The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
I do not read these type of books at all but when a few libraries in the south started banning them, I decided to rebel and try it. I gave it 2 stars, would have been 2 1/2 if it were possible. I didn't think it was well written but curiosity got the best of me and I had to see how it unfolded. I will probably read the 2nd book as people have told me it gets more into the characters. We'll see. I just see Christian as a real demanding sicko.
Paula wrote: "I do not read these type of books at all but when a few libraries in the south started banning them, I decided to rebel and try it. I gave it 2 stars, would have been 2 1/2 if it were possible. I ..."Exactly. I am a firm believer in reading ALL books, even the ones that I think I may not like. It's important to me to not only give books a chance, but to have my own opinion of it, by reading it myself. Not every book is going to agree with our own beliefs or standards, but that is what the art of writing is about, isn't it? That being said, 50 shades is still garbage lol
fivesunflowers wrote: "Paula wrote: "I do not read these type of books at all but when a few libraries in the south started banning them, I decided to rebel and try it. I gave it 2 stars, would have been 2 1/2 if it wer...LOL and I couldn't agree more! LOL
Elisa wrote: "Marla wrote: "I'm finally starting on my TBR list and I am reading Catcher in the Rye. 
Not as good as I thought it would be considering it is a classic but I am ..."
Yeah I noticed that-I am going to push my way through on this-I really need to get my TBR list down and stop adding books!
I'm enjoying the short stories in The Greatest Show: Stories by Michael Downs. They center around the Hartford (Connecticut) Circus Fire of 1944 and its lingering aftermath in the lives of the city's residents. Highly recommended.
Marla wrote: "Elisa wrote: "Marla wrote: "I'm finally starting on my TBR list and I am reading Catcher in the Rye. Not as good as I thought it would be considering it is a cla..."
I know the feeling! My TBR is out of control! And if I really sat down and took some time to go through the list, I'm sure I could cull it to a more manageable amount. I just don't ever have the time!
Right now, I'm reading Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I'm really enjoying both of them.
fivesunflowers wrote: "Reading 
, - the only place this book belongs is in the garbage. Having read REAL BDSM novels and being someone that reads REAL literature, this is neither. An inse..."I had the same issues with this book. I tried to drag myself thru it and only made it about half way. I, too, don't shy away from erotica. I read it quite a bit but I prefer that which is well written with a plot and storyline. This is not any of those things.
I'm currently over half way thru
and I like it alot but it is really long. I've also just started
which is a much better erotica than Fifty Shades of Grey. I do not understand how Fifty Shades of Grey became a best seller
Flora wrote: "fivesunflowers wrote: "Reading , - the only place this book belongs is in the garbage. Having read REAL BDSM novels and being someone that reads REAL literature, th..."Unfortunately, this book is being praised by people who don't normally read - and I don't mean that as an insult, but it's true. The writing is atrocious. An author doesn't need to have a degree or writing background to write a good book. But this book is just horrible all the way around.
I finished Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter yesterday. I really liked the first 2/3 but struggled through the end. I was really bored with that part.Now I'm reading I Suck at Girls. I thought his first book was hysterical. Good so far.
The Tiger's Wife and 1Q84 - like them both!
Paula wrote: "Going to start this. 
"I really liked this book. It was well written, suspensful, and a quick read.
Nina who can't say no to helping anyone, finds a drugged, naked, 3 year old boy in a public locker in a train station. Why is he there? What happened? What should she do?
Brooke wrote: "Gone Girl. It is getting really good!"I have this checked out at the library and hope to get to within the next couple of weeks. It looked like a very good book.
Michelle wrote: "The Tiger's Wife and 1Q84 - like them both!"oh I really love Murakami! 1Q84 was great. Have you read any of his other work?
I just finished The Cranes Dance (a goodreads win for me!) and it was pretty good! If you don't have at least a passing interest in dance/ballet, though, you may not like it. There's a huge amount of dance talk. I'm not a dancer myself but I find it interesting so it didn't bother me!
I heard many ppl praise Murakami, but looking at the themes of some of his works, I am somehow not drawn to read those... like when I read blurb for Norwegian Wood (I think?), it was like 60s, alcohol, drugs, free love... period... I dont enjoy reading about those things, if anything, then a movie involving those... not saying he isnt good, just from what I read about the themes he most often focuses on, those arent of my interest as a reader
Just finished reading 'The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone--Especially Ourselves'. The book explores the psychology of lying, cheating and corruption, and the factors (both internal and external) that either increase or decrease it (as well as how we can exploit these factors to get less cheating in our own lives, and society in general). It was quite good. I've written an executive-style summary of the book at newbooksinbrief.wordpress.com
Patricia wrote: "I read Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum and next will read No Angel by Penny Vincenzi."I really liked Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. I also read her other book, Storm Chasers, and liked that as well.
Vicki wrote: "Getting ready to start Yes, ChefYes, Chef: A MemoirI just finished Ten Big Ones! I am making my way through Janet Evanovich' s Stphanie Plum series...too funny, and great quick reads."
Im currently reading Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich. I too love the Stephanie Plum series and agree that they're quick and fun read. I'm worried that by the end I won't think of them as so great like I did with James Patterson and Danielle Steele.
Recently finished
and read
over the weekend. Today I'm starting
Gary wrote: "Just finished 
and Patricia Cornwell is back in form after a couple of what I considered weaker books. Today I started by Amanda Kyle Williams a..."I did enjoy this bbok and will be continuing on with the series.
I am Reading Neverwhere By Neil Gaiman and Damned by Chuck Palahniuk and enjoying both.
Jess wrote: "Marla wrote: "Elisa wrote: "Marla wrote: "I'm finally starting on my TBR list and I am reading Catcher in the Rye. Not as good as I thought it would be consideri..."
My Husband and I were just discussing this book. We both loved it in High School. Wondering if we would feel the same way now if we re-read that we are a bit older..
Paula wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Getting ready to start Yes, ChefYes, Chef: A MemoirI just finished Ten Big Ones! I am making my way through Janet Evanovich' s Stphanie Plum series...too funny, and great quick reads..."
I am on Twelve Sharp, and still loving them! I agree some series seem to drag on, just for the sake of another book. The Stephanie Plum series is totally unique with each installment!
I've just finished reading Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner and I'm planning on starting Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich next.
Ginny wrote: "Just finished War and Peace! My goal was to get this book read during my summer vacation and two weeks into it I did. I'm now reading The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Sparks and Running with Sc..."WOW on W&P!!! I've read karenina but never tackled that-- good show!
Flora wrote: "fivesunflowers wrote: "Reading , - the only place this book belongs is in the garbage. Having read REAL BDSM novels and being someone that reads REAL literature, th..."It makes you wonder what all the hype is about. I have no desire to read these books.
Jennifer wrote: "Ginny wrote: "Just finished War and Peace! My goal was to get this book read during my summer vacation and two weeks into it I did. I'm now reading The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Sparks and R..."and in Russia we must read it in high school (all W@P is in school program)
Adina wrote: "Jess wrote: "Marla wrote: "Elisa wrote: "Marla wrote: "I'm finally starting on my TBR list and I am reading Catcher in the Rye. Not as good as I thought it would..."
it's on my shelf, but I never read it still I was not studng in USA school.... It's look like reviews are very polar and more people don't like it, I will see after I read it how I like it or not
Adina wrote: "I am Reading Neverwhere By Neil Gaiman and Damned by Chuck Palahniuk and enjoying both."Oooo, yes! I like Damned. it's sarcastic and black humor is fenomenal
Claire wrote: "Flora wrote: "fivesunflowers wrote: "Reading , - the only place this book belongs is in the garbage. Having read REAL BDSM novels and being someone that reads REAL ..."You are not missing much, Claire - I am reading the books for some research I am doing. I call these books the National Enquirer of "literature" lol ... it really is quite pathetic.
I am reading
and love love love it so far. I suspect it may turn out to be one of my favorites.
Scott wrote: "I'm reading Misery right now."Misery is a good one! I haven't read it in a while.
Paula wrote: "I am reading and love love love it so far. I suspect it may turn out to be one of my favorites."I read this book about a month ago and really enjoyed it. Glad to see you're liking it too!
I just read CATCH ME by Lisa Gardner and it was great!
Defensive Wounds by Lisa Black - I like it like all crimes stories with forensic main line investigations
Finished the three I was still reading at last update: The Poet
, One Shot
and 11/22/63
. AlsoThe Concrete Blonde
and Definitely, Maybe
.Re The Poet -- I liked it, but I like Bosch better. Bosch is deeper and richer. Probably a product of this book being relatively early in Connelly's career. Really liked The Concrete Blonde, particularly the interplay between Bosch and Edgar.
Re One Shot -- this one was a nice break from the other string of Lee Childs which were all towns-in-trouble variations. This one is the first Lee Child I ever read but it was so long ago I had no memory of it-- and it had an interesting premise with an interesting tie to Reacher's past.
Definitely, Maybe -- fluff, not up to the quality of the rest of the series. Stick to long form, Heather!
11/22/63 -- Wow. Interesting that throughout the book the assumption is the world is a better place if JFK survives, and that goes virtually unquestioned until it proves not to be the case. Says a lot about the mythos that has grown up around JFK in our society. We lived in Dallas then -- I was born a few months after the assassination -- and I of course heard the "where were you" stories from my family. My dad, a lifelong republican, once said that although he didn't agree with JFK's politics, it was impossible not to like him. I can see that (and I'm a democrat so I don't have the conflict). I lived in Dallas until I was five or six, and even though I left there at such a young age, I remember the place as having a deep pall of nastiness and negativity like King describes in his afterword. I remember nice people, and the feeling they were trapped in a nasty place.
Reading The Fifth Witness
and about to start The Eleventh Man
and Four of a Kind: A Novel
.
I'm reading Divergent. I read a blurb about Goodreads saying, although this is considered YA novel, the average reader on this site is 25. I'm almost 2 and 1/2 times that and am still finding it enjoyable,although for some reason I'm stalled about 1/2 way through, so here I am...
I'm trying to get through "Steve Jobs" ...need to finish it for our bookclub in September. I'm also reading "The Christmas Train" by David Baldacci ... I'm starting to enjoy this.
I am listening to Audible.com's unabridged version of "The Informationist". I'm at Chapter 5 and loving it. Very exciting. love a strong female lead.
Glenda wrote: "I'm trying to get through "Steve Jobs" ...need to finish it for our bookclub in September. I'm also reading "The Christmas Train" by David Baldacci ... I'm starting to enjoy this."I read The Christmas Train a few years ago, and I remember really enjoying it!
I've finished Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich and now I've started The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain.
I have enjoyed all of the Janet Evanovich books ... they are great reads when you just want to laugh out loud. Enjoy the others!
I'm about halfway through
and am enjoying it. I decided to pick this up at the library as it was time to read some nonfiction and it is a 2012 All Iowa Reads Book.
Started reading The Night Strangers by Boujahalian. I've been wanting to read this for a long time,and I'm not disappointed so far.
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The Next Best Book Club
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I never read it nor do I intend to. For one, erotica's not my thing (I don't think it's like from the devil or anything, but it's just not my thing), for two the writing looks beyond bad, and for three it just sounds like it's idealizing the type of guy that, quite frankly, shouldn't be idealized at all.