Books: What have people been reading recently?

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:46 AM

I've just finished a book called "Blowing Zen" which is an autobiographical work about an Englishman living in Japan who takes but the shakuhachie(the ancient Zen flute).
It's a great and inspiring read.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:50 AM

The Lives of John Lennon by Albert Goldman, from the early years at the Cavern right through to the shooting of John Lennon. The book is a non-sentimental look at the man. I find myself disagreeing with a lot of things in it but it is still a good read about such a complex man.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 02:30 PM

For some reason, my dau. has been reading the dragon tattoo series and is looking for the third book. I looked at the first and decided it was not of interest.

Just started One Man's West by David Lavender. Almost done with another Cliff Janeway, bookseller/retired homicide cop book by John Dunning, the "Bookwoman's Last Last Fling."

Also, working through Rob Roy, including Scott's original introduction and appendix with his notes, etc. "Slogging" might be more like it, though I have finally got to the actual novel and am enjoying it much more this time, though I still am not sure how any of us ever trace our ancestors with so many folks changing their affiliation/surnames according to the politics of the day, i.e. MacGregors being proscribed, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 12:20 PM

Well, I read the whole thing and I assure you, it does not get better, at least not in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Becca72
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:59 AM

HiLo,
I got about 35-40 pages into Dragon Tattoo and had to put it down. I found it painfully boring. I'm told by others that it gets better, but I have my doubts.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:44 AM

Charlie Russell's "Trails Plowed Under."

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 09:41 AM

I have jist read the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, for the life of me I cannot see what all the fuss is about and why it has sold so many copies..have I missed something ? Read February by Lisa Moore, about the sinking of ocean ranger off Newfoundland, best book I have read in ages. Was on the long list for the Booker but was cut, a great shame as it is by far one of the best books on the list.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 08:15 AM

As Mudcatters know, I have a great affection for Greece and the eccentricities of its people. I also enjoy detective fiction. I have recently discovered two series which combine the two. Anne Zouroudi's series featuring mysterious crime solver Hermes Diaktoros (a Father Brown figure rather than a tough cop) and Petros Markaris' series with Inspector Haritos. Their strengths are not so much the puzzles as the incidental details which bring the world of small islands (Zouroudi) or mainland cities (Markaris) to life.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 01:55 PM

While uncovering a bookshelf and rearranging things in front of it, I found "The Destiny of Isabelle Eberhardt" by Cecily Mackworth. Isabelle Eberhardt was a complicated young (she died in 1904 at age 27) woman writer, daughter of a Russian nihilist pope of the Eastern church, who grew up in Geneva dressing in North African male attire. She escaped to Algeria, or maybe headed there on her quest. Converted to Islam, wrote, rode in the desert, was initiated into a Sufi confraternity, married an Algerian soldier, died in a flash flood.

When I reshelved the book, I discovered Cecily Mackworth's memoir "Ends of the World" which, among other things, explained how she came to discover and become fascinated by Isabelle Eberhardt.

So...I spent a couple weeks mostly in the Algerian desert. Then I picked up "Eat, Pray, Love" which I had recently acquired at a yardsale. Wow. I don't usually read best sellers or popular books when others are reading them -- usually well before they become popular or after everyone else has forgotten about them. I don't understand how a film can be made from this book -- other than showing some nice scenery in Italy, India and Bali. There's no PLOT; it's Elizabeth Gilbert's spiritual quest to rebuild her Self after a devastating divorce and complete rethinking of what she wanted in life. This is book material -- not movie material. It can only come across as completely shallow in a movie.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Stu
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 10:20 AM

I read Drood by Dan Simmons after it was recommended to me by a retired English professor, although he said he felt ambivalent about the book after he read it. I enjoyed it despite the Americanisms that snuck in (it was written in the first person and the narrator is Wilkie Collins the English novelist) and will read some Dickens as a result. It's a tale that goes into the dark, dank underworld or London . . .

After spending three weeks in the American West this summer (the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana) I'm still utterly bowled over by the place and can't wait to return to the big sky country, but in the meantime I'll have to be satisfied with reading about it and so am just starting on Cormac McCarthy's border trilogy.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Sep 10 - 09:35 AM

"Heaven forfend that I would be on the "left" coast. In order not to use that term, I always face south, and read maps upside down. Too, when my wife gives me directions, she'll tell me to 'turn not right' by which time we've passed the place to turn. My right hand never tells my "left" hand what it's doing. And of course I'll go to Heaven in the end times because I will not be "left" behind."John, the Sundown Kid

Ah, but you see, John, when I am RIGHT I am not afraid to admit it. :)

Currently mu main book is Abigail Adams by Woody Holton, about the wife of John Adams, wife and mother of two presidents.
well written, drawn from the correspondence between her and her husband. I have learned a lot of things about her and the time of the Revolutionary War.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 11:11 PM

Currently, at Borders once or twice a week: Ann McCaffrey's and her son's expansion of the dragonflight series; Weber's Honor Harrington series; Eric Flint's 1632 series; Alexander McCall Smith all. I read whatever is currently on the shelves, a bit at a time.

At home: Tribes with Flags, recently completed Koestler's the Thirteenth Tribe; just starting the Night Watch series by Sergei Lukyanenko, which is a translation from the Russian. This is supposedly a police series commenting on current Russian society. I am told it is still dangerous for an author to criticize the Russian powers that be directly.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 08:21 PM

_The Catcher in the Rye_ by J. D. Salinger. I first read this about 60 years ago, when I was actually in a prep school, tho it was not much like that one.

_Jews without Money_ by Michael Gold. First read, 1961.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Slag
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 05:50 PM

Ebbie (and Sundown John!) I believe it was Mark Twain who said "I remember everything perfectly, whether it happened or not."

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 05:32 PM

I have just ripped two Rex Stout Nero Wolfe recorded book mysteries into my computer to load into my mp3 player.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 12:02 PM

Back in July I reported that I was then reading a novel called 'Matter' by Ian Banks. At that point I had only read the first few chapters - and was quite enjoying it. I said that I would reserve judgement until after I had finished it. Well, I did finish it ... and, oh dear! After those first few chapters the whole thing seemed to get bogged down and rather went on and on and on about nothing very interesting. Then it finished in a rush, and the ending didn't seem to have very much to do with what had gone before (a monstrous entity, which had hardly been mentioned in previous chapters, put in an appearance and devoured many of the leading protagonists - very silly!!).

I'm increasingly getting the impression that many contemporary, popular authors can't plot for toffee! They have a striking and ambitious idea for a book and they seem to think that it will plot itself. Then, because they haven't worked out the plot in sufficient detail, they get bogged down in the middle part of the book and finally have it rush the ending. Needless to say they rarely seem to be able to fulfil their ambitions. Bring back rigorous plotting!!

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 10 - 08:53 PM

HiLo, thanks, I did read Flanders Panel, but not having ever played chess, I liked The Fencing Master better. Both still extremely good, though and I will be reading more of his books.

LOL, Johnontherighthandbackwardsupsidedown...:-)

On Julie Kaewert's website she mentions a prequel to the Plumtree series, apparently posted in 2008 as that is the copyright date on the webpage. I was wondering if any of you have seen it or read it. Here's the info, sounds fascinating:

   
The Writing Master's Daughter
A prequel to the Plumtree series of mysteries for booklovers
By Julie Kaewert
The writing master's daughter has a secret; only she and her father, pen-man for King Charles II, know why she does not speak. But her silence is linked to a secret so ancient and shrouded in mystery that even Grace and her father have no inkling of its significance…until one night the writing-master is seized by the King, setting in motion a terrifying series of events. Grace discovers that her imperfection is actually a gift, enabling her to perceive what others cannot…with profound consequences.
The novel's rich atmosphere is woven from the art of calligraphy, the writing-masters' community in Restoration London, Grace's home in a disused Chapel on London Bridge, the Secret Cabal of Charles II's reign, dangerous spies, secret underground waterways, an ancient encoded illuminated manuscript, the origin of the alphabet, an authentic Secret Treaty, and a daughter's relationship with her father.

Note

Inspiration for The Writing Master's Daughter came from the little-known Secret Treaty of Dover of 1670. In a remarkable betrayal of his people, Charles II promised Louis XIV to lead England in a conversion to Catholicism... in exchange for money. He did succeed in saving England, for without the ships and cash from his deal, the Dutch War would have been lost and England would now be part of The Netherlands.

But Charles's bargain is shocking, not only in his callousness in trading on his peoples' faith, but in its hypocrisy. For during his reign, "popishness" could be punished with death…and all the while he was secretly bargaining to require it!
In the ultimate act of trickery, Charles II reverted to Catholicism only on his deathbed, thereby fulfilling the promise to his cousin at the eleventh hour…while not affecting his people's hard-won Protestant faith. The real irony? Charles was a secret Catholic his entire life.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: mousethief
Date: 31 Jul 10 - 12:42 AM

Johnontheleft(biteyourtongue(!)coast :), all I can say is that if I were to write my autobiography, a lot of it would be fiction.

I think that's true of nearly all autobiographies.

I just finished Trilobite! Eyewitness to Evolution which was fascinating and extremely well written. Am now reading a dummy's guide to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (forget exact title) co-written by two university scholars, one from each side (so to speak). The Jewish guy is a rabbi to boot. So far a dull recap of Zionist history 1860(ish) through 1939.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 01:26 PM

Ebbie--
Heaven forfend that I would be on the "left" coast. In order not to use that term, I always face south, and read maps upside down. Too, when my wife gives me directions, she'll tell me to 'turn not right' by which time we've passed the place to turn. My right hand never tells my "left" hand what it's doing. And of course I'll go to Heaven in the end times because I will not be "left" behind.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 11:00 AM

Thanks, HiLo, I'll look for it!

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:39 AM

If you are interested in reading more Arturo-Perez, read The Flanders Panel. I have read all of his books and It is my favourite.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Janie
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 12:39 AM

Just finished House of Abraham: Lincoln and the Todds, A House Divided by Stephen Berry.

Interesting and informative, but not great and not as insightful as it perhaps could have been. Just a bit too gossipy and malicious toward the Todds. Granted, they do not appear to have been a particularly likable clan.

The premise is valid, that the tensions and conflicts between different political loyalties and family loyalties informed Lincoln and allowed him a particularly human understanding of the Civil War, as well as represented in microcosm the nation at war with itself.

Worth reading, if the subject is otherwise of interest.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:02 PM

Johnontheleft(biteyourtongue(!)coast :), all I can say is that if I were to write my autobiography, a lot of it would be fiction.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 06:37 PM

"The Memory Book" by Gary Small, M.D. in conjunction with a class at UCLA for seniors' memory improvement.

For a guilty pleasure I'm about to begin "Public Cowboy #1: The life and times of Gene Autry" by Holly George-Warren. I'm never quite sure if biographies should be considered fiction or non-fiction, especially if they have no bibliography nor footnoted attributions.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 06:11 PM

Just finished The Fencing Master, which was recommended in this thread a ways back. Excellent, I could not put it down and that's even with my not knowing much about the specific fencing moves mentioned throughout. I am going to see if I can get more of Arturo Perez-Reverte's books.

Also finished up the Cowboy and the Cossack. Still one of the BEST books ever written, imo. I realized, this time, one reason I love it so much is the voice is so authentic and could have been narrated by my dad. The vernacular, the vocabulary, etc....I can *hear* his voice throughout.

I just got a hardback copy of Mark Twain's "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" which is by the Sieur Louis de Conte who is identified further as Joan's page and secretary. You can download a free copy from Project Gutenberg, but I don't like reading long books on my computer so I went to www.addall.com and found an inexpensive copy. More about it at Wiki.

I also just received a copy of "Galileo's Daughter" which looks really good.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 05:28 PM

I'm just finishing a book by Irving Bacheller called 'A Man for the Ages', published in 1919.

From time to time I like to read something from another time; it is interesting to see the inevitable difference in viewpoints and judgments.

This book purports to be non-fiction although it doesn't officially make that claim. It does, however, follow the historical paths taken by Abe Lincoln and the Republic, detailing several financial 'panics'. It brings in some other live personages - like Stephen A Douglas - as well as a number of fictional characters.

It is interesting reading about the days when Chicago and Springfield were mostly muddy villages with great dreams.

One thing that struck me - and I've noticed it before in old books - teenagers (who were not yet so labeled) come across as much younger emotionally and mentally than those of today. In the book, for instance, several 16-year-olds sound more like our modern day 13-year-olds. Which surprises me, because I know that in real life youngsters were given much more responsibility at a much earlier age than is common today. My father, for instance, born in 1901, drove a three-horse team in the fields when he was 9 years old, and younger.

On Page 384, it tells about when Lincoln met Mary Todd, his eventual wife, and says that he was attracted to 'proud Mary'. I had to go look up the lyrics of the song, wondering whether the phrase could be related, but not so.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Seayaker
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 01:34 PM

Just finished Mad World by Paula Byrne, a brilliant part biog. of Evelyn Waugh, his time at Oxford and his relationship with the Lygon family of Madresfield Court (Mad) near Malvern which led to the writing of Brideshead revisited.

Now started re-reading Brideshead and scouring the charity shops for his other books.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: number 6
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 11:34 AM

*LOL* .... I heard about that device Amos.

priceless!

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:22 AM

'Alone in Berlin' by Hans Fallada.
Interesting, and some very humorous lines in there, despite the gloomy WW2 setting.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 12:42 PM

Just finished The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon..an excellent read, I didn't know you get that many commas on a page ! Based on advice seen here ,I have also finished the first in the Jack Aubry series by Patrick O'Brien,, grand fun, will now have to read some others. Am wading through If On A Winters Night A Traveller by Italio Calvino...it is beautifully written but I keep getting lost. Anyone else read this? What did you think ?
Have also just read The Hard Life by Flann O Brien...wow.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:10 AM

I've been reading Tess Gerritson's books and enjoying them. Just watched the TV series Rizzoli & Isles, based on the books. Neither character was very much like the originals - very disappointing, but about par for the course.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Amos
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:02 PM

Amazing: Google Lit Trips traces the geographic paths described in great literature. This page is the "higher Ed" titles, while others can be found from the site's home page.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Amos
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:21 AM

Here is something very funny coming out of Canada.

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade-named *BOOK*.
*BOOK* is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it.
Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere — even sitting in an armchair by the fire — yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.
Here's how it works: *BOOK* is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.
Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet.
*BOOK* never crashes or requires rebooting, though, like other devices, it can become damaged if coffee is spilled on it.
The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pin-points the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.
An optional "*BOOK*mark" accessory allows you to open *BOOK* to the exact place you left it in a previous session — even if the *BOOK* has been closed. *BOOK*marks fit universal design standards; thus, a single *BOOK*mark can be used in *BOOK*s by various manufacturers.
Portable, durable, and affordable, *BOOK* is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. *BOOK*'s appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking to invest. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

Credit to Peter Waldock of North 49 Books, Toronto Ontario.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Patsy Warren
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 08:00 AM

I found the books of the Exorcist and Jaws when rummaging through a local charity bookshop. Both books better than the films that were made. The Exorcist had some humour to it. Some of the things that the 'possessed' Regan says in it makes me giggle. The dry humour isn't captured in the film.

Likewise in Jaws on film they altered the story slightly and if it had followed the storyline affair of Brody's wife the age limit might have had to be raised a tad.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Amos
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 01:42 PM

If you want a real in depth analsyis of the overall dynamics of humankind, the environment, species loss, sustainable development, and hope for a prosperous 21st century despite crises, read Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet by
Jeffrey D. Sachs.

HEre's a link tuit.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 12:57 PM

I am reading The Cowboy and the Cossack for the third time...it is a perennial favourite.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recent
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 11:24 AM

I tend to read two books at one time: One for my commute to and from work, one at bedtime reading. I'm reading "Diet For A New America," by John Robbins, and "Clean Cabbage In The Bucket and Other Tales From The Irish Music Trenches," by Frank Emerson, Seamus Kennedy, Robbie O'Connell, Harry O'Donoghue, Dennis O'Rourke (and edited by Dennis O'Rourke). It's a great read, which all who have done pub gigs and toured can relate to. I could list a few highlights, but I'd have to post the entire book, so I'll just recommend to every Mudcatter: buy the book!

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,happylassie
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 09:55 AM

I have just finished Steven Kings Under The Dome. This is probabley his best ever & I have read them all.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 05:31 AM

I'm in the midst of reading Ian Banks's SF novel, 'Matter'. I've read a couple of his previous SF titles - and didn't enjoy them very much. I bought this one for £1:99, in a remaindered book shop, and thought that, for that price, I could afford to give him another try. And it really is quite good and very readable. Character development and dialogue is excellent and the various galactic wonders are much better visualised than in previous books. The plot is also well developed and I'm just beginning to suspect that it is much more labyrinthine than the first few chapters had led me to believe. All in all this appears to be a fine piece of popular fiction which probably doesn't deserve to be remaindered - but I'll reserve judgement until I've finished it.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 05:27 PM

...All for Poor Jack by STEVE TILSTON! I can recommend it!

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 07:20 PM

Finished Forbidden Fruit: Love stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty Deramus. Some truly amazing and poignant stories.

Also reading Leadville: A Miner's Epic by Stephen M. Voynick.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:53 AM

"Nottingham Trolleybuses" by David Bowler. Not much character development but by God you get to learn about Nottingham trolleybuses!

"Tom Rolt and the Cressy years" by Ian Mackersey. Excellent little book. Tom (LTC Rolt) was an engineer and visionary who bought and converted an old narrowboat called "Cressy" in 1939 and navigated it round the English canals with his then wife Angela. Hardly anybody did this at the time, of course. He hoped to write for a living so of naturally was extremely poor for many years. He eventually got "Narrow Boat" published and it's never been out of print since - he wrote about 40 books in the end. Remarried, settled in Gloucestershire, two children, died at 64. Honourable member of the Awkward Squad. Can't really begin to explain what an important (and lovable) man he was.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 06:24 PM

Just finished up The 19th Wife and am now halfway through Ken Follett's Code to Zero.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Becca72
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 12:19 PM

LOL Peter! Good point.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 10:06 AM

I enjoyed Hedgehog greatly.

I am presently reading a fascinating exposition on the life and fury of chefs, sous-chefs, cooks and helpers and their historical legacies. If you love food and dream of recipes, this is a keeper. I don't, but am enjoying it anyway.

Heat   An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
by Bill Buford

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 09:20 AM

I'm about two thirds of the way through The Aeneid, of Vergil, in the seventeenth-century translation by Dryden. That is one of (if not the only) translation of The Aeneid in poetry, and is still, after three hundred some years, considered the best translation, as I understand. I really don't see how a prose translation would begin to be satisfactory.

Incidentally, the poetry of The Aeneid is much better than the poetry of The Iliad and The Oddysey, to my way of thinking.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 11:58 PM

So I was listening to NPR, and they had a program on featuring this guy who writes for the NEW YORKER, and he'd just produced a piece entitled--something to the effect of--the most promising fiction writers in America under forty.

             So I picked up the magazine to read the article, and I discovered that part of the narrative had to do with the researchers asking the young writers who their greatest influences were, and the name that came up over and over was Marilynne Robinson.

             Of course, I didn't know who Marilynne Robinson was, and was kind of embarrassed about that, so that weekend I made it over to Barnes and Nobles and picked up a book entitled "Housekeeping," by Marilynne Robinson.

             The prose style is amazing. If anyone had told me I'd enjoy reading a book entitled "Houskeeping" before now, I'd have never believed it. It's wonderful.

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 10:03 PM

This month?

From the Pansy series, 3 8-hour books: Interrupted, Esther Reid, and Julia Reid. From the rummage sale a book on gardening, with cards for each plant. From Scripture, Deuteronomy, several chapters a day. From multicultural studies, a "brief" history of Africa.

And a book about priest's wives, "Presbytera."

I love self-directed learning!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 09:56 PM

Now I'm reading "Last Words" by George Carlin and really kicking myself for never having seen him in concert when I had the chance.

Really, Becca, I think it's just as well. He used very strong language in his stage act, and I'm certain your upbringing sheltered you from such. You would probably have been very upset.

Peter. (Nyuck, nyuck.)

Subject: RE: BS: Books-What have people been reading recently?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 09:40 PM

The Elegance of the Hedgehog
by Muriel Barberry
Translated from French by Alison Anderson

I sent the following message to 47 friends whom I hoped would enjoy this. The best book I have read in a few months:

This is an elegant book for those who enjoy language beautifully used, a philosophy of life that is intriguing and a story that is unique. It covers a number of interesting issues: tolerance, class systems, friendship, suicide, love, evolving selfhoods, and much more. Each person will find something of interest to themself, I believe.

Both Robin and I have had trouble putting it down. Rob refers to it as "a book you want to keep reading under the covers with a flashlight."

It takes place in present day Paris and includes a concierge and a very wealthy 12 year old girl telling their stories, separately in the same place about the same people with interesting viewpoints.

The Life of Pi was imo plain dumb. That is putting it politely.

I read close to a dozen books a month, mostly novels but nonfiction when it comes to hand. The local libraries in our part of Montreal are more French than English so I haunt the new book sections.