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: 7356 | 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: 7356 | 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: 7356 | 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: 7356 | 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: 7356 | 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: 4087 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
Originally posted by johnbol: I've started reading Lamb by Brian Moore. I'm about 50 pages into it and wonder about the fantastically warped brain of the author. What a hoot!
I just finished reading See No Evil by Robert Baer, a 21-year CIA agent who got discouraged by the disintegration of government intelligence. I read it in anticipation of a couple of fiction books he wrote - this one was his memoir.
That's so interesting, Linda...I have read books by those same titles but by different authors! What's your Lamb about? Mine was about the fictional boyhood of Jesus and his best friend Biff. Definitely a hoot. The See No Evil that I read was years ago and I am pretty sure it was Jonathan Kellerman. No longer remember the storyline on that one.
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: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I finished "Basket Case" but Carl Hiaasen last week. I really enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more of his books.
I am reading "L is for Lawless". I'm giving Sue Grafton another chance. If I don't like this one, I won't read anymore. My friend that loaned me the book said it is much better than "J". So far that seems to be the case. Still not "can't put this book down, MUST keep reading" exciting, but it is much more interesting.
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4334 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
Rest assured Twelve is much, much better than Eleven.
I've started reading Lamb by Brian Moore. I'm about 50 pages into it and wonder about the fantastically warped brain of the author. What a hoot!
I just finished reading See No Evil by Robert Baer, a 21-year CIA agent who got discouraged by the disintegration of government intelligence. I read it in anticipation of a couple of fiction books he wrote - this one was his memoir.
I have seen several of my favorite books optioned for the screen but then they never come through. I believe I read that Time Traveler's Wife had been optioned for film. Now THAT would be a movie!
Sheri, If you Google The Time Travelers Wife there is a link that shows the movie in production and a release in 2008. I have not read the book but really want to, I've heard great things. Jill
Jill, I'm getting ready to start the book for a book club at work. If you want to read it now, we can discuss it to as we read.
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4334 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
Grace: So glad you enjoyed Time Traveler's Wife. I think it was a superb book, and so unique!
Thanks for bumping up this thread because I've been meaning to post an update on my reading:
Finished Deaver's The Vanished Man...definitely not on of my favorites of his...but still entertaining.
Started Evanovich's #11 Plum book. So far, it's not thrilling me, but I'm just wanting to get through it so I can get to #12, which I'm told is much better.
Now in the final third of Sandford's Hidden Prey. Quite good with lots of mysteries and spy stuff pretzled together.
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: 7356 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
) I read the first book in 1-2 days, so be prepared - you may find yourself wanting to dive into the sequels immediately.
