What are you reading?

[John]

Now I am reading an insider's view of Hollywood, from a chimp's perspective! The autobiography of Cheeta from Tarzan fame.Me Cheeta: The Autobiography

[Roberta]

I'll bet there's a lot of monkeying around in it.

Sorry. Don't know what possessed me.

[Dorothy]

Roberta wrote: "I'll bet there's a lot of monkeying around in it.

Sorry. Don't know what possessed me."

:-)

[Dorothy]

I've just started "The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink on audio. Haven't seen the movie yet but will likely do so after I have finished the book. I also picked up "The Homecoming" at the library at the same time not realising it was the same author.

[Dorothy]

Recently finished "Deloume Road" by Matthew Hooton. Very much rooted in Vancouver Island and the descriptions of the environment are almost poetical. I had some problems with the plot but basically it is an excellent first novel and I look forward to reading more of his in the future.

[Dorothy]

Also just finished "Venetia Kelly's Travelling Show" on audio. If you like storytelling in the Irish tradition I strongly recommend Frank Delaney's books. I like to listen on audio as the author is usually the narrator and he has a strong voice, Irish accent, and of course a deep feeling for the novel so that it really brings it alive.

[Dorothy]

And...I've started on "The Duchess"...a scholarly biography of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. She was a leading light of British Society in the late 18th century and was involved in politics as well as being a fashion icon, and perhaps the first 'celebrity' as newspapers were becoming more widely distributed at this time. It's hard not to draw parallels with Princess Diana...and the subject was a member of the Spencer family. Again, I didn't see the movie but will try to do so after I have finished the book.

[Roberta]

I loved The Reader. We all read it years before the movie came out and it provoked lively discussion. The movie is very well done too. I'm often disappointed in movies based on books I have read but not this time.

I jhust started The Sweet Life in Paris and I'm continuing with Here Comes Everybody for work.

[John]

A friend brought me a copy of The Reader at one of the Book Drives and said I should read it. I thought it was only ok. Then I saw, and really liked, the movie. So I went back and re-read the book and really liked it second time around. I have no idea what I was missing the first time

[Dorothy]

Interesting how that happens...something about the right book coming at the right time....

[Dorothy]

Just finished "The Reader" on audio this morning. I think it gives one a lot to think about...and I rather wish I had read it in print rather than audio as I have a tendency to doze off while listening and then have to backtrack when I realise I have missed something. I also have "The Homecoming" to read but will give it a bit of space before I start that.

[Roberta]

I'm still reading Here Comes Everybody. Very interesting read about the impact of social media on almost every aspect of our lives. And I'm almost finished The Sweet Life in Paris and have gained 10 pounds just reading it.

[Dorothy]

Just finished "The Duchess" by Amanda Foreman. A scholarly biography and very well written. A fascinating account of the first 'celebrity' and a woman who had many talents and involved herself in politics behind the scenes during the reign of George III in Enlgand.

[John]

One of my Goodreads friends recommended Tim Winston books so I am reading Breath

[Dorothy]

John wrote: "One of my Goodreads friends recommended Tim Winston books so I am reading Breath"

Interesting. I almost bought a Tim Winton from the library sale cart yesterday but realised that I had put some books from my Mt TBR in the book swap reasoning that there were too many for me to read in my lifetime, so it seemed silly to buy yet another for the pile. I'll be interested to know what you think of it.

[Dorothy]

I'm now reading "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters

[Roberta]

I read her Night Watch and found it interesting. She really pulls you in, even if the world she creates is totally unfamiliar.

Haven;t read any of Winton yet so will be waiting to hear what you think.

[Dorothy]

I'm finding "The Little Stranger" very compelling and I dont usually read this type of story....I enjoyed "Fingersmith" very much.

[Dorothy]

Dot wrote: "Just finished "The Duchess" by Amanda Foreman. A scholarly biography and very well written. A fascinating account of the first 'celebrity' and a woman who had many talents and involved herself in..."

I watched the movie last night...a very different emphasis from the book and only part of the story. Enjoyable though.

[Dorothy]

I recently finished reading "The Fool" by Christopher Moore and found it hilarious. It is the story of King Lear from teh point of view of the Fool and written in the tradition of British comedy, very raunchy in a Blackadder kind of way. I don't know if his other books are as funny as this one is...has anyone else read him?

[John]

Dot wrote: "I recently finished reading "The Fool" by Christopher Moore and found it hilarious. It is the story of King Lear from teh point of view of the Fool and written in the tradition of British comedy, ..."

I have read "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christs Childhood Pal" and found it really funny. I also read "Island of the Sequined Love Nun" again quite funny. His one about a whale I didn't finish. "Fool" sounds like something worth trying.

[Roberta]

Lamb is very funny. Recommended by my 15 year old nephew, so I feel comforted about the state of literacy in Canada (small sample, I know).

[John]

Roberta wrote: "Lamb is very funny. Recommended by my 15 year old nephew, so I feel comforted about the state of literacy in Canada (small sample, I know)."

Thanks for the tip about the book swap. It was fun and there were great scones! Barb got 19 books I got 9. We got to meet Dot and typical of Victoria, Barb knows her, and I met her at the last Cowichan Valley Wine Festival. Too bad you weren't there too it would have been great to meet another of our group. Hope your eye is coming along ok.

[Roberta]

Mary does make the best scones ever. I think of her and Marc as community assets. Glad you got some books. Isn't it funny that there are always so many to find? Eyes healing. Can even read for brief bits of time. will be out and about soon.

And Victoria is always about 2 degrees of separation. Everyone seems to know everyone. I'm certain we will find a connection as in...OMG he's my second cousin!

[Dorothy]

If I hadn't stopped for coffee and read the TC on the way down town today, I would not have gone to Munro's and I would not have spent $120! Some of the books are being put aside as gifts for friends and relatives (eg 2 copies of "Fool" in hardback for $7.99.) but for myself I bought "The Power of Art" by Simon Schama and have just started to read it. I really liked the Knowledge Network series on which the book is based...and the book was half price ...so....

[John]

Thanks for the tip on "Fool". I may just run down there. What a bargain.

[John]

Going to start Travels in a Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile. Got it at Sunday's book swap.

[Roberta]

My friend June just spent a month in Chile. I'll ask if she has read this.

[John]

Going to start The Great Karoo. It is the story of a cowboy from Alberta who goes off to the Boer War.

[Roberta]

Still reading Here Comes Everbody in short bursts and about to start a Handmade Life and Peter Senge's A Necessary Revolution.

[Roberta]

John, how do you make book titles link as you have done in your post?

[John]

When you are adding a comment there is an "add book/author" on top of the box. Just click it and it takes you to a box where you can search by book or by author. You also have the option of adding a link or a photo of the book's cover. It is very simple and easy.

[Roberta]

Thank you.The Necessary Revolution: How Individuals And Organizations Are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World

Just practicing.

[Dorothy]

Thanks John...I didn't know that either.

[John]

It took someone giving me a bad time about not using links before I found out how to use them. They are pretty handy if you want to see what others are reading.

[Dorothy]

Did anyone read "Small Island" by Andrea Levy? It was published in 2004 and is one of those books that stays with you. I've just noticed that a TV version is going to be on PBS this weekend and thought you might be interested.

[Roberta]

My other book club read it quite a while ago and had a lively discussion. We all liked it. Thanks for the tip. I will try to tape it.

[John]

It is sitting on my to-read shelf. Barb read it and liked it. I will have to see when it is on because we are going to the mainland this weekend and I already have a couple of things set to tape.

[Dorothy]

I've just started The Red Door by Charles Todd...I got it from the library because it was on the email they send out for mystery recommendations. It is one of a series featuring detective Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard and is set in 1920. (John...I tried clicking on 'add book/author' as you suggested but I couldn't' get it to come in heavy type and underlined as you did...what am I missing?)

[Roberta]

Just finished A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. I'm not crazy about her writing but there were some good sounding recipes. I may have to start cooking more rather than just reading about it.

[John]

Dot wrote: "I've just started The Red Door by Charles Todd...I got it from the library because it was on the email they send out for mystery recommendations. It is one of a series featuring detective Inspecto..."

I just click on the add author/book, find the edition I want then click on the add button.

[Dorothy]

The Horse's Mouth
I've tried again...and it comes out like this. I've asked Frank to look at it as I thought it might be the browser we use (Mozilla Firefox)...I can't see what I am doing differently from what you suggest.

[Dorothy]

Aha...I've just realised that once I press 'post' it does come out right....anyway...I just wanted to say that a bookcrossing friend has just sent me the book above plus 2 others:
The Bear Went Over the Mountainby William Kotzwinkle
At Large and at Small: Confessions of a Literary Hedonist by Anne Fadiman
All three will be available to be bookcrossed whenI've read them should anyone be interested

[Roberta]

Just started TTravels in a Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile.

[Dorothy]

I got this message on the 144 books group:
Catherine Lawry said,
PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL OF YOUR GROUPS!!! Hey guys! Goodreads has been nominated for a Webby! The Webby's have been called "The Internet's highest honor." Goodreads is competing in the Social Networking category against top sites Twitter, Digg, Bakespace and Cute as Hell! Head on over to the Webby site and cast your vote for Goodreads! Voting ends on April 29, so hurry! http://webby.aol.com/ Don't forget to pass the message along! You have to register to vote. But it's not that much a big deal. GR is currently in second place in the voting behind Twitter!! Catherine

[Dorothy]

I gave up on "Homecoming" by Bernard Schlink as it had to go back to the library and more books from my hold list are coming in. A rather slow moving and reflective book, I got more than half way through it and may revisit it one day. Not as compelling as "The Reader"

[Dorothy]

Started on the audio edition of Wolf Hall and also
The Bear Went Over the Mountain

[Roberta]

Dot I still have Wolf Hall here for you. How can I get it to you?

[Dorothy]

Roberta wrote: "Dot I still have Wolf Hall here for you. How can I get it to you?"

Hi Roberta, I don't know if you saw my message for you on the same day you posted this....mine went into the 'Book giveaway' topic. Anyway, I had forgotten that I had put a hold on "Wolf Hall' at the library and it came in and so I have just finished listening to it on audio' Perhaps someone else would like your copy. I really enjoyed it and the actor reading it did an excellent job.

[Dorothy]

I finally finished "New York" last week...I started it just after Christmas but had to keep putting it aside either because of books coming in from the library, or I was just too tired to hold a heavy hardback book! In fact it was a delight to read and it combined well with a couple of documentaries on New York that were shown on Knowledge Network over the past few months. As usual, Rutherfurd traces the fortunes of several families from the earliest times of the city to present day; thus we start with a Dutch family with connections with Native Indian nations, and end with the destruction of the Twin Towers. In some ways, it is a history of Capitalism as the main characters are concerned with finance and the developing Stock Market, but it is much more than that since architecture, race relations, the war of Independence, the Civil War, are all documented though the actions of the various family members and the people they meet. I learned a lot about the history of the city, and now want to go back there and visit some of the sites that are mentioned in the book.