You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED)
Pragya wrote: "
. Love the cover!"I love the cover too but the girl is sooooo pale it creeps me out.
I'm reading Bobby Womack's memoir, Midnight Mover. I am reading it because I really enjoy his music and after watching him on Unsung, I thought he led an interesting life that I wanted to know more about.Very good read so far. He shares a lot about his personal life and those he knew personally from his music era. Good stuff.
Catherine wrote: "I'm reading 
Very good so far :)"Excellent book :) I read it in May and really enjoyed it.
Kimberly wrote: "Pragya wrote: ". Love the cover!"I love the cover too but the girl is sooooo pale it creeps me out."
Ha ha! That's good because the book is somewhat creepy too. ;)
Just finished my penpal read (for another group) for the month. I don't think either of us was blown away by it, although for me it got better as it went along. It was The Borgia Bride. I think one reason I liked The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici better than this book by the same author is that Catherine de Medici seemed to be more an active shaper of her circumstance, whereas the main character of this book was mostly stuck being acted upon by circumstances she couldn't fully influence, and her frustration became my own.
Pragya wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Pragya wrote: ". Love the cover!"I love the cover too but the girl is sooooo pale it creeps me out."
Ha ha! That's good because the book is s..."
It wasn't nice to bash us creepy pale people -- especially on St. Patrick's day, the special day for many pale and blotchy people.
Susan wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Pragya wrote: ". Love the cover!"I love the cover too but the girl is sooooo pale it creeps me out."
Ha ha! That's good becau..."
I didn't say that! Over to Kimberly now. :p
Here is another audiobook/book to stay away from: The Orphan Master's Son. Here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I did finish The Twentieth Wife. Here is my final review of this: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I would not recommend either. I am glad I stuck it out with the latter. I learned something but the learning process was not enjoyable.
Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy them Chrissie.
I'm back to reading
after putting it down for a bit to get a couple other books out of the way. I'm really enjoying my re-read of this one.I've also started
for a blog tour and I'm thinking of starting something else.
Kimberly, well reading some bad books can make me appreciate the good ones even more.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook Berlin Diaries, 1940-1945, I have begun A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary. My review of Berlin Diaries follows: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... Both are diaries by women. Both are set in Germany, during the conclusion of WW2.The one I just finished concerned the 20th of July assassin plot on Hitler's life. The one I am reading now focuses on how women are the fodder of war - the central focus being the rape of women in war. You might as well know this before you pick up the book. Before the German book, I completed Fieldwork, and here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... This was also an audiobook. Don't be fooled into thinking it is an anthropological look at Thai people. NO, it is more about a missionary family in Thailand and the 70s and 80s in the US.
Judy wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I'm reading Very good so far :)"Did you see the movie, Catharine?"
yes i watched the movie only this weekend and i loved it, only about 150 pages or so to read cant put it down
Chrissie wrote: "Kimberly, well reading some bad books can make me appreciate the good ones even more."My sentiments exactly, but at least you stuck them out and finished them :)
Dem wrote: "Just findished The Snow ChildThis is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/276513158"Another lovely review Dem, I have to read that one before the month is out for a group read in another group :)
Kimberly wrote: "Dem wrote: "Just findished The Snow ChildThis is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/276513158"Another lovely review Dem, I have to read that one before the month is out for..."
Thanks Kimberly, think it will make a good discussion book. Enjoy !
Finally gave up on The Known World and will be starting Cutting for Stone or The Hunger Games tonight. My son is prompting me to read Hunger Games because I have said that he can't read it until I have so I know if I think it is appropriate for him (He is 10)
I am currently reading The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society which is lots of short stories by well known authors and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Each story is about 15 pages long, and are all really easy going but do provoke thoughts too. Definitely recommend it so far
Shannon wrote: "Finally gave up on The Known World and will be starting Cutting for Stone or The Hunger Games tonight. My son is prompting me to read Hunger Games because I have said ..."Those two are sitting on my shelves too. Hope I pick them up soon.
I just finished A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary. I highly recommend it even if it has as its prime subject matter rape. It is also about survival. Hopefully by reading it it teaches that one should not judge others too quickly. I recommend it to those of you who want to get inside of another human being, to understand their existence, to understand their choices. This is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...Now I am going to read In the Time of the Butterflies.
I don't enjoy light, fluffy reads. That seems pretty obvious here.
Chrissie wrote: "I just finished A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary. I highly recommend it even if it has as its prime subject matter rape. It is also about survival. Hopeful..."I have been interested in reading books about ordinary Germans during WWII, such as . This seems like a good The Book Thief and Those Who Save Us. This seems another good candidate.
I'm reading Those Who Save Us for book club this month. I just put Cutting for Stone on my shelf too.
Susan wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I just finished A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary. I highly recommend it even if it has as its prime subject matter rape. It is also about ..."I haven't been able to get a copy of 'Those Who Save Us'. It does look good. I enjoyed The Book Thief. You might also check out The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Here is what I thought of it: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Rarely is fiction as moving as real life. We are not able to dream up what life actually throws at us.
I'm reading
I need a light easy read.
Finished Truly, Madly
and liked it so much I added the rest of the series to my already ridiculous currently-reading/next up list. Current reads:
April 1865: The Month That Saved America
Death of a Man
Compromised
Jolie Blon's Bounce
The Drop
The Winter Garden Mystery
Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal
Strictly Dishonorable and Other Lost American Play
Next up (added as I finish the above...):
Murder With Puffins
As The Pig Turns
Death by Diamonds
My Favorite Witch
It Takes a Witch
Friday Mornings at Nine
Nothing to Lose
The Hunting of the President: The Ten-Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton
The Eleventh Man
Four of a Kind: A Novel
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Colorado Dawn
Deeply, Desperately
Absolutely, Positively
Definitely, Maybe
A Vintage Affair
Not Quite Dead Enough
The Help
The House at Tyneford: A Novel
Murder Your Darlings
Kitty Foyle
The Paris Wife
11/22/63
The Ghost and the Dead Deb
The Rose Garden
What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal
And Bright Young Things
. Phew!!!
Jennifer wrote: "Finished Truly, Madly and liked it so much I added the rest of the series to my already ridiculous currently-reading/next up list. Current reads:
[..."
Wow! How does it feel to have the rest of your life completely planned?
Susan wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Finished Truly, Madly and liked it so much I added the rest of the series to my already ridiculous currently-reading/next up list. ..."
Jennifer wrote: "Finished Truly, Madly
and liked it so much I added the rest of the series to my already ridiculous currently-reading/next up list. Current reads:
[..."
That is quite a list! And LOL, Susan.
Just finished Thirteen Moons, and started reading Those Who Save Usfor my book club.I enjoyed Thirteen Moons. Frazier's use of language and metaphor is so natural and flowing - truly a beautiful piece of writing. He presents a nuanced look at living in the mountains of North Carolina during the period of history when the US government was trying to remove the Native Americans to reservations out west. He presents the social issues of the day - indentured slavery, slavery, issues of race and the vast difference in life between those who lived in cities and those who lived a a rural remove, and how the intersection of the worlds had such a jarring impact on the way people lived their lives.
The book begins with an old man, looking back on the adventures of his life. Will is sold into indentured servitude by his aunt and uncle after his parents have died. At 12 years old, they send him off into the wilderness to man a trading post deep in Indian territory, and far from any life Will has known. Along the way, he falls prey to a sadistic Indian named Featherstone, who looks more a Scotsman than an Indian, and who gambles away his young wife to Will, only to snatch her away after Will has fallen hopelessly in love with her. He is later adopted by Bear, the Cherokee Indian chief who takes a liking to the young Will and provides him the only family he ever knows - a family to whom he doesn't quite belong.
As the government tries to force the Indians off their land, Will utilizes his advantage as a relatively educated white man, to fight off the goverment and acquire land for his tribe, ultimately serving a stint as a senator and white Indian Chief.
His relationship with Featherstone's wife/daughter Claire is rather frustrating, and my least favorite part of the book. I didn't like her and I didn't understand her enigmatic prevailing presence in his life. I think the real heart of the story surrounded his relationship to the Cherokee nation, rather than he longing for a woman who is his from time to time, who owns his heart, but will never give herself to him.
I'm starting
because I'm on a John Green kick and this is the last on my list (which makes me a little sad!) I'm starting
for one of my book clubs.
Pam wrote: "I'm starting because I'm on a John Green kick and this is the last on my list (which makes me a little sad!) I'm starting for..."You would like John Green as always. Which one's your favorite amongst his? I have only read this and Looking for alaska so far.
Pragya wrote: "Pam wrote: "I'm starting because I'm on a John Green kick and this is the last on my list (which makes me a little sad!) I'm starting [bookcover:Chains|..."I'm having problems importing my book titles, but Looking for Alaska is my favorite but I also really like An Abundance of Katherines. I haven't found one I don't like.
Eileen wrote: "Just finished Thirteen Moons, and started reading Those Who Save Usfor my book club.I enjoyed Thirteen Moons. Frazier's use of language and metaphor is so ..."
Really enjoyed review Eileen and looking forward to see what you think of
Those Who Save Us
Just finished one. Death of a Man
. This is a true story about the death of the writer/editor Charles Wertenbaker, by his widow, the writer Lael Tucker Wertenbaker. Unusual for the time (early 1950s) he insisted on being told the truth about his illness and making his own decisions about his final days, and his wife manages to support him in this utterly without becoming subservient or losing herself in the process. The writing is lyrical and reminiscent to me of Capote or Hellman. I read this because Garson Kanin (who also co-wrote "Adam's Rib" for Tracy and Hepburn) wrote a play based on this book which I read recently and which impressed me.
I'm starting The Snow Child
by Eowyn Ivey (I love the authors first name)and Looking for Alaska
by John Green
I am listening to Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. I am enjoying it immensely. The sarcasm is oh so funny, the British tone amusing. I am learning stuff. I didn't know the Boers settled in Kenya!I finished In the Time of the Butterfliesand here follows my review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Dem wrote: "Eileen wrote: "Just finished Thirteen Moons, and started reading Those Who Save Usfor my book club.I enjoyed Thirteen Moons. Frazier's use of language and ..."
Thanks Dem! So far I am enjoying Those Who Save Us. I'm interested to see how it all wraps up - I'm about mid way through.
I'm almost finished with The Zona - a very intense post-apocalyptic book where religious fanatics control a world destroyed by global warming and small-scale nuclear war.It's a group read for another group I belong to, and the author is participating in the group discussion which should be interesting - or slightly uncomfortable!
I started reading A Pale View Of Hills. I hated his book Never Let Me Go and someone suggested that I give him another try so I purchased this kindle book. I'm fitting it into my Around the World challenge for Japan.
Just finished another one (33 to go in this batch!)--Compromised
which I really enjoyed although in a couple of places some expressions that were clearly anachronistic jerked me out of the story somewhat.
Janice wrote: "I started reading A Pale View Of Hills. I hated his book Never Let Me Go and someone suggested that I give him another try so I purchased this kindle book. I'm fitting it..."I hated Never Let Me Go as well Janice.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Thank you Judy, you should definitely try giving it a go...it is very easy to read I find, unlike some other classics.