The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
Mary wrote: "I'm reading The House of Mirth. It's quite good, can't believe I've avoided Edith Wharton for so long."Yay! I love Wharton! House of Mirth is my favorite, followed by Age of Innocence. But I think for the most part all her books are fantastic. Glad you're enjoying it!
Started Fingersmith last night. I'm only a few pages in but already fascinated by Sue.
Lori, you'll be pleased to hear that Emma Donoghue's "stunningly achieved" Room has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. (Thanks to Nathaniel at Bookish for the links.)
This morning I read Manhunt by Janet Evanovich. A very quick read but I enjoyed it nonetheless...Since yesterday I'm reading a book about gene manipulation in seeds and food->Saat der Zerstörung. Die dunkle Seite der Gen-Manipulation
And this afternoon started Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen, finally came around to read this.
I just started Atonement. (I know- a little late coming to that parade!) My niece and I also just read our first Fancy Nancy book, Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire!. Hilarious! She's only four and it was a bit over her head, but I loved it. ;)
Flora wrote: "Susanna wrote: "About to start Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets. It seems sometimes re-reads are an eye-opening experience. #1 was better than I remembered so I hope this will be a continuin..."Flora "The Thirteenth Tale" is one of my all-time favorite books. Actually, I listened to the unabridged audio version narrated by two women with lovely British accents.
Vonney wrote: "Flora wrote: "Susanna wrote: "About to start Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets. It seems sometimes re-reads are an eye-opening experience. #1 was better than I remembered so I hope this will ..."I'm 2/3 of the way done with The Thirteenth Tale and I'm finding it very hard to put down. I imagine that this is one I would like as an audio book.
I finished the well-written, emotional, shocking and puzzling "We Need To Talk About Kevin", and I will write a short review as soon as I get a day off.Now, I'm reading In Cold Blood for bookclub Sept 24, and I hate Capote's style. I'm from Kansas, so I love that feeling of being home again, but there's something about his writing I don't like. Hopefully, it will get better. I saw the movie at a drive-in in Wichita, 1968. I really would rather be reading "Freedom", as the first chapter seemed so delightful, but I am committed to ICB for now.
Vonney wrote: "I finished the well-written, emotional, shocking and puzzling "We Need To Talk About Kevin", and I will write a short review as soon as I get a day off.Now, I'm reading In Cold Blood for bookcl..."
I loved We Need to Talk About Kevin! It was shocking---I couldn't put it down. I read it several years ago while on vacation with my family, and it was hard to describe to my sisters and sisters-in-law, who are all mothers (I'm not).
I'm now reading The Slap. Have read the first chapter....excellent so far. I've hit a few not-so-hot books recently...and this one has begun to take me out of that funk...Yay!~ I see this book is told in Chapters with a different person telling different parts of what happens before, during and after the event. I might really like this one. Different.
Mary wrote: "Vonney wrote: "I finished the well-written, emotional, shocking and puzzling "We Need To Talk About Kevin", and I will write a short review as soon as I get a day off."Yeah, the more I process Kevin the more I like it. I still think it cut some corners - the Rosemary's Baby-esque beginning, and the very last couple pages - but it was an incredible psychological study. Kevin was the main character, but I was drawn to the relationship between his parents more (possibly because I'm child-free).
Alex wrote: "Mary wrote: "Vonney wrote: "I finished the well-written, emotional, shocking and puzzling "We Need To Talk About Kevin", and I will write a short review as soon as I get a day off."Yeah, the more..."
Ok, I'm going to have to read the Kevin book---its getting alot of good press here!
Susan wrote: "I'm reading Sweethearts by Sara Zarr and am really enjoying it!"I enjoyed this book also. Fun Lite Read!
I am reading The Romantics ahead of the movie which opens tomorrow. Though not well received here on Goodreads (2.87 stars) it has drawn me in.
I'm about 2/3 into The House of Mirth and feeling dreadfully sorry for poor Lily Bart!! Disaster is looming for her. At times she seems empty-headed and self-absorbed but mostly I think she is just fatally naive.
I finished Dracula and this morning I started Island of the Sequined Love Nun. I need a light read before I start Under the Dome.
I am reading The Remains of The Day by Kazuo Shiguro. Not sure where the story is going yet, but I'm enjoying it.
i've gone through alot of trying to find the right book to suit the season right now somthing that will suck me in until winter is over:),i bought 3 new books yesterday in kilkenny city, all virginia andrews 1.broken wings
2.shooting stars
3.midnight flight
im starting on broken wings first,im only in a few chapters but i like it so far,i liked wildflowers so much i hope there all as good as each other.:)
well I took a little brake from Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens so I can finish (about 70) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert so on sutarday I'll see the movie. I am also reading Promise Me by Harlan Coben that I like very much his writting.Enjoy your reading
Avigail
I just finsihed The Mysterious Benedict Society and cannot decide what to read next. I have so many books checked out from the library and while I have the next MBS book here as well, there are books that are due before it. You see my dilemma! I have Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (my first by him), Charlotte and Emily (a new Bronte-based novel), The Hunger Games, and Anthill by E.O. Wilson. Any thoughts on what should be read next?
For my own selfish reasons, I vote Anthill. I've been reading his Superorganisms, and I'd like to hear how his attempt at fiction turns out.
Then I think I may just begin with that one! Thanks for the input. I shall be sure to let you know what I think. Hos is Superorganisms going? He is a completely new author to me, so I would be interested in hearing what his other works are like.
My computer has been down so I have not been on. I have read lately... SAVANNAH FROM SAVANNAH by Denise Hildreth, NANTUCKET NIGHTS by Elin Hilderbrand, and given 3 stars to both. Now am reading SAVANNAH COME UNDONE by Denise Hildreth.
While I was traveling I finished reading Mockingjay which I loved as much as the other two Hunger Games books, Ethan Frome such a great little story, very sad, and The Maltese Falcon which was your average noir, spent the whole time trying not to picture Bogart. Now starting The Witch of Portobello.
i finished The Fire last night. it was the sequel from Katherine Neville to her book from the 1980s The Eight. it was ok, not as good as i was hoping for. i liked it well enough, but i just thought some of it was too far flung, while other parts were too convenient. i am glad i read it though.i started Blindman's Bluff from Faye Kellerman today. it should be a quick one, so i'm going to head to the library tonight to stock up, as i've finished everything else i got from them a week or so ago.
Alex, the one positive thing I can say about Ape House is that it really made me want to check out some non-fiction on the subject. The Great Apes are pretty freaking awesome.I finished Freedom last night, good book (4 stars), but not as good as The Corrections. Hopefully Franzen doesn't make us wait another 10 years for the next one.
I should finish The Prince today, and then I'm not sure what to read next... maybe The Slap, I'm Not Stiller, A Thousand Cuts, Day for Night, or The Bad Seed.
I finished The Thirteenth Tale which I loved. I am half way thru Wuthering Heights which I am really enjoying but having to put it on hold to get thru The Passage before it has to go back.
Emma, Superorganisms is extremely dense - more of a textbook for people who already know a fair amount about DNA and bugs than it is pop Cait, I've been recently tempted by Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo; that seems like a book for you.
Also, a classic on the subject that's been on my to-read list for years is Frans de Waal's Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are.
How're you liking The Prince? I think it's terrific fun, in sortof a "Oh no he din't!" way.
Finished The Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camelleri -a quick read and fun. Started Bust by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr and it's a fun read also. Bust is just crazy so far ---
Alex wrote: "Emma, Superorganisms is extremely dense - more of a textbook for people who already know a fair amount about DNA and bugs than it is pop fiction science, I mean - and I'm finding it very slow goin..."I looked at his long list of publications before I began reading and adjusted my expectations. I didn't realize that he's really a naturalistic researcher and has written so much non-fiction. That being said, Anthill is great fiction! It is very remnant of A Painted House by Grisham and stories of families in the south. I am almost half way through and am really enjoying it! There is a lot of scientific detail about the plants and animals and insects that inhabit this forest, but it is used very metaphorically and isn't just a bunch of unnecessary information. Great read so far!
I've just finished His Dark Materials trilogy and I was absolutely blown away! What an incredible story! Right now, I'm looking for another book series to start and, in the mean time, I'm re-reading The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, a Brazilian book (my native country).
Bob wrote: "I have read all of Jose Saramago's novels. I have enjoyed everyone of his novels. It does take getting used to his very unique writing style, especially his very very long paragraphs."I agree Bob. Saramago has his unique style and it takes some time getting used to it, but it's oh so worth it, because his works are great! My favorite beyond a doubt is The Cave.
Leslie T. wrote: "I just finished 1984 (and loved it) and now I'm going to start Ulysses."Leslie, may I suggest: http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=7642 . This will take you to the review of the last Chapter of Ullysses but it lists links to all the other chapters.
The Sheila Variations really helped me when I was reading Ulysses and helped me a lot. I was lucky enough to read it as part of a Read-Along, which I found tremendously helpful.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on it.
Paula wrote: "I've just finished His Dark Materials trilogy and I was absolutely blown away! What an incredible story! Right now, I'm looking for another book series to start and, in the mean time, I'm re-readin..."I read His Dark Materials not too long ago and I think the title certainly fits cuz it is dark. I was so hoping for a different ending, I thought it ended so sadly.
Mod
Oh yes, this I knew but thanks so much for sharing!!!
Mod
Hooray for Saramago lovers!
Very interesting, Emma. I'll have to read that. Yeah, Wilson's probably the most important entomologist in the world right now; the discoveries he's made about eusocial bug societies (societies where different castes provide different functions for the overall good of the community) have been groundbreaking.
Paula wrote: "I've just finished His Dark Materials trilogy and I was absolutely blown away! What an incredible story! Right now, I'm looking for another book series to start and, in the mean time, I'm re-readin..."Paula - I am reading the Amber Spyglass now. It's been a while since i read the other two though. Hopefully I'll enjoy it too!
Kaion wrote: "The Windup Girl, and really enjoying the break from Tom Sawyer."OOH - just finished this this a.m. I'm still sort of on the fence about it. Let me know if you enjoyed it.
Petra wrote: "Leslie T. wrote: "I just finished 1984 (and loved it) and now I'm going to start Ulysses."Leslie, may I suggest: http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=7642 . This will take..."
Thank you for the link!
I just finished
and started
, I am already almost done with it.. less than 100 pages to go, if i didnt want my computer time tonight I could've had it finished before bed. I need to get the 15th Stephanie Plum book so I figured Id read this in the mean time.. and I have
sitting out, ill probably start this one next since its another shorter book.
Paula wrote: "I've just finished His Dark Materials trilogy and I was absolutely blown away! What an incredible story! Right now, I'm looking for another book series to start and, in the mean time, I'm re-readin..."I've been contemplating a reread of His Dark Materials. I really hated the
**MILD-ish SPOILERS**
romance that kicked up big time in The Amber Spyglass and I wonder if I was just my relative youth at that time speaking.
Bridgit wrote: "Kaion wrote: "The Windup Girl, and really enjoying the break from Tom Sawyer."
OOH - just finished this this a.m. I'm still sort of on the fence about it. Let me know if you enjoyed..."
It kicked my reading slump at the very least! I devoured the second half. I'm going to give myself a few more days to process what I really really think about it, but my gut reaction so far is:
**MORE MILD SPOILERS**!:
1. People talk about world-building all the time in sci-fi/fantasy, but really this is one of the most believable 'world's I've ever read. And he really introduces it with surprising ease for all the stuff that's being referenced here. More Buddhism = awesome.
2. I loved the first half tentatively, and when the second half kicked into more action, I didn't like it as much... felt it lost some logical progression.
3. I have a lot of problems with the Emiko's storyline, from both a storytelling and a feminist perspective.
I just finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.. Didn't like it as much as the first two books.Currently reading 4th of July by James Patterson... only about 80 pages in, but it's good so far
I finished Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer, and started Live To Tell by Lisa Gardner.
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The Next Best Book Club
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Carol, not yet, but it's on my bookshelf!