Off-Topic: Read any good books lately?

[hobson]

I've been working on the SAME William Boyd novel (Armadillo-really good!) for what seems like the last 4 weeks. I am so swamped with work, extra work outside of work, extra work on top of that, taking a graduate course, and getting Hobson ready to do some shows that I hardly have time to scratch my butt any more, let alone read! Waaaaaaa! I used to gallop through a couple of novels a week!

What are you guys and gals reading?

[hobson]

I've been working on the SAME William Boyd novel (Armadillo-really good!) for what seems like the last 4 weeks. I am so swamped with work, extra work outside of work, extra work on top of that, taking a graduate course, and getting Hobson ready to do some shows that I hardly have time to scratch my butt any more, let alone read! Waaaaaaa! I used to gallop through a couple of novels a week!

What are you guys and gals reading?

[Stars]

I just finished reading Beyond Eden by Catherine Coulter. I know its a cheesy romance novel, but really good. I had a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend it.

[SLW]

Daughter handed me "White Oleander" to read. Easy read, terribly sad.

SLW

[DarkerHorse]

I have just finished the best book I have ever read. The Mists of Avalon. Its such a good book. The middle gets kind of unorganized (IMO), but the idea of the book is just so intresting. The Characters are so like.. not boring. I loved it /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

-----
http://www.catchride.com

[Tricia Booker]

I just finished "I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb. It was quite intense (and long), but worth the read, especially if schizophrenia and related conditions interest you. I spent many a night reading well past my bedtime.

I'm looking for other good reading suggestions as I'm embarking on a two-week vacation next month! Yahoo!! Time of my own again!! (Not that I won't miss my family, horribly, of course...) /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[JAGold]

I highly recomend "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by David Eggars. Not horsey, but a great book--some of the best sustained irony I've ever read.

Also recently read Kay Graham's memoirs, and a George Elliot novel called "Daniel Deronda." Enjoyed both very much, but then, I'm kind of a dork that way /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif --Jess

[Quinn]

I have just completed an excellent little "no thinker" book by the name of Julie and Romeo. I loved it. As well, recently finished another couple of Maeve Binchy books. So unfortunate she will no longer be writing.

[lilblackhorse]

George Carlin's "napalm & silly Putty"...after all this crisis in the world and here, I voted for mindless reading with humour!
Just finished "rachel's holiday" a quick read, but funny/sad-Irish girl who goes to rehab for drug. Can you say "denial"....poignant, funny, quick read. Worth it...

"Wherever you go-there you are!"

[Indy]

I'm reading Fellowship of the Rings by Tolkien....I've been told by my friend that I have to read it before I'm allowed to see the movie when it comes out. Despite protesting a bit about reading it (I'm not a fantasy person at all), I'm actualy really liking it. I have around 300 more pages to get done by Dec 19. Wish me luck /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Dementia 13]

A biography of the Art Deco artist Tamara Lempicka. Fascinating!

A book about the explosion aboard the USS Iowa, and the subsequent cover up.

Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Didn't like it as well as the Great Gatsby.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (one of my favorite authors of all time)

The Brimstone Wedding, a novel of suspense by Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell.

I am dying to read:
Seabiscuit
the book by Steven Ambrose that Band of Brothers was based on. Any input on either would be most appreciated!

[Piper]

Maeve Binchey stopped writing?? Did she pass away and I didn't hear about it? She is one of my alltime favorites along with Anne Rivers Siddons.

[Coreene]

I just started "Scarlet Feather" last night.

[Waterwatch]

A very good read even if you're not a horsey person. It was amazing to know the history of this horse and the men surrounding it. Some of the stories about what the jockeys go through to make weight on a daily basis were pretty interesting also. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

"May the happiest days of your past be the saddest days of your future."

[Serenade]

'Growing Prosperity: The Battle for Growth With Equity in the 21st Century' by Bluestone & Harrison

'The Guilt of Nations' by Elazar Barkan

'Go Down, Moses' by William Faulkner

'Once Were Warriors' by Alan Duff

Oh wait...you said GOOD books, and these are SCHOOL books. Silly me. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

The scary thing is, I had to read the majority of these in the past 2 weeks! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Back in the summer, before I came here and they stole all of my free time, I read and REALLY liked 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius'

And 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams is one of my all-time favorites!

*Forget home-sickness...I'm
HORSE-sick!!*

[Heidi]

I am reading V.S. Naipaul's A Bend in the River and recently finished Jhumpa Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning Interpreter of Maladies, which I thought 'light-weight'. Bharati Mukherjee is vastly superior - though not as well-known. Will also confess to having recently re-read Jilly Cooper's Riders. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Pixie Dust]

I've been on a little Jane Smiley kick. Just finished Moo. A couple of parts of that book were so tragic (to me) that it just hurt. And then while on vacation I read 1000 Acres. I enjoyed that, I think because I lived in MN for a while and I knew "farmers wives from Iowa" so to me it was very fascinating, but it's kind of a "chick" book. Then on the flight home, I started a little Dick Francis kick. Those books are old; I didn't know about them, but I really like them. Now I'm (still) reading the new Seabiscuit book (Hillenbrand). My most favorite book of recent memory is called "I Capture the Castle" which I LOVED but the author's name....I'm drawing a blank.

[Dementia 13]

Serenade - all of those books sound interesting - the titles intrigue me. What are they about?

Have you ever read "Shardik" by Richard Adams? A strange but rather fascinating book. I couldn't make myself read the Plague Dogs.

[artienallie]

A pretty good read in the 'Watership Down' theme, only with cats is 'Tailchaser's Song' by Tad Williams. The hero is a really cute marmalade tabby kitten. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Anyone interested in English history should read some of Allison Weir's books. She has a good ability to make history read very much like a novel.

[Kryswyn]

Just Jack Russells - New coffeetable book with wonderful photos and just a little text by Dusan (pronounce 'Doo-Sahn) Smetana. Kryswyn extended family alert! Your puppies' auntie Pinch is in the book along w/the Princess of Quitealot, Siren!

Best Re-read: A Portion For Foxes, Jane McIllvaine McClary

Best New Read: Middleburg Mystique by Vicky Moon

~Kryswyn~
"Always look on the bright side of life, de doo, de doo de doo de doo"

[Serenade]

MargaretF-

in 'Growing Prosperity' the authors, "examine America's great surge of economic expansion in its historical context to demonstrate the causes for the vibrancy of our economy" Basically, they talk about the debate between the Wall St. model of economics, and the Main St. model.

'The Guilt of Nations' is a book about restitution for historical injustices.

'Go Down, Moses' is a collection of connected short stories about a southern plantation family and the slave family they become entwined with.

'Once Were Warriors' is a novel about a Maori family living in a New Zealand slum. Fascinating in a very intense/depressing way. Definitely an eye-opener.

'A Heartbreaking Work...' is a stream of consciousness account of a young man who has to raise his younger brother when both of his parents die of cancer. Parts are very sad, parts are VERY funny, just like life I guess. It's mostly non-fiction, but he admitts to taking some liberties- and describes each one in his notes.

I did read 'Plague Dogs' /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif Haven't read the other one you mentioned, was it good?

*Forget home-sickness...I'm
HORSE-sick!!*

[Checkers324]

Yes! I am so happy. I just bought "The Complete Training of Horse and Rider" by Colonel Alois Podhajsky. Now THAT is a good book! I also bought "The Way to Perfect Horsemanship" by Udo Burger, which is pretty good as well, but I find that Burger has a slightly harsher and more front-to-back approach than Podhajsky. Oh, if only Podhajsky was still alive!

"His is a power enhanced by pride, a courage heightened by challenge. His is a swiftness intensified by strength, a majesty magnified by grace. His is a timeless beauty touched with gentleness, a spirit that calls our hearts to dream."-Unknown
"Never give up your dreams and never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough or don't have what it takes!"-Richard Spooner
"After a bad time there always comes a good time!"-Fermin Carrera

[GW]

Just read Jane Smiley's "Barn Blind"- very good.
An excellent book I recently read was "A Map of the World" by .....??? her name escapes me at the moment. (maybe Jane Hamilton?)

[tle]

Darkerhorse... MoA is on my to read list!! Did you like the TV movie?

Hopefully now that our fall 3-day is done I'll have a couple months to actually get something read! I always take a book or 2 with me to events, but never seem to find time to read more than 1 or 2 pages. And just like my cross-stitch projects, I have quite a few in the "partially read" category, including... Riding Wind Horses: A look at mongolian shamanism... Earth Power by Scott Cunningham... rereading one of my Richard North Patterson books

If Dressage is a Symphony... Eventing is Rock & Roll!

[baymare]

Just finished the new Elizabeth George, which I found disappointing.

Had to read AB Guthrie's "The Way West" for a discussion group at my library. It was wonderful. For anybody who loved "Lonesome Dove", I highly recommend it. Also "This House of Sky" by Ivan Doig. Great Western scenarios, and stories of a vanished life.

Hey, JAGold, I made it through "Daniel Deronda" a year or so ago. Yegads! It was an effort. Much prefer her "Middlemarch"--still epic proportions, but a much more gripping story.

[Tackpud]

Seabiscuit - AWESOME!!

For simple mindless entertainment (not in depth thinking) anything by Sandra Brown.

To stretch your brain cells - Tom Clancy - those plots can be a little too close to home these days though....

[BLBGP]

JA (and Serenade): I saw this topic and was about to hop on it and mention Heartbreaking Work, but y'all beat me to it. I love that book, especially being from the bay area. Speaking of all the new "David's" that are getting huge these days, did you read any Sedaris or Foster Wallace? Ah, NPR......

[Weatherford]

Oh - so MANY great suggestions -

Podhajsky's My Horses, My Teachers - wonderful!

McCullough, John Adams - can't recommend this highly enough, especially in these trying times.

David Francis, Agapanthus Tango I've written about the lovely coming of age first novel by an Australian who lives in LA. Yes, it has PLENTY of horses.

ANY Dick Francis novels. I am sorry to say, it looks like there isn't one for this year. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

David Baldacci Wish You Well Moving story set in the mountains of SW VA.

There are tons more....

[MHM]

I recently read "Ghost Light." It's a memoir of the early life of Frank Rich, who grew up to be the theater critic for the NY Times. Very enjoyable.

In my stack of unread books, I also have Seabiscuit and Harry Potter, which I hope to read before the respective movies come out!

John Adams is also in that stack, as is Outfoxed. Actually, it's quite a big pile of books!

[joliemom]

BLBGP - David Sedaris and I were separated at birth! I'm his long lost, blonde, blue-eyed, non Greek sister! I feel sure it's only a matter of days before he'll contact me.

The two read this summer were Nuala O'Faolain's My Dream of You (pretty good read) and Steven King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (should be read by all college students hoping to become writers).

My Old Favorites: Great Plains by Ian Frazier and Middle Passage by Charles Johnson. Anything by MFK Fisher or Edna O'Brien.

Currently wading through Harding's Far From the Maddening Crowd.

My Dirty Little Secret: I find most books on riding endlessly dull unless I have a specific problem or interest, but, I have shelves of them. Sigh.

[Ruby G. Weber]

It's been a while but Cold Mountain is still one of my favs.

Just finished All in the Family...business/George Raymond. Quite interesting.

[Miniwelsh]

her books get worse and less beleiveable the more she writes unfortunately.

I really enjoyed The Drowning People by Richard something.

*Behind every good woman lies a trail of men*

[Tri-mo]

While I haven't read it lately, it is the most recent good book I've read: Seabiscuit. And as everyone has said, it's an amazing book and everyone should read it! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[joliemom]

Genius : The Life and Science of Richard Feynman - makes me wish I'd paid attention during science class.

A Beautiful Mind : A Biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr., Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics - makes me glad I'm neither a genius nor married to one.

[Bells]

2nd thumbs up to "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith (who also is the author of 101 Dalmations). A sweet novel about growing up in England.

Rose

[starlady]

Joliemom--I'm in "A Beautiful Mind"! It's my great claim to fame (sure ain't gonna be my riding, folks). I'm quoted a few times in the "Phantom" chapter--if you're really bored, try to guess which one is me! I am eager to see the movie, too (although I sure won't be in that!)--s.

[Eglinton]

I noticed a couple of people on the board (I forget who) like Ruth Rendell...I love her! I just read about 5 in a row! I am reading Heartstones right now, and I just finished The Bridesmaid, I also loved Kissing the Gunner's Daughter, A Sight for Sore Eyes..I love them all. They are extremely creepy. Oh and i read a book of her short stories but I can't remember what its called. I also really like the english author Joanna Trollope.

[Janet]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>ANY Dick Francis novels. I am sorry to say, it looks like there isn't one for this year <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Or next year, or the year after ...

[Quinn]

Scarlet Feather is her last book. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Apparently, she wants to spend more time with her husband. Go figure. /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

I for one will miss her tremendously.

[hitchinmygetalong]

My husband bought me this book a number of years ago thinking I would like it because it had a picture of a horse on the cover. I read it, detested it, and watched in horrified amazement as it spawned a whole new breed of horse "trainers" and spin-off books, videos, etc (and a movie that I absolutely refuse to watch).

The name of the book (if you haven't already guessed): The Horse Whisperer

Yes, I know the training methods predate the book, but you have to admit, there is a correlation there...

"The simple truth is never simple and rarely true."
-Oscar Wilde

[Dementia 13]

Eglinton - was Heartstones good? I haven't read that one yet. I loved the Bridesmaid. My favorites so far are The Brimstone Wedding and The Chimney Sweeper's Lad.

Serenade - Shardik was a really good but, strange, like all of Richard Adams books (which is why I like them!)

[lark]

I've read many of the ones already mentioned and totally agree- and would like to add The Shipping News - by Annie Proulx - what a beautiful writer - Also read her book of short stories "Close Range"..... also, for a fun non-fiction read check out Bobos in Paradise - about us baby boomers and how we deal with new found affluence , business, and politics. It is absolutely hilarious as well as very inciteful. Thanks for the suggestion Once Were Warriors. I really want to read that one. . This is such a great topic especially as winter approaches - I just read Kitchen Confidential - about the wild world of a chef in the intense NY restaurant scene. And am about to start " The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. Of course don't forget Jane Smiley's Horse Heaven if you haven;t already read it.

[GO-dog-GO]

My road map for life....."Harold and the purple crayon". /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[lauriep]

I am reading HOT BLOOD finally - fascinating.

I am also a Phar Lap junky and just read PHAR LAP by Geoffrey Armstrong. Terrific book with so many photos that are prev. unseen. Highly recommend it!

For those interested in books about your health, THE SCHWARZBEIN PRINCIPLE by Dr. Diana Schwarzbein will change your life!

Laurie

[Cinco de Mayo]

Through a Dark Mist: Marsha Canham

A Knight in Shining Armor: Johanna Lindsey

I am a romance junky. [sigh] /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[joliemom]

starlady - you got me, all I can guess is that you're the student who erased his blackboard messages.

So, which actor was hired to play Nash?

[Janet]

LaurieB's "Unleashed".

I am waiting to read "Once Bitten" when it comes out in paperback.

[starlady]

Close, Joliemom--my husband was the student who erased the blackboard messages, I was the clueless newbie who got the lectures about how to behave towards Nash. Who is played by RUSSELL CROWE!! Who resembles him not at all, but who the he** cares?!?!?--s

[HelenD]

Horsey:
Mark Rashid - anything
Henry Blake - Talking with Horses, Horse sense
Riding Logic - Mueler (sp?)
Riders (eg)


Non Horsey:
For you southerners - Walker Percy
Bridget Jones' Diary - Movie does nothing to even come close to how hard I laughed at that book. Favorite sequence is about why single women and gay men have so much in common. Second installment not as good.
Animal Husbandry - Laura Zigman
The Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux

Authors that are pretty good women/suspense/mystery stuff - Tami Hoag, Jayne Ann Krentz, Karen Robards (some with horse "backgrounds" books), Catherine Coulter, etc.

[hitchinmygetalong]

The Shipping News - one of my very favorites. Bought it for my brother to read on his (sad) death bed (we used to live in Newfoundland!).

Can't you just picture Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep in the movie (if they ever made one)? Please tell me they are NOT making a movie of this book!

"The simple truth is never simple and rarely true."
-Oscar Wilde

[L Scott]

I really like Annie Proulx, Ruth Rendell, Tolkien(have read him a couple time over).

I am reading The Stone Raft - Jose Saramago, not far enough in to to say yes or no.

Have Grasshopper by Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell, Dressing up for the Carnival - Carol Shields next.

Although it is somewhat depressing, I strongly suggest Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie McDonald.

[Eglinton]

Margaret - so far Heartstones is very good. It is very short...more like a novelette, and shaping up to be very, well, creepy for lack of a better word! I haven't read the ones you mentioned yet, well I read the Bridesmaid but not the others. I got hooked on her about 4 months ago and I am making my way through my local library's supply, then I will move onto a good used bookstore, and i will ask for a few for Christmas.

[horsenut]

It stars Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore and I think is being released on 12/25.

So many of you have mentioned books that are on my bookshelf at home and haven't yet made it to the bedside table!! In particular, "Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius", "Hot Blood", and "Barn Blind". Note to self: get reading!

Weatherford -- I have almost all the Dick Francis mysteries and it looks like I will have to content myself with those in future. After the death of his wife last year, I understand it's unlikely he will publish another book.

[baymare]

Another huge fan of Shipping News, here. And believe it or not, I think I read somewhere (or I dreamed it) that they ARE making a movie of it and that Kevin Spacey is to play Quoyle.

[joliemom]

Russell Crowe as John Nash? Fine by me. Maybe George Clooney could play one of the Nobel committee members, with his shirt unbuttoned, of course.

HelenD - love me some Walker Percy!

[hitchinmygetalong]

Quote from Horse Nut and Baymare:

"They ARE making a movie of "The Shipping News"

It stars Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore and I think is being released on 12/25."

Though a fan of both, it is not going to work for me. Won't go see it, can't make me, no no no I'm going to go pout!

"The simple truth is never simple and rarely true."
-Oscar Wilde

[Weatherford]

Singing in the Comeback Choir (and any other books) by Bebe Moore Campbell. Excellent writer!

[muley]

I'm a librarian. I live books!
My favorite series is a set of books written by Diana Gabaldon. She is an x-professor at ASU and is the best fiction writer I have come across. The series is called The Outlander Saga. Starting with Outlander. The books are mostly historical ficton with some sci fi thrown in. It's very hard to put these books into a catagory as they are a little bit romance, a bit sci fi, a lot historical. The fifth in the series is coming out next month and I can't wait for it. Because of all the research that Diana does for each book, it takes about two and a half years between books. But each book has been around a thousand pages. Her writing style is wonderful. Very detailed. She makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action! I will post a link to her website, there you will find exerpts from her current novels.

I can't recommend them enough.

Coreene, Maeve Binchy is retired. She published her last book a few months ago. I can't remember the title, but heard that it wasn't as good as her others.

Seabiscuit is supposed to be a really good read. I haven't gotten to it yet as I am trying to catch up on all the books that I have on my headboard now...

http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/gabaldon.html

[muley]

I love Patricia Cornwell too. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
Except I can't read her befoe going to sleep. Once, after reading one of her books about a serial murderer who dismembered their victims, I drempt that I dismembered my poor, long dead auntie and hid her in the back of my surburban. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
Then made my husband, who was my partner in this crime, promise not to tell my mom, as I though she'd be pretty ticked off....

I really haven't read much of her stuff since that one..... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[GW]

Cornwell's new stuff isn't very good. I didn't enjoy "The Last Precinct" at all. I am annoyed because I had it and a Maeve Binchy book in my hands at the bookstore and I could only afford one and chose the Cornwell. I love Maeve Binchy, sorry to hear that she is retired. I really like Sue Grafton, too.

[Quinn]

I believe I am correct in saying it was "Scarlet Feather" and I loved it. The characters were marvellous and as is the case with her, you become part of the story.

[orange]

I just finished a collection of essays by Meghan Daum called My Misspent Youth, kind of David Sedaris-like but IMHO even funnier and more real.

Seabiscuit was really, really good.

I'm about to start Lord of the Rings, gotta finish it before the movie comes out.

I'm with the contingent that says Patricia Cornwell has gotten out of hand. I used to really like her stuff, I mean tough, smart females rock. But the last two were just too far fetched. I admit to skipping ahead to the end just to be done with that, and I never do that.

I saw a display of the Diane Gabaldo (sp?) books and they were intriguing, but the (*&$^ bookstore didn't have the first one in the series.

[vineyridge]

Blood Sport, about Whitewater, etc.

Trollope--everything. Just decided to start reading my mother's books by him and have become addicted. He puts me to sleep at night.

Cookbooks from a trove I unearthed in my attic. They are mostly vintage pre 1930's and are hysterical. Many are promotional cookbooks for various no longer extant products.

Darkover novels. Spider Robinson, CJ Cherryh's Serpent's Reach and the Faded Sun trilogy.

Gordon Wright, GM and Littauer--really, honestly.

An old British horse book called Bridle Wise from the 1920's. Very interesting.

[joliemom]

Viney - if you enjoy old cookbooks, look at The Gallery of Regrettable Food (http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/index.html). You have been warned.

[LaurieB]

announced her retirement last year. She wasn't tried of writing, but she did not want to continue to tour/promote (which is almost harder than writing /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif )

I'm currently reading THE FAMILY by Mario Puzo about the Borgia family in 15th century Rome. It's not as good as I thought it would be--I find it somewhat dry coming from the guy who wrote THE GODFATHER--but I love historical fiction.

[DarkerHorse]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tle:
Darkerhorse... MoA is on my to read list!! Did you like the TV movie?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I thought the movie was great but It left out a good chunk of the book. You really dont understand why some of the characters do things in the movie, but that is all cleared up in the book. The movie doesnt address the holy grail, or the other merlin, or how vivian really died (which, in the movie, doesnt even follow the King Author legend).

-----
http://www.catchride.com

[DarkerHorse]

Another book I loved was Big Stone Gap. It was just about someone's life in a small town; it reminded me of the town in Arkansas my grand parents live in- well.. a few years ago when it was smaller. It was just such a good book to read at 2 in the morning or on a day when it was to rainy to ride.

-----
http://www.catchride.com

[muley]

You HAVE to read these books in order!
#1 Outlander
#2 Dragonfly in Amber'
#3 Voyager
#4 Drums of Autumn

#5 The Fiery Cross Due out November 6 th.

Her name is Diana Gabaldon.

She is also in the process of writing two mysteries set in the present time here in Scottsdale, AZ. Where she lives.

I read James Patterson's book First to Die and really liked it. So, I got another one by him and it was the same story, but set in a different place with different people. I was very disappointed.

I haven't read any of Patricia Cornwell's newer stuff. The last one that I read of her's was the one where her boyfriend dies. I didn't finish it.

Has anyone read Rita mae Brown's stuff??
You know, with Sneaky Pie the cat? I thought her stuff was kinda fun.

Am I the only one that HATES Danielle Steele? I can't stand her writing. I have never been able to get past the first couple of chapters on any of her books, so I have quit trying

/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[KellyS]

Seabiscuit was fantastic!

Dick Francis is one of my favorites! In the good old days when I first discovered his books, there were so many to read. Now I've read them all, and wait painfully for the next one to come out...if it does.

Patricia Cornwell's books aren't what they used to be and give me the heebie jeebies! Definitely a bit far fetched and they seem to keep getting more gruesome.

Anybody ever read any of Clive Cussler's books? Definitely far fetched - but a fun, adventurous read.

[JER]

joliemom -- this is one of my all-time favorite sites. I found it several years ago when I was looking for bad recipe ideas (this would be for a script I was working on). It is absolutely side-splitting.

To all parties who fear the movie version of "The Shipping News" -- why can't it be good? Why shut yourself off to it? Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore are fine actors, Lasse Halstrom is a quality director. A book and a movie can be different experiences of the same story -- but there's nothing intrinsically 'bad' or 'lesser' about a film. And a film often brings legions of new readers to the book. Yes, I'm a screenwriter, and yes, my company was involved in the pre-shooting draft of the script. I'm sure the finished script has changed quite a bit, but I thought we did a fine job conveying the essence of Quoyle, Wavey, Newfoundland, et al.

[baymare]

who think she's gone downhill, try Kathy Reichs.
Her heroine is a female forensic pathologist; the books are mostly set in Montreal. I thinks she's written four books.

Anybody else love the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly? He is my all-time favorite hard-boiled detective hero.

Vineyridge: I love Trollope! Especially the way he usually manages to sneak at least one rip-roaring foxhunting scene into every novel!

Four Blondes! I just started on Seabiscuit. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Waterwatch]

I'm with you Muley

I used to read her stuff ages ago. I think she just changes the jacket cover and names of main characters for each book.

This summer I read those books about the shark attacks along the Jersey Shore. 8 Days of Terror or something like that. You do get some strange looks when you read it on the beach. I also read "In the Heart of the Sea" about the Whaleship Essex. This true story was the inspiration for Moby Dick. I thought it was better than "The Perfect Storm".

Just finished "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas", by James Patterson. Very quick read. A definite "Chick" book. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

"May the happiest days of your past be the saddest days of your future."

[Fred]

I agree that Patricia Cornwell has made her more recent books just too gruesome. I think she's a good writer and I like her main character. Although, is it just me - or does it bother anyone else that after scooping out grey matter etc all day, she always seems to come home and cook herself a rare steak??!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
I just finished Jeffery Deaver " A Maiden's Grave" it was ok - but not as good as "The Bone Collector" (movie was awful) - but again the main character is so appealing. I like the John Sandford "Prey" books a lot - just finished Silent Prey and Eyes of Prey. His 'Lucas Davenport' is also a likeable hero. I like 'em handsome, smart, but flawed. Speaking of which, I've been on a bit of an Ian Rankin kick lately too. Also like the Harry Bosch character and the one hero of Dick Francis (exrider, lost his hand - his most complex character I think - didn't say "how about a boink then"...:)
Just finished Seabiscuit and Horse Heaven. - always have a copy of The Jeeves Omnibus (P.G Wodehouse) by the bed - if I'm feeling sleepless or anxious, it's so reassuring. And just started 'Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon' by Jorge Amado.
I HATED THE HORSE WHISPERER TOO!! thought it was horribly manipulative and cheap. I picked up the new Maeve Binchy, but didn't get it. Maybe I can borrow it from you, Quinn? We can start the SW Ontario Book Club - you too Heidi (although you're going to have to start reading a few more thrillers my girl...) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[NinaL aka Chrissy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by muley:
You HAVE to read these books in order!
#1 Outlander
#2 Dragonfly in Amber'
#3 Voyager
#4 Drums of Autumn

#5 The Fiery Cross Due out November 6 th.

Her name is Diana Gabaldon.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have read the first two. Great books! Time to look for the next ones in the library /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.

I'm currently reading Circle of Stones by Anna Lee Waldo. Great stuff if you like stories about early Wales (Henry II time frame), druids, etc.

Nina

[lark]

well i agree that Kevin Spacey is a fine actor, and i can definitly see him doing a fine job acting the part of Quoyle , it's just that i envisioned Q. as some kind of big puffy lunkhead, kinda oversize and flabby. i mean, that's one of the endearing things about Qouyle, that he WASN't thin and sexy. as for julianne moore, this may be a dumb question, but is she Wavey or the wife ( was her name Petal)? I could really see Laura Dern as Wavey and Courtny Love as the wife, but then nobody asked me to cast it. Am really looking forward to the film anyway. Any chance they'll do a movie of "Cold Mountain"??

[Heidi]

Not only do I have the entire Michael Connelly collection, I have all of Ian Rankin's books. So /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif .

Thrillers on my book shelves: Richard North Patterson, Kathy Reichs, Lawrence Block, Faye Kellerman, Sharon McCrumb, James Lee Burke...and the list does indeed go on.

On a serious literary note, Laurel, I too loved Ann Marie MacDonald's "Fall on your knees".

I've also been struggling for a few years to actually complete a Milan Kundera novel. Not to mention Martin Amis. They're both literary drips whose lauded reputations and P.R. far exceeds their actual abilities.

Famous writers that I've met: Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, I used to literally run into Robertson Davies at the U. of T. campus once a week, I corresponded with Norman Mailer; and had the absolute pleasure of meeting the Literary Goddess herself, Toni Morrison.

[Heidi]

Paul Mann's "The Ganja Coast" , a thrillerish-mystery novel set in India is absolutely wonderful.

[dublin]

I'm bummed that Maeve Binchy is retiring. I have enjoyed so many of her books. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Right now I'm reading Flight of Passage, by Rinker Buck, which is the story of two teenage brothers who flew across country in a Piper Cub, in 1966. Beautifully written and very interesting on a number of levels.

I also enjoy Anne Perry's mystery series set in Victorian England with the husband and wife team of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. They give you a detailed view of life in those times as well as being well written mysteries.

The next thing I will be reading is the Snowman biography written by Rutherford Montgomery which I finally bought off eBay for a relatively reasonable price!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

"Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller
UCLA football RULES....Undefeated and #3 in the nation, baby!!

[Fred]

you are IN the SWO Book Club! (for a moment there, I thought you just read books with tasteful, artistic covers.. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif - instead of cutouts with knives and gashes of blood )
Martin Amis - me too - just can't do it.
I really liked 1000 Acres - right up til the end, when it felt like she just got tired of it and wound it all up...Shipping News, same thing - I think she's a good writer but the book didn't move me. I'm really needing a great book right now if anyone has any suggestions - I should finish the one I'm reading tonight. A few weeks ago I reread "Mr American" by George MacDonald Fraser (z?) ( author of the Flashman books) it was really good. I was sorry when it ended, and would love to see a sequel.
Dublin! I like those Anne Perry's too.

[sprite]

you arent a member of LoL are you? the dian gabaldon message boards? that would be really funny running into a COTH person over there! Diana Gabaldon remains, in my mind, one of the finest writers in modern times. I have read her books over and over and never get tired of them- can always fid SOMETHING i missed! Cant wait for the Fiery Cross next month, counting the days!

Good books ive read recently...
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Lauren Hillebrands Seabiscuit
John Sandfords Chosen Prey
Rosamunde Pilcher- Coming Home
Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series- somehow i am working my way backwards thru it, LOL. They are really well written books starring a vampire executioner
Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series- starting with One For the Money, they are bust- out -laughning hilarious.

And though i liked her when i was a teenager, i cant stand danielle steele, dont have the patience for that kind of writing. And i read really fast, so the longer the book, the better!

[OnceAThief]

But, being an English major, I've read a TON in the past semester (ack.. actual work..) I love Edith Wharton (I've read "House of Mirth" and "Summer" now, and am starting on "A Son on the Front") - Very good, and all very depressing. They make you whimper..

And, for the same class, I've had to reread a lot of Hemingway. I used to hate Hemingway - then, I had a professor who actually knew what he was talking about, and WOW. Lovin' it.

I can't wait for the summer when I can read for fun again - I read those "Chestnut Mare Beware" books (well, the first two anyway) years ago. Are there more of those yet? People keep suggesting Cromwell to me, too. And, at some point, I want to reread Les Miserables. Haven't read it in a while, and, oddly enough, I miss it /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I'm such a dork.

[WindWhistler82]

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. I loved it!! I'm sure a lot of you have read it already though... I heard she's coming out with a 5th book in the series next year!!!

*~*Katie*~*

~Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experiance.~*~Proud member of the College Clique!~

[Kachoo]

First and foremost, I have fallen in love with Nick Hornby's books - every one, from "High Fidelity" to "How to Be Good" to "About a Boy" has been absolutely hilarious. My personal favorite is the last one, in which his main character realizes that by pretending to be a single father, he can tap into a whole group of beautiful women who would otherwise never give him a second glance (that group being, well, single mothers). So, he invents a fictional 2-year-old named Ned, and the whole thing's just great.

I'm also reading Benjamin Anastas' "An Underachiever's Diary," which is also extremely funny. I found this book by pure chance - I went to Chapters, and being in a mood to read some kind of first-person sort of book, I typed "Diary" into the search engine, and this one was one of the millions that came up. Very good read.

The last one I'm working on is "Shanghai Baby" by Wei Hui, largely because the book was so controversial that copies of it were confiscated and burned by authorities in Beijing. So far, it seems to be about a waitress in modern-day China and her affairs with a Chinese artist and then an S&M-lovin' German. It's very descriptive and detailed - this lady knows how to paint a picture. There are all sorts of lovely lines like "It's become my ambition, almost my raison d'etre, to burst upon the city like fireworks."

"Holidays on Ice," by David Sedaris is just as pee-in-your-pants funny as his other stuff, and let me just say the new series by K.A. Applegate (genius creator of the Animorphs /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif), "Remnants" kicks ass!!! For a children's author, she is INCREDIBLE. She doesn't patronize, and she really knows how to come up with a good plot.

Whew. Now, I think I'll go do some homework.

Cheers,
Susie
http://www.kachoom.com

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." ~Norman Vincent Peale

[BLBGP]

Delighted - Have you read Age of Innocence yet? That's my favorite Wharton....

Kachoo - I like your taste. How to Be Good is on my list, but I might wait for paperback. Have you read Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day? I've read all of his, and that might just be my favorite. I'd also highly recommend you picking up a copy of Dave Eggers' Heartbreaking work of Staggering Genious. It's already been mentioned a few times, and byt he looks of things, I think you'd enjoy it.

[muley]

I agree with you! She's a great story teller.
I have met her twice. Once at the library where I work, and once at the highland games here. She lives about two miles from my home and is also a horse owner.

I don't belong to lol but I do belong to
Da Mi Basia Mille, which is another DG fan club on Yahoo. Do you remember what Da Mi Basia Mille means??? Just some trivia for you /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

It seems that once you read her books, your hooked. I have seen this over and over, people reading the series again and again!

[Kachoo]

Ah, the delightful and always-entertaining David Sedaris - yup, I did read "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and almost ruptured vital organs because I laughed so hard. Right now, I've got "Holidays on Ice" and "Naked," and I'm working away at them. I just realized that I must have a million books lying around my house that I just pick up and read a bit of from time to time before moving on to the next. Huh. I'll definitely look into Dave Eggers /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif.

Cheers,
Susie
http://www.kachoom.com

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." ~Norman Vincent Peale

[agedbayhunter]

I'm also a big "Shipping News" fan. It was one of those books I didn't want to finish because I suspected the next one I read wouldn't measure up to it.

One that's almost as good in its way is "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon. He won the Pulitzer Prize for it and is also the author of "Wonder Boys."

[867-5309]

David Sedaris- YES!! Naked is the best of his works IMHO. Saw him do a reading live of much of Me Talk Pretty, he was even better in person.

Anyway-books I've read this summer:

Nickeled and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America- Barbara Ehrenreich (journalist) takes a year off and travels around the US working for minimum wage-her tale is true, about trying to afford food clothing and shelter, ideally all at the same time

The Great Gatsby: try to read it around Hampton Classic time or if you are weekending on "the Island", I'd never read it before and loved it.

Dominick Dunne's Justice: Love him. Have read all of his books. If you haven't read all of his Vanity Fair pieces, this is a good short primer on all of his work on past and present crime cases- with the social weave only DD can provide! Cases such as: Simpson, Menendez, Safra, DuPont.........

Keep this thread going for a bit, I'm collecting a reading list from it!

Sharon

"Are you doing the litmus configuration?"
~Jonathan Mardukis~
Midnight Run

[vineyridge]

I think I must have some of those publications.

Never did I think edible food could look so disgusting.

What a wonderful site!

[lauriep]

For all VA residents, and anyone interested in rivers, JOURNEY ON THE JAMES, by Earl Swift, chronicles his 3+ week journey from the headwater trickle of the James River here in VA to the mouth as it empties into the Atlantic. Fascinating, sometimes humorous tale, some history too.

I am a BIG Clive Cussler fan, starting with RAISE THE TITANIC. They are all good.

Also, HUNGRY OCEAN, by Linda Greenlaw, the female swordboat captain in THE PERFECT STORM, tells the story of one fishing trip on her boat, the HANNAH BODEN. Absolutely riveting reading, with lots of true life characters!

Laurie

[Lisamarie8]

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. One of the best and funniest books i've ever read. I read it constantly.

"The Magic Kingdom" By Stanley Elkins...truely twisted and fabulous

"The White Album" By Joan Didion

"Dancing Queen" Lisa Carver

I just finished "First Love" by Samuel Beckett and am muddling my way through his novel trilogy...It's amazing, however it takes me 20 minutes to read 3 pages /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif But it's well worth it /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

--Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

[crave2event]

Kathy Reichs books are incredible. I never liked that kind of book before reading her.

Lord of the rings was good. (It only took me 2 weeks...not reading everyday /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif )

Umm, fantasy are good. The Wheel Of time series is awesome. Sword of Shannara. Umm, I have read so many I forget! There are soo many good ones...But I definatly recommd those two series!

[Lavender Menace]

Muley-- I think I've read everything Rita Mae Brown has written, except for one or two book which I believe are out-of-print. Her Sneaky Pie mysteries are one of my guilty pleasures. I'm supposed to be an English major, and there I am reading cat mysteries, but hey I don't care. She has a new book coming out, centered around William and Mary, wherein I believe a female student gets involved with a female professor. Ooh la la!

Has anyone out there read David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest"? It's immensely long and has FOOTNOTES, which would be troublesome, but it just such an interesting and complex book that you forgive the author his conceits.

I just finished reading Anne Rice's "The Witching Hour," which scared the hell out of me, but it was worth it. I love the Mayfair witches.

I'm reading a lot of LIT-rah-cha right now for school-- Chaucer, Toni Morrison, Maryse Conde, Margaret Atwood (love her!), etc. etc. I don't know why, but I can never get into my stupid book s for school. It's infuriating because I'll be doing my homework, decide I can't read anymore, than settle down to relax with the book I'm reading for fun! Stupid, stupid girl.

Gotta go get my paycheck! Yahoo! Happy Friday everyone...

[sprite]

give me a thousand kisses


c'mon, that one was easy /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

other must reads...
Winters Tale by mark Helprin
Mason & Dixon by thomas pynchon
the cat who walks through walls by robert heinlen
to say nothing of the dog by connie willis. ok, ANYTHING by connie willis...

[halfhalt]

..so many people have the idea that he is your classic machismo type who hates women - well, he might have been that as a person, i really don't know, he was obviously pretty messed up, but his novels are wonderful, especially A Farewell to Arms and For whom the Bell Tolls...

Another writer who also gets dismissed (but for totally different reasons!) is Henry James. The short stories are wonderful, and if you start with the more accessible novels like A Portrait of a Lady and work you way through the more difficult ones, they are terrific, the kind that are definitely worth a reread...

I am also a huge fan of Virginia Woolf, especially Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse.

And then there is Anna Karenina - the most incredibly perceptive novel about women and marriage and motherhood in a 19th context. Lots of people are intimidated by Tolstoy because of War and Peace, but Anna Karenina is definitely a great novel...

Now if i could only move into the 2oth century! I do like Carol Shields (The Stone Diaries, Larry's Party). Margaret Atwood, our Great Canadian Novelist, strikes me as a tad mannered and self-conscious.

[Elghund2]

Einstein's Unfinshed Symphony

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Marquez

A Painted House - Grisham's best since A Time To Kill

Those were from this summer. Some of my all time favorites are

A Prayer For Owen Meaney - Irving (My all time favorite book)
Barbarians At The Gate
The Once and Future King - EB White
The Ghost Writer - Roth
The Civil War - Shelby Foote

[muley]

we recently discovered an autographed copy of Hemingway's works at the library where I work! We had NO idea that it was there. A patron brought it to our attention. We often take donations of books for our shelves. Some go out to the friends of the library for resale, and some that look like they may circulate, get processed and out to the shelves. This one got processed. No one noticed that it was a 1st edition and signed and dated!

Needless to say, it's now down at the big Central library in the Rare Book Room.

I thought that was rather cool though!
/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

http://members.home.com/hagys/sabainspage.html

[Kachoo]

I loved "Anna Karenina!" I often choose books by opening them, reading the first sentence, and seeing how well it grabs me. You can't get much better than "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif. That's the same way I got into my first Bill Bryson book - "I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to" /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif. I'm not much for Hemingway, although I will say that I thought "A Farewell to Arms" was a beautiful, beautiful story. What a sad tale.

Cheers,
Susie
http://www.kachoom.com

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." ~Norman Vincent Peale

[OnceAThief]

My prof would have a kitten over that. Our school has one of (maybe The) largest Hemingway collection, as well as the top Fitzgerald scholar and a couple other biggies. We took a "field trip" (walked across the street, actually) to the Rare Book Room and saw all of the first editions. My prof kept whispering to himself, "oh, there it is.. look at that.. wow, ya'll, wow.." when they were bringing out the books. We got to pass around a first copy of Pound's Cantos, which was majorly cool, and saw a few of the school's private letters from Cummings to his editor etc. Very neat.. made library work seem pretty cool, actually. Is it? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Halfhalt - my prof is so upset that none of us have read any James. He always says things like, "When I'm in the great library in the sky, I'm going to find James and Fitzgerald and we're going to go get a beer. I'd say we'd find Hemingway too, but I don't plan on going where he is." /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

BLBGP - Haven't gotten to "Age of Innocence" yet. When I was checking out books for my report, it was so tempting to clean off the shelf of all Wharton but then I knew I'd just read that instead of doing any of the rest of my work. I read "House of Mirth" while working at a summer camp - the kids couldn't get why it was taking SO long to finish a page. There are beer books which you chug, and then there are wine books, you know /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Specks]

... spent all my time on the music one!
Oddly, i just bought "How to be Good" last night-- good to see it's recommended. i love it so far (it's Nick Hornsby... what's not to love?).
For laughs, i highly recommend "Good Omens", by Neil Gailam and Terry Pratchett. Broadly, it's about the Apocalypse (which will happen on a Saturday, apparently), but the forces of good and evil have lost the anti-christ, and have mistakenly fixed their attentions on the wrong child, leaving the anti-christ (named Adam, naturally), to grow up as a normal child. Totally laugh out loud funny, very much in a Monty Python meets The Hitchikers Guide.
"Confessions of Shopaholic" hit a little too close to home. You mean i'm not the only one who inadvertantly throws bills behind the dresser in hopes they'll disappear?

[dogchushu]

I have so many favorite books, that I'll limit it to my favorite authors.

Fiction:
Rita Mae Brown
Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine
Elizabeth George (I haven't read her latest; kinda disappointed that people haven't liked it)
Candace Robb
Dick Francis
Edward Rutherford

Non Fiction:
Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Pinker
Alison Weir
Jared Diamond

[halfhalt]

At our university library's annual estate sale (people leave their book collections to the university, who sells them off) i found a first edition copy of Rabbit, Run - i was majorly excited, because that novel had a very small first run (Updike was a virtual unknown at the time). No signature, though, oh well...

Kachoo, try For Whom the Bell Tolls, it's excellent. What i like about Hemingway isn't necessarily the story line, but the incredible 20th century, modernist angst that he conveys so well...and if you read some of the descriptive passages aloud (1st few pages of Farewell to Arms is a good example) it has a lovely musical rhythm to it, rather like poetry. Try it.

Delighted - take a stab at James, he's actually quite fun to read. Ironically, the one i was forced to read in my 20th American Novel course back in 1971 or thereabouts was The Ambassadors, a later james novel that turned out to be one of my least favourites. Plus i had this incredibly erudite prof that nobody could understand, especially when he talked about James...but when i got past that and started reading some of his other stuff, i came to really enjoy it.

There have been lots of his novels made into films or TV serials lately, and that can help because you already have a sense of the storyline when you go to read the book - some of these include Portrait of a Lady with Nicole kidder (odd choice, imho) as Isabel; The Golden Bowl, and Wings of the Dove - all done a little melodramatically, much as was done with the film adaptation of the The Age of Innocence (in fact Wharton and James were good friends, btw) - but if you read the book after seeing the movie, the depth of characterization etc comes through really well.

Oddly enough, one of James' less famous novels, The Tragic Muse, is chock full of horsey symbolism - if things get slow here in Botany, maybe i should write an article on Equine Symbolism in Henry James...sounds like a real nail-biter, eh?!

[This message was edited by halfhalt on Oct. 26, 2001 at 05:08 PM.]

[muley]

I love working in the library. It's the perfect job for me. I love the patrons, the staff at our library are wonderful. I've been there almost 10 years now! My son has been there working as a page for almost a year! He loves it too! He says it beats the heck out of working at a fast food joint. Pays better too!

http://members.home.com/hagys/sabainspage.html

[Linny]

As a history buff I read lots of non fiction. I just read "R
revolutionary Brothers," cant recall the author. It was an interesting look at our American founding fathers. I have the late Barbara Olson's "The Final Days" on order. That should be a juicy one.
"Seabiscuit" was great. I thought it was very well done, and a dear friend was credited for her research.
I'm trying to find a good book on US-Mid east relations that is written in faily common prose. Maybe "The idiots Guide to the Middle East" will be out soon.
I can't remember who said that they were reading "Hot Blood." I loved that book. I read it in one sitting. Luckily, I was sitting on a plane!

BEQS clique. With elbows in!

[baymare]

It is the perfect part-time job, and serves the dual purposes of getting me off the farm and stimulating the few brain cells I have remaining! The best part of my job is that I am in charge of organizing book discussion groups. We get together and talk about what we've read, with a genuine "scholar" type to give us background and keep us from getting in fights! But it makes me read stuff that I might not choose for regular sleazy pleasure reading.

Speaking of sleazy pleasure reading-- Carl Hiassen, anyone?

[OnceAThief]

I read "Sick Puppy" all at once (gee, I hope I'm thinking of the right author or I'm going to feel really dumb).. it was a good break from my assigned reading, at least! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

You guys have me wanting to go apply at the library now /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Velvet]

I got hooked on the C.S. Forrester "Horatio Hornblower" novels. They are WONDERFUL! And Ioan, who stars in the A&E series of movies based on these books is some nice eye candy. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

If you've never read one, pick it up and try it. There a bunch of them, and you can read them out of order without a problem. They aren't super long, but for literary purposes, they didn't need to be to become classics.

[baymare]

As the Horatio Hornblower stories, the Sharpe's Rifles series by Bernard Cornwell are great pure adventure yarns, and very well-crafted. And similarly, Sean Bean in the Masterpiece Theatre versions is great, ah, viewing. Cornwell also wrote some super modern day suspense stories set around sailing--Wild Track was one, can't remember any more titles.

As I age, I find I suffer more and more from "literary amnesia"-- I can't remember what I read for more than about a day after I finished it! But I can still recite the first sentence of Jane Eyre by heart, which I read for the first time in the sixth grade!

[Fred]

I was reading one of my usual thrillers. The fact that I have a double Hons degree in History and Literature and an MA in Literature)means that I read almost NOTHING but thrillers and romances - everyone on this board seems so well read! anyway, back to the thriller, the author refers to Carl Hiassen a couple of times - but he is not a writer I am familiar with...I remember it was a really bad one about frozen horse semen.. forget the title...
I thought this thread was about books we are presently reading (LOL) Now I feel like such an illiterate /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[lilblackhorse]

you and I are one on the Gabaldon books-I tore thru them, got the second one in Scotland-had the others lined up from the library so I wouldn't miss any time when I finished the one before it! I met a gal at Rolex waiting for SJ, and she was reading one, we yakked for hours about them....Oh Jamie, my hero...I used to go to the Lallybrook site, but gave up...

Also love David Sedaris-Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Naked are both really great.

Also enjoyed "And God said "Ha""....by the gal who played Pat on SNL..can't remember her name. WEll written, funny, poignant.

Thats all I can remember right now...I read anything pretty much-
Nora Roberts
Sue Grafton
Stephen Coonts (war books-they are good)
Jeffrey Archer
Ken Follett

"Wherever you go-there you are!"

[PepTalk]

I REALLY like Sue Grafton for some reason. Ever since I found her A-B-C series books at my Dad's house, I can't put them down! They are an excellent mystery series and considering I was NOT a mystery type of person before reading her says a lot.
I also like Rita Mae Brown's books, even though I only have read a few of her books.
I also like Allison Bechdel. She writes mostly, um, "out-there" type of books because she doesn't really do "books", but instead comic books about a group of about 10 women who know each other and either love or hate each other. I LOVE them becuase they are mostly really funny and I always get a kick out of reading them. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Lori]

I am still making my way through a series of Surtees hunting novels. Hilarious! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

"Come hup you hugly beast!" Surtees

[NoGreatMischief]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>other must reads...
Winters Tale by mark Helprin <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What an amazing saga! So many layers...

Until I went granola a couple of months ago, I worked at a bookstore. I have a bookshelf of books I haven't read yet. Some of my faves:

"A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry> set in India and so incredibly lushly woven...a definite recommendation for everyone!

"No Great Mischief" by a Alistair Macleoud> one of a group of writers who can so succinctly capture the spirit of the East Coast of Canada.

All the Harry Potter books. What fun reads!

"Waiting" by Ha Jin. A thoroughly refreshing and suprising love story.

Any Timothy Findley...especially "Not Wanted on the Voyage" wonderful for heathens like me...an er, alternative look at the story of Noah and the Ark...

Bernice Thurman Hunter, a wonderful Canadian dame who wrote, among other things, "The Booky Trilogy." A legend in these parts.

I could go on, but I'm boring even myself. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

~Can you see me?~

[luv2jump]

Carl Hiaasen is great !!!
Skin Tight is one of my favorites, Lucky You was great too - liked them all!!
Harry Potter series is fun.......
John Irving "Prayer for Owen Meany" .....
Currently starting "Blind Assasin " by Margaret Atwood???

[luv2jump]

Lori:
Who is Sortees????

[Fred]

thanks for the Carl Hiaasen info. N.G.M. I just could not get into Winter's Tale at all - it's around here somewhere, maybe I'll try again. A Fine Balance <good name> and the Alastair MacLeod are two I've been meaning to get. Where did you work?

[NoGreatMischief]

Carl Hiassen is great! Sick Puppy was a riot! Give Winter's Tale another chance...did you get to the part where Peter meets Athansor? Man, that book is something else. Definitely check out Rohinton Mistry and Macloud if you get the chance. Such wonderful collections of words.

I worked at a Chapters in west Toronto, then transferred to the Hamilton store when we moved to Dundas. I tired of all the cr*p going down with them thanks to Mrs. Onex so I quit. I haven't set foot in one since...they make me ill. I do miss being around the books, though.

I got the latest Timothy Findley at Cosco (along with David Adams Richards' "Mercy Among the Children...another amazing work, and the new book about the Canadian Horse) for way less than I would have at Crapters, even with discount. Phooey on them. I'm now back in the world of small, family owned business, and like it way better.

(BTW I'm going to see Garnet for my birthday in Brantford in November! I'm very excited!)

~Can you see me?~

[Tosca]

We're going to study "Not Wanted on the Voyage" in my English 101 class. I haven't started to read it yet but hopefully it's as good as a few of you mentioned.

[Weatherford]

Richard Pitman - Joseph's Mansions

Former Priest becomes race track investigator. Excellent writer - Wonderful - plenty of horses. Irish writer (I think).

[just_me]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Riding Logic - Mueler (sp?) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's by W. Museler. Originally translated to English in 1937. Great book. I got my copy in the 70s. I was reading it yesterday to try to figure out a solution to a problem I'm having with my horse.

Nonhorsey books: I like nonfiction about the movie industry from the silent days to the 1940s, including biographies of actors, directors, producers, and so forth.

I also love mysteries, especially English mysteries. Of the american writers, I like Rita Mae Brown (her foxhunting mysteries, not Sneaky Pie Brown), Diane Mott Davidson, Sue Grafton, Lillian Braun (the Cat Who.. books), and many others.

I wish I had more time to read. I have so little time, that it takes me forever to read a book.

By the way, Seabiscuit was a great book.

[serengeti36]

Okay, here's my take:
Love all of Rita Mae Brown's stuff: Bingo, Six of One, etc... love all of those
Reading "Killer Angels" again as I adore this book
Love Harry Potter books and Lord of the Rings (most especially the Hobbit) An excellent book for light reading "Plantation" and "Sullivan's Island" being from Charleston and having a farm right down teh road from where Plantation is set, I have to say the scenery is quite accurate.
Now whatever opinions we horse people may have on "The Horse Whisperer" Nicholas Evans writes some great books, personally I adored "The Loop" and "Smoke Jumper" which I just recently finished. These are all great reads, oh I love this thread.
marion

[serengeti36]

I forgot, I also read In The Heart of the Sea, I liked Perfect Storm better, couldn't get through "Heart of the Sea" as it got too technical with boating terms and explanations.
marion

[Kachoo]

Whew, today I finished Will Ferguson's "I Was a Teenage Katima-victim!" It was absolutely hilarious, which means that I must now run out and buy his other book - the provocatively titled "Why I Hate Canadians" (he himself is Canadian, and it's supposedly excellent, so we'll see I guess).

Cheers,
Susie
http://www.kachoom.com

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." ~Norman Vincent Peale

[serengeti36]

Okay so after reading all of the lists I started "Me Talk Pretty One Day", it's really funny. You all should read it.
marion

[halfhalt]

I tend to cheat, i love hearing him read stories on book tapes, but am curious about this new one...he went through a bit of a black phase a while ago, and i'm hoping he's back to his old self...

[Lavender Menace]

I was hunting around on Amazon today, and noticed that her new book called "Alma Mater" is indeed coming out in the next month (they said it's getting published Oct. 30th), AND she has a new Sneaky Pie book ("Catch as Cat Can" I think) coming out in February 2002.

I don't know about you all, but I hope Harry gets back with Fair sometime soon! But RMB will probably make her a lesbian just to, you know, subvert the dominant paradigm or something. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Now I will expose myself further still as a lover of cheesy novels when I ask if anyone knows what's going on with the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel. She was supposed to write six-- there are only four so far and it's been awhile since the last one, I'm sure. I've been waiting for so long! I fear that we will never know the ultimate fate of Ayla and Jondalar! And just to make this horse related-- Ayla has two horses!

Has anyone read anything by Anne Lamott? I love her stuff... if anyone is looking for some truly hilarious but smart writing, try her books-- "Operating Instructions," and "Hard Laughter" are my favorites.

[sprite]

is finished with book #5 and i believe it is going to be released early next year, but dont quote me on that.

Serengeti- WORD on the Killer Angels, that is a great book, one of my favorites.

ALdo, anything by SHaron Kay Penman is excellent, she writes about English and Welsh history, really brings it alive.

[Midge]

Ugh! I hated 'Waiting'...a loser man and a pathetic woman.

I'm reading 'Angel Landing' by Alice Hoffman. Not as good as some of her others.

Did any of you 'Shipping News' fans read 'Accordian Crimes'? I loved it.

'Bee Season'
'Beach Music' and 'Prince of Tides'
'House of the Spirits'
'The Poisonwood Bible'
'The Old Man and the Sea'

[Lavender Menace]

Sprite: thanks for the info on Jean Auel... I hope you're right.

Midge: I have read the Shipping News and Accordian Crimes. I thought SN great, and AC okay. Did you read her other book Postcards? It's also excellent reading. By the way, E. Annie Proulx lives (or lived for a long time) in Vershire Vermont, which is where I took riding lessons for many years, up until I went to high school. It's REALLY in the middle of nowhere. Anyone out there know the Vershire Riding School?

[baymare]

My husband grew up in Tunbridge, and according to him those Vershire girls had quite a rep!

Sadly, I belive their indoor was one of many that collapsed last winter with the tremendous volume of snow we had. As far as I know, at least the summer riding program still exists.

And yes, even by Vermont standards, Vershire is truly the middle of nowhere!

Just to stay true to the thread: A favorite horse book that is well worth re-reading as an adult: National Velvet. I have a great old edition with illustrations by Paul Brown.

[Lavender Menace]

I didn't know about the VRS indoor collapsing. That's too bad. I have many fond memories of some of my first riding lessons ever, bumping around the indoor on a HUGE gelding named Bullwinkle, in the middle of a freezing cold VT winter, my toes freezing inside my rubber boots. I went to the summer camp too, which was a lot of fun. Ah well...

Funny that your husband is from Tunbridge. I went to lots of 4H competitions at the Tunbridge faigrounds as a kid. I'm from Topsham, which is even tinier than Vershire I think. It's always nice to hear from other Vermonters!

[hobson]

I have a great interest in cultural studies, specifically material culture. Just yesterday I picked up a book about the history of Tupperware, another postmodern deconstruction of car culture, and a history of Jello. I started digging into the Tupperware book, and so far it looks great!

[lilblackhorse]

glad you jumped on my suggestion for David Sedaris' "Me talk pretty one Day"-I thought it was hysterical-if you like it, you should enjoy Naked....have not yet read his "barrel fever"...
I need to print this whole thread so I can go to the library with new idea. I literally sat there yesterday not having an idea-stuck in my old rut.
I am however now reading the 2nd book in the "beloved Mitford" series..by Jan Keron I think. Not bad...
aimee

"If you haven't gotten where you're going,you probably aren't there yet."-George Carlin

[davidgud - equestrian jihad]

Believe it or not, I love to sit down with a volume of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (yes they do spell it "Encyclopaedia" instead of "Encyclopedia").

Either the Micropaedia or Macropaedia.

Right now I am reading a book titled "Korea's Place in the Sun" - a survey historiography of the peninsula. The author is Bruce Cummings a noted American Korean expert from the University of Chicago. It's quite a good book; Cummings is a bit of a Chomskyite I think. I recently read a book about the Kwangjhu Massacre in 1980 and also Gleysteene's account of same and the 1980's in Seoul (Gleysteene was the U.S. ambassador at the time). Very interesting stuff.

I used to like Christine Pullein Thompson's books which will be very familiar to all British and Canadian junior riding fans (I was very surprised on a thread some months ago about Children's riding books that nobody in the United States seems to be familiar with the Pullein Thompson sisters books about riding). Anyway my favourites were (and are) "The Impossible Horse", "Showjumping Secret", and "Goodbye to Hounds".

DG/Seoul

[just_me]

I just ordered a copy of Wild Ride : The Rise and Tragic Fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty by Ann Hagedorn Auerbach. One of the reviews on amazon states that it reads like a murder mystery. I thought it would be interesting because it covers the death (murder?) of Alydar, and I own an Alydar grandson.

[serengeti36]

I think that I need to read that as I was unaware that Calumet had fallen! So excited about all the books on the list as now I have time to read (see, OT but I'm nervous) /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
marion

[DMK]

Serengeti, you must really get the audiobook of Me Talk Pretty... David Sedaris' voice is really over 50% of the fun... Honestly, I was crying I was laughing so hard when he said "And the youth in Asia cried"... Or the part about the check his mother sent him...

Wild Ride is an awesome book and well worth the read.

Forgive me if these have already been mentioned - posting first, reading later /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

"Into Thin Air", the book about the expeditions on Everest was great - could not put it down. I had no idea that people endured that kind of misery and danger to their life in pursuit of a hobby. We are SO not the most obsessed people out there...

One of my all time favorite books - for those that like quirky southern literature, with shades of Faulkner mixed in with a healthy dash of warped humor, I highly recommend "A Short History of a Small Place" by T.R. Pearson.

Another good recent read - "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" by Rebecca Wells was quite good (more of that southern writing stuff /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif )

On the more serious side, "And the Band Played On" will open your eyes about AIDS in America.

"The Coming Plague" and "Betrayal of Trust" will open your eyes about the state of disease and public health (maybe that is a book better left unread these days).

"Guns, Germs & Steel" will just blow you away and make you look at human societies in a whole new way. It's also kind of handy if you ever need an opportunity to just blow an ignorant bigot out of the water with cold hard facts... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

And for the pure wierdness of it all, the Douglas Adams "Hitchhiker" series are hysterical (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and so on).

[Atypical]

I adored Horse heaven by Jane Smiley, especially for fans of horse racing. And I absolutely adore Seabiscuit. two definite must reads.

[DMK]

OK, now that I have read this thread...

Fred - Hiassan is first and foremost, a columnist for the Miami Herald, and I believe he may have won a pulitzer for his column, but don't quote me...

He is probably one of the sickest puppies alive, and god, we love him for that /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I recently heard a taped interview with him where he was basically saying that the problem with living in Miami (he's one of 2 actual natives, Janet Reno is the other), is that reality is WAY wierder than his books... And then went on to give NUMEROUS examples of things that made his plotlines look tame, and happened after his book was published.

My personal faves are Tourist Season and Native Tongue. And when he describes South Florida people and places, he ain't lyin! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Here's a link to one of his columns - not one of his best, but it's on the topic of OJ Simpson's recent legal woes in South Florida... It turns out he has a bit of a temper. Who knew? Oh yes, I believe his wife was in tune with that concept... /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Hiaasen column (http://www.miami.com/herald/content/opinion/columnists/hiaasen/digdocs/107051.htm)

[SusieB]

A Painted House by John Grisham
Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley
We Were the Mulvaneys can't remember the author, it was a good book and i loved the guys voice on the book tape
Icy Sparks about a girl with terrets.
First to Die -good but a little graphic
I like the " Prey" books too.

Member of the Invisible Clique!

[lisa]

If you loved "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (I did!!), you absolutely must read the prequel, "Little Altars Everywhere".

I loved Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth", and am now reading "Lie Down with Lions". It's a little timely, also, because it takes place mostly in Afghanistan during the early '80s.

I also love books by southern writers... for good, fast reads: the Bloodhound series by Virginia Lanier... mysteries about a woman who lives in south Georgia who trains bloodhounds. She's strong, independent, and don't take no crap!
(I used to love Cornwell, also, but she got so preachy at the end of her Scarpetta series...)

[Fred]

thanks for the C.H info - I'll seek him out.
I read Into Thin Air a few months ago - it was engrossing - plainly written, but enthralling... what people will do to themselves...

[joliemom]

So, how many librarians are here? I'm one of the reference persuasion, have been for 15+ years. And isn't this the greatest profession for horse people?

[pinkhorse]

Let's see, "Fast Food Nation" I practically read aloud to my husband. "Oh, geez, you gotta hear this..." Intense.

Others from the past year - No one's mentioned Barbara Kingsolver...everything she's written.

5 Quarters of the Orange by the same person who wrote Chocolat. I actually woke up in the middle of the night to go downstairs and finish it.

Read one Terry Pratchett. Pretty funny. Pretty gosh darn funny!

The Steve Martin novella - can't remember the name of it. Some wonderful lines.

Louise Erdrich's book "The last report..." is wonderful.

Has anyone read the book entitled something like "The 7 Sins of Memory"?

The American Century books put out by the Whitney Museum are wonderful art history books. I just bought the first one for my hubby's birthday.

Gotta get ready for those long nights hovering 'round the wood stove.

[This message was edited by pinkhorse on Oct. 31, 2001 at 01:44 PM.]

[Storybook]

to joliemom--Fellow librarian here! Also reference--public library.

I have just read a Regency romance called "The Guardian" by Joan Wolf. The heroine, a countess, retrains race TBs to resell as foxhunters. Sells them for about 800 pounds. I'm at a chapter where they're about to go cubbing. The author, a horse-owner herself, knows her stuff, too! Lots of Wolf's books have horses in them, which makes them fun.

Also loved D. Gabaldon's books for ages. I'm very excited that she's doing a signing in November in the Chicago area.

[baymare]

How about Edna Buchanan, another Miami journalist turned wacko fiction writer? She is not quite in a class with Hiassen, but she is pretty good and I know a LOT of her material comes straight from her experiences as a crime writer in Miami. Truth really is stranger than fiction...

Did anyone read "Naked Came the Manatee"? It was a compound crime novel, with chapters by Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Edna Buchanan, and maybe more. Again, hardly a masterpiece of modern lit, but very funny in a wonderfully sick way.

[serengeti36]

If you like Southern writing: obviously Prince of Tides and all those (allthough sometimes they portray southerners as a worse people than I think we are) "Sullivan's Island" is fabulous as is "Plantation" being from Charleston, I loved those and was impressed by her settings. I now there are others but I can't think of them right now.
marion

[DMK]

I read Naked Came the Manatee in it's original installment form in the now defunct (and much missed) Tropic Magazine (last of the great Sunday mag inserts in the paper /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif )

It was hysterical reading each segment every Sunday. For those that have not read it, David Barry started a chapter, then with no collaboration, another author had to write the next chapter. It was quite funny, as baymare said, in a sort of disturbed way /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I have also read some Edna Buchanan, but more of her non-fiction stuff. She won also pultizer with her expose of the Duffy killing (as in the black insurance salesman, Duffy, not OUR dear Duffy /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif ).

Barry, Leonard, Hiaasen, Buchanen, Hemingway... SFL is not short of the offbeat, whether native or imported, that's for sure!

[joliemom]

Southern Writers I Know And Love:

Clyde Edgerton - Rainey, Walking To Egypt, and The Floatplane Chronicles

Reynolds Price - Kate Vaiden

Walker Percy - Second Coming

Jill McCorkle - Crash Diet

Eudora, Eudora, Eurdora as in Welty.

[hobson]

southern writers?

Larry Brown is fabulous!

His most recent novel is Fay. It's quite good.

[rockstar]

Maragret F...

to ditto what everyone else has said... you MUST read Seabiscuit!!!! SOOO wonderful! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

As for Stephen Ambrose... I can't say enough good things. I am currently reading his lates... "Wild Blue"... which is about the men who flew the B-24 bombers over Germany. It's a good one... makes you fall in love with George McGovern.

I am also reading The Lexus and the Olive Tree... never read it when it first came out and am on a globalization kick. It's v.good.

It's not exactly quality literature... but a great girlie tear jerker I read over the summer was "The Saving Graces". It's about four women who are best friends and the road of their relationship. It happens to take place in DC, too.

One of my favorite non-fiction authors is a woman named Elizabeth Berg. Two of my favorites are "What We Keep" and "Open House". For anyone who has had family issues (especially divorce), these two books are supurb. In particular, "What we Keep" was like therapy in a book for me, who had a parent take off as teen.

Whoever said 4 Blondes... yick! So vapid and disapointing I felt.

[vineyridge]

More Southern Writers

Richard Ford
Harry Crews
Barry Hannah
Peter Taylor
Ellen Douglas
Elizabeth Spencer
Katharine Anne Porter
Lewis Norden
Jack Butler
Charles Portis


A really wonderful first novel by John Gregory Brown called Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery.

A really wonderful first novel by Wylene Dunbar, but I can't remember the title.

I find Larry Brown hard to read because he is so very gritty.

[just_me]

If you like Florida novels populated with those strange Florida characters, check out Randy White.

Off the top of my head, I can think of:

Captiva
Sanibel Flats

he's got several others too.

[serengeti36]

I loved Saving Graces, went so far as to bring it to school to take up precious shelf space when I had already read it. I have not yet read the Lexus and the Olive Tree but I have read Who Moved My Cheese. Pretty good, not real exciting but has good points.
marion

[DarkenStormy]

Definitely the Outlander books! I have read them several times, but reread them in the last couple of weeks to get ready for the 5th one.

Smoke Jumpers was pretty good and an easy read.

I am waiting for the new David Baldacci and Cane River - I am on the waiting list at the library for both.

[Louise]

Other than my favorite romance authors, including Mary Jo Putney, Karen Robards, early Iris Johannsen and Jo Beverly, I tend to like older authors.

Two of my favorites are probably long out of print. One is Elizabeth Goudge, an English author who wrote wonderful and slightly fanciful novels about families and who always had some of the greatest animal characters I have ever read about.

The other author I can read over and over again is Elswyth Thane, who wrote the Williamsburg novels - a series of novels covering several families in the Williamsburg, VA area from the Revolution to WWII. Again, wonderful characters that you really grow to know and like.

[867-5309]

SO PSYCHED! He is doing a live reading/Q & A/booksigning at Plymouth State College in NH this Saturday. Any lurking New Englanders who are fans can email me if they are so inclined to go! I've seen him live once already- I laughed so hard I cried!

FL novels?? Any of the Archy McNally books, by Lawrence Sanders.

Sharon

"Are you doing the litmus configuration?"
~Jonathan Mardukis~
Midnight Run

[Lavender Menace]

Bailey White. She is really funny. Let's see, I've read her books but I can only remember the name of one:

Quite a Year For Plums

there are two earlier ones which are sort of collections of vignettes, again, very funny with great characters.

[vineyridge]

I loved Elizabeth Goudge too.

She wrote a couple of fantasies that I read over and over.

Norah Lofts and Georgette Heyer, anyone?

[Louise]

I soaked them all up!

Vineyridge, if you liked her, have you found the Regencies by Patricia Veryan? Very much like Heyer, but with a little adventure and intrigue thrown in!

[hunterested]

I have to agree, rockstar: Saving Graces was so good. Patricia Gaffney's characters are so "real" and Circle of three was good also.

I usually have one novel and one improvement book going at the same time. I am very interested in psychology and why humans do what they do!

My present favorite (just finished) is:

The Anatomy of Spirit by Carolyn Myss. This is a book of enlightnement and makes so much sense! It describes the 7 chakras and their health issues.

I love self help type books that focus on spirit and brain power! Here are a few good ones:
any of the Wayne Dyer books (Your Erroneous Zones is my favorite)
Soul Therapy by Joy Manne
Awakening to the Sacred by Lama Surya Das
The Meditative Path by John Cianciosi
The High Performance Mind by Anna Wise
Intuitive Living by Alan Seale
of course a very funny book which I loved is
Jimmy Buffett's A Pirate Looks at 50" /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Fred]

Georgette Heyer was one of my favourite "bath tub" authors. I loved her books. Fill the tub with hot water and nice smelly bubbles, put on some Mozart, ignore the phone, and read -put on your flannel jammies, slide in between some flannel sheets,... does it get more erotic than that?? (not around here anyway! LOL /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[CoolRunnings]

I understand that most of you are adults but,my parents and other adults I know have really enjoyed..

The Harry Potter Books

The Chronicles of Narnia.

Even if you're "an old foggie" /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif I suggest you read these. The details and the ideas are AMAZING! Give em a glance!!

**Mary**

**Feel the rhythem, feel the ride, get on up its horseshow time!!!**

[serengeti36]

I have to agree with the Narnia books (as the closet I have at school looks like it could be used to travel there) and the Harry Potter's. I read them and loved them (along with the other million books I have been mentioning) my mother loved them, and the women that I worked with over the summer (all full grown big girl adults) loved them as well.
marion

[Lavender Menace]

I'm almost 23 and I'm not ashamed to say that when I need a little cheering up or if I'm really stressed out, I pull out The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, or The Voyage of the Dawntreader (my favorite one) and just escape for awhile.

I liked Harry Potter too, although I sort of wish I hadn't started reading them until all seven books were finished, so I could just whip through all of them and not have to endure this endless waiting waiting waiting. The movie looks promising though.

Has anyone read any books by Jill Ker Conway? She has some wonderful autobiographical novels about her childhood in the Australian outback. They are: "True North" and "The Road from Coorain." Sort of in the spirit of Mary McCarthy's "Memories of a Catholic Girlhood", but not as gruesome.

[lauriep]

although not a librarian. Acquisitions assistant for our college library (Hampden-Sydney). Great to get the discounts that we have set up. And to peruse the various trade mags to see what is coming out.

Also, another HUGE Hiassen fan here; I've read them all. His sense of humor relates so well to mine! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

And Pat Conroy (Prince of Tides, Beach Music) is great, but not prolific enough!

Laurie

[serengeti36]

My cousin goes to Hampden Sydney /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif (or maybe he graduated last year) and I was going to go to Hollins. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Seabiscuit fans, as am in college and funds are limited I have to pick and choose. Is Seabiscuit told in a novel sort of way or is it lined up fact? Just a question.
marion

[DMK]

Serengeti, Seabiscuit is written in a very nice novel format, but is chock full of real information, and gives the reader a great idea of what it was like to be on the track back then. Definitely worth buying, or if you canwait, put it on your christmas list /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Kryswyn]

Far far better written than Harry Potter are The Dark is Rising novels by Susan Cooper. Although written for young adults (the main character is 11) the books contain wonderful imagery, detail and characters that I have loved since I read it first in 1978. If you like fantasy, especially fantasy based on the Arthurian cycle, you will love these books. I usually reread them every other year in the month the books are set in. I'm so excited because December is coming so I can read the 2nd book, The Dark is Rising, again!

In order, they are (and do try to read them in order)

Over Sea, Under Stone (actually a prequel; you *can* start w/ book two but why would you?
The Dark is Rising
Greenwich
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree

For anyone who knows the books, there is a great website that takes you to the locations in which the books were set and has a great interview with Susan Cooper

~Kryswyn~
"Always look on the bright side of life, de doo, de doo de doo de doo"

[Kryswyn]

contempary romance novels set in the horse world.

The first, Ride a Dark Horse, takes place outside of Charlottesville.

The second, Chance Meeting, is set mostly in the Hamptons.

These books are very accurate! Especially the way the A-circuit is depicted in the second book.

~Kryswyn~
"Always look on the bright side of life, de doo, de doo de doo de doo"

[rockstar]

Marion...

I am in school as well and have to pick and choose the books I buy (especially those pesky, expensive hardcovers!). I can DEFINITELY tell you that Seabiscuit is worth it! Reads very quickly!

Let me give you a tip, however, from someone who is in her fourth year and a pro at scamming her parents:
Every time it's time to buys books at the beginning of the semester, throw in a couple of your own "non-school" books (like Seabiscuit!) from your school's bookstore. When your parents get the bill they will see the total and think that that is just how much all of your textbooks cost! My bookstore happens to be a really good one with all of the latest best sellers and a whole slew of fiction and non-fiction books to choose from... I make out like a bandit!


Who here is SO excited for Lord of the Rings???

[Lavender Menace]

rockstar-- I'm excited for the Lord of the Rings movie too, but I'm a little concerned that it won't meet my high expectations. I saw a trailer yesterday which was showing Liv Tyler as Arwen (Aragorn's girlfriend) as a really important character, which as far as I can remember is not true. She is present in the first book, but she doesn't talk much and then I don't think you see her again until the third. Evil Hollywood and the need for a romantic sub-plot! But I'm just being a stupid nerd and I'm sure the movie will be great.

[findeight]

A bit late on this topic. read all the classics as an english major but developed a fondness for science fiction-did a senior paper on Ray Bradbury and went to his lecture. Might recommend Martian Chronicles to those who like futuristic entertainment although it is not what you think it will be.
Another good series is Foundation by Issac Asimov. You can read all the Star Trek plots in their original form. Including Data's positronic brain. Like Bradbury there are numerous anthologies of their short stories to entertain you.
Currently reading the Dune prequels. Surviving son and noted SF author combine to make sense of Herbert's astonishing and sometimes confusing future. The 2 out in paperback I've read are actually better then the original and answer those nagging questions anybody who read the original ran into. They are called, in order, House Atriedes, House Harkonnen and the not yet in paperback House Corinnos. Might even reread Dune itself when I'm done. Might make more sense out of it.

From Allergy Valley USA

[serengeti36]

Hmm... good thinking KatyO. I'll keep that in mind /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

marion

"Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."
~ Galloway Gypsy Proverb

[hobson]

I'm now in the middle of Steve Martin's novella Shopgirl, which I am enjoying immensely. The guy is a really talented writer, but it's hard to read the book without thinking to myself 'the Wild And Crazy Guy' wrote this! It's so incongruous!"

[serengeti36]

bump, bump bump, i don't want to lose this topic yet.

marion

"Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."
~ Galloway Gypsy Proverb

[PeekABoo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pinkhorse:
Let's see, "Fast Food Nation" I practically read aloud to my husband. "Oh, geez, you gotta hear this..." Intense.
[This message was edited by pinkhorse on Oct. 31, 2001 at 01:44 PM.]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL I am so glad to hear someone else has read this book. I read it for a class, and found it fascinating, although I think my roomates wish I had never read it. Now I periodically like to start reciting information from it when they are eating things like hamburgers or chicken nuggets. Definitely a good read.

Jess

[PeekABoo]

I love this topic!! I absolutely love to read, however since I'm a senior in college right now all I am reading seems to be things for school. However, I do love to head to Barnes & Noble when I have the time and money. My roomates and I also love to pass books around, so we are always looking for suggestions. Right now I'd have to reccomend:

Washington, by Meg Greenfield (I read this for a class, and it was absolutely fabulous, great for any political junkies)
The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules both by John Irving are fabulous
Confessions of a Shopoholic by Sophie Kinsella is a fun, Bridget Joesesque read.
I also like Beth Gutcheon, I have read Still Missing, Saying Grace, The New Girls and Five Fortunes, all of which are pretty quick, good reads.
And of course the Harry Potter books. I absolutely love them all!!!
Right now I'm working on The Corner by David Simon and Edward Burns, which is the true story of a year spent on the corner of one of the drug markets in West Baltimore. So far it is good, although rather depressing.
Next up is A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe, any opinions on this?

Jess

[just_me]

I just started reading "Wild Ride" (The Rise and Fall of Calumet Farms, Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty).

I found it when I was doing a search for info about Alydar (my boy is an Alydar grandson). It starts out with Alydar's death (very sad) and then goes back to the start of the Bluegrass area and then on to Calumet farms.

So far, it's really interesting. The reviews I read stated that it reads like a mystery novel, and so far I'm having trouble putting it down. Tough when you have to go to work. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[867-5309]

My report on David Sedaris Sat night!

He is here from France on a 2 week lecture tour and we were lucky to get him here in the woods! He read new work, having to do with the Christmas Holiday traditions in Holland, his sister Lisa & (and her blue amazon parrot) how she likes being the subject of his work (not happy- "but it's such good material and you aren't going to do anything with it!" he says), and ideas on what to do create world peace. Paraphrasing: #1)send rednecks dressed in Budweiser shirts and feed caps (far scarier than the military and heck they are already armed!) to walk 6 feet apart from each other across the entire counry of Afghanistan to find Osama's cave #2 when found, turn him into a woman and leave him there and #3 give FL away to the Israelis (!)

The best part of the evening was meeting him-he is a cutie- and getting my hardcover copy of "Me Talk Pretty Someday" SIGNED. He wrote "To Sharon-Thank you for making me rich. David Sedaris" :--)

In the Q & A period, when asked what brand of cigarettes he smokes, he replied "Menthols, because no one will ever try to bum one. They see the green on the box and shudder."

It was a blast! Check out his books. Sharon

"Are you doing the litmus configuration?"
~Jonathan Mardukis~
Midnight Run

[Dementia 13]

Right now I'm working on The Corner by David Simon and Edward Burns, which is the true story of a year spent on the corner of one of the drug markets in West Baltimore. So far it is good, although rather depressing.
________________________________________

I loved that book! Homicide was even better. Wish he'd write more.

[joliemom]

Anyone read Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry (http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/books/sexingthecherry.htm)? Very strange book set in 17th C. London, lots of wonderfully weird characters.

Also, in the realm of eccentric books, Winter's Tale (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156001942/qid=1005080052/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_15_3/103-1858241-7738213) by Mark Helprin is a great winter read.

[PeekABoo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MargaretF:
Right now I'm working on The Corner by David Simon and Edward Burns, which is the true story of a year spent on the corner of one of the drug markets in West Baltimore. So far it is good, although rather depressing.
________________________________________

I loved that book! Homicide was even better. Wish he'd write more.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Being a Baltimoron I looooooved Homicide. I watch the reruns now on court TV. Not that Homicide really helped Baltimore's image, but it was cool to run into Andre Braugher in the grocery store /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Jess