Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
Nicole wrote: "I just started The Help by Kathryn Stockett today. I've read the first 50 pages so far and really like it."
It really is as good as the hype. Enjoy!
It really is as good as the hype. Enjoy!
Chrissie wrote: "I have seen in the interim that you left tons of comments on the pics. I love hearing about Jenny!"And me, Oscar, as you know.
I'm starting Incident at Willow Creek - the story of a lady who, on her mother's death, discovers a family secret linking them to a WW2 prisoner of war camp in Alberta.
I'm curious to hear what you think about this book. There aren't any reviews on goodreads yet.
I'm reading Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
again for book club. It's been years since I read it so I'm excited.
again for book club. It's been years since I read it so I'm excited.
John, I am also interested in the book you are reading! Please give a link to your review when you are done. I would also like to know your impressions as you go along. The ride a book gives us is important too!
While I am still reading through the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton, I started another book this past weekend with my granddaughter and am reading it, too. It's the first book I've read on my Kindle and is entitled, House of Dark Shadows, a scary mystery that was a free download.
I am currently reading I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust, having just finished The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman: A Novel. The beginning of the book I just finished fooled me. I thought it would be great, but it turned out to be a disappointment. My review explains why: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I feel like an idiot b/c I liked it so much in the beginning. The lines WERE funny! I feel duped!
I am reading Eat, Pray, Love. I just stumbled over it and I had not read a "Comfort read" for months ! It feels good to sink into a book, and to just enjoy the story, thinking about nothing. I was pushing myself into reading more classicals books. turned out, i wasn't reading anymore.
Good to hear, Betty. It's more fun to read a book you want to read, than to try to slog through a book you think you "should" read.
I am reading Birds Without Wings. I have other books I need to be reading for book clubs, but until I order a Kindle to download them, I'm going to keep reading this one.
Wendy I have bought that! I hope you like it. I think there are quite a few characters to keep track of but it covers an interesting topic. And I loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Please share your thoughts. I WISH I could read faster. I wish I had more time!
The characters are so endearing, and the change in viewpoint with every chapter keeps my interest. There's no doubt that de Bernieres has quite a vocabulary - I need a dictionary beside me to look up all the lofty words!
It is so nice to hear that a book is good when you have already bought it. Go with the flow. If you get tired of looking up every word...... On the other hand with most authors if you diligently look up every word you don't understand, after 100 pages fewer unknown words are thrown at you! I have definitely noticed this. Your efforts might be rewarded. Hopefully!
Chrissie wrote: "It is so nice to hear that a book is good when you have already bought it. Go with the flow. If you get tired of looking up every word...... On the other hand with most authors if you diligently lo..."When I was taking French and Spanish literature courses at university, most of the professors told us not to look up every word that we did not understand, and I found that once I followed these directions, I enjoyed reading literature in other languages, and even in English and German much more. Obviously, there are times when certain words or concepts will have to be looked up in a dictionary, and I do look up some words and expressions I do not understand, but I will generally try to figure out and guess the meanings of most of the words from the context of the book (even if I'm reading a book in a foreign language). This is just a personal observation, but for me, looking up every word often destroys the mood and breaks the narrative and flow of the story. And, you also do not have to know the meaning of every single word. It's funny, I've noticed that many people will accept and even be able to deal with the fact that they will most likely not be able to know the meaning of every single word in their mother tongues, but if one is reading a book in another language, one thinks one has to know every single word, expressions etc. to get the meaning of the narrative.
I agree, Gundula. I taught my 6th grade students to use the context of the sentences to figure out the meaning of the word. I didn't mean to imply that I was actually using a dictionary and looking up definitions. I only meant that he uses such rich and complex vocabulary that I am learning so many new words!I have been so busy learning Japanese while we are living here. Oftentimes, in my conversations with the locals, I will be able to pick up on only a few words but will still be able to communicate and understand them well enough to get by!
Wendy and Gundula, of course you do not have to. Usually you can get the definition from the context. Often I cannot decide which is better. I both suggested "go with the flow" AND that if you do look up the words you will find that soon the author is using the same words again and again. Authors tend to do that. You notice this more when you read something in a different language. BUT, if you are trying like mad to understand a new language the more words you look up, well the quicker you get a large vocabulary! Of course, not if you end up closing the book b/c it is destroyed by. I never know on which side I should sit. Also it depends on your mood, how tired you are, the time of the day...... Both approaches are good! :0) Do what makes you happy!
I've never tried reading anything in another language, and I have so much admiration for people who can read in multiple languages! I love it when I come across a "good" word - I used to keep a journal of words that I loved or were interesting to me in some way. I should continue doing that.... ;-)
Chrissie wrote: "Wendy and Gundula, of course you do not have to. Usually you can get the definition from the context. Often I cannot decide which is better. I both suggested "go with the flow" AND that if you do l..."I think a lot of it really depends on your own personality and your own way of reading. I tend to get distracted easily, so if I stop too often to look up a word, I come out of "reading mode" or I get too distracted to continue. And, I don't need more distractions anyway. I already have the tendency to start researching obscure ideas, expressions, historical facts etc. when I am reading that if I tried to look up every word and expression I did not understand, i would never finish reading. That is from personal experience, because my first reaction, my gut reaction is to look up everything, but then I never get the readings done, I will have pages and pages of notes and still be on something like page 50 of a 500 page novel, ha.
When I was taking grad-level German courses, I was definitely looking up words in the books we read for class. I think there is a mix; some words are important to the sentence and must be looked up. Some words can be "guessed" from context. I really believe that I could improve my German if I would make myself read more German books.
Right now I am learning Japanese, with my daughter. A friend brought her some books to read, but I haven't attempted them yet. In our Japanese course, all the texts are written Western-style, which makes them easier to decipher.
Right now I am learning Japanese, with my daughter. A friend brought her some books to read, but I haven't attempted them yet. In our Japanese course, all the texts are written Western-style, which makes them easier to decipher.
Jeannette wrote: "When I was taking grad-level German courses, I was definitely looking up words in the books we read for class. I think there is a mix; some words are important to the sentence and must be looked u..."My students are always flabbergasted when I tell them that I actually do not know every vocabulary word when I read a book in German. And, then I ask them wether they know or are familiar with ever English word in every English language book they have ever read (they usually answer "no" which goes a long way for them to realise not only that they do not have to know the meanings of every single word, but that not knowing a word in a foreign language does not mean that you are not capable in said language, some words have to be looked up, you might want to look some words up, but you do not always "need" to look up every word you do not know).
I think students tend to believe that you are "supposed" to look up every word when you are learning a language! It can drive you crazy trying to do this.
On the other hand, it does help build your vocabulary.
On the other hand, it does help build your vocabulary.
Jeannette wrote: "I think students tend to believe that you are "supposed" to look up every word when you are learning a language! It can drive you crazy trying to do this.On the other hand, it does help build yo..."
But, it can also make you hate learning a new language, it's a double edged sword.
Gundula, I am ONLY speaking of myself here. This is my opinion of me and my experience and no one else. :)
I think when you are a beginner, looking up words is an adventure. Now that I use German, I don't feel like looking up words anymore, so I don't try reading German texts (effort vs. discovery). I considered reading Breakfast at Tiffany's last month in German, and I could have muddled through on context, but to really get the flavor I knew I should look up some of the adjectives. I opted for reading it in English! (That's my lazy side.) I have noticed that my vocabulary is slipping -- I've been back in the States for 18 years, and was only in Germany for 2! Lucky I talk with my in-laws every week.
I think when you are a beginner, looking up words is an adventure. Now that I use German, I don't feel like looking up words anymore, so I don't try reading German texts (effort vs. discovery). I considered reading Breakfast at Tiffany's last month in German, and I could have muddled through on context, but to really get the flavor I knew I should look up some of the adjectives. I opted for reading it in English! (That's my lazy side.) I have noticed that my vocabulary is slipping -- I've been back in the States for 18 years, and was only in Germany for 2! Lucky I talk with my in-laws every week.
Jeannette wrote: "I just started To Say Nothing of the Dog: or, How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last."Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lee wrote: "I'd love to join the To Say Nothing of the Dog re-read but I'm swamped with a zillion other library books and I'm barely reading. I'm feeling so guilty and keep watching movies. Mayb..."Yes, do so, especially any of them that are available on DVD ...
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Lee wrote: "Gundula, I'm getting them all from our library system so anything I see you can get as well!"Neat, thanks.
So, I watched one of my favourite movies last night, Beau Geste (the 1939 version, starring Gary Cooper), and I ended up staying up all night rereading Beau Geste. A bit dated perhaps, and certainly not always politically correct, but what a romp and adventure tale, I should have gone to bed, but I could not put the book down.
I will now start Spoon River Anthology. I need a breath of fresh air, having just finished I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust. Please do not misunderstand me, this book should be read by all. I, personally, would not classify it as a YA book! Here follows my GR review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Lee wrote: "I'd love to join the To Say Nothing of the Dog re-read but I'm swamped with a zillion other library books and I'm barely reading. I'm feeling so guilty and keep watching movies. Mayb..."Lee, I'm swamped with other books, including library books, too. I so wanted to read To Say Nothing of the Dog with Jeannette and you, and I wanted to read Spoon River Anthology with Chrissie. Maybe I will get them both out and just glance over them.
Kathy wrote: "Lee wrote: "I'd love to join the To Say Nothing of the Dog re-read but I'm swamped with a zillion other library books and I'm barely reading. I'm feeling so guilty and keep watching m..."
So, is nobody reading this right now?? Except for Darkpool, of course. Anybody else?
So, is nobody reading this right now?? Except for Darkpool, of course. Anybody else?
Jeannette wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Lee wrote: "I'd love to join the To Say Nothing of the Dog re-read but I'm swamped with a zillion other library books and I'm barely reading. I'm feeling so guilty and k..."Oh, now I really feel bad. I'm working on trying to fit it in. I'll get back to you on it.
I thought you had already read this one, Kathy. Don't feel bad; I didn't mean to do that to you!! *sorry*
I've only just started it, but I'll probably finish it anyway.... You can add to the discussion post whenever. Then I'll get back to Lord of the Rings! :D
I've only just started it, but I'll probably finish it anyway.... You can add to the discussion post whenever. Then I'll get back to Lord of the Rings! :D
Kathy, here is my problem. Yes, the poems are insightful, but I don't think it is wise to read poem afer poem.... I have read 1/2 of the book. Now if I pick up another book, and like it, I will not want to put it down. Robert Frost is about the only poet I can read without getting frustrated. Poems and short stories cannot be read BY me. Someone has to read them TO ME, a little at a time. I immensely enjoyed the reviews of Spoon River Anthology because I got one poem at a time. What do I do?
Jeannette wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Lee wrote: "I'd love to join the To Say Nothing of the Dog re-read but I'm swamped with a zillion other library books and I'm barely reading. I'm feeling so guilty and k..."I've read a few pages and hopefully will have some time to spend on the book this weekend. I got distracted with writing reviews for the Carl books and then I watched and read Beau Geste instead of reading To Say Nothing of the Dog (and, Cold Comfort Farm is waiting to be read as well). I promise, I will get to it.
Chrissie wrote: "Kathy, here is my problem. Yes, the poems are insightful, but I don't think it is wise to read poem afer poem.... I have read 1/2 of the book. Now if I pick up another book, and like it, I will not..."I love poetry, but for me, reading poem after poem is a sure way to give myself a headache and to get frustrated, an entire book of poetry, or rather, reading an entire book of poetry is a sure way to not enjoy poetry. I find reading one or two poems a night, and also, reading those poems you think you will enjoy, the best method (you don't have to read every single poem).
Gundula, well I don't know which peom I will like in this book until I have read them all.... I am sure you are right, so I have also started Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps. Read a bit at Amazon and you to will be hooked too! I wonder how many poems I will end up reading per day? Will I be forcing myself or sill they be fun? I am trying to like poetry.....
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, well I don't know which peom I will like in this book until I have read them all.... I am sure you are right, so I have also started [book:Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps|23923..."I always find that with poetry, if you have to force yourself to read the poems, it is better to stop or to read fewer, otherwise, at least for me, I end up not liking the poems. Although I love poetry, I really have to be in the mood to read it. And, I'm going to check out "Local Wonders"
Gundula, the author of Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps is a poet, but the book is not poems. I love how he expresses himself!!! It is not about Bohemia, but about where he lives in southeastern Nebraska. This area was settled by many Bohemians and Germans. You read this book simply for the gorgeous writing! Mwah, I love it!
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, the author of Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps is a poet, but the book is not poems. I love how he expresses himself!!! It is not about Bohemia, but about where he..."I just added it, it does look wonderful. And, I love gorgeous writing and descriptions. Thanks for the suggestion.
Chrissie wrote: "Laura, The Invisible Bridge is wonderful!!!"yes indeed, it's hard to stop reading. It was a gift from dear friend Lee, based in your review.
Ted Kooser was the United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004 - 2006. He was born in Ames, Iowa (where I live now) and graduated from Iowa State (where my daughter will study).
My daughter read one of his poems last year at a poetry contest.
Abandoned Farmhouse
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archi...
My daughter read one of his poems last year at a poetry contest.
Abandoned Farmhouse
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archi...
Chrissie wrote: "Poems and short stories cannot be read BY me. Someone has to read them TO ME..."I so get that, with the poems at least. When I'm reading poetry (which I admit is not often) I find I have to say the words aloud. I need to actually feel the shapes they make in my mouth to get the full enjoyment of them - a bit like eating something, and also I have to appreciate the sounds aurally, not just with the reading bit of my brain. (nope, I don't have an analogy for that!)
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Comfort Reads
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I have seen in the interim that you left tons of comments on the pics. I love hearing about Jenny!