Books on the Nightstand discussion
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What are you currently reading?
I just finished The Confederate General Rides North by Amanda Gable. This author is on a publicity tour so try to catch her if you can. It takes place in the sixties when a mother and 11-year-old daughter take a trip so the mother can buy antiques for a shop she wants to open. The girl, Kat, is fascinated by the Civil War so she plans the itinerary so that she can visit battle fields. Interspersed is Kat's imaginary General's thoughts that increasingly mirror what's going on with the journey.
I just picked up "The Book Thief", as I was looking it over I realized that I've already read a book by Marcus Zusak "I Am the Messenger" that I picked up a few months ago and really, really enjoyed. So now I'm ready to go, once I finish "Skin" by Roald Dahl, anyway. I always forget how much I enjoy reading Dahl until I start reading something by him!
I just finished the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, titled The Lightning Thief. It is a YA title, and it was very fun and clever. If you like Greek Mythology, some fantasy and reading coming of age stories, this book is for you! I read this title in between the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse novels. They are quick, easy light reads, for fans of vampires.
I read this title in between the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse novels. They are quick, easy light reads, for fans of vampires. I love the Sookie books Scott. Particularly because Sookie is so believable and things often don't work out for her. Harris also wrote a series about a cleaning woman who somewhat unwillingly solves murder mysteries named Lily Bard (who herself had a cameo in a Sookie book.) No supernatural stuff but that is one of my favorite characters I've ever read. Surprisingly and enjoyably deep given the genre.
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I really liked the Percy Jackson books too. I just finished listening to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It was excellent!
I'm probably the last person in the group to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and I'm loving it. The beginning was a little slow going as I didn't care about the details of the financial conspiracy that opened the book (my intellectual curiosity does not extend to the subject of economics) and feared that's what the whole thing would be about. But once the story proper got going, I was hooked.
I just brought home three books from the library: THE HUNGER GAMES (by Suzanne Collins), THE HUNTER (by Richard STark) and, VAMPIRE$(by JOhn Steakley). But of course, the book that called out to me first was one I've had floating around the house for ages, THE ENGLISH PATIENT (by Michael Ondaatie!) I've only read a little more than the first third of it so far and it sorta reads like a turgid poem, very thick with imagery and damaged people.
Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was. I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient. I just hated the movie so much I haven't been able to stir up any interest in the books.
Chrisi'm a member of audible.com so i listen to at least 2 books a month.
Gotta agree THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by neil gaimen was a fun read
VAMPIRE$ is definitely next!
As for the movie, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, I remember seeing it when it first came out in 1996. My friend, Kristen, with whom I saw the movie quipped something to the effect that if it were even 10 minutes longer, it would have qualified as a Swedish film! I don't actually recall much of the movie itself except that I thought it was long and boring and that the "secret" of the movie was pretty strongly telegraphed at the beginning. The book, however, won the Man Booker one year, so I picked up a second-hand copy when I had the chance. Annoyingly, it has a still from the movie on the cover which I think makes many people think it's a romance novel or at the very least a chick-lit novel!
Vanessa wrote: "Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was.
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient. I just hated ..."
As for the movie, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, I remember seeing it when it first came out in 1996. My friend, Kristen, with whom I saw the movie quipped something to the effect that if it were even 10 minutes longer, it would have qualified as a Swedish film! I don't actually recall much of the movie itself except that I thought it was long and boring and that the "secret" of the movie was pretty strongly telegraphed at the beginning. The book, however, won the Man Booker one year, so I picked up a second-hand copy when I had the chance. Annoyingly, it has a still from the movie on the cover which I think makes many people think it's a romance novel or at the very least a chick-lit novel!
Vanessa wrote: "Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was.
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient. I just hated ..."
Vanessa wrote: "Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was.
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient. I just hated ..."
What is the title of The English Patient prequel? Maybe reading that will help me get through ...
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient. I just hated ..."
What is the title of The English Patient prequel? Maybe reading that will help me get through ...
I'm reading Serena by Ron Rash. Excellent! Very dark but will probably end up being one of my favorites of the year.
Mod
The prequel to THE ENGLISH PATIENT is called IN THE SKIN OF THE LION.
Suzanne wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was.
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient prequel? Maybe reading that will help me get through ... ..."
Suzanne wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "Ooooh, I have Vampire$ on my To Read list too Tanya. Let us know how it was.
I heard an author on NPR passionately recommending the book that was a prequel to The English Patient prequel? Maybe reading that will help me get through ... ..."
After an enjoyable read "Down River" by John Hart I took out his King of Lies book. Really good so far.
I finished THE ENGLISH PATIENT (by Michael Ondaatje) last night and now I've got VAMPIRE$ (by John Steakley) in hand! It's a change-up to be sure, but I need something campy right now!
I've put IN THE SKIN OF THE LION, the prequel to THE ENGLISH PATIENT, on hold at the library. I'm also interested in THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID. It seems I'm becoming more interested in poets who write novels than ex-cops and unemployed mothers who write stories :-)
I've put IN THE SKIN OF THE LION, the prequel to THE ENGLISH PATIENT, on hold at the library. I'm also interested in THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID. It seems I'm becoming more interested in poets who write novels than ex-cops and unemployed mothers who write stories :-)
Tanya wrote: " I finished THE ENGLISH PATIENT (by Michael Ondaatje) last night "You must have liked it then if you are now reading the prequel and more by Ondaatje is on your to do list. Did you happen to like the movie?
Conny, I loved INTO THIN AIR. I'll have to look that book up. The Russian climber (Anatoli Bookreev-I probably butchered his name) wrote a book called THE CLIMB about that same experience as well.
Currently reading The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, thanks to Ann's recommendation. Interesting and kinda scary so far. One of the quotes I found disturbing "People who read books tend to be dispensable. Extremely".
I just finished THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. It is crazy how good that book is. It loved it so much that it makes me sad the writer who envisioned these characters is no longer around.
Vanessa wrote:
You must have liked it then if you are now reading the prequel and more by Ondaatje is on your to do list. Did you happen to like the movie?"
Actually, no, I didn't like the movie! But perhaps I wasn't sophisticated enough to appreciate it. I might appreciate it more now, now that I've read the book; but then again I'd probably be annoyed at the film's limitations. Also, I've come to absolutely loathe Ralph Fiennes after he butchered one of my favorite plays on Broadway a few years ago (So I'm not particularly inclined to rent anything he's in.)
You must have liked it then if you are now reading the prequel and more by Ondaatje is on your to do list. Did you happen to like the movie?"
Actually, no, I didn't like the movie! But perhaps I wasn't sophisticated enough to appreciate it. I might appreciate it more now, now that I've read the book; but then again I'd probably be annoyed at the film's limitations. Also, I've come to absolutely loathe Ralph Fiennes after he butchered one of my favorite plays on Broadway a few years ago (So I'm not particularly inclined to rent anything he's in.)
Vanessa wrote: "I just finished THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. It is crazy how good that book is. It loved it so much that it makes me sad the writer who envisioned these characters is no longer around. "I'm reading this book too and am continually saddened by the fact that we won't have anymore books from him other than these three. I've gotten the first two already. I'm sure to buy the third one as soon as it's out.
Mod
Eric wrote: "Started Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo a couple days ago. I was not sure what i was getting into. the book looks huge and after reading the jacket i wasnt sure this was the book for me. WOW was ..."EMPIRE FALLS is wonderful and won a Pulitzer. I just finished BRIDGE OF SIGHS also, great book. Am thinking about GIRL W/DRAGON TATTOO as so many people are raving about it.
Tanya wrote: "Vanessa wrote: You must have liked it then if you are now reading the prequel and more by Ondaatje is on your to do list. Did you happen to like the movie?"
Actually, no, I didn't like the movie!..."
What Broadway play did Fiennes butcher? I usually love him. . .
I just got finished with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was a very enjoyable read and now have started How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper.
Mod
Kathy wrote: "What Broadway play did Fiennes butcher? I usually love him. . . ."
The play was Brian Friel's THE FAITH HEALER. I saw this play in Galway, Ireland nearly twenty years ago and it has remained one of my favorite plays ever since. It inherits the legacy of Irish storytelling at its best. As such, there is not a lot of action on the set and so the play relies on the skills of the actors to paint the world for the audience. RF may be many things, but he is not a storyteller. He appeared onstage and, in a shamefully self-indulgent manner, proceeded to report the narrative, stabbing the air with the words as if he were wielding weapons. The beauty and the lyricism of the play were nowhere in evidence. I almost wept with frustration. Ever since, I haven't been able to watch RF in films without viscerally reacting to his delivery of lines.
I see that THE FAITH HEALER is currently playing at the Edinburgh Drama Festival this year! There are four Brian Friel plays being run {Big Sigh of Longing!]
The play was Brian Friel's THE FAITH HEALER. I saw this play in Galway, Ireland nearly twenty years ago and it has remained one of my favorite plays ever since. It inherits the legacy of Irish storytelling at its best. As such, there is not a lot of action on the set and so the play relies on the skills of the actors to paint the world for the audience. RF may be many things, but he is not a storyteller. He appeared onstage and, in a shamefully self-indulgent manner, proceeded to report the narrative, stabbing the air with the words as if he were wielding weapons. The beauty and the lyricism of the play were nowhere in evidence. I almost wept with frustration. Ever since, I haven't been able to watch RF in films without viscerally reacting to his delivery of lines.
I see that THE FAITH HEALER is currently playing at the Edinburgh Drama Festival this year! There are four Brian Friel plays being run {Big Sigh of Longing!]
I finished THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (by Steig Larsson; narrated by Simon Vance) this morning. It took me awhile because I had to interrupt my listening to to get in another audiobook (THE CROSSROADS by Chris Grabenstein; narrated by J.J, Meyers) for an online group discussion.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE: Wow!I loved it even more than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It just doesn't get much better than this. Action, character development, good story. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
As for THE CROSSROADS, I had mixed feelings about it. It's targeted to Young Readers (ages 9-12) so I'm out of range; but the violence, agenda of infanticide and, the mother's hatred for her son disturbed me. On the plus side, J.J. Meyers' narration was good: her character delineation was great and she clearly had fun with it!
I've just started listening to I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU) (narrated by the author, Stephen Colbert.) Much of Colbert's humor lies in being able to see him, his raised eyebrow, in conjunction with what he's saying. I was hoping this would be an adaptation like John Stewart's AMERICA (The Audiobook) but I AM AMERICA suffers by comparison. It's short though, so I probably finish it off and move on.
I'm still in the beginning stages of reading (in print) VAMPIRE$ (by John Steakley.) It's very campy and full of typos. I was eager to read it it, but now I'm not sure I'll continue with it. It's a little too adolescent in its style.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE: Wow!I loved it even more than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It just doesn't get much better than this. Action, character development, good story. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
As for THE CROSSROADS, I had mixed feelings about it. It's targeted to Young Readers (ages 9-12) so I'm out of range; but the violence, agenda of infanticide and, the mother's hatred for her son disturbed me. On the plus side, J.J. Meyers' narration was good: her character delineation was great and she clearly had fun with it!
I've just started listening to I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU) (narrated by the author, Stephen Colbert.) Much of Colbert's humor lies in being able to see him, his raised eyebrow, in conjunction with what he's saying. I was hoping this would be an adaptation like John Stewart's AMERICA (The Audiobook) but I AM AMERICA suffers by comparison. It's short though, so I probably finish it off and move on.
I'm still in the beginning stages of reading (in print) VAMPIRE$ (by John Steakley.) It's very campy and full of typos. I was eager to read it it, but now I'm not sure I'll continue with it. It's a little too adolescent in its style.
Is there any word on when The Girl Who Played with Fire will be out in paperback? I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I can't justify the expense of a hardback. I just started Atmospheric Disturbances. It is a bit quirky, but enjoyable.
Melissa wrote: "Is there any word on when The Girl Who Played with Fire will be out in paperback? I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I can't justify the expense of a hardback. I just started Atmospheric ..."
I got The Girl Who Played with Fire from the library (lucked out on the waiting list!) but I have to say that it would be worth the purchase price, hardcover or paperback.
I got The Girl Who Played with Fire from the library (lucked out on the waiting list!) but I have to say that it would be worth the purchase price, hardcover or paperback.
Mod
Kathy wrote: "Am thinking about GIRL W/DRAGON TATTOO as so many people are raving about it."Kathy, I so loved that book. The beginning opens with story about some financial flim flammery which traditionally does not interest me. Stick with it though as it changes into a murder mystery. I have Russo on my to read list. Maybe EMPIRE FALLS. I have wanted to read him ever since I read Jennifer Finney Boylan's memoir SHE'S NOT THERE where she talks about Russo being her colleague at the school they teach at.
Thank you, Ann. It is already on my Christmas list!
Well, I totally bailed out on VAMPIRE$ (by John Steakley.) It was getting more stupid by the page :-(
Even though I put a bunch of books on hold at the library and picked some up last week, ORYX AND CRAKE (by Margaret Atwood) is really calling out to me. At The Bookladysblog, she reviewed it recently in anticipation of the parallel story to be released this fall, THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD. I've just started bit but I'm really liking it so far. It reminds me somewhat of early William Gibson in style.
Even though I put a bunch of books on hold at the library and picked some up last week, ORYX AND CRAKE (by Margaret Atwood) is really calling out to me. At The Bookladysblog, she reviewed it recently in anticipation of the parallel story to be released this fall, THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD. I've just started bit but I'm really liking it so far. It reminds me somewhat of early William Gibson in style.
Tanya wrote: "Well, I totally bailed out on VAMPIRE$ (by John Steakley.) It was getting more stupid by the page :-( "Well, thanks for taking the literary bullet. I had heard the book was way different from the movie (I really liked the movie.) I probably will skip this read then. I've also heard the book CHILDREN OF MEN was far inferior to the movie.
I just started reading Slumberland by Paul Beatty
Just finished How to Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper who I adore and now have started The Alienist by Caleb Carr which I think I picked up as a recommendation from Ann and Michael a while ago. On Chapter 3 now and it definitely has me hooked.
By the way, I have The Girl Who Played With Fire on my nightstand but I am so looking forward to reading it that I want to wait until I have more time so I can spend a day with nothing else to do except relax with the book and a glass of wine...does anybody else do that or am I the only weird one??
Shona wrote: "By the way, I have The Girl Who Played With Fire on my nightstand but I am so looking forward to reading it that I want to wait until I have more time so I can spend a day with nothing else to do e..."Not weird. That's my favorite way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. After cleaning Sat morning nothing is better than to relax and transport myself to another place and time.
I'm reading the Hunger Games and so far its wonderful. I also just finished What I Thought I Knew which was also a great read!
Shona, that's not weird at all. As a matter of fact, like Toni, I enjoy sitting with my dog and like Rita, I clean in the morning so I can relax guilt free.As a matter of fact, this is my plan for Saturday while there's a tropical storm outside. :)
I just started Little Bee by Chris Cleave. So far it is very good, though I wonder about a white man writing in the voice of a young Nigerian girl.
Gavin wrote: "I just started Little Bee by Chris Cleave. So far it is very good, though I wonder about a white man writing in the voice of a young Nigerian girl."
In my opinion he did a good job. I just read it last week.
In my opinion he did a good job. I just read it last week.
Toni wrote: "Nope. You're not weird at all. When people at work ask me what I did over the weekend, I usually respond with glee: "Nothing!" My favorite days are spent curled up on the couch with a good book and..."I couldn't agree more. Nice days are spent on the deck reading with the dogs keeping an eye on their domain. Not so nice days are spent inside -- with a roaring (real) fire in the fireplace in the winter. It just don't get any better than that.
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Conny wrote: "I started readingLittle Girls in Pretty Boxes The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters, and find it very well written and interesting. It is not for the first time..."As the mom of a competitive gymnast, I must read this book.
Shona wrote: "I just got finished with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was a very enjoyable read and now have started How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper."Guernsey is one of my new favorites. An equally enjoyable read is 84, Charring Cross Road. The two books have a similar feel. I'm not really sure what it is, but the two books just seem to fit.
Just finished Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill. It was mentioned somewhere on this list. It was ssssssssoooooooooooooo good!! Thanks to whoever recommended it.
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Books on the Nightstand
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...might try that, I do know some French, thanks!