Author birthdays this week:

July 26:
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)

July 27:
Elizabeth Hardwick (1916-2007)

July 28:
Malcolm Lowry (1909 - 1957)
Booth Tarkington 1869-1946
Beatrix Potter 1866-1943



July 29:
Chang-rae Lee 1965
Alexis de Tocqueville 1805-1859
Don Marquis (1878 - 1937)

July 30:
Emily Bronte (1818 - 1848)

July 31:
J. K. Rowling (1965 - )
Primo Levi 1919-1987

Which of these authors wrote stories of a cockroach and a cat?

Message edited by its author, Jul 24, 2009, 11:28pm.

half way through the Folger Library Measure for Measure. Not going to be one of my favorites of old Bill's.

Just about done with all the introductions to The Landmark Herodotus which means I still have weeks and weeks of reading before I hit the back cover. Work keeps getting in the way but I keep going to work so I can buy more books.

Ack, it's a vicious cycle isn't it, Smiley? I highly recommend retirement with a decent pension. And good used book stores.

I'm reading What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt. It's holding my interest but I'm not enamored with it at this point (~25%).

The Wind in the Willows and On Guerrilla Warfare for me. Odd reading mix.

I've got two rather long ones right now, which doesn't bode well for finishing much with a month-old baby in the house. However, both American Lion and The Seamstress are both holding my attention quite well at the moment.

Hi everyone, this is the first time I post in this group, even though I have been a member for a while now. I am currently in the middle of Shibumi by Trevanian and I must say it is very good at some parts, brilliant at others and others I just want to skip through them....so I have to finish it to tell you my opinion on it...

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 12:42am.

Rereading The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, catching a lot of stuff I missed the first time and enjoying it even more.

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 12:57am.

Welcome to the posting, Renald! Glad you joined us.

Just finished The Karamazov Brothers and now this week I find myself 1/3 of the way through Midnight's Children.

I've not read a book that in the course of the 187 pages that I've read to date has caused such a cosmic shift in my view of it. Page 50ish, don't get it, don't like it, pretentious (four letter expletive insert here); Page 150ish, loving this, I get it, what beautiful language, can't wait to read on.

And that is where I am now,

My non fiction read Team of Rivals has taken a back seat this week

Hi Teelgee (#1)

Wrote...cockroach & a cat:

Don Marquis

Yesterday, I finished The Ceremonies, which was really good. I also finished up the audiobook of Rant. Despite some hiccups, it's probably one of my favorite Palahniuks so far.

Today, I started The Master and Margarita.

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 3:11am.

I'm still reading Madame Bovary, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, One Piece and just picked up The Snow Goose.
I dropped Pride and Prejudice.

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 2:33am.

Right now I am reading An Assembly Such As This by Pamela Aidan which is the first book of a trilogy which is a retelling of P&P from Darcy's view. I am actually really enjoying it... much better than The Private Diary Of Mr Darcy by Maya Slater which I read earlier in the month. The book has loads of spelling and grammatical errors though and I know this because some reader before me (it's a library book) has corrected each and every one of them with a black ball point pen! It's quite funny. Sometimes there's as many as 3 mistakes on one page.

I'm probably going to finish the above book in an hour or two and I will then start reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett which I have heard such good things about.

For non-fiction I am still reading Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz and that's because I hardly picked it up last week. I am going to be more disciplined this week!

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 4:19am.

I picked up the VERY fluffy Housewife Down by Alison Penton Harper in the shop last week, which turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. It's easy and quite amusing so I'll excuse the odd glaring editorial mistake and the occasional squirmingly badly written sentence... I should finish that over the weekend and I've read it so quickly that I'll probably go straight into Housewife Up, which I poached from the shelves yesterday!

I'm currently reading The God Delusion and I'm finding it to be very interesting.

Yesterday I started Stuck in Shangri-La (no touchstone) by Kelsey Michaels which is this month's book of the month on the romance group. I'm also still reading Traitor's Moon by Lynn Flewelling and am listening to Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident in the car with my son.

I've just started two books - one long, one short: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and The Assistant by Bernard Malamud.

I'm reading The book of lost things by John Connolly this week. Surprisingly dark start for a book for children! Just started so we'll see how it goes. Happy reading all!

Reading Night's Edge by Maggie Shayne/Charlaine Harris/Barbara Hambly.

>13: The Help is captivating. Longish but easy to read; in fact, it kept me up way past my bedtime last night. Maybe I read too long because it seems to be crossing the line from emotional into the melodramatic realm. I'll finish it this week end and post my review early next week.

Hmmm...what to read next? Do I try to squeeze in another Orange July book -- maybe The Girls -- or read The Yellow Lighted Bookshop loaned to me by a dear friend?

Thanks, teelgee, for posting the birthdays again this week and giving us a trivia question. Nice touch.

Edited to fix touchstone on YLB. LT doesn't like the hyphen. Dang, still no touchstone, and now I lost the touchstone on The Help. I obviously need some help this morning!

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 10:30am.

Still reading Silver and Gold and The World's Wisdom, but getting near the end in each.

I need to finish the second one to finish my challenge.

Just finished Direct Red (out Aug 11 in the US), a quick-read collection of stories from a woman's surgical training in the UK. And just finally finished Methland, essentially the epidemiology of methamphetamine abuse in the rural Midwest ... fascinating and informative but hands-down the sloppiest arc I've encountered, I'm drawn to the bookstore to see how it could possibly end up adequately edited!

Now I'm enjoying Ravens, about two guys who leave their tech-support jobs in Ohio and, en route to Florida, decide to co-opt half of a huge lottery prize from the winners. Within the first two pages, I was hooked by the sympathetic bad guys and the quite unlikeable good guys :)

I am juggling four books at the moment,

Lytton Strachey: The New Biography by Michael Holroyd,

Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900-1939 by Virginia Nicholson,

Eminent Victorians (Oxford World's Classics) by Lytton Strachey

The diary of Virgina Woolf; volume one, 1915-1919.edited by Anne Olivier Bell, introduction byQuentin Bell.

I suppose you could say I'm studying for a test I will never take but OOOH Boy what fun!

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 11:26am.

A little halfway through Catch-22. The book is so disjointed it's very slow going.

Almost at the end of The Well of Lost Plots on audio, then plan to begin listening to Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend, which I read a few years ago in paperbook form.

Am going on a 4-day trip to Mesa AZ where I plan to stay inside air-conditioning as much as possible unless I'm at the pool, lying under an umbrella with an iced drink on the table next to me, so am bringing four books along with me: Grave Goods, Push, My Name Is Will, and Tangling with Tyrants: Managing the Balance of Power at Work. If I need more, I'm sure Mesa has bookstores. If not, then Phoenix will.

Last week's prediction didn't pan out. I did read Things Fall Apart but then picked up Master Georgie and finished that last night. Now I am starting Illywhacker

Been reading Orvis a lot lately...searching for more sci-fi!

I'm currently reading The Preservationist by David Maine. I've been reading it quickly, and will probably finish it later today. Not sure what I'll start next.

I am currently reading One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison. I am really enjoying the dry, rather sarcastic humor of the book and the way it is written as a disjointed compilation of events of a family living in post-Katrina New Orleans interspersed with random statistical facts... probably not 'everyone's cup of tea' but I am finding it quite entertaining.

Along with the excellent Pillars for the group read, I'm slogging through A Short History of Women, a LTER book. Somewhere in there is a story I'd like if I could just find it...

#29. That book looked really interesting, so I'll be curious to hear what you think.

I'm reading Child 44 which is a gritty story set in the USSR in the 1950s. The main character is a disgraced officer of the military police. He is trying to find a murderer through an independent investigation which is not welcomed in the USSR at the time. Likewise, his life has various struggles. I can't tell you what I think of the book yet because I haven't decided, but I am compelled to finish it.

I'm also reading The Girl who Played with Fire and Pillars for the group read and loving them.

Still working on The Seance and just got The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and Twilight of Avalon from the liberry.

Thinking about making yet another stab at Emma and rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Just finished Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie by Richard Hack. Enjoyed it, reviewed it. Now reading Annie Leibovitz At Work.

I've started reading several books I received yesterday: Literary Cafes of Paris by Noël Riley Fitch and Literary Paris: A Guide by Jessica Powell, in preparation for my first visit to the city next week, and Flaw by Magdalena Tulli.

I'm about halfway through The Gunslinger (Book 1 in Stephen King's Dark Tower series), and while I'm enjoying it more than the first time I attempted it, it's still not completely grabbing my attention...maybe it's just not my genre. Either way, I plan to finish the book and at least start the second one to see if it's just the first book or the entire series that's giving me problems.

I'm in the middle of "Find Me" by Carol O'Connell, a good read, so far.

#35 (coloradogirl14)...I find that many of the series that I enjoy get better as the series progresses. The writing & storytelling get better & better as each author gains experience.

This week I had planned on reading Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee, but it just didn't hold my interest, so I've decided to pass it along to someone else in my family. Now I have picked up The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick and Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders by Alicia Gaspar de-Alba. one a historical novel and the other a crime-mystery.

Edited to add my thanks to Teelgee for posting author's bithdays for the week.

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 4:20pm.

Thanks Teelgee, for the new thread and the notice in the old one - very funny.

I am finally finished Sandworms of Dune by those who are not Frank Herbert. It took me 12 days because I didn't pick it up all the time. I toyed with quiting, but it was like a mountain I just had to climb. It was a long one, another 500+, and it was part 2 of the ending book.

It was just too long and rather pointless for most of the book. Like the previous book I thought their writing had improved, and I didn't hate it as I expected. It did bore me a lot however. They resurrected a lot of the earlier characters, and then kept on the cook's tour of the universe, popping in here and there to have adventures. Yawn. It did pick up after page 300. I didn't hate how they ended it, and actually thought they did a pretty good job, once they actually did something.

Not sure what I am going to read next.

I just started City of Bones for some lighter reading while working on David Copperfield, and enjoying both.

I finished Silver and Gold by David Sakmyster, a new author who is going places.

Here's his blog: http://sakssheet.blogspot.com

I have decided to read A Choice of Destinies by Melissa Scott. It is about Alexander the Great, and looks at if he had not gone east to India but west to Rome. May have some fantasy in it too. Its oop, but I saw it on LT and got a used copy.

I finished The Preservationist, which was great. A retelling of Noah's Ark with a spot of humour and some very likable characters I couldn't get enough of. A nice quick read that I really enjoyed.

Tomorrow I'm going to start Predator Omnibus Volume 1. I read my first comic book ever last month, with the Aliens Vs Predator Omnibus Volume 1 and I liked it quite a bit, so I wanted to try another one with a setting I know I like. I only feel a little geeky when I say The Predators are "totally awesome" =P

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 5:13pm.

I'm reading The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carre, thanks to rebeccanyc over in Club Read. I spent a few late nights on the first in the series, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy last week and loved it.

If you somehow own them both but haven't read them, don't even read the first paragraph of THS before you finish the first one...

Just finished In The Woods} and The Likeness}, both by Tana French, loaners from a friend,whipped through The Apostle by Brad Thor which was like junk food for the mind, and loved Amy Stewart's From The Ground Up. Starting, but can't seem to really get into Daniel Silva The Defector.. too much mind junk food maybe...need to start gathering things to take to the beach

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 5:27pm.

I'm still working on Forbidden Bread. Not much reading time is not helping things. It's gotten more interesting but the memoirist has put in large chunks of info that don't fit in the narrative well and as very much an outsider, which tells us several times, she seems to know very well about the thinking of the Slovenian people.

-->22 detailmuse

Methland is up next for me. Thanks for the heads up about the bad editing. I have a hardcover of it and I had supposed it was the final copy as was to be printed.

Message edited by its author, Jul 25, 2009, 5:51pm.

It's good to hear that someone else has also had trouble finishing Midnight's Children =D I've laid it aside for a while, to finish The Secret History by Donna Tartt first. Here we have a really good book with elaborate, well-paced writing style and interesting, deep characters.
I for one find Donna Tartt's way of describing Richard Papen's inner sentiments very convincing and intimate. Despite the seemingly ordinary personality Richard claims to have he never ceases to fascinate the reader.

#5-DevourerOfBooks,

Good to hear that American Lion is interesting. On my unread shelf. May have to move it closer to the top.

#7-_________it_____,

Iv'e read Name of the Rose a couple of times and given it as a well received Christmas present. As I have done before here, I want to push the novel's excellent companion, Key to the Name of the Rose by Adele J. Haft. I always give it with the novel and it certainly adds to Eco's work.

#26-libraryrobin,

Enjoyed Things Fall Apart myself. Not so much the following novel, No Longer at Ease.

Finally, #43-cmt,

I assume you will go on to Smiley's People? Loved all three of them. With a few exceptions I haven't enjoyed John Le Carre's work much since he left the arena of the cold war.

By the way, those The Quest for Karla books is where my LT name comes from and I used to have the character, as played by Alec Guinness as the picture on my profile page but decided that was a little obvious.

May you all read swiftly and well.

#31 Bridget770 - I finished One D.O.A., One on the Way... loved the book and thought it was excellent in its raw, minimalist structure. At 166 pages, it is an easy, quick read. I have posted my review on the working page.

Next up is the crime mystery Thumbprint by Friedrich Glauser and after that I am thinking about diving into The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen.

I just finished Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja ... a true and very powerful story. Kind of left me speechless in some ways, well worth the read to find out how the U.S. actually treats asylum seekers. I did write a review too as this book wasn't that often reviewed.

Okay, I'm biting the bullet and picked up Outlander by Diana Gabaldon ... not sure why I hesitate on this LT-LOVED series, I think it's more the science fiction than the romance. Not a big science fiction/time travel fan, but we shall see. With open mind I go.

I am also 3 weeks into The Artist's Way which is going well but a 12-week program, so I'll be at it for the remainder.

Almost finished with Seeking Whom He May devour by Fred Vargas This is the 2nd book of hers that I have read. After this one I am truly a fan.

Just started on Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. It's so nice to see that I can still get as caught up in her books now as I did in junior high when I stumbled across her Song of the Lioness Quartet.

#47 - yep, I guessed,then I checked your profile page and saw that John le Carre is one of your favourites. I thought I'd read most of the good ones when I was a teenager, but I hadn't. I have Smiley's People waiting for me!

PAPELES INESPERADOS, by Julio Cortázar

Working on Buddhism without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor and The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery.

I'm reading February by Lisa Moore.

>49 CarolynSchroeder: Obviously you haven't gotten to the "no reading" week of the Artist's Way. It's a killer.

I'm really struggling with What I Loved - 100+ pages into it and I'm not attached to any of the characters and there's no plot, just pretentious artsy New Yorkers. I may give up on this one. Someone convince me to hang in there?

ETA: having reached Part Two of What I Loved, I think I will stick with it. It has just gotten interesting.

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 2:10am.

Due to a Mexican Literature class, I'm reading 203 pages of Here's to You, Jesusa! by Elena Poniatowska.

On the side, I have Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research by John Steinbeck and Edward Ricketts to read, as well as The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes. These are due back Wednesday, when I should be finished with them, and I'll then start reading Libra by Don DeLillo.

I have just finnished pirates! and am in the middle of twilight. However i always seem to read the darren shan books too quickly and i am desperately awaiting hells heroes to come out.

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 7:18am.

Finished Housewife Down as planned, but unlike the plan I decided to have a little break before Housewife Up. So I started Robert Ludlum's The Hades Factor last night, along with The World According to Mimi Smartypants (both from the shop) for when hemorrhagic fever is a bit much - like breakfast time, for example!

Still with Mr Tompkins in paper back and From the edge of the couch. Started to read Diary of Samule Pepys. I am also working through Wayne Dwyers book about the Tao called change your thoughts change your life.
Now I am looking at my book shelf and want to start on another novel it is a toss up between Shrink by James Herbert or Dubliners by Joyce!

#56 ~ eeek, no I have not ... but I did hear rumblings that it is coming down the pike. I hope it's not too long! I can do it. I can do it. I can do it ... I'm going to start repeating it now.

While at a function at the library, I picked up The End, which is the last in the Unfortunate Events series.

Finished The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill and highly recommend it. If you are looking for a new crime series, with a fresh slant,good sense of humor and smartly written, this one's for you. Started Idiot America by Charles P. Pierce and this looks to be an excellent examination of these baffling United States.
Also, making my way through "Pillars" for the group read. So far so good!

This week Ive got going:
Tears of the Giraffe on audio. I know I've mentioned enthusiastic praise for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency show on HBO, and that has sparked my interest in the books.

In print this week I've got American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland going. This book is part memoir and part history of / sociology / anthropology about various aspects of having a baby. There are no babies or pregnancy at the DE house, but hubby thinks we should plan ahead and read up BEFORE I become pregnant.

Also in print reading Shape Up with the Slow, Fat Triathlete. One of my coworkers was reading the first slow fat triathlete book, but shaping up seems more my style as I am slow and want to shape up but not necessarily do a triathlon.

I finished the Broadmoor Legacy books two and three. Yesterday, all day I tried to get into South of Broad by Pat Conroy but I kept falling asleep in the sun. My face is red as a beet! So now I have decided to read Pride and Prejudice and The Day The Falls Stood Still. The Falls is an ARC and Pride and Prejudice is so that I can read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

#43 cmt, So glad you're enjoying TTSS and THS, and you will be even more blown away by the last one in the trilogy, Smiley's People. Then you should go on and read A Perfect Spy, which surpasses them all.

#47, Smiley, I agree with you in general about le Carrés best work being the cold war novels, but I got back into reading him after reading his most recent, A Most Wanted Man, which is excellent, if not as psychologically complex as the earlier books. (And I did wonder if that's where your LT name came from.)

I finished A Choice of Destinies by Melissa Scott. It was historical fiction, really alternate history with a touch of fantasy (Greek gods) and SF (Alexandria in space).

It was about Alexander the Great, and what might have happened if he went west to Rome instead of east into India. He lived longer, was able to consolidate his realms allowing the empire to continue into the future. With no dark ages and religion held in check they developed faster scientifically. There were interludes from their future in between chapters of Alex in his own time dealing with the west.

I liked most of ideas and the characterizations. I find Scott's writing difficult and this was an earlier book (1986). The interludes were interesting, but made the story choppy. Still it was enjoyable and worthwhile.

She did have some differences with history before Alex had to make the choice to return to the west, and there was no explanation: Thebes was not destroyed, he had a 10 year old son. Would have liked that explained.

Not sure what to read next.

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 10:53am.

>37 DeltaQueen50 I read The Scandal of the Season a couple of weeks back, I didn't find it completely fixating but it was somewhat interesting. But i was practically forcing myself to read at top speed because it was a library book that had to be returned the next day. Either way it's not going to be a book i'll buy to re-read.

Last night I read the entirety of Enna Burning which i thought wasn't quite as brilliant as The Goose Girl but still pretty darn good.
This afternoon I've made a start on Jamaica Inn which i had to renew yesterday because i'd been neglecting my library books in favour of new purchases. I'm quite enjoying it at the moment and I'm hoping I can get it finished tonight.

I decided what to read next. Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura. It is translated from the Japanese and is set in medieval Japan. A small impoverished village barely surviving on the coast has to deal with a shipwreck that may destroy the village.

I also saw this on LT. I think I have a theme going here.

I started Lyle Leverich's biography of Tennessee Williams, Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams. Before his death, Leverich was going to write a Volume II, as Tom ends with The Glass Menagerie. Supposedly Frank Rich is now working on the second volume.

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 11:31am.

Finishing up The Lost City of Z by David Grann and have thoroughly enjoyed it – have recently read several other books about the Amazon and this fit right in.

About to begin another book by my Forgotten Authors poster child H.M.Tomlinson an English journalist, adventurer and memoirist who died in 1958. Most of his books are out of print. This one is The Wind is Rising and deals with England and the early years of WWII.

I finished Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir last evening. It is a very good book if you're looking for encouragement and prompts. I was more is search of practical hints. They were there but scattered through out except for the extracted list at the end of the book.

I picked up Glimpses: Iowa's Rural Legacy. Parts of my father's family farmed in Iowa from 1840 to 1900 before moving to farms in Oregon. I wanted an account of average life there. This book is a collection of reminiscences from a later time (1920 to 2000) but I figured there were similarities.

Touchstone not working on first book, oh well.

Oh yes, I'm also reading and quite enjoying Vanity Fair

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 11:50am.

This Sunday morning update brought to you by a reader who is preparing to make old-fashioned Bellini's and sip them on the front porch in front of the fan ... come on down, ya'll.

Pillars of the Earth on-going read for a Group Read here on LT. Go, Mark, Belva and Company of Friends.

Picking up The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon at the Library today as they notified me that it is now MY turn. tee hee

I will start reading it today, no doubt, as friends here on LT have sung its praises very clearly and highly. And, I have also disciplined myself not to read the reviews; 'cause I want my own first reading experience to be fresh and not colored in any way by the opinions and insights of other readers. Though, I must say, one friend is very respectful in his reviews NOT to include any spoilers. That is one reason he is a Knight of the Realm and is under review for sainthood, from what I hear.

Two other books are calling my name and sit where I see them every day on the way to my side of the bed ... Into the Tangle of Friendship AND The Song is You. Can't wait to dive into both of them.

Champagne, white peaches, good books, life partner (when he returns from a ride on his sport bike (Yamaha - Dual Sport) through some of the southern Georgia red clay roads, hence his LT screen name, Red Hills Reader) and hopefully a couple of friends will stop by, too.

à toute à l'heure!

womansheart

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 12:49pm.

#66-rebeccanyc,

Thanks for the tip on A Most Wanted Man. I'll have to check it out. Not like I need more to read though.

Can't say I agree with your ranking of the Le Carre' novels. I think the Quest for Karla books are the best he's written, followed by The Russia House and then A Perfect Spy. Just barely ahead of Perfect.

Read this over and my ranking them isn't helpful. We are talking taste here. I'll look over your library. You must have good taste.

Message edited by its author, Jul 26, 2009, 12:47pm.

im reading Untamed by P C and Kristen Cast..its so awesome, its a new vampyre series..btw does anyone have the 5th part of this house of night series,its called hunted..if anyone has it on pdf, it wud be great..the place im coming from, the bookstore has no stock
plz reply

I am still reading Mistress of the Art of Death which I am enjoying but find that I have to read it very slowly or I feel like I don't quite get it. Probably has something to do with the fact that it has been very hot here this week and we don't have air conditioning right now and our dryer broke so I am constantly doing laundry so that I can keep up with it. Getting behind on laundry with 6 people in the house and no dryer would be disastrous I think. I have finished the laundry for today so I plan on plunking down in front of the fan and getting into the book right now.

Finished The Gunslinger, and the more I read, the more I liked it. I'm definitely looking forward to the second book in the series.

About 100 pages into John Grisham's The Firm, which is enjoyable, although I have a hard time reading more than 20 or 30 pages in a sitting.

Also have another book on my hands that my friend and fellow Harry Potter dork loaned me: Harry Potter Should Have Died, which is a collection of the controversial debates that have plagued Harry Potter fans since the Sorceror's Stone - compiled by the creators of the infamous Mugglenet.com. The issues range from the lighthearted, yet poignant topic, "Would You Rather Shave Hagrid's Back or Give Voldemort a Foot Massage," to the very debatable issue, Should Harry Potter be Included With the Classics of Literature." This may, perhaps, be a sad sign of the level of my Harry Potter obsession, but the fact that this book was created reminds me that I am far from alone! :)

I finished Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
last night.

I am reading Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown. I had this on reserve at the library a few months back, as always happens I got three books at once and one was Wally's Lamb's The Hour I First Believed. I never got to the Sandra Brown or the other book.

I finished The People of the Book and thought it was tremendous! I have just started Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea. It is a Early Reviewer selection. I am about to finish listenting to Bones by Jonathan Kellerman.

I have come to the end of The End by Lemony Snicket. The end seems to be a beginning - or so he was saying.

I will now add Mere Mortals and Before Green Gables to my reading table. The former because I am way behind in that series and the latter because I would like my daughter to have it to read and she may be coming up in a couple of weeks. and because they make the number of volumes on that shelf smaller.

I've started To Kill a Mocking Bird and really enjoying it. All I want to do is sit and read but I have other things I should be getting on with.
I tried to start The Accidental but was too tired, I think that one is going to require a bit more concentration.

Halfway through A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin. Can't wait for the next installment!

Just chiming in after being away from Library Thing most of the weekend--I cannot believe we are at 82 messages already on this thread! Nothing for it but to close my eyes and pretend I've read them.

I finished The Forgotten Garden this afternoon. Pretty good read, I guess. I like a good, long book like this one that is loaded with detail. Back and forth between the early 1900s and 2005. Australia, London, Cornwall, with some fairy tales thrown in for good measure. The usual gothic must-haves: the mansion, the orphan, secrets, forbidden love, mist & fog, the seaside, a twist revealed near the end. I gave it three stars which, for me, is better than average. Oh, and if you haven't seen the flyleafs (flyleaves? is that the right term?) they are worth a look. Lovely windblown barefooted girls. I thought they were fairies, but they don't have any wings.

Now for something completely different, starting When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris.

I finished Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura. It was set in an isolated fishing village on the coast of Japan in medieval times. The villagers fished and farmed and harvested from the forest, but they often starved. To prevent starvation they had to sell themselves or their children into indentured servitude.

They also had a secret plan that didn't always work, but when it did it provided years worth of food. The plan was quite dangerous, because it was illegal, not to mention bad karma. The POV of the story is a young boy assuming leadership of his family after his father had sold himself into servitude. The boy is learning the ways of the village. Very simply told, but very well done.

Not sure yet what to read next.

just finished On The Beach by Nevil Shute, which was, of course, excellent, but depressing, and will have to read 100 pages or so into something a little more light hearted before turning out the light tonight.... I'm thinking Wicked by Gregory Maguire, which I started but failed to finish earlier this year.

I started Vicious Circle by Mike Carey. It is an urban fantasy set in London. It is book 2 in the Felix Castor series. He is an exorcist with some control problems, a friend whom he welded to a demon, and a murderous succubus who stalks him occasionally.

I'm finally reading again! About 1/3 of the way through The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. While I'm enjoying it, I can't say that I love it.

I am now half way through Dubliners which is a collection of 15 short stories and Not one book.
You learn something new everyday.

With my son visiting, I have not been doing any reading to speak of...
but I wanted to find this and star it so I can come back later and try to catch up...
Busy busy readers!

#74 Smiley, Thanks for the compliment. i have a copy of The Russia House -- unread since I bought it almost 20 years ago, and now will go and take it off the shelf.

Reading Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks.

Just finished Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler, which I enjoyed - reminded me of the Lost in Austen tv series on dvd, and City of Thieves by David Benioff, which was excellent, a WWII story set in Russia.

Have started Mrs. McGinty's Dead, an Agatha Christie featuring Hercules Poirot, and plan to pick up The Steel Wave, Jeff Shaara's WWII sequel.

Just finished Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (which was terrific) and am now reading Digging to America by Anne Tyler.

I started the Mtv (yes, Mtv has/had a line of books) ya novel, Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood last night but only got a couple pages in. It will make for fun, light lunch reading I'm sure.

Finished up the two books I started last week, so totally clear to read The Girl Who Played with Fire and also hoping to start Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict if I can manage to put TGWPWF down at all.

Baileys: I'm totally enthralled with The Girl Who Played with Fire. Thanks for your recommendation to look for it at the Book Depository. I'm a little over halfway, and I can't wait to get home tonight to read it.

I finished Child 44 on Saturday to free me up for TGWPWF. I liked Child 44 and plan to read the sequel. Even though the book deals with some very dark subjects, I especially liked the ending.

I have Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman so far on my TBR pile for the week. I need to get more!

#97> DMO, I read Milk and Honey by Faye Kellerman last month and enjoyed it very much.

I'm getting to know the fun side of Julia Child in My Life in France ... and I'm laughing out loud at Quinn Cummings's (The Goodbye Girl; Family; The QC Report) essays in Notes From the Underwire.

I finished two last week: Flight of the Hawk by G. R. Grove and The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips. I've posted reviews for both.

Flight of the Hawk is the second in Grove's so far very nice Storyteller trilogy on 6th century Britain. She really puts a lot of effort to stick to the facts, including closely following the actual landscapes. I found myself following along with an atlas.

I was mixed about The Well and the Mine. It was good in parts, but...well, see my review for more.

Currently reading Aracoeli by Elsa Morante, an "Early" Reviewer originally published in 1982 (with a 1984 translation). I'm only about 25 pages in, but I've really been struck by the writing which is just beautiful.

Message edited by its author, Jul 27, 2009, 1:35pm.

I'm several chapters into The Age of Homespun, which is a hoot since it has a serious fiber-arts bent to it. (In case you haven't heard me say so, I knit a lot, too.)

I'm still dipping into Letters to Father every now and then, though less than when I started it (and will be until I can move the furniture enough to put in that new bedside lamp).

Still working my way through Alyson Noel's Evermore, which just isn't really interesting me at all -- and this is coming from someone who honestly loved the Twilight books! It's missing something essential... I guess the ability to make me feel anything at all. But I'm going to keep my snark to myself... I'm really a nice person, I promise! :)

First time ever, I actually finished a book over one weekend! Never mind you crazies who can read more than one book at a time, I'm just an old fashioned kind of boy, who delights in an easy relaxing sojourn through myriad pages of magic. Ouch!

Seriously, I urge all to read Black Water Rising by Attica Locke. This is a terrific debut novel.

The plot centres on a black lawyer, working in Houston, Texas, who saves a woman from being murdered. Before long he is embroiled in blackmail, government corruption and civil rights. The book is so well written, and such a page turner that I have no problem recommending it. It's also a very human story, and one comes to love the characters portrayed here.

Ms Locke is a screen writer of some repute, and the novel shows her talent as the tension and excitement builds to a great climax. Could it be there's a movie somewhere down the road?

Let me sum up by pointing out that I am a grouchy old guy in his late sixties, and for me to be awed by a crime novel written by a black women, located in Houston, Texas, and partially about America's civil rights movement, the book would have to be something else...and it is.

*stomps over to the TBR list to add yet another LT-recommended book*

grump

I finished Jamaica Inn last night which was fantastic, dark yet completely compelling. Methinks I will actually have to read Rebecca now since it's been lurking in my cupboard for a few months now. Also read Thirteen Reasons why which was also excellent.
Now just getting through part 2 of Pillars for the group read and then I may pick up something else before bed. Happy times

ooooh morfam - That sounds great. I've wishlisted it.

I'm about two-thirds of the way through The Strain by Guillermo del Toro. It is not on a par with Stephen King, but it is fast-moving and fun. It is also refreshing to read about nasty, killer, stinking, dirty vampires as opposed to emotive, beautiful, sparkly vampires.

>104 jennieg:

*stomps over to the TBR list to add yet another LT-recommended book*

And yet--the true book addict in most of us is glad to have many, many books on our TBR list. Back in the day 30 years ago when I had another vice, I always had to have a fresh pack of cigarettes on hand. When I quit that vice, I had to have a fresh pack of chewing gum handy or I was unbearable to live with. Nowadays I get a little nervous if I don't have enough really, really great books to choose from. I count on LT to feed my addiction. Pretty harmless, except of course to the pocketbook.

And I get most of my TBR list from the library. I worry that I'll die before I finish the list is all . . .

I am just getting into Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner which takes place in Cuba in the 1950's and covers the time when the Americans were forced out.

The library is another thing altogether. I can't take the pressure of having to have books back on time, regardless of the ease of online renewals. Takes all the enjoyment out of it for me. I get books as cheaply as I can, or borrow them from friends and family. And I used to work at a library!

Oh, sorry all you LTers! I keep forgetting that this list is for librarians and libraries! Honest, I love libraries, spent my youth there....

Finished Little Bee which was fantastic & just started The Thirteenth Tale which I am liking so far.

I'm new to this group, but it seems wonderful!

I'm currently reading A Mind to Murder by P.D. James. It's been a while since I've read a straight-up mystery, and its wonderful to return to my favorite genre. The setting, a 1960s psychiatric clinic, really lends itself well to the subject matter. I'm only about 2 chapters in (the chapters are quite long), but really enjoying it.

110, jbleil: How long does your library let you keep your books? We get to keep ours for a month here. I usually go in there and check out 5 or 6 at a time. :)

Message edited by its author, Jul 27, 2009, 5:10pm.

finished A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
I haven't decided what I think of it~ good writing, monotonous at times with some of the subject matter

started That Went Well: Adventures In Caring for My sister by Terrell Dougan

Enjoying it so far~ Thanks Mckait for the suggestion :)

Message edited by its author, Jul 27, 2009, 6:53pm.

One chapter to go in World's Wisdom and I just started Mere Mortals.

>114 Ape: Last I looked, our checkout was for three weeks with one renewal allowed, except for books that were on hold for other people. My problem is that I got really, really spoiled. Back in the 80s and 90s when I worked at our local county public library, staffers were allowed to keep books out indefinitely without paying fines, except for bestsellers which we had to return on time. When I left library employment, I couldn't handle keeping track of due dates. It has all changed now. Everybody has to return everything on time, including staff, and everyone has to pay fines.

I'm much happier buying and borrowing books from friends. I'm still a big library supporter. I donate tons of my books to the Friends of the Library and often give memorial contributions instead of flowers for people who pass away.

I haven't done much reading lately. I went away for the weekend and reading NOTHING the whole time I was gone. Unheard of. Not even before bed. So I'm still reading the same stuff as last week.

As far as running out of books to read... I mentioned to non-reading hubby how long I have to live to read all the books I currently have on my wishlist. A few days later he quietly mentioned to me that he calculated how many books that is, and he was stunned that I could find that many books to read. He's sweet though, so I keep him around.

I finished Animal Farm and wished I had read it while Bush was president. What a timeless book! Now I am reading Cupid and Diana.

Re-reading Diane Duane's Wizards at War. Preordered the next already... why April, publishers!?

Trialia - send an email to the publishers and request an advanced reading copy in exchange for a review. You never know! the ARCs aren't the final version, but they're often very close, nothing major changes. I get them all the time now, even unsolicited!

#103 morfam - good synopsis on Black Water Rising. That does sound like the type of story I would enjoy. On to the TBR pile it goes.

Jumping into the ever-growing TBR pile and library books discussion:

jennieq - I LOVED the *stomps over to the TBR list to add yet another LT-recommended book*.... been there, done that, many times :-)

Ape - a month to keep a library book.... NICE! Our system is more in line with jbleil's comments in #117 above - if no one has placed a hold on a book when I pick it up, I have 3 weeks with the option to renew up to 2, maybe 3 times... but only if there have been no new holds for the book. The system hasn't slowed my use of the library - I currently have 21 books out... all nicely stacked in order of their due date... and they get shuffled accordingly if I am able to renew them as they approach their due dates and I haven't made it that far through the pile.

Luckily, our overdue fines are only 30 cents per book per day overdue... something I can live with!

Went to the beach and read GUARDIAN OF LIES by Steve Martini; RETURN TO SULLIVANS ISLAND by Dorothea Benton Frank; and VANISHED BY Joseph Finder. All were good but Finder was the keeper.

Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com

>103 I'm just an old fashioned kind of boy, who delights in an easy relaxing sojourn through myriad pages of magic. *snort* Old fashioned indeed. "Old" is more like it..."Fifty-four forty or fight" was your childhood chant for rolling hoops to the public hangings that were still part of Canadian life in the 19th century. I've seen that daguerreotype of you in the Little Lord Fauntleroy suit. Can't fool me. ;-P

I've read not one single page since last Friday. Not a one. It feels like something out of A Clockwork Orange to pick up a book now. I've forgotten how to read books.

teelgee @ 121:

I've seen the first four chapters already - she did a subscription-to-view-teasers thing on her website's forums a while ago, when we all thought it would be published sooner - but yeah, I've been thinking about it. Wouldn't be the first time - I got an ARC of Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife: Horizon a few months ago, and that was good.

...Just requires enough energy to write a coherent review afterwards! Thanks for reminding me.

...Just requires enough energy to write a coherent review afterwards!
Yeah, there is that.

Yeah, there is that.
Particularly when one suffers from a condition involving chronic fatigue, like I do. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a problem...

105 LadyViolet - Oh yes, you really must read Rebecca! I put it off for years - for some reason I always thought it sounded stuffy and dull and not my thing at all - but when I finally got to it a year or two ago it was wonderful! Thrilling and romantic and wonderful.

124 Oh Richard, you just set me off giggling in the shop and I couldn't stop! Typical, there haven't been more than two people in here all morning then just as it gets busy I get the giggles... :-)

126, 127 That may be why I don't like my reviews and they are not usually ticked as good one - I insist that I write the review right after I finish the book - and sometimes I am just too tired to do a good job, so I just do A job - then again, I thought I'd done some good ones that didn't get read either - Oh well.

>129 I also feel that I must write reviews right after finishing a book and feel as though the reviews where I'm really tired or really rushed suffer as a result.

I finished off Wuthering High last night which was more entertaining than I thought it would be. An interesting twist on making the classics more interesting. If I had not already read Wuthering Heights earlier this year, this might have inspired me to pick it up.

I have The Bone Doll's Twin with me to start today. I love Flewelling's Nightrunner books and am hopeful that I will like this one as much.

Message edited by its author, Jul 28, 2009, 9:05am.

Just finished Rococo by Adriana Trigiani - disappointing read. I need something that I can't put down so am deciding between Hungry Woman in Paris and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My non-fiction right now is The Brain in Love by Daniel Amen.

July 25- 26: In the Cards: Fame
by Mariah Fredericks

July 27-28: In the Cards: Life
by Mariah Fredericks

I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish The Girl who Played with Fire, and I loved it. It was so full of suspense.

I'm getting ready to start a group read of Dangerous Liaisons tomorrow, if anyone is interested.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/69742

> #131 Imanirn I haven't read Hungry Woman in Paris but I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I certainly couldn't put it down, so you might like it too.

I'm currently reading The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and just getting started on Saturday by Ian McEwan. I'm having the hardest time getting into The Red Tent but it's been recommended to me by so many people, I'm going to stick with it and hope it picks up soon.

I just finished Mistress of the Art of Death last night and I really enjoyed it despite the very disturbing subject matter. I am about to begin Middlesex and am also looking forward to that one.

Finished What I Loved last night. It was compelling but way too long imo.

Now reading When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant and liking it a lot.

Then Richard emerges at last from his lair, casts a flinty eye at the light, notices that Morfam has posted, so sends a few pointy barbs his way, and then retires once more into his boudoir, therefore ensuring that his wit has once again graced us with majesty...

Finished Magyk by Angie Sage and started Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott

It is finished. My 999 Challenge is done. I just finished the last book (also 85 in my 100) - The World's Wisdom by Philip Novak.

koalamom: Congrats on the 999!!!

Tonight I'll be starting The Sisters by Robert Littell. It's a spy thriller: some summer fun. Here's the beginning of the teaser on the back cover:

"Enigmatic, extremely dangerous, Francis and Carroll are CIA legends. Dubbed 'The sisters Death and Night,' few know what they actually do. What they do is plot--and what they're plotting is the perfect crime. All they need is the perfect pawn."

Looks like fun! Although, presumably, Mr. Littell did not write that blurb, as the second sentence has a misplaced participial phrase.

I am reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

I just bought it along with Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I just finished Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow. It's a hard-boiled story about werewolf packs that's told in free verse. I found it very fun and imaginative. Highly recommended.

I also recently finished The Sluts by Dennis Cooper. His work is an excruciating portrayal of the lives of gay male escorts and their pimps, as told by wildly unreliable narrators. Not for the faint of heart, topics include prostitution, snuff movies, castration, rape, necrophilia, bdsm, and bareback breeding.

Message edited by its author, Jul 28, 2009, 3:05pm.

Just finished Midnight's Children, never had such confused feelings about a book. Now moved back to Russia with Anna Karenina

I just finished reading the third book of the Fitzwilliam Darcy P&P re-write trilogy by Pamela Aidan. I thoroughly enjoyed this attempt!

Now I have that out of my system I will actually read The Help lol.

#144> "It's a hard-boiled story about werewolf packs that's told in free verse."

Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd read! :)

#135 -
Don't feel bad -- I didn't care for The Red Tent at all. It just did nothing for me, and the prose was plodding.

Speaking of plodding, I am slowly making my way thru the second Volume of The Civil War: A Narrative: Fredricksburg to Meridian by Shelby Foote. This one is even longer than the first (~1000 pages) and I fear I'll be reading it for a long, long time. The books are definately accessible, entertaining, well-written -- but they are just a bit too much detail for me to absorb.

Stayed up late last night finishing "Find Me" ... very satisfying multiple mysteries (9th in Mallory series).
Started "Bone by Bone", also by Carol O'Connell, this morning.

#105...I second ellipotten's urging you to read "Rebecca". I read/reread it, several times.
Love the 1950s/60s Alfred Hitchcock movie "Rebecca", which I first saw before reading the book.

>Ape, jbleil, ikernagh,
I make frequent use of my local library, especially for more recently published fiction/mysteries. We are allowed to check books out for two weeks, with three renewals allowed before having to return the books to the library. There are usually no fines if the renewal is one or two days past the renewal date. Any books that I've not finished reading can be checked out again once I've taken it to the library. Works well for me.

#145 BookMarkMe
I reread "Anna Karinina" last spring...probably enjoyed the second reading, a really good translation, more than the first time I read it, in 1963/64. I liked it then, too, but probably understood more this time.

Message edited by its author, Jul 28, 2009, 4:33pm.

>149, 128 as you're recommending Rebecca so highly methinks I'll take it with me to read on the train/plane next week when i go to France. I'll need something to keep me entertained as I'll be all on my lonesome - was thinking about taking The Count of Monte Cristo as well because it's a massive book which should take both the outward and return journey to read.

Stayed up late again last night and read River Secrets loved it as i do most of Shannon Hale's books. I'll have to actually buy it and Princess Academy as i read library copies first time around.
Not sure what i'll read now I may actually be too tired tonight *le gasp*

I finished Madame du Barry: The Wages of Beauty. Absolutely fascinating bio of one of Louis XV's official mistresses. I've written a review.
Now I'm on to The Graveyard Book, my first Gaiman.

jbliel: Even though we can keep books for a month, I can understand where you are coming from when you say you don't like the pressure/restriction. We can only keep new releases and the 'most popular books' (I'm not sure how this is determined) for a week, so I have a tendency to avoid them because I hate having a time limit. I start looking down at the page numbers and watching my progress and it gets really distracting and begins to spoil the whole thing.

Fortunately a month is such a long loaning period that I don't have to worry about it most of the time. :)

Finished with Equal Rites this weekend. Thoroughly enjoyable. My first Pratchett book.

Still working on Mad Ship. It feels like I'll be reading this forever. Not sure if I'm going to add a second book yet or not.

117: jbleil - I know exactly how you feel about libraries. I was like that myself and bought books either new or second hand. It's only in the last 2 months that I have started to use the library again as my life become less busy/stressful and I could develop a routine of going to the library weekly to return or get more. It wasn't just library books either even a cell phone made me feel tied down so I went for three years without one of those which for someone that age (21-24) I was considered a freak for not having a cell phone lol.

#145 BookMarkMe - I always feel that way after reading Rushdie.

131. imanivrn, I really recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It's one of those books that just makes you feel good, and its written well with well-developed characters on top of that.

131 - I second the Guernsey rec!

I finished The Book Shop by Penelope Fitzgerald. Good book, but yikes! The evil that lurks...

So along with the ongoing & wonderful Pillars, I've just started my next ER book, Homer's Odyssey. It looks like a good one!

I've just finished reading Singled Out by Virginia Nicholson, a book about single women after the First World War. It was very interesting and well-written, I learnt a lot and would recommend it to everyone. I find I'm quite lucky in my choice of non-fiction titles this year.
I am now starting Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.

>158 Sibylle - ooh, that sounds really interesting. Requesting Singled Out from the library now...

Oh, and I finished City of Bones (loved it!) and am now reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - it's the first in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, and I'm enjoying the characters and their banter.

#155 I always feel that way after reading Rushdie.

Glad its not just me ;-)

#159
It was most interesting, very informative and just the right balance of diary entries and historical commentary. The author made some excellent points.

Besides reading Harris's book, I am also starting His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, and so far it's excellent.

I finished The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie and I'm about to begin Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala.

I finally finished Catch-22 yesterday. I loved it. The absurdity of the whole book had a very Gonzo vibe to it.

I started Christine Falls yesterday.

Finished and loved The Yellowlighted Bookshop. Since I can't decide on my next book, I'll start three. I don't juggle books as well as some LTers do with ease, so I imagine one will take over and grab me. I'm guessing it will be The Lost City of Z, but Dangerous Liaisons and The Master and Margarita look intriguing as well.

I loved City of Bones and The Beekeeper's Apprentice-would highly recommend both!

I'm about to go sit on my porch and start A Little Class of Murder. Carolyn G. Hart books are wonderful to just sit and relax with.

I finished Mere Mortals and will read Before Green Gables next. I also received, finally, my ER book Last Known Address, which I will get into after Green Gables.

#133 Bridget770 - I just got The Girl who Played with Fire and can't wait to start it, tonight after we come home from dinner with friends.

Finished HP and the Half-Blood Prince (again) and re-reading HP and the Deathly Hallows (again).

I finished The Firm by John Grisham, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It started off somewhat slowly, and I found it difficult to keep track of every plot nuance, especially since I have no knowledge of banking or law, but overall, it was a very enjoyable thriller. Still working on Harry Potter Should Have Died, which has been very, very entertaining, and I'm also planning on starting Lisey's Story, which needs to be returned to the library within a week or so.

Karen-You will not be disappointed! Let me know what you think.

Finished When I Lived in Modern Times and now reading a Roddy Doyle book, The Woman Who Walked Into Doors. Have heard great things about it.

as if reading two books slowly wasn't enough, last night I started Cuba Libre by Elmore Leonard. It's different from the other books of his I have read, so I got off to a slow start.

I've finally gotten back to The Portable Jung. After all the prep, have reached the heart of the matter, and find it absolutely fascinating.

Guess I should have reread The Half Blood Prince, since we're definitely going to see it tomorrow afternoon. Oh well. I'll survive. *grin*

Almost done with Squire by Tamora Pierce and I love it so far. I'm still reading Nest in the Wind by Martha C. Ward which is really interesting. I've just started reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut which is nothing at all what I had expected but am liking it so far and The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 12:52am.

I've just finished His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. It was excellent, I'm so glad I found such a great series to lose myself into. I can't wait to read the other books!

I finished listening to Bones by Jonathan Kellerman......I still really enjoy Alex and Milo! I am about to start listening to Brothers by Yu Hua. I continue reading Into the Beautiful North, a wonderful novel so far!

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 1:04pm.

I finished reading Flaw by Magdalena Tulli yesterday, which was excellent. Today I'm reading another book recently published by Archipelago Books, Palafox by Eric Chevillard. I bought the book for the play at the National Theatre in London I attended this afternoon, The Observer by Matt Charman, which was very good.

#134, 156 & 157 - thanks for the advice. I started reading "Guernsey" and am thoroughly enjoying every word!

Dead souls by Gogol

I highly recommend, and you should immediately read, Cheryl Wagner’s Plenty Enough Suck to Go Around: A Memoir of Floods, Fires, Parades, and Plywood.

Wagner has created a work of literary nonfiction that goes so far beyond its subject matter—Katrina and her apocalyptic aftermath in New Orleans—that I hesitate to even mention it for fear of limiting the book's audience, but what the hell.

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 2:22pm.

July 29 - The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney
by Lauren Barnholdt

July 30 I'm starting on either How to Ditch Your Fairy or Chicks with Sticks Series or something else.
I'm not sure at the time.

This week I've finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Currently reading a good house (almost finished) and hope to finish Far from the madding crowd by the end of tomorrow.

Well i've just finished reading Storm Glass and now have a major hankering to re-read Poison Study.
Also been reading Fingersmith the other day which is looking pretty promising.

Well this week I have finished both Midnight's Children and the non fiction Team of Rivals and now am in the midst of Anna Karenina.

Also as a couple of short reads over the last couple of nights I have read Silk and The Alchemist, one of which I loved the other the polar opposite, as you'll see from my reviews.

Lastly my new non fiction read that I'm just about to open is A Peoples Tragedy

A good read week :-)

Darn you, ColoradoGirl14! Now that I have HP SHould Have Died on my radar, I'm going to have to find it or use inter-library loan!

Sounds interesting....

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 4:03pm.

This morning I finished The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal by Sean Dixon. It was extremely strange and it shouldn't have worked, but it did and I was enthralled. Right now I'm trying to finish American Lion so I don't have to haul it on vacation with me next week.

Just finished The Lost Daughter or The Lost Child as it's known in the US by Diane Chamberlain and have now started The Hidden by Tobias Hill. Sorry - having severe difficulties with touchstones on The Hidden!

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 4:56pm.

#185 - drbottlecapper - That was my reaction when my friend loaned me the book. I told her, "You've really got to stop feeding my obsession like this..."

Exciting news of the day: The Purity Myth finally came in on interlibrary loan! I heard about this book through a fellow LT-er, and it sounded so interesting that I had to put it on hold as soon as I heard about it. So far, I'm really enjoying it. I don't usually go for the whole feminist movement, but everything Jessica Valenti's said so far has made sense, and I really enjoy the author's snarky comments! This looks to be a very enlightening, relevant read!

#184: BookMarkMe: I'm really surprised that you did not like The Alchemist. I read it a few months ago and loved it. At the time I read the book, I really needed a positive message and some hope. When I finished the book, I felt so warm and fuzzy inside that I just sand the books praises. However, my mental state has changed and improved, and now that I read your review, I don't have the same warm and fuzzy feelings about it. I plan to reread the book in the next year or so, and I wonder if I will change my thoughts. Maybe my enjoyment was a case of state of mind trumping actual content. Gives me a different dimension to think about, so thanks for your review!

Finished Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card yesterday, now I'm detoxing with The End of Faith by Sam Harris.

Afterwards, Shadow of the Giant.

Finished a wonderful book giving the history of Anne Shirley Before Green Gables. Check out my review on the book's page.

Next I'll read Last Known Address, an ER book that I just received from LT.

I finished The Graveyard Book today and loved it. Now, of course, I get to buy the other Gaiman novels (just as a coincidence I watched Coraline yesterday).
I started The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull.

I'm just starting The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Looking forward to a witchy book.

#173-Catreona,

Read Man and His Symbols by Jung for a philosophy class in college and enjoyed it.

Currently getting nowhere on The Landmark Herodotus because of toooooo much work!!!. Trying to keep up on the weekly Economist and other stuff coming by mail.

> 192: mstrust I have just discovered Neil Gaiman too in the past few months and am slowly working through all his books including the Sandman series. I have never ever read a graphic book - they never appealed to me until now!
BTW I highly recommend American Gods!

> 184: BookMarkMe - You were kinder than I. While reading your review of The Alchemist I noticed that I had only given the book 1 star! I think I felt happier at reading a book that was much talked about than for the value of the book. I can see how some people could get a positive message from it but for me it did nothing.

>196: Ditto

>196, 197: ditto.

Started Heroic Measures about an older couple whose dachshund throws out his back, so they strap him to a cutting board and take him to the vet but there's a bad car accident in the city and they get stuck en route. I own two dachshunds and am babysitting two more this week so might as well read about weenies while hanging out with weenies.

Message edited by its author, Jul 31, 2009, 10:01am.

can anyone tell me what they thought of pride and prejudice and zombies

I finished Glimpses: Iowa's Rural Legacy which I read since my father's family had farmed in Iowa in the 1800's. These stories were not from that far back and only some gave a sense of time and place. I should finish Vanity Fair today or tomorrow which I am enjoying. I started reading Capitol Men last evening. I've just begun but it seems very readable and interesting so far.

Finally finished Doubt: a History, as well as A Deepness in the Sky. Both among the very best books I've read recently.

Now reading: Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Princess Bride.

shanfan- I thought it was a fun book. It's the original Austen story with lots of martial arts and zombie attacks. You'll either think it's funny or sacrilege.

I'm reading Clear Pictures, Reynolds Price's memoir of his childhood. He's long been a favorite of mine and it's lovely to meet the people who influenced him. Not necessarily a good book to read during a long, hot summer, however -- I keep falling asleep as Reynolds describes quiet evenings sitting beside his Aunt Ida in that front porch swing.

It's been a fantastic year for up and coming talented writers' first collection of stories, e.g., Wells Tower's Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, Josh Weil's The New Valley, and today just by happenstance, I stumbled upon another, Lydia Peelle's Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing. Three of the stories were prize winners that I've read before, but the last story in the collection, "Shadow on a Wearly Land," is hands down fantastic.

P.S. I have no idea why the touchstone for "The New Valley" is bringing up "The New New Thing."

Message edited by its author, Jul 31, 2009, 3:06pm.

Finished The Purity Myth this afternoon, and even though I disagreed with some of the author's opinions, I found it to be an educational and disturbing look at the societal expectations and judgments placed on women and their sexuality. An easy, quick read for anyone interested in learning more about women's rights.

Still reading Vicious Circle by Mike Carey. It is good, but he is wordy and perhaps writes too much about things that don't really need to be there. It is 500+ pages and taking me forever to read during the week. I fall asleep at night when I finally get home. ;)

I am so envious of everyone listing all the wonderful new books they are reading.

I read that last year and wasn't particularly thrilled.

> 208 I like the setting and the world. The characters are good, although Castor's attitude is wearing in such a long book. It really should be a 300 pager.

I started out positive but my goodwill is eroding.

I am currently reading Nicci French's Killing me softly.

It is the second Nicci French book i have read, and have enjoyed both so far. I am now on the search for more of her books.

I'm currently re-reading Salem's Lot by Stephen King. God, it is such a wonderful book! :)

#211 - I loved Salem's Lot! His earlier novels are some of my favorites!

Reading Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje, The Outstretched Shadow and To Light a Candle by Mercedes Lackey, finished, and a couple of Carol Higgins Clark paperbacks. Lackey and the paperbacks read very fast but Ondaatje I tend to save for reading when I have time to pay attention.

196, 197, 198 - Ditto

Reading Good Omens by Neil Gaimon and Terry Pratchett. I'm impressed so far, both of their styles are very evident in every paragraph.

> 215: AgentBookworm I read Good Omens last month. I thought it was very good too!

I have just started The Story of Lucy Gault I have only read 15 pages but I like it already!

Just Finished Night's Edge. It was a fun read. Going to bed, will put in tomorrow's new thread what I am reading as I haven't made a final decision yet on what I wanna read. ;)

Message edited by its author, Aug 1, 2009, 12:30am.

I'm reading a mix this week. Thumbing through my favorite parts of "Leaves of Grass" by Whitman, a mystery/thriller "The Final Victim" by Wendy Staub and a study guide for the TEXES content exam for Special Education. I'm apparently lacking focus!!!

Message edited by its author, Aug 1, 2009, 1:20am.

I finished Vicious Circle and posted about it and my new read in the August thread here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/70052

mea culpa, thanks Ficus, for the link!

eta: as soon as I saw you'd posted to this thread I knew... :o)

Message edited by its author, Aug 1, 2009, 1:14pm.

No Problem Teelgee. Just thought I would put in the link so people don't get lost, or start another thread :).

#72/201 snash - regarding life on an Iowa farm, you might be interested in Little Heathens, an really nice first-hand account about the 1930's

#205 SeanLong - The NY times had a nice review today of the Lydia Peelle book.

#192 mstrust - I adored The Murder of My Aunt. I hope you like it as much as I did.

#170 Bridget770 - I just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire 10 minutes ago and oh, my gosh! What a fantastic read. It may even be better than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I'm going to have to think this one over a bit. I might even write a review. Definitely 4 1/2 stars.

I just checked Wikipedia under Stieg Larsson, and th third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, is due out in the UK in October 2009. Amazon.com show it coming out in paperback on October 31st, but why would it come out in paperback when Fire is in hardcover? Either way, I have to wait until the fall at the soonest. If I had it in hand, I'd start it immediately.

Message edited by its author, Aug 3, 2009, 5:56am.

#222 dchaikin I had noticed and added Little Heathens to my TBR list. Glad to hear that it's good.

203- thanks. i am not much of a jane austen fan and therefore think that what some may call sacralige is actually improvment in my eyes

The Grapes of Wrath.