certain point in the book and you just can't stop reading because you just have to know what comes next. Very difficult to read it in bed (or anywhere), my arm hurts from holding it up.

[[deleted user]]

I am reading Kidnapped my mom says it is a classic book.

[Ronyell]

~Chlor!$~ wrote: "I am reading Kidnapped my mom says it is a classic book."

Kidnapped sounds like a really good book!

[Shay]

Ronyell wrote: "~Chlor!$~ wrote: "I am reading Kidnapped my mom says it is a classic book."

Kidnapped sounds like a really good book!"

Just borrowed Birthright: The True Story of the Kidnapping of Jemmy Annesley by A. Roger Ekirch from the library a few days ago. A book about the real events that inspired Kidnapped.

[Petra]

Shay wrote: "Just borrowed Birthright: The True Story of the Kidnapping of Jemmy Annesley by A. Roger Ekirch from the library a few days ago. A book about the real events that inspired Kidnapped.."

Shay, I read and enjoyed Birthright. It's a bit legalese in the beginning but all those points come into play later and it's an interesting story, to say the least. I hope you enjoy it, too, and tell us your thoughts when you're finished.

[Ronyell]

Really?! I didn't know that there was a predecessor to Kidnapped Shay!! I'll have to check it out!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Shay - I love those kind of books. The story behind the story as it were. I will have to put that on my list to watch for.

[Lai]

Just finished 2 fast reads this weekend - Eat Drink and Be Married by Eva Makis and The Bronte Project. I am taking my time with Lamb by Chris Moore.

[Jan]

I'm reading The Inheritance by Simon Tolkien. I initially read Final Witness by Simon because of his famous father J.R.R. Tolkien. I wondered if the "writing gene" was passed from father to son. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it did - Simon is a good mystery writer. He's not the best but he is definitely worth reading.

[Praj]

I'm currently browsing Irvine Welsh's Porno and Glue simultaneously.The characters somehow overlap between these 2 books...making the reading more plausible..

[Evelina A.]

I'm finishing up City of Thieves by David Benioff and it is an awesome read.

[Melissa]

I am currently reading two books: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott and The Age of Innocence. I intended to read The Lost Summer earlier this month, but got sidetracked by some library books. Finally got back to it over the weekend. I started The Age of Innocence today while responding to a jury summons. It is one I've been wanting to read and it fit in my bag easily. I'm liking both so far.

[Ivan]

The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley balanced with Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden. More Brit-lit from between the wars - a period I'm presently stuck in. Enjoying both. Plus I've got Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers on the bedside table too. Who says I'm a one book at a time reader? (Oh yeah, that was me).

[[deleted user]]

Ivan wrote: "Who says I'm a one book at a time reader? (Oh yeah, that was me)...

LOL, I distinctly remember saying that same thing myself. Since the discussion began I have found myself venturing into reading more than one book at a time for various reasons. The world didn't collapse on my head...

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't right now I am reading two or three books, and it is going well. Before, though, I was reading two history books and it was not going well at all. I had to stop and concentrate on just one.

[Marialyce]

The Secret Life of Bees because it is due back in the library on Saturday.

[Jill H.]

Ivan wrote: "The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley balanced with Black Narcissus by [author:Ru..."

Ivan....you are stuck in a good rut as you are reading three good books!!!!!

[Mary X]

I'm reading Deadly Harvest by Heather Graham. I like it so far but I've liked most of what I've read of her. Nice fluffy romantic suspense reading with a ghost story twist.

I'm also reading The Traveler by John Twelve Hawkes. I'm about half-way through and I like it so far. Enough to pick up The Dark River from the library today.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Ivan wrote: "The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley balanced with Black Narcissus by [author:Ru..."

great group of books Ivan!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Mary wrote: "I'm reading Deadly Harvest by Heather Graham. I like it so far but I've liked most of what I've read of her. Nice fluffy romantic suspense reading with a ghost story twist.

I'm also reading ..."

never heard of him before Mary-
here is info I found- facinating

John Twelve Hawkes
Origin of his name
During an online conversation John Twelve Hawks had with his fans on his new website he explained the origin of his name:[2:]

The real story is this …
I was walking through a forest …
Encountered a hawk nesting area …
And 12 hawks circled around my head for about ten minutes ….
So close that the tip of their wings brushed the side of my head. That was why I picked the name. REAL hawks. Not symbolic ones.

[edit:] Information
Twelve Hawks' initial biography on the Random House website was only one line: "John Twelve Hawks lives off the grid." At some point in 2007, that line disappeared and was replaced with "John Twelve Hawks is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Traveler."

John Twelve Hawks is his "adopted" name, but in the Spiegel interview he states he is not an American Indian. In the Spiegel interview he talks about visiting East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the USA Today article, his response to a question about religion began with, "When I was in my twenties..." and when an editor asked him whether the "realm of hell" could be compared to current conditions in Iraq, Hawks replied "it's more like Beirut in the '70s". In the Spiegel interview and in the London Telegraph article, Hawks states that he drives a 15-year-old car and that he does not own a television. [3:] These personal facts and a description of JTH's unique lifestyle were confirmed in the 2008 Joseph Mallozzi Weblog interview.[4:]

The SFF World interview indicates that Twelve Hawks lived in a commune and learned about literature by stealing books from a restricted university library and then returning the books the next day. In the same interview, he states he wrote The Traveler after passing through some sort of personal crisis. In the interview in SFF World Twelve Hawks claims that he has "no plans to go public" regarding his identity. [5:]

In the audiobook version of The Traveler, there is an interview with John Twelve Hawks where he mentions that he has been practicing martial arts for years.

According to Twelve Hawks' agent, Joe Regal, "He lives in New York, Los Angeles and London", and The Traveler sets its story in all three of these locations.[6:]

[edit:] Bibliography
Twelve Hawks' sole published work is the Fourth Realm Trilogy:

The Traveler (2005)
The Dark River (2007)
The Golden City (2009)

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Mary - I have heard good things about the Twelve Hawks books.

[[deleted user]]

Marialyce wrote: "The Secret Life of Bees because it is due back in the library on Saturday."

How are you finding it?

[Marialyce]

Gail "cyborg" wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "The Secret Life of Bees because it is due back in the library on Saturday."

How are you finding it?"

I like it, Gail. I am about half way through. It is pretty simplistic but very warm and endearing. I did watch the movie a while back and the movie seems to have followed the book very well. It is a perfect summer read.

[[deleted user]]

Ahhh, you need to throw a couple of those in every now and then. Thanks for the feedback.

[Timothy]

I'm still trying to finish 'Life in the wood with Joni-Pip' by Carrie King. Every time I pick it up someone wants me to do something which should have been done yesterday. I will finish it, it is darn good so far, if outside my normal reading, I actually want to find out what is going on, never mind what happens next!
all the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]

[Barbara]

I'm reading Malpractice in Maggody: An Arly Hanks Mystery by Joan E. Hess. This is part of a hilarious series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Maggody, Arkansas, population around 745. If you like funny mysteries you should try these books.

[Shay]

Barbara wrote: "I'm reading Malpractice in Maggody: An Arly Hanks Mystery by Joan E. Hess. This is part of a hilarious series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Maggody, Arkan..."

I love that series, too. I'm from a small, non-Southern town, so I like small town settings. No one seems to do the small town as well as a Southern writer.