Speaking of books

Catrin's "computer woes" thread reminded me that we haven't had a what-are-you-reading thread in a while. I'll start.

I have several books that I'm working on that the moment:

Alice Munro's Moons of Jupiter. This is one of her old short story collections. I love Alice Munro; she may be my favorite living writer. If you like short stories, I highly recommend her. Plus, she's quite prolific, so you won't run out of material any time soon.

David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris. I follow David's food blog, but thus far, I'm a little disappointed in the book as he seems more inclined to complain about Paris than to sing its praises. I want to hear about Paris's magic; not its problems.

Kate Atkinson's Started Early, Took my Dog. I haven't fully gotten into this one just yet. I'm a big fan of her previous books though. This is the fourth in a series involved private investigator Jackson Brody. To say they're "mysteries" is somewhat limiting as a description. They're more involved as character studies than the genre typically suggests. She's quite clever. I've heard this isn't the best in the series, but even at her worst, Atkinson is a very engaging writer.

I agree so much! I've just finished "Started Early, Took My Dog" and won't say anything more for fear of affecting your reading pleasure. I rate her enormously as a writer, despite the fact that I generally forget her novel's plot-lines within a few weeks of finishing one of her books.

Today I bought Sarah Waters "The Little Stranger" and am looking forward to starting it this weekend.

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Originally Posted by hebe

I agree so much! I've just finished "Started Early, Took My Dog" and won't say anything more for fear of affecting your reading pleasure. I rate her enormously as a writer, despite the fact that I generally forget her novel's plot-lines within a few weeks of finishing one of her books.

Today I bought Sarah Waters "The Little Stranger" and am looking forward to starting it this weekend.

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I forget the plots a bit, too--which means I should just reread them I suppose. So far, my favorite of the series has been Case Histories. I couldn't put that one down. I also really enjoyed her Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I have reread that one multiple times and given it as a gift to several friends. It's one of my favorite books.

Here is what I am reading at the moment...


"Climb to Conquer: The Untold Story of WWII's 10th Mountain Ski Division"

I am about 1/4 through reading Laura Hildenbrand's Unbroken on my Kindle - fascinating story!

In the car I am listening to, and about halfway through, Ken Follet's World Without End - the sequel to his equally lengthy Pillars of the Earth. This audio book is on 36 CDs! I think it's a new record for long books for me. Very interesting story, but I think I liked Pillars better.

In the last couple of months I have read Franzen's Freedom, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Bill Bryson's At Home but did not enjoy them so much as I had expected to.

I really liked The Girl Who Played with Fire, My Nine Lives (Leon Fleischer autobiography) and The Thousand Autums of Jacob de Zoet

Some short stories by DH Lawrence; current one is The Virgin And The Gypsy.

Am so trying to improve the way I swim breast stroke, watched numerous YouTube clips, trying to perfect it.

Came across this book "Master the Art of Swimming" ......Raising your performance with the Alexander Technique. The book is by Steven Shaw.

So far so good, think it is going to be something like yoga in water, it's not about speed or how many lengths you do. (The authors opinion not mine) :p

I enjoy mysteries - not the modern American crime novel - but old fashioned mysteries. Period mysteries are even better :) Am reading my first novel by Peter Tremayne, Valley of the Shadow. The "sleuth" is an Irish nun who is also a dalaigh which is an interesting combination. Right now I don't have much time for casual reading so am really enjoying it! I am going to have to consider what to take for reading on the flight, my Sony Reader for sure, but may take something else. Time will tell :)

I read and write all day at work, and haven't read a book in years. I listened to the Harry Potter series, and that's it for at least 10 years.
I asked for a Nook for my birthday, as I thought it might help me get back into reading - it has!
The first books I got for it were 'The Girl....' series by Stieg Larson. Wonderful series.
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Ta.../dp/0307269752
My SO borrowed my Nook over 2 weeks ago, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever see it again. But, I have seen emails from B&N indicating I've bought new books for it :rolleyes:

When I do get it back, I'm going to revisit this thread and get some more books.

Just read ....The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ... intense, exciting and very sad. A must read if you're interested in American history and science.

I'm reading the book version of Ken Follet's World Without End. His writing isn't the best, but the Pillars of the Earth series just sucks you in. Takes a bit to get in, but I just can't put it down right now.

I have so many books on my shelf that are waiting to be read - too many books, not enough time!! :p

My book club is going to likely choose Infidel Ayaan Hirsi Ali for next month.

I'm reading "Around the World on a Bicycle" by Thomas Stevens on my Kindle. I think he was probably the first person to go around the world on a bike. His cultural attitudes are annoying, and he's not the best writer, but he had the grit to get it done.

A lot of his trip was on foot, pushing the penny-farthing when the road conditions were too bad to ride. This gives me permission to get off and push every now and again.

He also spent some time dangling over railroad bridge trestles while the train was chugging along on the same bridge. Yeah, it is an adventure story.

I regressed back to childhood last night and read one of the Redwall books (one of the ones that came out while I was in high school) cover-to-cover. And I enjoyed it immensely. I still have two more to read!

I'm also reading a Terry Pratchett book (Making Money)

I bought Steve Matchett's "The Mechanic's Tale -- Life in the Pit Lanes of Formula One" to give to my father for father's day. I'm thinking of reading it first.

Also when I was in an about-to-close Border's recently I found a book that has info about every player in Mets history, ordered by their numbers. I need to read it before I start passing it around to my brother, sister, nephews, etc.

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Originally Posted by Owlie

I regressed back to childhood last night and read one of the Redwall books (one of the ones that came out while I was in high school) cover-to-cover. And I enjoyed it immensely. I still have two more to read!

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I've read a couple of recent Newberry Award winners lately. While certainly not challenging reading as a general rule, they are enjoyable.

I'm re-reading "The Golden Ratio; the story of Phi, the world's most astonishing number" by Mario Livio.

Seeing threads about math phobia and giggling over math references in Phd Comics ( www.phdcomics.com ) and XKCD ( www.xkcd.com ) made me hungry for "ooh, ahhh" math again.

Also going over my notes from the course I took last weekend ("The Female Athlete") so I don't forget everything.

ETA: for book ideas and reviews and other very cool stuff, check out "Unshelved" (library comic) www.unshelved.com

"Died in the Wool" by Ngaio Marsh from my collection of classic mystery books.
"Three to Get Deadly" by Janet Eveanovich is my lunch break at work book.
And I just now this minute downloaded "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak on to my e-reader. I have been on the waiting list at my library for this book.

I just read "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand", by Helen Simonson. It's a wonderful, gentle British comedy of manors about a retired major and a Pakistani woman.

The one before that was Nick Harkaway's "The Gone Away World". I LOVED it. How many books can put together the Apocalpse, ninjas, mimes and have a love story? The best way to describe it is Catch-22 meets Kurt Vonegut. It's very bizarre, but well written, and it has an ending that you don't expect, but it fits perfectly with the rest of the book.

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

I just read "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand", by Helen Simonson. It's a wonderful, gentle British comedy of manors about a retired major and a Pakistani woman..

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I really enjoyed Major Pettigrew...

Alone on my Kindle App on iPad

Don't have time to check to see if these have already been suggested, but:
Cutting for Stone, probably one of the best books I've read.
The Art of Racing in the Rain. Everyone I know who has read this has loved it.

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

I just read "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand", by Helen Simonson. It's a wonderful, gentle British comedy of manors about a retired major and a Pakistani woman.

The one before that was Nick Harkaway's "The Gone Away World". I LOVED it. How many books can put together the Apocalpse, ninjas, mimes and have a love story? The best way to describe it is Catch-22 meets Kurt Vonegut. It's very bizarre, but well written, and it has an ending that you don't expect, but it fits perfectly with the rest of the book.

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Thanks for the suggestions. I just ordered both--the former for me and the latter for DH for his birthday. I also ordered a relatively new book by Dave Eggers about Hurricane Katrina. Now, I have no business buying more books right now; I have an addiction.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Thanks for the suggestions. I just ordered both--the former for me and the latter for DH for his birthday. I also ordered a relatively new book by Dave Eggers about Hurricane Katrina. Now, I have no business buying more books right now; I have an addiction.

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At least books are less expensive than bikes or computers :)

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Originally Posted by Catrin

At least books are less expensive than bikes or computers :)

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But you forget that I also own six bikes--one of which cost more than the other five combined.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

But you forget that I also own six bikes--one of which cost more than the other five combined.

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Hmmmm, we seem to have the same addictions :o I don't have 6 bikes, but I was a little shocked when I figured out about what I have invested in the 3 bikes plus all of my gear as I consider how much I need to raise my renters insurance...

reading (rather studying out of) two e-books. "Land of Lisp" and "Learn You A Haskell for Great Good".

Lisp and Haskell are programming languages.

Common Lisp wasn't created when I was using Lisp for work. The new updated Lisp is much nicer and I thought I would brush up on Lisp.

Haskell is an exacting language based on mathematical formalism thus you will not find side-effects (bugs) in your code.

yes my name is ***** and I'm a geek without any hope...

Oh I'm still reading "Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith (original manuscript was back in 1776). A true classic.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

Oh I'm still reading "Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith (original manuscript was back in 1776). A true classic.

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I'm reading that right now, too!!!

According to my iPod (via "Free Books" app) I'm on page 500-something of 4,000-something.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

At least books are less expensive than bikes or computers :)

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And they don't spoil or go out of style!

Finding Jack by Gareth Crocker has become my new favorite.

One lazy Sunday morning in bed, I read it then handed it to my husband and he read it.

Beautiful.