Book Lovers Club
Comments
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great video VR! Almost finished with Dearie, the Julia Child bio, (very good book and I admire her even more now) and it's finally my turn at the new Stephanie Plum, Notorious Nineteen.
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Just finished The Rook, a first novel by Australian Daniel O'Malley
"Myfanwy Thomas opens her eyes and she is not who she was. Surrounding her are dead men wearing suits and latex gloves. She is aching from a serious beating and soaked to the bone from the rain. In her pocket is a letter from her body's previous occupant warning her of an imminent threat to her life. She is given two options: run away and live in comfort or find out who has betrayed her and given her a wicked case of amnesia. And so begins Myfanwy's service in Her Majesty's Supernatural Secret Service."
Great characters and imaginative mayhem, quite funny - more slime than gore. No sex. Found it difficult to put the book down, a really good read.
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Okay... Just read Gone Girl. I was curious. Worse than awful. And it's a bestseller? I am putting it on par with one of my favorite awful novels... The Bridges of Madison County....
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VR Enjoyed Gone Girl, as crazy and unlikeable the characters are. To me, it would be the perfect beach vacation book. Not a fan of The Bridges of Madison County.
Speaking of awful books - has anyone read The Secret? My mother bought me a copy, said that I just had to read it. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't like it. A friend loned me Who Moved My Secret? haha!
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Having read "One for the Books" I now am more comfortable proclaiming that I will never read The Bridges of Madison County, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, anything by Joyce Carol Oates, that is just a sample - it depresses me to think about some of the books and authors - I will now add Gone Girl and The Secret. Too many appealing books out there to waste time on those I am sure or even think I won't like.
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Jelson! AMEN! When I read that Queenan disliked Bridges too, my heart melted! He really instilled confidence in me regarding my reading choices. I will also never feel guilty again about missing out on a bestseller. The only thing I missed out by reading Gone Girl was time that could have been better spent reading something else....
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I completely agree: why waste time reading something you pretty much know you won't like, just because someone else recommended it? I've resisited the Twilight series, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, The Hunger Games trilogy (after reading one chapter), and even Harry Potter. (I also read a chapter of the first book.) It's not that they're bad books, just not really my cup of tea. And there are WAY too many other books and so little time to read!
I'm reading a mystery recommended by someone on another board I go to. It's from Shelly Fredman's Brandy Alexander series and it's called "No Such Thing as A Secret". It's very light and kind of humorous, sort of along the lines of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series - but not as good. It's just okay -IMHO, but it was 99 cents for Kindle, so at least it didn't cost much. Not sure if I'll read another one.
My favorite author for light, humorous mysteries is Laura Levine, who used to be a sitcom writer. There's nothing to her books really, but they always make me laugh out loud. I like to read books like those when RL gets kind of overwhelming.
Another book I was on the waitlist for at the library just came in - Charles Todd's Proof of Guilt. It's the newest in his Ian Rutledge series, which I really enjoy. Charles Todd is actually a mother/son writing time, and they live in different states. It's amazing how they manage to write together. And the series is very well-written. It takes place during WWI, so it has an historical background, and the characterizations are excellent - especially that of the main character and his emotional scars from being in the war. Some of the books are better than the others, but most of the mysteries are well crafted, too.
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Finished One for the Books, loved it. For those that have read it, did anybody take Queenan's good comments about any of the books and read them?
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Joy... I am going to find "astonishing" books and read them! Queenan only tried reading a few "astonishing" books.... I will try to best him. Not sure if I will find any astonishing "astonishing" books. But I will give it my best shot!
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I have to try MIDDLEMARCH, though. It's on my Kindle. But if I don't finish it, I know I'll be in good company! And, maryc, count me as one who also has never felt compelled to read the Harry Potter series, Twilight (I tried one chapter and regretted the time spent on it!), the 50 Shades series. I loathed, absolutely loathed, BRIDGES. But I quite enjoyed the Steig Larsson series. GONE GIRL just annoyed the hell out of me.
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Anne... If you DO Middlemarch... and complete it... I will attempt it too! One of my close reading pals has it on his night table for years.... REFUSES TO ABANDON IT! THE DH had Moby Dick on his for a decade until it thankfully disappeared! Hasn't noticed it's gone....
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Queenan made a terrific point about awful books. There is a pleasure enjoying how awful they are. That's how I felt about Gone Girl. It was so awful that I enjoyed it's awfulness almost as much as Bridges!
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I'm having such a good time with my bag of $0.25 books. Just finished a 1984 Robert Ludlum -The Aquitaine Progression. I used to read lots of cold war/spy books before the wall came down. Prior to that was Ernest Gann's 1968 book Song of the Sirens. This was a wonderful book about his love affair with ships and the sea. I'm so sorry I never learned to sail. A barefoot sailing trip is still on my bucket list but I expect time is running out - or rather stamina is running out. I need to find a copy of Fate is the Hunter, Gann's book about his flying career, which I haven't read since the 60's. (not my 60's - the l960's).
Voracious & Anne - let me know if either of you finish Middlemarch. I might feel guilty enough to try again. I did make it through Moby Dick 5 or 6 years ago. We had to read it in high school and I couldn't remember why.
Off to close my eyes & pull another surprise book out of the bag.
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I think that Bridges deserves its own category of awfulness. Sorry if this is offensive to anybody, I know that this book certainly has its share of fans.
The success of Gone Girl, IMHO, is due to its unusual storyline and most unlikeable characters.
VR If you don't mind sharing, what are some of the books on your "astonishing" list?
Started a Wexford series mystery that was mentioned by Queenan, Put On By Cunning by Ruth Rendell and loving it so far. Two other books that I started awhile ago and that are still at my bedside - J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (yawn) and London by Edward Rutherford. These are "real" paper books so I feel committed to finishing them.
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Joy....I haven't put together an "astonishing" list, just yet! You can do a search on me and "book lovers club" and see a number of books that I enjoyed reading.
However, if I have to say what was the most "astonishing" book that I ever read, it would be, Johnny Tremain. Obviously, I read it when I was a child. It was "astonishing" because I had NEVER read anything like it before. I never knew there was a thing called "Historical Fiction." Before reading Johnny Tremain, I had only been exposed to textbooks, children's fiction and the occasional biography, that is, Helen Keller. I remember falling in love with the book. We were assigned to read the book and had to answer questions following each chapter. When I went to school, I was anxious for EVERYONE to finish reading the book so we could talk about it. I was "astonished" to discover that I was the only one in the class who had loved reading the book. How could they not love a book about history, technology AND a love story????!!!!!! I was crestfallen. But not for long. Looking back, Johnny Tremain put me on a wonderful reading journey that continues to this day. I love reading biographies, memoirs, history, historical fiction, architecture and technology, and the occasional love story!
Reading Johnny Tremain was astonishing for me because the "thrill" of reading it, that was set off in my brain, continues to this day when I'm reading a book that I genuinely love. I think EVERY book lover can relate to that "thrill." I think Queenan's book drives home that point. That "thrill" is so unique and personal, and yet, all of us can relate to it because each of us has experienced it over and over again with each book that we loved reading! I guess you can say it's an addiction....but NOT a bad one...unless you're Queenan's wife! I think both of them were very wise when they chose to buy a home located across the street from the local library. Probably saved their marriage! Mrs. Queenan didn't have to look far to find him when he wasn't at home!
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vr, now I'm curious. I have never read Johnny Tremain. I'd better take a look at it. Do you find that books that thrilled you as a child or young adult don't hold up now? Granted, our tastes change, our thinking matures. But what books any of you read as a youth either do or do not hold up to your "standards" now. Is it disappointing?
I think "Lord of the Flies" is still scary and horrific. "Death Be Not Proud" still makes me cry. "Mrs. Mike" is still a fabulous love story. Many childhood books I haven't re-read. I need to ponder this some more.
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Anne...I've never thought of reading Johnny Tremain again. I am not interested in reading the story again. As Queenan mentions, you have just a finite amount of time to read and you need to make that list count! I think the FEELING you get from reading a story, whether it's awfully good or awfully bad, surpasses REMEMBERING the story. Likewise, I think it is impossible to RECAPTURE that "thrilling" feeling once you've read something. I think that's true about all of the arts. Recently, while I was watching Django Unchained and being "thrilled" by it, I became SAD while watching it. I realized while watching it for the first time, I would never again enjoy that same "thrill" as I was experiencing it for the first time. I have already seen the film twice and still love it, but the "thrill" of watching it the first time is gone forever.
I also cried while reading Death Be Not Proud. I also cried when I read Elie Wiesel's Night. I remember very accurately the feeling I got when I read those books. Neither book would I ever read again. Recall that Joe Queenan mentions that there are some books on his book shelf that are very average books but he would never part with them. He mentions they're like postcards. He recalls the time in his life and place where he bought the books and those books thrill him because of the FEELING he gets from the memory of when he purchased them. He also points to books that he's read more than once. But I think at his age now, he realizes the importance of getting through that list he created and re-reading books is just not something high on his list....except maybe for Middlemarch...which he couldn't get through the first time.........
The reason why Johnny Tremain still resonates with me is that once I read the book at such a tender age, looking back, it became the moment when I developed my "taste" in what kind of books I would come to love reading AND I realized back then, in the classroom, that everyone's "taste" differed. However, later I would come to understand that common "thrill" that all of us enjoy in reading books. Queenan also makes that point early in his book where he tells us that he enjoys literature and reads very little non-fiction.
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I am loving hearing about all of your suggestions as both possibilities and also because they tell me a little bit more about each of you. I figure it's only fair that I let you see a little into me as well. So here's a little about some reads that I've enjoyed.
Pages ago on this thread, a number of you wrote about Mudbound and The Kitchen House. I read both last summer and enjoyed them. I enjoy historical fiction in general and a couple that jump out for me are Ursula Hegi's Stones From The River and Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth. Also loved Hosseini's, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
For sci-fi...which is not my genre...I really love, love, loved The Sparrow and it's sequel Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. They don't read like sci-fi at all really.
For a creepy, chilling read, I loved Donna Tartt's, The Secret History.
And someone's writing I've enjoyed through most her books is Barbara Kingsolver, with a special nod to Poisonwood Bible.
I'm reading three fiction books right now, which is not a strategy I recommend or typically enjoy but oh well. So here's what's on the table currently (or the kindle, for these):
1. John Green's, The Fault in our Stars - this came on the endless urging of my teenaged daughter who read it last summer and loved it. Now mind you, this is about two teens who have cancer, so it was *not* on my high list to read at this time, but again, the persistent urging and how much I just love that girl persuaded me to go ahead, and you know what? I'm about half way through and finding that it's very well written.
2. Out of the Shadow by J.S. Winn. It's a mystery, a genre I don't usually read, but it had good reviews and was offered on a special so I'm giving it a try. So so, ho hum, not really attaching to or liking the characters.
3. Shameless: How I ditched the Diet, Got Naked, Found True Pleasure...and Somehow Got Home in Time to Cook Dinner by Pamela Madsen. Okay, this one's not fiction though it reads very novel like, and really, that is quite a title. I'm 22% into per kindle and have been intrigued. The whole 50 Shades thing is not my thing, despite one of my dear friend's imploring that it's really S & M in a 'good way'. Whatever. But I was intrigued by Madsen, a middle aged woman taking full charge of her body image and sexuality. Disclosure: I have a small business working with women healing around eating issues and body image. So far, I'm liking this one though I have to say I was glad I have it on kindle (love the privacy!)
That's it, in addition to ongoing non-fiction (VR, you're right...I guess I'm sort of voracious about it, too, and have passed this along to my daughter. May as well own it.)0 -
Destina!! You are my reading soul-sister! You mentioned some of my favorite books! If you can find it, try "The Knowledge of Angels" by Jill Paton Walsh.
I'm thinking of chosing THE SPARROW for my neighborhood book club. I am not a sci-fi reader, but WOW, what a book!
VR, I get what you (and Joe) are saying about re-reads. I have "let go" of most of my books (storage issues) but it was painful, as I could recall (on most of them) where I was when reading it, what was going on in my life...And when I go into a house that has a huge den filled with books, I love to see what they read, what we've shared in reading, and then what I might like to read based on their choices. Much like here. I remember once stroking the spine of some books, almost lovingly, and my then-neighbor laughed because it was something he would have done, too...
It kills me that my nephews don't read. But my granddaughters do. And I will encourage that as long as I live!
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So glad to read the comments on "Gone Girl" . I was going to read it as it is the "Book of the month" at my churches book club !!!!.
In the last couple of weeks, I read "Killing Kennedy" ("Killing Lincoln" was much better I thought ). "Diana, Her True Story; by Andrew Morton. (left out many significant parts). Now I am finishing up my "kindle freebie" - "The Royal Family", a mini-set of 4 "books".
I like nonfiction, history - American and English, biographes, any suggestions in these departments would be appreciated. A good fiction, or mystery is a welcome change also.
Has anyone read the "Johnstown Flood" ? I just read the sample on Kindle and can't decide. But I do love David McCullough. Any other David McCullough fans ?
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Natalie... I thought Killing Lincoln was better by just a drop. I loved the battle parts. In Killing Kennedy, I was fascinated by the Khrushchev parts. It still amazes me how young and yet powerful Kennedy was. I think Khrushchev was surprised as well. After reading the book, I wondered for a while what a second term might have looked like. For that matter, how the rest of the century might have been had Kennedy lived....
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Agree, those were the best of the book.
I wonder if the daily womanizing would have ever caught up with him.
Also, there were large discrepancies in "Killing Lincoln" and "Mrs. Kennedy and Me". for example, where did Mrs. Kennedy live ??? Did you read "Mrs. Kennedy and ME" ? Good read
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Natalie... I recall that Ruth enjoyed reading Clint Hill's book about the time he spent with Jackie. I have seen numerous interviews with him including one where he and several other secret service agents discussed the infamous day. All these years later, they still had tears in their eyes and had difficulty discussing the day. I don't think I want to read the book. There are so many other people who I want to know about. Last year, I recommended a book about Pat Nixon written by Mary Brennan. It is only the second biography written about her. The first was written by her daughter Julie. I loved the book. Another book that I did enjoy reading about Jackie was written by Oleg Cassini, A Thousand Days of Magic. The photographs are magnificent. It includes sketches and correspondences between the two and their collaboration. People say Michelle Obama has a beautiful fashion sense reminiscent of Jackie. If you read Cassini's book, one might disagree. Jackie worked with Cassini and helped design what she wore. I don't think Michelle Obama does that with J. Crew....
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I also think Kitty Kelly did a bang up job on her book about Nancy Reagan!
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Clint Hill's was kind of sweet because he had such as crush on her. He is from a small town in North Dakota, my state, so that is why I wanted to read it. Bogged down at work and all sorts of 'stuff', so have not been able to read much.
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I've been on vacation in MT and have had no TV! I have read Joan Didion's book The Year of Magical Thinking. What a sad time for her, losing her husband and having a seriously ill daughter. I also read Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl. I really enjoyed her story of becoming a food critic, her relationships, etc. I will have to track down some of her other books. Now, I'm reading A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore. I read A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson. I liked it and it was an easy read for the plane trip. I think I will be albe to read one more book before we get home. It's been great to not have the distraction and constant chatter of tv. Gina
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Dropped off library books and was browsing new releases. Was irrestibly drawn to "Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out" by Mo Yan. It's the 2012 Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. According to the jacket, it opens in hell on January 1, 1950. The hero is reincarnated six times and views his world as a donkey, an ox, a pig, a dog, a monkey, and finally a human. Looks so interesting!
Also picked up a book of short stories called "Astray" by Emma Donoghue. The characters in the stories have all gone astray somehow. Have been a fan of the short story ever since I read "The Swimmer" by John Cheever.
Happy reading everyone!
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Ah, The Swimmer. Loved it. Cheever wrote wonderful short stories! Sometimes I will go through a short story reading phase, especially when my focus is not up for longer books.
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joyh1109
Joe Q liked Penelope Fitzgerald - so I looked her up in the library and chose to read her first book - The Golden Child - about a King Tut like exhibit at a major British museum that goes horribly wrong. She pokes fun at the hierarchy within the administration of museums and the international trade in antiquities - it is quite funny and well-written. She started writing at the age of 60 and won much recognition for her fiction and non-fiction.
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Finished 'State of Wonder', 'Destiny of the Republic' and 'The Cookbook Collector'.
Enjoyed all of them but the best surprise was 'Destiny'. This one appealed to family members across the board and that is a lot of genres to cross.
Going back to a mystery-'Faithful Place' by Tana French and then on to 'Wolf Hall'. I have a great list to choose from with the additions from all of you.
I was trying to read all the Pulitzer/fiction winners. There just isn't enough time in the day.
Has anyone read William Manchester's book on the Kennedy's?0
