The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
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May 22, 2010 05:05PM
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Lori wrote: "Im already a good third of the way in and it's quite humorous. and a little sad. and very creative."Humorous? I wouldnt expect that!
Alex wrote: "Katie, do you look real carefully into how accurate historical fiction is? The only name I'm real familiar with is McCullough, who I gather is meticulous."Somewhat, I'm more concerned with accuracy than I used to be. I'm less patient with liberties taken. I used to read my mom's bodice-rippers that cloaked themselves as historic fiction.
For instance, I read The Pillars of the Earth recently. Except for some technical detail, I would not recommend it as historic fiction. It was entertaining, but not educational, except for the technical detail, as I mentioned earlier.
I'm also trying to resolve in my mind the difference between historic fiction and cultural fiction, as they're often so closely related. As a psych major and a law school grad, I probably trend more to cultural/ethical/moral fiction, and let people like you guide me to some great historic reads.
F1Wild wrote: "Jodi wrote: "I decided to put Water for Elephants aside for a day or so..."I saw Robert Pattinson on Ellen and he spoke of shooting the Water for Elephants movie with Reese Witherspoo..."
I am so annoyed at casting for choosing Robert Pattison of all actors for Water for Elephants, especially if you consider had it not been for Twilight, he might've not gotten the role. He just doesn't seem to be too strong an actor to handle this role and it seems like he got it based on notoriety. That's just my opinion, though. I do like everyone else's casting, though. I can definitely see Sean Penn as August.
Anyway, I'm reading Amy and Isabelle: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout and while I think it's okay, I don't really love it. I'm also still reading Dracula which is kind of lagging.
Julie wrote: "Lori wrote: "Im already a good third of the way in and it's quite humorous. and a little sad. and very creative."
Humorous? I wouldnt expect that!"
It's the way some of the letters are written. Like this one:
Dear Mom and Dad: Here's the reason that I pulled the stitching out of my feather pillow and then pulled all of the feathers out of it too: I thought that I was going to find a bird.
or this one:
Dear Mom and Dad: Do you ever wish that the sperm and the egg that became me wasn't me? I'm sure that you must have been expecting somebody else from all of that pleasure.
Humorous? I wouldnt expect that!"
It's the way some of the letters are written. Like this one:
Dear Mom and Dad: Here's the reason that I pulled the stitching out of my feather pillow and then pulled all of the feathers out of it too: I thought that I was going to find a bird.
or this one:
Dear Mom and Dad: Do you ever wish that the sperm and the egg that became me wasn't me? I'm sure that you must have been expecting somebody else from all of that pleasure.
Katie, that's really cool. I like historical fiction, but I need it to be accurate. I'm adding you to my list of trusted historical fiction experts, along with Susanna and F1 and some others. :) Thanks.I was recently both impressed and irritated by Robert Harris's Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome, 'cause it was totally scrupulous most of the way - it's about Cicero - but took a nose dive at the very end.
Here is the book trailer for Dear Everybody.
It's quite long. Just watch the first couple minutes - so you dont ruin the whole book yourself...It's read basically word from word.
http://www.michael-kimball.com/DearEv...
It's quite long. Just watch the first couple minutes - so you dont ruin the whole book yourself...It's read basically word from word.
http://www.michael-kimball.com/DearEv...
i finished Brava Valentine yesterday. i enjoyed it, but didn't like it as much as the first, Very Valentine.i think i've dedcided to set aside Pillars of the Earth for now. i'm enjoying it, but it's so lengthy, i read 100 pages in a day and felt like i got nowhere. we shall see.
My son and I just finished reading the first in the series, Sisiters Grimm,"The Fairy-Tale Detectives" by Michael Buckley.
I know, i know, Not part of the discussion(kinda), but this is the only group i am currently a part of.But, did anyone else' status get erased?
I think mine's cool, Timmie.You probably get this way more than you'd like to, but every time I see your name I hear the kid from South Park.
I finished Amy and Isabelle: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout last night and only found it okay. I just didn't really care about the characters. I'm now reading Wonder When You'll Miss Me by Amanda Davis.
i started The Espressologist and it's ok so far. it's a YAL book, and it shows. there have been some questionable actions/thoughts on the part of the main character, which really say YAL to me. however, the idea is really cool, so i'm hoping i enjoy the book overall.
I'm reading One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd along with One Hundred Years of Solitude. I had to have a backup book, because One Hundred Years is proving hard to get through.
Alex wrote: "I think mine's cool, Timmie.You probably get this way more than you'd like to, but every time I see your name I hear the kid from South Park."
that's fine. It's not as bad as hearing someone yelling 'TIMMAH' and getting all excited.
Reading two...Alraune. on my Kindle. Old World German Horror....creepy for sure! And Brown Girl in the Ring....dystopian with Afro-Caribbean overtones, although it's set in Toronto!
Started Chapterhouse Dune this morning. Not expecting much from it, but I have the disease where when I start a series I have to finish it...so hurray for the last book!
I actually liked the entire Dune series. However I don't remember it in it's entirety, just bits and pieces are really vivid in my memory.Brenda, I love the Fairytale Detectives! Although the oldest gets on my nerves until about the fourth book I think. Her issues are believable however so I forgive it.
I'm now reading Toads and Diamonds which I won in a goodreads giveaway. It's the first giveaway I've read and I hope they are all so good!
i finished The Espressologist today at work. it was ok, i really liked the premise (matching people based on their drink orders at a coffee shop) but it was very much a YAL book.i picked up Alice I Have Been so i'll be starting that next.
I just started World of Wonders today. It's the last of the Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies. I've enjoyed the other two books so have high hopes for this one, too.I finished Great Expectations this morning. I really enjoyed it, although it was a bit wordy. Great story, though.
Read an Ellis Peters (Brother Cadfael's Penance: The Twentieth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael) today. A nice read.And finished The Black Tower, by Louis Bayard, last night, which was a fun mystery about the lost Dauphin, Louis XVII.
I'm just about to finish up Rules of Attraction and then I'm on to Spells & finally Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
I read Fever Dream and The Bell Witch: An American Haunting over the weekend. Both were only so-so. This afternoon I decided to start The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and am really liking it so far.
I'm reading 2 books at the moment, my car book- A Rather Curious Engagement & my house book- The Real History of the End of the World. Two very different reads.
Alex wrote: "People love that Henrietta Lacks book, huh? One of those books everyone's talking about."Sounds interesting. I added it to my list.
I'm sort of still reading The Little Friend and The Shadow of the Wind but can't really get into either. I finished Dead in the Family and liked it. I started Odd Hours but haven't gotten very far in that one either. I'm having a really hard time finding something that will really catch me. grrrr.
Christy, I hope you find something that will catch you soon. I know how frustrating that can be. I have Odd Thomas on my to-read book, as it looked interesting. Have you read it? (I just noticed that Odd Hours was in your list, and I think they are from the same series.) Do you have any favorite authors with books you haven't read yet? That's what I normally do when I'm stuck in a rut. Maybe that will help. Good luck!Sydvicious, I am interested to hear how you enjoyed A Reliable Wife. I've read the description several times, but I just can't talk myself into reading it.
I added the Henrietta Lacks book to my to-read list as well. Call me a crowd follower, but it sounds good.
Lori Ann wrote: "Right now I'm reading Sarah's Key and Tender Is the Night.Isn't "Sarah's Key" just a gut wrenching read? I really liked it though.
Hannah wrote: "Christy, I hope you find something that will catch you soon. I know how frustrating that can be. I have Odd Thomas on my to-read book, as it looked interesting. Have you read it? (..."I read Odd Thomas not long ago and loved it. I look forward to reading the rest in that series.
Hannah wrote: "Christy, I hope you find something that will catch you soon. I know how frustrating that can be. I have Odd Thomas on my to-read book, as it looked interesting. Have you read it? (..."Hannah-- I will let you know- call me a crowd follower too... I saw that several people were reading A Reliable Wife so I thought I would give it a try. I will keep you posted! :)
Ana, I like Thomas Hardy, so I hope you enjoy Tess. I know he's not for everyone though. Hardy, I mean. Tess is decidedly female.
Right now I'm reading Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris. It's the 4th in the Harper Connelly series. I just love this series!
Tram wrote: "Now, I'm reading
"I didn't really care for that book. It wasn't badly written, just a very "soft" quiet book. Thats how I thought of it as I put it down. I curious to know how you feel about it once your done with it.
El, I too like Thomas Hardy, and your right he's definitely not for everyone. My favorite by him was
Jude the Obscure
I'll weigh in on Odd Thomas too. I loved the series. The first in the series is the best of the bunch!
Just started Heart of the Matter last night. Pretty good so far. Emily Giffin is a favorite of mine.
I've just finished "Uglies" Scott Westerfeld.I'm going to start "The Sunday Wife" Cassandra King later today.
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