WHAT ARE YOU READING?

[Tom]

I remember reading "Salem's Lot" when it first came out - I was terrified!! Stephen King was a great writer, before he became "commercial." He has the power, despite his recent "quirky" novels to cast a spell over the reader. Tom

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Just finished Company of Liars. It was quite good.

[Tisha]

I finished Dreams From My Father and now just started Belle de Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl. Not sure how to describe it yet, but its entertaining and a quick read (just 291 pages) before I dive back into something else.

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

I finished The Road Home by Rose Tremain last night and it was fantastic! It's the story of an Eastern European man who goes to London to look for work and it's so beautifully written it made me want to read it slowly and savour every word. Just loved it!

Just started on Addition by Toni Jordan now for a short, light, funny read.

[Tom]

BTW, I just finished Archer's new novel, "Prisoner at Birth." It's a modern spin-off on "The Count of Monte Cristo." The prose is clear and literary, with plenty o'legalese, and the plot is very clever. I recommend it. Tom

[Chelsea]

I'm reading "Dead Girls Don't Write Letters"

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Boof - is Belle de Jour related to the Catherine Deneuve movie of that name?

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading The Sorrow of Belgium by Hugo Claus. So far it's really good.

[Dawn Michelle]

I am reading "Well of Lost Plots" by Jasper Fforde with either "My Antonia" (if I can EVER find it) or "Bleak House" next in que. Unless I get the next in the "Thursday Next" series and then, well, I will just hunker down with that :)!!

[Brigid ✩]

downsiders by neal shusterman

[Ashley]

I'm now reading "All I Could Bare" by Craig Seymour. It is a memoir.

[Angela]

I am currently reading Digging Up Momma by Sarah Shankman. It is the first book I have ever read of this author. I just came across it at the bookstore & thought it sounded like a good read.

[Tisha]

Susanna,

sorry for the delay in responding...I've been out of time and am just getting caught up on the book club!

Belle de Jour is about a call girl (her diary), and she references that it is her favorite movie, but i wouldnt compare it to the movie beyond that. Its kind of chick-lit like. Quick entertaining read though.

[Dianne]

I'm reading a self-published book, World Without Women, by Sean McElgunn. It's written by a man who is in an authors' group with me in Northern Ireland. He's an ex-priest and the book, while it is styled as a fiction, is based on his experiences as a missionary priest. I knew little about the priesthood before I started reading it and I am completely fascinated. It's written in short scenes and I can hardly wait to get a few minutes any time of the day to read a bit more.

Dianne Ascroft,
'Hitler and Mars Bars'

[Celeste]

Hi guys,

I've been going for a while. Life gets in the way sometimes. I'm currently reading The News From Paraguay by Lily Tuck.

Been reading mostly light fare this summer. I have however, read a good young adult novel called, Lily Dale Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub. It's a mystery set in Lily Dale, New York; a spiritualist community so the story has a paranormal element. The story, being the first in a series, does leave you hanging a bit, but the second book is out and the third book is coming out in November.

I've seen a lot of talk about the Thursday Next books. I love this series. I hope Mr. Fforde continues to write for a long time to come. It's so much fun picking out the literary references.

So for the moment I'm waiting for Breaking Dawn, the 4th in the Twilight series; and Inkdeath to come out.

[Val]

I'm reading Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country, about his travels through Australia. It has made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion (causing others to look at me askance when I did so while riding a bike at the Y). I've only read three of his books and this so far is my favorite. Lately I've been into travel books and just finished Michael Palin's diary of his trip through the Himilaya countries. Fascinating! Once I'm done with this Bryson book, however, I'm picking up a couple of Jasper Fford's books I've put on hold at the library.

I love seeing what others read; it's giving me even more to add to my must-read list!

[Mandy]

I'm reading The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly - has anyone read this?

[Kirsty]

Mandy I'm also reading this at the moment. I'm 3 chapters in and am loving it!

[Kerry]

Val! I love to read travel memoirs too. I like Sarah Vowell's Assasination Vacation. This book centers on a tour she does of presidential assasination sites. A clever concept and kind of strange to mix humorous writing with a grim concept like historic assasinations, but it works.

I want to read Jasper Fford's books too. Right now I'm reading The Book Thief and I'm suprised at how good it is. I'm about 100 pages in.

[Val]

Mandy, I've read The Book of Lost Things. I really liked it (once I looked at it again to see what it was about. Obviously it wasn't one of those that stuck with me, but a good little story all the same). How are you liking it?

[Val]

Seanachie, I'll have to check out Assasination Vacation. It sounds right up my alley! Hmmm....what does that say about me? Well, no time for self-reflection right now, I've got books to read! You reminded me that I want to read The Book Thief. Why are you surprised that you like it?

[Elliott]

I read The Book of Lost Things a couple of months ago. For the most part, I liked this book because I'm very much into fairy tales and modern variations on them. One part of the book that I disliked was a segment involving Snow White, the Seven Dwarves, and unions. The tone of that segment broke from the rest of the book in terms of tone and narrative. Even though I know why the author wrote that section, I still did not like that part because it made me aware of his attempt to be clever instead of just telling the story.

[Val]

Elliott, I agree about that part of the book. I found it very funny and could just hear Monty Python playing the dwarves, but it really didn't fit in with the timbre of the book. It kind of reminded me of Shakespeare's use of comic relief in some of his plays.

[Ann from S.C.]

I am trying to start CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN by Louis de Bernieres. I say trying cause I am having a hard time getting into it. Has anyone eles read it? If so, is it worth sticking with it?

[Mandy]

Oh, dear, I liked the part with Snow White and the dwarves the best! Sorry, guys.

I've finished the book and to start with I loved it then once the cross over occurred I wasn't that sure about it. It was "okay" for me, not my usual type of reading. However, after thinking about it last night it did go up a notch as I could see all the lessons that are in the book and it really was quite well written, although the lessons weren't forthcoming whilst reading it. Sometimes books are like this for me, it takes me a while to appreciate them. A few others in another group are reading this with their kids, it will be one I'll bring out one day when I have kids and share with them, it would be fun.

[Val]

Oh heck, Mandy, I loved that part with Snow White as well, but Elliott was right in that it didn't really go with the rest of the book. But it did make me laugh.

I've thought about giving it to my 12-year-old to read, but she generally won't read anything I suggest (she's very much her own person and probably thinks anything her old mom finds interesting she will find dull). I'll keep trying, though!

[Mandy]

I read parts of the Snow White bit to my partner because I thought it was funny, so did he. But you guys are right, it did seem to sway from the rest of the book.

Good luck with your daughter, perhaps because this is a twist on stories she probably knew growing up she may enjoy it, I hope she does.

[Ashley]

I'm now reading "Pretties" by Scott Westerfeld and "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare

[Val]

I just started Ivan Doig's Bucking the Sun and I love it. As always, the writing is rich and beautifully descriptive and even though he is jumping back and forth between eight characters, I don't find it distracting, plus I like each and every one of them.

[Jennifer]

I'm currently reading Angels, by Marian Keyes. I'm more than halfway finished, and I'll probably have it done within another day or so.

[Suzanne]

I'm reading You've Been Warned by James Patterson. Just started today.

[Tisha]

Just started The Kite Runner.... i'm nervous about this one...

[Mandy]

Fireheart - what do you think of Angels? It's on my shelf to be read and I'd be interested to see what you think of it.

Suzanne - YBW is also on my shelf to be read, what do you think of it?

Tisha - it's brilliant!

[Ann from S.C.]

Ok...
ANGELS was great!
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED was fantastic!
and
THE KITE RUNNER is on of my all time favorites!!!

[Adelita]

I'm currently reading The Watermelon King by Daniel Wallace (same guy who wrote Big Fish which they turned into a movie starring Ewan McGregor directed by Tim Burton).

[Ann from S.C.]

I just finished A SIMPLE PLAN. Now I am starting SNOW FLOWERS AND THE SECRET FAN.

[Julie]

I just started The Game. It's a young adult fantasy novella by Dianna Wynne Jones. Seems promising.

[Jim]

Just starting CHARLATAN, AMERICA'S MOST DANGEROUS HUCKSTER by Pope Brock
interesting and fun but not funny what "Doctor" John Brinkley did in 1st 1/3 of last century

THE FRUIT HUNTER - has the makings of a really good book about something in our everyday lives but we don't know much about

what's behind the scenes in getting that fruit to our tables plus look at how important, mysterious fruits have been over time.

[Ginny]

I'm reading The Music of the Spheres and I like it because of the references to astronomy. The setting is the 18th century London and the search for a serial killer. It reads like a murder mystery, but there's lots of history.

[Tom]

This book looks like a good one! I like novels set in the 17-18-19th centuries. I also like to learn while I read. I'm gonna check it out.

I'm reading "The Confessions of Nat Turner." I forgot how good William Styron wrote. Tom

[Joe]

i should look at my own book reviews before i say this but, 'i can t remember if i read CONFESSIONS or not but i own it as part of my 100 best of the 20th cent by random house. have you read SOPHIES CHOICE ? styron was a great writer,good friends with james jones,hemingway,. i do question the graphic sex scenes he put in SOPHIE cause this book can t be used in high schools and many colleges cause of those scenes and it should be studied and re read,great writer, great books. take care..joe

[Jennifer]

I enjoyed Angels, Mandy. It started out a little slow-ish and not terribly interesting, but it picked up and by the second half I could hardly put the book down. If you like Marian Keyes and especially her stories of the Walsh sisters, I think you'll enjoy it.

I just started on her most recent book, This Charming Man. Not far enough into it yet to really comment.

[Spencer]

I agree with Fireheart about Marian Keyes' Angel. A lot of her books seem to start of slow but once you get into it it's impossible to put down!
Im reading Girl with a Pearl Earring... This is my first historical fiction and its ok so far. I think Im almost at the point to where you cant put down the book because its so good. We'll see!

[Carrie]

I'm reading The six sacred stones by Matthew Reily.

[Julie]

I just started Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl. I've seen a lot of negative reviews of it on Goodreads, but so far I'm really enjoying it -- it's smart and funny.

[Annet]

Hello book friends,
I'm currently reading two books:
The little Friend by Donna Tartt and
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

I LOVED the Secret History of Donna Tartt and tried to start in The Little Friend a couple of times... it didn't work. I just couldn't get through the first pages. Now, I'm determined to finish. Started very determined during holiday in the woods and it seems now I will succeed. I'm still unsure whether I truly like it but the story sure is brooding and interesting.But the long descriptions of Tartt on the pages sometimes can be a barrier. I think I like it though. Tartt has a talent for exceptional stories. But, I still have lot of pages to go and I'm trying to read slowly and deeply, trying to get all the details. Will review when finished!
Twilight... a popular book it seems. I picked up the tip at goodreads actually. The theme is so interesting, a girl falling in love with a vampire and I read so much good reviews here and elsewhere, first pages flew by, it's easy read and fascinating. But I have to confess, I'm more than halfway through now and eagerly waiting for some action. The scene of the girl and vampire boy barely touching each other but wanting to etc. is getting repetitive and I do hope for some fireworks soon. I'm sure it will be bhere. Can't help myself but wondering how the sequels to this book are filled? I love the setting of the book, northern Washington USA. Been there, recognize the feel of it. Seen no vampires though...

[Donna]

I just finished Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi and now I am on to The Red Leather Diary By Lily Kopel.

[Angela]

I am currently readins Leaving Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns. The first book Cold Sassy Tree was such a great read!

[Ashley]

I'm gonna start reading "City of Ashes" by Cassandra Clare which is book two of The Mortal Instruments series.

[Jackie]

I figured it was about time I started posting to this group. My biblioholism is fed nicely by the fact that I work at a bookstore and have access to Advance Readers Copies and other free books, as well as reviewing and recommending books as part of my job.

I'm currently reading The Lovers Knot: A Someday Quilts Mystery (new series) by Clare O'Donohue.

Ten books I've recently finished are (all are reviewed on my bookshelves):

The Devouring by Simon Holt
The Servants by Michael Marshall Smith
In The Woods by Tana French
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
The Little Book by Seldon Edwards
The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard
A Week in October by Elizabeth Subercaseaux
Goodbye and Amen by Beth Gutchon
Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong