What have you been reading this week?

a.s.

a.s.

Valinor
Well, I read a book for book club that would not have been my first choice: The Thornbirds, by Colleen McCullough. This book first came out in 77, and I read it then--several times. But a lot of time has passed since then, and I didn't expect to enjoy reading it again. I am no longer a newly married, young Navy wife, far from home myself, in a world without cell phones or email, when long distance calls home to mom were a budgeted item, etc. I didn[t think I would enjoy the book again.

I have to admit many of the characters are stereotypes to the point of utter distraction, and I find after 30+ years that I simply cannot stand Ralph de Bricassart and think Meggie is one dimensional, etc. And yet. And yet.

It was hard to stop reading, and I kept turning the page, page after page, until long after I should have been in bed. McCullough can irritate me with her characters who are at once "larger than life" and stereotypical, but the drama of the land and the making of the cultures (mix of cultures, really) there did sweep me away. I enjoyed it much more than I would have expected. It is not a great novel, but it's an enjoyable read.

I tried and failed to engage in reading Ravens, by George Dawes Green. It got some great reviews, but I couldn't get into it at all. Gave up. On to Karin Fossum's latest (in America): The Water's Edge. I've liked all the Inspector Sejer books I've read so far, and expect to like this one!

And that's it for me. What about you all? What have you been reading this week?

a.s.
 
Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. A clinical psychology professor at Harvard is diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease. Fictional, told from her point of view. Quite sad.

On Writing, by Stephen King. A must for any King fan.

The Sookie Stackhouse novels- bettern Twilight any day, but just as shallow!

Farenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. Took it out for my son this summer, but he was busy with lots of other books, so I read it. Substitute the walls for the Internet and it holds up nicely.

The Ruins. A fast summer read. Don't even remember the author.

Wild Fire, Nelson DeMille. It was on sale and I have to read at least one DeMille book each summer. Starring my favorite cocky bastard, Detective John Corey.

The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger. Good, but not worth the hype. I don't want to see the movie.

...and a few more I can't recall at this time. Now I'm (re) reading Watership Down.
 
Last edited:
Many years ago when it was so famous, I started reading it, but I just couldn't finish it. It seemed to me as though every character was either an abuser or a victim, or was simply so blitheringly miserable I just couldn't go on. I did enjoy the descriptions of Australia, though.
 
My daughter (6th grade) brought this home from the school library. I knew she would eventually, and I wanted to read it before her but didn't get around to it. She finished it in a couple of days and started New Moon. I found Twilight to be Mostly Harmless (as I posted on FB). The writing was not great but not terribly irritating. The story was interesting, the characters less so. I'm a bit concerned about the romance getting more physical and the violence getting more intense and graphic, but I'm not going to forbid her to read the next book. I read another Stephanie Meyer book last year by chance (The Host) and she seems pretty conservative. I'm still hoping my daughter will start reading LotR soon, since I bought her a set of her own this summer! Still, there's nothing like pushing a book to make it unappealing (and she won't trust my judgment since I gave her The Phantom Tollbooth, which was not nearly as good as I remembered it being), and there's nothing like forbidding a book to make her start sneaking around to read it on the sly! We'll discuss it instead.
 
when I was about 12. I even persuaded the teacher to make one of the read-out-loud books at school. But I haven't picked it up since then, so I don't know how it holds up in today's world.
 
I read many of Elizabeth George's books some years ago, but I haven't picked up any lately until now. This one is a St. James novel rather than Lynley, and it was well written, but only okay for content. I find Deborah to be annoying, she is always determined that Simon see her as an adult, but continues to behave childishly. The motive for the murder seemed flimsy to me as well.

A Year in Provence, by Peter Mayle, was a delightful read, but much too short, as good books are. The author and his wife move to Provence to retire, buying a 200-yr-old house and renovating it. It is amusing and warm-hearted. I enjoyed it a lot. I see he has written a further book on Provence, so I will look for it.

Now reading Sin Killer, by Larry McMurtry. Sly, tongue in cheek story of an English family looking for, and finding, adventure in America shortly after the War of Independance.
 
I finished the second of the three short stories and am partway through the third. I’m just not motivated to pick up what seemed at first a promising book (and a short one) very often. Fortunately, I should be done soon.
 
I did read all the books.

I thought they were an interesting story, but kind of boring, and I found the characters pretty annoying. I don't hate them, but I think they're incredibly over rated.

I can tell you that it doesn't really get any more violent or physical until the last book, and then... it's really just implied, but still- I'd probably read the first few pages you're concerned. My sister read it in 7th grade everyone was fine with that, but it really depends on how protective you want to be (My sister watched the Lord of the Rings in theaters when she was 6, so... my parents were never really that concerned with exposure of any sorts, which certainly has both an up and down side).
 
And I watched some of them, but never got around to finishing them. I love John Thaw, though, so I'll have to dig them out again sometime!
 
Since I have nothing from the library waiting at the moment.

The second book is equally enjoyable, and he has a third called "Toujours Provence."

If you enjoy his food writing, you might also like "French Lessons," where he tours around various places in France trying out the local culinary specialities.
 
It's his dog Boy's "autobiography."

Hilarious! Obviously dogs don't write books, but you still feel like he's a real dog. Who just happens to know how to write. [laugh]
 
I read it a whole lot when I was little, too. I don't even know where my copy of it is anymore, but now I'm thinking about it, I want to read it again....I remember the watchdog the most-- I liked him!
 
She just turned 5, and she's seen scenes, but has enough sense to run out of the room whenever the orcs come out- we don't even have to tell her to leave XD

(She also calls it "The Aragorn movie"- guess which character is plastered all over my walls?)
 
That's Funny :D

If I remember right, my mom took her out when Boromir died... the first time, but then she wanted to watch it. See had seen the cartoons though, so I think that helped.

Her favorite character was Pippin, and I can't tell you how many times she would randomly quote Pippin or Billy.
I remember she came with my mom to pick me and my carpool up from school one day (I was 11 & she was 6), and we stopped by to get milkshakes and she handed them ALL to me, so I was like "Um, why are all the drinks on me?" And my sister shouted, "Champagne's on Morgan!" As loud as she could. Everyone turned and stared at her, and she was like "What? That's what Billy said to Elijah in the behind the scenes."
 
Little Eruvande thought LOTR was about a fabulous birthday party with fireworks and a giant cake. We'd skip the Prologue, and go right to Concerning Hobbits. Then, once Bilbo takes off on his adventure, the movie was "over". [laugh]
 
I started rereading Harry Potter, I guess more for the comfort. I was starting books and just not finding them interesting, not because the books weren’t interesting but because of my mood. I guess I knew what to expect with HP, and I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’m enjoying rereading them because I pick up on people and happenings that I know will become important as the series goes on.

I enjoyed the Lost Symbol (there’s an advantage to working in a library and being the person who actually orders the books and adds the records to the catalog - you sometimes get first shot at books, but then if others are waiting you know you need to finish it). It wasn’t an “I want to finish this now so I can’t put it down,” but I enjoyed trying to figure out the puzzles, trying to guess where they were going, and trying to figure out who the bad guys were. And as with most mysteries I read, I was wrong. I think if you enjoyed his other books you’ll enjoy this; they are similar in terms of figuring something out and trying to stay alive.
 
but it turns out I accidentally bought the second book. Again.

Anyone want a brand-new paperback that hasn't been opened beyond the first page?
 
I've been amazed at some of the old junk useful items I've managed to unload there.

Or might the bookshop exchange it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top