Should have read classics discussion
What else are you reading?
Not yet, but I really want to, now! Have you heard if it got good reviews? I always like to read a book before seeing the movie. I have it all vividly pictured in my mind, though!
I am in a book club in a little town in Georgia (USA). We read "The Help" last year. Some of the members said their childhood was just like the book described. They were taken care of by "nannies" while their mothers were off doing social things. What a peculiar society that was.
I really enjoyed
, it was an engaging story. Very interesting characters. A very excellent read.
I loved 'The Help' - it was so lovely and homely feeling in that it focused more on what happened in the community than the outside world. Haven't seen the film yet or heard any reviews about it.
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My mom was from Mississippi before coming to Colorado and it was interesting to talk with her about what went on during that time period. I don't know why it never occurred to me before this book.
I just finished it up last night and am still thinking about it. ALways the sign of a good book! I loved how the ending is bittersweet, just like life - mostly good stuff comes out of this, but there are some passages and some letting go, too. I really loved this book - will be interested to see the movie, now!
I've just been told the place we're gonna be sleeping at for xmas (not enough space for everyone in 'rents house) No phone signal, no internet, very little TV choice... somehow I see myself getting through a large classic on my eReader, will just have to choose which one ;D
Hayley wrote: "I've just been told the place we're gonna be sleeping at for xmas (not enough space for everyone in 'rents house) No phone signal, no internet, very little TV choice... somehow I see myself getting..."Sounds fantastic (for a limited amount of days ;)! I had that situation this summer when I was working in Northern Ireland. Lot's of tea and reading on the porch. Lot's of mosquito bites too, but that's not something that you'll have to worry about I suppose :)
Nope, no midges around at this time of year & I refuse to sit on a porch on the edge of a cliff to read when it's winter - that's just asking to be frozen!Will be up there from 22nd Dec to 2nd Jan but thankfully so will my 2 sisters and the dogs so I won't go totally hermit like ;D
Rena wrote: "I just finished it up last night and am still thinking about it. ALways the sign of a good book! I loved how the ending is bittersweet, just like life - mostly good stuff comes out of this, but t..."By all means, go see the movie. I was amazed at how closely the movie followed the book. That doesn't often happen. Loved the book and the movie!
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THat is good to hear!
Still working on both Woman In White & Age of Innocence. Renewed them from the library along with Invisible Man. Picked up at the library yesterday these books:Jazz
The Robber Bride
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man-had to return this one halfway through reading it, I burned out on it, so I waited 2 weeks & checked it out again. I remember where I left off, so maybe now that I've had a break I can actually finish it.
The Temple of My Familiar-I've read most of her other books so far & really liked them, so I was ready to get into this one.
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Just started Captain Blood this morning - a very good adventure story with a promising main character :)
Hayley wrote: "Just started Captain Blood this morning - a very good adventure story with a promising main character :)"Looks like a good yarn!
I've always wondered about the etymology of "swashbuckling". Anyone know its story?
I am about halfway through 1Q84 a wonderful book. Also: The Blood Spilt, a Nordic Noir thriller by Åsa Larsson, the second in a series by her & so far as good as the first. And a biography of Sophie Scholl, a member of the White Rose group that resisted Hitler.
I just finished, Their Eyes Were Watching God. A very good fiction work that reflects Black America in the 1920's or thereabouts.
Just finished & reviewed Captain Blood and am now going to start
(a dead tree book) so that I can get started on a big classic on my eReader for xmas hols :D
Did you already decide which gigantic classic will make you forget about the fact that there's no phone signal and no internet (and luckily no midgets either) :-)? (oh nosy me)
Jenny wrote: "Did you already decide which gigantic classic will make you forget about the fact that there's no phone signal and no internet (and luckily no midgets either) :-)? (oh nosy me)"Not yet - I'm thinking Pride and Prejudice or something along those lines, I'll see how I feel at the time. The only problem is a lack of being to able to read the back of an eBook to see which I'd prefer - will hafta look them all up on book site and choose :P
Hayley wrote: "Not yet - I'm thinking Pride and Prejudice or something along those lines"I'll probably be spending Christmas with Mr. Eco and
The Name of the Rose which I still haven't read. It's got the proper size for lazy Christmas days and a very appealing dusty smell :)
I'm going to read a quartet of Nabokov's works: Lolita (currently), Pale Fire, Glory and Transparent Things. Then I'll continue to knock a bunch of books off of my "to read" list before I finally delve into In Search of Lost Time.It's going to be one hell of a circuit, but I'm very eager.
Terrin wrote: "I'm going to read a quartet of Nabokov's works: Lolita (currently), Pale Fire, Glory and Transparent Things. Then I'll continue to knock a bunch of books off of my "to read" list before I finally d..."While you're reading Nabokov, consider some of his literary criticism. He can be quite good.
Jenny wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Not yet - I'm thinking Pride and Prejudice or something along those lines"I'll probably be spending Christmas with Mr. Eco and
The Name of the Rose which I still hav..."
Sounds good :D Mine will be on eReader so no dusty smells but I know that feeling :)
Today I should be able to get quite far through my current book as am in the office all by my lonesome and have done all work that needs doing ;D
I just recently finished Jazz, by Toni Morrison, The Cartoon History of the United States, The Pirate's Daughter, & Matanzas Bay.I am starting on The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test-Tom Wolfe & The Robber Bride-Margaret Atwood..both of these are also Boxall 1001 book list books.
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I'll probably be spending Christmas with Mr. Eco and
The Name of the Rose which I still hav..."
I tried to read that one this summer, got halfway through it and just quit, not sure why. I'm interested in how you like it.
Lisa wrote: "I tried to read that one this summer, got halfway through it and just quit, not sure why. I'm interested in how you like it."Me too. I've only listened to the audiobook version of Foucault's Pendulum by him until now and I wasn't very fond of that one, a bit too Dan Brownish for my taste. But now I found this great, really quite old copy of The Name of the Rose and something about the story and the fairy-tale-like look of the book tells me that it'll go well with cold winter nights and lot's of tea. Have you read anything else by Eco yet?
One of the books I am currently reading is Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's "The Strain". Even though I'm still early on in the book, I am enjoying the horror and suspense. Also, I'm a nerd about "Doctor Who" so I am reading one of those novels as well.
Ashley wrote: "One of the books I am currently reading is Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's "The Strain". Even though I'm still early on in the book, I am enjoying the horror and suspense. Also, I'm a nerd abo..."I have The Strain on my reading list and possibly reading it soon. I've heard great things about it.
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Me too. I've only listened to the audiobook version of [b..."
No, I have just tried that one book. I was tempted to just watch the movie, it does have Sean Connery in it so even if it is terrible the scenery would be good! Good luck with it! Let me know how it goes!
Shawn wrote: "Ashley wrote: "One of the books I am currently reading is Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's "The Strain". Even though I'm still early on in the book, I am enjoying the horror and suspense. Also,..."You should. It's fun and creepy. I really love some of the characters in it.
Jenny wrote: "Me too. I've only listened to the audiobook version of Foucault's Pendulum by him until now and I wasn't very fond of that one, a bit too Dan Brownish for my taste."When I read The Da Vinci Code a few years ago I felt like it was a cheap imitation of The Name of the Rose. I haven't read anything by Dan Brown again. (I have Angels and Demons lurking in my bookcase since last Christmas. Is it any good? Or would it be a waste of time?)
Zuzana wrote: "I haven't read anything by Dan Brown again. (I have Angels and Demons lurking in my bookcase since last Christmas. Is it any good? Or would it be a waste of time?)"Mmh, I must admit I really passionately disliked Angels and Demons. It's not that Dan Brown doesn't know what he's doing, he's very very good at creating a page turner, which I don't mean to disparage at all, being a fan of a lot of Scandinavian crime fiction for instance...it's just that my brain felt a little offended by this book. As another reviewer put it:
"This book (maybe all Dan Brown books) should come with a mental health warning: At no point in the reading of this book was the reader in danger of thinking." http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... My reading experience was very similar.
The genre tricks he uses are so obvious and so manipulativ it made me roll my eyes and curse this book while reading. Nevertheless...eventhough I was calling this book and the author all kind of names during the read - I still kept flipping the pages. I must give him that - at least.
Jenny wrote: "The genre tricks he uses are so obvious and so manipulativ it made me roll my eyes and curse this book while reading...."Jenny, that's exactly how I felt when reading The Da Vinci Code. I just coudn't understand what the hype was all about.
Zuzana wrote: "Jenny wrote: "The genre tricks he uses are so obvious and so manipulativ it made me roll my eyes and curse this book while reading...."Jenny, that's exactly how I felt when reading The Da Vinci C..."
I also read The Da Vinci Code so I could sound intelligent when I came across friends in the library, but wondered all the time why I was reading it why it was considered worth reading. I think it must only have been the controversy over the theme, not the plot or characters, which for me are what make a book.
Everyman wrote: "Zuzana wrote: "Jenny wrote: "The genre tricks he uses are so obvious and so manipulativ it made me roll my eyes and curse this book while reading...."Jenny, that's exactly how I felt when reading..."
Oh yes, I saw the movie adaptation of the Da Vinci Code (I believe...it is the one with Tom Hanks isn't it?) No luck there for me either...you are possibly right about the controversy part eventhough he is not doing it a good service I am afraid.
I wonder: is it a genre thing (I believe it is not actually)? And if not, is there any author of this genre that comes in mind that is taking historical and theological research seriously as well as his or her readers? I guess Eco would be one of the obvious names, any others?
I just finished Sexing the Cherry by Jeannette Wintersen & reviewed it. I'm currently reading:Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test
The Robber Bride
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
What's everyone else working their way through?
As my bedside book, started reading through Poe's entire work of short stories. I had read a few selected stories in the past, but want to read them all. Will certainly take awhile, but that's the point of a bedside book, isn't it?
I saw a .99 cent deal on the KJV of the Bible for my Kindle and couldn't resist. I've only ever read the NRSV, RSV and Catholic versions so I thought I'd give this version a try.The Bible is usually listed as "Anonymous" as its author but this one was authored "by God." Interesting.
Nancy wrote: "but this one was authored "by God." .."I wonder where they send his royalty checks? LOL!
I am currently reading 3 books: The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, The Borrowers by Mary Norton and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.I'm not sure I will finish A Tale of Two Cities as I'm only 8% into the book and I haven't picked it up in over a month. Shame on me.
I have 3 books going right now 1Q84, The Wise Man's Fear, and The Secret History. I'm excited about all 3 and I have a hard time each morning deciding which one I'm going to continue for that day.
Zuzana wrote: "I am currently reading 3 books: The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, The Borrowers by Mary Norton and by Charles Dickens.I'm not..."
I think the pace quickens after the first fifty or so pages of A Tale of Two Cities... I read it a few weeks ago and gave it 5 stars ;)
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I have 1Q84 on my short list to read. I have heard it is really good, what do you think so far?
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I'm not..."
I think the..."
I have to agree with Laura, it does pick up much later in the book, however I almost needed a spreadsheet for all of the people that was introduced. There was times I had no clue who the people were, but I just kept reading hoping something would jog my memory.
Lisa wrote: "Shawn wrote: "I have 3 books going right now 1Q84, The Wise Man's Fear, and The Secret History. I'm excited about all 3 and I have a hard time each morni..."I'm defiantly enjoying it. The structure is easy to follow and the characters are very unique and fun to follow.
Should have read classics
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I really enjoyed that book. Have you seen the movie?