THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion
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WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!!
Just started "Other Words for Love" by Rosenthal after finishing The Hunger Games Trilogy. I wanted something YA but not so dark.
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Thanks Shomeret!!! appreciate it!!
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I am reading Evermore right now. It's book 5 in an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series that I bought all the books based on recommendations and I'm finding myself forcing my way through the series. Each book has picked up more characters to focus on and some of the books have been good and one or two have been awful. This one happens to be pretty good. This author has a whole different take on the vampire thing and this time around she has brought Robin of Locksley and Lord Nottingham into the story. The romance in these books is the fated/ can't live without each other kind, which I happen to like, so I keep reading them and then immediately swapping them on paperbackswap.
Just started reading Urban Waite's The Terror of Living: A Novel. Interesting to see how this develops - I've heard good things about it.
Finished Bloom County last night, and Devil in the White City tonight. Loved the former, and really liked the later.Up next is Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America With Einstein's Brain by Michael Paterniti. It sounds like a fascinating story, and one that I'm not at all familiar with, so I'm really looking forward to it.
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Up next is Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America With Einstein's Brain by ..."
I recieved a review copy of KILLER COLT- similar to Devil in the White City in that it involves history and murder- Sam Colt- the famous gunmaker and his murderer Brother- very interesting
Wow, didn't know there was a murderous Colt brother. You did hear about Mrs. Winchester, the one whose husband invented the Winchester and she became superstitious and would keep adding onto her house, and so there are stairs that don't go anywhere. that is how she tried to atone for her husband's manufacturing of the gun.
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No never did! love eccentric characters like that!
The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good.
Bert wrote: "The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good."
That's a book that I like to re-read. I've probably read 3-4 times.
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Super book by a great guy and fine Group Member!
http://www.thecigarmaker.net
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yes- I love reading books by James Mason members- I have read several and wrote reviews- and I have several more to read and will do same!!
I'm half way through Mistress of the Art of Death and enjoying very much. I finished River of Darkness yesterday, which was also quite excellent and have started The Lathe of Heaven this morning.
I just finished Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I stayed up all night reading it! Great book!
Last night I started The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G. B. Edwards. It was recommended to me by a friend. It was published posthumously and was the only book Edwards ever wrote. It takes place on Guernsey Island. I am enjoying it; my only problem will be the teeny tiny print it is printed in.I have also decided to start the audiobook The Final Solution: A Story of Detection by Michael Chabon, whose other writing I have enjoyed, even though I have not finished The Crazed by Ha Jin. That plot in that is creeping along at too slow and uninteresting a pace for me. Will go back to it later, perhaps.
Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good."
That's a book that I like to re-read. I'v..."
Hi Jan, What do you like about it? - Bert
Bert wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good."
That's a book that I like t..."
Not sure. Maybe the writing, maybe the time period. It is a book I enjoy. It was a group read in another group on GR recently and I found that not everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Some found his dialogue stilted. I found it normal. He was originally from a Chicago suburb, as am I, so that may be why I have no problem with the dialogue.
gigi wrote: "Horsefan101 (Sara!) wrote: "I just finished Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I stayed up all night reading it! Great book!"
Loved that Book Cressendo is good but its not nearly as good in my opin..."
I'm reading that next :)
Loved that Book Cressendo is good but its not nearly as good in my opin..."
I'm reading that next :)
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The story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good."
That's a book ..."
The extent of my knowledge on The Sun Also Rises is that the film version was one of the final pictures Errol Fylnn made!
Rick wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's always good."..."
And don’t forget Ava Gardner. I read her memoir last year. She was a frosty one.
Jan C wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Bert wrote: "The Sun Also Rises, Ernest HemingwayThe story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's al..."
Make that feisty and not frosty. Not frosty in the least.
I just started reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Its been in my Nook and on my TBR list since it came out. I need to tackle the books I already own.
Melissa (Mel) wrote: "I just started reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Its been in my Nook and on my TBR list since it came out. I need to tackle the books I already own."Ditto! I have that one in my home library, will def be reading it soon. As soon as I finish reading the 12 books I have checked out from the library. ;)
Bill wrote: "I'm half way through Mistress of the Art of Death and enjoying very much. I finished River of Darkness yesterday, which was also quite excellent and have started [book:T..."Mistress is on my to-read list...
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The story is interesting and the writing is amazing. I like to read it every year. It's al..."
True- Gardner has a terrible drinking problem that was just starting to show when Sun Also Rises came out- Flynn also was terribly bloated in the movie- he died 2 years late r (So did Tyrone Power) but was excellant in it- Eddie Albert was superb in the film too- he also played a drinker- but as he lived to be 99- it was simply great acting!
Jenny wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm half way through Mistress of the Art of Death and enjoying very much. I finished River of Darkness yesterday, which was also quite excellent and have st..."If it ends as well as it's been moving along, I highly recommend.
Just finished Under the Mercy Trees: A Novel. A new release available Jan. 18th. Dark and evocative of dysfunctional family in south.My review is first on the list if you'd like a more in-depth look. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88...
I just started readingDark Road to Darjeelingby Deanna Raybourn, a Victorian era mystery taking place in India. I thought the setting would be interesting. I entered a promotional contest that Deanna Raybourn ran on her blog in November for a $25 ITunes gift card. I won the gift card and a Dark Road to Darjeeling bookmark which I am using to mark my place in the book.
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I entered a promotiona..."
excellant!! congrats!
Just returned from New Orleans, so I'm reading Big Easy by Eric Wilder. Put me in the mood for some New Orleans' voodoo magic.Big Easy
I just re-read James Patterson's When the Wind Blows...always been one of my favorites. It takes a master author to convincingly write about clandestine labs, the CIA, and children who fly! First read it when it came out about 10 years ago; wasn't disappointed with my re-read!
Shay wrote: "Robin wrote: "Never heard of Lattimore. Elucidate for the uneducated, please?"Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, including his superb translation of The Iliad. ..."
I am impressed. Shay, your reply is perfect. I was trying to find the time to phrase an answer. You said it better than I could have managed. Thank you.
Howard wrote: "Shay wrote: "Robin wrote: "Never heard of Lattimore. Elucidate for the uneducated, please?"Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, including his superb translation o..."
Thank you, Howard. Oh, Robin, avoid the Rouse translation. It's fairly common because even the translation is, I believe, in the pubic domain. But, it is horrible. I think the worst translation of The Iliad that I have read.
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Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, including his super..."
Shay- was your Mother always so hardheaded (in the BEST sense of the word) over translations?
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Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, including his super..."
Howard wrote: "Shay wrote: "Robin wrote: "Never heard of Lattimore. Elucidate for the uneducated, please?"
Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, including his superb translation o..."
question- I have tried to read Shakespeare many times-and I simply have not been able to grasp him- is there a particular edition that is appropriate for neophytes?
Rick wrote: "Shay wrote: "Howard wrote: "Shay wrote: "Robin wrote: "Never heard of Lattimore. Elucidate for the uneducated, please?"Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek literature, incl..."
Yes, she was. I wasn't a good "fit" in private schools, although I went to a few and was accepted by all of them. So, she felt like I was wasting my time in public school and wanted me to get the same education I would have gotten in private school. So, she made me conform to a certain standard. You should have seen her supplemental reading lists- all the stuff she felt I should read, but the school didn't have time for. It would have been easier and less time consuming had I just gone to private school.
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Richard Lattimore was a noted translator of Ancient Greek liter..."
She sounds like a true role model for so many- to me
Shay- very curious about what you and other have to say about the new Roald Dahl thread I just posted
I am looking for honest opinions- and thoughts- and I know we have so many great thinkers here
Rick wrote: "question- I have tried to read Shakespeare many times-and I simply have not been able to grasp him- is there a particular edition that is appropriate for neophytes?"
I cannot guarantee success from the following approach, but I would start by avoiding a one-volume Shakespeare (the Riverside edition for example). Instead, I would go for a one-play-per-volume edition. These have more room for introduction and notes. I have a number of the plays in an edition published by Cambridge University Press. I would suggest picking two or three plays and dealing with them first. Try the comedies, As You Like It (my favorite), Much Ado About Nothing, Comedy of Errors, or Taming of the Shrew would be good. The history plays have some wonderful stuff but you would get more out of them if you knew some of the historical background. The tragedies are justifiably considered the peak of his work, but they can be pretty heavy. I have never understood why people start off with Hamlet or Macbeth as their introduction to the Bard. There is an excellent book, whose title I forget at the moment by, I believe, John Blum at Yale which discusses all the plays. Isaac Asimov, of all people, wrote a Guide to Shakespeare including all the plays. And, if you can find it, Edwin A. Abbott (author of Flatland) wrote a Shakespearian grammar. All of this is good, but as others in this group have remarked, plays are meant to be seen and listened to, not read. There is a vendor that claims to offer a video of each and every one of the Bard's plays. Its URL is:
http://www.writingco.com/
Once you pick a play to work on, get a video and watch it to get the plot and the flavor of the language. Kenneth Branagh has done some pretty good films of Henry V, Hamlet, Much Ado, and As You Like It. There is a stunning Macbeth with Judi Dench and Ian Mackellen. The Olivier Othello, Lear, Merchant of Venice, and Richard III are good but avoid his Hamlet. There is an excellent Hamlet directed by John Gielgud and starring Richard Burton in the title role. Orson Welles never quite got Shakespeare right, though he tried several times, with the exception of his last, The Chimes at Midnight or Falstaff. This is a combination of the two Henry IV's with odd bits of Richard II, Henry V, and the Merry Wives. This is, arguably, the finest Shakespeare film ever made. I believe the BBC has done all, or most, of the plays. I have not seen them but would imagine them to be good, workmanlike productions at least. You might also look at other forms. Shakespeare has been a source for opera and ballet which could be helpful. Above all, be patient. His language is wonderful, but it is four hundred years old. It takes a little getting used to. His plays bear repetition and like a Mozart concerto, a Beethoven symphony, or a Wagner opera, there are things to be discovered on the fifth hearing as well as from the first.
Hope this helps and the best of good luck.
Howard wrote: "Rick wrote: "question- I have tried to read Shakespeare many times-and I simply have not been able to grasp him- is there a particular edition that is appropriate for neophytes?"
I cannot guarant..."
All good advice. I love Shakespeare, but I was one of those who started with the tragedies, and fell in love with the language anyway. (I also like Chaucer, so maybe I'm just weird) Anyway - all good advice - watch a film, or maybe try getting something on CD for an audio experience? Maybe listening to someone "perform" by reading the plays would get you into the swing of Shakespeare.
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Jenny wrote: "Howard wrote: "Rick wrote: "question- I have tried to read Shakespeare many times-and I simply have not been able to grasp him- is there a particular edition that is appropriate for neophytes?
"
..."
Howard wrote: "Rick wrote: "question- I have tried to read Shakespeare many times-and I simply have not been able to grasp him- is there a particular edition that is appropriate for neophytes?
"
I cannot guarant..."
Thank you all all three!! I do want to appreciate Shakespeare- but it has been a challenge- your advice is priceless!
Just finished rereading Lolita, which was a delight, as always! It got me thinking about the confusion of my own sexual coming-of-age, which was complicated by a bizarre illness.... I reread this book looking for inspiration as I begin the chapter in my memoir that deals with this turbulent period, and the novel indeed helped getting my creative juices flowing. More of my reflections on the novel can be read at www.the-reading-list.com
My late brother was the closest thing I ever knew to a Shakespearean scholar. When I was young, he used to read the Bard's work to me. I would always beg him to read from Richard II,.... "This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,this earth of majesty...etc, etc." and for some reason it would make me cry. The first time I was in England I knew why..."this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England". Think I might be an Anglophile and a lover of the rhythms of Shakespeare????
To hear Olivier reciting Shakespeare, must be like heaven on earth! I need to rent videos with Sir Laurence Olivier performing his rendition of the bard's work.
The book that I am currently reading is The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa. I started reading the series for my book site on facebook and then fell in love with it. I hate it when that happens....well sometimes.
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really unique and excellant suggestion David! Watching Shakepeare and following along in the text (Carmel-Howard & Jenny re watching/listening) - I have several Shakespeare films as well as the Collected Works- so I shall certainly take that suggestion and use it!
At the moment, I’m reading:Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, I’m fascinated by our unconscious reactions to people and places. Very interesting, so far.
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway.... because it’s on my list and I like nice old war stories (with a smidgeon of old fashioned romance).
Stardust by Neil Gaiman (audio)- I have a lengthy commute to work and I like to keep myself occupied with audio books. This one is narrated by the author and it’s fantastic.
Helena wrote: "At the moment, I’m reading:Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, I’m fascinated by our unconscious reactions to people and places. Very interesting, so far.
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway.... ..."
all three good reads - and I love Neil Gaiman. :)
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THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
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I adore steampunk.