What Are Yo Reading the Week of 14 April 2012?

The 14th: Bruce Sterling

Tina Rosenberg

The 15th: Jeffrey Archer

Henry James--"I don't want everyone to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did.”

The 16th: John Christopher

Kingsley Amis

Grace Livingston Hill

The 17th: Lloyd Biggle Jr.

Isak Dinesen

Hervé Bazin

The 18th: Joy Davidman

Norbert Davis

The 19th: no one, apparently...and now, thanks to calm, we have Richard Hughes

The 20th: Peter S. Beagle

Katherine V. Forrest

Sebastian Faulks

The Teapot Dome Scandal is a most vexatious read...humanity is vile, and always has been.

Thanks once again, Richard, for starting us out. Am reading Ivanhoe which I'm enjoying very much.

Now, now, Richard.....if humanity were completely vile there would be no LibraryThing!! Thanks for the start to the week!

Thanks for starting us off Richard! Great, as per usual.

I am about to finish up Imagine: How Creativity Works by Johah Lehrer and love it. He's a great NF writer, fun engaging and makes the material so exciting. It's been a wonderful read, full of things I did not know and hence, learned.

Not sure what is up next!

A great start to the week, as always. Thank you, Richard.

Since humanity is made of of human bengs, naturally, it is flawed. However, just as individuals, it also has the capacity for great good.

I'm in-between reads right now, having just finished The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling, which was full of wonderful, unexpected surprises. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Am listening to An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, an interesting YA book about a teen child prodigy on a road trip with his only friend. Interesting but not compelling but hey, it gets me to and from work.

People aren't vile, necessarily, but Humanity...? *ngurmph*

Seriously...I've been all over the internets and I have found *not*one*writer* born on 19 April. NOT ONE. The closest I came was Susie Blake, a Brit actress and cousin of Hayley Mills, of whom I had never heard before Wikipedia served her up.

...anyone...?

Thanks, Richard.

>7 NarratorLady: I liked An Abundance of Katherines, Anne, but in comes in third for me behind his The Fault in Our Stars (which is terrific!), and Paper Towns. I haven't read Looking for Alaska, which a lot of LTers have liked.

I'm zooming in on the resolution of Force of Nature, with Nate Romanowski being chased by baddies from every which way, and my much better half has recommended and lined up as my next read the latest Spellman humor mystery, The Trail of the Spellmans.

>9 jnwelch: Joe:

I'm pretty sure I picked up An Abundance of Katherines because The Fault in Our Stars wasn't available. I'm on a waiting list.

Richard how about Richard Hughes the author of A High Wind in Jamaica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hughes_(writer) )

I'm reading State of Wonder and Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals

OOO thanks calm!!

Pleased to help Richard:)

Still reading The Colour of Magic.

I've read a couple of Richard Hughes' novels. They're interesting.

I'm about 20% of the way through the Joe Torre memoir, The Yankee Years.

As usual, I have a pile going:

Little Red Guard by Wenguang Huang--an ER book for me and I'm really enjoying it. An incredible look at life growing up in the Cultural Revolution. It's going to be highly recommended.

Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels for a group read.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See audiobook for the road.

and several others that I'm picking at.

I am reading Fire Along the Sky by Sara Donati. I have really enjoyed this whole series. They provide a bit of history, a bit of romance and some good characters that I have become very attached to throughout the series. I love curling up undisturbed with this kind of book.

I'm over halfway through Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. I've had a difficult time keeping all the characters straight but am still enjoying the story.

Still working on Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.

I'm reading Woe to Live On, a Civil War novel by Daniel Woodrell. I'm sure it will be bleak and dark and disturbing like every other one of his books that I have read. For a nonfiction read, I'm working my way through the essays in Marilynne Robinson's newish collection When I Was A Child I Read Books. Me, too: when I was a child I also read books.

Thanks, richard, for starting the thread!

(6) bookwoman247, I'm so glad you enjoyed The Jungle Books. Was it the first book or a combination of both 1 and 2?

(117) (from the last thread)
hazeljune wrote "Sad to finish An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg, it was a delightful read."

I saw a movie by that name, about a daughter-in-law who shows up at her father-in-law's ranch, with her child, his granddaughter, in tow.

Same story?

I finished Hugh Nissenson's The Days of Awe, a novel set in NYC in 2001 -- a book about a husband and wife and their friends, relations, and acquaintances. One of the best things about it is the way the author builds that web of relationships -- halfway through the book I suddenly realized how many people I had come to know and care about. This is a "9/11" book -- but so much more than that. The tragedy takes place a little over halfway through the book and its effect on our characters is profound and subtle and far-reaching -- but the story continues, life goes on. The book is about aging and faith and myth and death -- but most of all, about life. A wonderful book -- I'm so glad I read it. Long ago, I read Nissenson's novel The Tree of Life and now I'm thinking I should revisit that book. I remember feeling the same way about it -- that same renewal of spirit.

Next up: Inspired by an article I read this week about Colum McCann, I decided to read one of his books -- his first novel Songdogs. I'm also rereading Alice McDermott's That Night which was published 25 years ago -- another book I highly recommend.

Here's the link to the McCann article:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/04/this-week-in-fiction-colum-m...

I am reading several books this week:

1) Paris To The Moon
2) Alone! Alone! Lives Of Some Outsider Women
3) Eden

They are in my library here, if interested.

HaPpy ReADinG!

~dreaming t.k.

;~})

I am reading The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney - which I believe was recommended on this thread. Whomever you are that did so, thank you. I am really enjoying it (and not a mystery reader chick by any stretch). I loved The Tenderness of Wolves, so was psyched she had a new novel out!

Just finished Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier which was just wonderful-highly recommended. I am about to start Next To Love by Ellen Feldman which is an early reader selection that I have just received.

Still with Dr. Siri and Disco for the Departed...absolutely love this series!

# 21 fuzzi: It was both 1 and 2, and much of it was so different than I expected. It contained some very nice surprises!

I've just started The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin, and I'm really loving it!

Reviewed a nice fluffy first mystery called Simon Said over in my thread...post #95.

Humanity - wretched, wonderful - that's kind of why I have 6 dogs, they lean much more toward the wonderful side.

I finished American Chick in Saudi Arabia and it's plain why she used this title. Intelligent, well educated, carefree woman decides to travel alone to Saudi Arabia and work in hospital administration. While there she discovers the complete oppression of women and, naive chick that she is, thinks she can wake the women up to their situation, and convince them to organize so that they can recover their rights. This was in 1979. 33 years later we see just how effective her pecking around was. This is sort of an introduction to all the books Jean Sasson has written about strong women in dangerous situations. I may read more.

The reads at present are:
Audiobook: 1/2 way through 11/22/63. It does keep me interested
Nook: just started The Jungle Book
Paper: The Sealed Letter - I've loved every Emma Donoghue book I've read, but I'm on page 134 of this 389 page book, and the story is still being set up. I hope this all leads to something interesting, obviously the Orange Prize people must have thought so

Still on the mini-mountain of Danny Boy, The Paradox of Choice, Elizabeth I and Law's Strangest Cases.

# 6, 21, 27 - I envy you, bookwoman and fuzzi. Kipling is an author whom I wish I liked - my wife loves him - but I find him too clever by half. I can read the Bab Ballads or listen to a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, but the cleverness and wit that delights me with Gilbert just irks me with Kipling. I have the same problem with Haydn and Mozart, in that order. All the same, we joined the National Trust after visiting Kipling's home at Batemans, so credit where it's due.

I'm just about to commence reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Have been wanting to read it for years.

Finished the very nice Digging to America by the consistently good writer, Anne Tyler. Next up for listening is the new Maisie Dobbs installment, Elegy For Eddie.

Yesterday read Library mascot Cage Match thanks to recommends here. SO much fun!

Still reading my ER Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn which is very fun.

I have just finished reading the novel The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

I found and tarted up an old review of a book I disliked very thoroughly, The Scold's Bridle, which is now up in my thread...post #178.

ETA And also a memoir by Canadian media fixture Roy Bonisteel called There Was A Time......post #179.

I finished and REVIEWED Richard Davenport-Hines new book Voyagers of the Titanic, an ER book.

Now I'm reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller as I gear up for the announcement of the Orange Prize short list on Tuesday.

>38 brenzi: Thumbs up for your review, Bonnie, and I wait with bated breath your opinion of The Song of Achilles....

Lots of new things started in the past few days:
Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart (print)
An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer (ebook)
The Unruly Passions of Eugenie R. by Carole DeSanti

I'm very much enjoying The Jungle Book. It's kind of a happier, warmer, version of Dog Boy so far.

>39 richardderus: Thanks so much Richard! Well it's one of those books that grabbed me from the first page so it should be a good one. And I have you tagged as the recommender!

Hi, RD, and thanks for starting us off on another great reading week.

Almost finished with one of the free ebooks I got recently: A Good and Useful Hurt by Arik Davis. It's a mystery/thriller about a tattoo artist, his girlfriend (who is a body piercer at the shop), and a serial killer. To tell the truth, I didn't expect to like it, because of the subject matter, perhaps, and because it was free, and because it's a new author (new to me, anyway ~ I see he's written 2 other books), but I do. A lot. It could have used maybe one last go-through before publishing, although the few errors weren't enough to throw me out of the story, which as I said is really good, plus I really like the characters.

#32 By now you've probably finished it and are still mopping up the tears. Not only a truly wonderful book but a wonderful introduction to the world of the sublime Mr Steinbeck. I wish you many blissful hours.

Ditto, Booksloth!

Over the weekend I read and finished Elegy For Eddie, the ninth installment of the Maisie Dobbs series, and a very good one indeed! I also listened to The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography, written and narrated by the marvelous Sydney Poitier.

Continuing to read Absolution and will begin listening to A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.

Last Days...oh my...so so grim...really good, though.

I am still try to fiind time!! to finish Ruthless Garden by Margaret Simons, it is very special.

Okay, I finished David Copperfield for the Group Read, long but worth it. I started an excellent memoir called Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? and on audio, I've been listening to things Fall Apart, a book I've been meaning to get to for years.

I've just finished Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer and find myself with nothing to read on the way home except the ads on the tube. Unless I pick up a free newspaper...

Ugh, I cannot seem to pick back up and finish The Invisible Ones (and I'm more than half way through!) ... boy, I'm just not interested in any of the fiction I've been picking up. If this is a mystery, and I guess it is, I could care less why the girl disappeared, whether she is alive, not and how it affects any of these folks. Maybe I ought to just stick to non fiction for a while. Or heck, I'll peruse Mt. TBR and see what falls on my head this time. Going with the karma approach.

Up to the fifth Dr. Siri The Curse of the Pogo Stick and have to wait to get books 6 through 8...I will soon be experiencing withdrawal!

I listened to two books while driving to and from Kansas this last week. The Perfect Mile which proved to be a good book to listen to about an era of sports that is long gone, and Emerald Atlas an excellent children's book. The latter book needs more readers so that we can get the word out about this wonderful children's book. It would be a great book for teacher's to read aloud.

I also started listening to After the Quake for my short story book for the other thread, and am reading David Copperfield, although I am not anywhere near to being done with it.

I started Enjoy Every Sandwich by Lee Lipsenthal and wow, good. I just think I need to take an extended break from fiction and come back to it with a new attitude. Nothing sparks me of late, or can keep my interest. I want to say quality is just down, but then, it might be me. I'm hugely enjoying almost all NF though, so gonna stick with that for a while.

Reading The Ravens of Falkenau & Other Stories by Jo Graham, a bunch of short stories about the Numinous World series that includes Black Ships, Hand of Isis and Stealing Fire. Listening to Full Dark, No Stars in the car. Brought home The Coroner's Lunch from the library, which I may start next after the short stories, but also just brought home The Drop, the latest Harry Bosch, which I have been wanting to read for awhile. So many books, so little time!

>51 litasbooks: Heh! I suppose it's cruel of me, Lita, to mention that Cotterill has abandoned Dr. Siri for his Thai set series.

"boy, I'm just not interested in any of the fiction I've been picking up."

Read Graceland by Chris Abani. It's about a young boy trying to grow up in the slums of Lagos, Nigeria. I gave this book 4 1/2 stars when I read it a couple of years ago. I don't know why, but it's the first book that came to mind to recommend to someone in a fiction-reading slump.

I just finished and loved The Hobbit. I tried to read it about ten years ago, just after reading The Lord of the Rings and I couldn't get into, thought it so dull. And now, I am won over, I loved every bit of it.

My next book is an ARC, The Book of Summers. I'm not liking the writing style, but we'll see where this story goes...

I'm reading The Lord of the Rings for what must be at least the 100th time. I have the Atlas to Middle Earth open to follow the path and read up on landmarks. I love that book so much. When reviewers say, "Author X writes like Tolkien" or "In the vein of Tokien"...well, I'm sorry. They can aspire but they will never achieve.

#55 Richard...say it ain't so! LOL. That would make us Juree-ists?

Oddly - because I usually love Margaret George - I really struggled to stay interested in Elizabeth I and ended up skimming quite a lot. I'm now reading After the Fire, a Still Small Voice, which is going really well so far.

#56 - I actually have read Graceland and wow, that one was powerful. There are some images that have stuck with me through this day. That is a great recommendation. Thank you!

I've started reading Becoming Queen by Kate Williams.

I haven't been able to read since my husband died 13 days ago- even though we read different genres reading was one of the things that brought us together- we met at a borders in manhattan ffor our first date

I haven't been able to read since my husband died 13 days ago- even though we read different genres reading was one of the things that brought us together- we met at a borders in manhattan ffor our first date

I'm so, so sorry, cdyankeefan. My heart goes out to you.

ty bookwoman- its been incredibly difficult

cdyankeefan, I'm sure it has been more than incredibly difficult. "Bookman" and I have been married for 33 years. I can't imagine.

cdyankeefan, deepest condolences. Hopefully, in time, reading will be less bitter and more sweet in terms of memories....understandably very painful right now. Peace be with you and your family!

>63 cdyankeefan: I am so sorry to learn of your loss. It is horribly hard to go through. I wish your husband a safe journey home, and you a measure of peace in knowing how many of us who have gone through it ourselves understand and support you in this passage.

cdyankeefan - So sorry.

Hope it will be as hemlock gang said.

cdyankeefan - so very sorry to hear of your loss

66,67,68,69and 70- thank you so much for your kind words- i appreciate it more than i can say

cdyankeefan, I am very sorry to hear about your loss.

cdyankeefan, I offer my condolences at this difficult time. Hopefully reading will become a comfort for you again. It is hard to concentrate when you are grieving. Take care of yourself.

cdyankeefan, My sympathy goes out to you.

cdyankeefan, I am so sorry for your loss. Hopefully, with time, you will be able to get back to reading but in the meantime, take care.

cdyankeefan

Reading is a deeply personal experience and one that most of us like to share with those who are close to us. If we didn't we wouldn't be on LT. That closeness is a precious thing wither kept to oneself or shared. However, since you have personal experiences with reading I am sure that in time it will come back to you. Several years ago I read Joan Didion Year of Magical Thinking and I remember her saying that nothing in her life was the same after her husband died. Even food. Give yourself time. Check in with us once-in-awhile, but don't feel obligated.

(58) Good job, Leonie68!

I know I've read The Lord of the Rings at least 30 or so times, as I used to read it at least once a year from 1971 until recently. The author put his life into those books, they are not just "a" fantasy trilogy.

When The Sword of Shanarra came out in the late 1970s, I read it all the way through but loathed it for what I considered it to be: a rip off of Tolkien's work. I have never touched another book by Terry Brooks, and have no intention of ever doing so.

The only author that I have read that has come close to Tolkien is Tad Williams: I love his "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy...The Dragonbone Chair, The Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower.

I am beginning to think that I too have hit a dry spell. I have done lots of reading this year, but so far I only have one book on my best of the year list. Usually by this time I have several. Maybe it is time for a nice mystery reading spree but right now I am bogged down in David Copperfield and it is slow going. However, if I don't have it finished by the end of the month I will move on to something else and it will just stay on my list for years and fester like Doctor Zchivago has done.

cdyankeefan, I am very sorry to hear about your loss.

cdyankeefan, We've followed the post of your husband's hospitalizations and hoped to hear news of his recovery. I'm so sorry for your loss. At the dog park today I noticed a new tree with a plaque honoring a friend who had died. I told my kids that's what I want instead of a tombstone.

cdyankeefan - such very sad news and I'm sure a lot of LT hearts are with you right now. I hope there will eventually come a time when you can feel able to enjoy your reading again, both for yourself and on your husband's behalf but sadly there are no short cuts to that. Here's hoping the loving arms of friends both known and unknown to you will help support you through this terrible time.

Started The Secrets of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams. Still working on Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.

About half way through The Girl With the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Also enjoyed her novel Remarkable Creatures.

72,73,74,75,76,77,80,81,82- thank you all for your kind words- I found two local bereavement groups and a wonderful online support group that have been oh so helpful- thank you again

cdyankeefan- so sorry. My husband has stage 3 cancer and is going through a really bad time. And, I have been unable to read at my usual pace. But, I know cdyankeefan that all of us are rooting for you.

oh travis I am sorry for you- i know how difficult that is

I finished and REVIEWED Madeline Miller's excellent book, The Song of Achilles. Now I'm reading The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa.

cdyankeefan & Travis1259 I am so sorry for both of you and what you are going through. I am sending hugs your way and hope that through reading you can find some sense of peace. Please take care of yourselves.

My December Early Reviewer book, Kindred Souls arrived today!

I think I will start reading it next. :)

Finished my ER Running with the Kenyans, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and am halfway through The Snowman by Jo Nesbo Correct touchstone http://www.librarything.com/work/6767489
The Snowman was recommended here and I've found a new author! Yay! Thanks!

cdyankeefan ~ So very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Travis1259 ~ My heart and prayers go out to you and your husband in this difficult time.

Warm hugs to you both.

cdyankeefan and Travis1259 - Thoughts and prayers going out to you both.

Earlier in the week I finished both He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum and Anne Tyler's wonderful The Beginner's Goodbye.

I think I'm going to finally read The Devil in the White City which has been sitting patiently on my shelf since 2004 or 5.

Couldn't engage with the audiobook A Rage in Harlem. Moved on to a light Stephanie Plum audio, Two For The Dough. Still reading my ER book, Absolution, and I am thoroughly impressed with the writing of debut novelist, Patrick Flanery.

I've found a mystery with a sense of humor, just what I need right now. Flat Spin by David Freed. Liking it.

Mommom,storeetlir and coppers- thank you so much for your kind words- i go to the library every day to use the computer- im surrounded by books and i just cant pick one up- i dont have the patience or tolerance right now to read

>96 cdyankeefan: It might be some time before a book reaches you. It's frustrating to us readers. Your mind isn't in an ordinary mode, and that is *exactly* where it is supposed to be. Please don't try to force a return to reading, or anything that requires multi-layered responses to information.

You need time to heal, and deserve the space to let it happen. Come and chat with us, we'll keep you informed! Like a 24-hr kaffeeklatsch!

Finished Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore and started Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs. Still working on The Secrets of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams.

cdyankeefan - I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Echoing many above, in time you will find your way forward. I met my husband in a bookstore, so I understand the spousal connection over reading and books. Praying for you!

Travis1259 (and to all those with unspoken struggles) - Stay strong; you have my prayers!

I finished The Disappearing Spoon over the weekend, and while it was fascinating, it was also frustrating: the author did not provide the h.s. chemistry 101 crash course in the introduction that I needed (and which would've strengthened the book), and throughout presumed too high a level of basic chemistry knowledge for this to be a superb science book for general readers. Science never "clicked" for me in h.s., but it fascinates me, so I enjoy reading science nonfiction, especially when I'm left feeling smarter. This time, I know more interesting side-stories and tidbits, but overall don't feel I learned much.

I have moved on to Edible Stories: A Novel in Sixteen Parts, which is essentially a collection of short stories, each based on an ingredient or food stuff, that is weaving into a delightful whole! I have realized that I love food writing, nonfiction and fiction, and this book is a treat so far!

Posted a review of The Trade by Thomas Kirkwood...

http://www.librarything.com/work/12275770/reviews/82978961

;-}

I finished Hard Times this evening. Not as good as it seemed when I was nineteen (a long time ago) and the book lost its way, it seemed, in the middle before picking up a bit near the end; most of the characters were wet and colourless as well. Even so, there were several shafts of that Dickens wit that I find irresistible, and at times make me laugh out loud.

At the beginning of The keeper of lost causes by Jussi Adler Olsen...very good so far!

I have been reading The Princess Bride this week. The movie is one of my favourites and I am enjoying the book but I must say that I find the authors constant interjections rather annoying. However, the movie followed the book very closely so reading the book is a richer experience for having the well-known and well-loved characters already in my head.

Travis1259, what a tough road you and your husband are on. My thoughts are with you.

Back to another one that has been on Mount TBR for far too long - The Scapegoat. I'd been putting this one off because stories about the chance meeting of two identical characters are perhaps the hardest for me to believe but I was underestimating DdM's ability to suck me in to whatever she chose to write about and I'm engrossed, as ever.

richardderus and grkmwk- thnk you so much for your kind words- i appreciate them more than you know