Book Lovers Club
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Another book club in my town, who read Freedom, got tickets for that Oprah taping, and were audience (although I'll bet they wish they had gotten tickets for the one where she gave away all the money, trips & gifts!!).
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Just finished The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival by Ken Wheaton. Light, amusing, feel-good kind of book.
Read Dan Brown's latest, Lost Symbol, during a recent trip with a fair amount of flying time. Still like Angels and Demons best of his books, and although this one pulled off rescues in ways that were bordering on ridiculous, it was his usual good mix of symbol-interpretation and thriller.
I love to knit and have read a couple of knitting-fiction books (one good, one OK) and am glad to hear about the series.
Happy reading!
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For all the knitters out there, have you read any of the Friday Night Knitting Club series? They are by Kate Jacobs, and are a light read. I really enjoyed the first two books, and am looking forward to the next one.
I read both The Little Friend and The Secret History, I liked both of them. I think that Donna Tartt has a great writing style.
I can also recommend an author named Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I have already read two of her novels, Sister of My Heart and The Vine of Desire. Again, she is very readable, with compelling characters. I am looking forward to reading her Mistress of Spices, it sounds similar to Like Water for Chocolate, which I just loved.
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Here is a nice 'book' quote from Emma Watson who plays Hermione in the Harry Potter movies.
"I like books that aren't just lovely but that have memories in themselves. Just like playing a song, picking up a book again that has memories can take you back to another place or another time."
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Ruth- Great quote from Emma Watson's character.
Finished reading the Margaret Trudeau book, Changing My Mind. Quick read and highly recommend. The one thing that kept me wondering throughout the book was, with all of these "intelligent" people around her, no one could figure out how desperately ill she was? Tragic. I wish her and her family well. Very heroic to have written the book. She also made a very interesting point regarding Alcoholics Anonymous.
I don't recall who, on this thread, mentioned Summons to Memphis. I started reading it last night and love it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
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Happy Thanksgiving from me too! (Up early watching the winter weather advisories/blizzard warnings.....I'm suppose to be getting company and have a 15 pound turkey in the fridge!)
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Lane - I will add The Little Friend to my growing list ~~ Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Gina
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Voracious: I'm the Summons to Memphis fan. Glad you like it. I love it on so many levels.
Many of you undoubtedly know the movie My dog Skip. Willie Morris's books are great, and range from his memoirs about becoming a writer/editor (Harper's), to his childhood in Mississippi. His The courting of Marcus Dupree is as much about integration and civil rights in Miss as it is about football. Hard to find, but a good read.
I like Donna Tartt, too. Very captivating style and plots.
Any Jeff Eugenides fans out there?
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I read both The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex. I thought that Middlesex was better. I haven't read any of his essays or short stories, I am more of a novel reader.
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WOW....just found this thread and was reading thru the posts...made me feel like made a whole new bunch of friends. I love reading....especially murder mysteries and spy novels, but will read almost anything that is entertaining. My SO bought me a Kindle right after my dx with breast cancer....it makes reading so much easier as it is so light....I kept dropping books on my head trying to hold them up and read in bed. Now I have a whole new list of books to read thanks to you lovely ladies.Just finished "Wet Dessert" by Gary Hansen this morning. Now gonna tackle Mark Twains autobiograpy. Great thread ladies.0
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Loved Eugenides books, both of them!
In my current read (on the Kindle!) THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, it just became very personal. Talked about how Henrietta's tumor cells (which became the basis for so much medical discovery) were involved in developing the FISH test--which has been used to test us for Her2nu. She never gave permission for her tissue to be used (just wasn't required back in the 50s) and she had nothing in her life except her love for her kids. She died at 30 of cervical cancer, but her cells live on and have helped ME. Wow. How do you put a monetary value on compensation for that? Is it possible? The controversy is that her family received nothing at all for the benefit on humankind. Is it fair? Is it just an altruistic thing? I dono't have the answer, just wondering out loud.
i love it when a book makes me ponder. Of course, I also love books that just take me for a really fun ride, no thinking required!
Anne
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I just ordered a Summons to Memphis!
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AnneW....I read that book too about Henrietta....very inspiring what one person did for us all without ever knowing.
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I too just finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Very interesting and inspiring read. Her cells were used in the development of Taxol and Herceptin and who knows what else...so we all owe a great debt to Henrietta.
I so loved The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet that I read all of David Mitchell's other novels. The Jacob de Zoet and Cloud Atlas were my favorites.
Thanks for all the recommendations ladies!
Patty
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So many books recommended in this thread! If I could find the time, I'd make a master list of the recommendations. Maybe somebody has already done that?
The little book I just finished was Have a Little Faith.
I'm also wondering how many of you have Kindles or some of the other electronic readers and what you think of them. I like to have books, but am also wondering if it would be cheaper to buy a Kindle vs. buy so many books. Any opinions?
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Hello, Faith,
I just use the local library, which is only 2 miles from my house. It is so convenient for me, and right next to my bank and gas station. So, I'm set! But, perhaps you don't have a library close by. My sister just got a Kindle and loves it, but has to pay for some books. I think some are free. I haven't checked them out, but they do seem very convenient.
I purchased books years ago, but found that I don't re-read most books, and at our age we're trying to stop collecting so many things, so I rely on my library most of the time.
This thread is wonderful, isn't it?
Lane
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I have loved reading all your suggestions! My Christmas gift from my daughter arrived today and she has instructed me NOT to open it until the 25th. It's from Amazon and the shipping box says it contains a lithium-ion battery. Kindle?? My DD lives in California and will not be here for Christmas. Might be white lie time!
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I've had a Kindle for about six months and totally love it! Books are less expensive and available at a moment's notice. I feel somewhat virtuous in that my reading habit no longer requires the felling of trees and the storage of favorite books takes up no space in my home. I feel very guilty, however, when I see independent book sellers closing up shop. As for the library, I got completely frustrated by the fact the books I wanted were never in stock and new releases take forever!
Patty
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I'm a big fan of my library system. I couldn't afford my addiction otherwise!
Let me tell you about how my library system works and how I get most of the books that Mr. VoraciousReader and I like to read. First off, we go to the websites of our favorite authors and find out when their NEXT books are going to be released. Then I call or visit my local library and do a "Request to Purchase." Usually, the library will ALREADY know when the books are being released, because each library knows which authors their patrons enjoy reading and will already have ordered the books. So, when a patron calls to "request" a book, their name will be added to the "reserve" list. When the books are finally published, those patrons will get the first copies of the books as the reviews are hitting the press!
Likewise, Amazon and other book publishers have "Future Releases" lists. I usually cull those lists and "request" books. Mr. VR read Baldacci's newest book a few days BEFORE it arrived on top of The New York Times Bestseller's list. He's also finished reading the most current thrillers by Le Carre, Flynn and Child.
The only reason why I would consider a Kindle would be for vacation. Before leaving, I would download whatever I know I am sure I want to read. Just downloading books and then having to peruse them doesn't appeal to me. Last week, someone wrote in the New York Times about how they took a vacation and downloaded AND bought a guide. They mentioned that the downloaded version was not as "user" friendly as the actual guidebook. Their sentiments were similar to mine. I love non-fiction and sometimes I read chapters of books that interest me while flipping through the book. Unless I reading a complete novel, from cover to cover, I think a Kindle is awkward for the kind of reading that I do.
Furthermore, I just want to add, getting back to the public library, I often read reviews or references about books and if my library doesn't own it and there's another copy at another county public library, they get it for me because the libraries all share. I've also been fortunate to get textbooks loaned to me from universities as well as medical libraries out of state!!
I also get DVD's from my library and they "interloan" them for me as well.
Find out from your libraries if they have similar policies to mine. It's worth the effort...you won't wait for months for a good book if you do your homework first.
The only books that I buy are gifts and I can get CRAZY when it comes time for buying books for gifts!!! There isn't a kid in my extended family who hasn't received numerous books from me!
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Well, my son convinced me that a white lie was in order. I already knew that one thing I wanted to do if I ever got a Kindle was to reread all of the Agatha Christie books. I read many of them in high school at my father's urging. That was 45 years ago! The first one I looked at was free! I am so excited about this. I do love our library, but I find it difficult to get there, even tho it's very close to our home. And - I hate to have to ask a friend to do that for me. I think the Kindle will be perfect, even tho I won't use most of the features available.
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I love to read. I became a library convert about 3 years ago (expense and storage were both becoming an issue!). For Christmas this year DH is getting me a Nook (the Barnes & Noble version of Kindle) - I haven't been this excited since I was a kid! The reason I'm going with the Nook is that it has the option of borrowing e-books from the public library
) No more overdue fees (my personal struggle) and I won't have to spend money to buy books! (I know many of the classics are free, but newer relases run $9-$12). My mom LOVES her Kindle (she has macular degeneration and can adjust the font really large!) as do most people who have any kind of e-reader. Just thought I'd throw this out there for those who prefer to "borrow" rather than "buy". I also spoke to the reference librarian @ my library who confirmed this is possible w/the Nook and gave me good informatioin about "getting started"...0 -
what a clever system, voraciousreader, I never thought to SUGGEST the library purchase a specific book. anyway,http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ isa site that has authors listed alphabetically and mentions any new books in the works with anticipated publishing dates!
Julie E
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Oh, Voracious, I love you! As a librarian, I love hearing that others use their libraries. I realize it is hard to wait for those best sellers, when each borrower gets 2-3 weeks with the item, and librarians are grateful to those who go out, buy a copy, and donate it to the library after reading it. My public library (with a good collection budget) buys multiple copies of titles we know will be in demand, but we can quickly have 100 patron holds on a title. In Utah, the state library funded a program so all the public libraries can offer access to e-books to patrons without charge. I don't use that format myself, but there are thousands of titles available that way, in all genres, easily downloaded to an mp3 player.
For mystery/thriller readers who like series: I frequently use stopyourekillingme.com to find series numbering. You can search by author or by character's name.
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Julie E -- YES!!! YES!! YES! Librarians,as retrievermom will tell you, LOVE when PATRONS SUGGEST titles!!! In fact, my librarians often ask what I'm reading and WATCHING! They also purchase the DVD's that I request. I especially enjoy foreign films and I have to say, they are wonderful at fulfilling my requests.
Another thing I forgot to mention about my library system is that besides the libraries being able to "inter-loan" from one another, I can visit ANY of the libraries in my county's system and directly take books and videos from them using my local library card. The only cavaet is that each library has it's own loaning system, so they have their own loan rules that you have to follow. Sometimes, as a non-local patron, I will not be permitted a book. However, I can get around that by jotting down the name of the book and then requesting that MY library interloan it for me. That usually does the trick.
Another thing I forgot to mention is that I don't have to go to my library to put a book on "reserve" or to purchase. In the case of "reserving" if the book is already in the library system, I can call the library and they will reserve it for me, OR I can do that from home on-line. I just go to my library's website and it instructs me how to reserve. You can ask your librarian how to do it. It's simple. When a book isn't in the library system, then I have to call and personally request the book or DVD.
Another wonderful thing that the librarians do is get me copies of medical clinical studies. That way I don't have to pay for them. I don't know about you gals, but my favorite medical website is pubmed.gov. That's a government website that is a compilation of ALL medical research published studies. Pubmed.gov will provide an abstract, but if you want to read the entire article, say for example it is in The New England Journal of Medicine, you would have to pay for it. The library can get you the article for free!!!!!
Retreivermom. You must tell me more about why you enjoyed Summons to Memphis. I have two friends reading it now and of course that other voracious reader, my mom, reading it as well. Need I say more. Wonderful! Thanks for the recommendation.
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Julie E - I want to add, in addition to holding popular bestsellers for "clever" people like me, who get the books hot off the press, they also put out "shelf" copies of the book. A "shelf" copy is a popular bestseller that sits on the shelf until a lucky patron who happens to be in the library at that moment can take from the bookshelf. Even if the patron put their name on the "reserve" list AFTER the book hit The NY Times bestseller's list, it gives the patron an opportunity to score a book sooner!
I also forgot to mention that we can return books at ANY library. So, I keep the books that I finished reading in the car and drop them at any library that I pass. That way, I don't have to go out of my way to get to my library and the book will usually be returned to my branch in a day, rather than have the book sit in my home until I make a scheduled trip to the library!
Hope this enlightens all of you and helps you all get the books you want to read, sooner!
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Hi :Ladies - I'm an avid book reader and LOVER, may I join your group here?
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We have both city and county libraries here, so I have access to two systems within a few miles of my home! Often one of them will have a long line for something I want, while the other has it on the shelf. They also have slightly different collection on the shelves when I want to browse. I rarely buy books (no $$ !) but I hit the libraries up every week! And when I do forget to return one on time, I figure the late fee just goes to buying more books, so it's all good.
When we lived across the country, the library there had "rental" books -- best sellers that were first come first served, and cost $1 per week to check out. It was often worth it to me to get a new book sooner.
I mostly read mysteries for relaxation, but I've branched out to try some of the books recommended here, and I really liked "The Help", "Cutting for Stone", and some of the others you've mentioned. Thanks! Keep the ideas coming.
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LOVE MY LIBRARY DAY!!!
My little neighborhood library won the Colorado Library of the Year last year. So friendly and small, yet we can use any library within the system around Colorado Springs with our card and with the same rules. I go to the library website and reserve my books. They send the next available book from among all the libraries. The website shows all the best seller lists and library employee favorites, and you can even "have a look inside" before you reserve. Then they send me an email when the book is available, and I have 7 days to pick it up! I can pick up or return my books at any of the libraries. There's a drive-in drop-off slot at my library 2 miles from home, so I don't even have to get out of my car. We have a limit of 3 weeks, with a 3-day grace period, but can in most cases renew for another 3 weeks. They will email me when there are new books available by my favorite specified authors.
Sometimes they have cookies and coffee available for the patrons. It's like walking into someone's loving home. They are great at ordering new books on request . Voracious, sounds like you have that system down pat! They love when we donate old books we have at home. Also, they have a section of used books for purchase.
I could go on and on. Sometime I might move to a Kindle, but probably more for travel, or when the time comes that I can't get around as well. I appreciate the new technology; but for me, at the present, I can't resist the fragrance and heft of an unread book in a stack of others, next to my comfy chair. Think I'll grab a cup of coffee and go there right now!
Love to all you other readers!
Lane
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My father bought my partner and I Cruz e-reader (Borders version) for Christmas - of course, they're hidden away until the day - silly, I know - but I'll enjoy it more by waiting! Plus, given this year's high medical cost, there won't be much under the tree. I enjoy reading a real book, but it will be interesting to have access to an entire library in one device. I'm always reading multiple books at a time, it seems. But I'll never give up my paper-n-boards. And I love book covers.
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adding to my favorites, thanks
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