Alternachicks - Beach blanket books!

Summertime and the livin' is easy......:cloud9:

So what is everyone reading while lounging on the deck, tanning on the beach or lazing in their backyard hammock?

I've just started The Onion Field, by Joseph Wambaugh.
And I've also just started Cider House Rules, by John Irving.
:)

I loved the movie Cider House Rules, I'm sure the book is even better. I am reading "Wolfskin" but Julier Marillier and am about to start on the sequel.

I finished The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde on the plane to Europe. It's his third book in a series that is so very funny. It's definatley a series for biliophiles. It makes incredible references to all the classics, has characters such as Miss Havisham. It's a real delight to read and very non-deep :) Good beach reading material

Anna Karenina is what I'm currently working on. I wanted a book that I couldn't finish in a weekend. :) It's an easy read and I like it so far.

Oh, Anna Karenina is a good book, Jessica! :yes: Yes, it's nice easy read. :lol:

Ooooh! Nice topic! I’ve been lurking here at Alternachicks for a while – and this is a nice opportunity for me to delurk and say hi!

I’m a student and read mostly non-fiction throughout the year – except for in the summer when I read for pleasure. This summer I’m rereading three of my favourite sci-fi dystopias: Huxley’s Brave New World, Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four, and Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale.

I love those sci-fi dystopia books. Orwell is super. Something similar is Alas Babylon by Pat Frank. Right now, I'm reading Hawaii by Michener. The first chapter is borrrrrrrrrrring. The second one is okay, and now I'm struggling with the third. Sadly, I have an English Lit degree, so this should be cake (why do I always use food metaphors?), but I think Dickens was more interesting than this. Anyway, also read Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes recently. Very bubble gum (not challenging). Ecstatic to see there are women who love to read on this site.

**** is other people.
SW186/CW170/GW145

Hi, Mette! Welcome! :wave:

Amber, have you read The Source, by Michener? It's my favourite. (apart from the much dated, romantic story-line going on throughout the book :rolleyes: )
Dickens should have been drowned at birth.

Ellis, why don't you tell us what you really think about Dickens? :lol:

I LOVE the Handmaid's Tale, and think that Brave New World is much better than 1984, but reading the two concurrently gives you such great ideas and insights.

I'm currently reading The Secret Life of Bees, which started slow and annoying, but now is amazing and incredibly engaging! I'm also listening to The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier on CD. Reviews of it at Amazon.com say that it was a book she couldn't publish until the success of Girl with a Pearl Earring, and that it wasn't very good. I disagree...it's amazing, especially on CD, where all the French comes across correctly and so eloquently. Very worth a read, especially if you like historical fiction!

I read Michener's Hawaii on my way to Hawaii for the first time, and I loved it. His books about places always start very sloooooooowwwwwwllllllyyyyyy to me, but by the middle, I can't put them down. I love the story about the Pacific Islanders who first made it to Hawaii...so sad and so well described. Keep reading, AmberSparks...I think you'll enjoy it! I've never read the Source, though I've always meant to. My dad was so inspired by it that he made a huge series of colored pencil drawings in response. They have hung on the wall since before I was born and I have always found them fascinating. I'll have to put it on my list of things to read soon.

I just finished "July, July" by Tim O'Brien. I LOVED it. Also I am almost done with "The Things They Carried" also by O'Brien. I like it but it is a little too heavy right now.

Welcome Mette! :)

Right now, I'm reading "Carolina Moon" by Nora Roberts. I like her novels because there is always mystery combined with romance. I think the next book I'll take on is going to be "Catcher in the Rye"...surprisingly, I have never read it and now that I am on this reading frenzy, I thought I'd get around to it.

Catcher in the Rye will totally not be what you think (probably). It's a VERY fast read, too, so that's good. Ellis, I wrote down The Source so I remember to get it if I see it at the used book store. Okay, since this is now my second post and people were so kind in responding (thanks, Beachgal, I won't give up on Hawaii...and Secret Life of Bees is pretty good), I'll tell you all about my sickness (BESIDES yo-yo dieting). I'm a compulsive book buyer. I've even got a method so I can afford my habit. I buy nice books at garage sales for 25 cents, then trade them in at the used bookstore, so I end up getting books I want to read for about 50 cents each (two trade-ins equal one trade-out). When my husband and I bought a house, it had to have an extra room for my "library."

Whew. Glad I got that off my chest.

By the way, Bel Canto is VERY good, though the ending is a little abrupt. Other recommendations: The Red Tent, Queenmaker (VERY like The Red Tent, about biblical David's queen). Books that will make you mad: The Nanny Diaries, The Devil Wears Prada. Grow a spine!

**** is other people.
186/170/145

By the way, I thought you Canadian women were English at first. My husband is English and you use a lot of the same expressions. I'm in Montana, which might as well be Canada (everyone in the US seems to think it's a different country anyway).

Welcome mette and AmberSparks! :wave:

Yes, we Canadians still enjoy our ties to Great Britain and our way of speaking is more along the lines of the British, we are also big fans of tea and scones :D

I am currently reading The Dark Side of the Sun by Terry Pratchett- hilarious :rofl: and I just started Witch - A Magickal Journey by Fiona Horne, billed as " A hip guide to modern Witchcraft".

I am also reading a book on Buddhism that I bought off a guy on the corner for a $2.00 donation - I am such a sucker for books on religion and philosophy :rolleyes:

I am going to borrow Davinci's Code from a friend when I am finished with the books I am currently reading.

Ellis - I found this awesome book store in L'Esplenade Laurier - it's a discount blow out place full of brand new books starting at $3.99....I saw some hard covers there for $7.99! :cb: You should check it out!

:lol: Amber, Mauvais and I are both of British decent.
I'm a big book buyer, too! I've got thousands of books all through the house! I love the idea of a library. :)
I've got most of my classics and "good" books in the living and dining rooms. My "trashier" books (mysteries, childrens books, etc) are up in the attic where our bedrooms are. I don't want everyone to see my "other side". :lol3:

Hey, thanks, Mauvais! I'll check it out!!

Ooooh yes! When I buy my house I hope to have a room for meditation, yoga and reading- no noise- no distractions. Clean lines, simple furnishing, bookshelves, my buddhas and a big comfy chair with a side table for my pot of tea and plate of biscuits:cloud9:

Ellis, my husband is a huge Terry Pratchett fan. It really annoys him that the folks at Barnes and Noble have no idea who he's talking about, and he gets a little gratification from the looks on their faces when they find the section and see how many books there are (by an author they haven't heard of). I've only read Moving Pictures and Good Omens (which I thought was hilarious).

Mauvais, I don't do meditation or yoga (tried, but I can't seem to sit still with nothing to read for that long, plus yoga kicks my ***), but I do have a comfy papasan with foot stool. I also bought a gorgeous asian-style lamp at a garage sale for down there, but I still need a little table to put it on. I guess I forgot to mention I collect orientalia. Anyway. Hawaii is still going slow. I think I'm going to read "It's My F***ing Birthday" next because my birthday's in August.

No weight loss today. Only have a week until the reunion. Hoping for a miracle (also known as 5 more lbs. lost) between now and then.

Ta!

Thanks for the welcome! :wave:
I aspire to become a compulsive book buyer and having my own soundproof library too one day!!!
Apart from my beloved dystopias (thanks for the tip about Alas Babylon, AmberSparks!), I’m always reading comics – do comics count as beach blanket books? :p

Amber, I am also a compulsive book buyer. If the world only had expensive bookstores like Barnes & Noble then I could beat my problem, but here where I live we have a store called Half Price Books. Everything is used, they also buy books from people (sort of like a pawn shop). Unfotunately, a lot of paycheck goes to this store, everything they sell is at least half off of the original (publisher's) price. But my weakness is the back corner of the store. It is the clearance area, and they have paperbacks for $1 and hardbacks for only $2. I have stacks of books in my apartment that I have not even gotten to because I buy more than I can read at a time. I love it though, I was never a big reader until this past year when I became single and had a lot more time. It really helps me release stress to just curl up with a book. I am so glad that I don't work at that store though, I might not have any paycheck at all :)

So I just wrote a nice long reply, only to have an "error" after I hit the submit button. I hate that.

VERY cranky and hungry today. When I'm hungry, I get really irritable like I have PMS (on the shot, no PMS for me). Does this happen to everyone else?

Mette, did you mean comics like Archie, or Spiderman, or Foxtrot. I love Foxtrot anthologies.

Can't remember what else I was going to say. Hunger also seems to give me amnesia. I won't give in! I cheated last weekend and am only just now where I was last Friday. No cheating!!!!

As long as I'm already drooling, is there anyone else who has a somewhat inappropriate relationship with Cracker Barrel's apple dumpling?

:D My DH is a huge WWE fan and just loves J.R. (bought his hot sauce and BBQ sauce) and today I found J.R.'s cookbook! I bought it for only $9.99 and put it away for his birthday in October :)

I also bought him a book (only $4.99) on Bruce Lee's personal philosophies and quotes since he is a huge Bruce Lee fan too - that one is going in his Christmas parcel- yes I do think about Christmas in July :lol:

I love getting deals on books! :cb:

Comic books? Don't see why they can't count as beach blanket books! :cool:

Mette, did you mean comics like Archie, or Spiderman, or Foxtrot. I love Foxtrot anthologies.

I was thinking more of graphic novels like Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and such. In my world graphic novels definitely count as books – there are so many great stories, artwork and writers.

But I’m a big reader of funny comics too! :D
I absolutely adore Larson.

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Hollywood, Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon -- The Case Against Celebrity
by Andrew Breitbart, Mark Ebner

both are sit in the sun page turners I think!!!

Mette - I have all the Sandman graphic novels! Great stories!

I also enjoy the Preacher series too. :)

I prefer to think of them as heavily illustrated books :lol:

Heh! “heavily illustraded books”! Yes, that’s exactly what they are. :D

It looks like we like some of the same things, so maybe you would like Y: The last man by Brian Vaughan too. It’s an ongoing series (3 books are out – I don’t know how many there will be in total), and the premise is that a virus has killed off all the males, except for one. It’s a great story – about Yorick, the last man (hence the title), and presents some great views of how women would arrange the world if men disappeared. It’s this wonderful mix of personal stories, great ideas, humor and seriousness.

That sound like an interesting series - I will definitely look for it! :)

Random Family Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx, Adrian Nicole Leblanc ok this is the best book I have read this year!!!

Ugh. Still slogging through Hawaii. When does it start getting interesting? I'm at the part where the Alii Nui (female) has decided to allow Abner to teach her about God (she's just sent her first letter to Honolulu).

I managed to go the whole weekend without cheating, and no weight lost. A no-cheating weekend, a not-interesting book, and now it's Monday. This is going to be a dark cloud day, I think.

Neil Gaiman wrote Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, right? That book was hilarious. I should read that again, just for a pick me up. Anyone else really like Nick Hornby? What is it about Brit authors?

Mette, just thought of another "world came to an end" book, though not really a dystopia (only two characters): Z is for Zachariah. It's supposed to be a "young reader" book, but it's one of my favorites. Also, The Giver is a pretty good dystopia book, though also a young reader type (and the end isn't great, but still).

No cheating this weekend and I'm still the same weight. Also, still struggling through Hawaii. This is going to be a black Monday.

[QUOTE=AmberSparks]Neil Gaiman wrote Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, right? That book was hilarious.[QUOTE]

Yes, and in my opinion, Gaiman should stick to graphic novels and comic books. Oh, don't get me wrong, Good Omens is one of my favorite books but I give credit to Pratchett for that (I do love Pratchett!). However, most of Gaiman's books (excluding his children's books) are great on the premise and suck on the execution. I love his Sandman series.

Has anyone else read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series? The first book is A Game of Thrones. I LOVE these books. Addictive!!!!

AmberSparks – keep the faith! There will come days with cheating, weight loss, and interesting books too!!! :D
And thanks for the reading tips - I’ll check them out.

Neil Gaiman. I *so* love his writing. And yes, I agree with Goddess Jessica that his graphic novels are very, very good – and not necessarily all of his other books. I don’t think I even got through American Gods. But then there’s the wonderful Smoke and Mirrors – full of these wonderful short stories. Which I enjoyed very much. So maybe he should stick to graphic novels, comic books, and short stories? :p

I read some of Smoke and Mirrors too. I especially liked the one with wedding gift. Maybe Gaiman just isn't capable of long story execution on his own? Dunno.

Thanks for the support, btw. Today is just a sucky day, but it'll be over by tomorrow. And I have tennis league tonight, so that always cheers me up.

So no one is posting on the summer reading thread anymore. What are you reading now? I'm still stuck on Hawaii (I'm half way now). Yeah, I'm still reading Huxley too. It hasn't been enough nice weather so that I could sit under a tree in the park and read for hours and hours.
I read this book 10 years ago - long before I ever studied psychology. What is striking this time is that it's completely behaviorism and Watson! It's great to see actually. The first chapter lines out how they're making children in this brave new world, and the conditioning of children - to get them off books and flowers? It is pure Watson and his experiment on poor little Albert and the rat! Wonderful!

I also note that gender is not one of Huxley's concerns. The book is written in 1931 or something, and it feels old fashion to read because all the professors and students are men and the nurses are women.

That's me so far. How is everybody else's reading going?

I feel dumb because I can't get into The Catcher in the Rye. I mean it's an easy read, but I guess I'm not interested because I'm not identifying with the character. I understand that he is a teenager, and I probably should have read this years ago. Of course, I wasn't a reader in my younger days, so now I am catching up on books I should have read then. Anyway, the character jumps around with his memories and like to use the word "gd", and is a slacker with an "I don't care attitude", I really don't think I could have identified with him even when I was a teen. So, that's is where I'm at right now...still in chapter 3 so hopefully I can wade through it.

I loved Catcher in the Rye but I was an angst filled teenager when I read it. So, I'm not sure how I would feel about it today.

As far as Smoke and Mirrors, yes, it was a very decent short story book so I would allow him to write short stories and grpahic novels... ;)

Good old Holden. Long time since Catcher in the Rye, but I think Holden has almost just become a symbol of teen angst.

Started "On Writing" by Stephen King tonight and I am over half through. Its awesome. VERY VERY insightful and funny.

Recent Books:
The Dance by Ophelia Mountain Dreamer-4 stars- This is a must read for anyone struggling with the physical, mental, and spiritual connection
What Would Buddha Do?-- 3 stars

Miss Chris

Becgris, don't feel dumb. I'm with Jessica... I read it years ago and loved it, but I think some books are meant to be read at certain times in our life. There are a lot of books that are there with a message for us. We're to get some sort of revelation from them.
I've read a number of books in the last few years that I should have read years ago (when I was less mature), and although I know they're excellent books, they leave me cold. As we get older and more well-read, all we can think is, "Been there, done that."

Try looking it up on-line and reading some thoughts from other people. I think that the way you're feeling about the book, the best thing you can do is appreciate it for when it was written and for its message.
This is a good link if you're interested...
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/

Right now I'm under a lot of stress, so I'm reading a stash of very light mysteries. :D I won't bother giving you the titles, girls.

Hope everybody is still enjoying their reading.

Becgris, how are you doing with “Catcher in the rye”? Is it still boring?

Goddess Jessica, so glad we agree on giving Neil Gaiman permission to write short stories! I’m sure he’s very relieved too… ;)

Chris, I’ve heard really good things about "On Writing" by King. Do you think a non-King-reader would like it too?

ellis, very light mysteries? Sounds like perfect beachblanket books!

I’ve finished with Huxley’s Brave New World, and have just started on Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four. I’m not sure why I loved Brave New World so much when I read it ten years ago – I didn’t find it all that interesting this time around. It’s smart and clever, full of good ideas and philosophies – but I’m not so sure it’s good fiction or a good story.

I liked the discussions about free will etc at the end of the book between John the savage (he grew up outside civilization) and the Controller – one of the top leaders. But for a book that wanted to be revolutionary (written in 1931), and that wrote about abolishing family (people are grown and conditioned by the state), monogamy and passion (to keep society stable and free of change), it was very modest and conventional. Yes, they did take drugs (soma) to feel happy. But even the promiscuities were polite and almost conservative – the couples dated and slept over at each other’s apartments – sex only took place in beds. No wild sex-parties or anything like that. And no alternative sex or sexualities either.

The gender-thing bothered me the most. All the women in the book were girls and very young. They talked only about feelings and clothes. They were only nurses and operators of some sort. While the men were leaders/doctors/specialists/etc, of all ages, talked about the important stuff, etc etc. And when I first had noticed these things – it became impossible to not see it constantly and everywhere.

Ah, well. On to Orwell - hoping he’s not so dated. I have only vague memories of the book; it’s more than 15 years since I read it last.

I read Catcher in the Rye when I was in high school but still found it boring - I couldn't understand why such a fuss had been made over this book :shrug: I "got it" but didn't really find it that appealing a book personally. Then again I had grown up reading some really heavy books on religion, philosopy,and history and was really into science fiction because these were the types of books my parents had in our house. I never got into stuff like Judy Blume and other "teenage" books either. While my friends were reading that type of stuff I was reading Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse Five and Farenheit 451.

One "teen" series I did enjoy was The Outsiders, That Was Then This is Now and Rumblefish by S.E. Hinton. I think I read those when I was in grade 7.

I enjoyed Brave New World and 1984 both of which I read in high school English Lit class. I think my favorites in school were Shakespeare (yeah, you read that right - :lol: ) and A Tale of Two Cities.

A few years ago I read Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell which wasn't bad but a bit of a slow read.

I just bought Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman from the discount bookstore up the street. Awesome deal - It retailed at $21.95 CD and I got it for $7.99 CD. :dancer: I also bought a book on aromatherapy for $4.99.

Mette, that's so bizarre about Brave New World. I felt the same way the second time around. Ditto with 1984. Are you enjoying it? We read it and Animal Farm in high school, and I remember thinking at the time that Animal Farm was "deeper".

What discount store, Mauvais!? :D

I'm reading The Joy Luck Club for the first time. I haven't seen the movie, either. So far, it's great!

The one in L' Esplenade Laurier. It is just shelves and tables full of books - lots of fiction ones there too! I spent an hour there on Friday after work and I didn't even get to go through everything - I will have to go back next week - I want to pick up a biography on Winston Churchill that I saw there. :D

mauvaisroux, you really have impressive reading habits! Hope you enjoy Neverwhere.

ellis, really? that's so cool! And I’m glad to hear it’s not just me! ;) I haven’t gotten very far on 1984 yet, so the jury is still out on that one.
I think I want to read Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies again too. I can remember they made quite an impression on me when I read them, but my memory might need an update!
And The Joy Luck Club – I remember I loved that. Happy reading!

While my friends were reading that type of stuff I was reading Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse Five and Farenheit 451.


I am going to start Breakfast of Champions tonight. I bought it a few months ago, but I am finally going to start it. Hopefully it will catch my interest. I have been having a hard time reading lately. I have read all of my "light & fluffy" books, but I am not quite back into reading the epics I have yet.

Well, I'm still going with Catcher in the Rye. It's going a little faster now that I've gotten used to it, but it's still not one of those books that I can't put down. A few months ago, I was reading one and just couldn't let go...I read the whole thing in one day. My eyes were really hurting the following day.

The Joy Luck Club was really good, and the movie was very well done too.

I read Lord of the Flies in high school too- I was in Advanced English so we had a huge reading list of "the classics" and Shakespearean plays which we got to act out in class- maybe that is why I enjoyed them so much. My favorites were MacBeth and Othello.

I saw a couple of Salman Rushdie's books at the same store which I will have to go back and pick up :) Anyone read any of his works or have any thoughts on his writing?

I haven’t read that many, but my favorite Rushdie book is The Moor's Last Sigh – which I really liked. It’s this epic and wonderful story of the Moor and his history. And of India – and the people, religions, and culture. Great book, beautifully written.

Thanks Mette! :)

I haven't read any of Salman Rushdie's books yet...

I just whipped through Ordinary People, by Judith Guest. I'd seen the movie, and the book was excellent, too. I'd love to have a therapist like Berger. :)

I was thinking more of graphic novels like Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and such. In my world graphic novels definitely count as books – there are so many great stories, artwork and writers.

But I’m a big reader of funny comics too! :D
I absolutely adore Larson.

Mette, graphic novels are fabulous! I picked up a graphic novel of the Hobbit and was FINALLY able to get through the darn thing and actually enjoy it! ;)

What is The Sandman about? For a really interesting (but depressing) set of graphic novels, try Maus I and Maus II.

Ugh. Still slogging through Hawaii. When does it start getting interesting? I'm at the part where the Alii Nui (female) has decided to allow Abner to teach her about God (she's just sent her first letter to Honolulu).

I managed to go the whole weekend without cheating, and no weight lost. A no-cheating weekend, a not-interesting book, and now it's Monday. This is going to be a dark cloud day, I think.

Neil Gaiman wrote Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, right? That book was hilarious. I should read that again, just for a pick me up. Anyone else really like Nick Hornby? What is it about Brit authors?

Amber, if you don't like Hawaii at this point, you're probably not going to like it. Sorry about that! I was in love with it at that point. :shrug: There are so many great books out there...time to move on and find one you love! :love:

Hi beachgal, I totally agree – the Maus books are wonderful (and depressing)!

Ah. The Sandman series. :D Wonderful books! I’m not going to be able to keep this short!
There are 10 books/novels in the series; great stories mixing mythic entities with ordinary people. The main focus is on “the Endless” – they are 7 siblings – 7 mythic and unchanging forces in everybody’s lives: death, despair, destiny, destruction, desire, delirium and dream. Gaiman – the writer - personified these forces in very real characters. The main character is Dream – or Morpheus – or Sandman. He is, as are all the Endless, known under different names in different cultures throughout history. His sisters Death and Delirium are personal favorites of mine. (heh...)

The books tell wonderful stories – throughout different times, places, with different people – at one time literally in **** with Lucifer, at another time in an all night diner with the next door neighbor. I can not recommend these books enough – I was completely obsessed with them during the 90s. The details, the humor, the wonderful artwork, the characters and the wonder! Oh yeah. I told you, I wouldn’t be able to keep this short! ;)

I've just started, I Know This Much is True, by Wally Lamb. It's good, but I hate the narrator. The brother, Domenick. I hope to heck he does some "growing" by the end of the book. :lol3:

can i jump right in here? i also love to read! this summer i started diana galabon's outlander books! i was totally hooked from the first one,the outlander and have now started the dragonfly in amber! my dad recommended them to me and i am so glad he did!!
i read i know this much is true by wally lamb a few years ago and also enjoyed it!

at the beginning of the summer i read alot of light mysteries books!

I got given the first 2 books of that series for Christmas - they are quite good :)

Beachgal i used to love the Sandman series though it has been forever and a day since i have read any. Elfquest was my all time fav graphic novels though. :)

Just read Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and actually enjoyed it. started on Douglas Adams' " Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" this morning he is always good for a laugh.

Welcome, Wendimac! Of course you can join us!!

I have to admit, I was SO disappointed with the Wally Lamb. :( Perhaps I just couldn't get past my dislike of the main character. :shrug:

I've just started reading Crackpot, by Adele Wiseman. I'm really enjoying it. I love Canadian fiction. :)

I just finished an hour ago - Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell, before that I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, before that Death du Jour by Kathy Reich...

I have to go to the library tomorrow now... I'm out of books... :(

Ilene, have you read Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston? I HIGHLY recommend it. I think it's soon going to be put out in a made-for-tv movie, which disappoints me. I want everyone to read it before seeing it. Hurston is able to sum up one woman's growth and personal empowerment in one sentence. She's awesome.

Thanks Ellis, I'll try that book...

I’m stuck on Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. And I’m bored. And I keep looking longingly at Atwood’s “The handmaid’s tale”, which is next. :lol:

Hi there. Just joined 3fc last night. Mette saw one of my comments about "Passing for Thin" by Frances Kuffel and suggested I head on over here where books reign supreme.

I know Mette was fond of the book...I thought it was a good read, but to me, Kuffel doesn't sound grounded and healthy mentally. She's so judgmental, which surprises me for someone who has gone through her struggle (losing 188 pounds).

I wanted to like her better than I did--after all, we share a fondness for some of the same things: "The Truth about Cats and Dogs"; we have both worked in publishing.

But, for example, when describing how she scans the room, contemplating whom she should approach to sponsor (at a 12-step program), she confesses that she wants a "pretty" sponsee (the italics and bold below are mine):

"Maybe I could help someone face the prettiness she's swallowed along with all the Sara Lee."
"Pretty women needed sponsors as much as drab ones."

Here's how she describes her choice: "The only woman who had what I wanted to encourage was that blonde, the Zaftig who cam in late....She was pretty sociable, spoke with a tough humor, and was miserable about her big weight. I decided to tell Pam how to lose weight." :eek:

I don't care if you've lost 188 pounds. That attitude is a real turnoff. Her methods (no sugar, no flour, measure everything--and by the way, did I mention that she DIDN'T EXERCISE!?!) wouldn't work for everyone, and it's a mistake to assume they would.

I probably need to write an article about my reaction to this. It's that strong. And I'm not alone. For other opinions, check out some of the comments on amazon.com.

I know I'm taking a chance by leaping on in with such a forceful opinion when ya'll don't even know me. But I've just decided to damn the torpedoes and go with it. No offense intended to anyone!

On the other hand, here are some of the other books I've read this summer:
"The Man Who Warned America"--about a former top FBI guy who chased Bin Laden for years and then, ironically, died in the WTC just after taking the job as head of security and operations there.
"Homesick" --by Jenny Lauren. Now HERE'S a book about food issues and health that was really something else. Extreme, yes. But I liked it a lot.
"A Circle of Quiet" by Madeline L'Engle--about artistry, writing, living a good life, philosophy, family.

It's nice to be here. Thanks, Mette, for letting me know about this part of 3fc! (To know more about me, check the "buddy" intro section or the 100lb group area.)

Cheers-
LLS

Welcome LLS! :)

Those books sound interesting. I think I will have to print a copy of this thread and take it to the library as my reading list! :lol:

LLS, I'm so glad you've decided to join us! Welcome! :wave:
We're fine with forceful opinions. ;)

Hi LLS, and welcome to the Alternachicks! Glad you found your way here!

I must say that I absolutely loved “Passing for thin”. I do agree with you that Kuffel doesn’t come across as the most sympathetic person, but I found her refreshingly honest and frank. Although I too think she's judgmental – I have to admit that's a thing I can relate to sometimes. But I'm not sure whether I would have the guts to publish it (and not serve it as fiction).
What I really loved about the book was that her writing was so beautiful – the scenes from when she was fat I found absolutely heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time. She describes and names things I know and recognize but haven’t names for. I also liked her imagery a lot – ‘leaving the planet of fat’ – ‘orbiting and landing on the planet of thin’ – and then the ‘planet of girls’. Again – I think it relates back to me – as all the books I really love do. How to get along on the planet of thin and the planet of girls – these are the things I’m trying to learn too - it’s like being the new kid all over again: not knowing the rules, not knowing the norms, not knowing what’s normal!
I liked that she didn’t write a diet book, that she really didn’t talk much of the diet and how she did it, but concentrated on feelings, thoughts, experiences. The fact that she was so honest – or that I perceived her as honest at least – and talked about both positive and negative sides. I really, really liked that.
So yes. I had strong feelings for the book too. ;)

And if you ever write that article: let me know. I would love to read it!
And like mauvaisroux and ellis said: we like forceful opinions here! :D

Tell us more about “Homesick", why did you like it so much better?

I just read "Lullaby" by Chuck Palahniuk in about 3 days. And now I am 2/3 the way through his "Invisible Monsters". I finished up "Breakfast of Champions" while I was out in CA, so I decided to nab one of the books the boy had told me so much about. I LOVED Lullaby. The boy was so impressed I finished it so quickly. :)

Ah. The Sandman series. :D Wonderful books! I’m not going to be able to keep this short!
There are 10 books/novels in the series; great stories mixing mythic entities with ordinary people. The main focus is on “the Endless” – they are 7 siblings – 7 mythic and unchanging forces in everybody’s lives: death, despair, destiny, destruction, desire, delirium and dream. Gaiman – the writer - personified these forces in very real characters. The main character is Dream – or Morpheus – or Sandman. He is, as are all the Endless, known under different names in different cultures throughout history. His sisters Death and Delirium are personal favorites of mine. (heh...)

This sounds so much like a series that I loved in college...Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony? Loved that premise.

I'll definitely have to look up the Sandman!

Right now, I'm almost through The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (who is a man...what man would ask to be nicknamed "Wilkie"?? ;) ) I requested it from the library because Sarah Water, one of my favorite authors, recommended it. It's marked as one of the first detective novels and is written from the perspective of many different characters. The beginning was very slow going, but now that I'm almost through, it is fast paced and very intriguing!

I’m stuck on Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. And I’m bored. And I keep looking longingly at Atwood’s “The handmaid’s tale”, which is next. :lol:

Holy crap, Mette, put down 1984 and run, don't walk, to the Handmaid's Tale. It is AWESOME!!! :D I've read it three times and it just gets better and better! I liked 1984, but I LOVED Handmaid! :hyper:

I have been reading a two book series by Stephen Donaldson called Mordants Need. The first book "The mirror of her dreams" was just interesting enough to keep me reading and just slow enough that it took me like a month to do so. His writing style is frustrating, too many similies that don't make any sense and sentences that are fragmented or half-thoughts. However, the story is interesting enough that I could half-close my editors eye and follow it. :) And then, when I finally got through the pain of the first book, it got really really interesting at the end and I had to read the second! Grrr. :) The second book has a much better flow and is much more interesting, I'm actually hooked. :) I would say if you have patience and like an interesting sci-fi/romance type of genre you may enjoy it.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks is pretty good (way better than the movie) and The Color of Water is an awesome book, but I cant think of the Authors name...

Holy crap, Mette, put down 1984 and run, don't walk, to the Handmaid's Tale. It is AWESOME!!! :D I've read it three times and it just gets better and better! I liked 1984, but I LOVED Handmaid! :hyper:
Yeah. I think you’re right! I’m not going to get through this book anytime soon.
The thing is that I don’t understand what happened – I read this book 10-15 years ago and I *liked* it! This time I’m just bored. It could be that I’ve become less patient. I know I’ve become less depressed - maybe it’s a book best read when depressed? ;)

I also have this thing about finishing books (I don’t like unfinished books – once I’ve started reading one, I want to finish it) – but yeah – heh – you’re right - running, not walking – to the Handmaid’s tale!
Chapter one: “We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. The floor was of…” Oh yes. I feel much better now! :D