What Are You Reading the Week of 25 October 2008

This week, I'm feeling historical, among other things.

American Sphinx by Joseph J. Ellis
James Boswell: The Earlier Years by Frederick Pottle
Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine edited by Barry Smith
Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, for the groupread, still
The Mysterious Flame by Colin McGinn
New and Used by Marc Joseph

On deck: American Creation, His Excellency, The Glorious Cause, and Boswell's London Journal (since I'm starting a read through all of Boswell's journals.

#2 cornerhouse - I have both those Ellis books coming up on my TBR list, what did you think of American Sphinx?

whew! thanks jude!!!

Marcello in the Real World by Francisco X Stork

Two non-audio books going right now: Maps: Finding Our Place in the World and Cartographia: Mapping Civilizations.

I'm still working on The Fabric of the Cosmos. I'm making progress again now that my usual lunch place has finished its emergency renovations to its seating area.

I'm reading Greek Drama this week. Will be finished with The Odyssey
today.

#2 cornerhouse

I just got American Creation last week to put in my American History category for the 999 challenge. Let me know if you like it. Also, I'd like to know what you think of the wine book--I might get that for hubby for Christmas--he likes to read about wine while he's drinking it! :-)

This week I will be working on the following:

The next section of Orlando for the group read.
The next section of Three Cups of Tea for our local library book group read.
Haunted in Death, a novella by J.D. Robb in celebration of Halloween. (And maybe the other J.D. Robb novella I have: Interlude in Death.
I'm planning--if time allows--The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, also for Halloween.
The next section of Kristin Lavransdatter II: The Wife

I'm also reading In the Heart of the Seas which I will try to get further into. I have some extra time to read this week--if RL doesn't interrupt--because I have Thursday and Friday off.

> 2: cornerhouse- I read American Sphinx a few years ago. I remember really enjoying it. I'm a big fan of presidential biographies. I also have Ellis's Founding Brothers deep in my tbr.

#3 ktleyed:

I'm still not quite done with American Sphinx, but I definitely think that's one of the more balanced and insightful biographies of Jefferson that you're likely to find. Though, to be precise, it's less of a biography than an explication of Jefferson's character by way of a series of key periods in his life.

All in all, recommended. For that matter, I'd recommend without hesitation anything that Ellis has written.

#9 msf59:

I just read Founding Brothers for the second time a little while back. I found it excellent all the way through, but particularly appreciated Ellis's precise and forensic explanation of the Burr-Hamilton duel.

#8 MusicMom41

If American Creation is in keeping with whatever else Ellis has written, it's bound to be good -- I'm definitely looking forward to it.

As for A Question of Taste, it's a collection of philosophical essays written about wine by professional philosophers. As much as I also like to read about wine while drinking wine, this is perhaps a wine book that requires a clear head. I'll let you know.

I am still reading The Woman in White and thinking a fork in the eyeball would be more enjoyable.

Its sooooooo slow. Just not a fan of older books. Not sure how much longer I will be able to hang in there. If it weren't for a RL book group, I would have bagged it already (and may still do so).

Still reading Hitler and Mars Bars, as well as The Rest Falls Away, and a whole ton of books on Andrew Carnegie and the history of the public library for my senior paper. Hitler and Mars Bars and The Rest Falls Away are for when I'm ready to tear my hair out from focusing on the paper too long.

Heh ~ I had trouble with The Woman in White too, Ficus, though I read it all the way through and am glad I did. I also read Collins' The Moonstone, which I enjoyed more. But I couldn't, simply could NOT, finish The Mysteries of Udolpho. Talk about sloooooowwwww and boooorring. Whole CHAPTERS were devoted to scenery, and the fork in the eye alternative was looking really good by the time I gave up.

Anyway, just finished Real World by Natsuo Kirino. Powerful noir, and I am so glad I am not a teenager in Japan. Imagine all that teenage angst in the midst of all those adult expectations.

Then I started The King's Rose by Alisa Libby, an ARC of a historical novel of the short life of Catherine Howard, one of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. Up to page 60 and am enjoying it very much.

Recently finished Things I want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Enjoyed both and have been raving about the Shaffer's book to all my friends.

I have just started The Tenth Gift and while I am only 20 pages in, I am already intrigued with the plot line. Time will tell if it continues to captivate me.

#16 lkernagh

I read Guernsey Literary yesterday and I highly recommend it, also--a "great read."

#16 lkernagh I've also readGuernsey Literary. I also enjoyed the book. I have the Tenth Gift
on my tbr pile, let me know what you think of the book.

I'm just about finished with No Country for Old Men. Quite bleak, but nicely written.

I'm about half-way through A Big Storm Knocked It Over. An exploration of marriage & friendship, & motherhood & careers - I'm liking it. :-D

Gail

okay>13 FicusFan: FicusFan..

The Woman in White is a sssslllloooowwww read..but, when it was originally published...folks read SLOW..was this book serialized in a Magazine? i don't know..i know Charles Dickens' novels were serialized...give Wilkie Collins a chance!!

sorry for pulling your chain
;-p

The Woman in White and The Moonstone are the bedrock of Detective Fiction...

I loved The Woman in White. I guess it does go a little slowly, but to me it was
worth it. I honestly enjoyed the story. Hope it gets better for you!

I am enjoying The Crow Road by Iain Banks and I am listening to Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.

I've got about 40 pages left of Germinal by Emile Zola. It's a great book but has taken me a while to get through, so I'm excited to finally finish.

After that I plan on grabbing Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson from my tbr pile.

Have just come home from a lovely holiday around Victoria. I highly recommend the Great Ocean Road & The Grampians for anyone who likes nature. Incredibly beautiful cliffs, waterfalls, mountains. We also saw lots of wildlife, actually in the wild, these days you only seem to see native animals in Zoos. The downside of the holiday, was that I hardly did any reading (I think that’s the sign of a good holiday: having too much fun to read).

I finished the Da Vinci code. The plot was good and kept moving along quickly, though some of the attempts at character development were quite painful. There were also points in the book when the dialogue was ridiculous, the characters were explaining their actions so completely that I felt that maybe Dan Brown thought all his readers were stupid.

Started Watership Down and am liking it. I should finish that tomorrow, just in time to pick up a couple of books from the library.

I'm about halfway through Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I'm enjoying it very much so far!

Finishing up Rose Madder by Stephen King tomorrow and will start Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Still, still, still working my way through Anna Karenina. My goal is to be reading Dracula by Halloween, so here's hoping I can make it through the remaining 454 pages by Thursday night. *crosses fingers* I really do love the story, it's just such slow going for me these days.

I have just finished today reading the biography Georgina Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman.

.

I'm working on The Light Fantastic and The Colour of Magic, but I guess they're technically re-reads :) I have so much to read for class - scenes, plays, ect - that I feel like trying to read anything more than brain candy is just too much.

Hi Everyone! I just finished The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. I really loved this book!! I think it helped to have read some of the earlier reviews.

I've got my review posted here:

http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-19th-wife-by-david-ebershoff...

If you have read it, let me know what you think, if you haven't, take a peak at the review and let me know how it sounds to you!

Take care ~ Wendi

For Halloween I've started The New Annotated Dracula with foreword and notes by Leslie S. Klinger and an introduction by Neil Gaiman, published by W.W. Norton.

Also have started Faberge's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire, Toby Faber.

I'm now beginning The Story of Edgar Sawtelle I'm curious to see how I like it, since there have been so many mixed reviews on LT.

Just finished The Poetry of Jaroslav Seifert and Who Hates Whom, two greatly different books, but both enjoyable.

I am reading: “There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they can take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside they work their magic.”
The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfieled

Chapter 3 & 4 of Orlando, group read
Reread: Sult by Knut Hamsun
Historien om Europa 1 by Karsten Alnæs
In Search of Lost Time, volume II by Marcel Proust (10 pages a day)

I had to add Graceling to my wishlist. Great reviews, and I enjoy fantasy too...

Started and am already well into Behind the Scenes at the Museum - so far, and I suspect that'll continue, its a perfect read.

I'm just finishing up Not a Happy Camper by Mindy Schneider. It's a light and sweet book about the author's time at a sleep-away camp in the 1970's. It's full of nostalgia and has its funny spots. Cute book.

Just finished, Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. This is a terrific book about the affects of the Civil War on the modern south. Funny, informative and sometimes horrifying.
Next up, Faceless Killers by Hankell Mannell.

Still reading Duma Key and am really enjoying it. Reccon I'll finish it sometime tomorrow.

I swear I looked in "My Groups" for this thread and couldn't find it, so I have been floundering in the last one!!!

I started a biography on Joshua Chamberlain yesterday, so far so good, though I had spent most of the day, between chores, reading a book of Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" sayings.

And then I look at all those books in my bookcases and beyond that I want to read and shrug and sigh - will I ever get to them - and I have been at the library this week too and I even asked for a book via Interlibrary loan because out county library system doesn't have it!

I will have books yet to read as I pass on to that great book emporium in the sky!

I finished World of Wonders by Robertson Davies -- pretty good.

I have started an early Margaret Atwood novel, Surfacing, and unfortunately I am not impressed. In my 20's, she used to be my favorite author -- now, I don't know, every time I try and read her again I am underwhelmed.

I finished Indignation. I'm a big Philip Roth fan, and there was a lot to like in this book (character, setting, brilliant writing but I was ultimately dissatisfied with it.

And I also finished two earlier novels by Jennifer Haigh, the author of the current The Condition, which is one of my favorite books of the year so far. The first one, Mrs. Kimble, was good but not overwhelming, and her second novel, Baker Towers, was dramatically more complex and insightful. It's exciting to see her getting so much better from book to book -- so I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Now I've started The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. It's been on my TBR pile for a while and I figured I should read it since it just won the Booker.

I finished The Joys of My Life by Alys Clare yesterday. It is the last of the Hawkenlye books and it ended on a happily ever after note which the romantic in me appreciated.

I started Blood Lite, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. I'm not a big horror fan and so far there is nothing in this story collection (I've read 13 of the 21 stories) to make me one. I picked up the book because Jim Butcher has a story in it and I discovered that Mike Resnick has one in it as well. I haven't gotten to either of their stories yet.

#43 jhowell - I remember reading Surfacing way back when I was in college for a modern lit course and I couldn't get into it, it did absolutely nothing for me. I have a feeling it just all completely went over my head, for I still think of it as just a lot of "hoo-ha." I remember my prof being very disappointed that I didn't care for it, she kept telling me what a good book it was, blah, blah, blah, trying to convince me, but it just seemed silly to me, I guess I just couldn't relate. I have a feeling I'd still feel the same way if I picked it up again.

Heart in the Right Place

I am loving it!

I just started Nicole Sexton and Susan Johnston's novel Party Favors, all about the "seedy" side of political fundraising. Very entertaining so far!

I'm reading Year of Wonders which I had to move forward on my TBR pile..........couldn't wait to read it and am so far enjoying it a lot!

I just started Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I figured this was about as far from No Country for Old Men as I could get - I like a little contrast in my reading. :-)

#46 -- "hoo-ha" is an excellent word for Surfacing; I just finished and I thought it was fairly horrible. It reads like some college student's magnum opus for their creative writing class. Amateur, contrived, painful.

#13 fiscusfan

I have to add my voice in favor of The Woman in White. It really is a good story and is the basis of so many of the "damsel in distress" romantic mystery genre.

I actually preferred The Moonstone because it is more of a "detective" story and that is the mystery genre I prefer.

I just finished Night Chills by Dean Koontz and I am going to start The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Tales by Washington Irving. The illustrations by Arthur Rackham are AMAZING!

Still working my way through Ulysses, and started The White Tiger for my commute-read (much, much shorter!)

I like The White Tiger so far, but I think that A Fraction of the Whole was much better.

I'm reading A Death in Brazil, which is nonfiction on the history of Brazil. It skips nicely between its founding by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century, and the political climate from the 1980s to the present. Very interesting reading. I haven't read nonfiction in a while so it's a nice change, too.

I just finished reading Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan
You seriously have to read this book. Porchy... are you there? Move this to the top of the TBR pile, and you will not be sorry.

I don't know where to start to explain how good it is. It will be a tough book to follow~

I just finished Ann Cleeves' Raven Black - a great murder mystery.

And since I'm still in the mystery mood, I've started The Broken Shore. I've never read Peter Temple and I'm not quite sure what I think of it, but then I'm only 20 pages in.

And today I bought Barack Obama's Dreams From My father and I'm looking forward to starting that as well.

Last night I got 70 pages or so into The Gulag Archipelago, volume 2. I'm dipping into a couple of books on process philosophy and theology.

Robert

Just finished The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz and really enjoyed it. Debating what to start next. Perhaps The Fetch by Peter Everett...

Reading Small Gods in between schoolwork.

--> 41

Oooh! Duma Key!! Just finished it myself and really loved it. I think it's my favorite King book ever. Great two lead characters, don't you think?

I just picked up The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Think I'll read it next.

Just finished A Big Storm Knocked It Over by Laurie Colwin.

Just started When We Were Bad by Charlotte Mendelson.

Gail

Last week I finished up The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy which I loved and would highly recommend.

I bought, started, and finished ex: Libris by Anne Fadiman. Again I loved it but would only recommend it to true booklovers. Certain members of my family would think it's a total waste of time to read and boring to boot.

It's a long weekend in NZ so I've started to read Tis by Frank McCourt. It was lent to me by a friend and I was ambivalent about it because I read Angela's Ashes years ago and it was very depressing, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read a sequel. However because it's a friend's book and she will want it back soon I got down to reading it quite quickly (otherwise it would sit on my shelves forever) and I'm actually really enjoying and can't wait to get back to it tonight!

I think I will finish up Tis pretty quickly, if I do I shall start Angels and Demons by Dan Brown as I've been told by a friend that it's better than The Davinci Code.

I finished The Graveyard Book last Saturday, and I am totally in looooove! With Bod, and Silas, and Master Neil's wonderful story-telling! Neil Gaiman is LOVE!!!

I also started Francesca Lia Block's Ecstasia over the weekend, for my takeout reading. So far, so good!

>63 kiwiflowa: kiwiflowa, I rate The God of Small Things amongst my alltime favourite books. I loved the language used.

I finished The Gargoyle - what a fascinating story. I thought it was wonderful. Am now starting The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

I'm reading Gogol's Dead Souls. It's been languishing on my shelf for some time and the title pulled me in this Halloween week. I was expecting a dark and heavy Russian tale from the deep recesses of the country but it's a story of taxes, landowners, and social hypocrisy. And entertaining satire based on LT comments.

I'm reading Faefever by Karen Marie Moning. It is the newest of her urban fantasy series.

Finished Year of Wonders

and am now reading To School Through the Fields........so far, not quite what I was expecting, but I'll finish it pretty soon and move back onto some heavier tomes!!!!

I just finished Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali (fantastic) and started Lolita by Nabokov :)

Finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. It's two completely different books. The first couple hundred pages develop a rich atmosphere with complex characters and interesting look at dog breeding. Then, somewhere along the line the writing style changes. The characters degenerate into complete morons and the story begins to feels like contrived suspense. It’s all plot driven, as the concept of show, don’t tell is flipped backward to just tell everything, especially those critical little details that were left out in earlier parts for no reason and are brought up just as they become relevant. And this goes on for several hundred pages. It's a very strange change. It feels like it was written by two different authors, one exceptionally crafty and the other blindly hacking out a plot without regard to story. My advice – skip this book.

I just started The Great Transformation by Karen Armstrong for a group read in Pro and Con (Religion).

>59 jbealy: jbealy - It's always nice to see someone else who's heard of (let alone enjoyed) A Cure for Death by Lightning. I originally ran across it in on a book-exchange shelf in Costa Rica, but didn't have a book I was willing to exchange, so read the first few chapters there, then as soon as I got back to the States had to order my own copy!

I'm currently working my way through two GIANT books: The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Both are good so far, but I'm missing having a book that I can stick in my purse and go!

I'm also listening to Dreamsongs, Vol. 3 by George R. R. Martin, but am going to get to the end of a story and then put it on pause to start Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire.

A Death in Brazil - sounds interesting because my daughter is working on a degree in Brazilian Portuguese literature and likes to know the history of the place, too. I'll have to put this in my TBR list and send it on to her as well.

>70 dchaikin:: dchaikin- That is a great analysis of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Like you I was swept away by the first 200 pages or so, beautifully poetic prose, but by the end it was a train wreck. Our only difference is, is that I would recommend it, with some reservations. It's a puzzle but a lot of readers love this book!

#61: I'm about 60pages from finishing, and am loving it! I haven't read such a suspenseful book in quite some time. Oh yes, great maincharacters indeed!

I'm reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke.

I finished The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart last night -- that was a page turner and a good read. Not sure what I'll read next -- probably Embers by Sandor Marai.

>75 agentash: agentash, ooh, that was one of my favorite books this year! How do you like it so far?

I'm currently reading Brisingr (better so far than the first two, but so ridiculously long...), March by Geraldine Brooks, and Final Harvest: Poems by Emily Dickinson. On my slow reread of Fruits Basket, I am now up to Volume 12, which I will read today. And last night I finished Naruto Volume 15 (talk about a cliff hanger, geez) and promptly put the next two volumes on hold.

I am reading Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas. I finished Veil of Roses this weekend. I thought the story started strong but then the story became too predictable.

I finished listening to Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, and have just started listening to Night by Elie Wiesel.

>77 bell7: I just finished part 1 and I'm really enjoying it so far. For it's length the story hasn't had any parts I've felt like skimming. The story flows really well and she writes in such a way when she switches from one character to the other it doesn't feel like an unnatural transition as with some books.

#70, dchaikin, #73, msf59, I agree with both of you about the beginning vs. the end of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle except that what changed it for me was the introduction of the supernatural/"parallels" with Hamlet. That completely turned me off, and then I felt the end was way over-the-top melodramatic and totally unsatisfying; there were character issues I really believed should have been developed instead.

Close to finishing The Yiddish Policeman's Union. I picked up a slew of books at the used book store this weekend, including Life of Pi, A Confederacy of Dunces, The Poisonwood Bible, and THe No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, but I actually think I might try to start The Exorcist in honor of Halloween. (Or Hallowe'en Party which is much shorter and would fit my schedule better.)

I'm finishing China Lake by Meg Gardiner.
On my TBR stack:
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons,
the last 2 Kathy Reichs books
The List of Seven by Mark Frost
The Dark River by John Twelve Hawks
The teen/YA selection I'm reading next is Spindle's End by Robin McKinley.
Non-Fiction book: So Sexy, So Soon

#44> rebeccanyc, I'm sorry you didn't like Indignation a little better. I think we may have seen the last of the "great" Roth novels, a la The Human Stain, but I did like Indignation better than any of his works since, in fact, the Human Stain. Just one person's opinion, obviously!

I'm currently about halfway through Rob Roy, which I'm enjoying very much. The edition I'm reading is one of the four volumes of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels that I came upon at a flea market here in Boonville, CA, a year or so ago.

I don't know how many volumes there are all told in this set, but the books were printed in 1898 by the Waverley Book Company, New York.

These editions are in terrific condition. I doubt that they're really "rare" and they're certainly not "off beat," but as I'm reading Rob Roy, I'm finding many uncut pages. This tells me that these books have been sitting around on different peoples' bookshelves for 110 years but at least this volume (which contains Rob Roy and St. Ronan's Well) has never been read before in all that time.

Ok I've definitely ODed on Stephanie Plum ... I just finished Lean Mean Thirteen and I have to thank Janet Evanovich for many a chuckle but I am now done ... I don't think I want to read another of Ms Plum's escapades for quite a while.

I'm starting The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Murial Barbery for a book club read, and I'm trying to decide what else to read for my own pleasure.

#56.....hey mckait ~ I got your recommendation for Heart in the Right Place and will read it next!! Thank you!

I just finished The Haunting of Hill House last night and ooooo it's so creepy! The movie follows the book exactly and I got goose bumps just reading and also remembering the movie....I hope it's on television this Halloween season so I can see it again for the umpteenth time. The best haunted house movie ever!

Now I'm ready for some lighthearted fluff....just started The Middle Ages (a humorous novel) by Jennie Fields last night.....I've been working hard lately and need something I can just skim over without too much effort. :o)

It's a damp, chilly, gloomy day out.....perfect for a blanket, a book, a cup of tea, and sweet solitude!

I was thinking of reading Sandworms of Dune after I finish Joshua Chamberlain A Hero....

Not sure why I continue to read the Dunes but I hate to not at least give a book a try once it is in my possession and since I didn't pay for it anyway (got it from my supplier), I'm not out anything and I have to admit I am curious as to what Brian Herbert is up to. I have a copy of Paul of Dune and hope that Brian stops soon.

good! let me know what you think porchy okay?
I so so loved it! It will go on my fave list for sure.

I am sending it ot my daughter, but want it back.. lol
She is dependable, though :)

#70, 73, 81 - Eek, I'm reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle now, and so far I'm loving it, but I'm only on page 90! I'm fearful to read past page 250!

#89 ktleyed.........I'm sorry, but that predicament really made me smile!! I don't know what I'd do in your position right now! lol

Just finished Paper Towns by John Green a couple of days ago and have since begun reading Stop in the name of pants by Louise Rennison

>89 ktleyed:: ktleyed- Be Brave and remember a lot of readers thought this was a great book, aka: OPRAH!

Last night I finished Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and am just about to start Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns.

I finished Graceling earlier today; my review is up at Stella Matutina, and I'll be drafting something shorter for LibraryThing tomorrow. I'm now finishing off The Bad Prince, (the third Jack of Fables collection), before launching into Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik.

ktleyed (referencing #92 msf59) - {speaking as the little devil over your left shoulder} stop reading it, quit now while your ahead. ;)

I just started The Audacity of Hope by Obama. I want to read it before the election, not because I'm undecided, but because I'm a huge Obama supporter, and if he loses the election, I'll be too depressed to read it!

Just finished Naked by David Sedaris. Another winner from him. Lucky me, I'm going to see him on Wednesday for a reading & book signing!!

#96 jhedlund - I'm reading Obama's Dreams from My Father this week for the exact same reason. It's starting to look like we'll be OK if we're still reading next week...:)

I finished The Second World War by John Keegan. Would someone please clap? I'm quite embarrassed that when I click on conversations for this book, there are about 5 for me saying that I'm still reading it! It's taken 2 months, but it was well worth the effort.

Now I'm back into The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville and have started The Edwardians by Roy Hattersley.

98> Sustained applause, but I'm not standing because I have a laptop on my lap.

Robert

Finished The King's Rose (it was really good) and started Northanger Abbey, which is giving me (giggling) fits, esp. the bits where the "heroine" and that man she likes (dang, I can't for the life of me remember his name ~ you know, the one with the nice sister, not the flakey one) goes on and on about The Mysteries of Udolpho which I truly tried to read but just could not.

I just finished {Standing Tall} by {C. Vivian Stringer}, the Rutger's basketball coach. What a book and what a woman. If you like college sports or even if you don't, read this book, a memoir of an outstanding woman as she faces both personal tragedies and public triumphs.

I am about to begin {Grace} by the inspirational writer {Richard Paul Evans} I hope this book is as enjoyable as his other titles.

I actually preferred the woman in white to the moonstone by far, byt then again I really enjoy stories of madness and confused identities etc.

I also loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell although know plenty of people who couldn't get through it due to the footnotes etc - for me, this was part of its unique charm. Does anyone know if there was ever a 'sequel' ?

I'm currently reading a conspiracy of violence - my first susanna gregory mystery novel. Going quite well so far.

Finished the Joshua Chamberlain book and will now attempt Sandworms of Dune. since it is snowing, it'll be a good day to sit in and read.

>93 Talbin: Talbin, please share your thoughts on Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead when you are finished! I thought it was very macabre (but also hilarious!).

Hi everyone! I just finished Quicksand by Iris Johansen. Going to re-read Bram Stoker's Dracula to keep in the halloween spirit this week.

Finishing up Kerouac's The Subterraneans this week. It's a good book although I've noticed that it takes me a few minutes to get into the story each time I pick it up, but once I catch the flow again, it's lovely.
Also reading Haruki Murakami's Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman when I know I only have a little bit of reading time. This is the first time I've read any of his short stories.

#89 - For what its worth, I actually liked The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - it is flawed, but definately worth reading. I thought parts were very original, haunting, and definately stirred up some authentic emotion. I say keep reading!

I finished Dennis Lehane's short story collection Coronado -- OK, but forgettable. And just started in honor of Halloween my first time reading Frankenstein.

Finished Duma Key last night and have just started The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

The "lighthearted fluff" book I chose the night before last (The Middle Ages by Jennie Fields) is actually turning out to be a pretty good read. It's definitely light reading, and other than the author using the word "extraordinary" to death, it's keeping my interest....in fact I've read half of the book already. A nice story, nicely written.

I miss Richard...... :o(

I was reaching for a can of soup and Born in Death by JD Robb fell on me! Don't ask me what it was doing in my pantry by the soup cans ... but I'm taking it as a sign that it's the next book I'm to read and so I started it last night.

I enjoy her 'In Death' books and I think I've read almost every single one .. they're all on my bookshelves and this is a series that I'm loath to give away, and I find myself re-reading them every once in a while. The characters are all so diverse and extremely engaging, and her plots and twists always interesting. I find it amazing that she can write romance as Nora Roberts, and 21st century police novels as JD Robb.

She also writes vampire books, but I haven't tried those yet.

I miss Richard's missives and snarky humor!

I'm taking a class and reading Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot by Lon Milo DuQuette. Very thought provoking.

I finished To School Through the Fields and attempted to start The Black Pharaoh but could NOT get into it or the writing style and gave up after the required 50 pages.

Am now currently now not reading anything..........the horror....the horror........

edited for exhausted non-understandable sentences

porchsitter & cameling I was thinking the same thing--where is richard? Is he ok?? I miss him too.

Finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (glad I won't have to type that title again!) which I thought was a lovely, sweet story. But I was surprised to read about the author who, sadly, died just prior to the publication of her book.

And now for something completely different . . . . World War Z.

>114 judylou:: judylou- I read World War Z a few months ago and was a big fan. It's both scary and very ambitious. I hope you enjoy it!

I'm halfway through Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah, a novel about two illicit love affairs in Zanzibar, one at the end of the 19th century and the other midway through the 20th century.

I currently have two going, both highly recommended here on LT: The 19th Wife and The Cellist of Sarajevo. I have one at home and one at school and I keep wanting to take each one with me when I go to the other place. I guess that means I'm liking them both :)

I have just finished The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson. a descriptive read about 17th century Cornwall and present day Morocco. I enjoyed the book.

Next up, The September Society by Charles Finch.

#115 Thanks msf59. I'll let you know how I go.

I am reading Embers by Sandor Marai. I really like it so far. I finished reading Caddie Woodlawn aloud last night. I can't believe I missed this when I was a child. We loved it.

I'm reading a novelette called The House of Paper which I requested from the library after reading a very interesting book quote from the story. It is quite a cute little mystery so far.

#120 AMQS--Re: Caddie Woodlawn--My Mom read it to me; I read it to my daughter. It really is a classic isn't it?

#114 judylou and #115 msf59

I LOVED World War Z as well, zombies is completely not my thing but I really really really enjoyed reading it, its totally believable and fascinating. Will love to hear what you think.

Hi everyone...quick dip in to explain my absence...daughter-wedding prep and leaving-house prep and BlueScreenOfDeath issue with laptop equals no time for LT or, in fact, much else.

Scroodles of hugs all around.

This week's read was A Pirate of Exquisite Mind which I couldn't put down once I started it. What a wonderful read this book is, and I can't say enough about how much fun it was to read! It's not even time for the group read yet, and I am hoping that any remaining fence-sitters will take this nudge and run buy a copy.

No regrets, promise!

See y'all in November, maybe.

Starting reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. LT recommened. The first four chapters were a delight. BUT, THEN, the Chapter called “Meeting Miss Winter” was horrible. It turns all dark and nasty. A sadistic boy, a masochistic girl, a lesbian episode, hints at incest, a father who dotes on his daughter literally yanks her hair out by the roots. I was cringing – the father’s reaction to his grown-up daughter leaving home seemed totally out of character. I couldn’t continue reading. For those who have read it – does it get better or worse? The writing in the first three chapters was excellent – I want to know what happens, but dread any more horrible episodes.

- TT (Terrified Tortoise, head in shell afraid to come out!)

>124 richardderus:. With Richard's warm recommendation how can you resist joining in the fun at:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/apirateofexquisitemi

There are some great prizes to be won every week of the read.

Come aboard.

- TT

>125 TheTortoise: Milord, it gets better. It's a dark book, but it's a good one.

BTW...I thought the father's reaction to her leaving home was in keeping with the kind of creepy old sod he's painted as being.

#122 theaelizabet: yes, it is! One thing (of many) I love about Library Thing is learning about great books I may have missed, or remembering an old favorite I had forgotten.

I finished Night by Elie Wiesel.........overwhelming! I have started listening to Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov.

#125 TheTortoise

I almost quit at that point, also--and that part is one reason I hesitate to recommend it. But as I remember that was the worst of the gruesome parts (or maybe I just got better at skimming them!) and the story is quite interesting--21st century "gothic" is certainly more graphic than 19th century gothic! Do they think we don't have any imaginations?!

#129 hemlokgang

Overwhelming certainly describes the experience--but worth it. Night is one of my top books for the year.

84 rocketjk> I have a copy of The Pirate from the same edition. The book was completely uncut and I felt I was transported back to the 19th century sitting up late at night slicing through hundreds of pages to get to a story that no one had ever read (at least my copy, though I think it is probably one of Scott's lesser known novels).

>125 TheTortoise:: TheTortoise, definitely keep at it. It does get better and it's a truly wonderful book. The dark bits, while difficult to read, is needed for the rest of the book to make sense. You won't regret not giving up on the book.

Finished Adored by Tilly Bagshawe and have started Stardust by Neil Gaiman - have already read his Neverwhere and was underwhelmed - so far I really like the style this one's written in...

#125: TheTortise, I am also reading the The Thirteen Tale just finished the same chapter. I'm
glad there are enough Lter's that says we should keep on reading. So I will.

I finished Blood Lite edited by Kevin J. Anderson and The Return by Håkan Nesser and I've started Dissolution by C. J. Sansom.

#125 The Tortoise & #134 cindysprocket - I just finished The Thirteenth Tale a couple of weeks ago after very deliberately letting it get buried in my TBR pile. LTer's prompted me to try it and although I struggled with it somewhere around the middle, it was absolutely worth it! A good gothic mystery!

Yes, keep reading The Thirteenth Tale. I'm glad to see I'm not the only squeamish one, though. I almost quit after that chapter too! It's worth finishing, really!

Just finished Watership Down by Richard Adams and loved it. I do like animal stories, and rabbits, and I loved how the rabbits weren't too "humanised", they seemed worried about rabbity things.

Next is Of mice and men, looking forward to it.

The Crossing, by Cormac McCarthy

>99 Mr.Durick: Thanks, and glad you didn't break your laptop doing it!

Read the first 100 pages of The Glass Castle this afternoon (it was in the car, and my daughter fell asleep). Another great recommendation from this group!

I started reading I Dreamed of Africa which I was really enjoying but have left at work and am not back till sunday! So I'm now reading The Pirate's Daughter which I am enjoying more than I thought I would :)

I just finished The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga, this year's Booker award winner. I found it compelling, darkly humorous, but very dark overall, and a view into a side of India I haven't read much about.

Finished Scar Night by Alan Campbell on the train this morning. I'm in the middle of Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi, Slam by Nick Hornby, A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby and Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician by Daniel Wallace.

>139 appydo1:: appydo1- I hope you are reading the Border Trilogy in order. It's outstanding! It's been a few years since I read The Crossing but I remember the 1st half to have been truly mesmerizing! Enjoy!

Maybe I should read a nice cuddly story like Watership Down! See >138 bookgirl271:. However, I will perservere with the gruesome story of The Thirteenth Tale for now - thank you for all your comments.

- TT

Yes, rabbits, crazy lovely animals! A good idea, should put Watership Down on my tbr list, too.

Right now I am reading Jane Eyre. Not a very original pick, but something I have wanted to do for a long time. Plus, I am planning to read The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde next - from what I know about Fforde, it must be hilarious - and didn't wanted to do it without knowing Brontë's Eyre.

#138 - just finished Of Mice and Men and passed it on to my husband. I enjoyed the book.

I am currently reading Sandworms of Dune. I have to find out what Brian Herbert is doing and hope he finishes soon. The book touts is as the Grand Finale, but I already have the book that came next!

I'm reading Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward, a new young author. The story, set on the Mississippi Gulf coast, is about two twin brothers who paths diverge after high school graduation. I'm totally hooked.

>104 christiguc: christiguc - I finished Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead last night - here's my review. What an odd yet curiously satisfying little book! It was macabre, grotesque, humorous and yet also treated some of the characters quite gently. I had a difficult time writing the review - it was such an out-of-the-ordinary novel.

Finished The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night, and am about to begin The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.

I finished listening to Uncle Vanya and am just about to start listening to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I continue reading The Crow Road. I have been in the car a lot so have been listening more than reading in recent days.

#151> hemlokgang, If you enjoyed Uncle Vanya, rent the movie Vanya on 42nd Street some time. It's a great peformance of the play done in a then vacant 42nd Street (NYC) theatre with Wallace Shawn as Vanya and Julianne Moore as the professor's young wife.

From the Wikipedia entry about the movie:

Production

Over the course of three years, director Andre Gregory and a group of actors came together on a voluntary basis in order to better understand Chekhov's work through performance workshops. Staged and filmed entirely within the vacant shell of the then-abandoned and decrepit Amsterdam Theater on 42nd street in New York City, they enacted the play rehearsal style on a bare stage with the actors in street clothes. Free from any commercial demands, their performances were for an invited audience only. Gregory and Malle decided to document the play as they had developed it. The film was the result of the collaborative process.

Location

Workshop rehearsals with Gregory and the cast originally took place at the abandoned Victory Theatre on 42nd Street in New York City. The filmed version was shot entirely within the New Amsterdam Theatre, also on 42nd Street. Built in 1903, the theatre was the original home of the Ziegfeld Follies, a historical tidbit mentioned in the film during some pre-show banter. In the late 1930s, the New Amersterdam Theatre was transformed into a movie palace. The theatre remained a movie palace until "temporarily" closed in 1982.

At the time Vanya on 42nd Street was filmed, the theatre had been abandoned for over ten years and was in a state of severe disrepair. Rats had chewed through much of the stage rigging, thus making the stage unusable. For the film production, some rows of seats were removed and a small platform was built for the cast and film crew. Shortly after the production of Vanya, the New Amsterdam was leased to The Walt Disney Company. Disney restored the theatre to its grand original design and reopened it in 1997.

Thanks so much for all of that info. I will put the movie on my Netflix queue immediately!

Just finished When We Were Bad by Charlotte Mendelson.

Just started The Bookman's Wake by John Dunning.

Gail

I've just this morning finished Swann's Way by Marcel Proust. Despite its reputation, I found it quite readable in version I had (the Penguin Deluxe Classic Edition). There were a few times when it took 15 minutes to read a page, but there were other times when it flew past. Some of the language is quite astounding, and the sentences are a little bit like reading Jose Saramago with lots of ideas in a long stream (though Proust uses a lot more punctuation!). And I keep running into references to madelines all the time now! At any rate, I'm not put off, and I've ordered the next volume. Though I don't think I'll be starting it for a few months - I do need a bit of a rest!

My next read is Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian. After Proust, the sentences seem very, very short!

I've been using ILL quite a bit lately. I've been skimming Reality Rules: A Guide to Teen Nonfiction Reading Interests (yea for reader's advisory) and Meet Me in St. Louis. Somehow I was expecting the book to be more like the movie. I'm one chapter away from the end and the family is just now finding out they could possibly be moving away from St. Louis just before the World's Fair. However, being from St. Louis I am loving reading about the familiar fairgrounds (Forest Park) and some of the familiar streets.

This week I've finished Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah, a wonderful novel set in Zanzibar at different stages from the end of the 19th century to the current day, and For Bread Alone by Mohamed Choukri, a memoir of the author's childhood of extreme poverty and deprivation in Morocco. Today I should finish The Implacable Order of Things by the Portugese writer Jose Luis Peixoto, which won the Jose Saramago Literary Award in 2001. After that I'll probably start Missing Person by the French novelist Patrick Modiano.

#155, Killeymoon, It took me three tries, over three decades, before I was able to get through Swann's Way and continue through the rest of In Search of Lost Time but I was finally really hooked a few years ago with the new translations by a series of different translators -- and surprised to find how much humor there was in it too. If you enjoyed Swann's Way, it only gets better.

I'm reading The Count d'Orgel's Ball by Raymond Radiguet -- coincidentally, its setting is reminiscent of Proust (upper class Parisian society, in a slightly later time frame), but the tone, style, and intent, of course, are very different.

Another Mother's Life because I have to review it.

Refering to 156 ---- Shame over me, I never knew that the movie "Meet me in St. Louis" is based on a novel! I must say in my defense that the movie is never shown in German TV. I only watched it once while I was studying for a few months in the US. Still a shame!

159 mckait, let me know how it is. I had it in my hand at Borders the other day, but put it back. Let me know if its worth it to buy.

I have just finished reading today the biography Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express by Robert C. Gallagher.

.

>154 iwillrejoice: iwillrejoice...the entire series...beginning with The Bookman's Wake...is wondrous fair..well worth your time..i have read most of them

#158 rebeccanyc: That sounds like it's the same translation. Glad to know it only gets better - I've heard many people say that volume 4 is the best of the lot. Plus, I'm a completist - I do like to see a nice set of matching volumes on my shelf - hopefully that will keep up my momentum!

Hi All (Waves).

I am still slogging through The Woman in White which is why I haven't been on the 'puter recently. I have been forcing myself to read and not waste time on-line. I am now rewarding myself for progress made.

I am on page 440, and the end is in sight. Though I wanted to beat the book with a baseball bat, forget throwing it against the wall. I reached a point in the story where the book should have ended. Where the 3 main characters should have gone off to live a normal life in the colonies somewhere. But did they, oh noooo. They had to keep on with the story. It fact it was like a re-start.

I have come to realize I hate the main narrator. The book is told with different characters relating their perspective of the story in different chapters. I hate the drawing master, not as a person or a character, but as a narrator. Collins seems to have made him slow, prissy and wordy. The others I can take. And of course he is back narrating at the point I am at.

Oddly, even though I hate the pace of the book, the writing, in terms of flow, is quite good. I can't really identify the genre though. It is too slow for either mystery or horror, I just can't maintain any fear or curiosity with such a slow pace. It seems to produce emotional Alzheimer's. Its too vague to be romance. There is one passage where one of the main characters tells her sister about the horrible marriage she has, and not one concrete word was spoken. They just looked at each other and were very quivery and delicate.

#15: Storeetllr

I have The Moonstone too. I wasn't sure which one to start first, and I chose Woman. It will be a while before I have the strength to tackle Moonstone. In my RL mystery group you can read any book by the author, and these 2 were suggested as his best. I bought both in a seriously optimistic fit of biblio-mania.

#21: jdthloue

I realize the books were written for a different time and place. Not sure if these were serialized, but they didn't have a lot of options for home entertainment, so books were expected to Laaaasssst.

I don't think you are pulling my chain. :)

Sorry, not much of a chance for Collins. I knew I really wouldn't enjoy them going in, but had to try. Just not my thing. The book isn't terrible, just not for me.

# 22: mckait

Once the drawing master was history, it did move a little faster, and I was more interested. Alas, he is now back and the book is continuing on past the point it should have ended IMO.

#52: MusicMom41

I am not fond of a lot of the romance genre, so the fact that Collins is responsible is not a plus in my book.

I hope Moonstone will be a better mystery, but won't tackle it for a while.

102: mrsradcliffe
You are a far better and stronger person than I. I can see the worth of the book, but it just isn't for me.

Ramblings:

I thought Angela's Ashes was actually hysterically funny, when it wasn't being sad. Can't say I plan to ready anymore though.

I can't imagine every having enough of Stephanie Plum . Though if you have read them all at once, I can see the need to wait a bit for the next one. I get mine a year apart, cause I wait for the new one to go into paper.

Brian Herbert: PLEASE MAKE HIM STOP.

He and his side-kick are no more qualified to write anything in the Dune universe than my house-cat. Sorry to those who enjoy them.

I got through House Atreides because I was so happy to see the old characters again. But once it was done I felt dirty, like watching Pollyanna does Dune. Have tried 3 times but can't get through House Harkonnen. Of course, Other's Mileage May Vary.

I miss Richard too. Maybe he can post his computer problems somewhere and we can have a group brainstorm to see if he can get it working again?

Not sure what I am going to read next. I have been tempting myself with almost pornographic thoughts of other books, to keep me going and finishing the current one.

#155 Killeymoon, I've had Soul Mountain on my shelf for years, but somehow it's never compelled me to pick it up and give it a go. I would really love to hear what you think about it as you read it.

#163 -- jdthloue,

I jumped into the middle of this series with The Bookman's Promise. Decided I liked it, so I've tracked the others down & am now reading them, as I have time. *Loved* Booked to Die, the first in the series!

A bookman who solves crimes - how perfect is that!?! 2 of my favorite things!

Gail

Just finished "The Middle Ages" by Jennie Fields. It was an unexpectedly good light romance novel...something I don't usually go for. The only gripe I have with this one is that the author used the word "extraordinary" about 500,000 times. Okay, an exaggeration....but where was her editor on this??? After about the gazillionth time this word appeared, I was laughing out loud at the ridiculous and obvious (at least to me) overuse of the word. It just bugged me to death! Other than that, it was a nice story. I would like to look for her other books but I'm afraid of the "e" word again! LOL! I may have to get another one just to see......??

mckait....I'm starting Heart in the Right Place: A Memoir by Carolyn Jourdan. I'm in about 45 pages and liking it so far.

#144 - msf59 - Yes, I always try to read a series in order, as it usually makes more sense. In this case, even though the stories seem unrelated, I'm reading them in the order they were written. It's fun to see an author develop and mature, which is one of the advantages of reading an author chronologically in any case, I believe. I really enjoyed All the Pretty Horses and look forward to finishing this one and starting the next. Thank you for the note, I'll keep you informed. Hope this finds you all healthy, well, warm and reading contently!

ficus
I think I would classify Woman in White a mystery, rather than romance. I am so sorry that you didn't like it :) It isn't on my all time favorite shelf, it is on the next one down though.

porchy.. it seems to me that you mostly enjoy "heavier" reads.. ala Lehaney.
I do hope you like this. :) Mine is on its way to my daughter with a reminder to return it. She has a couple of my faves right now.

I like so many different books in so many different genre I don't know if I can say which is a favorite. although I don't generally like romance or what I consider "chic lit" much, I have to say that I have read some good books in both categories. I try not to judge a book by its genre, although there are times I simply can't buy a book or even read it, due to it's cover :P

richardear is about to leave for texas to ... I think.. go to his daughters wedding? Its a road trip, and he will be bringing back his desktop. He said that somewhere.

I have to put in a bit of a word for The Woman in White, which I loved. I don't remember finding it slow, but that's probably because I read it as quickly as humanly possible.... far too exciting not to! But different strokes for different folks. I think I'm just trying to offset the lack of love so people still give it a go if they're pondering it!

I finished a bit of quality fluff earlier this week: The Purity of Blood by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. I'm quite enjoying his Captain Alatriste series: they're kind of dark in places but very easy to read and nicely written for a flavour of seventeenth century Madrid. I'm wondering whether I should look out any of his "proper" books...

Otherwise I seem to be halfway through about four other books, including my Folio edition of The Blue Fairy Book (so pretty! but has to be read at home because there's no way I'm lugging a book that big around!), From the Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple, an interesting but dense travelogue, and I sort of started The End of Mr Y, which has kind of sucked me in to its crazy mad world. But then life got in the way. Who convinced me doing two degrees and a job was sensible? Oh, yeah. That would be muggins here then ;-)

166- I remember having a copy of Soul Mountain because I worked as a customer service rep for the publisher at the time it was published. After many years I finally got to it and promptly dropped it into the "recycle" bin, aka, the box for the Friends' booksale.

I started Frost in May by Antonia White last night. It's the story of an English girl in Catholic school, and so far quite good. No wonder it was the first book chosen in the Virago Modern Classics publisher's series.

166- I thoroughly enjoyed Soul Mountain.

I am reading 'Before I lose my style' by 'Mike Kaspar. So far I am enjoying this book and the writing style. This is one of the Oct. books to be reviewed.
I am also reading "Stolen Lives"

#164, Killeymoon, If yours is also the version in which the translators vary, it's the same. Unfortunately, the translations varied (at least in their appeal to me), and I think I actually enjoyed the first translator the best. Once you get into the volumes with the various parties, it's fascinating. But I have to say, although others here on LT differ with me, I found the fifth volume (The Captive & The Fugitive unbearably tedious.

Greetings to all and sundry, I am in Lexington, Virginia, for the night. The Divine Miss and I are driving to New Orleans, where she will close up our house for the last time; and I thence onward to Austin for my little girl's scond wedding, this time to a man I cannot in conscience call Yappy Chihuahua Boy the way I did the last one.

The Divine Miss being a non-driver (lifelong Manhattanite) I am doing all the piloting chores. Since I like driving it's not a problem. It is, however, exhausting.

Oh and sorry to the listmaniacs who don't like personal stuff on this thread but I have no energy left to repost this anywhere else. Deal.

>175 cherylscountry: cherylscountry, I hope you like the book as well at the end as you do now! Don't forget to review it and post the review at Amazon and Powell's, and wherever else you can think of. He's a very enjoyable writer. I would like to see more from him.

Ficus, I got some kind of virus and have no files left. The friend in Austin who sold me the laptop might agree to reload MS Office XP, if I ask real purty-like.

mckait, *smooch*

Reading A Certain Slant of Light by Margaret Wander Bonanno as my road/nighty-night book. Wonderful, especially considering her later career as a Star Trek plantation writer.

mckait.....I'm about halfway through the book now, it's so good!! I've been laughing out loud at some of the situations the author is experiencing thus far....what a great book! Thanks for recommending! (Heart in the Right Place: A Memoir by Carolyn Jourdan)

I've been stuck in just a few main kinds of books, all novels.... mostly thrillers like Connelly, Lehane, White, Coben, and chick stuff like Anita Shreve, Jodi Picoult, etc...., but thanks to LT, I am going to try some different genres soon, that I am so looking forward to....I'd like to try some historical novels like The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent and also a memoir that I just heard about that's coming out next month called The Journal of Helene Berr. Both sound really good. AND I just heard about another new book coming out next month about the Vatican....The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage which sounds extremely good.

Also.....I've been waiting forever for Wally Lamb to come out with a new one.....finally, he's got one ready to be released in November as well....The Hour I First Believed: A Novel......YAY!!!

Since I usually wait for the new stuff to come out in paperback......I will probably stick with the books that are in my TBR pile for now.......but will be anxiously looking forward to these new genres in the future! You guys make me hungry to try new things!!

The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage sounds fantastic, and is now on my wishlist at amazon. I will have to have that one.
Have you read Vatican by Malachi Martin ? Loved it. I read it a couple of times, but its been a while. And that one is a novel.

I enjoy a good memoir or biography. I loved the bio of Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook. Madeleine Albright wrote a wonderful autobiography.
I recently got a copy of Sidney Poitier's bio, and one of Gunther Gebel Williams.. that one an auto biography.

I enjoy all sorts of books though, including everything by Wally Lamb so far.

eta

Carolyn Jourdan's website says that she is working on a sequel, yay!

I finished Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell. A strong Swedish police thriller! Dark, moody and well-crafted. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I'm squeezing in a slim book before the pirate group read, called Speed of Light by Sybil Rosen. I didn't realize it was a YA novel but it was highly recommended and it's very good so far.

Richard,
I am sorry to hear about your virus. I hope you can get your laptop restored.

I am finally free of The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. YEAH !!!
It had yet another ending point, but again continued on. I finally got to the end and I am so happy.

I am now reading, for another RL book group, The Ladies from St. Petersburg by Nina Berberova, translated by Marian Schwartz.

It is 3 novellas set around the Russian Revolution.

#179 mckait

What biography did you find on Sidney Poitier? I read his memoir The Measure of a Man and really enjoyed it. I'd like to check out the biography--to get an independent view of him.

I just noticed that this is still the October thread. Shouldn't there be a November thread?

#183 MusicMom41

see here :)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/48654

I misspoke music mon... it is that memoir...

:( so sorry :(