Jane in NC Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I read that a couple of years ago and it was helpful. I'm halfway through Sayers' Unnatural Death. It is good. My librarian introduced me to a website that will tell what the next book in a series is: What's Next? http://ww2.kdl.org/l...t/whatsnext.asp Just wanted to comment so I could sub. Missing my laptop which is out of comission. :-( I want to click on like for the link but not the fact that you laptop is misbehaving. I'll do it anyway. You know my intention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I didn't finish anything last week, but made significant progress in my current reads: Anna Karenina Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin The Bluest Eye (audio book) I'm enjoying these so much that I haven't wanted to start my fluff book - Darkest Fear, by Harlen Coben. I need to read it though, or just not turn the wireless/3G on my Kindle on until I do. If my lending period ends before I finish, I and access the internet from my Kindle, the book will disappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I like the romanticesed version of pirates, so I thought I should know a little more about the real pirates. While visiting friends in Florida a couple of years ago, we went to St. Augustine and visited the Pirate Museum. I loved it. That does sound really fun! :thumbup1: #13 - The Promise, by Chaim Potok; the sequel to The Chosen, which I thoroughly enjoyed and am now drawn in to this page-turning sequel. I have never read Chaim Potok, though I keep thinking I should. Which book should I start with of his? Next up is An Awakening Heart, a novel of the Moravians in Early America. I picked this up at one of the NC Moravian sites in the Winston-Salem area (Bethabara). The Moravians are kind of a quirky religious denomination with ties to colonial settlements in Pennsylvania (Bethlehem area) and NC. The book is based on historic figures who were part of the religious pilgrimage from Moravia/Bavaria to the new world. The Moravians were strong believers in education of women, founding Salem College, a school for women, in 1772. They are interesting to me; let's see if the novel is interesting as well. Please post your thoughts when you are finished. Sounds interesting. Are you going to eat some Moravian cookies while reading? ;) :drool5: It's Cloud Atlas. I hope I like it. :) I hope you like it too! I loved it when I read it (& when I saw the movie too); it's one of those books that continues to grow in my esteem every time I think back on it.... The good: ... The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Somewhat darkish fun & I give it 4 stars. Both my dds want to read it, and one has already started it. I'm glad my sister mentioned it. The Bad The Lightning Thief. Can't believe that all my kids liked it. 1 star ... :grouphug: I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I had the 100-Year-Old-Man book from the library the other week. But, things were crazy & stressful & I ended up returning a bunch of stuff unread w/ plans to check them out again. This is definitely on my want-to-read list. I read The Lightning Thief years ago (closer to when it was originally released) & thought it was such a fun book for kids. Haven't ever read the others in the series, though. Thanks (to you & to everyone on this thread) for all the kind words about my cat. I miss him terribly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I finished #15 Swamplandia this week. I have wondered if I would enjoy Swamplandia. I remember looking at it when it first came out, then waiting for the library to get it. (It is now available through the library.) Just haven't requested it yet.... If you've had your book club meeting, what were the thoughts of those in your club about the book? Over the holidays, I gave my husband a copy of Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne. My husband is a Talking Heads fan of old and also a bicyclist. You could say I'm reading the book vicariously as my husband was sharing tidbits as we sat and read last night. David Byrne is quite the erudite writer. You'll have to let us know how he likes it. I tried it a couple of years ago, but it became one of those non-fiction books that I ended up not finishing. Parts were interesting, but other parts bogged down, imo. But there's still something satisfying about the heft, the ridiculously thick pages with jagged edges where the first owner had to cut them, the visible indentations where the type printed the letters. I like real books. :cheers2: 47) Children of the Book by Geraldine Brooks which is my first Dusty book. Also one of my 5/5/5 books. I have a category of dusty's given to me by my bf. I always love her choices but don't manage to read them timely. I loved this book! It is a book about a book.......an illuminated Haggadah. The book actually exists although much of the book is fiction. The story begans in Sarajevo in 1996. As the fighting ends a book conservator specialising in Jewish documents travels to Sarajevo to examine the Haggadah which has been saved from looting by a librarian. During her examination and repairs she discovers many interesting things--insect wing, wine stains, piece of hair. The remainder of the book is a really well done set of flashbacks explaining her many findings interspersed with a very personal journey of discovery for the curator. I particularly lovered the flashback set at the start of the Spainish Inquestiton. Great stuff. The author even managed to provide a surprise ending. Loved it! I really enjoyed that book too. (I liked the historical sections more than the modern-day sections, but still thought the overall book was great.) Did you see this website about the Sarajevo Haggadah? I have read very, very little Latin American literature, so this is challenge has been inspiring! The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevera - I was unappreciative at first, but ended up fascinated by the evolution of Che's reactions to the conditions he encounters. The prose was unpolished, at best, but since these were, as I understand it, not intended for publication, it makes sense. I have several more Che related books on my stacks now. Let me know if you read any other fascinating Che books. I read The Motorcycle Diaries a couple of years ago. I both liked & disliked it. I enjoyed his observations & reactions to the people/conditions around him. Otoh, I got tired of some of the writing (which as you point out, is unpolished & not originally intended for publication anyway). I look forward to seeing your comparison! I'd like to try this someday, and, perhaps, hearing everyone's comments will lure me in.. I hope I can sound erudite enough when writing my review...! :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Please post your thoughts when you are finished. Sounds interesting. Are you going to eat some Moravian cookies while reading? ;) :drool5: We only have Moravian cookies at Christmas. But I did buy some Girl Scout cookies from some of the girls in my sewing class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 That being said, I want to be Eliana when I grow up. I always look forward to her posts and her reading list is so fascinating! If I can't be Eliana, can I be Stacia, Mumto2, or VioletCrown? :blush: (And, wow, you put me with very intellectual company!) Thanks for the compliment -- it is lovely! :grouphug: :001_smile: Heart of Darkness. :thumbup1: I read the Wizard of Oz for this week. Didn't enjoy it. It's one of the few instances where I can say I liked the movie better. Side note- dh and kids went to see the new Oz movie this weekend. They weren't very impressed. Thanks for the heads-up about the Oz movie. I like movies, but don't seem to have any interest in this one. Of course, I never liked the original movie or book (even though I have a lovely edition of the book from my childhood).... I finished The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom yesterday. My family is Dutch so reading about the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was very interesting. Have you seen the children's picture book The Greatest Skating Race? It's a lovely picture book of WWII in the Netherlands (& Belgium). I finished my fourth book relating to the Everest tragedy of May 1996. Dark Shadows Falling by Joe Simpson. Thanks for the review. I love mountaineering books & Into Thin Air is one of my favorite books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 We only have Moravian cookies at Christmas. But I did buy some Girl Scout cookies from some of the girls in my sewing class! I guess Girl Scout cookies will work! (If you feel the need for Moravian cookies, I like this brand, esp. the lemon crisps & the black walnut ones. Yum!) Man oh man, I'm getting hungry for cookies now! I may need to read the book just so I can justify a cookie order.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I really enjoyed that book too. (I liked the historical sections more than the modern-day sections, but still thought the overall book was great.) Did you see this website about the Sarajevo Haggadah? Thank you!:) I hadn't seen the website. I love illuminated books. They are so beautiful and fascinating! My favorite part of many museums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I guess Girl Scout cookies will work! (If you feel the need for Moravian cookies, I like this brand, esp. the lemon crisps & the black walnut ones. Yum!) Yup, we buy Mrs. Hanes. My husband insists upon ginger (which his grandmother made!!) while my son and I love the butterscotch. But I make my Moravian Sugarcakes from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Yup, we buy Mrs. Hanes. My husband insists upon ginger (which his grandmother made!!) while my son and I love the butterscotch. But I make my Moravian Sugarcakes from scratch. Yep, the ginger ones are great too. I've never tried the butterscotch ones. Are sugarcakes hard to make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Yep, the ginger ones are great too. I've never tried the butterscotch ones. Are sugarcakes hard to make? Nope. They are a yeast risen coffee cake. There is time involved but most of it is hands off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Just so you know, I'm now sitting here eating Thin Mint cookies. So much for my diet today, eh? :tongue_smilie: (They are quite delicious, though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillian Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I have wondered if I would enjoy Swamplandia. I remember looking at it when it first came out, then waiting for the library to get it. (It is now available through the library.) Just haven't requested it yet.... If you've had your book club meeting, what were the thoughts of those in your club about the book? I'm going to have to miss my book club :-( . I do so rarely, but DS and I are going to visit my sister out of state and then right when we ge out of state, DH is going out of state, and then right when he gets back is my boom club meeting. It's all too much. I'll try to summarize my thoughts intelligently for you. I do we'll at my book club where it's a conversation; I feel so stupid on the boards "it was interesting." It is not for anyone who feels that homeschooling is a sacred cow (not me), but I think homeschooling was used well in the book. I'm the only homeschooler in my book clubs so I think I could have provided an interesting perspective from that angle, but, oh well. FWIW, the kids were kind of state homeschooled, mostly unschooled. The idea that their unique-ness could not survive inside of school/mainland society was definitely a theme. There are lots of references to/parallels with mythology, which since we are steeped in mythology here, I enjoyed. I found the ending sad, but realistic. The book played with magical realism throughout and ended on a realistic note - it was part of the crashing of cultures - mainland vs island. For an easy read, I found a lot to think about/ talk about. DS is asking to see Oz as well, so I'm glad for the review too. And I ended up getting Hopscotch today and so far, I am loving it! Edited for typos - stupid iPad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 And I ended up getting Hopscotch today and so far, I am loving it! Thanks for your comments on Swamplandia. Too bad you will be missing your book club because I think they will be missing some great conversation from you. In what order are you reading Hopscotch? I'm about 1/2-way through my first reading (the 'normal' order of the first 56 chapters). I don't feel like I've really warmed up to it until a few chapters ago, but now I'm really getting more into it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillian Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 The hopscotch order - my only wish is that is was on kindle because there is a lot I would be looking up if it was. I suppose by just reading it I'm getting a different experience. I hope that I have enough time before it's due to the library to read it both ways. Of course, the second time should be faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 :blush: (And, wow, you put me with very intellectual company!) Thanks for the compliment -- it is lovely! Pretty sure Giraffe just envies my village library! But I was really honored to be listed with the two of you. Actually couldn't believe Giraffe was saying that about me considering the great stuff she reads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Today I finished Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory. "In the tradition of Persepolis, In the Shadow of No Towers, and Our Cancer Year, an illustrated memoir of remarkable depth, power, and beauty. Danny Gregory and his wife, Patti, hadn't been married long. Their baby, Jack, was ten months old; life was pretty swell. And then Patti fell under a subway train and was paralyzed from the waist down. In a world where nothing seemed to have much meaning, Danny decided to teach himself to draw, and what he learned stunned him. Suddenly things had color again, and value. The result is Everyday Matters, his journal of discovery, recovery, and daily life in New York City. It is as funny, insightful, and surprising as life itself." I had wondered if this book would prove to be heartwrenching and difficult to read; such was not the case. While Patti's accident precipitated the book, it was not the focal point of the book. It was a good read. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maus Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Completed: Book #34 - "Portrait of a Lady" by Henry James. (WEM) Book #33 - "Earthly Deligihts" by Kerry Greenwood. (Australian author, Australian setting.) Book #32 - "The Year of Learning Dangerously" by Quinn Cummings. Book #31 - "The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #30 - "The Forgotten Affairs of Youth" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #29 - "The Charming Quirks of Others" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #28 - "I am Half-Sice of Shadows" by Alan Bradley. (Canadian author, English setting.) Book #27 - ""Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs" by Ken Jennings. Book #26 - "Because I Said So!: The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales & Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids" by Ken Jennings. Book #25 - "A Red Herring Without Mustard" by Alan Bradley. (Canadian author, English setting.) Book #24 - "The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing" by Tarquin Hall. (British author, Indian setting.) Book #23 - "The Lost Art of Gratitude" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #22 - "The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag" by Alan Bradley. (Canadian author, English setting.) Book #21 - "Academic Homeschooling: How to Give Your Child an Amazing Education and Survive" by Tracy Chatters. Book #20 - "The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #19 - "The Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy. (WEM.) Book #18 - "The Careful Use of Compliments" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #17 - "The Right Attitude to Rain" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #16 - "Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder" by Shamini Flint. (Singaporean author, Malaysian setting.) Book #15 - "Friends, Lovers, Chocolate" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #14 - "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. (Canadian author, English setting.) Book #13 - "Portuguese Irregular Verbs" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/]Scottish author, German character, German/Swiss/Italian/Ireland/Indian settings.) Book #12 - "In Cold Pursuit" by Sarah Andrews. (Antarctica setting.) Book #11 - "Anna Karenina" by Leo Nikoleyevich Tolstoy. (Russian; or WEM challenge.) Book #10 - "The Sunday Philosophy Club" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, Scottish setting.) Book #9 - "The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection" by Alexander McCall Smith. (]Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #8 - "The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #7 - "The Double Comfort Safari Club" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #6 - " Tea Time for the Traditionally Built" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #5 - "Crime and Punishment" by Fydor Dostoevsky. (Russian; or WEM challenge.) Book #4 - "The Miracle of Speedy Motors" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #3 - "The Good Husband of Zebra Drive" by Alexander McCall Smith. (]Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #2 - "Blue Shoes and Happiness" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Book #1 - "In the Company of Cheerful Ladies" by Alexander McCall Smith. (Zimbabwe born/Scottish author, African setting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Pretty sure Giraffe just envies my village library! But I was really honored to be listed with the two of you. Actually couldn't believe Giraffe was saying that about me considering the great stuff she reads! I'm laughing so hard my sides hurt! Yes, I envy you your village library, but seriously, the four of you read the most interesting books and have the most interesting posts, full of information and things that really get me thinking. And I simply love your book selections! Me, I just whine weekly about stupid Herodotus. With all the talk this week about life being too short to read bad books (esp. non-fiction), I'm seriously considering abandoning him to his ridiculous self. Is he EVER going to get to the war?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Me, I just whine weekly about stupid Herodotus. With all the talk this week about life being too short to read bad books (esp. non-fiction), I'm seriously considering abandoning him to his ridiculous self. Is he EVER going to get to the war?! But the thing is you have tried. I hope to do the dewey decimal challenge and I suspect it will be a challenge to give up fiction! When I start reading Herodoctus you will know that dd is reading it too. You and my little girl love difficult books which I so admire! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElaineJ Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I read Silas Marner by George Eliot this week. The book club of middle schoolers I lead is going to be reading through it together. I remember really liking it when I read it in high school and I enjoyed it this time around as well. It is an intriguing look at what it means to belong to a community and the freedom as well as the constraits that places on life. I am inspired to reread Middlemarch now, except that I've got to get through Les Miserables before I start anything else that is too much of a "chunkster". :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I finished Unnatural Death by Sayers. Wonderful. I figured out the who dun it but not the means by which they dun it. Loved it. Next up is Jonah Goldbergs Tyrany of Cliches. I'm looking forward to it. I like his writing and this is shorter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Thanks for the review. I love mountaineering books & Into Thin Air is one of my favorite books. You're welcome! Did you see the recent post comparing homeschooling and mountain climbing? http://forums.welltr...ntain-climbing/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Previously listed 1. Shanghai Girls ***** 2. The Cat Who Saw Red ** 3. The Power of a Praying Wife **** 4. The Circle Maker*** 5. Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America** Recently finished 6. A Change of Habit*** Really good. It goes in depth about what it takes to become a nun, how they live, and one woman's journey to no longer embracing the Catholic faith. 7. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves**** Hilarious. A bit over my head. The humor is definitely adult, so I wouldn't hand this one to a child to read. From the back cover, quoting a (fictional?) dictionary entry. "Panda, Large black-and-white bear like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves." "So punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death." 8. Feminine by Design** Meh. A read by request. I don't know that I completely agree with the author. Included only to bump total. In progress Time Management for Christian Women Odyssey Don Quioxte Les Miserables Just returned from the library with Beowolf, Handmaid's Tale and Dante's Inferno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Recently finished 6. A Change of Habit*** Really good. It goes in depth about what it takes to become a nun, how they live, and one woman's journey to no longer embracing the Catholic faith. Sounds fascinating! Another one for my ever growing list. One of my mom's closest friends did not take her vows. I have never known why but she is the kindest most generous person I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglei Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I have never read Chaim Potok, though I keep thinking I should. Which book should I start with of his? I just read Chaim Potok for the first time last year and I am truly sorry it took me so long to try him. Recommendations are hard - I thoroughly enjoyed My Name is Asher Lev and its' sequel The Gift of Asher Lev; and, I am enjoying The Chosen and its' sequel, The Promise. *Everyone* told me I should start with Asher Lev, so maybe that's the place to start. I once read that the author said he identified personally more with Asher than any other character he created. Whichever book you start with, I'll be interested in reading what you think. I can tell you one thing - if the studying done by the characters is anywhere close to real life (and Chaim was a Rabbi in real life) - then just WOW. I have shaken my head in amazement, particularly with the set I'm now completing. (No, the books are not preachy, nor are they full of religious quotes). Also, his writing is so down-to-earth - maybe that's why the stories pull you in . . . On second thought, I'm going to reverse myself . . . For as much as I enjoyed Asher Lev, I think I am enjoying The Chosen and The Promise more. :-) These are my recommendations for where to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hopscotch is slow going. On chapter 10 with the hopscotching to later chapters. Sort of reminds me of Sartre's Nausea except without the nausea. At this point, feeling a bit like La Maga, not too bright. Off to find my dictionary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Nonfiction often requires a different kind of reading, and, like exercises that use muscle groups we don't use as often, it can feel harder for a while and take more concentration and more effort... but, imho, it is well worth it. ...and then there are the books filled with great information, but with turgid prose. Reading those can feel like slogging through quicksand. ...and that is only worth doing if you really want the information and don't have a better source. ..and then there are the wonderfully written, fascinating books that just don't appeal right now, but might delight one next month or next year... for me, if I push, I can often get caught up in these, but unless I have some real need to do so, I set them aside until they and I are more in tune. (This latter category includes, for me at least, fiction as well. I've sent several interesting books back to the library in the last week because I am just not in the mood for those stories right now... I was when I placed the holds, but since then my reading interest has gone in a different direction.) Me, I just whine weekly about stupid Herodotus. With all the talk this week about life being too short to read bad books (esp. non-fiction), I'm seriously considering abandoning him to his ridiculous self. Is he EVER going to get to the war?! You may gripe about Herodutus, dear Giraffe, but you are moving forward. Here I sit, reading The Swerve about the influence of On the Nature of Things never having read Lucretius. There he is--sitting on the shelf. My father, a high school graduate, self educated by reading the Great Books. He gave me his collection of the Britannica Great Books with their onion skin like paper and tiny print. Among the volumes is Lucretius, the guy I am reading about but not reading. I decided that even if I only read five pages of Lucretius every day, I will eventually finish the book. And then I can go on to another. These books are more than just books at this point. I have read some of these volumes, as has my son and my niece. My father read them all, many more than once. Our family DNA is on these pages. Why am I not reading them? As you move forward with Herodotus, I shall read Lucretius. Oh Eliana, my gratitude to you as well. You reminded me to awaken those unused muscle groups. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Interesting tidbits I came across today: Not sure how long they'll have this up. Harper Collins is offering the ebook of Andrews Gross 15 Seconds for $1.99. Here's an interview with Anne Lamott through Bookish on what it means to be a Christian. Terry Brooks, author of Swords of Shannara series has a brand new one out: Bloodfire Quest: The Dark Legacy of Shannara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zillymom Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I just finished A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, which was released today. It was amazing. I'm kind of biding time until I start 1Q84, I think I want to read it along with everyone else. So I just started Eléctrico W by Hervé Le Tellier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 You gals are making me look really bad this week. Just by chance I'm only reading ya this week and feel like such a slacker. I'll have to make up something impressive sounding to pretend to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I'll have to make up something impressive sounding to pretend to read. Me too! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Today I read Patricia Briggs' Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, Book 7). "Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more… After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted. Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely." I already mentioned Frost Burned, not what I was expecting per say based on the first chapter, but I enjoyed it. If you are new to the author don't start with this book, even those who have been following along might need a refresher when it comes to the vampire history leading up to this one. I agree. It was a good read, but I think I'd have been lost without having read the first six books in the series. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 You gals are making me look really bad this week. Just by chance I'm only reading ya this week and feel like such a slacker. I'll have to make up something impressive sounding to pretend to read. Me too! :) I had totally forgotten about that read along we were doing. A Long Detailed History of Newtonian Physics- An in depth guide to the history and really complicated math-y bits. Did you decide to read the Latin version with all the complicated diagrams and formulas or just go with the Sanskrit version you already had at home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I had totally forgotten about that read along we were doing. A Long Detailed History of Newtonian Physics- An in depth guide to the history and really complicated math-y bits. Did you decide to read the Latin version with all the complicated diagrams and formulas or just go with the Sanskrit version you already had at home? Oh, definitely the Sanskrit version. (One must be thrifty, after all.) But I'm also looking forward to next month's read along -- that newly discovered work by Chaucer. I'm planning on reading it in the original middle English. How about you? The following month I might publish my modern English translation for all the layabouts .... Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hopscotch is slow going. On chapter 10 with the hopscotching to later chapters. Sort of reminds me of Sartre's Nausea except without the nausea. At this point, feeling a bit like La Maga, not too bright. Off to find my dictionary. It took me awhile to get into it (reading in the regular order). And, I got to chapter 34 today while waiting somewhere & it threw me for a loop. I was somewhat distracted, so I put the book away. I just took another peek at the chapter & figured out why it was confusing me... (I won't say more at this point). Took me a bit to figure it out. And, there are plenty of references I'm sure I'm missing. I'm not sweating it at this point (knowing I will be re-reading all these chapters again when I read it in 'hopscotch' order). I just finished A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, which was released today. It was amazing. I'm kind of biding time until I start 1Q84, I think I want to read it along with everyone else. So I just started Eléctrico W by Hervé Le Tellier. Oh, I have A Tale for the Time Being on my want to read list!!! So glad to hear it's great. Just wish my library had it. Maybe they'll get it at some point (because they have other books by her). Electrico W also sounds fabulous. Is it an advanced reader copy? Please let me know what you think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Me, I just whine weekly about stupid Herodotus. With all the talk this week about life being too short to read bad books (esp. non-fiction), I'm seriously considering abandoning him to his ridiculous self. Is he EVER going to get to the war?! I love your attitude about Herodotus! :smilielol5: I read Silas Marner by George Eliot this week. The book club of middle schoolers I lead is going to be reading through it together. I remember really liking it when I read it in high school and I enjoyed it this time around as well. It is an intriguing look at what it means to belong to a community and the freedom as well as the constraits that places on life. I am inspired to reread Middlemarch now, except that I've got to get through Les Miserables before I start anything else that is too much of a "chunkster". :) Good luck on Middlemarch! (My book club read it & that's one I didn't make it through. :tongue_smilie: ) You're welcome! Did you see the recent post comparing homeschooling and mountain climbing? http://forums.welltr...ntain-climbing/ No, I didn't. I will check it out. Thanks! On second thought, I'm going to reverse myself . . . For as much as I enjoyed Asher Lev, I think I am enjoying The Chosen and The Promise more. :-) These are my recommendations for where to start! :thumbup1: Thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 The author(s) I am obssessing about this year is Ephron. Thankfully, there are 4 of them - sisters (2 if you count the prolific parents).Reading Delila's Big City Eyes. The writing is great but it's totaly fluff and but I keep hoping maybe there's something more than what I've got so far (i doubt it- I'm 2 chapters from the end). So far I like Nora best with Amy a tight second. Got another Amy on board so we'll see if she has staying power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I gave up on Switch. So boring. Yawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zillymom Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Electrico W also sounds fabulous. Is it an advanced reader copy? Please let me know what you think of it. So far I'm having trouble getting into it, but I'm not exactly sure why. I like the writing style a lot. It's just so... calm. LOL I'm not very far in, though. Anything can happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Monday I was having a physical hangover from the time change and then I read about Kalanamak. I needed something light and fun to read to lift me out of the dumps. Thanks, Jasper Fforde. The Big Over Easy was the perfect medicine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 It took me awhile to get into it (reading in the regular order). And, I got to chapter 34 today while waiting somewhere & it threw me for a loop. I was somewhat distracted, so I put the book away. I just took another peek at the chapter & figured out why it was confusing me... (I won't say more at this point). Took me a bit to figure it out. Yep, Same here. I just got to chapter 34 and my brain :gnorsi: We were about to start going over lessons and kiddo say I have to go to the bathroom. Yes sirree bob - the poop excuse. A few minutes to read so open to the chapter and then - :confused1: huh.. .what. :huh:..hmmm.....okay....well. I figured it out but think I'll wait until we are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I finished Daddy Long Legs & still enjoy it. If you've never read it, it's a delightful read from not long before WWI by Jean Webster. I highly recommend getting an illustrated copy (illustrated by the author). Definitely y/a. I also listened to a fluff inspirational romance novel (can you believe it--more than once in a year, but I'm getting so much more housework done. I plan to start listening to another Jeeves book soon, but want to space them out.) I've just started a historical fiction novel and it was too slow listening to it, so I'm going to go ahead & read it in print as soon as I finish another book. It's Agincourt and if any of you know how historically accurate is ahead of time, I'd be interested to know. I do have 2 more 1001 books at home that I haven't managed to get myself to start yet, Moonstone, which I started & quit sometime in the past couple of years, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. If any of you have read that last book and I don't remember, what did you think of it? For nonfiction, I'm back to reading Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James. Raymond Chandler is an "old friend" whom I have not read in decades. Given that one of my personal challenges for 2013 is "Old Friends", I will plan on rereading a Chandler novel before the year is over. I wonder what I will think about him now. It will be interesting to see what you think. I also didn't care much for the narrator, and wonder if I'd have disliked it less with a different one or if I'd read it (probably not if I read it.) You like detective novels & mysteries more than I do, but there's so much...well, you can read it and see for yourself. Started Reading: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller (American author, DD class 200) Still Reading: The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters by Albert Mohler (American author, DD class 300) The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God's Story by D.A. Carson (Canadian author, DD class 200) I'd be interested to hear what you think about these books. I read the Wizard of Oz for this week. Didn't enjoy it. It's one of the few instances where I can say I liked the movie better. Side note- dh and kids went to see the new Oz movie this weekend. They weren't very impressed. I'm not impressed by the trailers for the new Oz movie. I loved the book as a kid, but wonder if I'd even like it now. It is a downer. I remember being in 5th grade and reading it and it was so depressing. I have re-read all the little house as an adult and couldn't bring myself to read the First Four Years to my boys. Laura only wrote one draft of The First Four Years, and I wonder if she had worked on it as much as she did her other books if she would have added more of the humour and good times. Still, it was a hard time for her and Almanzo and she was living it as an adult. Her mother had a baby boy who died in between The Banks of Plum Creek and the next book, but she didn't write about those years. 7. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves**** Hilarious. A bit over my head. The humor is definitely adult, so I wouldn't hand this one to a child to read. From the back cover, quoting a (fictional?) dictionary entry. "Panda, Large black-and-white bear like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves." "So punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death." I enjoyed that book and had already pulled it out to possibly reread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-M- Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Finally had some time to do more than list the books I had read. Here's a bit about the last few: â– Human .4 (Mike A. Lancaster; 2011. 240 pages. YA fiction.) Matrix-inspired and thus intriguing, but approached a bit too simplistically to be pulled off completely. Still, not bad. â– Warm Bodies (Isaac Marion; 2011. 256 pages. Fiction.) No, I haven't seen the movie, but now I think I may. This was a serviceable work of zombie fiction, with a clever twist on the genre's central premise: Maybe the shuffling brain-eaters are not quite as dead as we think they are. â– The Underwater Welder (Jeff Lemire; 2012. 224 pages. Graphic fiction.) As an ardent fan of Sweet Tooth, I couldn't resist this fictional account of a man seeking his dead father, including all of the profound ways in which that search affects his emotional development. And the unintentional juxtaposition to Michael Hainey's account of his own search for his father? Just ol' serendipity / synthesis / synchronicity working its magic, I guess. â– After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story (Michael Hainey; 2013. 320 pages. Non-fiction.) Excerpt here. Reviews here, here, and here. From the memoir's conclusion: She goes silent, and that moment, I see her anew. And I realize, Here I am -- a son who went looking for his father, and found his mother. â– Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Philip K. Dick; 1968. 256 pages. Fiction.) A reread, this time with the Misses. â– Accelerated (Bronwen Hruska; 2012. 288 pages. Fiction.) Why did I think this was a satirical sci-fi novel, akin to Edward Bloor's Story Time, but for adults? Insert a shrug. About a third of the way through, I reread the book description online and realized my error. Given the topic -- the obsession with the "right" schools, the best methods, high test scores, achievement, and giving students an "edge," no matter what the costs -- it certainly would have worked as a satire, a sci-fi novel, or a hybrid. It also worked as a contemporary novel, though. Recommended. â– The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger; 1951. 288 pages. Fiction.) A reread, this time with the Misses. Related entry here. â– Flowers for Algernon (Daniel Keyes; 1966. 324 pages. Fiction.) A reread, this time with the Misses. â– Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Jamie Ford; 2009. 301 pages. Fiction.) This was pressed on me by the clerk at the independent bookshop where radio legend Orion Samuelson conducted his book-signing. Are you a reader? the clerk asked. Oh, yes. What are you reading? I mentioned that I had recently read and appreciated The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller) and had also recently read Dracula (Bram Stoker). How did I miss that when I was younger? I asked. Oh, you have to read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, he insisted. Here's a question: Did he even listen to my reply? To be fair, the book wasn't awful, but similar themes are explored with far more deftness and magic in The Art of Hearing Heartbeats (Jan-Philipp Sendker), which I read and loved in early 2012. â– Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (Dai Sijie; 2002. 104 pages. Fiction.) While history, friendship, and the vagaries of first love contribute to the power of this slim work, books are the real story -- how they change us, grow our imaginations, and sometimes free us. Beautiful and highly recommended. â– Revival, Vol. 1 (Tim Seeley; 2012. 128 pages. Graphic fiction.) I liked this more than Girl Detective did, but she's right: It's awfully hard to follow. I picked it up because but it reminds me of Les Revenants (They Came Back), that French zombie movie I raved about a couple of years ago, and I wanted to see where it went. Notably in progress: â– Moby-Dick (Herman Melville; 1851/2001. 672 pages. Fiction.) â– Physics for Future Presidents (Richard A. Muller; 2009. 384 pages. Non-fiction.) â– May We Be Forgiven (A.M. Homes; 2012. 496 pages. Fiction.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulainTx Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I've finished French by Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France by Rebecca S. Ramsey(39) and A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan.(40) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillian Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I've just started a historical fiction novel and it was too slow listening to it, so I'm going to go ahead & read it in print as soon as I finish another book. It's Agincourt and if any of you know how historically accurate is ahead of time, I'd be interested to know. I do have 2 more 1001 books at home that I haven't managed to get myself to start yet, Moonstone, which I started & quit sometime in the past couple of years, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. If any of you have read that last book and I don't remember, what did you think of it? I enjoyed The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, enough that it caused me to randomly pick up a couple of his other books when I see them at the library. It's still my favorite that I've read of his, although you never know, so I'll keep picking them up :-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hey ladies! Do you want me to set up a 52 books social group? I'm deleting the 2012 Reading challenges one and we can start over - make it private or not. What say yee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hey ladies! Do you want me to set up a 52 books social group? Would it be in addition to this thread or would it replace it? If the latter, a thread on the Chat Board might be more welcoming to newcomers. If the former, it might serve as a good place to maintain threads on particular books or authors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hey ladies! Do you want me to set up a 52 books social group? What is the difference between social groups and the weekly threads? Please speak s.l.o.w.l.y as the concept of "social groups" has always befuddled and intimidated this introvert.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin M Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Would it be in addition to this thread or would it replace it? If the latter, a thread on the Chat Board might be more welcoming to newcomers. If the former, it might serve as a good place to maintain threads on particular books or authors. It would be in addition to so if folks wanted to have longer conversations about other books or authors. I'll keep the thread going on the Chat board for as long as I'm here. It's more friendly and out there so folks can drop in or out or follow as they choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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