Does anybody read books here?

I'm a voracious reader (but a lousy speller!) and I love, love, love books. I have to keep myself in check though, because I would easily give up too much in my life to just read. It's crazy. My H gives me a hard time about it and my family used to call me 'brick wall' whenever I had a book in my hands. It's not uncommon for me to stay up all night reading when I'm into a good book! It's also not good for my riding habit. I missed out on too many beautiful evening rides because I was head first into the last Harry Potter. :o

My favorite are historical novels and adventure stores, but there isn't much I won't read. Luckily, I read quickly. ;) I loved 'Into Thin Air'...I think it's one of my all time favorites. Currently I'm reading a series of Philippa Gregory books (historical romance...but not trashy) and a few on solar power (I'm an EE by trade).

I also tend to like LONG books. I hate it when I'm enjoying a story and it's over too quickly. I think that's why I've enjoyed each Harry Potter more than the previous ones...they keep getting longer! Oh, and I read and loved Sarum which is a super long historical novel set in England (Salisbury area). I loved that it lasted half a summer for me!

wow, you read Sarum! I don't know anyone else besides myself that has read that book.

I did. Probably only because one of our family names is Canterbury.

Wow, you guys both read it too? I've also never met anyone else who has...

I think I picked it up originally just because it was so long. :p

Do I get any points for reading Sarum after I finished London? :rolleyes:

Ain't the web grand? The world isn't quite as different and diverse, perhaps, as we think sometimes.

As a kid I devoured Michener novels, too. I like good historicals. Heck, I read through Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy (and the pre-quel Antartica). Not exactly "historical" but along the same line.

I read many of the Michener novels also. Now, I'm under a limit as to the weight of my books. Bubba doesn't like getting whacked in the face with them when I fall asleep. :p

I'm a fan of both Rutherford and Michner.
Also like John Krakauer(intio Thin air)

me too SadieKate, i don't like reading books that are so heavy they could hurt me if they fell on my nose.

as a result i've only read 2 Harry Potters.
owell, I have been reading a lot of italian novels, they last me longer than any Harry Potter book...

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Originally Posted by Thorn

Do I get any points for reading Sarum after I finished London? :rolleyes:

Ain't the web grand? The world isn't quite as different and diverse, perhaps, as we think sometimes.

As a kid I devoured Michener novels, too. I like good historicals. Heck, I read through Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy (and the pre-quel Antartica). Not exactly "historical" but along the same line.

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I LOVE KSR, I think he's a real visionary. If you get a change try to find the Three Californias tryptich... Pacific Edge, The Wild Shore and the Gold coast... looks like it's being reprinted in an omnibus.

The new one (40 day of rain etc) is cool but a little all over the place. Again, he's such a visionary I forgive the lack of focus.

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Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

Has anyone read anything by Henning Mankell?

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I have read everything my Henning Mankell that is translated into English. I love the Kurt Wallander series and also return of the Dancing Master. If you like Mankell you should check out Maj Sjowall and Per Waloo's Martin Beck Series. There's an amazing one called the Fire Engine that Disappeared.
I also like Ian Rankin, but again have read them all. Any other quality mystery writers you can suggest?

For serious books I have recently read American Prometheus (about Robert Oppenheimer) Brilliant description of Mccarthyism leading to the cold war. I have been reading the Guns of August on and off for a moth or so too. Would love suggestions of good biographies - loved the Robert Moses book by Caro - lots of Doris Kearns-Goodwin. Would love more suggestions of biographies and history.

I'd like to read this one about George Washington and you might like The Devil In The White City about the 1893 Chicago's World Fair.

Thanks. I loved the Devil in the White City! I will look for the George Washington Book.

Another one in this vein that is great is The Island at the Center of the World - you couldn't make up a character as wild as Peter Stuyvesant.

Hey, Sherman Alexie just won a National Book Award for the book I just finished reading last week: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

I love that. It was a great book.

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Originally Posted by salsabike

Into Thin Air is an absolutely fascinating, very well written book. The author used to be one of my doc's climbing partners. After the 96 climbing season that the book is about, she said he became pretty reclusive; it was hugely traumatic for him. Great book, though.

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Great book - amazing journalism - his other books are good as well. I would also add The Heart of the Sea - about the true story that Moby **** is based on -- great sailing story.

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Originally Posted by Bklynmom

Thanks. I loved the Devil in the White City!

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I found the beginning somewhat tedious but was really surprised at the end to find out everyones ultimate place in history.

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Originally Posted by Irulan

I LOVE KSR, I think he's a real visionary. If you get a change try to find the Three Californias tryptich... Pacific Edge, The Wild Shore and the Gold coast... looks like it's being reprinted in an omnibus.

The new one (40 day of rain etc) is cool but a little all over the place. Again, he's such a visionary I forgive the lack of focus.

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Agreed....on all counts. I am still haunted by one of the California books--the post apocolyptic book where the outside world prevents technology from redeveloping. Bad plot summary on my part, but some days I fear that isn't so far fetched.

I didn't mind the 40 Days series. A little disconnected, particularly the last book, but it is an important viewpoint. Besides, after the Years of Rice and Salt I was pleased (I'm one of the few who did *not* like YoRaS)

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

wow, you read Sarum! I don't know anyone else besides myself that has read that book.

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I've read Sarum too... For those who like historical fiction, I'm currently reading one also based in England called World Without End. It's by Ken Follett and is a sequel to his book Pillars of the Earth. Both are very good.

I read constantly, but I think I am the only person (and English teacher) who has not read Harry Potter. I really dislike fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery; all those strange names confuse me and there just doesn't seem to be the same type of plots that I like in other genres. I like historical fiction and just plain regular realistic fiction books about real people. I have also read quite a few of the biographies like John Adams and I really liked the Bill Clinton bio. I also read a lot of non fiction on politics, ec.
And as far as those series of Unfortunate Events... after awhile my former students realized that they were a "formula" type of book and they always ended the same way. The same thing happened a few years ago with the RL Stine and Goosebumps books, which were even worse in terms of writing quality. The kids could never understand why i don't like fantasy, but some of the YA science fiction I have read is OK.

I'm in a Fannie Flagg mode these days. I'm reading Can't Wait to Get to Heaven right now and it's just lovely.

I tend to read more non-fiction.

Harvest for Hope by Jane Goodall
Legacy of Luna by Julia Butterfly Hill
Moral Politics by George Lakoff
Cookwise by Shirley Corriher (food)
On food and cooking by Harold McGee (food)
The Ceramic Spectrum Robin Hopper (pottery)
and so on.

Smilingcat

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Originally Posted by skibum

I've read Sarum too... For those who like historical fiction, I'm currently reading one also based in England called World Without End. It's by Ken Follett and is a sequel to his book Pillars of the Earth. Both are very good.

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Ooh, I'm going to have to get a copy of both of those! I believe that I've read Ken Follett before, but I can't remember the titles (it wasn't either of those). Thanks!

+1 for Fannie Flagg.

Queen, have you read Welcome to the World, Baby Girl - that's one of my favorites.

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Originally Posted by jobob

+1 for Fannie Flagg.

Queen, have you read Welcome to the World, Baby Girl - that's one of my favorites.

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I have read it and it was wonderful! It's on my re-read list. :D

I love how she is able to distill things down to simplicity..."kindness and forgiveness is always right, hate and revenge is always wrong".

We don't have TV so at night I read. Hmm I won't tell how many books we have to cart back to Aust but its a little scary.:eek:

Im currently reading Bones of the Master (a journey to secret Mongolia) by George Crane. Fascinating!!

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Hmm I won't tell how many books we have to cart back to Aust but its a little scary.:eek:

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Bet I can at least match you box for box. :p

And I haven't even started on mini-storage.:eek:

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Bet I can at least match you box for box. :p

And I haven't even started on mini-storage.:eek:

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LOL - mate I don't want to even think about all the books we have in storage back in Aust. Yikes I need a house with a huge library just to house them all. Shame I don't have the money for that sort of house.:eek:

I knew you were a kindred spirit! :)

My realtor here in Oregon keeps making comments that the upper floor will cave in under the books.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

I knew you were a kindred spirit! :)

My realtor here in Oregon keeps making comments that the upper floor will cave in under the books.

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Oh well at least you can balance the load by keeping all that wine downstairs.:D :D

Ummm :eek: Trekhawk..you'd have to live in an upper crusty type suburb with all those books! :eek:

I'm sure you'll find a nice home for all those books! Wanna share some?

C

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Okay, okay, old thread but I just read Book 1. I agree with V. What the ??? I don't get the popularity.

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I heard an radio interview with the author - had me in stitches. I don't like the books myself though.

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Ummm :eek: Trekhawk..you'd have to live in an upper crusty type suburb with all those books! :eek:

I'm sure you'll find a nice home for all those books! Wanna share some?

C

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LOL - no upper crusty suburb for us I have seen the realestate prices in Perth. Actually you dont even need to live in a upper class area for the prices to be ridiculous. :(

Tell me about it!!!! :eek:

I'm sure a nice affordable(:) ) house is awaiting the trekhawk family somewhere!

C

I just read the MOST interesting book---A Corpse in the Koryo--a mystery set in North Korea, written by a Western intelligence officer with many years of experience in Asia and Korea. It must be one of the very few English language novels written about North Korea by someone with rich knowledge about it. It sounds very much the way that non-fiction sources have described the country.

I picked up "YOU - Staying Young." I generally don't read those, but it looked entertaining. It is - and there is some good information too. It's not just "stress kills" but tells why in entertaining terms and gives solutions. Good holiday gift, I'd think.

I've always been a bit of a book worm.

In my room, I have stash of books I've collected from charity shops.

They range from Stephen King (have a dog-eared copy of "It"), H E Bates (The Darling Buds of May series), Bill Bryson, Pride & Prejudice, Lord of the Rings, Derek Tangye, Schlinder's List (it's heavy reading but very moving) and a few non-fiction.

There's a book I found about Jack Lovelock. He was a kiwi, who won a running gold medal in the 1936 olympic games & his rise to success is an interesting story.

My guilty pleasure is my near complete series of Anne of Green gable books.
When I was a teanager, I discovered "Anne of the Island" and the dark, tall & handsome "Gilbert Blythe" - if only guys like that actually did exist :rolleyes:

Happy reading

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

My favorite are historical novels and adventure stores,

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If you like historical novels and adventures, check out books by Bernard Cornwell. He writes some fantastic stuff, and they are several book sequels so your story won't finish too quick. I'm currently reading the Warlord chronicles, a three book sequel based around Arthurian legends. Another fantastic series was the three books from the time the Saxons were fighting the Danes for control of England. And he wrote a great book called Stonehenge, a novel about the building of Stonehenge. All his books are very well researched too and he includes a chapter at the end detailing the research he has done. BF is a big fan too and next on our reading list is his series based around the American civil war.

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Originally Posted by enzed

My guilty pleasure is my near complete series of Anne of Green gable books.
When I was a teenager, I discovered "Anne of the Island" and the dark, tall & handsome "Gilbert Blythe" - if only guys like that actually did exist :rolleyes:

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We must be kindred spirits, as Anne would say. I spent several years collecting the series from used book stores and reread them fairly regularly. I had read only Anne of Green Gables as a teenager, not realizing there was a series until I was an adult. I also have the Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery. So much of Anne was really Maud Montgomery. Interesting reading if you're an Anne fan.

My favorite authors:
Fannie Flagg - Fried Green Tomatoes(my all time favorite movie) - have this book, haven't read it yet, any suggestions for her other novels?
Patricia Cornwell
Robin Cook
James Paterson
Michael Crichton

I am currently reading "The Borrowers" and last week I read a "James and the Giant Peach"... Wish I had time to read for myself... :)

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

I am currently reading "The Borrowers" and last week I read a "James and the Giant Peach"... Wish I had time to read for myself... :)

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Borrowers was one of my favourite bks. when growin up.

Right now I'm reading the 100-mile diet. http://100milediet.org/book/
It's about a couple who for environmental sustainability try eat food grown within 100 mile radius. I'm not sure I could do this....I like rice much more than potatoes as my staple. Guess I would have to grow curry leaves or somthin'. But at least there's seafood nearby...a meat type that I would pine for eventually.

I recommend this book alot. It makes you think not just about the farmers, but about diversity or lack of diversity of whole foods in one's diet.

Yea, bookworm alright. I must have sold off or given away at least 150 books when I moved from Ontario to British Columbia a few years ago. Prior to weeding, I must have had over 350 books. Realize that I worked in a bookstore for a few months....and also, in most librarians (I am one by formal training & most my career so far), there's a hidden book-lover, even if we appear very web-computer oriented in past few decades.

Having a smaller home, has tamed my book-buying habit...abit. :D ;)