Books on the Nightstand discussion
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What are you currently reading?
Linda,I love Sedaris. I've heard him speak a few times and his stories are even funnier orally than on the written page. Enjoy!
Just finished Crossing to Safety. Still trying to digest it all. I think I liked it . . . Started The Ghosts of Belfast this morning. So far so good!
I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It's a book that I don't think I would have read on my own, but it was recommended to me by a friend. Now I have to go thank them right away!It's such a gripping, breathtaking story about the struggles of the family of a Baptist missionary in the Belgian Congo. The narration rotates frequently between each of the four children, and give a unique perspective on each of their viewpoints and motivations.
And now I voted on the main BOTN page for Ann to read this book. It went straight to the head of my reading backlog, and I think it should for you too!
I just finished reading Beastly I really enjoyed it but I think it would have been better if the characters had been a little older. I'm still working on the Cantebury Tales. When I started Beastly I couldn't put it down to read the other one. lol
John wrote: "I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It's a book that I don't think I would have read on my own, but it was recommended to me by a friend. Now I have to go than..."I think you just convinced me to make the Poisonwood Bible next after Lost City of Z. Thanks for the rec!
I haven't updated in a while...books I recently read or am currently:The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon - which I enjoyed and would be interested in more info on what is revealed in the last chapter
Waiting for Columbus- which I didn't finish and I feel kind of bad about, but hope to come back to it later. I didn't feel like I was in the right frame of mind for it.
Lark and Termite- still working on this one. I read it during my lunch at work.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society- finally reading this!
Just finished The November Criminals
2.5 Stars reviewed here: www.braincandybookreviews.wordpress.com
I finished reading Beating the Babushka: A Cape Weathers Investigation (second in the series by Tim Maleeny.) The Cape Weathers series is about a San Francisco detective (Cape Weathers) with a kind of J.A. Konrath sense of humor who takes on cases with the assistance of a Triad-trained female Ninja. The first book in the series, Stealing the Dragon, starts off with a dream of something that happens in the second book, which makes me wonder how these books were edited. The good news is that tonight I can ask as the author is appearing locally at a bookstore!
The first book carried the backstory of Sally, the aforementioned Ninja, juxtaposed against a current story of the pursuit of an ancient Oriental artifact and involves tongs and the Triad. The second title deals with the unexpected demise of a movie producer and though the Triad and the Mob play their roles, the focus is on the Russian Mafia. Taken together, these two novels are better than the books individually. I'm actually very curious to see what GREASING THE PINATA (the third in the series) has to offer, but that may have to wait a little while.
I am about to start The Lady and the Unicorn (by Tracy Chevalier.)
The first book carried the backstory of Sally, the aforementioned Ninja, juxtaposed against a current story of the pursuit of an ancient Oriental artifact and involves tongs and the Triad. The second title deals with the unexpected demise of a movie producer and though the Triad and the Mob play their roles, the focus is on the Russian Mafia. Taken together, these two novels are better than the books individually. I'm actually very curious to see what GREASING THE PINATA (the third in the series) has to offer, but that may have to wait a little while.
I am about to start The Lady and the Unicorn (by Tracy Chevalier.)
I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The 13th Tale, both of which I really enjoyed. I have just started Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson which thus far is wonderful. Hoping for some quiet reading time this weekend.
John wrote: "I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It's a book that I don't think I would have read on my own, but it was recommended to me by a friend. Now I have to go than..." John-this book has been sitting on my "to read" shelf for quite some time. I think I will read this summer. Maybe Ann and I will be reading it this summer!
Just finished "Tinkers," based on the glowing review on the podcast a few weeks back! Lyrical, beautiful writing, although I was lukewarm on the story. I need to digest it a bit more, and maybe go back to certain scenes. I read it a lot at night, and for me, it's definitely a book to be read during daylight!Started McEwan's "Solar" this morning and we'll see where this takes me. I have heard such hot and cold opinions about this. I feel like I've been in a reading slump as the books I've read as of late don't catch me. They're good, but I want to read that book that I want to stay in bed and read until it's done! The last one I read like that was "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Perhaps it's spring fever and I want to be outside more than in! :-)
Mod
Seriously, I find my reading lessens in the beginning days of warm spring weather, too. It's OK -- those perfect days are so fleeting that I think it's a fair trade.
I'm not sure SOLAR will give you the 'stay in bed and read' feeling (it didn't for me, and I liked the book), but if not, I do highly recommend THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer. That was a 'don't bother me, I'm reading' kind of book, for sure.
Tanya wrote: "I am about to start The Lady and the Unicorn (by Tracy Chevalier.) ."
I've been trying to work through some of my TBR stacks and finally decided on setting up a little mini-challenge for myself. I went to the goodreads Friends tab and compared the books that my sister has read and the books that I have (but not read.) There are about 12 books on the list and I'm hoping to finish them all before Labor Day. Frankenstein (by Mary Shelly,) Innocent Traitor (by Alison Weir) and The Lady and the Unicorn (by Tracy Chevalier) were the first three books I've tackled from the list. As for The Lady and the Unicorn, it's bawdier and less elegant the THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING; but interesting nonetheless in it's descriptions of how (the) tapestries are made. The relationships within the novel, engendered as much by intrigue as family ties, are as interwoven as the tapestries themselves and make for an amusing plot outline; but the overall story lacks a commitment to any of the characters on any more than a superficial level.
I'm now onto The Birth of Venus (by Sarah Dunant) which is another title from the list and, will also work nicely for an art history reading challenge I'm in.
I've been trying to work through some of my TBR stacks and finally decided on setting up a little mini-challenge for myself. I went to the goodreads Friends tab and compared the books that my sister has read and the books that I have (but not read.) There are about 12 books on the list and I'm hoping to finish them all before Labor Day. Frankenstein (by Mary Shelly,) Innocent Traitor (by Alison Weir) and The Lady and the Unicorn (by Tracy Chevalier) were the first three books I've tackled from the list. As for The Lady and the Unicorn, it's bawdier and less elegant the THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING; but interesting nonetheless in it's descriptions of how (the) tapestries are made. The relationships within the novel, engendered as much by intrigue as family ties, are as interwoven as the tapestries themselves and make for an amusing plot outline; but the overall story lacks a commitment to any of the characters on any more than a superficial level.
I'm now onto The Birth of Venus (by Sarah Dunant) which is another title from the list and, will also work nicely for an art history reading challenge I'm in.
I'm listening to Her Fearful Symmetry and really enjoying it. The narrator has such a gift for different voices, especially the intonations for "Mouse." (Not sure how to spell her real name since I'm listening, not reading in print.) I never read The Time Traveler's Wife, but I know some who are critical of this one compare it unfavorably to that one.
I listened to When You Reach me this weekend- it was pretty good, although I didn't xare for how the reader portrayed the mother- much too grande dame in my opinion. But I loved the story!I just purchased the audio of "The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott", which I am pretty sure I'll love. I am just getting into audio books, so we'll see how it goes!
Mod
Linda
am still working on the Canterbury Tales and also reading Lord of the Flies. Not really enjoying that one.
Denise wrote: "I'm now onto The Birth of Venus (by Sarah Dunant) which is another title from the list and, will also work nicely for an art history reading challenge I'm in. "
I finished reading The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant) and I ended up having very mixed feelings about it. It is a historic fiction set in Renaissance Florence during Savonarola's rise and fall from power.The protag is a young woman who has artistic inclinations, but is limited by the time and place as to how far she can take her skills. She meets a painter who becomes her inspiration and lover and this drives the plot of the story. The descriptions of what it might have been like to live under the changing atmosphere of Florence at this time come across very well, but there were parts that came across as nearly too didactic. Such self-awareness of the times in which any of us live in would be uncommon as history is what provides true insight. Anyway, the story itself seems a little weak, especially the last sections wherein the story becomes so improbable, that the seduction of the reader into the time and place is spoiled.
Now I'm currently reading The Constant Princess (by Philippa Gregory) which is another historial fiction, this one about Katherine of Aragon.
I finished reading The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant) and I ended up having very mixed feelings about it. It is a historic fiction set in Renaissance Florence during Savonarola's rise and fall from power.The protag is a young woman who has artistic inclinations, but is limited by the time and place as to how far she can take her skills. She meets a painter who becomes her inspiration and lover and this drives the plot of the story. The descriptions of what it might have been like to live under the changing atmosphere of Florence at this time come across very well, but there were parts that came across as nearly too didactic. Such self-awareness of the times in which any of us live in would be uncommon as history is what provides true insight. Anyway, the story itself seems a little weak, especially the last sections wherein the story becomes so improbable, that the seduction of the reader into the time and place is spoiled.
Now I'm currently reading The Constant Princess (by Philippa Gregory) which is another historial fiction, this one about Katherine of Aragon.
Mod
Linda
Halfway through Carol Brightman's Writing Dangerously: Mary McCarthy And Her World and am fascinated.
Just sitting down to begin Cutting for Stone with great anticipation. Due to the glorious reviews, I hope I'm not expecting more than the book delivers!
Mod
, Paul. I just finished listening to it for my book discussion last night. It was my second time through it, having read it in January. Still loved it. Might read it again, which I have only done to one other contemporary fiction so far.
just finished Their Eyes Were Watching God really loved this one. Am just starting Memoirs of a Geisha
Mod
Hi Flora: This is one of my all-time favorites. The movie is great too. Talk to you soon :)
I finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which I really enjoyed and just started reading the sequel The Girl Who Played with Fire. Also, just picked up The Unwritten, Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity which I think was recommended by Michael on one of the podcasts. I never thought I would enjoy graphic novels so much, so far the Fables series and The Complete Persepolis have been my favorites.
I've just started Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadaverswhich is about what happens to human cadavers - quite interesting so far!!
I just picked up "L.A. Noir" by John Buntin.It takes a historical look at Los Angeles' underside.
Or so it says on the jacket :-)
Tanya wrote: "Now I'm currently reading The Constant Princess (by Philippa Gregory) which is another historial fiction, this one about Katherine of Aragon."
I had to put The Constant Princess (by Philippa Gregory) aside for now. I think I've been reading too much historical fiction back-to-back. After only a couple of chapters of TCP, I just burned out. I've been pawing through a recent issue of Wired magazine for days now instead!
I did finish listening to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (by Alexander McCall Smith; narrated by Lisette Lecat.) This is the first-in-series about a woman in Botswana who opens a detective agency. Technically there was nothing wrong with either the writing (quintessential AMS) or the narration (in fact the way LL rolls her "r"s and hits every "m" in "Mma Rawotswe (sp?) is commendable) but in the end it just bored me to tears. Sorry, I know this is a beloved series for many; but for me, it was the antithesis of everything I expect from a mystery, like plot and tension.
I've dnloaded The Importance of Being Earnest (by Oscar Wilde; performed by a full cast including James Marsters.) It clocks in at under two hours so I think I can get that in before THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS' NEST (by Stieg Larsson; narrated by Simon Vance) shows up in my audible library on Tuesday!
I had to put The Constant Princess (by Philippa Gregory) aside for now. I think I've been reading too much historical fiction back-to-back. After only a couple of chapters of TCP, I just burned out. I've been pawing through a recent issue of Wired magazine for days now instead!
I did finish listening to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (by Alexander McCall Smith; narrated by Lisette Lecat.) This is the first-in-series about a woman in Botswana who opens a detective agency. Technically there was nothing wrong with either the writing (quintessential AMS) or the narration (in fact the way LL rolls her "r"s and hits every "m" in "Mma Rawotswe (sp?) is commendable) but in the end it just bored me to tears. Sorry, I know this is a beloved series for many; but for me, it was the antithesis of everything I expect from a mystery, like plot and tension.
I've dnloaded The Importance of Being Earnest (by Oscar Wilde; performed by a full cast including James Marsters.) It clocks in at under two hours so I think I can get that in before THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS' NEST (by Stieg Larsson; narrated by Simon Vance) shows up in my audible library on Tuesday!
Tanya wrote: Sorry, I know this is a beloved series for many; but for me, it was the antithesis of everything I expect from a mystery, like plot and tension.
I totally agree about No. 1 Ladies. It's episodic which doesn't really work for "mysteries." What she solves are more domestic problems than crimes typical of mysteries. I love some of McCall Smith's other series, such as the Isabel Dalhousie books and 44 Scotland Street series. In the Isabel books the mysteries she solves are secondary to the plot of her relationships, so it's not that I expect a great mystery, but the No. 1 book I read was boring. I know other readers that feel the same way.
Toni wrote: "Tanya -- I recently learned that surprisingly, James Marsters is NOT Enlgish. Does he narrate the audiobooks in an English accent or his natural American accent?"
I just finished THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST which is performed by Americans using British accents; but the Dresden Files are narrated by James Marsters using an American voice. JM's "natural" American voice is very L.A. Californian; but the role of Harry Dresden is a bit tighter. BTW, if you haven't heard James Marsters narrate STORM FRONT (first-in-series (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher) you should really try it even if you don't think the story would be to your liking (it's about a wizard detective in Chicago.) JM does an amazing job of becoming the Harry Dresden and making the books better than what they are in print. As for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST, it was a lot of fun to listen to and even though I've seen and read the plays a few times, I still laughed aloud in places! The only thing that was kind of a drag was the interview with the director after the play. That, and the goofy picture of James Marsters on the cover. Yeah, I know, I'm not supposed to judge a book by the cover; but I can still judge a book's cover!
Totally off-topic, but James Marsters announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend yesterday. Can you believe he is 47 years old?!
Anyway, I'm not loading another audiobook in until tomorrow (TGWKTHN) so on the ride home today I'm actually going to listen to some music!
I just finished THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST which is performed by Americans using British accents; but the Dresden Files are narrated by James Marsters using an American voice. JM's "natural" American voice is very L.A. Californian; but the role of Harry Dresden is a bit tighter. BTW, if you haven't heard James Marsters narrate STORM FRONT (first-in-series (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher) you should really try it even if you don't think the story would be to your liking (it's about a wizard detective in Chicago.) JM does an amazing job of becoming the Harry Dresden and making the books better than what they are in print. As for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST, it was a lot of fun to listen to and even though I've seen and read the plays a few times, I still laughed aloud in places! The only thing that was kind of a drag was the interview with the director after the play. That, and the goofy picture of James Marsters on the cover. Yeah, I know, I'm not supposed to judge a book by the cover; but I can still judge a book's cover!
Totally off-topic, but James Marsters announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend yesterday. Can you believe he is 47 years old?!
Anyway, I'm not loading another audiobook in until tomorrow (TGWKTHN) so on the ride home today I'm actually going to listen to some music!
Mod
Finished The Hostile Hospital as my car audio book just as I pulled to the curb in front of the house tonight. Will go to the library and get the next in the series The Carnivorous Carnival.
Started Making Toast: A Family Story which is a slim read. It's the story of the author who along with his wife moved into their son-in-law's home after the sudden unexpected death of their daughter so they can help take care of their grandchildren. I'm about 1/3 of the way through. Rosenblatt doesn't hide his feelings or his questioning God.
Just finished The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott on audio. First, the reader (Emily Janice Card) did an amazing job, she gave each character enough unique personality that I always knew who was talking. The story was wonderful, it read like something LMA would have written herself, although it was a tiny bit more racy than she was allowed to be in her day. I also feel like the author did a lot of research into Alcott, and I learned many things I didn't know before. Be warned- if you read this (or give it a listen), you will feel the immediate need to reread Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass- which was very different from how I remembered it in high school!
Next on my audio list is South of Broad, by Pat Conroy. Beach Music is one of my favorite books of all time, so I'm wicked excited about this one!
I just finished Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant which is a memoir written by a British man with Asperger's and Savant syndrome. He thinks the Savant aspect might have been caused by a childhood bout with temporal lobe epilepsy that damaged his left brain. There was too much detail about his childhood for me but once the book got to adolescence it was riveting. I loved it. I just started The Magicians based on recs from BOTNS and NPR. I'm not very far yet. And I'm still whittling my way thru Shelf Discovery which was a mistake to pick up because it sparked the desire to go back and re-read all these YA classics.
I stayed up until midnight last night and dnloaded The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest(by Stieg Larsson; narrated by Simon Vance) the minute it appeared in my audible library. I started listening this morning :-)
Just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I had high hopes for this book, given the raves it has received. It didn't quite live up to expectations. I found Blomqvist and his circle at Millennium Magazine to be humdrum characters.
However, whenever Lisbeth Salander comes onstage, all is redeemed. She is a fascinating character, and I'm going to keep going with this series so as to find out more about her history and destiny.
Now directly on to The Girl Who Played with Fire
I had high hopes for this book, given the raves it has received. It didn't quite live up to expectations. I found Blomqvist and his circle at Millennium Magazine to be humdrum characters.
However, whenever Lisbeth Salander comes onstage, all is redeemed. She is a fascinating character, and I'm going to keep going with this series so as to find out more about her history and destiny.
Now directly on to The Girl Who Played with Fire
Ugh...when do you just give up on a book or decide to stick it out? I'm trying to get through The Anthologist by Nicholas Baker. I'm not enjoying it and I dread picking it up, but I can't seem to just give up. Has anybody read this? Does it get better?
Mod
Starting The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (It's due at the library today - Toast was due on Monday.)
I just started "Right Ascension" by David Derrico.
At the moment, I have about 20 pages left in The Lovely Bones. Will probably start the new Michael Lewis book I picked up from the library and read The Privileges: A Novel by Jonathan Dee. I am really wanting to start reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie . I also have a bunch of library books that really need to be started. After reading The Lovely Bones , I feel I need to take a bit of a break.
Finished and liked The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. Finished and loved The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larrson!
Finished and liked(not LOVED) CAPTURED by Harlan Coben. Going to start HEART OF THE MATTER by Emily Griffin and see how far I get before picking up DECEPTION by Johnathan Kellermann at the library on Tuesday.
I finished Lost City of Z a couple nights ago,and I picked up the first Percy Jackson book. I'm almost halfway done, it's cute! Next is the third Diane Gabaldon book from the Outlander series, Voyager. I always end up reading these at this time of year! I'm also about halfway through the South of Broad audio, and the best word I can think of to describe this book is languorous.
Mod
Of course you can mention LT! We love LT, too, but this place is much more conducive to conversation, in my opinion, which is why we chose it to host our group. Glad you joined us!
I am currently reading The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis (He wrote The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game). I first heard about the book when I was paging through a copy of Vanity Fair (not at the store; at the library); I was more interested in the articles on Grace Kelly and Tiger Woods' mistresses to read the excerpt.
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Books on the Nightstand
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Linda