Should have read classics discussion
What else are you reading?
Joy wrote: "I'm currently reading Nora Roberts' Jewels of the Sun. Never read anything by her before, and I am more than thoroughly enjoying it. In fact, I should go read rather than being on this computer!"That's a really great trilogy by her. The second book, Tears of the Moon, is my favorite.
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and I enjoyed it. You all were right it is very good, although it did make me lock my doors and shut the curtains while I was reading it! I'm now starting
.
Before you go on to the next one which is The Girl Who Played with Fire, you should get this one from Netflix and watch it. Of course, if you have mental images of the characters they may be forever altered by watching. LOL
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I've just started
and so far I'm loving it!
I just started
last night. It is truly a giggle as you read book. Really fun to read. I keep telling Newt he needs to read this one.
I just read
. It was so good ... the interaction of the characters, the development of the friendship, the hardships they struggled through, the interesting characters they meet throughout the story ... and just in general something I would find interesting ... but maybe a little too much work. It was really enjoyable!
I'm just finishing James Lee Burke's A Morning for Flamingos. I like his David Robicheaux series of mysteries set in Louisiana because I've been to the places he talks about and so it is nice to have a true mental image of the location. Also I like old Nam vet, alcoholic, ex-cop, beaten around the edges Dave. Though not the low lifes and drug situations he talks of in those areas I love.
I am struggling through Swamplandia!. When I think I want to give up I get interested in the story. Thinking I just feel guilty not finishing it... but I am not committing much time to reading since I am not that engaged... anyone else struggle with throwing in the towel?
When I have a book like that I usually start another book. I have found that what doesn't engage me at one time, may at another time ... so I'll read a few things I enjoy, and then go back and tackle the book that I just can't stand to not finish. I don't leave enough time to forget it, so I don't have to begin all over again ... just enough time to enjoy reading for a few days so I can go back and get another part of the way through the not so enjoyable book.
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Joy has a good idea to try reading something else, I have a tendency to let it go. I figure that life is too short to spend time reading a book that I don't like. So there are times that I throw in the towel and find another book.
I do agree ... if it's absolutely not your thing, don't feel bad about not reading it! Certainly don't let it be a point of stress ...
Everyone raved about the Time Traveler's Wife or whatever it is called. I started it and said this sounds like a pedophile--deliver me from this --and I just tossed it aside. No problem at all.When I was in college as a bio major ( and wasn't allowed to minor in English by the bio dept--had to minor in chemistry ) I took the English majors reading list home with me one summer. I'll never forget how I forced myself to slog through some of those books--there was one about Silas Upham which just about killed me. I've never done that to myself again. LOL No fun? It's gone!
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and
. Now I'm on to
and still trying to finish
. I'm beginning to think that TNOTR might fit into the category of "throw in the towel."
I also agree that life is too short and there's so many great things to read out there so why bother with something unpleasant? But I do admit that sometimes, for no good reason at all, I get stubborn and will keep on reading... I used to be unable to understand that something bad could get published and keep on reading determined to find something good in every book... Now that I'm older and wiser ;) Lol I've finally accepted that some people out there really have bad taste! ... And for all I know I might even be one of them (If I'm not worth a laugh I'm not worth much!) and frankly if that's the case I'm ok with that!On a more serious note, some books I'm happy I struggled through, mostly classics because they're so often referred to and I know I'll never even attempt reading them again because it was almost painful (Proust being the best example I can think of).
Lisa wrote: "I just finished and . Now I'm on to [bookcover:Mortar and Murder|..."Gosh, I loved TNOTR--took me a minute to figure out what that stood for! LOL--but I read it when it first came out so have really very little memory of it.There is a movie with Sean Connery and perhaps if you watched that you'd like the book better. I know that I was only able to read Jane Eyre after watching the Joan Fontaine--Larry Olivier movie. I also remember that because I liked Rose I tried another Eco and never finished it I hated it so much. Go figure!
I have such a hard time throwing in the towel. I really make myself suffer for a while. LOL I just switched from Watership Down to Water for Elephants. Although I'm enjoying Watership Down it's slowly paced for me. I only have about 30 minute chunks of reading time here and there. I think I would enjoy a lot of the books I read much more if I had longer reading sessions but staying at home with 3 year old twins and being preggers is not quite helpful in the "more time to read" department, hehe.
I have one more comment about this. I agree, life is too short to read "bad" stuff, and only YOU can decide what is bad. But if it's something I'm determined to get through, a classic, or a group read I want to be able to discuss, I sort of "scan". I read much faster, and get the main idea of the story, and everything important, though perhaps not every single detail. When I'm really enjoying a story, I read every word, sometimes more than once, and savor it.I have also found that seeing the movie first can help because I'm not always confused about who is saying what, and having to re-read parts of a book to figure it out.
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and . Now I'm on to [bookcover:Morta..."That might be a good idea, it is on the instant download so maybe I will try that. It is a very interesting book, but I was reading it as a buddy read in another club and it slowly died out. So now I have to brave it myself.:) Who knew 14th century monastatries could be so exciting?
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I have done that also, just pushed through the book, however it does taint my memory of that book. Hence the name of this club! Ha!
I just was given, via book swap,
, the number one of my to-read list. I am starting it today!
My husband is enjoying these books ... I just bought him the brand new one that came out a few weeks ago. I might give them a try sometime.
I just finished The Robe and next up is Cheaper by the Dozen.I read The Robe for an IRL bookclub- I haven't made peace with the ending yet. It's going to knock it down at least one star.
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Joy wrote: "My husband is enjoying these books ... I just bought him the brand new one that came out a few weeks ago. I might give them a try sometime."I really enjoyed them and have been waiting patiently for this last one to make it's way to me. I didn't read any of them until about 2002, then I read the first 6 in a matter of weeks. I just got hooked.
Hehe Lisa. It wasn't too long ago when I was staring at IRL and wondering what it meant. Now I use it all the time. I wonder if that means that I spend too much time on line.
I appreciate all the comments about reading things that you are not really enjoying. Going to start something new today! The Scarlet Pimpernel
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I wonder if that means that I spend too much time on line."
Amazing how that starts to infiltrate parts of everyone's life.
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I hope that you enjoy it! I will pick mine up on Tuesday from the library!
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Maybe you can get in a few pages in the evenings.
Keep your book handy so you can read if there is a brief recess. Good luck with the trial ... I always thought that would be interesting, though, of course, it is an inconvenience.
Getting into To Kill a Mockingbird. Somehow I missed that all this time, so looking forward to it!
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and
. Might be our summer vacation spot this year.
I am reading The Land of Painted Caves now. really enjoying it, just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get the amount of reading I would like to get in.
I know what you mean, Amy. I'm trying to read Outlander by Diane Gabaldin, and can't seem to find enough time to get it finished. Hopefully this week I can read a lot, as I'm behind on getting my May challenges finished.
Katherine wrote: "Before you go on to the next one which is The Girl Who Played with Fire, you should get this one from Netflix and watch it. Of course, if you have mental images of the characters they may be foreve..."I liked the first two movies (haven't seen the third). I liked the actors chosen, but my husband didn't. To me, they were meshed fairly closely with what was in my head.
I'm reading The Hunger Games trilogy and love them. I can see why kids eat them up. I'm also trying to read Dickens' Sketches by Boz. It's kind of tough getting into it because it is just a series of character sketches with no plot. But I had this idea of reading through Dickens chronologically. I'm beginning to doubt the wisdom of that, but I will persevere!!!
Marna, I never cared for Dickens in high school ... but last fall read Great Expectations for a college class and loved it! I'm hoping to read more Dickens, too, but right now trying to clear my own shelf.
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I LOVED The Hunger Games trilogy! Would you enjoy it as well. Last year we read Tale of Two Cities and while by the end of the book I really liked it...the writing was quite a challenge for me to get through. Good luck with getting through the entire Dickens' collection, that would be too painful for me.
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Although we read The Woman in White what seems like ages ago, I am finally starting The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I understand there is a new biography out about this man which I am going to seek out as well.
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I have that on my TRP, can't wait to see your review!
It has been sitting in my TBR box since January--thought I should dig it out--the introduction makes it sound even better than Woman in White, which I really liked.BTw, put in a request at the library for Scarlet Pimpernal--nothing like starting on time! LOL They have the graphic novel but I want the real thing. Maybe I'll read the graphic for that long ago challenge I haven't finished YET! LOL
Should have read classics
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I've read multiple Coelho books, and I've disliked them all. I don't think I'll bother with any of his other novels. I'm glad you (and others) enjoy them though.