What Are You Reading the Week of 26 May 2012?

The 26th: Alan Hollinghurst

Douglas Preston

Edmond de Goncourt
"Debauchery is perhaps an act of despair in the face of infinity."

The 27th: John Barth

John Cheever

Harlan Ellison

Tony Hillerman

Dashiell Hammett

Herman Wouk

Whew! That right there's enough for a *good* week!

The 28th: Ian Fleming

Maeve Binchy

Barnet Rosset
“{Grove Press} was a breach in the dam of American Puritanism — a whiplashing live cable of zeitgeist.”
Thank you, Barney, for Beckett and Miller and Joyce and all the others your lawsuits and championing have given us.

The 29th: Max Brand

T.H. White

G.K. Chesterton

The 30th: Hal Clement

Countee Cullen


Deborah Blumenthal

The 31st: Walt Whitman
"Be curious, not judgmental."

John Connolly

The 1st of June: Colleen McCullough

Dante
"Beauty awakens the soul to act."

John Van Druten

Once again, I love the quotes. Finished Revenge of the wrought iron flamingos and am working on The gastronomical me by M. F. K. Fisher

Thank you, Richard! A great staryt to the week once again!

Happy birthday, G. K. Chesterton, et al!

ETA: I forgot to mention that I'm reading Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux.

Still dipping in and out of The Portable Dorothy Parker and Harps and Harpists while 'properly' reading A Single Man.

Just finished Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, a mystery where a flock of sheep are trying to find out who has murdered their shepherd.. offbeat but good. Have just started an Early Readers book What I Did by Christopher Wakling.

Into the final 100 pages of Under the Blue Flag: My Mission in Kosovo by Phillip Kearny. An extremely worthwhile book. I will write more upon completion.

Still reading The Samurai and listening to A Visit From The Goon Squad......very little reading time this past week...it's just not right!

Final push for May: Mystery & Mayhem has me reading over the long holiday weekend Love Songs from a Shallow Grave, Slash and Burn, Oracle of the Dead, and Gone, Baby, Gone. After all the blood and gore, I'm going to need something light and fluffy. I've already got a romance Scandal Becomes Her and a fantasy novel The Night Circus on tap for next week.

Because much of my daily commute runs through the river valley, I'm reading A History of the Connecticut River by Wick Griswold.

THE 3RD BOOK OF THE HUNGER GAMES!!!! ITS AWESOME!

Rabbitprincess (from the other thread)

I read Pompeii last fall and really enjoyed it. It ended up being on my best of the year read. Glad to see others are enjoying that book as well. It's a goodie.

I finished listening/reading Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid and was disappointed in it. It was written as a monolouge and that is hard to sustain throughout a book. This one fell short.

Started listening to Piano Teacher and will try to finish up Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr for the May Murder & Mayhem group read.

sisaruus, A History of the Connecticut Riber is now on my wishlist. The reason the touchstone is wrong is that the book has not been cataloged on LibraryThing.

Robert

My husband went to London without me (boo) and brought back Bring Up the Bodies for me (yay). So I delved right into that.

12: Finished Pompeii this afternoon and it was indeed excellent. The description of the eruption was simply stunning and awe-inspiring, and I liked how he incorporated Latin phrases and details of Roman life that gave the book an authentic flavour but did not feel like a history lecture. Harris is definitely an author I will return to!

Once I finished that I went back to the 20th century with Monty: His Part in My Victory, which I am enjoying very much. I think 2012 is the Year of Spike Milligan for me.

I wrote and posted a review of a book I absolutely loved, Desolation Road. It's about the human colonization of Mars. But no one gets a freebie because s/he "doesn't like SF" because this book is *OUT*STAND*ING*LY* well-written. And I should know. Check my thread...post #236.

I am currently reading Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammett which is a memoir of an autistic savant. I am reading it as part of a reading group for my son's AP Literature class. I don't think I would have found this on my own and am really enjoying it.

I've abandoned Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown, no reflection on the book or its author, Paul Theroux.

I've just been a bit anxious to finally read The Iliad by Homer It was next up anyway, but today I purchased a copy of The Aenid by Virgil, which made me even more eager to read The Iliad.

I'm reading the Rouse translation of Homer's The Iliad, and it's going very well, so far. (I loved when Hera was nagging Zeus about his meeting with Thetis.)

Today I finished Desperation by Stephen King. It was pretty scary but probably not a keeper.

Next up is Day of Honey: A Memoir of Food, Love, and War by Annia Ciezadlo. My book club is meeting on Friday to discuss it so luckily I have Monday off!

I am loving There Should Be More Dancing by Rosalie Ham.

MollyGrace, my local library has a copy of Home by Toni Morrison, it seems to be a slimish novel, this I like!! I shall reserve it. Have you read Song Of Solomon by Toni Morrison?, I found it very special.

BTW Molly I have ordered from Amazon The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, following your earlier comments.

Engrossed in The Stranger (aka The Gallows Bird) by Camilla Lackberg.

#20 hazeljune -- I've read most of Toni Morrison's novels; I have a special feeling for Song of Solomon which I first read in 1977 -- I've reread it a couple of times over the years. I think I'm going to feel that way about Home, too. And, yes, it is one of those "little books" you and I have such an affection for. I hope you like The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears -- it's a book that I've given to many friends -- they haven't all shared my enthusiasm, but I think you might like it. It was my "best book of the year" in whatever year it was that I read it (2007, I believe) -- and I remember that it had a lot of strong competition but I especially love books about people who are caught between two cultures, two ways of life -- not all one thing or the other, not feeling quite at home in either one. Of course that is a very human condition -- that feeling of being caught in the middle.

Esther de Waal wrote a beautiful little book, To Pause at the Threshold: Reflections on Living on the Border, which deals with many of those themes. It isn't a novel and there's a religious aspect to the book -- but it reminds us of all the ways we live on the threshold, on the border -- and what that means for our lives, the challenges and opportunities it offers us. Which is why I love the Mengestu book, because even if you aren't an Ethiopian trying to make a life for yourself in America, you identify with the main character's feelings. And of course you see this in Toni Morrison's books as well. Trying to make a place for yourself, trying to find out who you're supposed to be - that, in many ways, is the story of Home.

Haven't had much reading time this week, but I'm currently reading The Perfect Gentleman by Imran Ahmad in print, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier on my Nook, and listening to GirlChild by Tupelo Hassman.

I Pearl Ruled a book that lots of folks around here loved, but I LOATHED: Black Swan Green. The review's in my thread...post #243.

Okay, I finished and enjoyed both Defending Jacob and Hell and Gone, both M & M books. And I finally started 11/22/63. I know this is a whopper but it's also quite the page-turner and King has pulled me in deep.

RD- Sorry to hear Black Swan Green was such a disappointment. I've had this one high on my WL. Mitchell is one of my favorite new authors.

I'm so glad you're liking 11/22/63, Mark!

About to start reading Dead until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse 01) by Charlaine Harris and when I've finished that one, I've got Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

You can probably guess I'm a fantasy kind of girl.

#22> "I've read most of Toni Morrison's novels; I have a special feeling for Song of Solomon . . . "

I'm in that club, too. I'll have to get to Home soon, I think.

I'm just finishing, today probably, Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley. I have to say Patrick and his Irish church are not coming off well. I'd have to throw my hat in with the Druids. I've also started an audiobook of The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright, shortlisted for this years Orange Prize, and am liking it very much. The narration by Heather O'Neill is a joy. Also, after reading Anne Patchett's glowing introduction to Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman I couldn't resist reading the story she talked so much about, Self-Reliance. Boy would I like to know that woman. So, the rest of the short story collection will be my next read. On Nook I'm halfway into Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and am completely engrossed. It's surprisingly good.
Speaking of surprisingly good, I finished Bring Up the Bodies - even better than Wolf Hall. There will be only 3?

Happy birthday to Alan Hollinghurst, who wrote my fave fiction of the year so far The Stranger's Child.

Am finishing up Colm Toibin's take on Henry James, The Master which has drawn me in just as his Brooklyn did last year. Talk about a master!

I've started Among Others by Jo Walton, and am enjoying it so far. An interesting combination of science fiction and fantasy.

#29 Citizenjoyce, I'm confident that you'll enjoy Binocular Vision. Her stories have a lot of variety to them. Many of the other stories are quite different from Self-Reliance but equally enchanting and thought provoking.

Currently reading the second book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins - Map of Bones. I find his way of telling the stories and explaining all the facts quite amazing. :)

#28 rocketjk and #22 mollygrace, I have a tbr copy of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, have any of us read this one? Another slim novel from Toni.

BTW Have any of us read The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCuller ?, I found it so very special, it reminded me alot of Song Of Solomon.

Just finished What I Did by Christopher Wakling for Early Readers. Wonderful and I highly recommend it! About to start Wool by Hugh Howley.

I've started Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother?. I'm over halfway finished and am distressed that I'm not loving it.

I am in book heaven right now, reading two books that I am really enjoying. Thanks to some good people here on LT who recommended it, I am loving The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. At the same time I am closing out May's Murder & Mayhem with Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James, fourth in the DI Roy Grace series.

I finally finished The Adolescent. This week I'm going to try to get done with Add More Ing to Your Life and the 2nd Asterix Omnibus. If I get done with all that, I'll start The Hollow by Agatha Christie.

Read and reviewed yet another vintage mystery. This time it is The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Emmuska Orczy from 1909. It was quite an enjoyable read!

My thoughts here,

http://www.librarything.com/topic/130815#3412454

>34 hazeljune: hazeljune - I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter years and years ago and loved it - one of those books I'd like to hug if that makes any sense.

Finished The Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille, a big chunky, page-turner of a thriller.

This week I thought I'd try The Mysterious Affair at Styles, only my second Agatha Christe book.

# coppers, I also have been known to hug a book that has been special for me.

I am just loving There Should Be More Dancing by Rosalie Ham, it is full of lovely darkish humor and a really quirky 80year old lady who is determined to stay in her own home no matter what her family have planned for her.

Reading Fight Club which is not my normal reading style but it's so well done that I'm intrigued. Also reading Destiny of the Republic and loving it.

"The Stranger" aka The Gallows Bird started out so well then became incredibly tedious and I abandoned it half way through. The Whores' Asylum shows much more promise.

#34>hazeljune, I read The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter a while ago and loved it! I recently listened to Susan Sarandon narrate the audio edition of The Member Of The Wedding, which was also wonderful.

I am still working on Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr. This one is a long mystery. I am also reading Worst Hard Time and liking it. Also, am still reading on David Copperfield.

I'm reading A Grown-up Kind of Pretty. I reserved it at the library several months ago and they missed my request and I found it on the shelves! It's very good so far.

#34, 40, 44> I re-read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter last year and loved it all over again. I would not have made the association with Song of Solomon, but now that you mention it, yes, I can certainly see it. I have not read The Bluest Eye.

Still reading The Printmaker's Daughter. Will start a new schedule at work tomorrow that will allow me to have more time with my husband, and I hope for reading!

Good luck, NovaLee. I haven't looked for a new place to live for 27 years. I don't think I'd have the energy.

I was happy to hear that Alison Bechdel's book about her mother is out, so had to order it immediately. You're not enjoying Are You My Mother?, enaid? Very sad news. Did you like the one about her father, Fun Home?

I finished Under the Blue Flag: My Mission in Kosovo by Philip Kearny. Highly recommended. You can read my review on the book's work page or on my 50 Book Challenge thread.

I'm mostly picking around at several books at the moment. I'm doing a lot of reading for work, so I'm a little too burned out to read much that is heavy. Mostly I'm concentrating on Homage to Catalonia and Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, but I'm also reading the occasional story from Lovecraft Unbound. James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice B. Sheldon) was one of those science fiction writers popular in the '70's when I was growing up. I never cared for her stories then, but I find that they hold up much better than the stories I did like as a teenager.

This morning I started Sepharad by Antonio Munoz Molina. Nice to be back to fiction after a couple of memoirs.

I have just finished reading the novel The Lincoln Lawyer by author Michael Connelly.

Just finished The Wind through the Keyhole which I recommend only if you already love the universe/series. Otherwise, I'm not sure how I would have felt about it.

Next up: Ender's Shadow. I loved Ender's Game and I can't believe it took me so long to read it. I've heard this sequel series isn't as good, but it will keep me occupied while I track down some of the others at the library.

Just finished Gillespie and I and would love to talk about it. That couldn't have been Sybil, but I keep thinking she's more involved that it appears.

>50 Citizenjoyce: citizenjoyce: I did not love Are You My Mother the way I love, love, loved Fun Home. It may, likely, be because I'm working through issues with my own mother(like most daughters, I suppose). It felt like there wasn't an emotional center/ catalyst in Are You My Mother?. Her father was such an action packed character. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it, citizenjoyce.

@49: Good luck! Apartment hunting is so stressful. Haven't done it in four years and am half-dreading the boyfriend's and my eventual house hunt.

On the reading front I made very short work of The Pirates! In an Adventure with Whaling, by Gideon Defoe, the sequel to the book that inspired the recent Aardman Animations film "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (or as it's known in the UK, the original title, "The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists"). Didn't generate as much out-loud laughter as I thought but I was grinning the whole time, which is just as good, and perhaps better when one is reading on the bus.

Just finished Shoemaker's Wife (nice story) and I am about to start Never where.

#56 - Your posting intrigues me. Gillespie and I is in my TBR pile and I have been hearing a lot about it. What did you think?

>enaid- I'm about 50 pages into Are You My Mother? and I'm really enjoying it so far. I was also a big fan of Fun Home.

>61 msf59: msf59 I'm glad you really like it. I wonder if I pushed myself to read it at the wring time. Bechdel is one of my favorite authors. As soon as I had finished it last night, I knew I'd need to re-read it. It has a lot of layers.

I can't wait to get my copy of Are You My Mother? I'm so hoping not to be disappointed.
I finished both War Horse, a nice YA book, and Confessions of a Pagan Nun today. I would ask if there are any books that would make one feel good about the church in Ireland, but I'm sure there are. The one's I've read and the movies I've seen don't seem to show it in any humane way. Now I get to delve into Binocular Vision.

Have just finished 50 Shades of Grey and on to 50 Shades Darker. I'm sure no explanation necessary except, yum! Also just finished "Legend" by Marie Lu. A very good book about post Apocalyptic life in LA. Light, teenage style read, but very good if you like books such as "The Hunger Games."

I finished Bring up the bodies, I could not put it down. The writing is much better to follow, and it is a great part of history, much intrigue. And I LOVE the title now I know where it comes from. Great stuff, can't wait for part three.

I am now reading Trullion: Alastor 2262 by Jack Vance

#28, 34 others -- I've never read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter or The Bluest Eye, though both are somewhere in the tbr pile.

#30 - I loved The Master, too. Toibin is one of those writers I keep an eye out for.

I finished The Chemistry of Tears and I'm not sure what to say about it except that if it had been written by anyone other than Peter Carey I might have given up on it early. I couldn't seem to feel much for the characters or the whole idea of the book. The author has some fun showing us the inner workings and politics of museums (much as he did with the art world in Theft) so I enjoyed that, but I was over halfway through the book before it all seemed to click together for me and I began to actually care about the people in the book and to understand that there was a whole lot more going on than I had previously thought. That's happened to me with a couple of Carey's books, so I knew to stay with him. I wound up liking it a lot more than I thought I would -- and this is almost always true with Carey's books -- I wound up not sure I understood it in all its complexity. But that's all right. I'll be thinking about it for a long time -- I may read it again soon -- and I love that title.

Next up: Adam Foulds' The Truth About These Strange Times -- frankly, I'm starting this book with some trepidation. For one thing, I'm not sure just how much "truth" I can stand in regards to these strange times, but I admired another Foulds' book, The Quickening Maze, so I thought I'd give this one a try. Also, I've been having trouble reading this year -- not sure why -- having trouble concentrating. I'm way behind on my "count" for the year in comparison to recent years. I've been doing better lately -- so I hope that's true of this one, too.

I reviewed The Sisters Brothers in my thread...post #154.

It's fine.

I finished Born on a Blue Day and am now finishing up Blsckberry Wine by Joanne Harris. I started this more than a week ago and am having a very hard time getting into it. Hopefully, it will go better now.

I had to give up on A Visit From The Goon Squad. I listened to over half of it and was so reluctant to quit a Pulitzer winner.....made me me somehow inadequate, but the truth of the matter is that I could not connect to the storyline at all. Feel free to let me know if you think I should give the book a try versus the audio......very disappointed!

Starting to listen to Doc by Mary Doria Russell.

>69 hemlokgang:
There's isn't a cohesive storyline, it is only linked stories, that might work better for some people in print, because it is easier to go back and find where else characters have appeared. Personally I enjoyed the audio, but it isn't necessarily the easiest listen.

#67 Richard

I just returned Sisters Brothers to the library on my way to work. Unread. I had decided that it was time to trim the pile and this was one that I was not going to get to for some time. From your review looks like I made a good decision. I did not return The King Must Die by Mary Renault. I think that one might just be one of the next ones I read. More Greek tragedy.

I finished both The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths over the weekend, and I'm now trying to decide what's next.

#69 hemlokgang: I hated A Visit from the Goon Squad. After I started reading it I realized that it was the second time I'd had that reaction to a novel by Jennifer Egan. I tried The Invisible Circus a few years ago and couldn't connect to that one, either.

>71 benitastrnad: I would say it's a very good decision, Benita, because one doesn't have infinite time and spending it on ~meh~ books is impractical. I chose to because I heard such hot gusts of book-love poured on The Sisters Brothers that I just *had* to know what was going on.

Mass hysteria is my conclusion.

The King Must Die is, on the other hand, a really exciting and involving read.

Have just finished Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman and am about to start The Equality Illusion by Kat Banyard.

Just finished Divergent by Veronica Roth which I picked up in the Atlanta airport on the half-price table. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Will definitely be reading Insurgent.

I just finished, and absolutely loved, The Forgotten Waltz. Every character is perfect in my opinion. Next up in audiobook is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I really liked The Yiddish Policemen's Union and bought a couple of copies as gifts. I hope this will be as good.

Nebula winner Among Others by Jo Walton was quite good, and my review's on the book page.

I've now got The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck.

#66 mollygrace: Thanks for your take on The Chemistry of Tears. I'm going to hear Peter Carey talk about it at a bookstore this week. I felt the same way about his Parrot and Olivier Discover America; I ended it up loving it but I had to persevere. He certainly is an interesting writer and I'm looking forward to hear what he has to say.

#66 NarratorLady -- Oh, I'd love to hear him talk about it. "Persevere" is a good word for what you have to do sometimes with Carey, but I find he's worth the effort -- his books tend to stay with me. Just the mention of his name brings to mind so many compelling images and feelings -- some rich and clear, but others vague and still unresolved. I've still not recovered from reading Oscar and Lucinda almost a quarter century ago.

Oscar and Lucinda is why I have never read anything else by Peter Carey.

Robert

#hemlokgang, After reading Doc I listened to it with my husband, it was just so special in audo form, enjoy.

#80Mr. Durick, I have lost count of the books of Peter Carey's that I have put aside, perseverence is not for me!! I just loved his novel Jack Maggs the one and only that I read (twice).

I've got a few going right now:
Keepsake by Kristina Riggle in print
The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla on my Nook
The Red House by Mark Haddon in audio

Keepsake is wonderful so far, the two main characters are the adult daughters of a hoarder, one of whom is now a hoarder herself. The Red House is sadly not doing much for me yet, I'm hoping it just needs a little more time.

Thanks for the input guys - I am looking for a good book on audio for a road trip (leave out Tuesday, June 5). Looks like Doc would be a good pick. I also found NPR Terry Gross's interviews with a bunch of great authors! So I will be ALL set. May also have to add Spanish for an upcoming trip to Ecuador/Galapagos.

I am reading The Spare Room by Helen Garner and it is sad and real (having lost a dear friend to ovarian cancer recently), but somehow ... still good. I'm really into novellas lately and am coming up with a list to share of "off the beaten path" ones! I think it's an under-loved length/genre(?).

I finished Trullion (meh) and started the mammoth The Confusion. I need a book to live with for the coming week(s).

I started Behaviour of Wolves, Dogs and Related Canids by Michael W. Fox.

Still slowly working on Mary Oliver's New and Selected Poems and John Grisham's The Innocent Man.

I am reading The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood and The Grand Inquisitor excerpt from The Brothers Karamazov.

NarratorLady, I hope you enjoy going to hear Peter Cary. I went to see him talk earlier this year, mostly about The Chemistry of Tears but inevitably about writing and his other books and lots of other topics. He was very interesting.

I'm not sure I'm over Oscar and Lucinda, although it's been years. That's asking too much.

This week I've been reading Follow the River, by James Alexander Thom, based on the true story of Mary Ingles who in 1755 was kidnapped along with other members of her community and her two young sons. She was also within days of giving birth. She was held captive for months but managed to escape walked a thousand miles through untamed wilderness to return to her own people. An amazing story!

88 QuestingA: I haven't read Oscar and Lucinda and between you and Mr. Durick, I'm not sure I will! What was so terrible?

Carey has such an intricate way of writing, I'm expecting to enjoy his talk. I haven't been disappointed yet when going to hear an author speak. Should be fun.

I'm another one who wasn't fond of Oscar and Lucinda, Anne. It's been long enough that I'm struggling to remember why. I do remember there was a thread involving moving a crystal palace that for me just didn't ring true. I also had high expectations going in that it fell short of. But I know plenty of people have loved it like mollygrace.

I do think it would be fascinating to hear him talk. He's obviously a bright, creative guy.

I'm currently reading The Moon is Down, Steinbeck's WWII propaganda novel. I'm near the end and it's a good one.

#89: I read Follow the River years ago, and was impressed.

You may want to delve into Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo. It is also very impressive, although I remember it's about 1000 pages long. I read some time ago that Waldo spent 10 years researching foe the book, and it showed.

#80, 81, 88. 90, 91 - I never completely bought into the crystal palace either, jnwelch, but I loved so much else about the book, the wonder and adventure of it. Reading it was an adventure, too, and not always a satisfying one, but I wouldn't have missed the ride. Carey always gives me so much to think about, even when I'm not quite sure I understand what's going on. Murakami does that to me, too. It's great for a while just to get a glimpse of the inner workings of such minds -- it excites me. That experience, of being on the edge of something I can't quite fathom -- it's one of the reasons I read books, I suppose.

By the way, in The Chemistry of Tears the crystal palace has morphed into . . . well, I guess I shouldn't say what exactly, but there is a "crystal palace" element to this book, too.

#84. Carolyn, I have read The Spare Room and found it so very moving, you may like to add The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne to your list of novelllas, so sad and so memorable.

#83, Devourer, I like the sounds of Keepsake I shall follow it up.

I'm almost halfway through Scoop by Evelyn Waugh. I'll be laughing away at the wit and the farcical situations and then he throws in a few really unpleasant, old school racist words and I stop laughing. I hope Waugh used these words because that is how newspaper men talked during British Colonial rule but it spoils the fun and it makes me cringe.

I've just started The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. After reading A Moveable Feast, I wanted to read more about Hemingway and Hadley. McLain's novel about their marriage and life in Paris is emotionally moving.

We discussed The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes at the reading group this evening. No-one disliked the books, but we agreed that reading one story after another is not a good idea, as some of these yarns are pretty far-fetched. Perhaps, like Dickens, Conan Doyle works better on film and television.

Next month's book is The Cellist of Sarajevo. Any thoughts?

@ 92 - bookwoman247 - Thanks for the recommendation! Follow the River was a recommendation from a friend, so it looks like I should follow the recommendations and find Sacajewea also. If it's as good, I'm sure I'll enjoy it!

>cappybear- The Cellist of Sarajevo was excellent! And it was a short fast read, which is another bonus. Enjoy!

I'm just coming up for air. I'm about 2/3 of the way through Olivia Manning's 900+ page The Balkan Trilogy which delves into a part of WWII that I wasn't aware of. It's magnificently well written and very compelling.

I just finished Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and liked it very much. It's so completely believable to interweave actual events in Lincoln's life with fantasy. I can't wait to see the movie. Now on to something with less fantasy, alas, and more depressing reality: Drift by Rachel Maddow.

Hazeljune - thank you for that suggestion! I have seen the movie, but I never read the book.

Actually, I think Oscar and Lucinda is a great book. It's because it was so well written that it had such a strong and lasting impact. A lot like Atonement for me in that way.

I've also read True History of the Kelly Gang (also very good) and my book club is set to read Parrot and Olivier in America in a month or so.

>99 msf59: The Cellist of Sarajevo is one I liked very much, too, Mark.

I have a good start on The Piano Teacher and am really caught up in it. I have had this lying around for some time, and haven't heard much about it and wonder why. So far it is good. I am also reading Worst Hard Time and really like this one. I think it is better than Warmth of Other Suns. If anybody is reading Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath they should get this one and read it as well. I had listened to Rainwater last year. It was about the government coming in and buying up livestock during the Depression, and I am just at the part in Worst Hard Time where the government is buying livestock. This book is providing the facts behind the fiction written about the Depression. Great book. Also still working on the first half of David Copperfield.

I've written another fill-in review for old book circle books, this time the 5-star beauty BkC15) Nights at the Circus, in my thread...post #259.

Finished The Printmaker's Daughter. I really liked this book about a famous Japanese artist, and his daughter. I cannot recommend it for everyone. For one thing, it seemed too long. Yet, I now have a copy of one of his prints on the wall in my office. I was so intrigued by his story.

I'm a little more than half way through Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and having a hard time picking it back up. I think I've gotten the point, about living on the edge in order to feel alive. It feels like I'm getting punched with that point over and over until I'm now surrendered lying on the floor. Should I continue? Does it have more nuances or other points to reveal upon continuing?

>108 Travis1259: Well, David, that sounds like a fairly ringing endorsement to me. On the wishlist it goes!

Oh, and have I mentioned recently how much I dislike and resent you?

#109 Keep going snash, there are revelations still to come (and it's a nice short book anyway so it's not as if you'll have wasted half your life).

I finished up The Spare Room and really loved it, although it was uncomfortable in some very real ways. Great little novella.

I am now reading The Mindful Writer by Dinty W. Moore and am loving it.

Steinbeck's The Moon is Down was excellent, and my review's on the book page.

At Richard's recommendation, I'm now reading Desolation Road, a sci-fi novel by Ian McDonald.

Finished Follow the River last night. Read until the wee hours as I just had to keep going! Great story and I liked the Writer's comment at the end. Now on to a totally different genre....A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern. A recommendation from the same friend who recommended Follow the River.

I've finally just finished The Iliad, and will now be starting The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea.

I generally don't read real macho guy sort of books, but I loved the movie of Fight Club, it's one of my all time favorites. Just from that I would strongly advise you keep reading, snash. Maybe I should read it too.

Finished New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver.

Still reading The Innocent Man by John Grisham.

Started Behaviour of Wolves, Dogs and Related Canids by Michael W. Fox.

Partway through Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, and it's funny and enjoyable, but with the sense that I could easily put it down for a few months. And reading Finding George Orwell in Burma, which is very good, she captures the tropics and the... watchfulness of life in a dictatorship very well.

Also, since I was sent to Edmonton for the week, started reading Sowing Seeds in Danny (though, come to think of it, she may have been the one of the Famous Five who *didn't* ever live there). It's enjoyable enough, but 100 years have tarnished her humour somewhat.

And I wanted to thank everyone who was talking about Pompeii earlier: my Dad lent me his copy years ago (with strict instructions that he wanted it back), and I loved it but had forgotten the title. And Harris has written more books, and so the pile grows...

111 Booksloth and 116 Citizenjoyce Thanks for the encouragement, I'll keep on going.