The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
I just started reading How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill
I am currently reading The Heretic's Daughter I am enjoying it so far.I am also listening to The Hour I First Believed I am a little over half way and still not sure how I feel about this one.
I'm back from a few days of hiking. Never knew there were so many mosquitos and irritating flies in all of BC! Had a great time despite them critters!I finished reading The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing: From the Files of Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator and loved it! It's really a fun book. I liked this one more than The Case of The Missing Servant (although I recommend starting with this book, as it introduces all of the characters and it's a fun book, too).
The interaction and personalities of the characters are further defined, the mystery was "darker" (more criminal action and violence/weaponry) and more detailed. The humour throughout the book is chuckle-funny and on every page, the character of Mummy is awesome (love her attempts at "doing investigation").
I'm already looking forward to Vish Puri, #3!
I also started (and hope to finish today) This Is Where I Leave You, which is also funny in a dark humour sort of way. I like the characters and the interactions/relationships between them. The story has many sad overtones to it. All in all, I'm enjoying it.
Still reading 2666. I haven't made any progress on it this past week. It's not a book to take on a hiking vacation. Too intense.
And, finally, I'm listening to Sad Cypress. This is my second Hercule Poiroit story and I'm enjoying his character a lot. Agatha Christie never disappoints and this story is making for interesting commutes and car rides.
Lauren wrote: "Turner wrote:Now that I've finished Frankenstein, I've moved on to Angela's Ashes. So far, it's pretty interesting... I have read Angela's Ashes. I really enjoyed it but it was p..."
I KNOW. I'm about halfway through and it just gets sadder and sadder and sadder, and then you think it's getting better, but then the mother has another child and it promptly dies: AWFUL. But, I am enjoying reading it nonetheless.
Turner wrote: "Now that I've finished Frankenstein, I've moved on to Angela's Ashes. So far, it's pretty interesting, but for some reason it's taking me a long time to read. Has anybod..."
Turner, I loved Angela's Ashes - I read it years ago when it first came out. The movie, in my opinion, was equally as good as the book.
Oh, I didn't even know there was a movie, I'll have to check it out once I'm finished with the book (over half-way done!)
Turner wrote: "Now that I've finished Frankenstein, I've moved on to Angela's Ashes. So far, it's pretty interesting, but for some reason it's taking me a long time to read. Has anybod..."
I liked Angela's Ashes quite a bit, but I have heard plenty of others say it is too depressing. I don't mind depressing as long as the characters don't get too whiney about it.
Julie wrote: "I liked Angela's Ashes quite a bit, but I have heard plenty of others say it is too depressing. I don't mind depressing as long as the characters don't get too whiney about it. ..."I found Angela's Ashes (the book, as well as the movie) to be extremely whiney. I know I'm in the minority but I really disliked the whineyness and self-pity party this book contained.
I went to see the movie because I thought I'd missed the point of the book since everyone raved about it and I really disliked it. But.....the movie was just as bad.
I received my copy ofIt's Not PMS, It's You!. I will start it soon and post my review on Debs web site and I guess amazon.
Turner wrote: "Now that I've finished Frankenstein, I've moved on to Angela's Ashes. So far, it's pretty interesting, but for some reason it's taking me a long time to read. Has anybod..."
i started reading Angela's Ashes the summer before I graduated from college....10 years later i still haven't finished it. i really liked it, but found it slow going, as you are.
I just finished It's Not PMS, It's You!. As promised here is my review. I did not know where to put it to get the maximum exposure so if this is the wrong place sorry.
MY REVIEW:An outrageously funny look at male, female relationships and the foot and mouth disease of the male species. Cognitive bypass is a hot-wired male brain to the southern regions of his body and how it measures up to his buds or any other of the male gender. Totally funny and laugh out loud. If you think you will know more about men after reading this , wrong it just validates any preconceived ideas the female species already has. On the other hand if the male thinks he will understand the female , not going to happen . Females will remain as elusive as ever as long as foot and mouth disease exists.
Finished up The Marrowbone Marble Company by M. Glenn Taylor. Starting The Bomb by Howard Zinn.
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I'm currently reading Venom by Joan Brady.It's a good biik so far, but I'll hold my final judgment till the end (almost htere)
I am reading It's Not PMS, It's You!, and after 24 pages, already it's delivered quite a few outbursts of laughter.Our next neighborhood book club selection is My House in Umbria - has anyone read this?
Lori wrote: "Carol, thank you for reviewing Deb's book. I am glad you enjoyed it. Such a humorous little look at the differences between men and women, isn't it?"Yes , and it never changed. tee hee
Wow, David Foster Wallace huh? Sweet. I collect the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. :)
i finished Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. it was a really interesting topic, and it was neat to see the characters grow, personally and in their skill at finding fossils, over the chapters. it did frustrate me to think that Mary Anning received almost no credit and it never crossed the minds of the men to give her credit. kind of makes me glad i didn't live back then!
Sherrie Y wrote: "Next up is a First Reads win Hidden Wives which seems to be getting rave reviews!"I've read that this debut novel reads like a first-hand account.
Interesting subject to me since I used to have several (OK, tons) of polygamous sect patients.......funny, they all had the same last name. ;-))
Carol (Kitty) wrote: "I started Honolulu ,so far it is not a disappointment."I LOVED that book!!! Did you read Alan Brennert's Moloka'i? Sorry, I'm just too lazy to check out your list. I loved that one even more, but they are both 5* to me!
I'm right in the middle of
It's been on my TBR list for ages. I'm not sure what to think. It's got a lot of twists and turns which is good. The mystery portion of the book is good but I'm not feeling the romance portion.
I LOVED that book!!! Did you read Alan Brennert's Moloka'i? Sorry, I'm just too lazy to check out your list. I loved that one even more, but they are both 5* to me!Just added it to my want-so-bad shelf. I know this comment wasn't directed at me, but thanks!!
Petra wrote: "Julie wrote: "I liked Angela's Ashes quite a bit, but I have heard plenty of others say it is too depressing. I don't mind depressing as long as the characters don't get too whiney about it. ..."..."
I didn't find Angela's Ashes whiny at all - I felt the author was just telling the reality of the poverty his family lived in, in Ireland. I thought parts of it were humorous as well. But a book leaves a different impression on everyone, which is one great thing about reading!
Just finished Janet Woods
Another historical romance.
F1Wild wrote: "Carol (Kitty) wrote: "I started Honolulu ,so far it is not a disappointment."I LOVED that book!!! Did you read Alan Brennert's Moloka'i? Sorry, I'm j..."
Sorry F1wild my profile is private, but I did read Moloka'i which prompted me to read Honolulu. It has not failed me. I am almost done with it. Someone should nominate it to read as a group read. It is not epic but the story holds your interest.
Currently reading The Girl Who Played with Fire and listening to Zeitoun and am loving them both. It's almost too much goodness!
Finished reading
The Bomb
by Howard Zinn. Just started in on
Super Sad True Love Story
by Gary Shteyngart.
I am finished with Honolulu, Ending was a bit rushed other than that a book that held my interest. Now I will concentrate on Cloud Atlas. Been in the background since last week.
Ha, Knarik! Caesar sucks. I definitely gotta read this book.
Currently, I'm reading The Island at the End of the World. It's alright. All the characters are pretty built, however I'm turned off by the language one of the younger characters uses. His thoughts, when expressed, are spelled incorrectly. It's annoying. Other than that, books going good so far. I'm just waiting to see it really pick up... before the book ends.
That sounds wicked annoying, Raymond.
I just finished Cassidy by Lori Wick and am starting The Shadow of the Wind.
While trying to read The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana I have finished The Good Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ and The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Wow - Hedgehog was great! Now will continue on with Flame or go the The Children's Book or The Meaning of Night ---
Jane, I really enjoyed The Mysterious Flame (but I listened to it on audio). I thought it was easier to read than Eco's The Name of the Rose. Maybe he's easier to listen to?? I'm still reading Part 4 of 2666. Wow!!! So many murders and details and confusions! It's such a labyrinth of facts, details, dead-ends, etc. that I'm not sure if the Reader (at least, not this reader) can actually begin to put things together.
It is well written and very interesting and intriguing, though. There isn't a dull page in Part 4.
I've got under 100 pages of Part 4 left to read and am hoping to finish within the next day or two. It's very intense, which makes for very slow reading.
I'm also listening to Agatha Christie's Sad Cypress but, after the CD player was removed for some car maintenance, the player doesn't work and I can't eject the discs!!! Arg!! I'm hoping to have this problem fixed by Tuesday. I've only got 1 1/2 discs left to listen to!
Jane- I just started The Children's Book and I'm loving it so far. I'm also glad to hear that The Elegance of the Hedgehog was great. It's been on my list for a while, I just haven't had a chance to read it. Now I know that once I get to it all my waiting will not have been in vain.
Petra - I'm just not feelin' it with Flame. I love the idea of it and the first 1/4 was great and I was absorbed and then he got to Solara and I'm just not into his self discovery. Haven't read Sad Cypress in a 100 years but I love Agatha Christie. So I'm sure I loved it. Sorry about CD player. I've got 2666 on my to-read list and waiting for it to become available at the library. Must be good has long waiting list!
Thanks Rayna I'll start Children's Book next ---. I'm putting Hegehog on my top 10 list. Hope you like it as much as I did.
Just started reading The Wild Things by Dave Eggers. It's going pretty smoothly. I love how insightful the narrator is with the mind of a kid.
I am reading The Forgotten Garden and so far so good. After reading so many people's post on 2666 it has moved its way up on my tbr list!
Knarek, those are the kinds of details I love also. Insight into the individual as well as the sweeping history. I've not always been able to get into the Roman era, but I think that book might turn it around for me. I finally finished Gilgamesh, just going through the footnotes for interesting added tidbits.
Cool Madeline! How'd you end up liking it? Did you get that Mitchell translation eventually?
I'm currently about halfway through Lucky Jim and I started Infinite Jest last night cause I'm a sucker.
Petra - wanted to amend my comments about Flame. I loved the whole dialogue he had with himself about Sibilla. It was hysterical. My friends say that I over think things but they've never read that passage. I am going to continue to read this I'm just getting bogged down by the "fog". And you're right If I can't make it I'll get the audio and try that. Good luck with the CD player tomorrow!
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The Next Best Book Club
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Tale of Two Cities is one of my favorites, too. Great list of books, Alex.
Carol, I recommend Journey To The Center of The Earth. Haven't read it in years but it was fantastic, as I recall.