What are U reading these days? (Part Three) (begun 1/3/09)

[Jackie]

I have the time. I get bored with the computer or TV so I read instead.
A few of those books were fast easy reads.

[Becky]

Just finished a book last night & started Breaking Dawn-antsy to sit down & read but doing all the Christmas take down & cleaning.....yuck...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

My Christmas stuff is still up. I enjoy it too much to take it down... it seems to go with all this the snow. (lol) Maybe when I see crocuses, I'll start putting the decorations away. :)

[Becky]

Tree is gone :( But my village will stay up for while longer...

[Jackie]

That's the exact reason I don't bother putting anything up...the take-down is always a job no one wants.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "That's the exact reason I don't bother putting anything up...the take-down is always a job no one wants."

I'm sure I'll get to that way of thinking some day, Jackie. These days I enjoy putting the decorations up because the kids and the grands come to stay over-night during the Christmas holidays. I want the house to look festive. I want them to have good memories. Besides, I enjoy it.

Perhaps when you have grandkids, Jackie... (g)

[Susan (NY)]

Has anyone read any books by Janet Evanovich? I see a lot of good reviews on her here in goodreads, so I thought I would try reading her book One For The Money.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Susan. My records show that years ago I read Evanovich's _Two for the Dough_. I think I liked it, but can't be sure. I don't know why I never read another of her books.

P.S. I just read the Goodreads description. I don't remember a thing about it. Perhaps I never got past the first few pages. I should have kept better records.

[Jim]

I have some of her audiobooks. The first couple were good & fun. In many ways, it reminds me of some of the paranormal romances I read by Patricia Briggs or some of the others, just no vampires. Tough girl with no money & few options who lands in trouble & gets out of it. A couple were about all I needed, though. Your mileage may vary, especially as you'd likely identify with the heroine more. I have trouble putting on a skirt...

[Jackie]

Joy,
It's true, children make Christmas the holiday. Eric and Anthony always go to the City for Xmas so it's not the same for me. If Eric has children someday, then I'll be excited to do it like I was when Eric was little.

Jim,
I find it interesting, what you said about identifying with characters. For me, it doesn't matter what sex they are. I think it's easier for women to identify with men than the other way around.
While I admit, I like strong female characters, I like strong principled male characters just as much.
What do you girls think?
Can you identify with male characters easily?
Or do you bond with female characters more easily?
Would having a male hero change your view of a story, preferring a female herione?

[Jim]

It depends on the book, but if I don't at least understand the motivations of a character, usually the main one, it can harm the book. I prefer to identify with them in some way. That's what killed the Twilight books for me. I couldn't identify with the teenage girl that was telling it. I kept wanting to kick her.

In Evanovich's case, she's a woman writing about a woman & that's fine. Some of the motivations of her character are kind of hazy, but I've learned to live with that. A couple of books were just plenty for me, though. I enjoyed them, but could put them down.

I sometimes have problems with men written by women, & my wife has similar problems with women characters written by men. Often, the inconsistencies in character just ruin the book. It's actually a pet peeve of mine. (Shocking, I know.)

When a he-man meets a sexually attractive woman & the author has him describing the type of dress she's wearing or issues with the color scheme, I want to toss the book. Most men do not know the names of dresses & don't care. We know primary colors. Puce is not a color most men understand. We generally have some vague ideas on what goes together, especially if we're married & our wives have spent time training us.

Ask any man about a woman he's met & I'll bet he can give pretty accurate body measurements, maybe hair color & tell you about something striking like a belly button ring or a flashing garter. I doubt he'll know her eye color. 'Great legs' or similar description is pretty much expected. 'A chiffon dress that clashed with her lipstick' is absurd. I've never heard a straight male say such a thing.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Good question, Jackie! I think I can identify with either gender character when the character is well-developed. Not that I'd like the character, but that I'd be interested in him/her.

However, I think I prefer male authors rather than female authors, especially when it comes to mysteries or detective stories. On the other hand, I've loved reading Anita Brookner and enjoyed the books of Anne Rivers Siddons, Anne Tyler, Jane Smiley, and dozens of other female writers. So I'd have to say it's the mystery/detective genre where I prefer a male author.

I guess I grew up when females weren't involved in detective work. LOL I don't relate to the tough female detective.

[Jackie]

Jim,
I totally agree with your observation. Maybe authors should stick to what they know.
Puce, heck, I don't even understand puce! LOL

[Jackie]

Joy,
That is interesting. I do think male characters are better in the detective world, but I like a few women detectives too. Eve Dallas springs immediately to mind. J D Robb's In Death series. However, she can be a bit butch, very tough, and somehow that isn't always appealling to me in a female character. I'm not looking for weak simpering females, just not so manly. You can be tough and soft at the same time. Sometimes Eve achieves this quality, but not always.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim, I hate reading detailed descriptions of clothing worn by characters, especially if the author makes it a habit. So I agree with you there. To me it's so empty-headed. Sorry to insult all you fashion-plates out there. LOL But my sister is one of them... and I still love her. So it's really OK. Go ahead, express yourself through your clothing. It can be an art, I know. But what about the woman within? She's GOT to be more interesting than her clothes. LOL

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, it's hard to find a women who is "tough and soft" at the same time. Reminds me of "the iron hand in a velvet glove". LOL Or "speak softly and carry a big stick". :) I know a lady like that. Her husband is afraid of her. She really keeps that tough man in line. LOL

How about the following quote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How sweet it is when the strong are also gentle." -Libby Fudim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a male boss like that. I loved going to work. (g)

[Jim]

I don't mind tough girl detectives. If you liked J.D.Robb (Nora Roberts), you'll like Evanovitch. I thought they were similar, anyway.

I really like Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series. That's very similar to the above, except Anita also raises zombies for a living & is the federal vampire slayer for the state as well, besides dating a werewolf. The early books, anyway. After book 5 or 6, there's too much sex in the books. It's distracting until lately, there's more sex than plot. Her Merry Gentry series started out that way & got worse, amazingly enough. I hadn't thought it could. Great, imaginative world & story line ruined by sex. Odd, but true.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I haven't read many books with sex scenes. I went through a stage of reading romance novels. At least Judith Krantz writes some interesting stories. I remember that some parts of Anne Rivers Siddons' _Outer Banks_ were a bit sexy.

Of course, there was Anais Nin's _Henry and June_ and, Lord help us, her _Delta of Venus_ which she wrote to make some money. The Amazon.com review about it says: "The unknown client who paid Anais Nin a dollar a page back in the 1940s to write erotica got his money's worth and to spare. After all, erotica is pornography with class, and Nin gives full measure of both."

I remember my first experience reading a sex scene. I was a young unsuspecting teenager and was innocently reading _The Postman Always Rings Twice_. I must have borrowed it from the library. I never bought books at that age. Well, when I got to the offending scene, I was so upset that I tore the book up and put it in the garbage. At church that Saturday, I probably confessed it. (lol)

[Jackie]

Jim,
As I was reading your response, and I thought, Laurell K. Hamilton, Oh Too Much Sex, so it was gratifying to hear you mention it. That's the main reason I don't read her books. She did a great book a while ago, Nightseer and it was nothing like her later books. I really liked it and am still disappointed she has no plans to do a sequel, even though it was left open for more.
Same thing with the new Vampire books, all sex and no real storyline. I have nothing against it, it's just not for me. So many otherwise good novels are ruined by too much gratuitous sex. Movies too.

[Jim]

Well, I can skim through the sex. It doesn't shock me or do much of anything but annoy me. LKH's worlds are very imaginative & fun, so some gratuitous sex isn't the end of the world. Some is OK. She's just gone overboard, but I've seen quite a few books like that now. I guess that's what I get for reading romance books, although I hadn't realized I was, at first. I thought I was reading paranormal mysteries. It wasn't until a year or so ago that I found out otherwise. I guess I'm a slow learner.

[Jackie]

It doesn't shock me either, but it is unnecessary and a waste of time. I like to get to the heart of a story. And all that fodder is just plain annoying. I want a book where I don't have to filter out the fodder; that's someone else's job.

[Jackie]

Starting the Genesis of Shannara series today by Terry Brooks
Armageddon's Children
The Elves of Cintra
The Gypsy Morph
This should last until the end of the month, I'd imagine.

I've read the lengthy Shannara series and also the 3 part series The Word and the Void Omnibus
This new series, Genesis, is a bridge between the two and I've been waiting a long time for confirmation that Shannara is our world in future times. Now I have it and I cannot wait to dive right in...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "Now I have it and I cannot wait to dive right in..."

That's such a great feeling, Jackie. Enjoy!
--------------------------------------------------

Jackie wrote: "This should last until the end of the month, I'd imagine."

See you in February. LOLOL

[Nina]

I am one of the few who didn't like,"The Road," as I just couldn't come to terms with the father son relationship. Didn't seem real to me. Like a made up story. Well, they all are aren't they so what else?? What was the purpose of the journey? Didn't come across to me..However, to Joy. The tale of Edgar Sawtell,did I get that right? I haven't read it but I did notice it was # 5 on New York Times best seller list today. Lots of good comments besides yours.. TAke Care and keep sending comments. nina

[Nina]

One more suggestion: I haven't read, "The Book Thief," by Markus Zusak, but my reader/writer friends keep sending me messages that it is a book you can't possibly put aside. One friend said she couldn't read another book after finishing it for two weeks because she thought none would compare favorable. I have it on my to read list and wondered if any of you have read it??? nina

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Nina - Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

You mentioned the Sawtelle book. It may be #5 on the NY Times Bestseller List, but not everyone thinks highly of it. Please take a look at the following review: ====
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I agree with a lot of what Ruth says at the above link.

I enjoyed only part of the Sawtelle book... and the part I enjoyed, I enjoyed very much. But I have reservations about many aspects of the book, not the least of which is the ending. I still love the character of Edgar Sawtelle. I think that's what most folks must like about the book.

Also, thanks for recommending _The Book Thief_. I'll have to check it out. I've put it on my BTR List because YOU recommended it. :) Thanks!

[Nina]

It's interesting that you feel this same way as the reviewer. I can understand her premise but I have to admit that I loved Cowardly Lion, Bambi, and Lassie to name a few "human" animals..What does that say about me? Speaking of animanls my husband just put a new Mouse on my pad and if this doesn't get to you it's because I haven't yet figured which button to push. nina

[Becky]

Joy H. (of Glens Falls) wrote: "Hi Nina - Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

You mentioned the Sawtelle book. It may be #5 on the NY Times Bestseller List, but not everyone thinks highly of it. Please take a look at th..."


I am sorry to say this but I think it is a shame that this person made it sound like the dog was telling the story....to each his own but it sounds like people were turned off by it...I never once thought it Almondine telling the story....um.....interesting....

I have to say-this is why I very rarely read movie reviews-if there are negative reviews & it is a movie I really want to see, I find I will focus or look for the things that the critic said...I like to form my own opinion.....I didn't want it to sound like the woman can't voice her opinion....

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Yes, Nina, read the book for yourself and form your own opinion. While I was reading the story, I was enjoying it, but after I read some of the negative reviews, I started to see the flaws. As I said, I didn't like the ending. What's most interesting to me about all the reviews is that there are so many differences of opinion.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "...my husband just put a new Mouse on my pad and if this doesn't get to you it's because I haven't yet figured which button to push."

The message got through, Nina. Good luck with the new mouse. :)

[Regina]

Joy, I agree with you, I liked most of "Edgar Sawtelle" but didn't like the ending at all. It did nothing but confuse me, I thought the author got too carried away with the Macbeth idea.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "One more suggestion: I haven't read, "The Book Thief," by Markus Zusak, but my reader/writer friends keep sending me messages that it is a book you can't possibly put aside. ... I have it on my to read list and wondered if any of you have read it??? ..."

Nina, it just occurred to me that perhaps you would enjoy the reviews at the book's webpage. See it at: ====>
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Regina wrote: "Joy, I agree with you, I liked most of "Edgar Sawtelle" but didn't like the ending at all. It did nothing but confuse me, I thought the author got too carried away with the Macbeth idea."

Yes, IMO, he should have forgotten about Hamlet and just told his own story.

[Regina]

Opps, I mistyped! I meant to say Hamlet, at least I got the author right(-:

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Regina wrote: "Opps, I mistyped! I meant to say Hamlet, at least I got the author right(-: "

No problem, Regina.
Nebraska... Alaska... what's the diff!
(We used to say that when we were kids.) (lol)
I never did get a handle on Shakespeare. :)

[Jackie]

What makes Shakespeare slow reading for me is the antiquated language. Other than that, he's got some great storylines.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie wrote: "What makes Shakespeare slow reading for me is the antiquated language. Other than that, he's got some great storylines. "

I could never get past the antiquated language, as beautiful as it is.
For most of it, I need a translation as to its exact meaning.

However, I've collected some favorite lines and poems from Shakespeare.
See the poem below, one of my favorites:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sonnet 29
by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 29
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's true love.

[Jackie]

I know what you mean. I have to translate it into comtemporary language in my head, and that takes time.