Read any good books lately?

[KathiCville]

I recently finished The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country by journalist Howard Fineman. Fineman believes that our never-ending, passionate national 'arguments' about such issues as immigration, religion, free press, and the like are what make the U.S. strong. Says Fineman in his intro: "We are the Arguing County, born in, and born to, debate. The habit of doing so---the urgent, almost neurotic need to do so---makes us unique and gives us our freedom, creativity, and strength." A good read, and good reminder that dissent is both healthy and patriotic.

I'm now reading Rick Steves' Travel as a Political Act. Steves is the host of the PBS series "Europe Through the Back Door." A well-written reminder that stepping outside of one's own borders, comfort zone, and assumptions can be deeply rewarding.

[tulip]

Light Beach Reading this summer: Birth of Venus and In the Company of the Courtesan. Italy, art, romance (kinda), history.

[surgtech1956]

I just finished James Patterson 8th Confession(Women's Murder Club) series. I just started the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series 3 For the Dough, these should keep me busy for awhile since there's 14 or 15 in the series.

[Jolt]

I recently read Born to Run: a hidden tribe, superathletes and the greatest race the world has never seen by Chris McDougall--highly recommended for all runners! I also read The Jungle Effect by Daphne Miller. It's all about indigenous diets (from several different parts of the world, including the Copper Canyons in Mexico which is where a lot of Born to Run is about) and how to incorporate them into our lifestyle to be healthier.

[mtbdarby]

I spend a lot of time in the car transporting my son to his dad so I like to listen to lighter topiced books. I started listening to books on tape and I'm addicted! My current favorite series is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The best reader is Lorelei King - I just love the voices she does! Stephanie is an inept bounty hunter and Lula is her sidekick. There isn't a book that doesn't have a part where I laugh out loud! And the characters in this book would make great dog names: Lula, Ranger, Morelli etc.

[fastdogs]

I've been reading like crazy since I got my kindle.
I downloaded the free preview to Born To Run, and it sounds good, but haven't ordered the whole book yet because I've got so many to read still.
I recently finished Water for Elephants, a great free book called Paranoia, Son of a Dog (about an adopted greyhound), Surviving an American Gulag, and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Lisa See)
I've heard nothing but good reviews about Born to Run, so will probably eventually end up downloading that. I'm reading about a book a week now.
vickie

[redrhodie]

I recently read "Diary of an Exercise Addict" by Peach Friedman. It's the documentation of her slide into exercise bulimia. She tells how exercise became her crutch for coping with life. She tells of binge eating and purging with workouts that became increasingly long and painful, until she was a shell of her old self.

Exercise bulimia is really hard disorder to deal with, and probably easy to develop because we are all taught that we should be exercising more. Eventually, more can be too much, and before you know it, you have an eating disorder.

I think this is important reading for any athletic person. The line between fit and this disease is fine, and you may not know you are suffering from this until you've already done great damage to your body and your life.

[arielmoon]

I just read The Hunger Games. Excellent!

[shootingstar]

The Craftsman. By Richard Sennett. Bk. is a philosophical examination of craftsmanship, history and social impact on craftsmanship due to industrialization (=mass production), globalization (outsourcing) and free enterprise. For instance, he talks about the true craftsperson who just like to perfect their work for perfection sake. But forget the end result. He uses the example the creation of the atomic bomb as an example where bomb creator didn't think of destructive consequences thoroughly. References to skill of patient diagnosis by doctors and nurses if there is time and no push to be cost-efficient, vs. the revolving door of patient care treatment efficiencies. So lots of different ways of examing "craftsmanship" and what we now value/don't value as much.

That's my earlier post ..how did you own it? Hands off, please.

[solobiker]

I just finished James Patterson 8th Confession(Women's Murder Club) series. I just started the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series 3 For the Dough, these should keep me busy for awhile since there's 14 or 15 in the series.

I read her books. They are fun and fast to read.

I have been trying to find some new books to read, I have gotten some good ideas here...Thanks! I wish there was more time in the day to read. The latest book I read was In Harm's Way. It was about the sinking of the USS INDIANAPOLIS, by Doug Stanton. Normally I am not a history fan but it looked interesting. It was a pretty good book.

[TxDoc]

Yes, just finished 'the light within' by Lois Ramondetta. Great book!

[leathela]

I just finished a novel called "The Sorrows of an American," by Suri Hustvedt. I highly recommend it; very thought-provoking and intimate.

While this is technically a young adult novel, I also recommend the book "Wintergirls," by Laurie Halse Andersoon. The book chronicles a young woman's struggle with anorexia. It's a very quick read and very realistic--which is to say, very dark at points. Still, there are undercurrents of hope throughout the book.

I'm rereading "Lolita" right now, which I always love. I think Nabokov's prose style is just unparalleled. Even though the subject matter is deplorable (obviously!), the book is just so engaging and so perfectly rendered.

I also read a lot of memoirs (I'm working on one, and always like to see what's out there), and one of my absolute favorites is "This Boy's Life" by Tobias Wolff. It kills me a little, it's such a good book. I also love "The Liar's Club" and "Cherry," both by Mary Karr.

[Mistie]

The Book Thief...excellent perspective
These Granite Islands author ????
The Time Traveller's Wife (I've read this a bunch of times since I got in 2004and it is out on Friday as a movie...hope they stick to the story)...Niffenger, may be misspelled.

[tribogota]

a big super big plus one on jolt's reply about
born to run

[tyrocks00]

In preparation of the movie coming out, I reread The Lovely Bones (I read it when I was an early teen) and it was great. Kinda depressing but very beautifully written and just heartbreaking!