What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 7,101-7,150 of 13,523

[K.Z.]

It was Shirley Jackson's classic We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I found for that price, Kari. I mean, YIKES! It's hardly a new release.

[Sarah]

This is $12.99 on Omnilit atm. No kindle version that I can find in the UK, the paperback isn't out until June, and the hardback is over £12...

The Tempering of Men

So I'll probably go with using the discount code you can get with Omnilit every 10 books - I'll get to that point well before June!

[Kari]

K.Z. wrote: "It was Shirley Jackson's classic We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I found for that price, Kari. I mean, YIKES! It's hardly a new release."

Ace's book isn't very old. I'd call it a NR, but the KISS one I bought at $9.99 was pubbed in 2007, I believe. A lot of mainstream book prices are in that price range, at least the ones I remember looking at. The KISS book I bought for my Kindle would've been $3 cheaper if I'd gotten it in paperback. No kidding.

It's just an example of how mainstream publishers don't understand the digital market or the migration of readers TO digital & how the publishers are trying their damndest to squash that migration. *sigh*

[Tracy]

I'm listening to the 1st grader read out of his school book to me. This week's selection is about bees. I have just been compared to a worker bee (unclear whether it's a "Hey! Worker bees are girls! You're a girl!" comparison or a comparison with the "This is where the good flowers are" dance that bees do. If it's the latter, I'm not sure I'm flattered....)

[Mtsnow13]

Christopher wrote: "Another series I'm currently re-reading are the Deputy Joe novels by James Buchanan.

They're great. Another one of those books with characters that get under your skin and make you think about th..."

I agree Chris! I want another book in that series.. It was great, and the way the author was respectful with the religion, but allowing Joe his dignity and own belief system that worked for him. Having lived in Salt Lake for 3 years, I definitely understood the culture.

[Reggie]

Mtsnow13 wrote: "Christopher wrote: "Another series I'm currently re-reading are the Deputy Joe novels by James Buchanan.

I want another book in that series..."

FYI, James was interviewed @ Wave's over a year ago. He said then, that he was working on books 2 and 3 in this series.

Here is the link-
www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2010/10/27...

[Becky]

Sarah wrote: "This is $12.99 on Omnilit atm. No kindle version that I can find in the UK, the paperback isn't out until June, and the hardback is over £12...

The Tempering of Men

So I'll probabl..."

I think the ARe/Omnilit freebie code only applies to books $10 and under. I don't know if they'd let you use it and pay the difference or if it just won't work with a more expensive book.

[Anne]

Home sick and reading Irregulars Such a delightful read and the world building is quite original and amazing.

I have finished Nicole and Josh's stories. Nicole is a new aquaintance for me, but I certainly will look for more, a gorgeous story, complete with cannibals and cooking ;). Green Glass Beads is lovely and I adore Archer. And the one sex scene, so poetic and beautiful and of course absolutely right for the story. Just the way I like them to be.

I am sure the next stories will be great as well.

Thanks to all the authors for giving the readers such lovely work.

[Charming]

K.Z. wrote: "It was Shirley Jackson's classic We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I found for that price, Kari. I mean, YIKES! It's hardly a new release."

Ugh. I listen to audiobooks, so for crazy-priced books,if there is an audiobook version, I get that. At least there is some value added and not just gouging. Otherwise I'll try the library.

[Johanna]

Tracy wrote: "I'm listening to the 1st grader read out of his school book to me. This week's selection is about bees. I have just been compared to a worker bee (unclear whether it's a "Hey! Worker bees are girls..."

LOL! :)

[Josh]

Tracy wrote: "I'm listening to the 1st grader read out of his school book to me. This week's selection is about bees. I have just been compared to a worker bee (unclear whether it's a "Hey! Worker bees are girls..."

I'm sure it was intended as a compliment!

:-D

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Home sick and reading Irregulars Such a delightful read and the world building is quite original and amazing.

I have finished Nicole and Josh's stories. Nicole is a new aquaintance..."

Thank you so much, Anne!

[Tracy]

Josh wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I'm listening to the 1st grader read out of his school book to me. This week's selection is about bees. I have just been compared to a worker bee (unclear whether it's a "Hey! Worker ..."

I tend to try to take anything he says as a compliment if it's remotely possible. This is sometimes hard, though; he'll say stuff like "I really like this dinner, Mommy!" while eating fewer than half a dozen bites and claiming to be full. Usually something that I've been cooking for *ages*...

Also, the bee story reminds me of a book my mom had when I was a kid; can't remember what it was called, but at least part of it was about bees. I think the kids would like it, but I can't remember the title. And for the life of me, I can't remember if it's one that I have, or if it's still in Mom's attic or what. My boys both seem to be gravitating more toward nonfiction books lately; I've been explaining concepts like "carrion-eater" and various types of reproduction to them. (Luckily at the 6-8YO level, that's mostly along the lines of "Mammals' babies grow in the mommy's belly, just like you did, and other kinds of animals lay eggs." Incidentally, I am VERY glad I'm not a kangaroo. They can have babies in their pouches in 2 different developmental stages, with a 3rd in utero. The things you learn...)

[Josh]

I am VERY glad I'm not a kangaroo. They can have babies in their pouches in 2 different developmental stages, with a 3rd in utero. The things you learn...)


And if you read that in a SF book you'd be scoffing thinking no species could evolve with such an impractical method of reproduction!

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Home sick and reading Irregulars Such a delightful read and the world building is quite original and amazing.

I have finished Nicole and Josh's stories. Nicole is a ne..."

I forgot to mention the humour. Demon and elf (half-elf at least) poetry and humour, magic and mystery, what more can a girl wish for! :)

[Johanna]

Tracy wrote: "My boys both seem to be gravitating more toward nonfiction books lately; I've been explaining concepts like "carrion-eater" and various types of reproduction to them. (Luckily at the 6-8YO level, that's mostly along the lines of "Mammals' babies grow in the mommy's belly, just like you did, and other kinds of animals lay eggs." Incidentally, I am VERY glad I'm not a kangaroo. They can have babies in their pouches in 2 different developmental stages, with a 3rd in utero. The things you learn...)"

LOL again! :) The stuff you learn from your kids AND from your fellow Goodreads-ers (definitely not a word, I know)! The fact about kangaroos is downright scary!

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "I forgot to mention the humour. Demon and elf (half-elf at least) poetry and humour, magic and mystery, what more can a girl wish for! :)
..."

Oh good. Thank you!

[Tracy]

Josh wrote: "I am VERY glad I'm not a kangaroo. They can have babies in their pouches in 2 different developmental stages, with a 3rd in utero. The things you learn...)


And if you read that in a SF book you'..."

Ain't that the truth! Honestly, though, kangaroo reproduction is quite interesting. Most of the gestation period actually takes place *after* the "birth," in the pouch. And information like this is how I justify to myself and others the fact that my kids don't really get birthday presents (magazine subscriptions from myself and my mom are their birthday presents -- the boys get Ranger Rick/Your Big Backyard from me, and Spider/Click from Mom. DD gets Cricket and Muse. We are doing our part to foster literacy and lifelong love of learning. Also, apparently, alliteration. :D)

[k_b]

Finished reading Bonds of Earth. A bit angsty, but considering it was set around World War I, the angst only makes it more realistic. I'm going to keep an eye out for future books by this author.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

I have a day off tomorrow and I'm going to read The Charioteer finally.

Re: the Deputy Joe series. I read only the first one and I liked it very much. As Mtsnow13 said, I appreciated the way he was able to deal with Joe's faith without stripping him of it. It was a very intense book.

[Anne]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I have a day off tomorrow and I'm going to read The Charioteer finally.

Re: the Deputy Joe series. I read only the first one and I liked it very much. As Mtsnow13 said, I appreciat..."

Enjoy the Charioteer, one of the best books I have read recently. A little bit "old-fashioned" compared to contemporary books (which adds to it overall charm in my opinion), but heartbreaking and beautiful and with much food for thought.

[Josh]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I have a day off tomorrow and I'm going to read The Charioteer finally.

..."

You'll have to share your thoughts!

[Josh]

Sprite123 wrote: "Finished reading Bonds of Earth. A bit angsty, but considering it was set around World War I, the angst only makes it more realistic. I'm going to keep an eye out for future books b..."

I'm always interested in books on World War I. Was this romance or--?

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Enjoy the Charioteer, one of the best books I have read recently. A little bit "old-fashioned" compared to contemporary books (which adds to it overall charm in my opinion), but heartbreaking and beautiful and with much food for thought.
..."

I read it in college and for me it really was a life changing book.

[k_b]

Definitely a romance. But now that I think it about it, it's not exactly about World War I... it's set a year after the war ended, and both of the main characters suffer from PTSD, but it's not actually set during the war. There's flashbacks, but that's about it. Sorry if my post was misleading in any way. :P

[Candice]

Christopher wrote: "Candice wrote: "Actually, Christopher, every one of those movies--and I really enjoyed them (not the remake)--I vainly hoped for and dreamed up a m/m subplot. It's high time, isn't it? "

Ironicall..."

I forgot! That's how bad the film was!

[Candice]

Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "I recently re-purchased Snowball... because I had read that he wd be coming out with a sequel. I'm glad you mentioned it, as I couldn't remember it and your comments give me the imp..."

Alright. Sounds hopeful.

Doing 2 years of taxes? Are you kidding? Other peoples' maybe? Are you--or were you an accountant? Okay. At this moment I feel stupid coming over me. It's a feeling I'm fairly familiar with so, I'm pretty sure...What are you doing again?

Nevermind; I have something else. Japanese internment--Have you seen King Rat? The book was one thing, but the author seemed to maintain a careful distance. The movie, was terrific. There is an unmistakable plutonic but powerful love marriage that occurs between the two main characters, Pete and the King. I still love that movie. If you haven't seen, be sure to.

[Candice]

Am almost finished w/The Irregulars. Was that worth the price or what? I haven't enjoyed a collection that good since I don't know when.

I thought Amara's story was one of her better short stories. But there was so much potential for scope there, I felt it would have benefited fm a longer treatment. Anybody else?

I hope her "Archer's Heart" isn't the last full-length novel that she does.

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "I read it in college and for me it really was a life changing book"

I believe the books we read when young are the ones with the greatest impact. I am not sure if I can pinpoint books that were life changing for me in a major way, but books that changed the way I looked upon certain things, gave me some new insight and perhaps a little wisdom. I was young in the seventies, so some books about women's lib, like Marilyn French and Marge Piercy (to name some US writers), James Baldwin, a couple of Germans, some Norwegians, John Steinbeck - East of Eden is still one of my all time favorites. I gave some of these books to my son when he finally started to get interested in reading around 17-18 of age. He fell in love with Steinbeck :)

Sorry, this is probably major off topic.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Anne wrote: "Sorry, this is probably major off topic."

No no no, it's probably closer to "What have you read?" but it inspires book reading as the rest of the thread. I think. :)

I read the first two chapters of The Charioteer last night.

The first chapter is incredibly beautiful and I took a tons of notes because I think it weaves a few threads that I'll find again later (like the waste basket in the second chapter, for example). It's very unsettling though. The author is giving us Laurie's POV and she stays very close to him, through his anguish, and when Laurie hears his dad's footsteps and follows him into his room, we're suddenly out of Laurie's mind and into the cold reality, seeing what's happening from the outside. It adds to the dramatic moment of Laurie's parents confrontation.

The second chapter was a bit confusing, because I think I completely miss all the reference. I am not very familiar with the concept of House, even if I have a vague idea, and there's a lot that's not told, but that's common knowledge for all the young men involved. The tension between Laurie and Lanyon, what they say, what they don't, what they mean, is frustrating, but the contrast between Laurie's idealism and Lanyon's concrete attitude, with Laurie changing is mind, develops slowly but naturally.

I have the impression Mary Renault is making me walk around the characters.

Please tell me when I've completely bored you, thank you :D

[Anne]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Anne wrote: "Sorry, this is probably major off topic."

No no no, it's probably closer to "What have you read?" but it inspires book reading as the rest of the thread. I think. :)

I read the first..."

You haven't bored me yet :). There are some references to Houses and the English Public School system that is a little difficult to understand since you probably have to be an English upper class person (also male) to get it completely, so I agree it was a little confusing at first to understand what happened. It gets easier later though.

I had to stop several times during reading and think and sometimes also reread sentences to really understand what she was saying, it is a book that needs a little work. But that is part of what I enjoyed so much.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Anne wrote: "I had to stop several times during reading and think and sometimes also reread sentences to really understand what she was saying, it is a book that needs a little work. But that is part of what I enjoyed so much."

I like working with the book. It's a bit like learning a language, your understanding improves with exposure :)

I'm educating myself about conchies. I had to google it, I had a vague idea because I had read the blurb, but wasn't sure :)

As always, when I start researching a little thing, I discover tons of infos I didn't know. I know my country's side of the war, it's always interesting learning the other sides.

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "...John Steinbeck - East of Eden is still one of my all time favorites. I gave some of these books to my son when he finally started to get interested in reading around 17-18 of age. He fell in love with Steinbeck :)"

Your post made me think about my life changing books and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath was definitely one of those for me. I was already in university when I read it for the first time. I haven't read Steinbeck for a while, but last summer I picked up The Wayward Bus and was again swept away with his sharp-eyed narration and wonderful characters! He fully speaks my language although our mother tongue is not the same. :)

[Johanna]

Emanuela wrote: "... I have the impression Mary Renault is making me walk around the characters.

Please tell me when I've completely bored you, thank you :D"

Please, go on! It sounds so interesting! :) And yes, I too like it, when a book makes me work for it and really make an effort to understand. ;)

[Reggie]

SOS-- I need some help!
I'm taking a warm&Cozy home birthing class this weekend (I know {shudder shudder}), but I'm supposed to bring some "inspirational poetry" to the class for sharing on Sunday. I have NO IDEA what to do!

I looked at that poetry site that Nichole quoted from but the top poems were kind of downers. It doesn't have to be long... If any one has any ideas... I Thank YOU MUCHO MUCHO MUCH!

ps. No one in the class is preg, it's an educational class for Labor/delivery partnering. I'm an RN, it'll be fun! =D

[Jordan]

Oh God... the only poetry I know is sad and depressing.

Have you tried looking at the Chicken Soup for the soul books? I know there are a lot of short stories and essays, but there might be some poems in there too.

Or what about going completely random and picking Dr. Seuss? lol. I know he's not strictly poetry, but what the hey, you're not getting graded on it, right?

Or maybe a quote from a romance novel that's poetry? I always think of this line from The Phoenix
"Without the sanction of society
Without the sanction of the church
Without the sanction of God
I love you"

It's not really poetry, but it's so beautiful and comforting at the same time. I love it.

Uh, hope that helps a little!

[Johanna]

Reggie wrote: "SOS-- I need some help!
I'm taking a warm&Cozy home birthing class this weekend (I know {shudder shudder}), but I'm supposed to bring some "inspirational poetry" to the class for sharing on Sunday..."

I adore poetry, but the thing is that for me it's sometimes quite difficult to understand it in English. So, Jordan's thought about Dr. Seuss sounds good to me - him I do understand! LOL.

And I don't know why I keep thinking about some of the love poems from W. H. Auden? Maybe from the book Tell Me the Truth About Love?

[Johanna]

Or maybe this one from Shakespeare? It's provably inspirational. *grin*

"Come unto these yellow sands,
And then take hands.
Curtsied when you have and kissed
The wild waves whist,
Foot is featly here and there;
And, sweet sprites, the burden bear."

- The Tempest, Ariel's song, scene II, Act I -

[Tracy]

Reggie wrote: "SOS-- I need some help!
I'm taking a warm&Cozy home birthing class this weekend (I know {shudder shudder}), but I'm supposed to bring some "inspirational poetry" to the class for sharing on Sunday..."

All I can think of offhand is whimsical stuff about kids and critters of various types. I don't know about inspirational, but it lifts my spirits a bit.

[Christopher]

Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth,
And spotted the perils beneath,
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth.

I wish I'd been that much more willin'
When I had more tooth there than fillin'
To pass up gobstoppers,
From respect to me choppers
And to buy something else with me shillin'.

When I think of the lollies I licked,
And the liquorice allsorts I picked,
Sherbet dabs, big and little,
All that hard peanut brittle,
My conscience gets horribly pricked.

My Mother, she told me no end,
"If you got a tooth, you got a friend"
I was young then, and careless,
My toothbrush was hairless,
I never had much time to spend.

Oh I showed them the toothpaste all right,
I flashed it about late at night,
But up-and-down brushin'
And pokin' and fussin'
Didn't seem worth the time... I could bite!

If I'd known I was paving the way,
To cavities, caps and decay,
The murder of fiIlin's
Injections and drillin's
I'd have thrown all me sherbet away.

So I lay in the old dentist's chair,
And I gaze up his nose in despair,
And his drill it do whine,
In these molars of mine,
"Two amalgum," he'll say, "for in there."

How I laughed at my Mother's false teeth,
As they foamed in the waters beneath,
But now comes the reckonin'
It's me they are beckonin'
Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth.

by Pam Ayres

[Sara]

Christopher wrote: "Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth,
And spotted the perils beneath,
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth.

I wish I'd been that much more wi..."

Lol, you're so classy :-D

[Jordan]

I hate to say it, Chris, but that poem says it all. OMG, that made me laugh. It's just so true. I can't look at candy now without my teeth making themselves known. And it kills when I really crave sugar. At least they're all real... for now. lol.

[Reggie]

Ok, thanks all! I'm in a town with actual BOOKSHOPS! So, I'll stop by one tonight and review my Dr Sues. Here I befrend. Bunch of writer/ readers and the best they cam do is Dr Suess. ( shakes head). I don't feel like such a barbarian now! :). Although, I just choked on my lunch
ch as I was caught off guard by Chris' contribution. I Love it!! LBut these ladies are quite serious here, I don't think they would appreciate it enough!
Any class that requires pillows, a blanket and massages, is my kind of class!
Thanks all!

[Anne]

I just finished Annabel which is not a romance or m/m but a wonderful and beautifully written book about gender and identity. Absolutely recommended.

[Pender]

How about some old fashioned nursery rhymes? I wouldn't say they're inspirational, but people might have an "I-remember-that-one" moment.

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath Day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

or

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That's what little boys are made of!"
What are little girls made of?
"Sugar and spice and all things nice
That's what little girls are made of!"

or

Not last night, but the night before,
Three old tomcats knocking at the door
One had whiskey, one had rum
And one had a pancake stuck to his bum

[Reggie]

Very cute. Thanks so much! It is safe and fun!!
8) Thanks all! Have a great weekend

[K.Z.]

I decided to take a break from fiction, so I'm now reading Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, a really absorbing (and often funny) chronicle of the 2008 U.S. presidential race.

The drama reminds me a lot of the m/m romance genre. :-)

[Pender]

I just bought this western. (It's been called cowboy noir). It's got good reviews and a Governor General award, but it was the cover that caught my interest.

[Kari]

K.Z. wrote: "The drama reminds me a lot of the m/m romance genre. :-)"

Oh good lord. O.O

LOL

[Cleon Lee]

Kari wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "The drama reminds me a lot of the m/m romance genre. :-)"

Oh good lord. O.O

LOL"

Well, now we know where M/M genre got their inspiration from. lol.