What Are You Reading the Week of 27 October 2012?

The 27th: J.A. Jance

John Cleese

Emily Post

Theodore Roosevelt

The 28th: Anne Perry

Evelyn Waugh

Ivan Turgenev

The 29th: Fredric Brown

Paul DiFilippo

James Boswell

The 30th: Paul Valéry

Irma Rombauer

Ezra Pound

Halloween: Neal Stephenson

John Keats

Kinky Friedman

1 November: Zenna Henderson

Susanna Clarke

Edward Said

The 2nd: Thomas Mallon

Lois McMaster Bujold

Dale Brown

*GASP!* Can it be possible I'm...the first on the shiny new thread for this week?! It's like being the first to go out in the new fallen snow, kinda hate to mess up the pristine glory of it by walking around in it. Well, since I'm here, might as well have some fun!

I'm still working on my Early Reviewer novel by Louise Marley, Glass Butterfly, which I am enjoying though going slower than I'd like. I just haven't had a lot of time for reading at home lately. I'm also reading Flora Segunda on my Kindle (and loving it!). Not sure what's up next on the old iPod.

(Thanks for this week's shiny new thread, RD!)

(I've read quite a few of this week's authors, but far and away my favorite is Zenna Henderson. I loved her stories of The People and have them all (I think). I'm going to have to dig them out of storage and read them again. I don't believe they will have tarnished in the smallest degree since I first read them decades ago. Thanks for the lovely reminder, RD!)

First out on the shiny new snow - wow, it's been a while since I've done that.

I finished the audiobook of The People and the Ballot: A History of American Party Politics and it was excellent, as all the Modern Scholar courses are. Then I couldn't decide what to listen to next, so I started the copy of Lionel Asbo: State of England that just came in from the library. After one CD I found it was a sarcastic and casual novel of incest and violence which starts out with a 15 year old boy having a sexual affair with his grandmother. Fun as some people might find that, and I'm sure there's a market for it, it didn't quite appeal to me. Then I started The Bungalow which I thought would be the story of a nurse in WWII Bora Bora, but it appears to be more romance than nursing. Finally, third time's a charm, I hit on The God Delusion by that famous misogynist Richard Dawkins. Well, sexism aside, I'm liking it.
On paper I'm still reading Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out and hit upon this quote (from a German shepherd): (in China) People in the 1950s were innocent, in the 1960s they were fanatics, in the 1970s they were afraid of their own shadows, in the 1980s they carefully weighed people's words and actions, and in the 1990s they were simply evil. Things are evil enough now, and we haven't even reached the evil part.
On Nook I finished Birthmarked which was the first of an ecological science fiction trilogy and made me want to read the other two - some day. Tomorrow I'll start on Housekeeping.

#2 Just don't spoil it for everyone else by peeing on it.

Halfway through The Parasites and loving it.

ETA - I should also add that I'm browsing my way through a little book, clearly published for the Xmas market, called Kind Regards: the Lost Art of Letter-Writing which I'm guessing most of our literary friends would love to find in the toe of their stocking this year, along with an orange and a handful of walnuts. It's not going to make it to the Booker Prize shortlist but it does have lots of interesting little facts about letter-writing, plus some lovely examples

Thanks for the shiny new thread, Richard! As usual, you've rounded up an eclectic and interesting bunch of birthday celebrants.

I'm The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama, and am very much enjoying this follow-up to Women of the Silk.

Just started Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander.

Today's the day. I am hell-bent for leather that within these 24 hours, I am writing a review of Windeye.

Yes.

I Am Determined.

I'm reading No Rest for the Witches, 4 short stories by MaryJanice Davidson, Cheyenne McCray, Christine Warren, and Lori Handeland to get me in the Halloween spirit. I'm on the first story which is about a girl who has a vampire, a zombie, and a werewolf for roommates. Kind of fun!

Not sure what I'm reading now. I finished Running out of time and am working on All quiet on the western front, but I need to come up with something else because, while it's very good, it's depressing. Maybe I'll find some Robert Benchley to read in tandem.

I finished Ike's Bluff, a breezy, superficial history of the Eisenhower presidency. The author attempted to demonstrate how clever and effective Eisenhower was as President, but he unfortunately convinced me of just the opposite.

I started The Twelve, the new Justin Cronin book, but I don't seem to be in the right frame of mind to read it. To be honest, he pissed me off from page one when he decided to provide a synopsis of The Passage in pseudo-biblical prose. So, I'm turning to Andrea Camarelli's The Potter's Field. Inspector Montalbano seldom disappoints me.

>4 Booksloth: LOL I won't, I promise. Yellow snow is not something I ever enjoyed seeing when growing up in Chicago.

Started a new book last night on Kindle in anticipation of NaNoWriMo: Motivate to Create by Nate Hendley. It's an Early Review book that I need to get to anyway, and this seemed the perfect time.

Still reading We Need to Talk About Kevin. It's interesting but definitely not a quick read. Enjoying it so far.

Just started reading Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal. The first book in the series Mr. Churchill's Secretary was very good. Hope this new one is just as good.

Thanks again, richard!

Technically one read was 'last' week, but I missed posting it in the thread...

A couple days ago I discovered a graphic rendering of The Gate of Ivrel, online, retitled Gate of Ivrel: Claiming Rites. I appreciated how it was adapted for graphic form, and am seriously considering buying the second part, Gate of Ivrel: Fever Dreams. If you appreciate works by CJ Cherryh and enjoy graphic novels, you should definitely give this one a try!

Today I read The Cay. I really liked this "coming of age" story, and how the characters interacted...learning to rely on each other while marooned on a tiny island. This is yet another YA book that is suitable for adults.

>4 Booksloth: Booksloth: Thanks for mentioning Kind Regards: The Lost Art of Letter-Writing. I just posted the link to the Kindle edition on my sister's Facebook page. It's right up her alley.

Last night I happened to see a glowing review of 2666 on Audible and bought it on impulse. Am enjoying it so far, in spite of not being altogether clear what it's about.

Just finished Game of Thrones and experiencing that pleasant dizziness of noticing the real world again (also the eyestrain). I could rag on it for its tabloid moments but... honestly, when was the last time I ripped through 700 pages in 6 days?! You were right about me coming around, divineanny, though I'm not entirely sure I want to go four more rounds: perhaps a switch to the HBO DVDs is in order.

Oryx & Crake ought to be next up, book club meeting is next Sunday (and I really do have to go). Not sure I'll finish in time, though.

I did it. I got my review of Windeye up in my thread...post #42. It's a terrific collection of creepy stories, well worth your time and money.

Just finished The Sense of an Ending tonight and I'm starting The Tenderness of Wolves in the morning.

#15 You're very welcome - hope she enjoys it. All you literary people might like to know of a rather delicious website that is mentioned in this book. http://www.collectiveexperience.org/ is a site where people send their love-letters for publication. These letters may be ones you have sent, ones you have received or (I suspect these may be the majority) those ones you would love to send but can't. Some are charming, some are funny and at least one is heartbreaking.

#19: I read Sense of an Ending recently. What did you think of it? It was interesting, my first Julian Barnes read.

I'm on my way to the Galapagos Islands so I'm reading Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut. So far, I'd have to say that the story hasn't aged particularly well over the 25 years since it was written.

Wow, browner, I leave for the Galapagos Islands November 9! For some reason, I wanted to stay clear of that one, for whatever reason. It was difficult to find books about Ecuador/Galapagos, Darwinism aside.

I am about to wrap up The Book of Ebenezer Le Page and it kinda fizzled. I'm not sure it was worth the massive dedication and time, after all. I will ruminate a bit, then put up a review.

#21 - It was also my first Julian Barnes and I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. I believe it was written with a great deal of style but it also demands a lot from the reader. I felt like the author did not give information away very easily and I had to reread the last few pages several times to make sure I understood the ending correctly. I really think I would get a lot more out of this book with a second reading where I could focus more on the details of the story instead of focusing on what the outcome of the book would be. Thankfully, it's a short book, so I think I will plan to reread it at some point.

Still working my way through The Silmarillion by Tolkien and The Kingdom of Gods by N. K. Jemisin.

I read 2666 this year and thought it was excellent....it will all make sense eventually. I hope you enjoy it!

Finished listening to The Empty Chair and Care of Wooden Floors......not bad and ugh.......

Moving on to Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. In the mood for straightforward.

I finished and reviewed the excellent family history/memoir Blood-Dark Track by Joseph O'Neill. You can find the review on the book's work page or on my 50-Book Challenge thread.

I just started the second Mistborn novel, The Well of Ascension and am loving it.

Just a little growling here, I'm so jealous of you Carolyn and Brownier56 that you get to go to the Galapagos Island. Maybe one day... I hope you have a great time.

Just finished the almost 1,000 page bio Churchill by Martin Gilbert. An extraordinary fast moving book of an extraordinary man in extraordinary times. Still reading my ER book The Proxy Assassin by John Knoerle, it's quite amusing and suspensful. Half way through Nietzsche, A Philosphical Biography a detailed portrayal of his passions and writings.

Finished and reviewed English Music by W J Turner.

Began to read Paradise Regained which should be a doddle after Paradise Lost.

The White Mountains by John Christopher is a most enjoyable 'read aloud' book with my wife Susan. I read very few books when I was young, but have made up for it in recent years and Susan believes that the fifties and sixties were the golden age of children's literature.

#23 Don't ignore Darwin. The Voyage of the Beagle is excellent. My RL book club read it several years ago and everyone enjoyed it and talked about how very readable it was (much more so, I think, than The Origin of Species).

The Brontes by Juliet Barker, 2nd. ed.
This edition has been updated and revised. Was released here in the US back in August.

Still reading The Ghosts of Belfast which is excellent and not for the faint of heart!

Thanks for the tip whymaggieamay! I will download it! I am anxiously awaiting receipt of my new Kindle Paperwhite for this trip (8 weeks on the battery - SWEET). I have a very strict 35 lbs. limit for my bag, so books add crazy weight.

Finally put my hands on Last Man Standing again, so back to reading that. Also have a member giveaway of Sunny Side Up to read. Snowing here so perfect reading weather! :)

#23, #33 I second The Voyage of the Beagle. I really enjoyed it, especially the iconic moment when Darwin describes riding on the giant Gallapagos tortoises!

As for what I am reading, I am just starting Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Isak Dinesen. I'm not at all far in, but I love how evocative the writing is already; even from the first sentence.

I finished The Language of Threads by Gail Tsukiyama., which I loved!

Finished All quiet on the Western Front, a devastating reading experience. Don't know what's next. May continue read about WWI by going on to the 2nd novel in Parade's end

Carrying on with and continuing to enjoy 2666. It's not the sort of novel I would normally read, but the language is just hypnotically exquisite. And this is in English translation! This is the way I wish I could write.

Glad you liked it Heduanna. The series is excellent too, but (as usual) the books are better, because more can happen there.

I am still reading Little Star by John Ajvide Lindqvist any spare moment I can find. Wow, I just love that writer!

Tonight I started Dead Meat, the fifth Brady Coyne mystery, written in the 1980s by William Tapply.

I'm closing in on the end of The Parasites which has been hugely enjoyable. After that, in honour of forthcoming Hallowe'en, I'll be picking up The Secret of Crickley Hall.

Must somehow finish and review Island of Vice today. I like the story of Teddy Roosevelt's time as reforming police commissioner of New York. I'm not quite so sold on Zacks's writing. Hence my dragging feet.

#10 fredbacon
your post was very amusing. I agree about Montabalano.

I am still working on 1Q84 and am close to the end. I am deep into Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and while at the bookstore to get a cup of coffee picked up three more books. Death in the City of Light, Murder of the Century, and Destiny of the Republic. I am not really much of a crime reader but these three just appealed to me. I went there to get coffee and a nice murder mystery for the weekend and came back with non-fiction. Guess I have been on a non-fiction kick lately. I am listening to Hard Truth by Nevada Barr in the car.

I finished and put up a small review of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, and am taking a quick detour to read Wonder with my 11-yo niece. So far it is really good.

I Purl Ruled another book. Sunnyside was just not worth it. Why did I spend good money for this recorded copy? I wouldn't feel so bad if I had borrowed it from the library, but NO! I purchased this one because a friend told me that she really like the author's first book. This one is a clunker.

#48 Purl ruled? You mean you gave up and started knitting? ;-)

I don't knit, but I'd sure rather try than to read some of the books I've Pearl Ruled lately - Lionel Asbo grandmother incest. Bring on the yarn.

>50 Citizenjoyce: EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I'd rather track bears in the Klondike than read that!

Hello everyone! How is your Monday coming along? :) So I finished up Coroner last night and did enjoy it because I had read and enjoyed the sequel in September. Then I requested Thomas T. Noguchi, M. D.'s first memoir from Bookmooch and it arrived in the mail last week. I have to admit, I was sort of agitating to finish Coroner because I had just received Disobedience by Jane Hamilton from Bookmooch on Saturday and couldn't wait to start reading that book! :)

I'm not really the type of reader who can read multiple books, I think that I am strictly a "one book at a time" reader, but that is just fine with me! :)

Just finished the epic Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey and it was really, really good! I can't even begin to describe it, but please, look it up.

I have too many going right now...
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver and The Trial of Fallen Angels by James P. Kimmel Jr in print, The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Rian Malan, and The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets by Katlheen Alcott in audio.

It's a good thing I have a couple of books at hand since I am stuck at home due to the hurricane. But everytime I pick up We Need to Talk about Kevin, I fall asleep! I'm halfway through now.

I'm thinking of everyone batting the effects of Sandy. Wishing you all MUCH luck!

39> I can't read AQOTWF without crying: the passage about Kemmerich in hospital gets me every time. Incredibly moving. Storm of Steel is waiting to be read, supposedly the antithesis of Remarque's masterpiece.

Finished Electric Ladyland and have started Never Had It So Good by Dominic Sandbrook. The opening chapter about the Suez Crisis is both informative and exciting, which bodes well for the rest of the book.

#57, I've read them both and yes, they are antithetic. Junger seemed to thrive on warfare--it's as though it energized something in his personality.

54 DevourerOfBooks

Ooh, I hadn't heard about Barbara Kingsolver's new book yet! Please let us know how you like it.

My latest is The Orchard On Fire by Shena Mackay, it is a bit darkish, it was also shortlisted for the 1996 Booker Prize.

BTW I am one of the few I am sure that could not get into The Sense of an Ending.

A quick word on The Secret of Crickley Hall. I've never been a big fan of James Herbert but this one is really gripping me. Still reading at 3 this morning I quite scared myself. I understand the BBC has just made this into a mini-series due to be shown any day now and featuring the very fine Suranne Jones, so I very much want to finish reading before I start watching. Sometimes a good, old-fashioned ghost story is just what ticks the boxes.

Of course, those of you on America's east coast probably don't need any more scaring right now. Love and positive thinking to friends, family and strangers in the affected areas.

Ed for touchstones

I just finished Little Star by John Ajvide Lindqvist, I could not put it down, that book is seriously disturbing. So, onto something (which I think is) lighter: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.

I couldn't take it anymore and quit listening to Hard Truth by Nevada Barr. The story didn't make sense. Then I discovered that it was an abridged copy. Some bozo had purchased and abridged copy for the library. Abridged? Who reads an abridged copy of a mystery? Why do publishers even do abridged copies? How can you abridge a mystery? My second clunker in a week. My judgement is getting cloudy with old age. Or else I am just losing my patience for bad books.

Enough screaming - moved on to the Newbery Prize winner Moon Over Manifest. So far so good with it.

I finished and REVIEWED Jon Clinch's excellent gritty novel Kings of the Earth. I'm excited to have a new author to look forward to:)

Now I'm reading Louise Erdrich's (a long time favorite author) new one The Round House as well as dipping in and out of Team of Rivals for the Group Read.

Sing You Home felt too contrived for me. The songs were awful. My least favorite Jodi Picoult novel to date. It felt like a forum for the author to educate the reader on social issues more than a story. On to The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell.

I am reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn has anybody else read it if so what did you think of it.

marypoppins, just reading the title takes me back to the pleasure of reading that book for the first time! Enjoy!

I recently read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, marypoppins, and thought it was a very good, old-fashioned read.

I've embarked on the behemoth Team of Rivals, which I'm impressed with so far.

Reading Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. I love a book that immerses me in the author's world, and this one does just that. Glad I don't live in this world, however.

100 more pages of We Need to Talk About Kevin. It's a very dense read to get through. If it weren't for being stuck at home because of the storm, who knows how much slower I'd be.

I just finished YA book Wonder by R.J. Palacio and loved it, cheesy bow-tied happy ending and all!

marypoppins - I agree with others here re. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I read it not so long ago as well. It's just a lovely coming of age story and I have a particular fondness for that genre.

Speaking of which, I'm still working through Dreams From My Father by Obama. I'd call it a coming of age story too. There are some parts that seem rather too smooth for me - like he skipped over some key themes / issues (e.g. how he decided to jump from being an investment research analyst in NYC to taking up community organizing in the Chicago slums). We've heard and read so much about the latter career transition but the book does not shed much light on how his thinking evolved, given his prior background. Unless I'm just missing something. Anyway, it's still a good read and I'm just slow because of life getting in the way of reading.

I have just started Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case by Debbie Nathan. Nathan's theory is that "Sybil" (whose real name was Shirley Mason) was never a multiple personality. I am fascinated with what I have read so far which is mostly small biographies of the three women involved in the case - "Sybil" herself, her analyst and the woman who wrote the book, "Sybil".

I finally finished The Scarlet Letter. It appears that I just wasn't in the mood for reading it actually, but I chose it so went through it. I can see, what's it worth and why it's a classic, however I am not totally drawn by it. Maybe I'll enjoy it later, while thinking about it again.
I have not decided what to read next, but have acquired some really good boks (at least I hope so) lately and am going to choose one them. Interestingly, they were mostly crime novels.

The Cosmic Puppets Philip K. Dick

I finished The Kingdom of Gods by N. K. Jemisin. Really enjoyed all her books. Next up is The Darwath Trilogy by Barbara Hambly.

So, I just finished reading Disobedience today. I was so excited to start reading it, but - ehh - I don't think that it turned out to be Jane Hamilton's best book. Too much focus was paid to the Civil War reenacting sister in my opinion. Anyway, I have several more books by Jane Hamilton on my bookshelf, and I have higher hopes that I will enjoy those books much more. :)

I'm getting into the Halloween spirit by starting The Manhood Ceremony today! It's a reread for me, but one based off of reading the book about 15 years ago. So far, so scary! :)

I am reading and absolutely loving The Polish Boxer by Eduardo Halfon. And I know I heard about it on this thread and the name intrigued me because of the "Polish" by a Guatamalan writer and it turns out to be one of the most fascinating reads of the year! It is short stories, sort of linked, sort of memoir, sort of hard to categorize. My first read on my Paperwhite!

I just finished reading The Polish Boxer myself. The writing is exquisite. The author explores the nature of reality, art, and identity via a collection of vignettes. My only reservations are that sometimes it seemed the author was more obtuse than necessary. There were also some scenes whose point I missed. They were mesmerizing nonetheless.

I'm just now embarking on No Name by Wilkie Collins, and quite lookng forward to it.

I can't decide what to read next Cloud Atlas just arrived but I also have The Twelve second in The Passage trilogy.. decisions, decisions. :) happy days.

I have started A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie. So far I really like it. I haven't read my Poirot novels yet, but I can imagine to enjoy his stories more than Miss Marple's.

Beginning Henrietta Sees it Through by Joyce Dennys, a sequel to Henrietta's War which I expect will be as funny and touching as the original. These are epistolary novels, in the style of the much-beloved 84 Charing Cross Road, which means they are easy to pick up and put down without losing the thread of the story. Particularly helpful as I recover from knee surgery and have a shorter attention span than usual.

#84, if you like epistolary novels, you must read Steve Kluger's Last Days of Summer. That kid made me laugh out loud over and over.

snash/80 ~ I agree there is a fair deal of obtuse as re: the author/narrator. I also don't think all the stories "work" per se. But then again, it is kind of refreshing to see a different style for short pieces. A couple of them, I kept thinking there was something wrong with my Kindtle when they ended! I kept flipping around. Ha. But his imagery is so rich and I too love the explorations of art, mostly the making of music and musicians. A very unique little book.

#81, Bookwoman247, I read No name several years ago and remember enjoying it. Right now I'm working my way through Judge Dee at work, short stories about a detective in 7th century China.

CarolynSchroeder/86 Yes, The Polish Boxer is a unique little book. Several scenes will stick with me for sure. I also periodically find myself wondering and pondering over various possible interpretations.

#84
I second that vote for Last Days of Summer. It is a hoot. Very enjoyable novel.

Ugh, I'm crazy busy with uni right now, so this whole week I've only had the time to read my professor's doctoral dissertation for class. It's about the Swedish Employers Association and its stance on labor migration between 1945 and 1972. (And yes, it's exactly as boring as it sounds.)

I have just finished reading Toxic bachelor by Danniel Steel and I'm now reading Branded by the sheriff by Delores fossen!!!!

Can't seem to put the book down......

In Mexico City for the Night of 400 rabbits

I finished The God Delusion and found it very reasonable - except for the memes and genes chapter - it just didn't set in my mind.
Now, jnwelch, I've joined you in starting Team of Rivals and agree, it has a very impressive beginning. I'm on the 4th of 36 CDs. I imagine this will take a while.

59 PaperbackPirate

I believe Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver is out this coming Tuesday. I absolutely loved!

I am psyched for Barbara Kingsolver's new one! Thanks for the heads up 59 & 94! Sounds like she is at her preachiest best. I actually like when she just goes for it instead of tries to hide her agenda (like in The Lacuna which I did not dig). But WOW, Kindle price for that thing! $16 and change. Ouch.

Hi everyone! Well, I finished reading The Manhood Ceremony for the second time last night. I have to say that I totally forgot how disturbing it was for me to read the first time around. The writing was extremely dated, because it was written in 1978, but to me the plot of the book was disturbingly real and current to the times with the millions of children that can disappear or are kidnapped in America.

So, anyway, on to reading another book! :) I just picked up and started reading Scrolls of Darkness by Paul Henry Johnson. I received a copy of this book from the author to read and review.

I finished Jane Gardam's Old Filth today -- good one. I look forward to reading more of her work. Thank you, hazeljune, and other LTers for recommending this book to me.

Next up: Clyde Edgerton's The Night Train

I am reading:
Foolproof by Dianne Pugh
A Room for the Dead by Noel Hynd
The Raven's Bride- Lenore Hart
Dream Man- by Linda Howard
Scream for Me by Karen Rose

#97 mollygrace so pleased that you enjoyed Old Filth try asap to follow up with The Man In The Wooden Hat , it picks up from Old Filth and there ar few surprises as well!!

I am now reading Washington Square by Henry James, his writing reminds me lots of Edith Wharton.

Finished listening to a Kay Scarpetta installment, The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell. Enjoyable, but I enjoy more involvement of Lucy and Marino.

I will start listening to Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King, #12 in the Mary Russell series which I really like.

#23: Sorry for the delayed reply, but I just finished my trip to the Galapagos and have only now gotten e-mail contact again! You will absolutely love your trip to the islands, but unfortunately you may not love Vonnegut's Galapagos. I'll try to post my review in the next few days, but I'm sorry to say that it won't be a favorable one. Have a great trip!

#99 hazeljune, I'm a big fan of Washington Square. Henry James and Edith Wharton were friends -- quite a bit has been written about that friendship and their correspondence.

Now halfway through this one:

Six Feet Over!
http://www.librarything.com/work/book/91118124

Its been a theme for me this week and it started with the hypothesis putforward by Hameroff and Penrose called the The Orch-OR theory

New thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/144276#

Not as good as if Richard did it...sorry!