What Are You Reading Right Now?

[bellagypsy79]

I thought I would create a thread that asks people what books they are reading right now....I just finished "Twilight", and the book was amazing. I watched the film last night and was disapointed. Read the book first then watch the film. The book is in more detail and sooooo much better. Now I want to get started on "New Moon".

[skcin]

City of Light. Never read it when it first came out, for some reason...
A fictional story written around historical Buffalo in 1901. Very interesting, a good read.

[Zombie]

I'm reading Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins.

It's a horror novel, but fancy because it's like a game, too. Book comes with all these "personal effects" - documents like birth certificates, photos, ID cards (actual plastic, realistic stuff), and more - and as you read the book, you can follow the clues, and call phone numbers to hear actual messages from characters in the book and check out different websites, etc, to get extra story. It's pretty effin' neat.

[GODDESS6]

i am reading 3 books right now~
angels & demons
breaking dawn, the 4th "twilight" book~
columbine~

i am hoping to get & read:
cop without a badge &
the sookie stackhouse novels~

[BTFLCHLD]

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature

[Stew_Matthews]

Right at this moment in time I'm reading 'Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental Engineering'. I wouldn't rush out and buy it!

But I am also reading 'American Rust' by Phillip Meyer which is very good.

I just recently finished 'The Outlander' by Gil Adamson. That was probably the best book I've read so far this year. It is set in the Canadian Rockies in the 1850s and is beautifully written. There are lots of twists and turns in the novel and it isn't until the last couple of chapters that the story comes together. I caught a review on Amazon that said it was similar to Steph Penny's 'The tenderness of Wolves'. There is a similarity in the way in which the story builds and the historical era is the same. However Gil Adamson is a far more sophisticated writer in my opinion. I would recommend it.

[seekerj]

Genesis of Shannara: The Gypsy Morph

by Terry Brooks


This is the last book (so far) in a series of series. I think this is the twentieth book.

Anyone else into the Shannara books?

Jim

[Zombie]

The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature

Pinker FTW!

[TeenageMac]

The Revolution: A Manifesto by Congressman Ron Paul
. . . Almost done!

[Lala]

And The Band Played On

[bellagypsy79]

I love RL Stine and Christopher Pike books....what can I say, I love young adult books, anyway I am just finnishing up RL Stine's "The Babysitter". It just makes you keep reading it until you're done. Unfortunatley I fell asleep last night reading a chapter so I forgot what I read. I am waiting for the library to call me and let me know when that copy of "New Moon" is coming in. I am apparently on a waiting list for it.

[Musicman408]

Right now I'm reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. It is very good!!!

[markolas]

I bought Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini or whatever his name is....haven't gotten around to reading it yet. There's a humongous thread here somewhere Drummer Deanna started years ago with lots of book recommendations on it.

[snicksfan85]

'Wicked' and 'Tour Smart and Break the Band'

I tend to start one, put it away and forget, and start another one...

[LikeAWillow]

I just finished a book called "The Burning Times" which should have met some fires itself (I think the author should compensate me for the opportunity cost of those wasted hours) , and I'm moving on to "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Márquez.

[Ghost_Tracker]

I'm reading Doris Lessing's autobiography. (She won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007.) In my opinion it's VERY good. She's got a lot of "street cred." and she brings that to her books. Her husband turned out to be a spy in the KGB and she didn't even know until years later!!! She also has this amazing memory of her childhood and remembers what it was really like, complete with never-ending afternoon naps - utter torture - an HOUR! ;) and she does a really excellent job of explaining what it was really like for her.
I guess the main thing is, she's BRUTALLY honest - she's like, "Okay, but don't forget I warned 'ya to hold your nose - - This ain't gonna be a romp through Disneyland - why are you complaining, I warned 'ya, didn't I?"
I find the honesty in her writing very refreshing; and i.m.o. she's very insightful.
There's parts I'm reading over and over. :D

[LiamMcConville]

http://images.shopping.indiatimes.com/images/product/101627_a-new-earth_300_pbilimage1.jpg

[markolas]

I've been working my way thru Ashvaghosha's The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana and Chih-i's Essentials of Buddhist Meditation. Short, but very dense, texts.

[petep9000]

I am reading 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy'. It's an old book, praising the merits of cognitive behavioral therapy. Actually, it makes me feel pretty good reading it, apparently all our moods, depression and anxiety can be controlled by changing your thought patterns and the negative thoughts can be unlearned.
It has too many exercises in it though, it's always like 'see figure 1-2 for the 'I had a bad mood yesterday inventory worksheet'.

[JazmenFlowers]

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton

[GypsySorcerer]

Tender is the Night -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

[markolas]

I've given up on the Buddhist texts for now and am reading The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. I love Southern Gothic.

I am reading 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy'. It's an old book, praising the merits of cognitive behavioral therapy. Actually, it makes me feel pretty good reading it, apparently all our moods, depression and anxiety can be controlled by changing your thought patterns and the negative thoughts can be unlearned.

That sounds like a book my therapist recommended last year (which I did find helpful) - Guide to Rational Living by Albert Ellis. "Rational emotive therapy," I think it's called. There's another one she recommended called Choice Theory (by a different author whose name escapes me), which I never got around to picking up.

[bellagypsy79]

Starting the second book in the "Twilight" saga, "New Moon". It is really exciting and good. Alot of girls don't like this book because Edward isn't in it hardly at all. My heart sank after chapter 3. I wrote a song about it. My inspiration is comming back to write songs and poetry again. I am so thankful for Stephanie Meyer for that.:blob1:

[Ghost_Tracker]

a thread in The Ledge's "Chit Chat" forum.

(Just tryin' for a little humor :laugh: )

[David]

I'm reading a book I just bought off Amazon by Alessandra Comini, an art critic. It's a study (written for the lay reader) of Beethoven's physical image & cultural legacy as it evolved from Beethoven's own day in Enlightenment Europe through the Romantic 19th century & into the 20th.

I once worked with Alessandra's brother up in Northern California, & that's how I was introduced to her work on Wagner.

I am devouring this book. The author has marshaled a considerable amount of primary & secondary source material into an exciting near-narrative.

After this, I plan to read Bernard De Voto's "Mark Twain's America," published in the early 1930s & excoriating the Freudianized (or rather psychiatric) views of Twain found in Cleanth Brooks & others. Of all professional commentary on Twain (including the excellent Tony Tanner), I gravitate toward De Voto the most. His lengthy introduction to the Viking Portable Mark Twain paperback is the best general introduction to Twain ever written, for my money.

[JWS]

I just finished Mick Fleetwood's 1990 bography and life with Fleetwood Mac. He has sure lived a wild and crazy life...enough for two people. One thing I never knew...he once fell in love with a stranger over the phone...the blob lady. She sent him aluring and fake photos of herself. Fleetwood finally hired a private detective to track her down and discovered she was not 22 but much older and over weight to boot! The band had a big laugh over it.

[GypsySorcerer]

Thought I'd bump this thread, as it is the most recent of the numerous reading threads. So.... what's everyone reading?

I picked up Andre Agassi's autobiography, Open, over Christmas, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I also picked up Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry. The Time Traveler's Wife was one of my favorite books of the past 10 years, so I'm curious to know how her sophomore effort turns out.

[Musicman408]

I'v been slowly making my way through Stephen King's "It"

Also reading a biography about Bobby Bowden

[FMlex]

Oh, thanks for bumping this! Didn't know it existed. :)

Ahh The Time Traveler's Wife - that's on my list! I hear good things.

I just finished up My Sister's Keeper. I saw the movie in theaters right when it came out, so it was interesting to compare the two. Definitely very different.

I'm about to start C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves.

Also I'm about 10 pages into Helter Skelter... it disturbs me so I tell myself I can only read it during the day! Has anyone read this? I know it's one of the best (if not the best) true crime books in America. I kind of have an odd fascination with these types of intense murders. I'm really intrigued still by the whole JonBenet Ramsey dealio too.

[GODDESS6]

just finished the 4th book in the jr ward vampire 'black dagger brotherhood series'~ so far the series is wonderful & tho i loved the' twilight' series of books, these aren't as tame & are very romantic & erotic, awesome books~

i also just finished 'blood of innocents'

& getting ready to start 'push'~

[LikeAWillow]

I finished The Red Tent a few days ago, and now I'm on A Confederacy of Dunces by John Toole. Hands down the funniest book I've ever read.

[mylittledemon]

Just read The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. Interesting read.

[Zombie]

I'm reading Gone With the Wind again, because I picked up Rhett Butler's People from a bargain bin somewhere and it hurt my feelings.

[daniellaaarisen]

Tender is the Night -- F. Scott Fitzgerald

I LOVE this book. It's my second favorite Fitzgerald novel (only beaten by Gatsby, of course).

I'm reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. I lived on a Native American reservation for a few months, so I think that the novel has a more significant meaning to my classmates. I'm really liking it so far, but nothing will beat the book I read just before this one...... The English Patient. SO GOOD.

[GypsySorcerer]

I LOVE this book. It's my second favorite Fitzgerald novel (only beaten by Gatsby, of course).

Fitzgerald is one of my favorites. Tender is the Night was a great read. His writing is so lyrical and beautiful, but he displays such desperation in his characters. Knowing the circumstances of Scott and Zelda just make this book heartbreaking to read. Tender is probably tied with Gatsby for me.

I'm reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. I lived on a Native American reservation for a few months, so I think that the novel has a more significant meaning to my classmates. I'm really liking it so far, but nothing will beat the book I read just before this one...... The English Patient. SO GOOD.

You know, I've never read The English Patient. I've seen the movie and thought it was HORRIBLE. Couldn't believe it won Best Picture.

[Zombie]

You know, I've never read The English Patient. I've seen the movie and thought it was HORRIBLE. Couldn't believe it won Best Picture.

That movie makes me want to look around for something sharp to stick in my ear.

Fortunately, the book is much better, though I often thought, while reading it, that Ondaatje is a little too much in love with his own vocabulary.

[PutTheBlameOnMe]

I'm currently reading "The Virgin's Lover" by Philippa Gregory.
I am completely addicted to her books!

I have a pile of about 10 new books that I need to read yet (and I keep adding to said pile! Lol).

[equeen102289]

I LOVE this book. It's my second favorite Fitzgerald novel (only beaten by Gatsby, of course).



I'm reading Tender is the Night for my 20th century fiction class right now. I just finished book 1. So far I hate it. I'm bored out of my mind. Hopefully it will pick up in book 2.

[David]

Did you read the newly corrected manuscript of Agee's "A Death in the Family"?

I'm rereading Alessandra Comini's spectacular "The Changing Image of Beethoven," one of my favorite books of all time.

After that, I'm scheduled to tackle Edmund Wilson's "To the Finland Station."

I don't read contemporary fiction because it sucks & time's a-wastin'.

[carrie721]

I don't read contemporary fiction because it sucks & time's a-wastin'.

does that mean you weren't around when tom sawyer was written? :confused:

[skcin]

Thought I'd bump this thread, as it is the most recent of the numerous reading threads. So.... what's everyone reading?

I picked up Andre Agassi's autobiography, Open, over Christmas, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I also picked up Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry. The Time Traveler's Wife was one of my favorite books of the past 10 years, so I'm curious to know how her sophomore effort turns out.

I'm reading Her Fearful Symmetry as well, and I also adored The Time Traveler's wife. I'm about 1/4 into Symmetry. Good so far, and not too similar to TTTW.

Also reading David Sedaris' When You Are Engulfed In Flames and Three Junes by Julia Glass.

[Erin]

I'm just about finished with George Eliot's (Mary Ann Evans, really) Mill on the Floss. I read quite a bit of 19th century British fiction. I enjoy the character driven rather than plot driven stories.

Zombie,
I thought about reading the Rhett Butler book, but I haven't heard one good review, and I love Gone with the Wind.

[Stew_Matthews]

Invisible - Paul Auster

[TrueFaith77]

I'm reading Tender is the Night for my 20th century fiction class right now. I just finished book 1. So far I hate it. I'm bored out of my mind. Hopefully it will pick up in book 2.

That is my alltime favorite book. Of course, by the end of book 1 my jaw was on the floor, so. . . I don't know what you'll think of the rest. But there are revelations to come that very much relate to some of the astonishing moments in the first part.

As for what I'm reading: When the Light Goes by Larry McMurtry. It's the fourth and final installation of the Last Picture Show-Texasville-Duane's Depressed series. I hope Bogdanovich makes movies out of Duane's Depressed and and When the Light Goes. Amazing stuff. So much insight.

[LikeAWillow]

Invisible - Paul Auster

How is it so far? I'm guessing you've read The New York Trilogy. Paul Auster is incredible. :)

[hippilil86]

Just finished:
The History of Love--Nicole Krauss

Working on:
The Last Party; Studio 54, Disco, and the Culture of the Night--Anthony Haden-Guest

[Zombie]

Zombie,
I thought about reading the Rhett Butler book, but I haven't heard one good review, and I love Gone with the Wind.

Yeah, don't do it. I was okay with the idea in theory, but the execution left a whole lot to be desired. It begins before GWTW and ends after it. He turned Rhett into a wuss & the ending made absolutely no frackin' sense. Book purports to be from Rhett's point of view, but it doesn't really do that. It's just a hot mess.

[Sugar]

Just finished Third and Indiana by Steve Lopez. Compelling read, though not exactly cheerful. Need to look on my (considerable) stack of unread books for something lighter!

[daniellaaarisen]

Fitzgerald is one of my favorites. Tender is the Night was a great read. His writing is so lyrical and beautiful, but he displays such desperation in his characters. Knowing the circumstances of Scott and Zelda just make this book heartbreaking to read. Tender is probably tied with Gatsby for me.



You know, I've never read The English Patient. I've seen the movie and thought it was HORRIBLE. Couldn't believe it won Best Picture.

Yeah, I know a lot about Scott and Zelda's relationship as well, and it definitely gives Fitzgerald's work an unworldly depth (that his novels have regardless....). He's just fantastic.

And you NEED to read The English Patient. Every paragraph or so, you have to stop reading, look up and take a deep breath before starting again because a sentence will totally FLOOR YOU. I mean, the book is pure poetry.

"We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves. I wish for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography- to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience. All I desired was to walk upon such an earth that had no maps."

Favorite. Passage. Ever.

[Stew_Matthews]

How is it so far? I'm guessing you've read The New York Trilogy. Paul Auster is incredible. :)

It is very good indeed. It is a while since I read an Auster book where he has crafted one of those multi-threaded stories. It is very clever and the drafting is as beautiful as ever. I've read all his work and re-read the New York Trilogy a few times, but I think Oracle Night is his best work. I don't think he is quite as incredible as Richard Ford or Philip Roth but it is a pleasure to read in his work.:)

[tilthefirefades]

For my birthday I got "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins and "The Fabric Of The Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality" by Brian Greene.

So far The God Delusion is quite good :thumbsup:

[LikeAWillow]

American Gods- Neil Gaiman. The story of how this book came into my hands is so far more interesting than the novel itself, but I'm still keeping my hopes up.

[Black_Moon]

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk. I'm creeped out by this book, but I think it's amazing so far.

[Travis]

I just picked this up yesterday since I knew I was going to be snowed in all weekend.

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/35370000/35374448.JPG


Synopsis

Madonna up close, by the brother who knows her better than anyone.

Christopher Ciccone's extraordinary memoir is based on his forty-seven years of growing up with, working with, and understanding the most famous woman of our time, who has intrigued, scandalized, and entertained millions for half a century.

Through most of the iconic star's kaleidoscopic career, Christopher played an important role in her life: as her backup dancer, her personal assistant, her dresser, her decorator, her art director, her tour director.

If you think you know everything there is to know about Madonna, you are wrong. Only Christopher can tell the full scale, riveting untold story behind Madonna's carefully constructed mythology, and the real woman behind the glittering façade.

From their shared Michigan childhood, which Madonna transcended, then whisked Christopher to Manhattan with her in the early eighties, where he slepton her roach-infested floor and danced with her in clubs all over town — Christopher was with her every step of the way, experiencing her first hand in all her incarnations. The spoiled daddy's girl, the punk drummer, the raunchy Boy Toy, Material Girl, Mrs. Sean Penn, Warren Beatty's glamorous Hollywood paramour, loving mother, Mrs. Guy Ritchie, English grande dame — Christopher witnessed and understood all of them, as his own life was inexorably entwined with that of his chameleon sister.

He tangled with a cast of characters from artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, to Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Demi Moore, and, of course, Guy Ritchie, whose advent in Madonna's life splintered the loving relationship Christopher once had with her.

Themirror image of his legendary sister, with his acid Ciccone tongue, Christopher pulls no punches as he tells his astonishing story.

Life with My Sister Madonna is the juicy, can't-put-it-down story you've always wanted to hear, as told by Madonna's younger brother.

[GypsySorcerer]

Just finished the Harry Potter series (yes, really late to the party, I realize!) :laugh: Now, I'm reworking my way through some classics that I probably didn't appreciate enough the first time around, starting with Lolita.

[daniellaaarisen]

Just finished the Harry Potter series (yes, really late to the party, I realize!) :laugh: Now, I'm reworking my way through some classics that I probably didn't appreciate enough the first time around, starting with Lolita.

Lolita is amazing if you stick with it. It has slow parts but every second of that novel is crucial to understanding the characterization that Nabokov flawlessly creates.

[GypsySorcerer]

Lolita is amazing if you stick with it. It has slow parts but every second of that novel is crucial to understanding the characterization that Nabokov flawlessly creates.

His use of language is incomparable. That first page!

I read it in high school, but didn't really give it the thought I should have. I've had to train myself to quit reading for "what happens."

[Ghost_Tracker]

...who has intrigued, scandalized, and entertained millions for half a century. <----------
.


OH, bunk! :distress:

On Edit: Oh - *I* get it, now . . . They mean "ever since she was born"???

[Ghost_Tracker]

Anyway I've just started in on an autobiography of Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels. Written by someone named Victoria Glendinning. It's AMAZING! She's a REALLY good writer, which I hadn't expected at ALL - she's very clever and she "gets it," she knows what this guy was really like and she understands why; and she understands why he was SO angry, and how that entered into his stories. Excellent researcher, as well. I'd highly recommend it for anybody who's into Gulliver's Travels. :)

[LikeAWillow]

His use of language is incomparable. That first page!

I read it in high school, but didn't really give it the thought I should have. I've had to train myself to quit reading for "what happens."

If you're interested in the way Nabokev crafts his stories, and really, who that likes him isn't, you should definitely pick up Pale Fire. It's a much shorter read than Lolita, but it's a much more difficult and much more interesting work.

Oh and shameless plug for my college, Nabokev founded our Russia department when he taught here, and rumor has it that Lolita herself had a few traits pulled from a Wellesley girl. A source of pride, I'm sure you'd agree.

[chelluversu]

And you NEED to read The English Patient. Every paragraph or so, you have to stop reading, look up and take a deep breath before starting again because a sentence will totally FLOOR YOU. I mean, the book is pure poetry.

"We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves. I wish for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography- to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience. All I desired was to walk upon such an earth that had no maps."

Favorite. Passage. Ever.

I plan on grabbing it the first time i see it at borders and hopefully i will have some money by then (december through now has been kinda rough on my mother and I).

I have books I'm reading for school:
Ethan Frome (reading now)
The Jungle (havent started yet)
Narrative of Frederick Douglass (just finished)

On My Own:
Black Girl Lost
The Surrogate by Nick Sharman (creepy book)
Michigan Chillers/American Chillers (i use to read these books as a kid..they were pretty good then)
The Shadow Children Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix (really good books and not just for kids)

My mother is selling some of her books for extra money (she's not touching mine) so i decided to read some of mine and a few of hers over again..

[StreetAngel95]

just finished Great Expectations by Dickens, started The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Willaims, and planning on reading Reelin' In the Years: A Steely Dan Biography

[carrie721]

Anyway I've just started in on an autobiography of Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels. Written by someone named Victoria Glendinning. It's AMAZING! She's a REALLY good writer, which I hadn't expected at ALL - she's very clever and she "gets it," she knows what this guy was really like and she understands why; and she understands why he was SO angry, and how that entered into his stories. Excellent researcher, as well. I'd highly recommend it for anybody who's into Gulliver's Travels. :)

autobiographies are usually written by the person they're about ...

re: nabokov i used to love him and his invitation to a beheading is still one of my top 5 favorite books, but i've lost my taste for being mindf*cked by authors.

spent the last week rereading some of david sedaris's books. i don't think he'll ever write anything as good as me talk pretty one day, but there are still parts of dress your family & when you are engulfed in flames that left me in stitches.

before that, i read the female brain by louann brizendine. one of the stupidest books i've ever read.

[Ghost_Tracker]

autobiographies are usually written by the person they're about ...

.

I mispoke, of course; I meant "biography."

[CreepingDeath]

The Count of Monte Cristo
Madame Bovary
The Last Olympian- I'm a sucker for anything mythology, even if it's a kid's book.

[Musicman408]

I mispoke, of course; I meant "biography."

Speaking of Biography, I have a really good one on Kennedy that I NEED to read soon! :nod:

[Ghost_Tracker]

Speaking of Biography, I have a really good one on Kennedy that I NEED to read soon! :nod:

I've been reading Ted Kennedy's autobiography lately - it was a Christmas present - and enjoying it like crazy, it's awesome.

ALTHOUGH - - - To be honest, I'm taking certain things in it with a grain of salt. For example, his description of the events at Chappaquidik, of course - how predictible is that!?

But also he claims that NONE of them were "pressured" by their parents to enter "public service," and there was NO plot for Joe Kennedy Junior to become President, as the eldest son; and no pressure afterwards for any of the surviving brothers to become President. I have trouble believing that - or at least, it makes me wonder if there were conversations he wasn't privy to or things that he didn't quite understand.

It also seems that he conveniently left out exactly how their father made all these unbelievable amounts of wealth, and who Joe Sr. allegedly "socialized with" during his younger days.

But I give him credit for essentially taking responsibilty for his behavior *after* Chappaquidik - he basically say, "Hey look, I'm sorry, I f'd up royally." In a long life of public service, from someone who was literally "in the trenches" for so many decades and tried for SO long to make up for it, I personally can accept that. One f-up in a long life? I'd say that's "reasonable."

And overall, it's a VERY interesting read! :D

[RavenOfRhiannon]

In the past month, I finished 'Wonder Boys' by Michael Chabon. That man can WRITE. I just love him soooo much.
I also read 'The Man Who Loved Books Too Much' which is a non-fiction work about the antiquerian boook trade, and a man who had successfully stolen thousands of dollars worth of books from these dealers. The story itself is great, and I found that I could identify with much of the premise. However, the author tries to inject herself into the drama without much success. I give it a B.

[gldstwmn]

I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. I just started The Girl Who Played with Fire.

[ButterCookie]

Enduring Love - for my English Lit class. Ugh, I do NAT like it.

Making Tracks, the rise of Blondie - This one's incredible, I'm on my 3rd read. It's written by Debbie Harry so it's even more special.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - :laugh:

Rumours and Lies the FM story - :blob1:

[jaycee]

I'm reading "The Ancestor's Tale" by Richard Dawkins. It basically (well, it has 600+ pages...) traces back from where we are now through all the speciation points (a mere 40 along our chain, comparable to any other individual chain, although of course all chains considered there are an extremely large number of speciation points). It's a rather heavy but nonetheless enjoyable read!
I'm also reading bits and pieces of "The Complete World According To Clarkson" by Jeremy Clarkson. 'tis most entertaining, despite my disagreement with him on many points. (A notable point of agreement we share however is our opinions on music - most of the best music came from between 60s-80s, with some other great music in 90s-00s if you know where to look, e.g. Dido.)

[Richard B]

Blue Boy by Jean Giono
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41y1VMiDDeL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[hippilil86]

The Omnivore's Dilemma.
Next up;
Ray of the Star

[Zombie]

Just finished a quick re-read of Dennis Lehane's "Shutter Island," since the movie is out soon and I wanted to be able to compare book to film with book fresh in my mind.

Currently reading "The Piano Teacher" by Janice Y K Lee - quite lovely so far.

Up next, either "The Sunne in Splendour" by Sharon Kay Penman or "The Weight of Silence" by Heather Gudenkauf.

Finally gave up trying to wade through Richard Price's "Freedomland," because...ugh. BORING. First book in a long time that I just couldn't be bothered to finish. Wiki'd the ending instead.

[skcin]

spent the last week rereading some of david sedaris's books. i don't think he'll ever write anything as good as me talk pretty one day, but there are still parts of dress your family & when you are engulfed in flames that left me in stitches.

before that, i read the female brain by louann brizendine. one of the stupidest books i've ever read.

I'm reading ...flames right now. Funny stuff. First book of his I've read; have me talk... being delivered soon.

Speaking of Biography, I have a really good one on Kennedy that I NEED to read soon! :nod:

How do you know it's good if you haven't read it yet?

I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. I just started The Girl Who Played with Fire.


I was going to read those & then I heard the author died. Now I'm not sure I want to - what if I really like them & am eager for more?

[GODDESS6]

Just finished a quick re-read of Dennis Lehane's "Shutter Island," since the movie is out soon and I wanted to be able to compare book to film with book fresh in my mind.

Currently reading "The Piano Teacher" by Janice Y K Lee - quite lovely so far.

Up next, either "The Sunne in Splendour" by Sharon Kay Penman or "The Weight of Silence" by Heather Gudenkauf.

Finally gave up trying to wade through Richard Price's "Freedomland," because...ugh. BORING. First book in a long time that I just couldn't be bothered to finish. Wiki'd the ending instead.

i'm reading this right now~ i like it so far~ the hubby bought me jackie collins new one "poor little bitch girl"~

[gypsy4life]

Just started Triad by Mary Leader

[goldustsongbird]

http://xs.to/image-9098_4B79F1CA.jpg

Finished both books, now I'm reading the second part again.

[hippilil86]

Just finished:

The Glass Castle; Jeannette Walls

Ray of the Star; Laird Hunt (this one was pretty weird, hard to understand, and I don't think I totally understood the ending. Has anyone else read this one?)

I'm still muddling through The Omnivore's Dilemma

and soon to start City of Thieves; David Benioff

[skcin]

Finished Three Junes. Good family story, not too syrupy but not too bitter either.

Just started The Thirteenth Tale for our new bookclub at work. Like it so far, it's intriguing. We'll see how the book club goes. :laugh:

[cristochango]

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley for my english class

[gldstwmn]

Just finished The Girl Who Played With Fire. I can't wait to read the last of this trilogy that comes out in May, The Girl Who Wacked The Hornet's Nest.

[TrueFaith77]

Just finished Mama Dearest, the latest and last book in the epochal Invisible Life series by by E. Lynn Harris (r.i.p.)

Am just re-starting When The Light Goes, the the latest and, perhaps, last book in the Last Picture Show series by Larry McMurtry

[carrie721]

http://xs.to/image-9098_4B79F1CA.jpg

Finished both books, now I'm reading the second part again.

just a little light reading? :lol:

i just finished cormac mccarthy's the road. i loved all the pretty horses and i loved this book too, although it is probably the darkest fiction i've ever read. gonna devour everything CM has written in the next couple months.

[goldustsongbird]

just a little light reading? :lol:

i just finished cormac mccarthy's the road. i loved all the pretty horses and i loved this book too, although it is probably the darkest fiction i've ever read. gonna devour everything CM has written in the next couple months.

Gotta clear my head before bedtime. :shrug:

Right now, if it isn't required reading, I'm not looking at it, but I guess I should pick up some McCarthy when I get the chance?

[carrie721]

Gotta clear my head before bedtime. :shrug:

got it. :lol:

Right now, if it isn't required reading, I'm not looking at it, but I guess I should pick up some McCarthy when I get the chance?

without a doubt. he's fascinating.

[goldustsongbird]

got it. :lol:



without a doubt. he's fascinating.

I'm wondering if I can trust you since the time you recommended I read Nabokov. :laugh: I just read Pale Fire about a month ago. As soon as I saw his name on the syllabus it was like, "dis bitch :rolleyes:"

[carrie721]

I'm wondering if I can trust you since the time you recommended I read Nabokov. :laugh: I just read Pale Fire about a month ago. As soon as I saw his name on the syllabus it was like, "dis bitch :rolleyes:"

LOL. um excuse me.

[goldustsongbird]

LOL. um excuse me.

I will neverrrrrr love him, sorry. As long as McCarthy isn't into confusing bs about fictional ex-kings, we're cool. :blob2:

[carrie721]

I will neverrrrrr love him, sorry. As long as McCarthy isn't into confusing bs about fictional ex-kings, we're cool. :blob2:

hahaha. i've kind of broken up with nabokov, although i did promise marissa i'd read pale fire.

mccarthy is pretty much the anti-nabokov. :laugh:

[goldustsongbird]

hahaha. i've kind of broken up with nabokov, although i did promise marissa i'd read pale fire.

mccarthy is pretty much the anti-nabokov. :laugh:

We'll get along fine. :thumbsup:

[David]

I'm just getting around to reading "Clash of Civilizations" by Sammy Huntington.

Plus, I'm reading a Judge Judy book in the john.

[Zombie]

Finished both books, now I'm reading the second part again.

Maus is amazing.

just a little light reading? :lol:

i just finished cormac mccarthy's the road. i loved all the pretty horses and i loved this book too, although it is probably the darkest fiction i've ever read. gonna devour everything CM has written in the next couple months.

If you thought The Road was dark, wait'll you get to Blood Meridian: or the Evening Redness in the West and Child of God.

When Oprah put The Road on her reading list, I laughed my ass off, thinking of a bunch of suburban housewives reading it, and then going, "Wow, that was really good!" and picking up Child of God or Blood Meridian next, thinking they'd get the same thing. Yeah...no. The Road is probably one of his tamest books.

And you could've knocked me over with a feather when he actually did an INTERVIEW. On the TEEVEE. With OPRAH. He never does interviews. I was astounded.

(you might be able to tell he's one of my all-time fav authors.)

Right now, if it isn't required reading, I'm not looking at it, but I guess I should pick up some McCarthy when I get the chance?

yes. yes. yes. yes. yesyesyes.

[Meowi]

I am reading Wuthering Heights in English (We get to choose what) we read individually)

Before I go to bed I am reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

[LiamMcConville]

Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

[ButterCookie]

Just Kids by Patti Smith.

It's fantastic and her descriptions of her house with Robert Mapplethorpe, New York in the late 60's/ early 70's are divine. I'd reccomend it to you all, even if you're not a big Patti fan.

[goldustsongbird]

^
This thread is great because I'm always looking for something to read. I'm not one of those people who can go grab a random library book and start reading it; I like specific recommendations. So thanks for the titles. :D

[Zombie]

^
This thread is great because I'm always looking for something to read. I'm not one of those people who can go grab a random library book and start reading it; I like specific recommendations. So thanks for the titles. :D

Welp, if you decide to try McCarthy, I suggest starting with The Road or No Country for Old Men. Those are probably his most accessible works (hence Oprah and the movies and whatnot), but they are good ways to get introduced to his style before you move on to the others.

I love McCarthy so hard. He's such a damn poet that I have entire passages memorized - something I only do occasionally unless it's song lyrics or poems - multiple ones from multiple novels. Shoot, even just the title of No Country for Old Men is a poem on its own.

Check out this passage from the opening of Suttree:

Dear friend now in the dusty clockless hours of the town when the streets lie black and steaming in the wake of the watertrucks and now when the drunk and the homeless have washed up in the lee of walls in alleys or abandoned lots and cats go forth highshouldered and lean in the grim perimeters about, now in these sootblacked brick or cobbled corridors where lightwire shadows make a gothic harp of cellar doors no soul shall walk save you.

I adore that. One day, I'll take the last bit of it and have it tattooed on my ankle or foot - "no soul shall walk save you." It'll go with my other planned McCarthy tattoo, "There is no God and we are his prophets," which is from The Road.

Another beauty from The Road:

"He knew only that his child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke."

Man, I love that guy. Loooooooove.

Oops, sorry for the ramble. I am passionate about McCarthy. :shocked:

[iamnotafraid]

Computer manuals....sweet.

[GypsySorcerer]

Thought I'd bump this. So bibliophiles, what's on your nightstand? (Or Kindle?) :laugh:

My recent reads:

The Bell Jar - I'm not sure how I managed to get a degree in English without having read this, but I did. I would have absolutely loved this book had I read it at 18. I still quite enjoyed it. While some of the specifics are dated, the themes are still relevant.

The English Patient - Beautiful writing, no doubt. I thought the passages pertaining to the desert and some regarding the Almasy/Katharine relationship were exquisite. The end was sort of....anticlimactic to me.

Next up: 100 Years of Solitude.

[ButterCookie]

I just finished studying The Great Gatsby, which I loved and just finished CAH's Storms :D

[daniellaaarisen]

The English Patient - Beautiful writing, no doubt. I thought the passages pertaining to the desert and some regarding the Almasy/Katharine relationship were exquisite. The end was sort of....anticlimactic to me.


YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! (in case you can't tell, I really really really really REALLY love that novel)

One of my tattoos is a quote from this book. It's perfect. The ending... I know what you're talking about. That novel kinda wove those four characters' lives back together and then the end of the book was like.... "there's a couple stray strings. Now what do we do?!"

Everything else is perfect though.




Just finished reading The Woman Warrior by Maxine Kingston. Interesting novel... more interesting than I thought it would be. But the feminist in me naturally grabbed a hold of this book and ran with it, so I could deal with having the Mulan soundtrack stuck in my head the entire time.

Before that, I read James Joyce's Dubliners for the 240968246290095th time. Never gets old.

[LikeAWillow]

I'm currently rereading the Jack and Jackie Kennedy biography- Grace and Power.

[StreetAngel95]

Just Finished Much Ado About Nothing, and started Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

[Zombie]

Thought I'd bumps this. So bibliophiles, what's on your nightstand? (Or Kindle?) :laugh:

Next up: 100 Years of Solitude.

I love Marquez. I recommend Memories of My Melancholy Whores.

Just Finished Much Ado About Nothing, and started Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

I really enjoyed the Achebe book when we were assigned it in high school. It provoked a lot of interesting class discussions. And by "interesting class discussions," I mean "a bunch of kids unaware of how to check their privilege at the door and ranting about nonsense," but hey! :laugh:

I just finished The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan (on my Kindle). Quite good, but then, she usually is.

I am currently re-reading the entire Dark Tower series (on actual paper), because it is wondermous and I like to re-read the whole thing at least once every other year. :nod:

[GypsySorcerer]

Well, it's been three months since I bumped this, so I figured it was time again! :)

I noticed in my last post I mentioned 100 Years of Solitude, which unfortunately, I never really got into and then stopped reading. I'll revisit it eventually.

I finally read Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffennegger. The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my favorite books ever, so I knew I would probably be underwhelmed by her follow-up. It was a disappointing read, but not because of comparisons to her debut. Her Fearful Symmetry started out really promising for me (I enjoy a good ghost story), and just fell completely flat at the end. The final resolution was a freaking single paragraph! I will say I appreciated the prominent role of the Highgate Cemetery in the book -- some great historical information.

I also read We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver. Wow - has anyone else read this? Basically, it's the story of teenager who commits a mass school murder, written in the form of letters from his mother to her estranged husband. The form sounded gimmicky to me at first, but it really fits the "confessional" nature of the story. It's easily one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. I can't really say I "liked" it, nor could I ever deem it a "favorite" book. However, I won't soon forget it. Overall, a very bold contemplation on motherhood and personal responsibility.

Just finished up The Help by Kathryn Stockett, based on recommendations by several people. It was enjoyable enough, and I can understand its popularity. The richness of a few of the characters, especially Aibeleen, was the book's strongest aspect.

[jannieC]

I also read We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver. Wow - has anyone else read this? Basically, it's the story of teenager who commits a mass school murder, written in the form of letters from his mother to her estranged husband. The form sounded gimmicky to me at first, but it really fits the "confessional" nature of the story. It's easily one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. I can't really say I "liked" it, nor could I ever deem it a "favorite" book. However, I won't soon forget it. Overall, a very bold contemplation on motherhood and personal responsibility.



Oh boy, yes I read this book several years ago. The story is disturbing, but the writing is outstanding. The ending was actually a complete shock to me, which is unusual. I tend to figure things out early and then read along thinking I know the ending already. :o Very dark book but riveting.

[gldstwmn]

My Appetite for Destruction - Steven Adler
Cuba - Steven Coonts
Fifth Avenue 5 AM - Sam Wasson
Sliding Into Home - Kendra Wilkinson
9 Dragons - Michael Connelly
I Am Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne
Skinny Italian - Teresa Giudice

[gldstwmn]

Just finished up The Help by Kathryn Stockett, based on recommendations by several people. It was enjoyable enough, and I can understand its popularity. The richness of a few of the characters, especially Aibeleen, was the book's strongest aspect.

Loved this book!

[Zombie]

Oh boy, yes I read this book several years ago. The story is disturbing, but the writing is outstanding. The ending was actually a complete shock to me, which is unusual. I tend to figure things out early and then read along thinking I know the ending already. :o Very dark book but riveting.

I read it, too, right about when it came out. Excellent book, and the ending was a total shock to me, too. Like you, I usually can spot out the twist a mile away, but that one was so cleverly plotted and crafted, I did not see it. I remember going, "OH ****!" out loud when it hit me. I think I need to figure out which box that's in and revisit it.

I'm currently re-reading The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer. Mailer's writing style has always intrigued me.

Other books I've finished recently:

The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan - I love her.

My yearly re-read of Stephen King's Dark Tower series - I love those books so hard. I usually do the re-read during the winter, but I found an awesome china cabinet on CraigsList for 20 bucks that I'm refinishing, and I plan to replace the current glass in the doors with Dark Tower themed stained glass, so it was more research than anything this time around. Yes, I am a dork, but all things serve the Beam. Bite me. ;)

[GypsySorcerer]

^^^ I love Norman Mailer, too.

I'm with you guys about We Need to Talk About Kevin; didn't see the ending coming, either. Such a gripping read.

[CreepingDeath]

The Burning Land - Bernard Cornwell
A Favorite of the Queen - Jean Plaidy
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Ice Cold - Tess Gerritsen
I Am Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne

[tilthefirefades]

<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/dark%20phoenix%20x-men" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff17/bucaro_2007/X-Men/1066564772_79ad1897be.jpg" border="0" alt="Dark Phoenix(Jean Grey) VS. X-Men Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a>

[GypsySorcerer]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson


What did you think of this? I've heard a wide range of opinions.

[gldstwmn]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson


Loved it. Thought the whole trilogy was great.

[Meowi]

I am reading Pirate Latitues by Michael Chricton. I can honestly say it is a great read. If you are into historical fiction, I highly think you should read it.

[louielouie2000]

I am currently reading the Witching Hour series by Anne Rice. I have read this series at least twice a year since college... they're just my favorite books to get lost in. And with nearly 3,000 pages between 3 books, I pick up new facts and layers to the story every single time I read them. I'm currently on book #2, Lasher. It's such a wonderful series, so many taboo topics... hard to imagine such subjects being broached 20 years ago when these books were written. I'd be the happiest person in the world if this series were ever made into good movies. Personally, I think the subject matter for Anne's witch series is far more intriguing, intelligent, and scandalous than her vampire books, which she's famous for.

[Zombie]

I am currently reading the Witching Hour series by Anne Rice. I have read this series at least twice a year since college... they're just my favorite books to get lost in. And with nearly 3,000 pages between 3 books, I pick up new facts and layers to the story every single time I read them. I'm currently on book #2, Lasher. It's such a wonderful series, so many taboo topics... hard to imagine such subjects being broached 20 years ago when these books were written. I'd be the happiest person in the world if this series were ever made into good movies. Personally, I think the subject matter for Anne's witch series is far more intriguing, intelligent, and scandalous than her vampire books, which she's famous for.

Oh man, Anne Rice. Back in the day, she was one of my favorite authors. I always loved her amazing poet of a husband more, but I was crazy about her, too. Particularly the Mayfair books, but also Cry to Heaven (which, if you haven't read, you should - particularly in light of your comment re: addressing taboo topics 20 years ago, because Cry does the same thing, but was written even earlier than the Mayfair books, in like 1982) and her erotica.

Alas, while I still love those books, I can't take her seriously AT ALL anymore. Because she's bat**** insane. Now whenever I hear her name or hear that she's got another book coming out, all I can do is giggle, because some people should not be allowed on the Internet, and Anne Rice is one of them.

She's been involved in a few kerfluffles on various subjects, but my favorite has got to be the incident over Blood Canticle (since that's a Mayfair crossover, you may have read it. If so, I am sorry for your loss. If not, you have dodged a bullet, can I get an amen?) - it got several much-deserved bad reviews on Amazon, and she went berzerk and posted a long, often incoherent, rambling reply to the haterz, informing them that they were "straining her Dickensian principles to the max" by "interrogating the text from the wrong perspective."

No, really. She said that. (http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/515245.html?nc=911) Roughly translated, it means, "You only didn't like the book because you read it wrong, fishbulb." And it was beautiful.

Oh, and one time in 1997, she took out a full page ad in the local paper (http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/1132356.html?thread=169342532#t169342532), protesting a restaurant that had been opened in the building where she'd set much of Memnoch. Why? Because the decor was not classy enough for her. In the ad, she called it a monstrosity, and cites some examples of local establishments that ARE classy and should be the standard all new restaurants strive for, one of which is, y'know, the Shoney's. :laugh:

When the owner of the building took out his own reply and most of the community backed him up, did she shut up? Oh no, she did not! She took out ANOTHER ad, except this time she didn't write it.

Lestat did.

And now I'm giggling uncontrollably again. That just never gets old.

[louielouie2000]

Oh man, Anne Rice. Back in the day, she was one of my favorite authors. I always loved her amazing poet of a husband more, but I was crazy about her, too. Particularly the Mayfair books, but also Cry to Heaven (which, if you haven't read, you should - particularly in light of your comment re: addressing taboo topics 20 years ago, because Cry does the same thing, but was written even earlier than the Mayfair books, in like 1982) and her erotica.

Alas, while I still love those books, I can't take her seriously AT ALL anymore. Because she's bat**** insane. Now whenever I hear her name or hear that she's got another book coming out, all I can do is giggle, because some people should not be allowed on the Internet, and Anne Rice is one of them.

She's been involved in a few kerfluffles on various subjects, but my favorite has got to be the incident over Blood Canticle (since that's a Mayfair crossover, you may have read it. If so, I am sorry for your loss. If not, you have dodged a bullet, can I get an amen?) - it got several much-deserved bad reviews on Amazon, and she went berzerk and posted a long, often incoherent, rambling reply to the haterz, informing them that they were "straining her Dickensian principles to the max" by "interrogating the text from the wrong perspective."

No, really. She said that. (http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/515245.html?nc=911) Roughly translated, it means, "You only didn't like the book because you read it wrong, fishbulb." And it was beautiful.

Oh, and one time in 1997, she took out a full page ad in the local paper (http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/1132356.html?thread=169342532#t169342532), protesting a restaurant that had been opened in the building where she'd set much of Memnoch. Why? Because the decor was not classy enough for her. In the ad, she called it a monstrosity, and cites some examples of local establishments that ARE classy and should be the standard all new restaurants strive for, one of which is, y'know, the Shoney's. :laugh:

When the owner of the building took out his own reply and most of the community backed him up, did she shut up? Oh no, she did not! She took out ANOTHER ad, except this time she didn't write it.

Lestat did.

And now I'm giggling uncontrollably again. That just never gets old.

I knew about the Amazon thing, but wasn't aware of the whole restaurant incident. I can't say I care about either of those things. I do have to admit, Anne's reconversion to Catholicism, and subsequent books on Christianity have always bothered me, though. Reading all her books, it's clear she never stopped being a spiritual person, but battled with what the Catholic Church said she had to be. It just seemed stupid for her to try to make the shoe fit again, if it didn't the first time around. To make myself clear, I have no issues with religion... I'm a very spiritual person myself. I've been on Anne's Facebook fan group since she recently came out as a follower of Christ who rejected Christianity. She's very active on there, and has a lot of intelligent observations about what's going on in the world.

Anyway, my whole point is I don't really put a whole lot of stock into celebrity misbehavior. I know Stevie Nicks is a completely clueless imbecile, but I still adore her music. John DeLorean was a crooked, ruthless business man... but I still love the cars he made. Anne Rice is a bit manic to say the least, but her books still bring me immense joy. We're all a bit crazy... and I like that! :p

[Zombie]

^^^^^

Fair enough. I'd enjoy the Christ the Lord books more if they were written better, but that's just me. I don't mind her converting or whatever she did, but preachy bothers me, and I know she's capable of better writing than all of that.

Celebrity misbehavior doesn't faze me unless it's either extra funny or extra WTF, and Rice falls under extra WTF too often for me to remain comfortable with her - the ad in the paper thing is just amusing (the Shoney's, Anne? Really?), but her temper tantrum on Amazon was way too arrogant and condescending for me to ignore. I didn't like Blood Canticle, either, because it was a subpar book, and again, I know what she's capable of writing, because she's written above-par books in the past. So her getting online to spaz about how those that didn't like it are clearly just idiots is pretty insulting - I'm no idiot. And I see no reason to give my hard-earned pennies to someone that thinks I am an idiot/thinks it's a good idea to say publically that I'm an idiot if I do not love everything she does, no matter how crappy it might have been.

It's like how Laurell K. Hamilton lost me completely in much the same way - I LOVED the first few Anita Blake books, and still do, but as time went on, they went downhill faster than a flaming child on a greased sled. But instead of blame her bad writing for the books being bad, she blames everything else, and then says she pointedly ignores any criticism/reviews anyone has written, no matter how constructive, because she does what she wants. Well, okay - you can certainly do what you want - they are your books, your characters, etc - but if you don't think reader opinion is important at all, then I guess you don't think my money is important at all, either. So you can't have it.

For all Stevie is goofy, though, I can't see her getting online to start screaming that we only didn't like the new album because we listened to it wrong. ;)

[SapphireSister]

Erotic literature and no, I do not mean porn.

[chiliD]

This thread....and the tons of emails that arrive in my inbox every 5 minutes.

[louielouie2000]

^^^^^

Fair enough. I'd enjoy the Christ the Lord books more if they were written better, but that's just me. I don't mind her converting or whatever she did, but preachy bothers me, and I know she's capable of better writing than all of that.

Celebrity misbehavior doesn't faze me unless it's either extra funny or extra WTF, and Rice falls under extra WTF too often for me to remain comfortable with her - the ad in the paper thing is just amusing (the Shoney's, Anne? Really?), but her temper tantrum on Amazon was way too arrogant and condescending for me to ignore. I didn't like Blood Canticle, either, because it was a subpar book, and again, I know what she's capable of writing, because she's written above-par books in the past. So her getting online to spaz about how those that didn't like it are clearly just idiots is pretty insulting - I'm no idiot. And I see no reason to give my hard-earned pennies to someone that thinks I am an idiot/thinks it's a good idea to say publically that I'm an idiot if I do not love everything she does, no matter how crappy it might have been.

For all Stevie is goofy, though, I can't see her getting online to start screaming that we only didn't like the new album because we listened to it wrong. ;)

Ok, so I've done some research on both the Amazon.com and restaurant incidents. The Amazon.com meltdown happened within a year of her husband of 40+ years death. Grief makes people do weird and terrible things. Just look at what Stevie Nicks did when her lifelong best friend died... SHE MARRIED HIS HUSBAND!! I'd SO be haunting Stevie to this day if I were Robin Anderson! :p

The whole restaurant incident is a different matter. Reading Anne's books, there is an undercurrent of her being an advocate for historic preservation. She often laments in her books the loss of historic structures, or historic buildings being altered at the cost of their originality. From everything I've read, she was very active in New Orleans preservation throughout her life. She restored many properties, and was a strict purist. The restauranteur she battled with via the ads had radically (and tackily) altered the exterior of a historic building on New Orleans' most famous street: St Charles Ave (this was just around the corner from her home, by the way). St Charles Ave is the street the famed New Orleans Streetcar runs down. St Charles Ave is also the parade route for the Mardi Gras processions. With Rice being a native New Orleanian and an avid preservationist, you could see why this would enflame her.

I'm not condoning her actions one iota (like I said before, I just couldn't give a damn), but given the context behind both of them, they're certainly understandable. All I can say is I'm glad I'm not famous... because I say and do PLENTY of stupid crap! :p

[KarmaContestant]

^^I love Anne Rice! I've read all of her books multiple times, and The Witching Hour hour is hands-down one of my favorite, along with Memnoch The Devil.

I haven't read her most recent book - Angel Time - but it's on the shelf waiting for the right time.

I've had a hard time reading the past couple of years. I'm not sure why, but my attention span is far too short. I've started but not finished several books.

I tried reading A Complete History of Poland; I wanted to go there and thought some historical background would make the trip more interesting - but the writing was so dry and I just couldn't get into it.

I'm also reading Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, and finding it very entertaining.

Last night I picked up Clive Barker's Imajica, and started reading it again. It's been 13 years, so it's due for another read. Any fans of Anne Rice would probably love Clive's work.

Any Tom Robbins readers' here?

[chiliD]

Just look at what Stevie Nicks did when her lifelong best friend died... SHE MARRIED HIS HUSBAND!!

You mean "her", right? :shrug:

[Betsy]

Sorry I haven't read all the posts in this thread, and have just skimmed it for titles to read in the future. Here's what I've read since June...

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO - Swedish translation, makes the first 100 pages awkward -- but then the book takes off...really takes off. I am so excited that it's a trilogy. I got the other two...and am looking forward to reading them. I also bought the Swedish movie with English subtitles. I want to be able to compare it to the American version when it comes out. I heard that Emma (What's her name) from Harry Potter has cut her hair to play the part of Salander...but I just can't see her in that part.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA - read all 4 books this summer. My 20-something daughters wouldn't get off my case, until I read them. They were an easy read and I liked the humorous back and forth of cynical remarks between Jacob and Rosalie...but to my thinking...the Bella character was too self-absorbed.

BIG MAN TALL TALES - Clarence Clemons ( I think the gray colored pages were all figments of the Big Man's imagination, but it was a good read.)

P.S. Thanks for resurrecting this thread...I like to get new titles.

[Betsy]

ChiliD...

As I recall you were reading the CLAPTON autobiography at the same time as I was.

What did you think of it?

(I also read Patti Boyd's WONDERFUL TONIGHT...)

Those are two books, I still think about and would recommend.

[starshine]

I'm reading ....Women , Food and God by Geneen Roth.....its very interesting and I'm almost done with it....its not long enough. I always have many books going at once....I love books.....I don't think I'd like those computer book readers....but I guess if they stop printing them I won't have a choice but I still do now and love books......its all good for the mind ........Just like I still love cds......its ok to love stuff.....at least too me....:D

[Erin]

^^^^^

Fair enough. I'd enjoy the Christ the Lord books more if they were written better, but that's just me. I don't mind her converting or whatever she did, but preachy bothers me, and I know she's capable of better writing than all of that.

Celebrity misbehavior doesn't faze me unless it's either extra funny or extra WTF, and Rice falls under extra WTF too often for me to remain comfortable with her - the ad in the paper thing is just amusing (the Shoney's, Anne? Really?), but her temper tantrum on Amazon was way too arrogant and condescending for me to ignore. I didn't like Blood Canticle, either, because it was a subpar book, and again, I know what she's capable of writing, because she's written above-par books in the past. So her getting online to spaz about how those that didn't like it are clearly just idiots is pretty insulting - I'm no idiot. And I see no reason to give my hard-earned pennies to someone that thinks I am an idiot/thinks it's a good idea to say publically that I'm an idiot if I do not love everything she does, no matter how crappy it might have been.

It's like how Laurell K. Hamilton lost me completely in much the same way - I LOVED the first few Anita Blake books, and still do, but as time went on, they went downhill faster than a flaming child on a greased sled. But instead of blame her bad writing for the books being bad, she blames everything else, and then says she pointedly ignores any criticism/reviews anyone has written, no matter how constructive, because she does what she wants. Well, okay - you can certainly do what you want - they are your books, your characters, etc - but if you don't think reader opinion is important at all, then I guess you don't think my money is important at all, either. So you can't have it.

For all Stevie is goofy, though, I can't see her getting online to start screaming that we only didn't like the new album because we listened to it wrong. ;)

Anne wrote she's no longer a Catholic on Facebook, I believe. Maybe she'll start writing better books. Although I did enjoy the Angel book more than I thought I would. Queen of the Damned is still my favorite of all the books she's written.

Laurell K. Hamilton, sigh. Like you I really enjoyed the Anita series at the beginning, now it's basically porn. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it wasn't what the series was supposed to be about. I still read the series in the hope a plot will eventually surface, but so far no dice!

[Betsy]

.... I always have many books going at once....

I don't think I'd like those computer book readers

......it's ok to love stuff.....at least to me....:D

People at my workout place have Kindles (? I presume ?) and read them on the eliptical machine. My eyesight is so bad, I don't think I could read that small of print but maybe the screen text can be increased. I do hate that I have so many books, which are heavy to move...but I have a hard time parting with them. (I underline and highlight things I want to remember.)

Sooooooo.....As for loving stuff...? Don't feel like the Lone Ranger... :wavey:

[Silver Springs]

Although I'm probably VERY late in my doing so, I'm currenly reading Mick's "My Life And Adventures In Fleetwood Mac". So far I find it a very gripping read although I only began it this morning, and so am not far into it. I'm at the section where John has just joined the band. Why you needed to know that I don't know, but I threw it in anyway :P. It's usually very difficult for me to read the life stories of people I idolise so much as I find myself somewhat disenchanted when I do. But I suppose with Fleetwood Mac it's different, because we all know of their turbulent and drug addled past. So whatever crops up in this book I suppose I can just shrug it off as a "given" really hehe. Though I am pretty scared about reading the next book on my list, which is "Storms" by Carol Ann Harris. I heard that it was a very, well....it didn't paint Lindsey in a good light much. I'm hoping I'm wrong. If somebody has read the book and would like to tell me that I am so I don't have to just look at the cover but proceed no further, then please by all means PM me.

Okay. That's my little rant about apparently very little out of the way. I shall bid this post adieu and send it on its way hehe.