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Book Lovers Club

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Comments

  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 320
    edited January 2011

    thanks, badger!

    ruthbru: the bio of George Washington sounds great, I'm going to check it out.

    Just finished the bio of Cleopatra, by Stacey Schiff - I highly recommend it. And we feel today's society is enlightened! What an amazing woman - and the aesthetics of the age were unbelievable (well, so was the bloodshed, but...).

    I also have "Emperor of all Maladies" waiting, but somehow, keep delaying it.

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 47,688
    edited January 2011

    Cleo is on my ever growing list!

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Hi,

    I just finished the History of Love. Still not exactly sure what is going on..Good but strange.

    I will begin to read The Emperor of all Maladies as I have it in the house now. I am eager to learn more about the history of  cancer..I hear it is beautifully written.

    I recently read The Susan B Komen book written by her sister and found it quite interesting. I learned that Cytoxin the chemo which I took had it's origins in mustard gas used in WWI..Facinating???

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • jelson
    jelson Member Posts: 622
    edited January 2011

    Anyone of Irish heritage or wish they were?

    I just finished the last of Joseph Caldwell's Pig trilogy which begins with The Pig Did It. Set in County Kerry, contemporary Ireland. The plot is totally insane and very funny - with ghosts, swine herds, castles, ancient family feuds, seers and thatchers. You are supposed to imagine that the characters are speaking Gaelic and that perhaps is why the language is so flowery - which adds to the enjoyment. I am only giving you the title of the first book because they really should be read in order.

    Julie E

  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 612
    edited January 2011

    I have the Cleopatra book and "Emporer of Maladies" loaded in my Kindle and ready to go.

    Who wrote the Eleanor and Franklin book?

    I struggled through "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet" by David Mitchell. Only skimmed it because I wanted to know the ending. Only finished it because my bookclub was doing it. (My bookclub is on-line at www.goodreads.com -- we're Constant Reader.)

    Now I'm reading "The Good Soldiers" about the surge of the Iraq War. Very disturbing. I'll be looking for a nice, light read after that!

  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 70
    edited January 2011

    For light reading I love all the Jennifer Weiner books. Good in Bed was hysterical. I actually laughed out loud at many parts.

    For more serious reading I love historical books. I am just about finished the Book of Negroes which is a great book. So descriptive. Also A Thousand Splendid Suns was good.

    Francine: That's interesting about Cytoxin and mustard gas.

  • Scrabblelady
    Scrabblelady Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2011

    Another great fiction site is called Fatastic Fiction   http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

    You can search for an author and it will list all f his/her books grouped by seiries , if applicable.  It even tells of upcoming books. I found it very interesting and useful

    I just finished Emperor of Maladies.  It was very interesting and made me glad that I didnt have cancer 20 years ago!  I was hoping that it would address how the different chemo drugs actually worked on the cells.  But overall, it was good.  Beng a librarian I have been researching everything during my cancer journey, from the big words on my pathology reports to the drugs I'm given.  I guess it keeps my mind off of my actual situation. 

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Hi Scrabblelady,

    I am also reading the Emperor of Maladies. I too find it fascinating. Someone asked me why I was reading it and I said because I am interested in the history of many things including cancer. You might find the Susan B Komen book interesting to read. Also much history as well as personal stuff.

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2011

    I just finished Laura Hillenbrand's new book Unbroken.  If you liked Seabiscuit...you'll like this.  True story of one soldier's experience in the Pacific theater during WWII.   It's non-fiction, but reads like fiction.  A real page turner!

    Patty

  • ginadmc
    ginadmc Member Posts: 183
    edited January 2011
    I just finished the Emperor of Maladies, too. I agree with you, Scrabblelady about not having BC 20 years ago. The treatment progression has come so far. It was well written, very readable and quite long. I couldn't read it cover to cover so I had another book (lighter read) going at the same time. The history of awareness raising, research funding, chemotherapy regimens was fascinating. There were a few scientific chapters that I skimmed but overall, it was a great book and I'm glad I read it. It even noted the oncologist that my cancer center was named for, as well as other research done at UW-Madison.  Gina
  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,047
    edited January 2011

    Hi everyone, I found this thread awhile back and made some suggestions of my favorite reads.  Since then I keep coming back to see what you ladies are recommending.  I just finished A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry as many of you enjoyed it.  I enjoyed it as well, I know I should speak of the ending but it has left me lingering and thinking about the characters, that's all I will say so I don't become a spoiler.  I just started The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards, same author as The Memory Keepers Daughter.  I'll post back and let you know what I thought of it.  Thanks for all the great suggestions!  (I currently have requested at the libraryBitte On the Corner of r and Sweet, another recommendation from this thread!)

    PS- If anyone else wants to PM me to talk briefly about the ending of A Fine Balance, my husband would thank you, I keep trying to tell him about the book and get him to understand what I am talking about, the dear man just smiles and says, "yha, cool...ahuh..."

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Laurie...Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet is a really great book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

    ladies ..read  for my book club One Good Dog by Susan Wilson., A good read for all. You will enjoy this book..heavy and light at the same time.

    I just reserved Room and Unbroken..anyone read these..I am at the bottom of a long list.

    Francine

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited January 2011

    Crusader1

    I would suggest reading through all 21 pages of this thread for suggestions.  Maybe something will catch your eye! 

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2011

      I would be very disappointed if I had to wait a long time to get Room .....I just thought it to be a very odd book....the author is trying to sound like a 5 yr old and I don't care what the circumstances, I have never come across any 5 yr olds who sounded like this kid.  I lent it to two people, one quit reading it and the other one said she just didn't like it and agreed with me. I would like to read something else by the author just to give her a chance.  Unbroken I liked much better. I am about to start my very lst Twilight book....got it for Christmas.....so guess now I will see what everyone is talking about...but will say all the rave reviews I got about it were from my friend's daughter and my nieces so dont know it it will bowl me over the way it did them.

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited January 2011

    Marybe

    I haven't read Room, although I just read the synopsis on Amazon.  Sounds sad, and I get what you are saying about how the author is trying to make the 5 year old seem.  Currently I am reading The Irresitible Henry House (and also The Emperor of All Madadies).  I thought it was going to be better than it is.  I find that I am getting annoyed because the author is making a little boy say things that I think an adult would be saying.  The age range as far as I have read is up to age 9.  Even at age 5 the character was way too adult like.  That's just my opinion.  Anyone else out there read this book?

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Hi,

    I guess I will just have to wait till I get my books from the library.Room, Unbroken ..

    I am also reading The Emperor of All Maladies.

    Thanks always for your suggestions..

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2011

    Crusader - I haven't read Room (and may not after reading the comments here) but Unbroken was excellent!  Now I'm in the middle of Wench.  It's a bit like The Help, but gives you a glimpse of the lives of female slaves a couple hundred years earlier.

    Patty

  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,047
    edited January 2011

    msmpatty- is Wench as good as the Help?  I LOVED that book.

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Hi,

    I'm trudging along with the Emperor of All Maladies. Very interesting to learn about the history of cancer ..I too am happy I did not get chemo twenty years ago. Many new advances have come recently .The thing that does make me sad reading this book is that there still is not a CURE for cancer..after all these years and all the money that has been spent..Yes there have been many advances but that is not enough...The book is due back at the library in three days..I will read as much as possible and then return it.

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 869
    edited January 2011

    My daughter gave me "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson.  OMG, my poor dh jumps when I start laughing out loud! 

    Author just up and decides he needs to walk the Appalachian Trail--all the way!  He's returned from 20 years in England where they "hike" a lot.  Nothing has prepared him for the Trail and he gets an old friend he's not seen in decades to go with him.  It's got some great info in each chapter, written in a very interesting manner, but the tale of these two on the AT is absolutely amazing and I will continue laughing for several paragraphs past the funny parts.  It's that good. 

    I rarely laugh out loud when alone, but this has tears running down my cheeks.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited January 2011

    Iodine -  So glad you mentioned Bill Bryson!  I started reading his latest book, At Home and loved it!

    http://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767919386

    Finish reading the book is on my "To Do" list! 

    Been turning my attention towards "Q" books for the last week or two.  For those of you who still frequent the library, that is the section with the oversized, coffee table books.  I bet a Kindle wouldn't do those books any justice.

    Also started a thriller, by a new author, Crashers, by Dana Haynes. While the DH is a fan of thrillers, I rarely read them, but I found this one at the library and it touched my fancy.

    http://www.amazon.com/Crashers-Dana-Haynes/dp/0312599889

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited January 2011

    I read A Walk in the Woods many years ago with aspirations of perhaps one day hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Those aspirations were over by the time I was done laughing my way through the book however, the thought of a bear attack really scared me.

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited January 2011

    Hi,

    The Walk in The Woods sounds like a book I should reserve.

    A women on my chemo board has hiked the AT. She even did a piece of it this past spring..

    Finished the Emperor of All Maladies..

    Interesting. I learned a lot.

    On to something lighter now.

    Hugs,

    Francine

  • mradf
    mradf Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    vorasciousreader mentions the oversize books ~ Anyone a fan of "Doonesbury"?  I have loved that comic since I discovered it in my teens, not long after its creation.  There is a 40th Anniversary Retrospective.  Loved it!

    Be well,

    Maria

  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 210
    edited January 2011

    Calvin and Hobbes - gotta be my favorite comic-style collections EVER.  If you haven't read them, you need to.  Doonesbury is fun, too - I have only one of the older large books - it's kind of weird to see the characters grow older, have kids, divorce, die, etc.  It's always been topical, but some of the characters, like Zonker and Duke, seem ageless, while others, like Mike or BD, really show their development and their age.

    BTW, I got confused when people were writing about Cutting for Stone; I read a book earlier this year called Listening to Stone, which is by Dan Snow - he builds beautiful drystone walls (some of my artwork incorporates similar style) and writes about the process and results.  Took me awhile to figure out they were two different books.  Found it hard to believe that many people had read a book about drystone walls!

    I just got Edible Estates, Attack on the Front Lawn.  Realized that I should have ordered Edible Landscaping instead, but I'll have to order that next.  Estates is more stories about the why-fors and such of getting rid of the lawn and planting more of our own food; less of a how-to.  I was looking for a how-to.  Oh, well.

  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited January 2011

    Yep!  Those Q books are awesome!Cool

    Any Beatles fans?  You must get your hands on a copy of A Hard Day's Write - The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song.

     http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Days-Write-Revised-Stories/dp/0062736981

    Also enjoying George Washington's America - A Biography Through His Maps.

     http://www.amazon.com/George-Washingtons-America-Biography-Through/dp/0802717489

    Also finished the latest "Decade."  It's photojournalism at it's best.  I have to warn you, many of the photos are quite graphic and upsetting.

    http://www.amazon.com/Decade-Aemmon-McCabe/dp/0714857688/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296217381&sr=1-1

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 47,688
    edited January 2011

    This recipe is from the book 'The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love'.  It's called Chocolate Stuff and it is sinfully delicious....like the book!

    Chocolate Stuff

    Beat 2 eggs with a cup of sugar & 1/2 cup flour. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

    In the microwave melt one stick of real butter and 2 heaping tablespoons of Hersey's cocoa (regular Hersey's in the dark brown box).

    Dump the butter/cocoa mixture into the other things & stir it well. Add a running-over teaspoon of vanilla. Stir it in. If you want to add nuts, use a whole bunch of pecans, chopped up fine.

    Pour the Stuff into aa greased loaf pan, set the loaf pan in a pan of water & put in a 300 degrees oven. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes. Tap it at 40 minutes. If the top seems crunchy take it out.

    You can put some whipped cream over the top if you want to be really, really bad when serving it!!!

  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 210
    edited January 2011
    Geez, Ruth - I'm trying to lose weight!!!  You're killing me here!Smile
  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 47,688
    edited January 2011

    Invite a bunch of friends over, give them each a spoon and dive in!

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2011

    I started and finished Sarah's Key in a day thanks to the steroids I get in the premed.....am going to see if they cant lower the dosage on those, but Oh, it was a really good book in my opinion.   I am both fascinated and horrified by stories about the things that went on in Europe during the war re the Jewish people.  I am now reading a book about a dog, Katie, that someone gave my husband for Xmas which is so so. 

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