Book a Week in 2012 - week 17

[Stacia]

can't wait for Tuesday when my preordered new Kevin Hearne book downloads to my Kindle!

 

Saw your link for this series on the other thread & started reading the preview of the first book. Wow. Totally fun. So glad you mentioned this one!

 

(For those who are wondering, check: http://www.kevinhearne.com/ )

[Angel]

 

Great info and well put. I am an Austin purist, and so enjoyed the first of the Jane Austen mysteries better than Pride & Prescience :). I think that the author of these has done a great job of writing in Austin's style without infringing on her books (they are fiction about Jane herself.) http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Unpleasantness-Scargrave-Manor-ebook/dp/B001QAP38W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335124217&sr=8-1 I might even read another, and I'm not generally a mystery reader.

 

I didn't realize there were so many of these! I read and enjoyed Jane and His Lordship's Legacy two years ago. When my time frees up again, I will have to look into the rest of these.

 

I much prefer holding, feeling and, most importantly smelling a book. :D

 

You are my dd's kindred spirit. She says she likes to smell her books, too, it's so much fun :tongue_smilie: I swear sometimes she buys a book just because it smells good :001_rolleyes:

[Storm Bay]

I'm with you on that subject! Give me a national park any day!

 

 

 

Gladys Mitchell was a prolific writer but many of her novels are no longer in print. I have no idea if the bulk are good or just some. I keep reading though that she has been lumped with Sayers, Christie and Chesterton--not bad company!

 

 

Well, somewhere I read that you should read her mysteries in order, so I ordered her first from the statewide virtual catalog.

 

In the meant time, I'm back to trying to finish a controversial book. The Death of Truth that I bought 5-7 years ago but have read less than half of before. No tomatoes from anyone, please, because I like to read controversial books at time whether or not I agree with them. http://www.amazon.com/The-Death-Truth-Multiculturalism-Postmodern/dp/1556617240/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335296426&sr=8-1

[Mom-ninja.]

Wherever You Go, There You Are last week.

 

 

This looks good.

 

 

Saw your link for this series on the other thread & started reading the preview of the first book. Wow. Totally fun. So glad you mentioned this one!

 

(For those who are wondering, check: http://www.kevinhearne.com/ )

 

I know! I put it on my wish list after reading the other thread.

 

 

 

I've started At Home by Bill Bryson. So far, yawn. I'm only in Ch. 2 so I'm still hopeful because I like his other books.

[Angel]

Still behind, but still reading when I get the time. Just finished Romeo and Juliet for our Shakespeare study tomorrow. I just love the language of R&J. Beautiful. I also realized that Shakespeare uses more foreshadowing in R&J than in Macbeth and Hamlet. Interesting.

 

#15 "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare (****)

"North by Northanger" by Carrie Bebris (*****)

"Yarn Harlot" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (****)

"Suspense and Sensibility" by Carrie Bebris (****)

"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare (***1/2)

"Cotillion" by Georgette Heyer (*****)

"Pride and Prescience" by Carrie Bebris (****)

"Ophelia" by Lisa Klein (***)

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard (*)

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare (***1/2)

"The Sisters Grimm" by Michael Buckley (***)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J. K. Rowling (*****)

"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan (****)

"Henry V" by William Shakespeare (****)

"The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde (***)

 

(Ratings by Amy :D)

[Jane in NC]

Calling Ladydusk! Didn't you say that you were going to have a Susan Howatch Read-a-thon this year? I may need to join you.

 

I am reading a comic novel by Dawn French but found Howatch's book Sins of the Fathers screaming at me from the nightstand. I googled to see if this was part of a series. Indeed, it is the sequel to The Rich are Different, Howatch's retelling of Julius Caesar set in the American financial industry of the '20's. The book I own is her take on Antony and Cleopatra.

 

Guess what I'll borrow from the library this week? In the meantime, let me thank you again for recommending this author and her Starbridge series. Absolutely the best books I read last year.

[ladydusk]

Calling Ladydusk! Didn't you say that you were going to have a Susan Howatch Read-a-thon this year? I may need to join you.

 

I am reading a comic novel by Dawn French but found Howatch's book Sins of the Fathers screaming at me from the nightstand. I googled to see if this was part of a series. Indeed, it is the sequel to The Rich are Different, Howatch's retelling of Julius Caesar set in the American financial industry of the '20's. The book I own is her take on Antony and Cleopatra.

 

Guess what I'll borrow from the library this week? In the meantime, let me thank you again for recommending this author and her Starbridge series. Absolutely the best books I read last year.

 

I should start that readathon ... those books would work pretty well at the soccer/tball field. I need to learn to read there :)

 

I put The Rich are Different on my Goodreads page in January, but haven't started it. If you're reading, I will too. It'll go more quickly than the book I'm reading now - For Glory and Honor about Washington and Lafayette (it's good, but dense!). I'm not sure I realized Sins of the Fathers was a sequel, so reading them back to back will be a treat!

 

Many of the non-Starbridge books were written before her return to faith. Her writing is still very good, though! I <3 Susan Howatch!

[TravelingChris]

Rosie, my dh is also very particular about which version of the Shakespeare plays he sees. He wants to get through watching the BBC versions that were all done in a series.

[eaglei]

Another one here who visits libraries for fun!

 

Count me in on this group, too! I love to visit libraries!

 

I would like to read this. I read a book about Stanley & Livingstone years ago by Martin Dugard & I really enjoyed his writing.

 

I will have to check if our library has that book. Dh will also be interested in reading it if they do.

 

It is my understanding that Martin Dugard is joining with O'Reilly on another book like Killing Lincoln - this one, Killing Kennedy, is due out in the fall, I think.

[Stacia]

I finished The Dream Life of Sukhanov by Olga Grushin tonight. I read it as part of two challenges: the 'Read a Russian author in April' challenge & the 'Choose a Book by its Cover' challenge.

 

At first, the long, flowery sentences overfilled with adjectives put me off the story a little bit. But for just a few pages... because, somehow, the story, the writing morphed and these became beautiful, startling descriptions. Melancholy. Surrealism. Art. Life. Youth. Aging.

 

Truly, this book is sublime. It's like a breathtaking painting put into words. Grushin has an incredible talent for merging the real with the unreal, a current life and a dream. You smoothly drift from reality to dream and back again....

 

Definitely recommended, especially if you enjoy art (Grushin's art background shines here) and have at least a passing acquaintance with surrealist artists including Chagall, Dali, Magritte, etc....

 

Read it & enjoy the beauty.

[Guest]

 

I also enjoy Bookmarks magazine -- great magazine for any book lover!

 

How have I not heard of this magazine?!? :tongue_smilie:

 

 

I read the Iliad last year so I don't think I am up for that one again just yet. There is a great book about the Iliad called The War That Killed Achilles by Caroline Alexander. If you are not up for tackling all the verse, The War is a nice synopsis / commentary of the poem.

 

Hope everyone has a good reading week!

I read this book last year and really enjoyed it.

Still reading Anna Karenina...slow and steady wins the race, right?

[Rosie_0801]

Rosie, my dh is also very particular about which version of the Shakespeare plays he sees. He wants to get through watching the BBC versions that were all done in a series.

 

Well if he'd like to comment on his favourites, I'd appreciate it! Everyone else on the Hive's Shakespeare Study group seems to like the American versions and they make dh and I grumpy. :blushing:

 

We really enjoyed the BBC Classics Midsummer Nights Dream. It's so good I forget I don't even like the story!

 

Rosie

[Stacia]

In case you don't read the general board very often, I'm cross-posting this here...

-----------------------

Kind of a cool op-ed piece from the NY Times:

 

Your Brain on Fiction

By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL

Published: March 17, 2012

 

"AMID the squawks and pings of our digital devices, the old-fashioned virtues of reading novels can seem faded, even futile. But new support for the value of fiction is arriving from an unexpected quarter: neuroscience.

 

Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters. Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.

 

Researchers have long known that the “classical†language regions, like Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, are involved in how the brain interprets written words. What scientists have come to realize in the last few years is that narratives activate many other parts of our brains as well, suggesting why the experience of reading can feel so alive. Words like “lavender,†“cinnamon†and “soap,†for example, elicit a response not only from the language-processing areas of our brains, but also those devoted to dealing with smells."

 

Read the rest of the article here.

[Mom-ninja.]

In case you don't read the general board very often, I'm cross-posting this here...

-----------------------

Kind of a cool op-ed piece from the NY Times:

 

Your Brain on Fiction

By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL

Published: March 17, 2012

 

"AMID the squawks and pings of our digital devices, the old-fashioned virtues of reading novels can seem faded, even futile. But new support for the value of fiction is arriving from an unexpected quarter: neuroscience.

 

Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters. Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.

 

Researchers have long known that the “classical†language regions, like Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, are involved in how the brain interprets written words. What scientists have come to realize in the last few years is that narratives activate many other parts of our brains as well, suggesting why the experience of reading can feel so alive. Words like “lavender,†“cinnamon†and “soap,†for example, elicit a response not only from the language-processing areas of our brains, but also those devoted to dealing with smells."

 

Read the rest of the article here.

 

 

Very cool. I've been forcing myself to read more fiction because I'm a non-fiction type. I always feel I'm wasting time by reading fiction. Now, I can relax and realize I'm not wasting time. :001_smile:

[Kareni]

New book by Nora Roberts released "The Witness" came in Thursday so of course, everything stopped until I had read it. Love her writing. The main character is very high IQ, almost aspergerish qualities, so made for an interesting read.

 

I've now read Nora Roberts' The Witness also and enjoyed it very much. It was intriguing to learn that this is Nora Roberts' 200th book; I've been reading her novels since the seventies. (Does that mean I'm no longer a spring chicken?)

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Storm Bay]

In case you don't read the general board very often, I'm cross-posting this here...

-----------------------

Kind of a cool op-ed piece from the NY Times:

 

Your Brain on Fiction

By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL

Published: March 17, 2012

 

"AMID the squawks and pings of our digital devices, the old-fashioned virtues of reading novels can seem faded, even futile. But new support for the value of fiction is arriving from an unexpected quarter: neuroscience.

 

Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters. Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.

 

Researchers have long known that the “classical” language regions, like Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, are involved in how the brain interprets written words. What scientists have come to realize in the last few years is that narratives activate many other parts of our brains as well, suggesting why the experience of reading can feel so alive. Words like “lavender,” “cinnamon” and “soap,” for example, elicit a response not only from the language-processing areas of our brains, but also those devoted to dealing with smells."

 

Read the rest of the article here.

 

Thanks for posting this quote as it's a good one & I can't read those articles on my PC unless I take their cookies, get a log in, etc, and I don't like to do that with very many places.

[laundrycrisis]

1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children;

Celestially Auspicious Occasions

2. The Mysterious Benedict Society; The Invention of Hugo Cabret

3. The Picture of Dorian Gray

4. Wuhu Diary

5. The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child

6. Kingdom of Children

7. Values: Lighting the Candle of Excellence : A Practical Guide for the Family by Marva Collins; Natural Medicine Guide to Bipolar Disorder, The: New Revised Edition by Stephanie Marohn

8. Ordinary Children, Extraordinary Teachers by Marva Collins

9. Marva Collins' Way

10. Parenting a Child With Asperger Syndrome: 200 Tips and Strategies by Brenda Boyd

11. Tales from Shakespeare by Tina Packer

12. Parenting Your Asperger Child: Individualized Solutions for Teaching Your Child Practical Skills by Alan T. Sohn

13. Hitchhiking through Asperger Syndrome by Lise Pyles

14. Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian (John Elder Robison); Quirky, Yes---Hopeless, No (Cynthia La Brie Norall)

15. Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting; The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

16. ADD/ADHD Drug Free: Natural Alternatives and Practical Exercises to Help Your Child Focus by Frank Jacobelli

17. Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts: A Stress-Free Journey to Original Design by Rayna Gillman

Edited April 27, 2012 by laundrycrisis

[Kareni]

I just finished Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas which is her latest contemporary novel.

 

“In the latest flawlessly written addition to her contemporary Friday Harbor books and the first in a new trilogy, Kleypas brings together richly nuanced characters, an emotionally riveting plot, and a subtle touch of the paranormal to create an unforgettable romance that is pure reading magic.†–Booklist, Starred Review

 

It was a pleasurable read.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[VeganCupcake]

I just finished The Year of Living Biblically and really liked it. Then I started The Year of Magical Thinking (not intentionally going for a "year" theme) and it is emotionally difficult to read.

[Pink and Green Mom]

#30 - Fifty Shades Freed, by E L James (part 3 of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy). Yes, the writing was terrible, but there is just something about the main character (the guy, not the girl) that I found so interesting. Someone so wounded and willing to give up all he has known for the girl he loves.

 

I've started reading Widow of the South (I'm enjoying this), and am waiting for Book 2 of the Outlander series to arrive via paperback swap.

[aggieamy]

Can you guys keep a secret? I bought DH a Kindle just as a surprise because he's been wanting one. I'm so excited about it arriving. The only problem is that I've caught him looking at ones on Craigslist and I'm having a hard time coming up with excuses for him not to get one. Eek. It's supposed to arrive on Tuesday. I'm so excited for him to get one. :001_smile:

 

I just finished The Year of Living Biblically and really liked it.

 

Did you find it funny? I've got it on my to-read list.

 

Late last night I finished Casino Royale for book club today, it's the first in the James Bond series and I pretty much didn't like it. I thought the writing was bad. DH also read it and has read other James Bond books said that he thought the writing was worse in Fleming's later books. One of the things I really didn't like was that Fleming used the word ironical way too much. "He looked around the ironical room." What? My second favorite was "He could feel his eyeballs in their sockets." Ugh. The best thing about it was that it was short.

 

 

In progress:

 

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Tales of Robin Hood by Tony Allan (read aloud)

Father Brown Mysteries by GK Chesterton (audiobook)

 

2012 finished books:

 

47. Casino Royale - James Bond by Ian Fleming (**)

46. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (***)

45. The Lucky Shopping Manual by Kim Lenitt (*****)

44. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (****)

43. Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer - Audiobook (****)

42. Half Magic by Edward Eager (***)

41. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede - Read Aloud (****)

 

Books 1 - 40

 

Amy's Rating System:

 

***** - Fantastic, couldn't put it down

**** - Very good

*** - Enjoyable but nothing special

** - Not recommended

* - Horrible

[Heather in Neverland]

I'm reading The Map of Time, and so far, I'm really liking it.

 

I'm way behind on the challenge. But, I'm plugging away!

 

I really liked that book too!!!

[iona]

I'm finally caught up too!

 

I'm reading In Search of a Homeland by P. Lively now as #18.

[VeganCupcake]

Did you find it funny? I've got it on my to-read list.

 

 

I think I was expecting it to be uproariously funny--maybe my expectations were too high. It was funny, definitely, but not as funny as I had expected. I did laugh out loud sometimes, though.

 

Here's my review:http://betweenmidnightandbedtime.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-22-year-of-living-biblically.html

[Rosie_0801]

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham. It was time for a re-read and I'm glad I did. :)

 

Rosie

[Mom-ninja.]

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham. It was time for a re-read and I'm glad I did. :)

 

Rosie

 

I was just flipping through this at B&N a few days ago. I almost bought it.

[Rosie_0801]

I was just flipping through this at B&N a few days ago. I almost bought it.

 

I'd borrowed it a few times from the library, so I knew it was time to buy.

 

Excuses, excuses. :D

 

Rosie

[Negin]

You are my dd's kindred spirit. She says she likes to smell her books, too, it's so much fun :tongue_smilie: I swear sometimes she buys a book just because it smells good :001_rolleyes:

Yes, and my dd is the same way also. She says that the Kindle lacks a soul :lol:. We're both book smellers and love to feel them - especially the deckle-edged ones or the ones with covers that you can feel, etc. Yes, I always love book smellers. That's how I met one of my best friends - in a bookstore and she noticed me smelling books. :lol:

[Angel]

Yes, and my dd is the same way also. She says that the Kindle lacks a soul :lol:. We're both book smellers and love to feel them - especially the deckle-edged ones or the ones with covers that you can feel, etc. Yes, I always love book smellers. That's how I met one of my best friends - in a bookstore and she noticed me smelling books. :lol:

 

:lol: Yep, kindred spirit! I will make sure to share this with her when she gets back from her senior trip.

[Robin M]

Link to week 18