The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
I finally finished Emma in the wee hours of the morning. While it definitely isn't my favorite Austen novel, I did end up really liking it (once I got through the first half). I'm off to start Guernsey now...
Kellie, its frustrating to teach a book that most of the people in the room hate, and knowing my first experience wasn't that good makes it hard to build the hype I need. Oh well, maybe next year. Liz, glad you liked it!
Jamie, I'm quite jealous of you. I really want to read Emma, but I don't have the time! I desperately wanted to take an Austen class this year and could have, except for my English major I have to do x number of classes, and I already had classes for that time period--that one may have been similar to one I've already taken--gah! Plus apparently there is actually a ceiling for how many classes I'm permitted to take for my major. I want to get to it next academic year.By the way, can I just say how immensely jealous of everyone who has or is reading Twilight? My cousin got it for me for Christmas, and my parents were supposed to bring my xmas/birthday package from her to Spain, where we met for xmas as I'm in Europe, but alas, it didn't get to them in time :(
Liz, do you mean they control how many classes you can take in the English major? I must have taken at least 6 courses over the requirements.... just because I liked taking the courses.
I am really getting into GUERNSEY. I am liking it so much better this time!! Once I got over the letter format, I really got into the story of the island. On page 145 now!
JG wrote: "Christine, I loved Waiting for Snow in Havana. We had actually bought this for my father-in-law, who was growing up in Cuba around the same time as the author. He loved it and said that the guy g..."Hi JG,
Thanks for the posting. What you wrote peaked my interest and I want to read this :)
Christine wrote: "JGI have People of the Book on my bedside table but have yet to start it. I loved March and Year of Wonders so I look forward to getting to that one. Let me know what you think.
"
Hi Christine,
I really enjoyed People of the Book. The trips into history are really appreciated by me. History was never my favourite subject, but books like these make history much more attractive and riveting.
Liz - A class on Austen would be great! I hope you can find some time to read a couple of books that interest you, at least. I know how hard it is to find time to read while in school, though. I always felt guilty for procrastinating if I read anything not class-related. I loved the Twilight series! I hope you are able to get it soon. It's such a quick read that I'd bet you could find the time for it!
Moby DickI ling way down
but started also a Donna Leon story. Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
Jana, I think you're right. I even think Sittenfeld grew between her first two. This one seems much more polished from what I've heard.
I finished Stardust this morning, and it was good. Now I'm starting Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.
Ann from S.C. wrote: "I am really getting into GUERNSEY. I am liking it so much better this time!! Once I got over the letter format, I really got into the story of the island. On page 145 now!"YAY !! Ann, I really hoped you would enjoy it. It seems like it would be right up your alley.
Jeane wrote: "Moby DickI ling way down
but started also a Donna Leon story. [b:Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery|28978|Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Guido Brunetti M..."
How is reading Moby Dick going? I remember it being the hardest book to get through in high school. I often wonder if I'd pick it up now, would I feel differently. Everytime I think about it, I remember the first time and I decide not to...
just finished Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time...LOVED it! definitely written for me :)now i'm starting Breaking Dawn so i can finally finish the series.
started Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell this afternoon. if all of these footnotes keep popping up throughout, it's going to take me forever to finish the book! so far so good though.
Just finished Dying Breath by Wendy Corsi Staub. I recommend it to anyone who loves a "who done it" book. It was really good. Going to curl up with Tales of Beedle the Bard tonight. It looks to be a fast read.
I finished the book by Jefferson Bass and enjoyed it so much I picked up his second book, "Flesh and Bone".
I've had the worst week. My wallet was stolen, and I had to cancel all of my credit cards, my checking account, my debit card. Instead of getting a new social security card or a license, I went to get a new library card today! You can tell where my priorities are!! Anyway, I came home with The Brief History of the Dead and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Hopefully they will cheer me up!!
Laura - I finished Guernsey about 6 o'clock this evening. Delightful book.This evening I shall probably start The Judgment of Caesar, by Steven Saylor
Mod
BUT on the brite side, you got two really really good books. Brief History of the Dead was good. It has alternating chapters and the City of the Dead chapters are really good!
Jamie wrote: "just finished [b:Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time|46190|Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time|Rob Sheffield|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170......"Love is a Mixtape looks really interesting. I want to check it out.
Laura, I hate being wrong about anything...except books!!! lol
Finally finished The Name of the Rose. Really a brilliant book. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Starting on Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams. I can't imagine it being less than amazing. :)
Sometimes I read young adult books for myself (not merely because I want to keep up with my students). Right now, I am reading "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Peter Ness, and am fascinated by the narrator's voice (13-year-old boy) as well as the subject--the world as it would be if we continue to eliminate boundaries between the self and the buzz around us. Highly entertaining.
Earlier today I finished Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead and tonight I am going to start Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre.
Leslie wrote: "Sometimes I read young adult books for myself (not merely because I want to keep up with my students). Right now, I am reading "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Peter Ness, and am fascinated by th..."Leslie, I totally agree with you. I used to say I was reading the books because of my students, but I finally had to admit to myself, that I simply just enjoy reading them. Even though, its nice to know what they are talking about...
Im currently reading Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses, New Moon, and Don't Be Sad! I first began with Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses but when a friend sent me a copy of New Moon i also started reading it. And just last tuesday a friend gave me Dont be Sad! Now the latter is my priority; I've been wanting to have a copy of that book and now that i have it i always carry it with me although I don't have the luxury of time to read it as much as I would love too.
Emily wrote: "Earlier today I finished Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead and tonight I am going to start Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre."some of the best stuff written today is for them, not us. I sometimes feel like it is their world already.
(which I used to tell them so they would start taking an interest in the world, but it just may be true!) Thanks, Emily
Oh Eliza that's terrible. Do you know where you were when you noticed someone had taken it? I just had to laugh though when I read your comment because of the library card thing. It sounds like something I would do myself and that's why it struck me funny. I hope that everything works out in the end though. Take care and Happy New Year.
Eliza, that sucks! I hope reading cheers you up a bit and that your week gets better!
Vicki wrote: "Jeane wrote: "Moby DickI ling way down
but started also a Donna Leon story. [b:Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery|28978|Suffer the Little Children: A Commissario Gu..."
Vickt After wanting to read it since a while, I decided to start it about 3 years ago. Never got far. tried it again later but same senario. Also tried it through dailylit but since moving I use my bf's laptop so didn't continue anymore. Got it from the library and am determined to finish it for the winter challenge ... but hope to read more when I start working tomorrow, on the bus.
Oh Jeane you found a job. That's great. Good luck. Is tomorrow your first day? What will you be doing?
I just finished Second Summer of the Sisterhood and I am started the Girls in Pants... I needed some fluff (plus they fit in the Winter Challenge :) They are cute stories, but I did like the first one better. I kind of want to see the movie now.
Vicki wrote: "Kellie, its frustrating to teach a book that most of the people in the room hate, and knowing my first experience wasn't that good makes it hard to build the hype I need. Oh well, maybe next year. ..."Maybe your discussions in class can focus on why they don't like it. I bet some of the students could get really passionate about that. :)
Kelly wrote: "Oh Jeane you found a job. That's great. Good luck. Is tomorrow your first day? What will you be doing?"What i will be doing is still confusing, but the job title is Dutch collection analyst.
Finished Suffer the little children by Donna Leon. Always like her stories. Now I started What Are You Like? but it is weird. still reading A Long Way Down but that one is weird too.
I finished reading Saturday by Ian McEwan yesterday. Today, I'm starting on Good Omens, which I am looking forward to.
Well I am glad you found it and it sounds so sophisticated. Good Luck.
Fiona, didn't know they would be weird. But the book what are you like was the one I saw for the what, when, who task of the challenge. I kept looking for oteher books starting with one of them but didn't have much luck. The summary looked okay....
Vicki, the issue of how many classes I am actually allowed to take for my major hasn't entirely been explained to me. What's weird is that since I am abroad this semester I take one less class than I normally would but now every class I take is worth twice the credit (it's so complicated).Heather, what did you think of The Beetle and the Bard?
Allison wrote: "I finished Stardust this morning, and it was good. Now I'm starting Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. "I really liked Stardust as well. I need to read the Dexter books!
Leslie wrote: "Sometimes I read young adult books for myself (not merely because I want to keep up with my students). Right now, I am reading "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Peter Ness, and am fascinated by th..."I almost always read young adult. I've got two kids and go to school so that takes up a lot of my reading time!
Fiona wrote: "Jeane wrote: "Finished Suffer the little children by Donna Leon. Always like her stories. Now I started [b:What Are You Like?|1936109|What Are You Like?|Anne Enright|http://photo.goodreads.com/book..."I thought Saturday was actually much better than I expected it to be. The writing was beautiful, and it never seemed boring. I particularly found the bits about the Iraqi war interesting. It made me want to read another McEwan book soon.
Melissa, You should pick up the Dexter books, I bet you'd like them. I can't put this one down. I was even reading while I was blow drying my hair and cooking yesterday, haha. :)
Leslie wrote: "Sometimes I read young adult books for myself (not merely because I want to keep up with my students). Right now, I am reading "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Peter Ness, and am fascinated by th..." Leslie, I totally agree with you. I used to say I was reading the books because of my students, but I finally had to admit to myself, that I simply just enjoy reading them. Even though, its nice to know what they are talking about...
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I AM WITH YOU GUYS on the YA front. I read them mostly for me as well.
Allison wrote: "Melissa, You should pick up the Dexter books, I bet you'd like them. I can't put this one down. I was even reading while I was blow drying my hair and cooking yesterday, haha. :) "Well, I watch the show and I love it. I'm planning on reading them soon!
Melissa, let me know how you like the books when you get to them. :) I have never seen the show, but I heard it's awesome! :) Glad to hear you like it.
Moby Dick is ready in my back for tomorrow! Feel like reading something I enjoy as the two other books I am reading are a bit weird and boring but don't want to start another one. That would be four and can't be sure it won't be boring also. I am really pushing myself to finish What are you like?. Another 100 pages.
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The Next Best Book Club
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I've had a lot of people recommend Revolutionary Road. Melissa C. Walker actually recommended it very highly, and told me I would love it. So I figure it's probably good.