Book Lovers Club
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Watch those .99 Kindle books. I got one the other day - it was obvious after about 3 pages that's it's one of those vanity published things. No editor, no proof reader. The author had a pretty good plot in mind, but the end result is a joke. Sometimes, you get what you pay for!
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Hi Apple and all!
Too right about our sense of humour in the UK!! I actually love US comedy too, probably more. The James Herriot books are well known here: I've never read them, but there was a long-running TV show from the 70s/80s called "All Creatures Great and Small" based on his books which was pretty good. If you're a fan of British humour, one of my fave laugh-out- loud books is "Lucky Jim", by Kingsley Amis - it was written in the 50s and is extremely funny - give it a go! Spike Milligan, who was in "The Goon Show" with Peter Sellers, amongst others, in the 50s/60s also wrote some funny books/poetry, which are quite mad. Another comedy I recommend, although, off-topic, as it was a TV show, is "Father Ted". This is a British/Irish programme about 3 Catholic priests who live together in a parochial house in the desolate Craggy Island. It is brilliant and a real hoot if you can get hold of it. Sadly, the eponymous Father Ted ( Dylan Morgan) died of a heart attack just as they finished the third series in '98.
Thanks for your book suggestions, ladies. I'm still re-reading old stuff due to lack of money at the mo. I'll treat myself at Amazon next month, hopefully and also would like to buy a Kindle at Christmas/Jan. birthday.
Sarah x
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I finished State of Wonder tonight. I am a day overdue on my 7 day at the library, afraid I'll get my wrist slapped! I liked it quite a bit. The story had me on the edge of my seat at times to a bit bored, and then ending was great. I always have a hard time summing up books...but it is about a Dr who works for a pharmaceutical company who goes to "the jungle" to check up on another scientist who is studying fertility in 70+ year old women, among other things. He's declared dead and another colleague goes to find out the progress of the drug study and what happened, truly, to the other Dr. So much more than that- but you get the idea.0
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I am between good books so I am reading a cookbook from Louisiana in the 60s...
gawd, what awful recipes, swimming in cream and butter and covered with cracker crumbs and jellos.
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Sounds like Paula Deens recipie book,and it is not that old.
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I highly recomend Jamie Oliver cookbooks.I think I have them all and always use them.They also make wonderful shower or xmas gifts.
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I was always horrified yet fascinated by fruit suspended in Jello. Caryn
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So glad to find this thread...I'm an avid reader and am always looking for a good recommendation. I enjoy reading about the different cultures. Two recent books that I found very good were "White Tiger" and "The Alchemist". I'm sure most of you have read "The Kite Runner", it was so interesting to read about the Afgan culture as it was before the wars, and his sequel "Seven Splendid Suns", about the plight of the Afgan women. Regardless of the recent controversy, the book, "Three Cups of Tea" was inspiring to read, and to think that one man would devote his entire life to building schools in Pakistan to further the education of girls in that area.
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Kaara, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are both fabulous. The early part of Kite Runner is set in Kabul during the time that I worked there as a Peace Corps volunteer. Although it is a very accurate description of Afghan society at that time, it described a family that was well off and educated. In in the best of times in Afghanistan there was only a tiny portion of society that lived that way. Afghanistan is a place dear to my heart but the most complicated place I've ever lived in. Caryn
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Thank you for working for the Peace Core, Caryn.
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Loved The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
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Thank you , Ruth. It was a very long time ago,1977-79. The Peace Corps was a life changing experience for me. Caryn
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Yes, good on you, Caryn. You are courageous!
Just a comment on Jamie Oliver cookbooks - excellent! His apple pie and meat sauce (ragu) recipes are firm favourites in my house. Nigella (Lawson) is great too - I don't know if you are familiar with her in US/Canada. I have an American book from the 60s left over from my Dad's lecturing days - science for school cookery teachers. It's called "Elegant but Easy" and has mind-boggling amounts of unhealthy stuff in it - a funny read!
Sarah x
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I'm hoping you all can help me remember the title of a book I read this past summer, I think. It was about a man who is a writer and his "hippy" sister convinces him to take her buddist Monk friend along for his travels. Sound familiar to anyone? Cannot for the life of me remember the name. Thanks!!
Oh, I hate to admit it but my Mom used to make jello salad - made with gingerale and orange juice and put in fruit and sometimes topped with mayo. Yes I do actually like it!
I usually am quite a fast reader but for some reason I'm having a hard time with "Cutting For Stone" Anyone else have a hard time with it? I do like it but I guess not blown away by it like many others.
The other thing is - I'm usually really good at remembering things and lately I cannot even tell you the book I read before this one which is odd. Makes me a bit nervous about my brain!
I love all the British comedies - thanks for the suggestions! Love this thread!
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Stanzie -
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo - I loved this book!
Julie E
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I just finished A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. Odd book. Seemed like a bunch of short stories that were intertwined by the characters. No flow. A lot of jumpiong around in time. Some chapters I skimmed, others drew me in. And I wanted to know what happened to all these characters but never found out. Bah.
Up next is Bossy Pants, then The Last Samurai.
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Stanzie - YES!!! For me, Cutting for Stone was tortuous. I only finished it because every other person I knew thought it was wonderful. Interesting thing, tho' - I remember many parts of it and refer to it often. That's not the case with my usual reading. The other day, a friend was asking what to do with all the Bibles at her mother's house (which she was preparing for sale) and I told her about all the donated Bibles in Cutting for Stone.
I am so relieved to know someone else struggled with that book! Thought I was the only one.
ETA - didn't everyone's mother make Jello salad?
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Just finished The Help and really enjoyed it. Just bought Fall of the Giants it looks like a book you really need to find a quiet place to read without disruptions.
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I just read "The Midwife of Venice". Good and a quick read. Am just starting "Good to a Fault" -- not sure about it yet.
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Caryn: Wow! That must have been very exciting and rewarding for you, and yes, the family was very wealthy and privileged. Clearly the book describes the class distinctions and the transformation that the author went through, and the humbling experiences he had. Imagine that happening in America...I pray it never does.
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Stanzie: Yes, "Cutting for Stone" was a complicated read, but I enjoyed it. I'm also having difficulty recalling book titles-*/
Stanzie: I did read "Cutting for Stone" several years ago and enjoyed it very much. It was hard to get into. My memory fails me at times....like blowing the title of "A Thousand Splendid Suns"..which I called Seven Splendid Suns! Oh well...everyone knew what I meant and absolutely no one pointed that out to me! That's why I love this site...no judgments!
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Sarah1968uk - yes Nigella is known here. Some of her TV series have been here and NPR (commercial-free radio) sometimes have her on to discuss food, give recipes etc.
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Purchased the Alexander McCall Smith book "Corduroy Mansions" because of the cute jack russel on the cover! Couldn't help it. I am up and down w/ McCall- Smith's books, but I did enjoy this little book. Actually laughed outloud in places. It is about a cast of charactors in an old apartment building in London. And a dog.
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vtEllen, I must look up that book, I have read some of the Botswana/Detective books but not all, but this one sounds interesting. My DD has a Jack Russell, he is so tiny compared to our brute, he's a mix of German Shepherd and something else very big!!
Do you have problems reading thru this. I love to read and figured I'd get all this reading done, but my concentration is horrible, during the week right after tx especially.
I loved Cutting for Stone, sorry.
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Started an interesting book today. "Blink" The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. It's about the impressions we make in the first 2 seconds of a situation/encounter, and yet do not consider the result of those thoughts as being valuable. It shows one how to use that important information in evaluations/decisions, and why it is valuable. I have been overly influenced by Voracious. This is my third non fiction book in a row
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Wenweb...Since you're on a roll, I hope the next book you read, if you haven't already, is Malcolm Gladwell's What The Dog Saw.
Presently reading Jerome Groopman, MD's, Your Medical Mind: How To Decide What is Right for You. I also read his previous book, How Doctors Think. Dr. Groopman is a friend and colleague of my husband's doctor. In his previous book, How Doctors think there is a chapter that discusses a case that my husband's doctor was affiliated with. His new book is excellent. It is an good primer on how patients collaborate with their doctors to make an informed decision about their treatment. I know we're NOT supposed to discuss medical books...but you all know if it's non-fiction, and medical books are non-fiction, then VR has to get her nose in it.......
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wenweb & All
I've been lurking awhile and not posting, but wanted to weigh in about "Blink". My son sent it to me 6 months ago & it was amazing. Loaned it to several neighbors who were equally entranced.
My average consumption is 4-5 books a week. Just bought a Kindle in preparation for a Thanksgiving cruise. How would I haul 10 books? Downloaded DeMille's The Lion and will save it for the cruise.
For the last year I've been on a "re-read" project. The goal was to empty some of my bookcases by re-reading what I've just had to save for years & years and decide what could go to the used book store or the library. Hmmm. While I've given away bags & bags, I've probably bought more than I've moved out to fill in series or read what I discovered on other author's lists.
Just finished Deborah McCrombie's Necessary as Blood and moved to Sharyn McCromb's latest ballad novel The Ballad of Tom Dooley. Looking forward to jumping back to Margaret Maron's Storm Track since that's where I stopped before I found the continuing books in the series at used book store. As you can see, I've had a hard time digesting really serious things during exchange surgery & recovery.
Thanks to all of your for referrals. It's great to see what's out there.
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One of the most interesting non-fiction books I ever read was Freakonomics. It really made me think. Highly recommend it.
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Kay... Have you looked at the Freakonomics website? Lots of fun! They no longer write for The New York Times and are devoting themselves to other sources. Their film is rather good as well. I got the DVD Freakonomics from my favorite place...The Library!
Malcolm Gladwell also has his own website where many of his columns appear!
Happy Reading and thoughts and prayers to all to find the time to read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Minustwo, I didn't realize Sharyn McCrumb had a book about Tom dooley! I grew up in the area where it all originates, so I will be adding that one to my Kindle today!
BLINK sounds amazing. I'll be getting that one, too.
I've read Groopman's How doctors Think. His other book sounds like it will be joing the party in my Kindle, too.
I have what the Dog Saw already in hardback, but haven't read it.
You all are costing me some $$$. I love it. Wish I had more time to read what I've bought!
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