The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I want to read The Street Of A Thousand BlossomsYour reading list looks full for the summer...There are so many other interesting books to read. haha "I'm having a hard time putting down "... Hornet's Nest" (although I'm not that speedy a reader and then it's only at bedtime) and do have lots & lots on my TBR list for summer, fall, winter......
Mary wrote: "That is unfortunate since I have a sick cat who has already run up $2500 in vet bills."I sure hope everything is okay with your cat. I had one in the hospital a few years ago and was told it was time to say goodbye. So I took him home and did his IV's every night, nursing him back myself. He's still with us today (just turned 13) and looks and acts just like our 2 year old kitty. Hope yours has a long, happy life ahead too!!!
F1Wild wrote: "Mary wrote: "That is unfortunate since I have a sick cat who has already run up $2500 in vet bills."I sure hope everything is okay with your cat. I had one in the hospital a few years ago and wa..."
That is a really cool story. :) I just recently had two dogs pass away within 6 months of each other (nothing we could have done) but it's inspiring to see people who don't give up in "goodbye" situations like that.
I've managed to get 'The life in the woods with Joni-Pip' back off my wife, and so far I've got to say I am enjoying it, which says a lot for the way Carrie King tells the story. This is surprising me as I normally can't stand anything which comes near to the fantasy genre, I've even been known to put down, and forget Terry Pratchett books in the past!All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
Mary wrote: "Wow, I've read through the past 100 or so posts and have added half a dozen books at least to my shopping cart! That is unfortunate since I have a sick cat who has already run up $2500 in vet bills..."I understand your problem. I hope your kitty is getting better. I have a sick cat and a sick dog. We have spent about $1000 so far, but I'm off to the vet today to spend at least another $400. The library is my friend!
i have read all the books in percy jackson and the olympians!!! i am the #1 fan
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Paul. why does your avi say Timothy?
I have Joni Pip sitting here, its in the middle of my tbr pile. Good to know its well written. My friend Mandy from Goodreads was quoted on the back cover from her review!!
Welcome back Natalie! How was your trip? :) I have Heart of Darkness in my pile, just trying to get around to it. Lekeshua, I have Losing My Cool: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-hop Culture from a first reads giveaway and it just arrived a couple days ago. I'm looking forward to starting it.
Hi Lori,It used to say Paul but 'the GR team' changed it to Timothy because I write my thrillers under the name Timothy Pilgrim and someone got confused over a conversation about my current book 'The Day the Ravens Died' on GR. Just to totally confound things my new book, 'Beyond the Potting Shed' has just been released under my own name! I have asked they put it back to how it was, but hey! Book launch at the Frome festival on sunday!!
As for my copy of Joni-Pip, Carrie came all the way to Winchester writers conferance a couple of weeks ago just to meet little old me, and bring me a copy which she signed. I am so flattered, I will always treasure that book, and I rarely even look at fantasy genre books, nevermind read one properly.
Just to get you really jealous, Terry Pratchett came over for a chat as well, no disrespect to the great man but meeting Carrie was the highlight, then I always was a sucker for a pretty face.!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
Madeline wrote: "Lekeshua, I have Losing My Cool: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-hop Culture from a first reads giveaway and it just arrived a couple days ago. I'm looking forward to starting it. "I just received that from first reads also (even autographed!). It looks like a really good book. I'm looking forward to starting it as soon as I finish The Passage by Justin Cronin.
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Vicki wrote: "Marti wrote: "Re: Mistress of Rome - Just go buy it, Vicki. I think it is worth it.I also really liked all of the Michelle Moran books Cleopatra's Daughter, Nefertiti and the Heretic Queen. Ano..."
I enjoyed the mystery and the characters in the Virgin of the Small Plains a great deal. I won her new novel called The Scent of Rain and Lightning - liked that one too.
I am reading A Soft Place to Land right now and am enjoying it!
Mona wrote: "Mary wrote: "Wow, I've read through the past 100 or so posts and have added half a dozen books at least to my shopping cart! That is unfortunate since I have a sick cat who has already run up $2500..."The Library might need to be on your daily routine. Hope your cat gets better/
Hi Lori,Busy!! but it was certainly good! next sunday Frome festival then the Brit writers awards on the following thursday. It is all very good but takes up valuable writing time! There is just no pleasing some people, is there?!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer:]
I started reading 2666 over the weekend. I've finished Part 1 (The Part About The Critics) and rather enjoyed it. It's certainly written in a different style. Easy to read and yet has a dense feeling about it. The story is told in such a way that the Reader merely observes what's shown to him. Certain aspects of the characters are made known and so much isn't revealed. It makes me feel as if we don't really get to know the characters at all; we're just told what we need to know.
So far, the story is mysterious and intriguing and I was drawn into this first part. However, I'm going to read something lighter to cleanse my palate, so to speak, before going on to the next part.
I'm 7/8 of the way through The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and think I'll finish before bed tonight. However, I have a cat in dire need of attention that may so it may put a crimp in my plans - he's trying to block access to the keyboard at this very minute - other than that, closer to done than not with When the Sacred Ginmill Closes but I'm only reading it when on the stationary bike so it will be a bit longer for that. I'm not liking the Matthew Scudder character.,uykoq[, sorry - King George the cat interferes. I picked it up because I thought it was a bernie rlls dang nabit cat 1! Bernie Rhodenbarr by Lawrence Block.
Started Altered Carbon. Am only a little bit into it, but it so far it is holy awesome. (Why *don't* I read more sci-fi? Oh yeah, people only recommend me boring classics of sci-fi, bleh.)
Cool Petra...so 2666 isn't too difficult? Sounds like it's no joke but not painful either. I really need to get to that someday.
Just finished reading Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern. I'm now reading Rant by Chuck Palahniuk.. My first Palahniuk book... I'm currently 40 pages in, but I felt bored... and sort of didn't really get the book. Hope it gets better soon
So I just finished The Ultimate Gift and have watched the movie of it as well. Let me say that if you only read one book the rest of your life...it should be this book! A great story.
Petra wrote: "I started reading 2666 over the weekend. I've finished Part 1 (The Part About The Critics) and rather enjoyed it. It's certainly written in a different style. Easy to read and yet ..."
Petra we discussed this book on another site here. It was an intense book. There were so many twists and turns I felt as if I was in a maze trying to make my way out. I liked The Savage Detectives much better than 2666
2666 was written the last years of his life so I think that being said, influenced his writing .
I hate 2 break it 2 u Liza, but I'M THE #1 Percy Jackson fan. I own ALL of the books including the demigod files. I've read ALL of the books at least twice. I am a member of a percy jackson discussion group. I am trying 2 become a member on a percy jackson roleplaying site. I take tons of percy jackson quizzes. And i dream about percy jackson!
Well, guns at dawn seems like the only reasonable way to settle this.
Speaking of Percy Jackson I am currently reading author Rick Riordan's first book from his new series The Red Pyramid. I am liking the story and characters even more so than P Jackson.Also I'm starting my first graphic novel V for Vendetta. The movie is one of my favorite's so I'm excited to see how closely they match up.
I am reading Judith Paris, the second novel in the Herries Chronicles. I read this series 40 years ago without knowledge of the Lake District where it is depicted. Reading it for the second time knowing the exact location of various events in the book brings a new dimension. Set in Borrowdale and Watendlath this is a powerful quartet of books
Hi everyone! I'm currently reading This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff. I've seen the movie countless times and picked up the book last week at my favorite bookstore.
Alex wrote: "Cool Petra...so 2666 isn't too difficult? Sounds like it's no joke but not painful either. I really need to get to that someday."Not difficult and yet still requires concentration. The style requires a bit of effort. There's an air of mystery, a type of foreshadowing maybe, that drew me into Part 1.
The characters are kept at some distance from the Reader in that there is little direct conversation between characters. It makes things a bit impersonal, I find. I'm not even sure whether I like them or not, or care about them or not. I don't think we're supposed to get that attached.
There are a few incidences that seem very out of character as well but, since we only know the people from a specific point of view (their interest in the writer Archimboldi), these incidences may merely show that we don't know these people at all.
Despite the serious tone of the book, Bolano has a humerous streak, too, which I like. It breaks up the serious nature.
I've only read Part 1, though. I may yet change my mind or thoughts on any of the above at any time. There's a lot of book left to read yet. At this point, I'm intrigued and want to read more.
Carol (akittykat) wrote: "Petra we discussed this book on another site here. It was an intense book. There were so many twists and turns I felt as if I was in a maze trying to make my way out. I liked The Savage Detectives much better than 2666 2666 was written the last years of his life so I think that being said, influenced his writing ."
Carol, I'll check out that site when I'm a bit further along in the book (don't want to meet up with Spoilers). It'll be fun to read other perspectives and thoughts.
I haven't reached any twists & turns yet (I don't think).
I have thought about Bolano writing while knowing that he's dying. That knowledge just has to skew one's thinking. I wonder how much of that knowledge found it's way into his book.
Just about finished with Honolulu by Alan Brennert. This novel has been such an education bringing the Korean culture and late 19th/early 20th century Hawaii into focus. I love that about it. Brennert's style makes it so easy to slip into time and place. While I am really enjoying this one and hope he writes more, Molokai still trumps this book for me.
Petra wrote: "Carol (akittykat) wrote: "Petra we discussed this book on another site here. It was an intense book. There were so many twists and turns I felt as if I was in a maze trying to make my way out. I li..."No you won't yet. The next three parts are to me the meat of the book and of course the wrap up. Don't expect a conclusive ending. It was an achievement on his part. He wanted it to be released in a series of five books, but as you know it was released posthumously so the editors overrode his desires. I think it makes a bigger impact being released as a whole book.
This 2666 sounds unique. I'm going to have to look into it. Adding it to my list in the mean time.Let me know what you think Les, I think it will be a few weeks or so before I get to it, I'm trying to finish some other firstreads and some of my tbr first.
Alex wrote: "Aw, F1. My heart is warmed."Meowwwwwwwwwww!
i finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman this evening. i really liked this, it was unique and entertaining and very well written.i'm going start Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz tonight or tomorrow. my husband is currently watching Shutter Island, so I may just watch the rest with him and see how long it takes him to figure it out, and what he thinks really happened. i know i'm still not sure what really happened, so maybe someone else's ideas will help!
Linda wrote: "Just about finished with Honolulu by Alan Brennert. This novel has been such an education bringing the Korean culture and late 19th/early 20th century Hawaii into focus. I love that about it. Brennert's style makes it so easy to slip into time and place. While I am really enjoying this one and hope he writes more, Molokai still trumps this book for me. "I loooved both as well and wish for another Brennert novel soon!
Gosh, thanks for the get-well-soon wishes for my kitty! The Goze is home now and seems to be feeling fine, plus the total vet bill was almost a grand less than was quoted to us--I guess they were factoring in worst-case scenarios. I have to shove a pill down his throat twice a day for ten days but that's OK.
That is good news Mary. Hope he continues to feel better.
Started Pride and Predjudice on audio today and...gasp...I'm sort of wondering what the big deal is. But I'm only on chapter 10 so there's still time.
Mary, I'm sending get well soon vibes to your kitty (so are my kitties).I just started reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I'm only a few chapters it, but I'm really enjoying it. This is my first novel by Zafon, but I've heard great things about his writing, and so far he's living up to my expectations.
Good Luck with the pill twice a day- that tends to be quite a procedure at my house!I picked up A Summer in Sonoma today as I had finished reading A Soft Place to Land.
SO Fr**** hot here... I'm melting melting - oh wait need water for that.....
I've never been able to get through a Jane Austen novel but I love the movies that are made from her books. I do have Persuasion on my TBR list.
Yeah, from Pride and Prejudice, I'm not really running to read her books, Mary. The adaptations are just awesome. S&S (95) is my favorite! (Though Persuasion has my favorite storyline- props to both '95 and '07.)Just started Howl and Other Poems. So *tbat's* what City Lights Bookstore (I've been) is famous for. Many of the references going over my head, I'm afraid.
I'm just about finished with The Catcher in the Rye. Not sure what I think of it - kind of a downer but also funny in places. I'm planning on starting The Gargoyle next.
Well, glad to hear I'm not alone on P&P. Claire, I loved the Gargoyle, hope you have fun with it!
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The Next Best Book Club
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Mary, I get a lot of reading suggestions from these posts. Sometimes "fluffy stuff" is fun too. I've just added Sworn to Silence and Neighborhood Watch to my to-read list.