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The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
I just finished The Ocean Inside by Janna McMahan. It was really good. You would enjoy it if you enjoy Jodi Picoult. I just started Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky. It's good so far.
Finished Biker Chicks which was ok, thought it would have a bit more insight then it did.
Now I'm starting to read White Stone Day by John Maclauchlan Gray. Only about 15 pages in but it hasn't grabbed me yet.
Now I'm starting to read White Stone Day by John Maclauchlan Gray. Only about 15 pages in but it hasn't grabbed me yet.
Paula wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Just starting Mystic River. I saw the movie, but it was quite a while ago so I don't remember anything.Stephanie, I've read two books by this author and loved both of them. Myst..."
I finished Mystic River up yesterday and I was so impressed by it! I thought it was really well written and the character development was great.
Next up for me is The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebeca Wells. I am quite looking forward to it, as I adored the Ya Yas!
I am reading Willow. Still have Betrayed on the back burner becuase this book is soooo good!
Bridgit wrote: "And I have just started Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne. This is my first Verne and I am very excited." I love Jules Vernes. I have 20 000 under the sea ebook on my Ipod and I'm rereading it on and off. My all time favourite Vernes is Michel Strogoff. I reread it every other year.
I'm reading a romance novel. I've been known to read a few a year. Got this one from a rec from the Smart Bitches blog article looking for disabled heroines. So far Dancing In The Moonlight is pretty good and doesn't make me want to throw it across the room. *g*
I just started Jane Eyre, which I have never read. This will probably take me a long time to read because I am not used to the language. So far, I like her spirit!!
Just finished Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes which was a quick and cute semi-scientific read. I would have liked it better if it had been formatted around an actual point or thesis rather than as a question answer browse book, but the author was upfront with what the book was so I suppose I can't hold that against her (not to mention that he other book seems to be some sort of self-help book so I would be wrong to expect a great scientific work on neuroscience). Also could have done without the, as one reviewer put it, "cosmo-esque" interventions after certain questions on how to manipulate concepts she talked about in your own love life. Three stars.I was in the middle of Dracula when I started Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes but felt stalled half way. I'm going to give that book a rest for now since I'm really not "feeling it" and am moving on to Free Fall by William Golding which has been sitting on my shelf forever.
Aimee wrote: "I made a trip to the library today and came home with too many books.The Poisonwood Bible-Barbara Kingsolver
The Yiddish Policeman's Union-Michael Chabon
The Castle in the Forest-Norman Mailer
..."
I really enjoyed One Hundred Years of Solitude and The Poisonwood Bible. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is one of my all time FAVORITE books, really hope you enjoy them!
Mod
I love Jules Vernes. I have 20 000 under the sea ebook on..."
Im a big ole Verne fan as well. I love hearing what ppl think when they read him for the first time. Have either of you read The Mysterious Island? By far my favorite Verne novel!
Jayme wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I am just starting 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill...I know he is Stephen Kings son so I am hoping this one is a little spooky!"I'm slowly making my way to this on..."
Jayme and Stephanie- 20th Century Ghosts is an excellent collection! Not all the stories are spooky but they're all different.
Jenna wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Finished the Lovely Bones which was really disappointing. Now starting Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld."
What did u find disappointing?"
Rachel,
I hated the end...it seeme..."
Jenna, I read The Lovely Bones a couple years ago and I just remember liking the book as a whole. Although, I did see the movie and didn't like the ending of that which I believe is the end of the book, so maybe I agree with you. Time for a reread :)
Now you're going to wonder how an author can have so much time to read. I don't, and that's why I have about four books going at once. I make myself read two chapters from every book each night or I'd never get through them. Here's what I just finished reading and what I'm reading in February:Finished: An Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes. This was a good erotic romance. I hope to write up a review for it soon here on Shelfari. Wildes is a great writer, and this is a historical -- about a woman who has a tortured past (husband was cruel and he died) and now she's decided to get back into the swing of social life. Two very decadent men have made a public bet that each is a better love than the other. When the widow finds out about the bet, she contacts them and offers to be the judge. Here's where it gets interesting, because we're supposed to have a Happily-ever-after, right? Well, you'll just have to read the book to find out how Ms. Wildes accomplished the HEA.
Finished: Drawn Into Darkness: Annette McCleave, This was good. It rate it about a four. An angel/demon theme with lots of scripture quotes. It's also a romantic/paranormal. I believe this is a debut book. I recommend reading if you like this genre.
Reading:
The Bronze Horseman, Pauline Simons. In fact, I just joined a group on Goodreads dedicated solely to this book. It's set in Russia during one of the big wars and features a lot of starvation, war, deplorable state of living and all that angst. It's very good and quite lengthy coming in at over 600 pages. Go to Goodreads if you've read this book or are interested in discussing it.
The Field Guide to Angels and Demons. Don't ask! This is exactly what it says, a guide about all the different demons that exist in society from countries around the world. Legend and lore type thing and how to get rid of a certain demon if you're having trouble with one. I bought this for research purposes, but it's enjoyable.
Enchanted, Elizabeth Lowell, blurb: A medieval age of passion and conquest in a tumultuous era of warriors and ladies. Simon the Loyal has agreed to marry Arianne, an unwilling Norman heiress in order to bring peace to the troubled lands. So far, so good, Lowell is also a good writer, and this is a typical medieval novel.
Belladonna, Anne Bishop. This is the second book in her series. I think the first one was titled Sebastian. And I bought them out of order. Now, I must go back and read the first. The writing is deep and the plot complicated, but if you concentrate and stick with it, quite enjoyable. Blurb: The Eater of the World is casting its shadow over the landscape of Ephemera, tainting people's souls with doubts and fears. Glorianna Belladonna possesses the ability to thwart the Eater, but she's not along. Michael, a man with mysterious power of his own will help.
Warlord, Elizabeth Elliott, an older medieval historical about an arranged marriage. So far so good, although I am not spellbound. This book came highly recommended by readers who love medieval romance.
More later and Happy Reading!
Keta Diablo
http://www.ketadiablo.com
On Order"
House of Dark Desires, Louisa Burton
Soulless
Writerlibrarian wrote: "Bridgit wrote: "And I have just started Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne. This is my first Verne and I am very excited." I love Jules Vernes. I have 20 000 under the sea ebook on..."
I am about 3/4 through Journey to the Center of the Earth and feel like a giddy 14 year old boy. I love it! What an adventure! I can't imagine how someone must have felt at the time of original publication to open this up and get lost in such a journey - this would have been light years ahead of anything written at the time in terms of action/adventure/excitement.
Can't wait to get to 20,000 leagues. I bought that at the same time.
Lori - havent read anything else of his, but have 20,000 Leagues. Planning on buying Around the World and Mysterious Island next!
Jamesland by Michelle Huneven. I am liking it even more than Blame. She is an amazing writer with a real gift for language and her characters are all so intelligent and interesting.
Just finished Under the Dome by Stephen King. Give it a 5. What a great read. It just never lets you take a breath.
Jo, my hubby read that. I can't wait to read it! But first I have to read Sipping From The Nile by Jean Naggar for our Feb book club on The Women's Nest. I'll get there!
I am now reading Extras. I am liking this one better than the other 2 before this one. I am not really crazy about the wrinting but I do enjoy the concept.
I'll let you know. Jean Naggar's book is really interesting so far, too. I have too many books going at once! I wonder if I can invent an extra few hours in the day:-)
I just finished The Hour I First Believed: A Novel. Meh. I was really disappointed - I had absolutely loved Lamb's last book, I Know This Much Is True, but this was a real let down. It was depressing - nothing good ever happened to anybody - and the ending felt very manipulative and false. Moving on to Michael Crummey's Galore, which I've heard great things about.
I felt the same with with The Hour I First Believed. I couldn't even finish it! It was too boring for me.
Linda wrote: "Just finished Under the Dome by Stephen King. Give it a 5. What a great read. It just never lets you take a breath."I finished this last week, Linda, and agree with you! I thought it was so good and hard to put down (despite the weight of the book -lol).
Mod
I love Jules Vernes. I have 20 ..."
You cant go wrong with any of those! And I am so happy to hear how much you love the book!!! You havent read till youve read a Verne!
Mod
Ive just started Totally Killer: A Novel. This author will do for the 90's what Brett Easton Ellis did for the 80's methinks.
I've started Wuthering Heights and Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature's 50 Greatest Hits. I delved right into the chapter on Ulysses, having just finished that book, and laughed at his description of it. It's quite spot on.
I am listening to a long abridgment of THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova, and it is a page-turner! I listen to it on my way to and from work in the dark, and the 6 professional readers are captivating. They do a superb job scaring the living daylights out of me. Her new book,THE SWAN THIEVES:A NOVEL will be available for my Kindle in AprilInside I was listening to the unabridged version of THE HELP, and I can't recommend it enough. Three different women do the narration, and their performance is equally as splendid as the above book.
I will write a review of both when finished.
I am setting THE HELP aside for the moment as I must read THE LAW OF FORGIVENESS for my book club this Fri morning. The author will be there answering questions.
Then the following week I have to read some of Harry Bernstein's trilogy memoir for another book club that meets Feb 7. I've read some of everything but will need to get it alltogether with notes. Love my new Kindle too.
I'm reading Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer at the moment. It's been making the rounds at work, and I was feeling a little left out of the reading circle, so when my coworker offered to let me borrow it, I jumped at the chance. It's simultaneously horrifying and fascinating, like watching the proverbial train wreck. I can't imagine having to share a husband with other wives!
Beth wrote: "Last night I started reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough"LOVING FRANK we just read for my bookclub a few months ago. Interesting twists and turns in FLW's life. I'm not a spoiler, so will leave comments for later. I think I was in my 20s when I read THE THORNBIRDS, and now I'm 60. Hard to believe it's still around, and the movie (made for tv, I think)starred Richard Chamberlain, and the lead female's name I simply can't remember. Good flick!
Tani wrote: "I'm reading Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer at the moment. It's been making the rounds at work, and I was feeling a little left out o..."SHATTERED DREAMS: My Life As a Polygamist's Wife is also on my TBR shelf, near the bottom. I've been following that religious sect for years, so I can just imagine how trapped that woman felt.
That was quite a cast - Richard Chamberlain, Christopher Plummer, Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Simmons.You may be thinking of Rachel Ward, Vonney.
Vonney and Susanna, once I finish reading The Thorn Birds I plan on getting the DVD of the mini-series from Netflix. The book is really good so far!
I am immersed in a very leisurely pass through Dorothy Dunnett's To Lie with Lions, a comfort read I can put down or dwell over. She has such a way of building historical atmosphere.
Hi Janny, Going to have to try Dunnett again. Heard so many great things about her books. Read the beginning of one once and had trouble. Must stick with it next time. Which do you suggest I begin with? Can you recommend?Best, Keta
Tani wrote: "I'm reading Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer at the moment. It's been making the rounds at work, and I was feeling a little left out o..."Have you read Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall? Really startling! And I used to treat children from Colorado City in my dental clinic years ago - all with last name of Jessop - and there were hundreds of them!
I decided to take a short break after reading The Help & Three Cups of Tea... and am finishing a bit of junk-food reading - Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone & Wendy Leigh...and it really is a wee bit of self-indulgent junk. :-(
JG wrote: "I just finished Truly, Madly, which was a fun little book, and now I'm starting Shutter Island. The movie pushed that one right up to the top of my list!Hope you enjoy "Shutter Island" JG. I'm anxious to see the movie now, I loved the book!
Keta wrote: "Hi Janny, Going to have to try Dunnett again. Heard so many great things about her books. Read the beginning of one once and had trouble. Must stick with it next time. Which do you suggest I begin ..."Keta - this author is not a simple read, for several reasons: her erudite vocabulary, her extreme ability to build atmosphere, and her tendency to bring on characters who are not what they seem. The books are complex, build very slowly, and tend to end in ways that whiplash your early presumptions. I read my first on a transatlantic boat trip - and would definitely not have persisted, had I been at home. But since this book was my only reading (very thick) I stuck to it - and was I glad I did! She's become a favorite, since.
To start? If you want a standalone, she did an astounding take on Macbeth that is not anything like Shakespeare's - but fits into the historical culture of the region (she was Scottish) and the times. That book is titled King Hereafter, and most historical readers tend to concur that it's her easiest to access.
If you love long, involved series, and the unpredictability of a character that has been fit into a historical setting, but whose destiny is not "fixed" by a famed persona, then her Crawford of Lymond series is excellent. This begins with The Game of Kings. Be prepared that all of your opinions about the characters are going to be shocked into reverse. (I just love books that do this, for their extreme unpredictability)
Dunnett has also written a series of mysteries - and they are also deep, complex, and nothing like her historical work. The lead character is a portrait painter - among other things. Dunnett herself painted portraits, and also was a singer - this lends a uniquely vivid edge to her prose. Her books are not everyone's cup of tea, but I find them a rare treasure. Her use of language and her breadth of research are impeccable.
i finished Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan last night, it was the February selection for my library book group.it was a decent story, set in a smaller city just north of PGH called Butler, and takes place in about 1974. it was very good writing, and i can see how it won an award in the early 1990s. however, if you aren't one who leans towards "literature" over "fiction", this probably isn't a book that would hold much appeal for you.
not sure what to start next, i was thinking of Serpent's Tale from Ariana Franklin, but I'm thinking this may be book 3 and not book 2 like i thought, so i'm going to need to check that out before i start it.
I finished THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE. It was good, but I did not like the ending. Now am reading ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop about her life and escape from a polygamist life.
Jamaie wrote: "Next for me is The Help."Please share what you think of The Help, I have heard so many mixed reviews on this book.
Beth wrote: "Last night I started reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough"Beth, Are you enjoying Loving Frank? I did like this book when I read it.
Brenda, I'm not very far into Loving Frank but it seems like it's going to be good!
Janny wrote: "Keta wrote: "Hi Janny, Going to have to try Dunnett again. Heard so many great things about her books. Read the beginning of one once and had trouble. Must stick with it next time. Which do you sug..."Thank you so much, Janny, for the most helpful explanation. I will try her again. I just remember selecting one of her books at the library and returning it unread, but now I have a ken to take her on again.
I think we all fall into the trap of discarding a book if it seems deep and complicated, yet at times those are some of the best reads in the end.
I did the same with Anne Bishop. Bought her Belladonna last year, read a few chapters and put it down. When I came across it on my bookshelf two weeks ago, I was determined to re-enter her world and concentrate. I'm enjoying it now, and amazed at how some authors minds work.
Now I'm just starting The Bronze Horseman by Pauline Simons a very lengthy book and she has two additional books that fall after the first. When, oh, when am I going to have time to read all these wonderful stories?
Thanks again, very kind of you,
Keta
http://www.ketadiablo.com
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The Next Best Book Club
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Paul Rix here [again:] I've just finished a book one of my sons got me for Christmas, Mad Dogs and Englishmen 'an expedition round my family' by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. My son bought it because he knew I had met the author, all be it briefly when I was in the army. This book is quite remarkable as it follows the fortunes of the Fiennes clan from just before William the Conqueror to when Sir Ranulph was born. The amazing thing is I learnt more history, which I hate!, reading this book than I did in five years at grammar school. This country I am proud to call home certainly has a checkered past and seems to have been ruled mainly by psycopaths with incestuous, pedaphiliac tendancies. His family tree is more like a spiders web than a tree. I found it very entertaining, and informative, yes I enjoyed it, surprising as it is a million miles away from my normal reading. I give it four stars, almost deserving the elusive five.
All the best Paul Rix [old geezer:]