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Book Lovers Club

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Comments

  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 1,914
    edited November 2011

    Enjoy your kindle! My DH got a nook over the summer and gets books from the library for it. There are also a lot of completely free books you can download, I think once they are old enough not to be copy rited any longer. If someone doesn't come along soon with directions, I will get some info from him. I just got an iPad and downloaded The Book Thief from the library, am about 2/3s done and am loving it! Or rather DH downloaded it for me. ;)

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

    I finished If Not Love yesterday.  I thought it was a very interesting read with many many quotable and memorable lines.  Though it did not keep me up nights.  Still a decent read.  I am going to start Hell at the Breech by Tom Franklin tonight.  It's set in the south in the late 1800's and is about a secret society that is formed by a group of men to avenge the murder of one of their friends.  I like his other book so I thought I would give it a shot.

    I love my kindle as well but purchase only on occasion, can't beat free from the library!  Unfortunately my library only has e books compatible with the nook.

    Kay I am glad you like the Book Thief!

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 47,691
    edited November 2011

    Just read a good little light fiction book Incognito by Gregory Murphy

    A mystery/love story set in New York's high society during the Gilded Age. A "tale of passions, secrets, betrayals, bartered marriages and negotiated silences."

  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 125
    edited November 2011

    Has anyone else read "Secret Daughter"?  I almost finished it and it is an excellent read.

  • MaryjRN
    MaryjRN Member Posts: 43
    edited November 2011

    My sister, a middle school librarian, gave me the Hugo Cabret book.  It's the one that the current film, Hugo, is based.  It's mostly an illustrated book with some writing. 

    She also gave me the first book of 'The Hunger Games' trilogy.

    So many books.....what a geat quandry I am in!!Laughing

    My Chris Bohjalian book, that Laurie08 recommended, is in at the library.  I plan to pick it up tomorrow after my chemo.

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

    Kim- I loved Secret Daughter.

    MaryjRn- Let me know what you think?  Which one was it Double Bind or the new one?

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited November 2011

    Stanzie:  I'm relatively new to Kindle also & having a hard time relinquishing paper.  I'm in Houston & we can download books from the library but haven't tried it yet.  Apparently many libraries are still "Nook only".  Try this site for free books  http://www.gutenberg.org/  These are mostly "public domain" books.  I have found many I never read, but even more that I'm enjoying re-reading.  I download them to my desktop & then "drag & drop" into my Kindle.  RE purchasing - for me it's easier to go to Amazon from my desktop & put books on my wish list after I've reviewed them.  From there I send books to my Kindle once I'm ready to purchase.  Amazon also has free books, but I've only stumbled on a few so far & haven't researched.  Have fun.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,354
    edited November 2011
    Voracious:  Thanks for the reference to Patria Meyer Spacks On Rereading.  I've been working on just such a project with my own books for the last several years.  There are books I "should" read, and books I still plan to read someday, and collections that I haven't kept intact and am now filling in by re-purchasing at used book stores.  Sigh.  The goal was to get rid of some books & I've ended up with more.  Anyway, I will put Spacks' book on my wish list.
  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 2,007
    edited November 2011

    I loved the Secret Daughter.Good book for plane travel.Want to pick up something new for the holiday travels.Any suggestions on New novels Ladies?

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

    Laurie...Despite NOT being kept up all night turning pages, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed reading If Not Love. 

    Minustwo...Anne Fadiman has also edited a wonderful book on popular authors' rereading of their favorite books.  I've read all of Anne Fadiman's books, including her prize winning, non fiction book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.  I mentioned Anne Fadiman many pages ago on this thread.....

    I finally got around to finish reading Carrie Fisher's book, Shockaholic.  Boy oh boy, could she DISH!!!! Wow!  And could she write!!!!!!!!!! 

    So, over the weekend, The New York Times published its annual list of notable books!  Hooray!!!!

    Of course Erik Larson's book, In The Garden of Beasts made the cut!    And so did The Boy in the Moon.  Not sure if I raved about The Boy in the Moon on this thread or another one, but the book deserves praise. 

    http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Moon-Fathers-Understand-Extraordinary/dp/0312671830/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322484529&sr=1-1

    I don't know how I could describe the book.  Really.  All I can say is that some people might find it disturbing, while others might find it enlightening.  Since the DH has a very rare genetic disorder, I found that it was for me, the book that needed to be written and the story that needs to be told about catastrophic genetic diseases and finding humanity in a world that more often than not doesn't make sense.

    Also culled from The New York Times list that I hope to read or peruse:

    The Budda in the Attic

    Destiny of the Republic

    Is That a Fish in Your Car

    My New American Life

  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 1,914
    edited November 2011

    Finished the book thief and loved it. My DD wants to read it now. She loves stories taking place at the holocaust. Not sure what to get from the library next. On the rereading side, I think I will do the secret life of bees or maybe angels and demons.

  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 237
    edited November 2011

    I'm just finishing Life by Keith Richards. I'm. finding this slow reading. I thought it would be more about his personal life. Its more about how he makes his music.

  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 2,007
    edited November 2011

    I really enjoyed the Keith Richards book but then I have always been a big fan of the Stones

  • CherrylH
    CherrylH Member Posts: 189
    edited November 2011

    VR - the NYT list, was it on line. I didn't see a list in yesterday's Book Review. Thanks for the help.

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

    Cherry.... Yes. I saw the 100 notable books online.

  • kelleysgroi
    kelleysgroi Member Posts: 95
    edited November 2011

    THE KITCHEN HOUSE

  • lauralc
    lauralc Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2011
    I want to recommend the Richard & Judy Book Club http://www.richardandjudy.co.uk/home in the UK. I just finished one of their summer picks, The Return of Capt. John Emmett, and really liked it. So I am going to try more of their picks!
  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 3,696
    edited November 2011

    Now the New York Times just published its 10 best books for the year. The Boy in the Moon was chosen! Not an easy book to read, but the story needed to be told.

  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 1,914
    edited November 2011

    VR, I think you recommended the emperor of all maladies? I just picked it up from the library.

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

    Kay... Nope! I hear it is terrific! One of my walking companions read it for me. ;)

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

    I'm not sure who recommended the Wife- but I just got an e mail from the library that it's in.  I'm halfway through Hell at the Breech- so far it's just ok.  Lot's of characters to keep straight.

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2011
    Laurie I know that I mentioned it, and really enjoyed it.  More so than "If Not Love".  Let me know what you think.  I have been reading some of Meg Wolitzers other books.  "The Wife" is better in my opinion.
  • mcsushi
    mcsushi Member Posts: 71
    edited November 2011

    Kay I read The Emperor of All Maladies and really enjoyed it. It well written and fascinating. I think you will enjoy it!

    Laurie I got Shadow of the Wind based on your recommendation Laughing I'll let you know what I think when I read it.

    I finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and gave it to my grandmom to read. She's looking forward to reading it. I also finished The Samurai's Garden (another recommendation I found from this sight). I loved it. It was so delicately and beautifully written. Since I'm on this Japanese/Chinese WWII era roll I guess I'll read The Piano Teacher next.

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

    Wenweb... I am delighted that you enjoyed The Wife. Glad you are reading her other books. They are mostly a snapshot of contemporary life. I compare her to Terry McMillan. They both have a good ear for dialogue. I loved McMillan's A Day Late and a Dollar Short even though How Stella Got Her Groove Back is her most popular book. Wolitzer's mother is also an author. I think story telling is in her genes.





    Speaking of The Wife, of a dozen friends who read it, one came back and said it was nothing special. If she ever asks again for a recommendation, I will tell her to ask some one else!

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2011

    vr  It always amazes me how different we all are.  One loves a book that another hated.  I think what I enjoy about Wolitzer is that yes, she is a good wordsmith, and of the 2 books of hers that I have read (I'm reading the 3rd one now), she had a "twist" in the story that I didn't see coming.  Also, as you mention, she portrays a snaphot of comtemporary life which I generally find enjoyable.

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

    One thing I have learned (so far)  if wenweb aka Wendy likes it I do!  I have read so many books by her recommendation, I have loved them all.

    I have to say I love this thread, you all introduce me to such great new reads that I would never find on my own.

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

    Wenweb....It doesn't amaze me anymore how different we all are when it comes to book preferences.  I learned after reading Bridges of Madison County how different my preferences were from most of my friends...and from the majority!Surprised

    Thankfully, I have TWO friends...(that's pretty much all I need), who truly enjoy MOST of the same books as I do.  Actually, there's a third person....my opthomologist...whom I often LITERALLY bump shoulders with in our local library.  We hover over the same non-fiction section books.  Quite hilarious!  The "New" non-fiction section is a pretty lonely place in our library, compared to the "New" fiction section...where more people hover!  If I want to meet up with acquaintances in the library, I usually have to cross the threshold, that is, pass the information desk, and journey into uncharted territory..."New" fiction!  Thankfully, around lunch time, I can find my opthomologist glancing at "New"  non-fiction books and we can catch up on what's good to read!

    Meanwhile, I sent the New York Times 2011 10 Most Notable Books to my second, dearest VR, (my 86 year old mother is MY dearest VR), and this is what she wrote back:



     

    "Thanks for the list. I am not interested in fiction. Of the nonfiction we have covered the important
    ones."

    I'm telling you Wenweb.  There's NOTHING like having someone who enjoys the same taste as you have in books....She's also one of my walking companions and with her, I take the longest walks!  So many books to discuss and soooo many more miles to walk!  Kiss



     And I'll finish prattling by saying, Erik Larson's In The Garden of Beasts was noted, by the NY Times among the most 100 notable books of the year.  It was also very popular, landing on the non-fiction bestsellers's lists throughout the country.  Without a doubt, its popularity was well deserved.  I knew it would have broad appeal.  But sometimes there are other books, like The Boy in the Moon, that once you begin reading, you realize, this book DOESN'T have broad appeal, but is facinating and informative and SHOULD be read.  I'm glad that the book is getting the well deserved attention.  More often than not, most people will choose to read a "bestseller" because THAT is their "comfort zone."  When I have NOTHING to read, I might choose a "bestseller" to get an idea of what the majority is reading.  Or, I might go back and read a "classic" that I missed along the way...

    Perhaps we should all make a New Year Resolution...Let's choose to read a book that isn't a popular bestseller or one that makes it onto "Readers' Clubs."  I would love to hear from others who are choosing books, like The Boy in the Moon, that are, shall we say, "Outside of the box and far from our comfort zone."

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 359
    edited December 2011

    I have to go back and read posts for books listed but noticed mention of 'The Book Thief'.  Another haunting WWII book of similar background

    http://www.amazon.com/True-Story-Hansel-Gretel-Survival/dp/0142003077/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322772225&sr=1-1

    Another I enjoyed by Karen White

    http://www.amazon.com/Folly-Beach-Karen-White/dp/0451229215/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322772459&sr=1-7

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

    cp4- Thanks for the recommendations, True Story if Hansel and Gretel looks good!

    So I picked up The Red Tent and The Story of Beautiful Girl today.

    VR- I put the Boy on the Moon on my to read list, I agree, sometimes we need to try something new!

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited December 2011

    vr I also find that restaurant recommendations are similar.  It's nice to know someone who will tell you what you want to know.  I'm already got a head start on the not reading from the best seller list Cool

    Laurie Thanks!! I take that as a huge compliment!! 

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