I started to pull up one of the old book threads and then figured I'd just start a new one. I just saw Sandy's comment about Madison in the Trader Joe's thread and that reminded me of a book I'm currently reading (because it takes place in Madison), so I thought I'd see what others are reading.

I'm currently reading:

At work: The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (novel)

I'm not quite halfway through this book about a young couple with a troubled relationship (at least from her perspective) who go through a major life trauma that fiercely tests their relationship. So far, I'm enjoying it but it isn't something where I can't wait for lunch hour every day so I can dive into it.

Though I will say, Sandy, that your hometown sounds really charming.

At home: Forever by Pete Hamill (novel)

This is probably the most-recommended book ever by my book chat group. I had had it on my "to be read" pile forever and finally started it some months back but couldn't stay with it. I put it down and picked it back up several times and am finally within 60 pages of the end. Reading that, you would probably think it must be a sucky book. It isn't. It is quite an interesting book and even a well-written book but it is long and slow in parts.

It is about a guy who is given the ability to live forever but can never leave the city where he lives (Manhattan). Because he lives so long, the story ranges from slave days up to the present time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SheriaVa,

quote:

Originally posted by SheriaVa:
Has anyone read Barbara Walters' new book yet? She's certainly been all over TV and radio promoting it. She was interviewed about it on our local radio station this morning.

She's everywhere! She's everywhere!

I checked out library the other day. The book isn't in yet. It's sill "on order."

Linda

Has anyone read Barbara Walters' new book yet? She's certainly been all over TV and radio promoting it. She was interviewed about it on our local radio station this morning.

Jill,

1. I found these reviews which all look good: http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=1758

2. I love Water for Elephants. My library reading group has chosen it for our book this month.

Linda

quote:

Originally posted by johnbol:
Jill,

Three Cups of Tea is on my radar also. I know that I have read reviews which have been favorable, but I don't know exactly where I saw them. I do know that it shows up all the time on Amazon's best sellers.

Linda

I gave my sister the book today and she had just purchased last week and started reading it yesterday!! So she'll be returning the copy I got her and picking out something else (based on reviews here I recommended Water for Elephants but as soon as she finishes Three Cups she will loan it to me.

I read some reviews on Amazon, all favorable but a few stated that while they still enjoyed the book they felt the author did a poor job of telling the story (those that said this still recommended it as a good read).

Jill

Jill,

Three Cups of Tea is on my radar also. I know that I have read reviews which have been favorable, but I don't know exactly where I saw them. I do know that it shows up all the time on Amazon's best sellers.

Linda

I recently started Blind Speed by Josh Barkan as my bedside book. I'm not caring much for it yet, but hoping it will improve.

I am still reading The Innocent by Harlan Coben and still not caring much for it. Judging from this book (which is the only Coben I've ever read), I am really amazed that this man is so popular. This book stays in my "Virginia bag"--the duffle bag I take with me to Virginia on Fridays and back on Saturdays. Some weekends, I don't read while I'm up there, which is why this taking so long to finish (and because I don't think it's that good a book).

Has anyone read Three Cups of Tea? I have been checking it out each time I go to a bookstore but never bought. Last night I did purchase it, for my sister, for her birthday. I so wanted to take it out of the gift bag last night and read it. Any reviews out there? My hope is that she reads it then passes it on to me

Jill

I am reading an ARC from Harper Collins called Dream Lucky. It's about the late 1930s when Count Basie was trying to make his name. I'm enjoying it. (I have to write an opinion to appear on their website)

I'm listening to Winter's Child by Margaret Maron. I have never read or listened to one of her books before. I picked it solely on the fact that C. J. Critt is the narrator. I fell in love with her narration of the Stephanie Plum series. Evidently Maron's book is part of a series - not the beginning, close to recent. I am enjoying it. I think I found a new series to get involved with.

I tried listening to Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson. It won awards last year. I gave up due to problems with my iPod - probably the operator. I have it on my computer, so I'll probably try again.

Linda

I'm reading the 3rd book of the "Jane Kelly" mystery series by Nancy Bush. It is called "Ultra Violet".

If you are a Janet Evanovich fan, you might like this series too. The books aren't quite as funny as the Stephanie Plum books, but they are are good, and have some humor.

So far there are only 3 "Candy Apple Red", "Electric Blue" and this one. They also seem to be getting better as the series progresses, so I think there's some good potential here.

Dawn

I just read a fantastic teen duet by Elizabeth Knox. Dreamhunter and Dreamquake. Absolutely fabulous. So well written.

bump, just because it is way down on the page

yaaaay Linda!

quote:

Originally posted by Sheltieguy:
Has anyone tried http://www.dailylit.com ?

It sounds like a cute idea. Apparently, you can get public domain books e-mailed to you, in small installments, at no charge. (In addition to other books, for which there is a charge.)

I just heard about this yesterday, Sheltieguy. I was going to check it out today - if I had time.

I don't know if this is exactly the place but…

I found out late last night that I received an honorable mention in the Erma Bombeck writing contest. I have been entering this contest for at least six years. I am thrilled to have my name printed on the same page with Erma Bombeck's.

http://www.wclibrary.info/erma/2008winners.asp

Linda

I'm reading In the Courts of the Crimson Kings by S.M. Stirling. Its an alternate-history book, very well done, set on Mars, with real, live Martians

I'm also reading a new one by Joanne Harris, finishing up The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte by Laura Joh Rowland, which actually has more of a flavor of Austen than Bronte, and rereading The Robots of Dawn by Asimov.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SheriaVa:
I've got two mysteries going now:



I just picked up a new to me author yesterday at the library Ken Braun. He is from Gallway, Ireland. It seems he has two series going. One that takes place in Gallway, and one in South London. I got the first book from the one in Gallway and a trilogy of the books set in London. I started that one last night. The writing style is very interesting and it is taking a bit to get used to it, but it seems as though it will be good.


Actually, I realized last night that his name is Ken Bruen.

Dawn

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tayhudson,

Has anyone tried http://www.dailylit.com ?

It sounds like a cute idea. Apparently, you can get public domain books e-mailed to you, in small installments, at no charge. (In addition to other books, for which there is a charge.)

quote:

Originally posted by Nbox:
Next in line is a reread of The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Oh, I love that book. I don't know how many times I've read it, listened to it or seen it. Quite often someone will say to me, "I have a question…" At that point, I will jump in and say, "The answer is 42!" Most people don't understand, but if they do, we have an immediate comradeship.

Linda

I've got two mysteries going now:

Broken Prey: Sandford is like an old friend, as I have read most of his Prey series and I love his main character, Lucas Davenport, and the cast of supporting players who follow him from book to book. I'm about 80 pages from finishing this one and it has been pretty satisfying--neither the best nor the worst of the series.

The Innocent: I believe this is my first Coben. I've heard of him for a long time, and I've had this novel on my TBR pile for a long time. The story itself (about an everyday college kid who gets in trouble and how he tries to get his post-prison life back to some semblance of normalcy) is fine, but there are some things about Coben's writing that bug me a bit. I'm still early on in this book, though, so I'm going to try to stay open to wherever this story will take me.

I started to read Michael Ondaatje's Divisadero over the weekend and I'm enjoying it. Next in line is a reread of The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

What I'm really supposed to be reading is Contrastive Functional Analysis by Andrew Chesterman, but somehow I haven't been devoting a whole lot of time to that one lately...