Books on the Nightstand discussion
What Are You Reading: May 2011
message 101:
by
Callie
(new)
May 24, 2011 05:04AM
Just started Caleb's Crossing on audio on my way home yesterday, and I'm just in love with it. Just to emphasize the extent- I actually folded a couple extra loads of laundry and organized my closet yesterday afternoon, all while listening on my mp3 player... that's really the highest praise I can give an audiobook!
reply
|
flag
I just finished
A Drop of the Hard Stuff the new Matthew Scudder novel by Lawrence Block. A quick and enjoyable enough read. Scudder takes on a case that is personal to him. Interesting characters and of course detective work.
As always, if you're interested, you can read my review here: http://wp.me/pTRJE-63
I just started My Fair Lazy
by Jenn Lancaster and I'm really enjoying it so far. I've read her other book, Such a Pretty Fat and loved it so this isn't much of a surprise. I'm also finishing up Bossypants by Tina Fey on audio and I am stalling because I don't want it to end. I'll have to turn to something a little more serious once I finish these!
I finished
, and really loved it. So glad I finally read it. I just started
, and it is much easier to read and shorter, so it will be a nice break. It is very good so far.
I am dragging through Solar and feel guilty about not loving it so far; I picked it for book group. I wanted to like it so much as I enjoyed listening to Ann's interview with Ian McEwan on the podcast and I have read Atonement andOn Chesil Beach and liked them both better. On a quicker note I finished Sixkill by the late Robert B. Parker which was a quick, fun break.
I've finally got round to reading
Only a 100 pages in so far. It is quite interesting but the writing style is wearing thin and definitely distancing me from the emotion of the story.
I'm almost finished with The Postmistress. I didn't think I would like it when I first started reading it but I'm glad I stuck with it because my opinion has changed drastically.
Mod
Esther wrote: "I've finally got round to reading Only a 100 pages in so far. It is quite interesting but the writing style is wearing thin and definitely distancing me from the e..."
Hi! I just wanted tomsaymthat I hope you continue to give The Book Thief a chance. Being narrated by death definitely made the reading experience unique but this book became one of my all-time favorite books. I had tomread it for my book club in January and I'm so glad it was chosen. I'll be curious tomsee what you have tomsay when you're done. :)
I have read a couple of things this month. I started with Tatjana Soli's masterpiece The Lotus Eaters. Last week I finished Eleanor Brown's The Weird Sisters and right now I am in the middle of The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen. My husband was wondering what was up with all the sisters!
I just finished The Postmistress and really liked it even tho it was really sad. I'm moving on now to Around the World in Eighty Days
I'm reading Cancer Vixen: A True Story, which I picked up on Free Comic Book Day. I'm also reading a book by my favorite author, John Steinbeck. It's the sequel to Cannery Row called Sweet Thursday. Cannery Row is quite simply my favorite book of all time. I have heard this one is good but isn't at that level and if you know the story behind it, it's kind of heart-breaking (he based the main character in Cannery Row on his best friend Ed Ricketts who died in a tragic accident a few years after Cannery Row. Steinbeck wrote this book about him posthumously and was by all accounts never the same.)
Mod
It's not my usual genre but I did end up liking this one too. There's just something about it...
And then just a week or two later I was reading another book about poetry writing and saw this author's ex husband's new wife (homewrecker) listed as a contributor . . WEIRD. HINKY.Julie wrote: "Elizabeth Gillies' 'Happens Every Day.' I picked this up because the author is also the actress who played Detective Stabler's wife on 'Law and Order-SVU.' (My guilty pleasure TV show.
An hones..."
Finished Soulless, and I was delighted by it. Something about the main character, Alexia, reminds me of Anne Shirley, if she were Italian and lived in a steampunk world of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts.Next up is Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven for book club.
Finished reading
Mockingjay last night, the final book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. WOW. This one wasn't anything like what I was expecting at all, or what I was hoping for, but wasn't disappointing in the least. And then the ending left me uncertain how I felt, that while it's a happy ending, it's tarnished in so much sadness at all the things they've lost and the unfairness of their situation that it almost doesn't seem enough.
Currently reading Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon.
It's my first exposure to Pynchon, and it's definitely groovy, man. Like, way far out.
John wrote: "Currently reading Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon. It's my first exposure to Pynchon, and it's definitely groovy, man. Like, way far out."Is that your honest opinon or are you mocking the book? I can't tell, lol.
I like it so far. I was just expressing that in the tone the book has set forth ;)
Just finished
The Sisters Brothers: A Novel and really enjoyed it. Gave it 4* because it has a little of everything. Dry humor, great characters, grit, emotion, and plain good storytelling/writing.
If you're interested my review can be found here: http://wp.me/pTRJE-6d
Sharman wrote: "I love keeping a journal about the books I have read. Do you have any resources about writing journal entries? I've been writing title, author, book summaries, and my feelings/opinions about the ..."I know that Moleskine makes specific reading journals if you are looking for a non-digital method.
Callie wrote: "Finished Soulless, and I was delighted by it. Something about the main character, Alexia, reminds me of Anne Shirley, if she were Italian and lived in a steampunk world of vampires, ..."This description was spot on. Alexia was such a fun character.
Finished Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven just now, and I very much enjoyed it. For some reason, memoirs that take place in China (how's that for niche?) are so addictive for me. Have to decide what to do next- go back to Wind-Up Girl, or start something else? I'll figure it out today.
Hello everybody from sunny Spain, my first post here.I'm halfway through
, and enjoying it so far...though have to admit it is a very disturbing book in many levels. Not your typical space exploration scifi.
Bienvenido, Santiago. Espero con placer tus comentarios. It's sunny and warm here in the Boston area, too, but I prefer cool weather. Happy reading!
I just finished reading the Preacher and really enjoyed it as much as I do Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, and Stieg Larsson. The added bonus is it was chosen for me by my son for Mother's Day. And bonus number two is there are more in the series!Lackberg, CamillaThe Preacher
Paul wrote: "Bienvenido, Santiago. Espero con placer tus comentarios. It's sunny and warm here in the Boston area, too, but I prefer cool weather. Happy reading!"Gracias Paul! Hope to add something to the conversation
Finished Solar, by Ian McEwan which I didn't really like (only 2 stars) and have started Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross.
Santiago wrote: "Hello everybody from sunny Spain, my first post here.I'm halfway through
, and enjoying it so far...though have to admit it is a very disturbing book in many levels...."The Sparrow is on my RE-READ pile. I've been haunted by it since I first read it. Excellent book.
Aside: My daughter will be in Salamanca this summer; I'll be visiting her in August. Extremely excited (Madrid, Salamanca & Toledo)!!
I just started
and it feels like being dropped on another planet. Which is the point. Very intriguing! I went to see the author Saturday night and he signed my kindle: To Jana, honoured to deface it. China Mieville.And Neal Stephenson was there, just hanging out incognito. It was geek heaven.
Jana wrote: "And Neal Stephenson was there, just hanging out incognito."
LOL, how is that even possible?! That would be like going to a Rolling Stones concert and having Jimmy Page playing backup!
Sounds like it was amazing! Wish I could have managed it :-)
LOL, how is that even possible?! That would be like going to a Rolling Stones concert and having Jimmy Page playing backup!
Sounds like it was amazing! Wish I could have managed it :-)
I just finished "Paying For It", the latest long-form comic book project from Chester Brown.
I've been reading Chester Brown's idiosyncratic comics since he weirded me out with his "Ed the Happy Clown" story in "Yummy Fur" back in the late eighties. I followed him into his autobiographical work that appeared in the later issues of "Yummy Fur". His next project, in the mid-nineties, was called "Underwater", which I found incomprehensible. Then came the historical comic "Louis Riel", which I found boring. Now he's back with "Paying For It", which finds him back in autobiographical territory, which he excells at, partly because he's so cringe-inducingly honest. Partly because, in his own way, he's every bit as much of a character as the late Harvey Pekar.
In this book, he starts by telling us about the breakdown of his relationship with a girlfriend, to the point where they were just friends and roommates, with no sexual component to their relationship. Although he remains close friends with her to this day, Chester soured on the idea of romantic love; of long-term monogamous pairing. He began to think about patronizing prostitutes instead. After about a year of agonizing over the decision, he becomes a "john", and hires the services of a succession of prostitutes. This book is the story of his life in that arena. How does one go about setting up contact with a hooker? What's the etiquette involved? Do you tip? What do you get for your money? Do these girls like their work? All these questions are dealt with.
Chester is perfectly satisfied with the life he leads, although there is a surprise at the end that I won't give away here. Also, there's a lengthy (prose) afterword, in which he puts up a passionate and reasoned argument for decriminalization of prostitution. (not to be confused with legalization and regulation, which he argues against). You may come out of reading this book questioning a lot of your own preconceived notions. The book is frank, entertaining, and will give your system of ethics a workout.
I've been reading Chester Brown's idiosyncratic comics since he weirded me out with his "Ed the Happy Clown" story in "Yummy Fur" back in the late eighties. I followed him into his autobiographical work that appeared in the later issues of "Yummy Fur". His next project, in the mid-nineties, was called "Underwater", which I found incomprehensible. Then came the historical comic "Louis Riel", which I found boring. Now he's back with "Paying For It", which finds him back in autobiographical territory, which he excells at, partly because he's so cringe-inducingly honest. Partly because, in his own way, he's every bit as much of a character as the late Harvey Pekar.
In this book, he starts by telling us about the breakdown of his relationship with a girlfriend, to the point where they were just friends and roommates, with no sexual component to their relationship. Although he remains close friends with her to this day, Chester soured on the idea of romantic love; of long-term monogamous pairing. He began to think about patronizing prostitutes instead. After about a year of agonizing over the decision, he becomes a "john", and hires the services of a succession of prostitutes. This book is the story of his life in that arena. How does one go about setting up contact with a hooker? What's the etiquette involved? Do you tip? What do you get for your money? Do these girls like their work? All these questions are dealt with.
Chester is perfectly satisfied with the life he leads, although there is a surprise at the end that I won't give away here. Also, there's a lengthy (prose) afterword, in which he puts up a passionate and reasoned argument for decriminalization of prostitution. (not to be confused with legalization and regulation, which he argues against). You may come out of reading this book questioning a lot of your own preconceived notions. The book is frank, entertaining, and will give your system of ethics a workout.
Mod
Now I'm on to Mary Higgins Clark's latest
. I should have that finished by tomorrow and be able to move on to something a little meatier.
Jana wrote: "Santiago wrote: "Hello everybody from sunny Spain, my first post here.I'm halfway through
, and enjoying it so far...though have to admit it is a very disturbing b..."Hi Jana! The Sparrow is turning out to be one of the best reads of the year so far, can't wait to see what the author does to the ending.You are gonna love the cities you're going to visit this summer, but be prepared: August is very hot in central Spain!!!
I read A Visit from the Goon Squad this weekend and loved it. A wonderful experience.Next, I'm going to give The Wind-Up Girl another go- I think I'm in a better place mentally to really jump into this one.
Ann wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I "met" Joan Didion when I suggested The Year of Magical Thinking for my book club. I loved her style and the medical detail (no one else in my club did!)"Joanne, Joan Didion has a..."
Ann --- I can't wait for this. I loved The Year of Magical Thinking.
Callie wrote: "I read A Visit from the Goon Squad this weekend and loved it. A wonderful experience.Hi Callie!
Have you, by any chance, read it in the Kindle? I'm considering buying it in ebook format, but there are some comments in Amazon saying the famous "Power Point chapter" is unreadable.
Next, I'm going to give The Wind-Up Girl another go- I think I'm in a better place mentally to ..."Well, Callie, you're a better woman than I...I can't seem to follow it. I can't picture anything...not that I usually have pictographs running about in my head, but I don't recognize anyone. It seems too strange...and I lived most of my adult life in Asia, so you'd think I'd get at least some of it. Perhaps that's why it's classified as sci-fi. It's out of this world.
Have you, by any chance, read it in the Kindle? I'm considering buyi..."Hi Santiago!
No, because of the warnings against the ebook, I ended up buying it in physical format. Sorry!
On a side note... I don't know if I would have noticed this before the retreat... but the paper quality of VftGS is exquisite. Every time I turned the page, I was momentarily distracted by the silky texture. I don't think I have ever noticed that before.
Santiago wrote: "Callie wrote: "I read A Visit from the Goon Squad this weekend and loved it. A wonderful experience.Have you, by any chance, read it in the Kindle? I'm considering buyi..."
Santiago, I listened to it on my iphone. And the powerpoint part actually works in that format...weirdly enough. Complete with sound effects. However, I also went into my local Barnes & Noble and read that chapter as well. It's a small part of the book, so maybe that's an option if the kindle doesn't do it justice?
Thanks Jana. The thing is, I don't know if I'll be able to find a physical copy in my local bookstore (the book hasn't been published in Spain yet). I guess I'll end up buying the paper version from the Internet.
I read the Kindle version of Goon Squad, but most of it (including the powerpoint chapter) using the Kindle for PC app. It was definitely readable that way.
John wrote: "I read the Kindle version of Goon Squad, but most of it (including the powerpoint chapter) using the Kindle for PC app. It was definitely readable that way." I didn't thought of the PC app! I can always read the book on the Kindle, and if the powerpoint chapter turns out to be unreadable go to my PC for that. Thanks John
Santiago wrote: "Callie wrote: "I read A Visit from the Goon Squad this weekend and loved it. A wonderful experience.Hi Callie!
Have you, by any chance, read it in the Kindle? I'm considering buyi..."
I read this on my Sony ereader and it was fine! i just had to hold it on its side, but I could read it all without any problems!
Great book!
Read
Please Look After Momby Kyung-Sook Shin. It was terrific. Made me think of my mom. That is a good thing.
Lynsay wrote: "Santiago wrote: "Callie wrote: "I read A Visit from the Goon Squad this weekend and loved it. A wonderful experience.Hi Callie!
Have you, by any chance, read it in the Kindle? I'm..."
Thanks Lynsay, I guess I'll get the ebook then.
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
The Pillars of the Earth (other topics)Death of a Charming Man (other topics)
Death of a Nag (other topics)
Soulless (other topics)
The Master and Margarita (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Camilla Läckberg (other topics)Banana Yoshimoto (other topics)
Ellen Raskin (other topics)
Marianne Malone (other topics)
John Stephens (other topics)
More...
