The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
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Fiona (Titch)
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Dec 22, 2008 12:19PM
Just finished In Their Footsteps - Tess Gerritsen. Now gonna read Stardust - Neil Gaiman.
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Linda is right Robin! Don't NOT read Sawtelle because of me...The writing of this book is superb! I was just disappointed in the ending...that's me. I normally have different opinions from everyone anyway. Most people raved about this book
Hey Kellie, - I'm not not reading Sawtelle because of you. Or anyone for that matter and I'm not saying I'm not going to read it but one of the things I use GR for is to try and find books that I will like and possibly avoid those that I don't - it really only means that it goes down the TBR list a bit while I gather more information etc. One thing I will say....I do not like movies or books that "go south" at the end. What do I mean by "going south"...The worst example is a movie called "Pay it Forward" - Great movie - well written, well acted, a great idea with uplifhting consequences - I was loving it then at the VERY last minute they did something unforgivable - IMO - I won't say what it is. It destroyed for me what would have been one of my favorite movies and to this day I turn it off 5 minutes for the end and essentially give it my own ending. So knowing this about Sawtelle just prepares me a bit and at least I won't be "blindsided" so I appreaciate the information.
Fiona wrote: "I voted for Watership Down in one of the polls... I hope it wins!"Me too! -- and of course Gursney which I'm sure will win - wow if both won I'd have less on my plate for January ;-)
Chrystal wrote: "Robin- The Host was very hard to get started.....kind of hard to follow for the first few chapters, but then it picked up pace. I am going to be up late tonight to try to finish it....it's due back..."Hey Crystal, Thanks for letting me know - I love that I'm not the only one doing a marathon to get the book back to the library in time - for me its a by-product of reading multiple books at once which I almost always do.
Linda wrote: "Robin, Glad to see you liked Guernsey and the format as much as I did. Years ago I read"The first time I read a format like this was when I was 13 - 14 it was called "The Fan" and was a thriller where an actress is being "stalked" by an obsessed fan and it was all told thorugh letters that get more "intense" as it goes on - I was really impressed with it though I've not heard of the one you mentioned so I'll check it out.
It think it is an incredibly difficult medium to do - you are taking away a numer of the tools of the author - so I appreciate the skill it takes to have this type of venue and "make it work". Very talented.
Right now I am starting Cross Country by James Patterson.
Robin who is the author of the book Flight?
Kelly, I put in Flight and came up with this name Kazu Kibuishi as they have a few novels out.
These say they are Graphic Novels (whatever that means lol)
I hope Watership down doesn't win...because I am pretty sure it is about that sad movie ...and I don't want to read the book...don't even want to see the movie again. I t was too sad for me and I couldn't handle it well....
Fiona what are graphic novels? Has anyone decided what the January pick is to read? I havent figured out how to get to all the posts and threads. Im still learning. I just found the thread today about the gift exchange that everyone has been talking about since November. Dah?
kelly, when Lori decides which book(s) get most votes she will let us know for january. For now we can once vote on the polls.
you are welcome. I will blame you if my boyfriend wonders where the caffe latte is that I promised him :-))))
Kelly wrote: "Robin who is the author of the book Flight?"It is
Flight: A Novel by Sherman Alexie it is the first book of his that I read. I think it is suppose to be YA -- Not sure I would let my 14 year old son read it though - it is pretty "gritty" (IMO) but that is part of why I like it - this author does not pull any punches.
-- Wife of GR Author Michael J. Sullivan | The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha
Jeane wrote: "I hope Watership down doesn't win...because I am pretty sure it is about that sad movie ...and I don't want to read the book...don't even want to see the movie again. I t was too sad for me and I ..."I'm not sure if you mean sad as in depressing - or sad as in "bad". I found it "touching". I never saw the cartoon and only recently found out about it - From here I think - I would love to re-read the book (It has been 15+ years) and then watch it.
Thanks Robin. You are either up very early or up very late. Im up really late. Its 3:26 am.
Phew Robin...I am glad I'm off the hook on Sawtelle. I think I went a bit overboard expressing my thoughts on this book. I agree with you on books or movies that go south at the end. I don't like it either!
Kelly wrote: "Thanks Robin. You are either up very early or up very late. Im up really late. Its 3:26 am."Little bit of both ;-) I don't sleep much - only 3-4 hours a night. Which gives me lots more time for reading and I'm a work-o-holic too. Its not uncommon for me to do an "all nighter" - Everyone keeps telling me "I'll burn out" but I've had this sleep habit for 20+ years now - it is not something anyone can control - it is "how you are wired".
Robin wrote: "Linda wrote: "Robin, Glad to see you liked Guernsey and the format as much as I did. Years ago I read"The first time I read a format like this was when I was 13 - 14 it was called "The Fan" and..."
Now you have me intrigued. I will have to take a look at The Fan. Thanks. Happy Holiday.
Since I was snowed in this weekend I was able to get some reading done in between homework, GR, and movie watching. I finished "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie. I liked it although towards the end I had to push myself a bit. I did like the twist though.I'll be starting on The Gargoyle hopefully by tonight.
I just finished the 13th Tale and really enjoyed the way it was written. The only puzzling thing for me was trying to figure out what year it was when Margaret was interviewing Vida Winter. I still have not figured that one out yet.
Kellie, Uh-oh...should I attempt The Potato Peel Pie book? Our tastes are quite similar and if it is anything like Sawtelle I'll have to pass.
I have a challenge for Sawtelle lovers.
No argument, but could you tell me why you enjoyed the book and what you appreciated about the story?
I'm just curious.
Linda wrote: "Now you have me intrigued. I will have to take a look at The Fan. Thanks. Happy Holiday."Well I had to do quite a bit of seaching to find the correct one - It looks like it has been remaindered - good news for your pocketbook.The correct book is:The FAN by Bob Randall
I finished Holidays on Ice and A Christmas Carol and just started Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian last night.
Last night I started The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. I have had it on my bookshelf for about 2 years and I decided to pick it up and read it last night. So far I love it! Can't wait to get to the end! Though I think I am going to pass on seeing the movie after I am finished. I don't know if I want to ruin a great book by watching Tom Cruse... Ick.
I'm about 160 pages through American Wife, which is a long one, but I am enjoying it so far. Even if it wasn't based on the Bushes, I would enjoy it, because the connection is not as overt as one would think.I'm also reading Stones for Ibarra, which is about an American couple who move to Mexico to try to reestablish the mine that the husband's grandfather used to run. The book provides a nice comparison between American and Mexican cultures in the 1960s.
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Lori wrote: "Monica, you havent seen the War of the Worlds the film yet??? That was a really great movie, even tho Cruise stars, I thought it was a pretty good role for him. You really should check it out!"I'm debating! I can't stand Tom Cruise! I will see how I feel after reading the book. I probably will. I am one of those people that usually reads the book then goes and rents the movie shortly after wards (and talks the whole time about how the book is better and that's not how it happened in the book LOL).
Monica, maybe rent out the old version of War of the Worlds. 
I would've voted for Watership Down because it's one of my all-time favorites, but instead I voted for Kafka on the Shore. I already have it checked out from the library and intend to read it within January.... It would be nice to read it at the same time as others. I just started Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates, and expect to finish it today unless something else keeps me busy.
Hey Robin,I dont sleep well either. So what time do you sleep? I wish I could exist on that little of sleep so I could get more reading done. LOL.
He's the favorite author of one of my friends--in fact, my friend whose opinion I value the most currently regarding books, movies, and music (even though we do drastically differ in opinion sometimes)--and I'm a little nervous because I haven't read any of his books yet. I suppose I'm worried I'll be expecting too much or that I won't start with the "right" one and get a bad impression. (I also have Sputnik Sweetheart checked out--those are the only two of his books available at any of the libraries within this county or the two adjacent counties.) I'm probably worrying for nothing.
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Kelly I was going to blame you for staying linger online:-)Robin, sad as in....uhm wel sad, crying, sad story...
Finished Stardust. Enjoyed it but movie was much better.
Kelly wrote: "Hey Robin,I dont sleep well either. So what time do you sleep? I wish I could exist on that little of sleep so I could get more reading done. LOL."
Well its not like I have problems sleeping - I have a great ability to sleep anywhere - i.e. on my couch or bed, in a car, train, plane etc. My hubby can't sleep on planes and usually has problems sleeping in hotels - I go out like a light - I sleep very soundly which probably accounts for why I don't need much sleep because when I do it is very deep. It really depends - What ususally happens is I'm working or on-line then I notice it is 2 - 3 am my time then I go to sleep until 5 or 6 and get up. If I've done an all nighter for work then I usually go to sleep early like around 8:00 or so after getting home from work. But then the other day...I was tired and fell sasleep around 8:00 pm and woke up at midnight and then was just up the rest of the night. So I'm really all over the board when it comes to hours I'm asleep.
I just finished Colm Toibin's story collection Mothers and Sons, which is absolutely terrific. I teach creative writing at the MFA programs at Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn College, and I taught the collection to my Sarah Lawrence grad students this semester, and they loved it. I'm also almost done with Ben Rice's short novel Pobby and Dingan. It's a British novel about a boy whose sister's two imaginary friends go "missing" and the way this turn of events shakes up the family and the whole town. The book isn't what it sounds like (if I'd read that description, I wouldn't have been tempted to read the book). It's neither fantasay nor children's literature but is instead a haunting mediation on fable and the imagination. The book won the Somerset Maugham Award and was a New York Times Notable Book.I was introduced to Pobby and Dignan by the book group faciliator at a book group I attended. I say "attended" because I've been doing that a lot lately--I'm the author of the novel MATRIMONY, which was a 2007 NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK, and I've participated in person, by phone, and online in over 80 book group discussions of MATRIMONY. There was a feature article in yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer about my visiting book groups, which might be of interest to some of you. Here's the link. http://www.philly.com/philly/living/2...
Happy Holidays
Kim I don't want to influence your choice on Guernsey. There were parts of the book I liked. Just didn't care much for the format....You may like it!
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I never had imaginary friends growing up, but I would line my cabbage patch dolls up on my bed and "teach" to them... hee hee!
Just started Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb last night... on page 157 and did not want to put it down!!
Robin wrote: "Linda wrote: "Now you have me intrigued. I will have to take a look at The Fan. Thanks. Happy Holiday."Well I had to do quite a bit of seaching to find the correct one - It looks like it has be..."
Gracias!
A Christmas Surprise, which is really great, joyful to read. You have to imagine being around Kerry in Ireland, little village where everybody knows everybody....Moby Dick...still
Just finished The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. I really liked it.Going to start The Clock Winder by Anne Tyler
Jackie, I hope you like The Gargoyle. :) I read it a couple months ago and really enjoyed it! :)I'm currently about half way through The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and it's very good. :)
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