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!!
Mod
How very touching Carmel- my best thoughts for your daughter and you
I JUST finished MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins. Wow. I haven't enjoyed a series like this one in a long time. I was totally gripped right from the start. I wasn't sure how she was going to keep returning us to the "games" but every time I was surprised and terrifically entertained. I love the critique of reality TV and our hunger for vicarious violence (is it OUR hunger, and not the players' referred to in the title?). Highly recommended.
For once, I'm actually again reading something by a British author, Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915), whose novel Lady Audley's Secret Rick has praised on one of our threads. What I'm reading is some of her short fiction, At Chrighton Abbey and Other Stories. I'm still wanting quick reads, and I expect this to be one, since of the five stories that are included, I've already read two in other anthologies.
I'm starting The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. I've read all of her books years ago. But, until Rick mentioned it, I never realized that all of the Tommy and Tuppance books occurred in "real" time- so the characters age in the appropriate amount based on when the book was written.
I've just finished Harry Potter #5 and now starting #6 (I hadn't read the last two in the series).
Cemetery World by Clifford D. Simak, a re-read.
Barbara wrote: "I'm reading At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. It's a sort of history of everything that led up to the average modern home. Very interesting, enterta..."I bought it for the missus for Xmas. She enjoys Bill Bryson's writings. Glad to hear this one is good too.
John wrote: "I JUST finished MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins. Wow. I haven't enjoyed a series like this one in a long time. I was totally gripped right from the start. I wasn't sure how she was going to keep retu..."My wife just finished Mockingjay and loved the series. I've got it high on my TBR list.
I searched the kindle site the other day looking for an ebook copy of George Frazier MacDonalds Pyrates, one of the funniest books I've ever read. Amazon doesn't have a kindle edition but I came across another book I didn't know MacDonald had written. It's called the Complete McAuslan and I downloaded it. It consists of three complete novels involving McAsulan, the dirtiest soldier in the world. So far I've found it witty and enjoyable with a few laugh-out-loud scenes. McAuslan is so bad as a soldier he is routinely given leave whenever the regiment (a Highlander outfit) has a big inspection. But he always comes back at the wrong time, drunk, out of uniform and escorted by several MP's.I've read most of the Flashman series and I think this is better than that series.
I just finished reading I,Alex Cross for the enjoyment of reading the series--kept me on my toes -Looking forward to Cross Fire.Currently reading The Perfect Coupleby Brenda Novak as I have been following Brendas Last stand series
Mod
I have The Complete McAuslan on my Kindle as well as a trade paperback - love all of George Frazier MacDonald's work!!
Mod
how did you enjoy the first two stories, Werner?
I really enjoy Mary Elizabeth Braddon - a great "sensationalist" writer of the late 19th century
Mod
I never tired of AC- love all her books- amazed at how stunningly clever she was!
Mod
Hi Cerena- wonderful to have you as member of James Mason Group!!
Rick, to answer your question, I liked both of the two Braddon stories I'd previously read, "Good Lady Ducayne" and "The Shadow in the Corner." The former is a different twist on the idea of vampirism, in terms of naturalistic Victorian science, and the latter is a wonderfully atmospheric example of a well-done traditional ghost story. My personal favorite in the collection so far, though, is the title story, "At Chrighton Abbey," (which is also the longest).
Dead Man's Walk. Because I'm really into the Lonesome Dove series atm
I'm currently reading Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. It's a mystery/serial killer/psych thriller... pretty good so far. It's a female serial killer which makes it interesting. Apparently it's now going to be a movie as well and it is the first book in a series of 4.
Mod
love the term "nest-reading"!!! nothing wrong with that!!
Mod
I must check that story out,Werner- I believe I have the works of Braddon on my Kindle
Brodie wrote: "I wish I could say that right now I am reading something of substance but I'm not - It will be a friday night smut book for me. I am nest reading the 2nd book in Steig Larsens series - The Girl wh..."I've read them all, Brodie, and they are wonderful. Enjoy!
I'm reading "Murder in the Abstract" by Susan C. Shea for Suspense Magazine. I do reviews and this is just the next book I picked up off the pile. LOL So far, it's good.
Hello Everyone,
I am reading a book called: "War in the Woods: Combating the Marijuana Cartels on America's Public Lands. http://www.amazon.com/War-Woods-Comba...
Game wardens, the unsung heroes of our national wild lands, are the first line of defense.
Why am I reading this book? Because I personally know the author and I have worked with the special team members combating the drug cartels on our public land.
A "Must Read" to better understand the dedication & sacrifice these individuals are making in order to protect our Wild Lands & Natural Resources from Narco-Terrorism.
I am reading a book called: "War in the Woods: Combating the Marijuana Cartels on America's Public Lands. http://www.amazon.com/War-Woods-Comba...
Game wardens, the unsung heroes of our national wild lands, are the first line of defense.
Why am I reading this book? Because I personally know the author and I have worked with the special team members combating the drug cartels on our public land.
A "Must Read" to better understand the dedication & sacrifice these individuals are making in order to protect our Wild Lands & Natural Resources from Narco-Terrorism.
Margaret wrote: "I'm currently reading Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. It's a mystery/serial killer/psych thriller... pretty good so far. It's a female serial killer which makes it interesting. Apparently it's now goi..."Ooooh...I've enjoyed the first 3 books of the series and am looking forward to the fourth. I'm glad you're enjoying the book, too, Margaret.
I finished reading The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, which was an interesting look at Louis and Marie's story. It gave Marie Antoinette a grounded, human face, which was nice. I'm still reading and enjoying Three Seconds. I'm glad I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. It's a suspense-filled drug/mafia/police corruption story set in Sweden.
I just started Kingston's My Voyage to the Southern Seas. Kingston was a popular writer for boys during the 19th century and he penned a number of sea stories. Currently our young hero has signed on as a midshipman on a merchantman going to Mauritius to look for his brother, also a sailor, who has been missing a long time and is alleged to have deserted from the navy before his ship sank. Kingston was a sailor himself, and I'm a sucking for Age of Sail adventure novels written by men who were sailors themselves; just before this I read Peter Simple, which was written by my favorite author, Captain Frederick Marryat. Peter Simple may be summed up as 'Candide goes to sea, with a happy ending.'
Alas, none of them have any gay characters, which is why I have to write my own :)
~K~
I'm on the final Harry Potter book now, also started City of Bones and Maybe This Time and Hex Hall. I went back and checked the number of books I've read (and tracked) in 2010 and am at 91 - we'll see if I can finish 100 (without sacrificing reading for quality/enjoyment's sake, of course) before 2011 rolls around. :)
Brodie wrote: "I wish I could say that right now I am reading something of substance but I'm not - It will be a friday night smut book for me. I am nest reading the 2nd book in Steig Larsens series - The Girl wh..."20 million copies (and movies, and remakes of movies) from a dead guy. It's obviously enough substance to touch someone. Considering his background, Larsson's potential future output will be sorely missed.
I'm reading (or perhaps the right word is perusing) Bill Bryson's Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right. Who knew he started out his career as a copyeditor of the business section at the London Times? I've learned a few things -- now I know the origin of the work flak, for one.That and also Alexander McCall Smith's The Careful Use of Compliments. And a couple of non-fiction books as research for my novel-in-the-works.
I'm still reading The Beauty of Humanity Movement and very much enjoying it (I only regret that I had to put it down for a few days in the midst of moving). And I have also started reading The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder, which I won on Goodreads! This book is of particular interest to me because it provides a personal glimpse of how literature can inspire and uplift.... something I'm exploring in my own memoir about reading.Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com
I'm reading A Round of Stories by the Christmas Fire by Charles Dickens, et al, because it's nearly Christmas and I'm getting into the mood!
Among other things, I'm reading Dragonwyck by Anya Seton. It's a Gothic novel set in upstate New York in 1844. It was written in 1943 and made in to a movie a few years after with Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Vincent Price, and Jessica Tandy.
I am reading Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky. Why? Because it is important to me that I read someone who with erudition, excellent documentation, clear language, and a good eye confirms my observations that 99% of what passes for news in print or broadcast is little more than fear-creating propaganda designed to manufacture anti-democratic consent.Right now I am preparing an economics course for my local continuing education program, and reading Chomsky gives me added incentive to add my own two bits at pointing out the nakedness of our economic emperors.
Shay wrote: "Among other things, I'm reading Dragonwyck by Anya Seton. It's a Gothic novel set in upstate New York in 1844. It was written in 1943 and made in to a movie a few years..."I've seen the movie but never read the book - let me know if you like it. I am a big fan of DuMaurier and this seems as if it would be similar.
I'm reading the following book ---
because I am intensely curious to learn why and how it was that the U.S. became a continental country.
When I was in high school, I accepted wholesale a lot of what I was taught there about U.S. history. It is a subject that I've always loved and excelled in.
The notion of 'manifest destiny' which suggested that America was divinely ordained to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean I never questioned. Only when I went away to college and engaged in more independent reading did I begin to question some of what I had been taught (and come to believe) about many aspects of U.S. history.
Jenny wrote: "Shay wrote: "Among other things, I'm reading Dragonwyck by Anya Seton. It's a Gothic novel set in upstate New York in 1844. It was written in 1943 and made in to a movi..."So far, it's fascinating. It's a historical that's now a historical. It has a lot of historical figures like Edgar Allen Poe, James Fennimore Cooper, the Astors, etc. Also, it's almost worth it for the historical details alone- the descriptions of the mansions, the visit to a freak show (Barnum's), the clothes, gardens. I love hearing about the old New York City when so much of it was farmland- Stuyvesant's farm that's probably now the base of a skyscraper.
Sounds great! I'll have to add it to my ever-growing tbr pile!
Mod
because I am intensely curious to learn why and how ..."
seems a facinating book, KOMET- I am also very interested in 'manifest destiny' - any other recommendations? I very much enjoyed Hampton Sides- Blood and Thunder.
Mod
I like Walter Huston
Mod
facinating post!
Mod
also a great "fan" of Frederick Marryat
how does Kingston compare to him?
KOMET wrote: "I'm reading the following book ---because I am intensely curious to learn why and how ..."
Bill Bryson talks about this in his fascinating, funny, book Made in America. Even though it is about American English, he links the growth of the language with the growth of the country. In a short easy read, he completely eviscerated my understanding of North American history as having been 100% delusion.
(And of course Noam Chomsky is pretty tough on the delusion of the accepted truths of American history.)
Emilianna wrote: "Started Lonesome Dove last night"I love that book!
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...
Did not like this book at all. I have a son with Asperger's and I have t..."
Shay- have you read Temple Grandin? or seen interviews with her? facinating woman- living - no thriving with Asberger's