The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What are you reading?
Logan - Let me know how you like The Places in Between, it's been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile and just haven't gotten around to picking it up yet.
I'm still working on Cider House Rules. My son hasn't been sleeping great (climbing out of his crib at 2:00 AM and coming downstairs!) for the past few nights and before that I had such bad allergies that I was up a lot in the night so every time I try to read I wind up falling asleep. It's killing me because I like the book but my sleep deprivation and the denseness of the book is a bad combination. I just started listening to Water for Elephant for my work book club which meets next week-yikes!! Maybe I should shut my door and just read CHR all day so I can catch up!
Joanie, How far are you in Cider House? The ending seemed to go much faster than the rest.As for Water for Elephants - I found that to be a pretty quick read.
Good luck with your son! I thank my lucky stars my daughter never did that!
Finished New Moon last night -- finally! It was all right (kind of got on my nerves). I am about five pages or so into Eclipse. Once I finish that, I'm moving on to Gifted Hands by Ben Carson.
After finishing Firmin - Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage last night, I am now reading the Last Templar by Raymond Khoury.After standing in front of my TBR for about 30 minutes, not sure what to read next, my husband finally came with that book and said it is very good. So far, I managed the first five chapters, I have not been disappointed.
I'm well in (several hundred pages) to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and loving it.
I am almost finished with THE WITCH OF PORTEBELLO, and I just finished THE CRAZY SCHOOL. It was a fast read, and I liked it. Am also reading CIDER HOUSE RULES, am liking it, just taking me a while.
Okay, I think I have read a chapter the past day. O.o Wicked Lovely, is really good, and one of the best fantasy books I've ever read, but I've been sick, so sick all I've wanted to do is sleep. So I probably won't actually get to finish it til this weekend, becuase I have school all this week and two test tomorrow. This is a challenge, reading all I like, and doing school. Can't wiat til next semester, I get to take english! Wohoo!
I've momentarily put aside The Savage Detectives, but I'm not admitting defeat. I got caught on Shantaram and now that it's finished, I couldn't resist picking up the most intriguing book from my most recent splurge, Titus Groan. It's the first of the Gormenghast trilogy by Mervyn Peake which promises to be delightful. Also hoping to finish The Gospel According to Jesus Christ in the next couple of days. I'm not letting myself start The Raw Shark Texts until I've finished Bolano. I find a reward system is sometimes handy in getting through the more scholarly pieces...
Laura, I hope you go back to The Savage Detectives, the ending makes the arduous middle worthwhile. Once I finished it I was able to look back on it a lot more fondly. I'm definitely looking forward to the English translation of 2666.
Lori~ How are you liking "Odd Hours"? Did you finish it? I really loved it, but it was so different from the first three I thought. Won't say anymore in case you haven't finished it yet. But I am anxious to see what you think when you are done.To whomever was reading "The Eyre Affair"..don't despair..it DOES pick up. You just have to remember that Thursday's 1985 isn't and wasn't OUR 1985. I loved that book (and the following ones). VERY creative.
Logan~ I am really into this book. Almost done. He writes really well and just draws you into the story. I am so glad I picked this one up.
I really want to read the Oscar Wao(?)book, but its still in hardcover. Unless I can find a superb deal on it in the states when I go, it will be awhile until I read it. I am so looking forward to it though. Don't know what I am going to read after I finish the current one...I only have TWENTY-NINE to pick from....GASP!!
Dawn, Oscar Wao came out in paperback in the States at the beginning of the month, so you should be able to find it at a decent price when you come.
I am now reading Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. I like reading about the 1800s. This book is set in an english town. It is a good read.
I am reading Fallen by David Maine right now. I am liking it so far. The format of the storytelling is very interesting.After that, I am on to Blindness. I am kind of on a Lori recommendation kick right now. So far, that girl knows how to pick books! :)
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Stacie, thanks for the great compliment!!! I would hate to think I like books that no one else does :) I just think its great for me to be able to share a few favorites!! This site has done wonders as far as introducing me to new authors and genres...... everything goes full circle....
Lori...Are you a speed reader?Joanie
The last part of Cider House, I flew thru. That is the best part. Don't give up on it.
Do you think it's time for the boy to go to a bed?
My daughter was the climber. My son LOVED his crib. He loved it so much he cried when we put him in a bed. We had to lay with him until he fell asleep. Total nightmare.
Water for Elephants is one of my absolute favorites.
I hope you enjoy it!!
I still have about 150 pages to go on Cider House. I really like it, I just need a chunk of uninterrupted time where I can stay awake to read it! I'm listening to the audio book as I type which will hopefully make it go a little faster. I hope to be finished by the weekend.It probably is time to move my son to a bed and we actually have one for him already. I've been putting it off because I know it's going to be a bit of a production. He used to go to bed without a problem, we'd kiss him goodnight and go but then he learned to climb out and when we'd leave him he'd just climb out. Now we sit in there and read to him until he falls asleep which isn't terrible but it's certainly a habit that needs to be broken. I figure my best bet will be to just tackle everything together but I'm dreading it. Maybe he'll surprise me and it will all go smoothly, who knows.
Oh Joanie...I am so familiar with your world!
My son was so in love with his crib, he didn't even try to climb out. It was his safe little haven. It was so traumatic for him to move to a bed.
My daughter, on the other hand, would climb out of her crib, no problem. Transfer to a bed? Not a hiccup.
Funny how kids are so different.
What is the topic of this thread again?
It's funny how much the same kid can change too. Thanks for the moral support (even if it's off topic!) It always makes me feel better to know there is life beyond these crazy phases. It's so easy to lose perspective when you're exhausted!
I just finished A Great and Terrible Beauty. It was good. I liked having a nice quick read between Cider House Rules and Shantaram. I'm starting Shantaram today. :)
Allison, I hope you like Shantaram, it's a biggie but totally worth the time to read it.I started Oscar Wao last night, about 60 pages in, so far so good. If I finish this soon I might do Cider House Rules this month, if I can't fit it in then I'll make an early start on The Stand.
Thank you Logan for letting me know about Oscar Wao being in paperback. I will SO go and look for it when I am home next. YAY YAY YAY!! I have never read a book that was part of a "book club" before.
I'm also wainting for the oscar wao paperback. i never buy hardbacks unless they are on special sales. I like trading books and hardbacks are to heavy to mail.I've finished mr. vertigo 8another book to add to the 1000 and many list as done) I'm starting firebrand by MZB and the first book of the artemos fool series
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For those of you with crib/bed problems, You may be suprized to know that neither of my boys ever slept in a crib. they went from a bassinet in our room, to our bed for a few months, and then straight to their own beds. My oldest got one of those cool car beds that ToysRUs sells. He just needed someone to lye with him till he fell asleep.
When my youngest was born, we bought bunk beds, the kind when the bottom bunk is pointing out, and both sides are enclosed by a dresser and shelves, so when we put the youngest into his bed, he couldnt roll over and fall out. Again, worked out quite well, they have each other as company when its bed time.
Lori...I said that because you seem to be flying through the books lately. I'm jealous. I wish I could read faster....and more. Work has been hell and we are busy with the kids sports and school and there are so many other distractions. I need a day off for ME!!
Joanie...It is great to share concerns about kids and realize you are not stranded out in kid island by yourself. Just wait till your kids get older and they fight over Pokeman cards. :)
Dawn, Gotta love the Oddster. I find some of the best things about Koontz writing is that while his plots can get pretty dark, he maintains a sense of humor and can always make me laugh, even at the darkest moments.
Kellie, I think you might be on to something here. I can barely read a hundred pages or so a day and Lori is streaking through books like the speed of light.By the way, am also a great fan of Water for Elephants. It had me from "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other."
Thanks, Mandy!! Yeah the size of Shantaram is a little daunting! LOL! :) But I'm enjoying it so far. Glad to hear you liked it, and that it was worth the read. :)
Okay, so I stayed home today from school, but I can't really concentrate on any one thing, so I will probabably read a little bit, but mostly sleep and watch movies. I hate being sick, because, I find I have less time to read, becasue I sleep more from being medicated O.o.
Hope you feel better soon Andrew. Being too sick to read is no fun. :o(
I'm reading House at Riverton by Kate Morton , I'm surprised it was such a thick book when I went to get it. Anyway, it is a wonderful read, (a 98 year old recounts the story of a mysterious suicide at the house where she worked as a maid) pulls you right in. Similar to The Thirteenth Tale, has any one read House at Riverton?
I've been wanting to read House at Riverton since I finished The Thirteenth Tale. Glad you are enjoying it, I will have to pick it up soon! :)
I finished Mr Hands for another book group.Now I'm just in the middle of New Moon.I think I will wait till that is all finished before starting another book.I am also studying my Information Literacy course.Then the next course will be the intro to early childhood.so I will be studyiing awhile.I have to projects to work on as well.I am so excited to finally being able to earn credits.I need a job soo bad.
Thanks Boof. I haven't read any thing yet :( I've been passed out on the couch not even doing anyhting. Now, I'm going to the docotr in a couple of hours, then more couch potatoing. Oh well.
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I felt the same about "New Moon" but liked "Eclipse" much better. I felt a bit let down by "Breaking Dawn" but was glad to have closure on the series.
Okay, so I started reading my book, and I can't put it down now! Wohoo! Finally some time to read.
Andrew, I hope you get to feeling better. It never fails, once school starts, we all get sick! Germs!!
Yeah, I have 4 kids in school. I'm screwed.
Clara- If you like the book Cranford, I would suggest seeing the Masterpiece Theater miniseries of the same name. The cast is stellar- Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, etc. I found it at my public library on DVD, so I'm sure you could find it there or at Blockbuster.
Also, if you like Cranford, you will most likely enjoy anything by Anthony Trollope.
I finished "Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis and thought it was pretty good. A couple of things in the future part of the book annoyed me but the part set in the past was interesting.I'm almost through Lee Child's "Nothing to Lose" and kinda wanting it to be over already. Just not as good as some of his others. But I like it enough to finish.
I've just finished the despicable Penny Junor's The Firm (when I get over my spleen I'll write a review) and am reading the fantastically interesting and enjoyable, Inside the Animal Mind. I thought it would be more anecdotal than scientific, but its the reverse.
Dorie, I'm a huge Lee Child fan and I found myself feeling as you do whilst reading "Nothing To Lose", definitely not one of his best but because I'm a faithful fan I finished it and still liked it, just didn't love it like all of his others. I just hope people who decide to pick up his books for the first time don't start with "Nothing To Lose" because they might not pick up another one.
You have to read House at Riverton! I have just completed it and it was amazing. I hope you'll like it, it is always a pleasure to lose yourself in a book.
Way to go Andrew. I am right there with you about being sick. What a waste of time when you can be reading.
I know, I was at page 5 yesterday in my book, and now I'm at 205! Wohoo! I will hopefully finish it today!
whew, I've been away for a bit and there's so many messages to catch up on!! I've been in a local community theater production which has been taking up a lot of my time. Anyway, I finished Songs of the Humpback Whale. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I'm definitely going to venture further into the oveure of Picoult though because I've heard on here that Songs of the Humpback Whale is quite different from her other books.I've moved on to A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's been on my TBR for YEARS, and as I'm reading it I can't believe it's taken me this long to get to it. It's just reminding me what a splendid writer Ishiguro is. I cannot put the thing down.
I'm also reading The Secret of Chimneys as my on going project of going through the entire Agatha Christie canon.
JT - that must be fun and rewarding being in the theater production.
I'm still on Wuthering Heights. It's slow at times but I like it so far.
I'm still on Wuthering Heights. It's slow at times but I like it so far.
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The Next Best Book Club
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Now for something completely different. A bit of travel writing in the form of Rory Stewart's The Places in Between.