Books on the Nightstand discussion
What are you reading: April 2011
Jason, I just started it so hopefully I'll be finished by the weekend. I have heard such great things about it. I'm liking it so far, but it's early. However, that is usually a good sign :)
After a whirlwind March of reading, and getting caught up to 25% of my +11 reading challenge, April is going to be a let down. Between a final, starting a new class, and putting my condo on the market, I am only 3 chapters into Unexpectedly, Milo. I had to extend my library loan until May. I will be lucky to get it done. If I do get it done, I will move on to Cycling Through Eden, which is my book group's selection for May. It will also be the first book I read on my new Nook!! I am reading The Likability Factor for work, and I will start a textbook about the theory of leadereship next week for school.
Half way through
. When that is finished the plan is to start
Just finished The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove by Susan Gregg Gilmore one of the great retreat authors and I enjoyed it very much. As a Northener who went to a Southern college many years ago, I really enjoy reading voices from the South describing their differnt way of life. This book, written in an easy to read manner deals very seriously with complex issues of race and parent-child relationships among others. I thoroughly recommend it. I just started Silent Mercy for a change of pace and locale.
Jessica wrote: "I'm currently reading Middlesex, which ever since it came out I was apprehensive to start. For some reason (without reading anything about the novel) I thought it would be hard to get t..."I couldn't get into this either when I first tried reading it (2006?). Your comment will make me try again, since it is still a BOTN - MY nightstand!
Last summer I read 'Little Bee' by Chris Cleave (http://www.goodreads.com/chriscleave) and decided to get 'Incendiary' at the library. O. M. G. I wrote a reaction/review - but I don't know how to make a link without losing this comment ..
I just finished The Sparrow and find myself rather speechless. It's been on my TBR since I heard it discussed on BOTNS and then my bookclub chose it as our April book. I hope everyone finished it, because it is going to be a fascinating discussion.I found sort of a dystopian A Prayer for Owen Meany.
nancy wrote: "I just finished House Arrest and it was very good..compelling story and characters. It was even better because I got to hear Ellen Meeropol, the author, discuss it. She was a generous participant in "Booktopia" this weekend...""Booktopia"! What a wonderful way to refer to the retreat! That's exactly what it was for me, too.
I just finished reading Something Missingby Matthew Dicks on Sunday and started Finn by Jon Clinch. I very much enjoyed Something Missing but I'm afraid some of my affection for the book might be due to how pleasant and funny he was in person at the retreat this weekend! It's definitely hard to feel certain I'm unbiased now about all of these authors who were so personable and generous.On audio I just finished the (I think) fourth and latest Ridley Pearson/Dave Barry Peter Pan novel, not sure what I'm going to start listening to next.
Finished House Arrest: A Novel, and it was lovely. I don't know what the procedure would be, but I'm going to try and see if my library will stock it- definitely something that should be read.Next up is Something Missing!
Just finished
thought it was a fun read. Am looking forward to
Am still continueing
I am on a roll of some really wonderful books..I just finished Skippy Dies which I absolutely loved and in one sitting I devoured A Red Herring Without Mustard - another delightful Flavia mystery and now I am in the middle of Any Human Heart and I already know that this book is going to be on the top of my favorite books of all time list! I've had this on my TBR pile since Michael recommended it ages ago and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. I never want this book to end......
Finished reading
. Thank you for the recommendation, Michael! Even though I would consider myself a non-cook, I really enjoyed it. One of my favourites.Currently I am reading
and
. Hoping I can get books done in the next few weeks. Happy reading :)
To honor Kurt Vonnegut I am now reading "Breakfast of Champions".Of course I am still reading W & P and "The Graveyard Book".ger
Yo,how can I add pix of these books?I like that look.ger
Gerald wrote: "Yo,how can I add pix of these books?I like that look.ger"
Where you type your comment there is an "add book/author" button above the box. Click on it and it will allow you to insert into the text.
Thanks for all of that.The author thanks you from wherever he is.
I've had a rather unproductive last few month reading wise. Just kind of plodded through a few things. Spent most of the time with:
finally had to finish this weekend as it was due back at the library and my renewals were all used up. It took me probably 8 weeks to read the first half and 3 days for the second half. Got back into the swing of things after that by starting:
on Monday and
on Tuesday. Now 135 and 207 pages into them respectively. I've had a sort of desire for short books of late which is why I picked up Foe. My usual book choosing method is to randomly wander the stacks at the main branch of the library and pick up something that looks interesting. I've had good luck with Coetzee J.M. before and his books tend to be rather slim. It also was an interesting to follow up a history book in which the authors were careful to state the limits of past knowledge, to read a novel exploring who gets to control the stories that are told. Decoded I actually requested months ago after seeing Jay-Z on Charlie Rose and only now was able to pick it up. I have listened to Jay before though not a huge fan but going to listen some more after reading this book. Will finish Foe at least tonight, and plan to start
next(continuing my short book spree).
finally had to finish this weekend as it was due back at the library and my renewals were all used up. It took me probably 8 weeks to read the first half and 3 days for the second half. Got back into the swing of things after that by starting:
on Monday and
on Tuesday. Now 135 and 207 pages into them respectively. I've had a sort of desire for short books of late which is why I picked up Foe. My usual book choosing method is to randomly wander the stacks at the main branch of the library and pick up something that looks interesting. I've had good luck with Coetzee J.M. before and his books tend to be rather slim. It also was an interesting to follow up a history book in which the authors were careful to state the limits of past knowledge, to read a novel exploring who gets to control the stories that are told. Decoded I actually requested months ago after seeing Jay-Z on Charlie Rose and only now was able to pick it up. I have listened to Jay before though not a huge fan but going to listen some more after reading this book. Will finish Foe at least tonight, and plan to start
next(continuing my short book spree).
Marlene wrote: "I'm listening to Water for Elephants. I like the narrators and the story. Just finished reading I think I love you and Just Kids. Am now reading Man Walks Into a Room."Hey, Marlene! I just met Sara Gruen last night - got her to sign my copy of her newest book and my sister's copy (I bought for her) of WFE. Last thing I did before heading for the retreat. I had looked forward to both not realizing how close the two events were. I still try to do everything.
I look forward to response to the retreat. I would love to go. Maybe if it happens again. I'm envious that you met Sara Gruen. Man walks into room has been a little difficult for me to get into, but I think it's finally happening.
is there a BOTNS Facebook group? I don't know how to find it?
Mod
I read Secrets of Eden (by Chris Bohjalian) last week before taking off for the #BOTNSRetreat. It's the story of an apparent murder-suicide told from four different points of view. Whatever the merits or intended themes of the book may have been, there was one section in particular that worked it's way into my late night thoughts: the section of the book told from the attorney's POV. I found myself ranting (to myself) about how those in law enforcement, by virtue of having been exposed to the criminal element daily, have themselves become paranoid, suspicious and cynical. I totally weirded myself out when my rant closed with a defense of defense attorneys!
I finished Nature Girl (by Carl Hiaasen; narrated by Lee Adams) while at the #BOTNSRetreat. The main story line involves a crazy single mom who designs an elaborate payback for a telemarketer who not only calls her during her dinner hour, but who had also called her an offensive name. The book features a number of quirky characters as might be expected from a Hiaasen novel; but some reason, it fell flat. Maybe I was overtired or expecting too much; but it seemed a bit overlong and not funny enough :-/
I also read Lieutenant Hornblower (C.S. Forester,) the second in the chronological order of the Hornblower series. One of my unofficial goals for this year is to read this series. I bought the book at The Northshire Bookstore and read the whole of it on the flight home from the #BOTNSRetreat :-)
I'm currently listening to A Quiet Belief in Angels: Library Edition (by R.J. Ellory; narrated by Mark Bramhall.) Oh, wow, I'm only two CDs in, but I already know that this is going to be one of the better audiobooks I will listen to this year. At first I was wary of Mark Bramhall. I had heard a couple samples of his and thought he sounded kinda boring; but this is something else entirely. He affects a Southern accent without falling into hyperbolic expression and delivers the metaphor-rich text beautifully. I've only just started; so the only thing I can tell you about the story is that it takes place in the late 1930's and early 1940's in a small town in Georgia. Young girls are disappearing and their raped and murdered bodies reappear, evoking profound angst in the mind of the book's protag, a young boy named Joseph Vaughn.
I'm about to start Galore (by Michael Crummey and edited by Katie Henderson.) I'm very conflicted about reading this in print as opposed to listening to the audio narrated by John Lee. I really wanted to listen to the audio and have it on hand; but I'm running out of time (there's a discussion on it next week), so print it is!
(by Chris Bohjalian)
(by Carl Hiaasen; narrated by Lee Adams)
(by C.S. Forester,)
(by R.J. Ellory; narrated by Mark Bramhall)
(by Michael Crummey)
I finished Nature Girl (by Carl Hiaasen; narrated by Lee Adams) while at the #BOTNSRetreat. The main story line involves a crazy single mom who designs an elaborate payback for a telemarketer who not only calls her during her dinner hour, but who had also called her an offensive name. The book features a number of quirky characters as might be expected from a Hiaasen novel; but some reason, it fell flat. Maybe I was overtired or expecting too much; but it seemed a bit overlong and not funny enough :-/
I also read Lieutenant Hornblower (C.S. Forester,) the second in the chronological order of the Hornblower series. One of my unofficial goals for this year is to read this series. I bought the book at The Northshire Bookstore and read the whole of it on the flight home from the #BOTNSRetreat :-)
I'm currently listening to A Quiet Belief in Angels: Library Edition (by R.J. Ellory; narrated by Mark Bramhall.) Oh, wow, I'm only two CDs in, but I already know that this is going to be one of the better audiobooks I will listen to this year. At first I was wary of Mark Bramhall. I had heard a couple samples of his and thought he sounded kinda boring; but this is something else entirely. He affects a Southern accent without falling into hyperbolic expression and delivers the metaphor-rich text beautifully. I've only just started; so the only thing I can tell you about the story is that it takes place in the late 1930's and early 1940's in a small town in Georgia. Young girls are disappearing and their raped and murdered bodies reappear, evoking profound angst in the mind of the book's protag, a young boy named Joseph Vaughn.
I'm about to start Galore (by Michael Crummey and edited by Katie Henderson.) I'm very conflicted about reading this in print as opposed to listening to the audio narrated by John Lee. I really wanted to listen to the audio and have it on hand; but I'm running out of time (there's a discussion on it next week), so print it is!
(by Chris Bohjalian)
(by Carl Hiaasen; narrated by Lee Adams)
(by C.S. Forester,)
(by R.J. Ellory; narrated by Mark Bramhall)
(by Michael Crummey)
Mod
Nature Girl was not my favorite Carl Hiaasen book. It was o.k. I'm still looking forward to reading his most recent.I wish I didn't have to go back to work - it is really cutting into my reading and writing time.
I need to think of working as getting me to the next book retreat!
Just go to your FB page and type "Books on the Nightstand" into the search boxor use:
http://www.facebook.com/BooksOnTheNig...
Hi, new to this group and not sure about the rules, etc. I'm reading My Mother, Your Mother, by Dennis McCulloch; Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George; Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabatt-Zinn; and listening to a Sue Miller book whose title escapes me. One of suggestions for mindfulness that Kabatt-Zinn makes is to avoid multi-tasking, which probably includes trying to read four books at once...
Just finished Something Missing by Matthew Dicks. I cannot understand how he thought up the main character or the scenario...and why I was so absolutely spellbound by it all. This was a fun, fanatical read...I enjoyed every moment of it.
Hi, new to this group and not sure about the rules, etc. I'm reading...Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn...Welcome, Katherine! Nice to see a new face! If you are looking to cut down on reading lots of things at once, I'm not sure this is going to be the right group, but we have fun with it, anyway. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a great choice for making us all more concious of the thing we are doing at the moment. Anyway, you'll have fun here. sounds like you will find lots of folks reading/doing the same kinds of things.
Does it count as too much multitasking if I'm reading one book and listening to two others?
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird on audio, with Sissy Spacek, and it was incredible. When I read this in middle school, I didn't really get the fuss, I thought it was OK, but nothing special. I don't know if it is the amazing job by Sissy Spacek, or if I'm older and more able to appreciate some of the subtleties, but this had jumped to my favorites list!I have now started Crocodile on the Sandbank, which my friend Katrina recommended to me- and it's kind of wonderful! I am very much enjoying the narrator, and I look forward to listening to more about Amelia!
thanks for the fb advice scott...I'm wondering how I add it as a group on my fb page or see the botns comments on my page? thanks, Nancy
Mod
great ..thanks Ann...now I'm really connected: everytime someone writes anything about BOTNS on Goodreads, I get an email..
I'm twittering (thanks to Matthew Dicks' twitter lesson at the retreat) and I'll see BOTNS on my fb stream..
Is this when you tell me to "get a life". xxn
I finished
earlier this month, and I absolutely LOVED it! I'm passing my book on to everyone I know. I also read
which was interesting. It was a nice change to read a Dracula story what with all the new-age vampire stories going on lately. There was also a lot of history interspersed in the story.I'm working on
now. It was a slow start, and I wasn't so sure about it. It seems to be picking up now, though.
John,The Enthusiasticast podcast has a link to a music playlist put together by Parkhurst for people to listen to while reading
. Even though I'd already finished the book I still enjoyed listening to her music picks! Karen
Thanks Karen, I'll have to look that up.
Mod
I'm working on now. It was a slow start, and I wasn't so sure about it. It seems to be picking up now, though.
I think that's what I love best about Chris Bohjalian's books. They do start out slow, but are very thorough in plot and character and always leave me thinking in the end. Chris is one of my favorite authors and if someone hadn't adopted him in our library, I would have. I highly recommend Trans-sister Radio.
I finished
and it was very good. It really made me thankful for my good fortune. After reading this book, I realized I have no reason to complain.I started reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog
last week. It is really different. The plot intrigues me.Thanks, Kate, for telling us how to insert the book covers in our posts. I love that!
Mod
I finished listening to Chris Bohjalian's
which I really liked. Great narration, too.Now started listening to
Finished Something Missing last night, and just loved how it ended. Such a great story about how someone who does something wrong, like stealing, can still be a hero.Started Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen last night, and I adore it already. The first couple of lines are so good, especially when I can imagine the author reading it!
Here are the first few lines:
"My daddy always said that if the good Lord can take the time to care for something as small as a baby sparrow nesting in a tree, then surely He could take the time to listen to a little girl in Ringgold, Georgia. So every night before I went to bed I got down on my knees and begged the Lord to find me a way out of this town. And every morning, I woke up in the same old place."
I just love this!!!
I'd love to find that Enthusiasticast playlist link (music to read by)..but having trouble..
Mod
I'm reading Reservoir by John Milliken Thompson. Though it is a mystery, the language is stunning and it really is so much more. I'm so glad we heard John at the retreat. I might never have picked this up if I hadn't have heard him talk. I'll write more when I'm finished but put it on your list.
I adopted Susan Gregg Gilmore in our library and am looking forward to reading her books.
Callie wrote: "I have now started Crocodile on the Sandbank, which my friend Katrina recommended to me- and it's kind of wonderful! I am very much enjoying the narrator, and I look forward to listening to more about Amelia! "Callie, Amelia Peabody is one of my favorite characters of all time!! I hope you enjoy it!
Mod
Actually, I see you are looking for an actual playlist. I ony see one for Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad...
http://8tracks.com/knopfdoubleday/a-v...
Are there others? great idea.
Hi Carol,Here's what KBrown (above) wrote:
"The Enthusiasticast podcast has a link to a music playlist put together by Parkhurst for people to listen to while reading"
so I've been trying to find it.
Help anyone?
Just finished Man Walks into Room. I'm not sure yet what I think of it. Has anyone else read it? I kept reading hoping to enjoy it a bit more. It didn't do anything for me. It was like eating a very bland meal.
Just finished
and
. I've decided with the last Kurt Wallander novel just out I need to read the entire series and Dogs of Riga blew me away. Just started
and am totally loving it.
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
The New Yorker Stories (other topics)The Year of the Flood (other topics)
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (other topics)
Mudbound (other topics)
The Windup Girl (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Téa Obreht (other topics)Chris Bohjalian (other topics)
Chris Bohjalian (other topics)
R.J. Ellory (other topics)
C.S. Forester (other topics)
More...
Reacher is enlisted by a hard-bitten Blackwater style mercenary corporation to find a kidnapper and his captives, a young woman and her eight year old daughter. From the Dakota Hotel in New York City to a farm in the English countryside, this book has danger, thrills, and tension galore. I couldn't wait for opportunities to get back to it.
As always in the Reacher books, the bad guys are bad. Really bad. And you can't wait for Reacher to deal with them. Permanently.