Finished Sandford's Hidden Prey at lunch today. It was an unexpected story of a family spy ring (Russian) in Minnesota still operating years after the Cold War was over. Pretty interesting stuff...a little out there, perhaps, but this kind of fiction usually is.
Finished Evanovich's 11th Monday night. Found it a relatively pale entry in the series (as was expected from others who had already read it). Looking forward to reading #12, which I have at the office.
Took Rule of Four to my pedicure appt. yesterday and started it to see if it's the kind of thing I want to take on the plane to Florida. It put me to sleep...so I didn't get very far...but then pedicures often do make me very relaxed and drowsy so it's not necessarily an indictment of the book. LOL
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by Nbox: I read the first book in 1-2 days, so be prepared - you may find yourself wanting to dive into the sequels immediately.
I actually read the Kalahari Typing School for Men first...it just happened to be on our loaner book rack at work so I picked it up several months back. Found it quite charming and thought I'd get the first in the series.
Thanks everyone for their recommendations! More are always welcome if anyone hasn't chimed in yet.
I really enjoyed that book. I haven't read anymore in the series yet. I also really liked "The Sunday Philospher's Club".
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4303 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
1. Yes, Sheri, I am touting Marley and Me. Any animal lover will love thiss book. It rocks.
2. I intend to read Running with Scissors before I see the movie. But considering we don't usually go to movies, I should have some time. (I've seen an awful lot of movies thanks to my library card and the internet request capabilities!)
3. I was thinking that the McCall Smith would probably be like eating Lay's potato chips - can't have just one!
Originally posted by synesthesiac: One question: would you recommend I read the book first? or see the movie first?
I haven't seen the movie--only scenes from it--but I would suspect that you would get much more detail from the book than from the movie. The question is, is this detail that you WANT? Depends on how intrigued you are by his story and how sensitive to you are to this kind of subject matter, I suppose. If you want the full experience, I think reading the book before the movie would probably be best.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by synesthesiac: Has anyone read "Running With Scissors"?
Grace, I read the book early this year when I saw that the author (Augusten Burroughs) was being compared to David Sedaris, whose work I enjoy.
The book is VERY dark but brilliantly written (the only reason I finished it). There is a lot of mental illness, some sexual abuse, parental neglect and disgusting housekeeping. Given that is is a memoir and not fiction, it is pretty scary to think that any kid grew up that way (tho he was a teen during the worst of it).
I remember when I first heard "Running With Scissors" was going to be a movie. I mentioned it to the only person I knew who had also read the book--a coworker of mine. We looked at one another and shook our heads and wondered "How on EARTH are they going to make a movie of that and make it palatable?"
I have seen the previews...and I have to say they DO have some incredible talent in this cast. I might have to go see it just out of curiosity.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Has anyone read "Running With Scissors"? Caught part of Oprah yesterday and saw that Annette Bening is in the movie version. Since I adore anything Annette Bening does I want to see it, but you know how it goes: if you see the movie first it kind of spoils it for the book's ending.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
Grace
Posts: 222 | Location: Silicon Valley CA | Registered: September 15, 2005
Oh Linda, I meant to tell you...I picked up Marley & Me the other day. I think you were the one who was raving about it here at some point? It sounds like a hoot.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by Nbox: I read the first book in 1-2 days, so be prepared - you may find yourself wanting to dive into the sequels immediately.
I actually read the Kalahari Typing School for Men first...it just happened to be on our loaner book rack at work so I picked it up several months back. Found it quite charming and thought I'd get the first in the series.
Thanks everyone for their recommendations! More are always welcome if anyone hasn't chimed in yet.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Sheri, I have read 3 of the books on your list but have read all but one of the authors. I'm not sure Into the Wild would be a good book for over a weekend with family involved. It is a book to be concentrated on. Either the Haddon or Rule of Four would be my choice for your situation.
Although, the Bryson is tempting. He is just hilarious.
I read the original The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood and felt it was o.k. From what I've heard, neither of her other books have lived up to that one.
The Ladies Detective Agency is an easy read: relaxing, not too challenging and doesn't weigh too much. I read most of the series (all but the newest one that's in hardcover only) recently. It's brain candy, but good (and calorie-free ) I read the first book in 1-2 days, so be prepared - you may find yourself wanting to dive into the sequels immediately.
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
Okay, reading buddies, I need some help! I will be flying to Florida next Saturday (10/7) to visit my brother and SIL for my birthday. I am about to finish both my at-work book and my at-home book. I know the next book I want to read is Twelve Sharp by Evanovich, but I have that in hardback and it's LARGE so I don't want to take that with me.
Here is a sampling of the paperbacks I already have on my "to be read" pile. Would appreciate hearing your thoughts/recommendations as to which book should be the winner of the "Fly to Florida with Sheri" sweepstakes.
Contestants, please take the runway....
"YaYas in Bloom" by Rebecca Wells
"The Innocent" by Harlen Coben
"A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
"Into the Wild" by John Krakauer
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon
"The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith
"The Rule of Four" by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
"Trace" by Patricia Cornwell
Thanks in advance for help with this decision! Sheri
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by Tayhudson: I haven't gotten it yet either Jill. I'm in the middle of a book, so I'm probably about a week away from starting "The Time Traveler's Wife".
Dawn
Oh, good. I am still reading To Kill A Mockingbird, which I've read many times but want to finish it before I start a new book. So next week is good, I'll let you know when I get it. Jill
Summer Challenge Goals: 1) Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week 2) Plan weekly menus
Originally posted by fbroadie: If you like Hiaasen I think you would like Christopher Moore.
Yes, I agree. They both have a wacky imagination and a highly developed sense of irreverence. I am sure that some folks find Lamb highly offensive because it depicts Jesus (as a boy) participating in some rather unsavory behavior. I found it not only funny but quite charming.
I mentioned this before when I posted about Lamb back when I was reading it, but a close friend of mine who is VERY well read on religion says that a lot of Christopher Moore's theories about how Jesus spent his life before becoming...well, Jesus...in Lamb aren't so far off base.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7298 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Lamb is by Christopher Moore. It's on my list of things to read. Right now I am reading another book by Moore called The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove. Very amusing. If you like Hiaasen I think you would like Christopher Moore.
I can get the The Time Traveler's Wife and read it with you .
I keep hearing about it.
I'm sorry you guys don't care for book #11. I admit the central plot isn't all that great but I have really enjoyed all the extra shinanigans going on.
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 4044 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
) I read the first book in 1-2 days, so be prepared - you may find yourself wanting to dive into the sequels immediately.
