Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
ABOUT BOOKS AND READING
>
What are U reading these days? (Part One) (begun 11/22/08)
Everytime I see the title _She's Come Undone_, I think of the book, _Things Fall Apart_ by Chinua Achebe. Of course there is nothing similar about the books themselves, but the titles seem to echo each other. Even the rhythm is the same! I find it a bit confusing. (lol)There's also another book title which rings a similar bell to those two titles, but I can never recall it. Darn! If I ever think of it, I will post it in a new topic here!
I'm the type of person who confuses William Powell with Dick Powell, Nora Ephron with Nora Roberts, Diana Ross with Diahann Carroll, Leslie Howard and Trevor Howard, Beatrice Lillie with Bearice Kaye, Tasmania with Tanzenia, and all the darn Blooms... Leopold, Benjamin, and Harold! (lolol)
Sorry to go off on a rant, but isn't that what these groups are for? :)
Jeff, thanks for the advice on reading Wally Lamb's books.
For some reason, my last two comments here haven't shown up here.My first comment included comments about John Irving's Owen Meany book and how I disliked the tangents and flashbacks. I prefer a linear approach. (Nice work if you can get it!) (g)
My latest comment thanked Jeff for his advice about reading Wally Lamb's books. It also included a rant about how I confuse Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone" title with Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" title. (even though the books are completely different, of course).
It also mentioned other things I confuse, like all the Blooms: Leopold, Harold, and Benjamin! (lol)
OOOPS! - I POSTED THIS IN ERROR. I NEGLECTED TO LOOK AT THE PAGE-PROMPTS ("previous/next") AFTER MESSAGE #50 WHICH WOULD ENABLE ME TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE WHERE I WOULD FIND MESSAGE #51.
Hi Joy, and everyone. Now that I've finished the disconcerting JOBLESS RECOVERY (an all-too realistic story about what happens to a computer programmer when his job his outsourced) and posted my review, I've turned to a book that's been sitting on my TBR pile for nearly 3 years. I've finally picked up THE STONE DIARIES by Carol Shields. Needless to say, I heard a lot about this book when she won major awards for it, so I decided to give it a try. Well, I can see why it gathered so much attention. For anyone writer who wants to know how a terrific writer handles multiple POV, this book is a good way to learn.
Hi Debra,I read your review of _Jobless Recovery_. Well done. Sounds like an emotionally exhausting book to read.
I haven't read any of Carol Shield's work. Multiple points of view are very interesting. I've read several novels like that. _The Hours_ comes to mind. Although it wasn't about several points of view exactly, each section was related to the other in a rather skewed way. It was brilliant, but took some concentration to see all the parallels.
I could tell that some people weren't as thrilled with it as I was, but I thought it was mesmerizing.
The author, Michael Cunningham also wrote _A Home at the End of the World_ which I loved. He reflects a lot on life... and in such an elegant way. Below is a quote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'd have liked to tell him something I'd taken almost 60 years to learn: that we owe the dead even less than we owe the living, that our only chance of happiness - a small enough chance - lay in welcoming change."
-Michael Cunningham, "A Home at the End of the World" (1990), p. 294
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for mentioning those books, Joy, and the quote is terrific. Point of view is something that really interests me. I love to see how different others use it.
Sorry, I should have said how different "authors" use it. And speaking of point of view, one of the most riveting books I've read is BELOVED by Toni Morrison. It's been a few years, but much of the tale (I can't recall if it all is) is told from the POV of a dead child.
I'm almost done withYour Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz.I'm not enjoying it as much as I usually enjoy his novels.
Why you ask? (LOL)
Normally he grabs me in Chapter One and doesn't let go until the end. This book is in two parts, the first part is setting up the second. That is so unusual for him and I don't like it. Now that I'm getting to the real story, it's good and I'm enjoying it.
The first part wasn't bad, just not what I expected from DK.
I just finished Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic by GR author S.A. Rule. I was very pleased. I've been reading fantasy since I was little & it's hard for me to find a good, new writer. Sue is certainly one, though. I highly recommend it. I wrote a review on it Jim's review "The Cloak of Magic
Jim,I knew that 30 minute lunch wasn't going to do it, LOL
I happy you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I'm supposed to get an hour for lunch, so when I occasionally stretch it over that, it's not a big deal. Often I feel guilty, but today I was just absorbed. So much going on in those last pages! Whew! I can't wait for the next book to come out.
Jim,Did you see that end coming? I didn't. I was completely stunned.
Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic was one of the better books I've read in a while.
Debra - I tried _Beloved_ a while ago, but couldn't get into it. Maybe I should try again.Jackie and Jim - You're getting more reading done than I am. Getting the house ready for Christmas and for the company I had tonight have taken up a lot of my time. I think I'll spend tomorrow relaxing with _Red Hot_, the book I'm currently reading. It's a light mystery about the theft of a work of art.
Note: This topic is still open for posts but I am going to start a topic named "What are you reading these days? (Part Two)" simply because there are so many posts here and the thread may become unwieldy after a while for those who don't like to reverse the order of the messages.I'll rename this topic "What are you reading these days? (Part One)".
Please feel free to post to either topic.
Right now I'm reading Grace by Richard Paul Evans. I've read a few of his books and just love them. Its taken me awhile to get into this one. I'll let you know what I think when I'm done.
Jackie wrote: "Jim,Did you see that end coming? I didn't. I was completely stunned."
No, I can't say I saw that end coming. Sue had been building the tension & showing the situation oscillating further out of control, so I knew some major events would happen. Exactly what they were & the logic behind them were a surprise though. Not the perpetrators, though.
I can't say more here without making it a spoiler. Let's discuss in the other topic.
I got Werner A. Lind's book, Lifeblood last night. I really wanted to start it, but Jon had sent me a copy of The Best of Robert E. Howard: Crimson Shadows which I've been dying to read, so I started it instead. Tough choice, though. Werner's been a good friend here on GR & started the Supernatural Fiction Readers group. He's up next.
I may whine about it, but I love having such tough choices to make. Imagine, too many good books to read. What a horrible problem!!!
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Debra - I tried _Beloved_ a while ago, but couldn't get into it. Maybe I should try again.Joy, I would really recommend that you do try Beloved again. It is one of my all time favorite books. I have read it several times (however, not in a few years). The characters and plots are amazing and very well written. I think the first time I read it (HS) it took me awhile to get into it, but once I did I really loved it.
I am currently reading The Outlander...I am only on page 67 but I feel I could just walk away from it, I won't but I just don't feel like I "like" it yet....I too had a very hard time with Beloved & could not get past a few pages-I very rarely do that with a book....
Nancy, I read Richard Paul Evans _The Locket_. He tells a good story. Let us know what you think of _Grace_.I guess I read his book _The Letter_ too, because here's a quote from the book which I put in my quote file:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Love is Eternal" [a book title:]... "love... will always be enough ... And, as the starlight knows no boundary of space or time, so too, our illumination will shine forth throughout all eternity, for darkness has no power to quell such light. And this is a lesson we must all learn and take to heart - that all light is eternal and all love is light. And must forever be so"
-p. 335, _The Letter_, by Richard Paul Evans, 1997.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I must also have read his book _The Last Promise_ because I found the following in my quote file:
========================================================
"Love is blind. Marriage restores one's vision." -Italian Proverb
[Found in book, _The Last Promise_ by Richard Paul Evans, p. 27:]
========================================================
Jim wrote:I may whine about it, but I love having such tough choices to make. Imagine, too many good books to read. What a horrible problem!!!
LOL! Yes, Jim, we should always be so lucky. :)
Melissa and Becky,I'm glad to hear that other folks had trouble getting into _Beloved_. I always wonder what's wrong with myself when I can't get into a book which other people seem to love, especially if it's an award winner.
Melissa, the fact that you loved it after getting into it, does encourage me to try again.
Becky, did you finally finish reading _Beloved_ after the hard time you had with it?
Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Melissa and Becky,I'm glad to hear that other folks had trouble getting into _Beloved_. I always wonder what's wrong with myself when I can't get into a book which other people seem to love, espec..."
No Joy-I gave up, I figure there are so many books out there that I really want to read, why struggle with one that I was getting nowhere with.....
Becky wrote: "No Joy-I gave up, I figure there are so many books out there that I really want to read, why struggle with one that I was getting nowhere with....."I hear ya, Becky. I often feel that way too. But then sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me and I plug on.
I've created a category at my Goodread's bookshelf called "read-partially". Also have one called "not-so-hot". :) I suppose I should have one called "couldn't-get-into-it". :) Each category denotes a different feeling.
Some of the partially read books had to go back to the library because they were overdue and I never borrowed them again. As you say, we want to keep moving forward.
I believe I have a "half_read" category myself. Sometimes those are short story collections or poetry collections, other time novels that were partially read.
I used to call the category: "not finished", but then I saw the more sophisticated wording: "read partially" at someone else's bookshelf and I adopted the idea. The words: "half-read" wouldn't be good for me because sometimes my books are: "10% read". :)
I'm reading The Graveyard Bookby Neil Gaiman. I liked his Stardust, this is a bit different but I'm enjoying it, an easy read.
Is it as "chilling" as they say in the book description, Jackie?
No, it's more of a young adult novel, nothing scary to me. The first chapter open with the murder of Bod's family and that can be disturbing. But the rest of it is kind of sweet, the ghosts in the graveyard take him in and raise him.
That sounds like a different approach for a plot, Jackie, ...ghosts as substitute parents. Interesting.
I just finished Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World. I did a lengthy review on it, too.I just started a book by Walter Scott. It's called 'A Grandfather's Tale; the History of Scotland' or something like that in the edition I have at home. The edition that I have of this book is very old. It has no ISBN or published date. The binding has come off of the spine on the top, there is a partial document showing about the metric system. Looks like it was used as the underbinding of the book. Kind of cool. The pages are very thick.
There is nothing on the spine to tell me what the book is. It's one of those old ones you see by the hundreds on the back shelves of book stores where you can't get to it easily & soon tire of pulling each one looking for a treasure. I don't recall if that is how I found this one or if it came from my grandfather. Either of us were likely to spend an hour doing something like that, though. Anyway, I'm finally getting around to reading it.
It is Sir Walter Scott writing a history of Scotland to his grandson. He tells the story from the Roman occupation splitting the isle, then MacBeth's story. Now I'm reading about how Longshanks, Edward I, decided to get Scotland for his own.
I like to read a fact & a fiction book at the same time. This is my 'fact' book right now. As he says in the introduction to his grandson, telling a good story is a good way to spark the interest & it can be followed up with study at a later date.
I wonder how old that book by Walter Scott is, Jim. The bit about the underbinding sounds like an early example of recycling.I like your idea of alternating between a fact book and a fiction book at the same time. Each genre requires a different mind-set.
Funny you should mention that Scott was addressing the intro to his grandson. I just finished reading, _Gilead_, in which an old dying preacher is addressing his words to his young 7 year old son who he hopes will read them in the future.
I'll check out your review of _Beautiful Jim Key_, which I see is by Mim Eichler Rivas. I also read at Amazon.com that the Harper Paperback edition (2006) was called: _BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse_" (I cut and pasted that title.) Wonder why they changed it. Goodreads title is: _Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World_, as you stated.
Would you call that genre "fictionalized history"? Would you call it non-fiction? I wish the book ads would identify genres. I can never tell if a book is fiction or non-fiction from the title.
Sounds like a good horse book, similar to _Seabiscuit_ which I enjoyed reading.
Ahhhh Seabiscuit-I forgot that on my book list!!! Took me a good 100 pages to get into it but I am so glad I stuck with it, great book.
Hi Becky,I read _Seabiscuit_ with my book group several years ago. I probably would never have picked it up if the book group hadn't scheduled it. I usually prefer fiction. I'm so glad I read it.
It was a fascinating account of how three people (the owner, the trainer, and the rider) came together by chance and made an unlikely horse a champion. Each person contributed the necessary talents which helped to develop Seabiscuit into a winner.
I also liked it that Stephenie Meyer made her vampires sparkle like snow in the sunlight. It made them seem like angels to me altho maybe dark angels as I always think of angels being very sparkly and glowing.
I just started Werner's book Lifeblood and I really like his "time traveler" point of view. His vampire wears a cape and this appeals to me greatly as I just got one for Christmas but unable to wear it yet as the velvet is still outgassing some toxic chemical. So far its riveting and I just got on to create a neverending quiz question on something that fascinates me when I saw this post- what are you reading? Don't miss this book.
I just started Werner's book Lifeblood and I really like his "time traveler" point of view. His vampire wears a cape and this appeals to me greatly as I just got one for Christmas but unable to wear it yet as the velvet is still outgassing some toxic chemical. So far its riveting and I just got on to create a neverending quiz question on something that fascinates me when I saw this post- what are you reading? Don't miss this book.
Alice wrote: "I just started Werner's book Lifeblood and I really like his "time traveler" point of view ... So far its riveting "Hi Alice - Thanks for the recommendation of _Lifeblood_ by Werner A. Lind.
Isn't it fun when a book is riveting!
Vampires seem to be all the rage now.
PS-I've put the book, _Lifeblood_, on my To-Read list. All the reviews I read here at Goodreads said that this book is terrific... very suspenseful.
Yes, vampires are the rage and werewolves not far behind. I have been a fan for a long time starting with Salem's Lot I guess. (about 1977) I also own the videos and DVD's for An American Werewolf in London, An American Werewolf in Paris, Wolfen, and Jack Nicholson in Wolf, He is perfect in that part.
Great escape from boredom!
Great escape from boredom!
Alice wrote: "Yes, vampires are the rage and werewolves not far behind. I have been a fan for a long time starting with Salem's Lot I guess. (about 1977) ... Great escape from boredom!"And a great escape it is. I'm enjoying a good book entitled _Death Straight Up_ by Fay Rownell. She has a great sense of humor and it shows throughout the book. It's a great light mystery and I recommend it. I can't stop reading it. It's not about vampires though.
I'm reading An American Psycho and almost finished with Genesis of Shannara. It's taking me longer to read books because I spend so much time on the computer. I'll have to try Lifeblood. I love the vamps and werewolves. Mostly I find the new crop of novels about them ridiculous. But if Alice likes it, I think I will too.
Jackie wrote: "It's taking me longer to read books because I spend so much time on the computer." Yes, that's a problem. I don't know which I like more... reading books or talking about them! (lol)
I didn't get very far. It was nicer than I thought outside today so me and Juneau were out. When I finally did get to read, I had to start cooking. Oh well, maybe I'll finish it tonight.
Alice, thanks for your kind words about Lifeblood, and Joy and Jackie, thanks for your interest! I should point out, though, that right now getting a copy can pose some challenge; the publisher went out of business last year, so it's out of print. They used Ingram as a wholesaler, so as long as Ingram still had copies, you could order it through Amazon, get your local bookstore to special order it, etc. But I think Ingram is sold out now (Amazon was, the last time I checked). However, there are other possibilities.Your local library probably won't have the book, but they can borrow it for you through interlibrary loan (ask the librariana about this). You can tell them it's in World Catalog, and a few OCLC libraries have it; they'll know what that means. Also, the campus bookstore here at Bluefield College still has a few copies, though they're going fast (Goodreads has created more demand than they've had since 2004! :-)) If you'd be interested in buying a copy from that source (while it lasts), message me for details!
Werner, what a shame that your publisher went out of business. Do you have any plans to get another publisher to produce more copies of _Lifeblood_? Our library has a book by the same title written by Tom Becker and published in 2008 by Orchard Books. I'll ask them about your book.
Yes, Joy, I have a few feelers out to publishers for a reprint edition, including The Writers Cafe' Press and Marcher Lord Press. But there's no guarantee that any of them will say yes; and even if they do, the book publishing process doesn't move very swiftly. So I'm resigned to a long wait at best! Thanks for asking.
That's too bad. Maybe we'll get lucky and find it at our library.I finished The Gypsy Morph, the final novel in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. I gave it a rare 5 star rating. It was awesome. You'd definitely have to read The Word and the Void Omnibus because it sets the stage for Armageddon's Children, The Elves of Cintra, and The Gypsy Morph.
What I liked most about this set of novels is Hope. The story of a group of children in a post apocalyptic Western US, the vision of one boy and the faith and hope of his 'family', a ragtag group of abandoned children. There's a lot more to it, saving the race of elves, battling demons who are relentless and numerous. Danger, hardship and loss.
But through it all there is always Hope for a place of safety and a better tomorrow.
I thought it was brilliant. Sheer genius by Terry Brooks. Quite an undertaking, bridging two vastly different series and he did it with perfection. Outstanding.
I finished late last night, about 2 am. I can't sleep until I've chosen and started a new book. I picked You've Been Warned by James Patterson because I'm doing a Title Challenge in the Book Challenge Group. I needed something that begins with Y, one of the letters I haven't done yet. And James Patterson is always an easy, entertaining read.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...
Started in January, I'm trying to read a book that begins with every letter of the alphabet, same idea for the Author Challenge.
My son Eric came home with The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. He knows I like Verne. I just read 35 pages and I'm pleased so far. I've also started The Quiet American by Graham Greene for my title challenge but I'm not liking it yet. I've only read about 20 pages, so I can't really judge, but it hasn't caught me yet. Hopefully, it will.
I usually don't have 4 books going at once, but I know the Patterson book will be finished tonight or tomorrow at the latest. He's such an easy read. Short chapters that leave you hanging, so you have to go on to the next. I like his format style. His books never take more than a day or two. I call them fodder, chew 'em up and spit 'em out, LOL but they are entertaining.
Werner wrote: "Yes, Joy, I have a few feelers out to publishers for a reprint edition, including The Writers Cafe' Press and Marcher Lord Press. But there's no guarantee that any of them will say yes; and even i..."Good luck, Werner!
Jackie, thanks for all your reviews on the books. You truly are a reader! I've been doing very poorly in the reading department lately. Now with the family visiting, there isn't a chance. Will have to get busy reading as soon as they go home, but I'll miss having the family around.
I just finished the 6th Sookie Stackhouse book last night Definitely Dead & started in on the 7th, All Together Dead. They're VERY entertaining, light reading. I'm hooked on paranormal romances, especially this one. It is now also an HBO show called "True Blood". The TV show & the books share a lot in common, but they're like alternate universes or something. Same character names & some of the same story elements, but otherwise they're pretty different. They're both really good, though.
Erin & I both read Werner's book & enjoyed it. It's a quick read, but good. My copy is signed by the author to me, so I won't lend it out. Sorry, but it means too much to me to get lost in the mail.One of the best things about GR is getting to chat with authors & read their books. Sue S.A. Rule's 2d book just came out & I so want to read it. Leslie Ann Moore signed a copy of Griffin's Daughter for Erin & now has a sequel out. Another GR friend, Henrik S. Harksen just published an horror anthology. So many good books to read & so little time!
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
Books mentioned in this topic
What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal] (other topics)The Great Book of Amber (other topics)
Beloved (other topics)
The First Chronicles of Amber (other topics)
Demon Moon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Wally Lamb (other topics)Jack Williamson (other topics)
William Goldman (other topics)
Leslie Ann Moore (other topics)
Henrik S. Harksen (other topics)
More...
Thanks for explaining about "What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal: A Novel". I wonder how many people were confused by that. I'll bet I'm not the only one. (lol)
Aren't you lucky to get advanced copies! It must be stimulating to be part of the book industry. I love peeking behind the scenes. I recently finished reading William Goldman's two book about the screenwriting trade. They were the following:
_Adventures in the Screen Trade_
and
_Which Lie Did I Tell_
Goldman writes in a conversational manner and the book contains numerous anecdotes which demonstrate how difficult the screenwriting trade is and how "iffy" the plans for movies are. He describes the disagreements which have taken place between writers, directors, and producers about specific films. It's a wonder how any movies get produced at all!
William Goldman's big chance came when Paul Newman liked his screenplay for "Harper" and agreed to star in the movie. Goldman is also famous for writing _The Princess Bride_. But there were many times in his life when he experienced disappointments and frustrations as a screenwriter. I found both books fascinating.