The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
Joanie wrote: "Sure Alex, you love the book club but are you brave enough to risk brain rot and read Jackie Collins?I liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and did feel it stayed very close to the original. I ..."
Joanie, it touches upon but is not limited to Bruce Springsteen. It's about the social and musical history of that area. My husband read it, liked it, and recommended to me.
I just finished reading this morning [Book: The Help] I think this book was well written and it really made me think.
Joanie wrote: "Sure Alex, you love the book club but are you brave enough to risk brain rot and read Jackie Collins?"Nope! I was a member of a short-lived Very Bad Book Club, though, which means I've actually read Jewel's poetry. It is not good.
Brenda wrote: "Paula wrote: "Now on to Sarah's Key. ...I loved "Sarah's Key". Very gut wrenching but a good story."
Paula, I am glad you enjoyed Sarah's Key. I really enjoyed this book also...
Thanks Brenda! I'll have to look for it.
I finally picked up Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times after waiting for a month . The library finally came through. I will start it tonight or tomorrow.
Oh, you did? I'm supposed to read that with you. Argh. And I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow...you'll probably be done by the time I get back. But if I can pick it up then, I'll at least discuss it belatedly.
I don't know if others are interested or not. But have a fun vacation. Bring back lots of stories and photos. I live vicariously through others.
Lark wrote: "F1Wild,The Concubine's Children was one of those books that suck you in before you even realize it. I'm not hugely interested in Chinese history or immigration into North America bu..."
Cool, thanks!!! Will be reading soon.
I seem to be getting 2 books confused. I have The Concubine's Daughter: A Novel on my TBR/Kindle list, but am still awaiting the Kindle version of The Concubine's Children. Please click for us Kindlers, if you have the chance. ;-))
Started Pastures of Heaven by John Steinbeck. I'm still reading "The Passage" but making myself read the stationary bike while I do it. That means because I really, really, really want to read it then I will end up exercising.
Wow, that's a smart strategy Sue. "And if you don't feel like exercising, that's fine...but the couch book is Proust."
oops, ride the stationary bike not read it!couch books I love but unfortunately I'm beginning to resemble one ( a couch, not a book) so time to sharpen up the edges a wee bit.
I just finished The Bone Collector. It was a very good book and quick read for me. Now I'm onto 20,000 leagues under the sea. It will be my second Verne book. Happy reading!
El wrote: "Carol (Kitty) wrote: "Michelle a book I could not put down was Stoner.. It was a satisfying book."Ooh, I just read a blurb about Stoner on another site. I hope to find a copy.
..."
The title of this really sounded interesting, so I put that on my TBR list - let me know how you like it!
Joanie wrote: "I'm embarrassed to say I'm reading Married Lovers by Jackie Collins for the Totally Trashy Book Club. This is my first time reading anything by her and man is it bad. It is really ..."
"The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific" - I saw that in my "daily digest" for GR, and had to add that to my TBR list. Fer realz? Please tell me what you think of it!
Erika wrote: "Now I'm contemplating giving up on Pride & Prejudice altogether. I really don't like the story and find the writing just too difficult to get into. But I was wondering about Pride & Prejudice & Zom..."
Erika - I'd try Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls first. I thought it was much better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, myself.
Phyllis wrote: "I just finished Lafayette's Gold: The Lost Brandywine Treasure - a great mystery thriller about lost treasure from the American Revolution. I'm usually a slow reader (lots of interru..."
Honestly? I can't stand Dan Brown - give me Steve Berry over him, any day. Just my two cents, though.
Marti wrote: "I am reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. I am already a little creeped out..."
Yaknow, I normally steer clear of Holocaust books, but this one looks really intriguing.
Well I read a couple at different times depends on my mood.1. The Chocolate Lovers' Club by Carole Matthews when I waite for my transportation for work, a couple of pages each time they have to pick me up for work.
2. At my night table I have Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer I saw the first moovie and I said I sould read the third as I read the second two years ago and I want to see the second and the third moovie as well but I want to read the book and the see the moovie.
3.Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia byElizabeth Gilbert Well the book when I am at my stays outside of Israel (as a flying attendant I a lot outside my country) but I read it also when I am in Israel and I want to finish it before the moovie that Julia Roberts plays in the moovie.
4.Well I just started Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson well an exchange for bookcrossing I really like for a light culinary mystery.
5. I also read a Hebrew book by an Israeli author.
6. I haven't decided what greek book I have to read well the truth is I have to finish some of the above and then I will decide what to read.
Enjoy your reading
ababaigalit
I am listening to The Gargoyle. It is OK. I am really enjoying the narration.I am reading The Secret History. Love it.
its obviously a hard, sad story but I am glad I picked it up
Just started I'll Steal You Away by Niccolo Ammaniti this morning on the bus. Only about 20 pages in so it's hard to say if I'll really enjoy it or not, but it seems promising.Elena wrote: "I am reading The Secret History. Love it."
Elena, I really liked that one too when I read it.
Betsy wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Alisha wrote: "I'm currently reading Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. I'm only fifty pages in and I'm already paranoid."This is an amazing book..."
Husband and I were just discussing Helter Skelter the other night. I read it in the early 80's. Trust me, it sticks with a person. There are components of that story that I don't think I'll ever forget... and I can still get vaguely paranoid.
Katie wrote: "Betsy wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Alisha wrote: "I'm currently reading Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. I'm only fifty pages in and I'm already paranoid."This is a..."
**completely embarrassed** Okay, I'm going to ask, because I'm being lazy and not bothering to look it up on wiki or something... I keep seeing this book pop up, and I've got to ask "what's with the Manson Murders?" What was/is the importance of this? Why is it so triggering for people?
Elena wrote: "I am listening to The Gargoyle. It is OK. I am really enjoying the narration.I am reading The Secret History. Love it."
I really enjoyed The Gargoyle. I thought it was a very unique book.
I've just finished East of Eden and loved it, I think it'll be one of my favourites. I'll be moving on to The English Patient next though...
Elena wrote: "I am listening to The Gargoyle. It is OK. I am really enjoying the narration.I am reading The Secret History. Love it."
I listened to most of The Gargoyle (read some too so I could get through it faster). I liked the audio version a lot however I can't say I loved the book.
I have had The Secret History and The Little Friend on my shelf forever but haven't read either. I need to.
I'm reading Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
I'm still reading 2666 and am about to start Part 4. It's really grown on me and I'm enjoying the story now. It's very mysterious.In between Parts of 2666, I'm reading Stardust. It's a cute story. A fairy tale with sex, basically. Gaiman has a good imagination and can weave an interesting story.
Jesi, I thought Sex Lives of Cannibals looked awesome too, but several friends here who've read it didn't like it all that much so I took it back off my TBR list.
Alex wrote: "Jesi, I thought Sex Lives of Cannibals looked awesome too, but several friends here who've read it didn't like it all that much so I took it back off my TBR list."Hmmm... humor books can be difficult reads, because there's the expectation of... well, humor and everyone's opinion of what's funny is so different... Like the difference in opinions on Moore's work... I'll put this under the "if I don't like it at first, I give myself permission to quit the book" table, then. :) Thanks for the head's up.
Marti wrote: "I am reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. I am already a little creeped out...Such difficult subject matter but I thought it was a very good book. It's on my favorites list from when I read it.
Jesi - someone older may have different or clearer recollections than I but when the Manson Murders took place I was very young (4 or so) but when I got into junior high (1976 or so) I read "Helter Skelter". It also creeped me out and my dad and I talked about it at the time. He said he had always felt the murders and its effect on the national consciousness had to do with the psyche of the public at the time including the general uncertainty about the Vietnam War, etc. The fact that Sharon Tate was eight months pregnant added to the macabre atmosphere. Perhaps it also haunts some because the activities of the Manson Family lasted past that night in 1969 including the attempted assassination of President Ford in 1975 by Squeaky Fromme.
That's an interesting question, about the continuing interest in the Manson murders.I think it may be a combination of things - it was a really big story at the time, it involved a Hollywood star, it has a number of continuing pop culture reverberations, and Charlie Manson comes up for parole periodically (most recently in 2007), so it stays in the news, are what I can think of.
Manson's goal was to start an apocalyptic race war between blacks and whites. In the sixties and seventies race relations were already rather strained and so Manson's prediction, and the ease he had in creating his Family (aka, followers), was terrifying to everyone.Helter Skelter is a great book. I read that on a family vacation when I was about 16 or so. It definitely made its way into my dreams. My mother said I was sleepwalking/talking about it during that vacation which totally freaked her out. She thought about taking the book away from me, but that goes against everything she believes in.
The Sex Lives of Cannibals is okay, I don't hate it but I don't love it either. There are some really funny parts and the author can definitely tell a story but I probably wouldn't be reading it if it wasn't a book club pick.
El wrote: "Just started I'll Steal You Away by Niccolo Ammaniti this morning on the bus. Only about 20 pages in so it's hard to say if I'll really enjoy it or not, but it seems promising...."
El, I will be interested to hear your thoughts on this one. I haven't read it, but I have
I'm Not Scared at home to read.
Joanie wrote: "The Sex Lives of Cannibals is okay, I don't hate it but I don't love it either. There are some really funny parts and the author can definitely tell a story but I probably wouldn't be..."A'ight - seeing as no one's really in love with the book, I'll take the route Alex did and take it off my (already really long) TBR list. :)
Marti wrote: "I am reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. I am already a little creeped out..."If you or anyone else is intrigued by this subject matter I would highly, highly recommend a book, Survival, by a patient of mine, Magda Herzberger - one of the last survivors of the Holocaust, surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bremen, and Bergen-Belsen.
I just finished The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley.....great book!!! Now on to Emily Giffin's Heart of the Matter.
Jesi wrote: "El wrote: "Carol (Kitty) wrote: "Michelle a book I could not put down was Stoner.. It was a satisfying book."Ooh, I just read a blurb about Stoner on another site. I hope to find ..."
Here is a link to my review of Stoner
http://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/...
Since I'm waiting for the opportunity to pick up the superior translation of Gilgamesh, I started Long for This World: The Strange Science of Immortality today. Only a few pages in, but good so far.
Just finished A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True! I would definitely recommend it! Blew my expectations out of the water!I have no idea what to read next! I hate that feeling. Makes me feel anxious! lol
I read The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella pretty quickly, I thought it was alright.Right now I'm reading I Am the Messenger from the author who wrote The Book Thief. I am really liking it!
Also, and I couldn't believe my luck, I walked into the library yesterday and they had The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest! Working my way through that as well, very good and very depressing at the same time.
Flora wrote: "I am over half way thru The Year of the Flood I think it really adds alot to Oryx and Crake"Flora, I really enjoyed this book as well. I listened to it on audio and really enjoyed the addition of the God's Gardener's hymns at the end of each of Adam One's sermons. Very folk music-y.
I hope Margaret Atwood writes the third book soon. I'd love to read it.
There's going to be a third book?! Kick a$$!!!
Jayme wrote: "There's going to be a third book?! Kick a$$!!!"I read about it here: http://www.yearoftheflood.com/us/book...
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The Next Best Book Club
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I loved "Sarah's Key". Very gut wrenching but a good story."
Paula, I am glad you enjoyed Sarah's Key. I really enjoyed this book also. The author has a new book coming out soon.