The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice (my third time) and is about half-way through. The last two books I've read (Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Let the Right One In) were a bit depressing, so I was in desperate need of some cheerful Jane Austen! I think I'll reread all her novels during the next couple of years - am especially looking forward to Northanger Abbey which I remember as quite amusing.
Gitte wrote: "I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice (my third time) and is about half-way through. The last two books I've read (Tess of the D'Urbervilles and [book:Let the Right One In|9434..."I know what you mean Gitte about Hardy novels, they all seem so grim and downbeat. Catherine Cookson novels are roughly set in the same era and they are a lot better. Well in the most part. The heroines sometimes have to suffer a lot but they always have happy endings.
I have tried Jane Austen but sadly the magic has never worked for me and I have always had to give up reading them.
Jason wrote: "Gitte wrote: "I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice (my third time) and is about half-way through. The last two books I've read (Tess of the D'Urbervilles and [book:Let the Rig..."I've never read any of her books, which one would you recommend to start with?
'sokay, Jason, as long as I have the author I can find it. And that looks like another cool one. The phrase is "wicked awesome," for us Bostonians.Alicia, Jessica, El and I have all read the Inferno recently. I liked it the least because, I think, I used a sub-par translation. Go with Musa's. It's worth checking out.
Rene wrote: "Jean: Glad you thought that way about the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Thought I had missed something because I did not like it or "get it" either.I am reading The Given Day now."
Rene: Our book group is discussing The Given Day today. I am really looking forward to our discussion. It is such a rich book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Gitte wrote: "Jason wrote: "Gitte wrote: "I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice (my third time) and is about half-way through. The last two books I've read (Tess of the D'Urbervilles and [bo..."Thats a tough one !!! She has written so many !! Try the Mallen novels, they are in omnibus form and I think they are most of the Mallen novels. She didn't write one of books so much as series of novels about particular characters.
Gitte wrote: "I've never read any of her books, which one would you recommend to start with?"My first Jane Austen was Sense and Sensibility.
Alicia, I'm enjoying The Inferno. It is slow-going, since I really want to take my time with it (plus my edition has a crazy amount of summaries and end notes that takes a while to get through). I really, really liked JS&MN. It took me a couple weeks, but it was so worth it. I loved the footnotes, too. It just added so much "history" to the story.
Speaking of footnotes...have you guys read House of Leaves? One of my faves and footnotes galore!
Rene wrote: "Jean: Glad you thought that way about the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Thought I had missed something because I did not like it or "get it" either.I am reading The Given Day now."
I read The Given Day a few months ago for my book club and REALLY liked it. I felt like it took a little while to pick up, but once it did I couldn't put it down. It's one of those fantastic historical fiction books that gives you an idea of what it was really like to live during that time. The characters were great and the story lines were so well written. Oh, and hopefully this won't sway your opinion of me, but I also really liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time... :)
Hi all change of plan have decided to read next after Time a users guide The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent DesignFeel like I should work up to a challenging theoretical physics book, after these easy reads.
Won't be for a while though as I am still reading the Congo book and before I read Susskind I will doubtless need to stock up on aspirins first as heavy science nearly always makes my head hurt ( in a good way ! ).
Whew. Susskind "compares our universe to a rolling ball on an undulating landscape." Right. Er...obviously.
What can I say Alex I enjoy a challenge and I am a part time Sci Fi geek and I should go out more !!!
I love this stuff. It's often way over my head, but when I do figure some tiny little part of it out, I feel so smart.You know the hologram theory? Like, a hologram has all the information its 3D original has, but expressed in just two dimensions. The idea is that, similarly, our universe has all the info for all nine (or however many) dimensions, but only expressed in four dimensions. So the universe as we know it is a glorified hologram. I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, but it's totally awesome.
Have not read Susskind, but really enjoyed The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory, by Brian Greene. (I also really liked how he uses Simpsons characters for his examples.)
I just finished 'Cat and Mouse' by James Patterson last night. I enjoy the series, even though it is really just 'book crack'. Overall, a pretty good read.Planning on starting 'The Alexandria Link' by Steve Berry who I also enjoy reading quite a bit tonight.
I have just finished Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant - an intelligent, well-written story of a young Italian noblewoman's spirited fight against condemnation (not too strong a word) by her family to life in a convent. I read this novel in two days during the Easter holiday, and it was a rare treat - one of those books that is impossible to put down, yet you don't want it to end.
I'm just getting started on "The Reliable Wife"
I ended up giving The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time three stars, I liked it but it definitely wasn't love...the concept was great but the plot left me wanting a little more...House of Leaves is an amazing creation! Anyone into footnotes should absolutely read it.
As for what Jane Austen to read first I would recommend Persuasion, although in my opinion you can't go wrong with any of them.
I am working my way through East of Eden now
I have started reading two books: First one is curious incident of the dog and the other one is Blood Brothers. Both good books so far.
Alex wrote: "Whew. Susskind "compares our universe to a rolling ball on an undulating landscape." Right. Er...obviously."Maybe he was "talking baseball" - a rolling ball on a perfectly even and mowed grass field that bounces and twists after it was sharply hit out to the middle of the field.... LOL
Lori Ann wrote: "I ended up giving The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time three stars, I liked it but it definitely wasn't love...the concept was great but the plot left me wanting a little m..."I concur with you on Persuasion! One of my favorites by Austen!! :)
Katie wrote: "...Thanks to F1Wild, I really want to read Moloka'i."Let me know if it has you crying, too! Also, has anyone read Honolulu by Alan Brennert and was it as terrific?
Susanna wrote: "Have not read Susskind, but really enjoyed The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory, by Brian Greene. (I also really liked how he use..."I just got this, heard it's really good. I can't wait to read it!
Susanna wrote: "Have not read Susskind, but really enjoyed The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory, by Brian Greene. (I also really liked how he use..."I would love this! My husband & I are into the British series, Wonders of the Solar System, hosted by Prof. Brian Cox and love, love, love this stuff!!
I'm currently reading 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins and 'Life As We Knew It' by Susan Beth Pfeffer.Both great books so far.
I'm really excited to see how 'Life As We Knew It' ends. I honestly can't put it down.
:D
Finished up The Graveyard Book. Cute book :) Aside from the triple murder beginning, it seems like a really good book for young kids! Now starting Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate, #1) by Gail Carriger. I read a preview of the first few chapters and was hooked.
Jason wrote: "Gitte wrote: "Jason wrote: "Gitte wrote: "I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice (my third time) and is about half-way through. The last two books I've read ([book:Tess of the D'Urbervilles|..."Sounds great! I love series and enjoy the familiarity of it and how you really get to 'know' the characters when you revisit them.
I've added The Mallen Streak to my wish list - thanks for the recommendation :-)
Finally finished InkHeart which I liked though I didn't like how long it took me to finish it.
Started
today which is so far suprising. I started it during my lunch break and had trouble putting it down.
Its about a man who has just been released from prison after being found innocent of murder(though he's already served 12 years). The writing is a little odd as its like your in his head and every sentence is every thought he has which is only a few words long. I think I will continue enjoying it.
Started
today which is so far suprising. I started it during my lunch break and had trouble putting it down. Its about a man who has just been released from prison after being found innocent of murder(though he's already served 12 years). The writing is a little odd as its like your in his head and every sentence is every thought he has which is only a few words long. I think I will continue enjoying it.
Finished Runaway yesterday - absolutely loved it. I used to turn my nose up at short story collections, but Alice Munro is changing my mind. Although it's not just her - I've read a few other collections in the last few years that I've really liked too. But Munro really is the master. Picking up a book I nabbed from my little brother's left-over university readings, Things Fall Apart. I remembered the title from my university days, such a long time ago - although we never read it because the prof couldn't get the book in, or something. It's started out interesting, I think I'll like it.
I'm reading Pride & Prejudice as well as 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King. Absolutely loving the both of them! They're the only things getting me through the rest of this semester!
Lori Ann wrote: "I ended up giving The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time three stars, I liked it but it definitely wasn't love...the concept was great but the plot left me wanting a little m..."I loved East of Eden. Let us know what you think.
Krista wrote: "I'm currently reading 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins and 'Life As We Knew It' by Susan Beth Pfeffer.Both great books so far.
"
My hubby's in the middle of The God Delusion and we discuss each chapter almost nightly.
I had three library books come in all at the same time. At our library, you can only have them for two weeks if they are new and you can only renew them if no one else is in line. I have some reading to do, but I am going to start with Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, since that one has a line!!!
I'm working on The Grapes of Wrath...about half way through. I'm not yet sure how I feel about it, but I can't stop reading.I also have a stack of 5 books from the library. My library has the same rules as Marti's. So up next is Fantasy in Death which is new and has a line.
i finished Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde this evening. it was an enjoyable book, although i wasn't as enthralled with it as i was his Thursday Next series.i think i'll be starting a Madeline Wickham book next, not sure what the name of it is.
I finished The Moonstone, now I am reading A Reliable Wife. I am finding it absorbing. I can really feel Truitt's Homeless Heart. I am also starting Every Man Dies Alone powerful book about German resistance in WWll.
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I finished The Moonstone, now I am reading A Reliable Wife. I am finding it absorbing. I can really feel Truitt's Homeless Heart. I am also starting Every Man Dies Alone powerful book about German ..I'm reading "A Reliable Wife" also. I'm only 100 pages in so far though.
Paula wrote: "Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I finished The Moonstone, now I am reading A Reliable Wife. I am finding it absorbing. I can really feel Truitt's Homeless Heart. I am also starting Every Man Dies Alone p..."I am liking it so far. I am at a point I didn't expect the story to take. So that was a surprise. Maybe we can compare notes later.
I finished THE GREATEST KNIGHT by Elizabeth Chadwick this evening. Started THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom. I think this will be another wonderful story. But I am looking at Amazon to find another book to buy.....
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "Paula wrote: "Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I finished The Moonstone, now I am reading A Reliable Wife. I am finding it absorbing. I can really feel Truitt's Homeless Heart. I am also starting Every Ma...Yes, I'd enjoy that Carol! I'll keep you posted on how far I get. : )
Taking a break from reality with Wizard's First Rule. I'm giving it the prize for most typos in the first 50 pages ever. Other than that, it's pretty entertaining so far.
Marti wrote: "I had three library books come in all at the same time. At our library, you can only have them for two weeks if they are new and you can only renew them if no one else is in line. I have some read..."Marti, that is how it is at my library as well. Right now I have 5 books at home, only one of which is a 14 day loan. And, just got a notice today on a book that I put on hold has come in and this one too is a 14 day loan!
I finished Horns by Joe Hill last night and I loved it! Sure, it wasn't completely scary, but it was an amusing and touching story. Now I'm reading The Tribes of Palos Verdes: A Novel by Joy Nicholson and don't want to put it down.
i just finished Industrial Magic By Kelley Armstrong and i started Angels and Demons By Dan Brown
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The Next Best Book Club
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Suzanne - I am on the wai..."
Marti, I read The Crimson Rooms and I was so bored while reading it. The only reason I finished it was because it was a First Reads win. Still, I'm glad you're enjoying it more than I did.
I just finished Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst and am surprised I liked it as much as I did since I don't like reality tv. But since she was able to mock reality tv while simultanenously having a plot revolve around it, I was able to enjoy it more. Now I'm going to start reading Horns by Joe Hill, which is a First Reads win.