Wow...you guys overwhelm me with wonderful recommendations, (My books to read list is longer than the list of books LitChick read last year, and that's saying something!!! ), wonderful commentary, and things I want to talk about with you...but if I wrote everything, my fingers would fall off and the post would be so long I'd have to split it! I'm so glad this thread is so active...I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves only one thing more than food--BOOKS! (I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I can easily combine my two favorite loves...and not just by reading book like Julie and Julia... )
Okay, here goes!
Tifanicole, my parents are HUGE readers both, but they felt guilt sitting and reading when they should be doing other stuff...so they restricted their reading to the bathroom only. The thing is...they both couldn't put their books down, so any bathroom break lasted at least 30 mins! I can laugh because I've now picked up their habit!!! For some reason, I don't feel guilty about it as long as I'm in the bathroom... But I also take a book with me pretty much anywhere I go...I read at the doctor's office, at restaurants, when waiting anywhere. At least now I don't read when I walk like when I was a kid! Anyways, I just wanted to say that your pretending to go to the bathroom just to get reading time...I could relate.
Jessie, you crack me up! I adore you, girl! You have SUCH great recommendations and awesome commentary. No wonder you do this for a living, you smart girl! I checked with the library and Better (in hardback and Audio form) is being catalogued, so I can't reserve it yet. Darn! But I will, as soon as I can. Thanks for the recommend! I think I added most of your list to my list of books to read. I hear you about your experience with Snow Flower...that's happened to me several times and I'm always sad that my expectations spoiled the experience. However, once or twice, my expectations were exceeded, and that's SO exciting! Like with Harry Potter, for instance.
Cottage, thanks for the info on SF. Have you read any of Amy Tan's books or Memoirs of a Geisha? I wonder how the comparison between those books and SF would be?
Oh, Nancy, Pride and Prejudice is a DREAM of a book ...wish we lived closer so I could invite you over for a P&P movie marathon when you're done.
Carynm, what's Goddess about?
LitChick, thank you SO much for your wonderful list! It's absolutely fine to link to your list, though I'd like to put in a word for the 3FC sisters--if you link to Amazon through this site, they get a percentage of your purchase. It doesn't increase the price for you, but it helps them. Actually, LC, I went to your site and was just wide eyed at all you've done and written...you are amazing! I sent a link to your site to my wonderful Literacy professor who is a dear friend, as I know she'll love it! After reading the page on Fun Home, I read all the comments on Persepolis and reserved it at the library. You're in trouble because it was so interesting-looking that I had to read it even before Ex Libris! It was wonderful...while I had to stop Reading Lolita in Tehran because the descriptions of the war just made me too horrifically sad, I was able to stomach them in the graphic format, similar to my experience with Maus versus books like Night. Of course, the cliffhanger at the end nearly did me in...I think I almost tore open the back cover to see if a page was hiding! I requested Persepolis 2 that day and am dying to get it. It really is a must read book...wow!!! Oh, hon, I loved Fingersmith too--in fact, Sarah Waters is my favorite author, hands down. I just fell madly, madly in love with Tipping the Velvet (if you liked Fingersmith, you should love that too). Sadly, some of the topics in it make me wary of recommending it to friends...but maybe I shouldn't be so prudish on their behalf? Have you seen the BBC adaptations of Velvet and Fingersmith? They are phenomenal...they actually did justice to both, which is amazing to me! No, I've never read Gaiman's other works...I'll have to look for them! I'm sorry violence bothers me so much...I just have such an overactive imagination that I have nightmares for days...
Me:
Okay, so I'm still working on Vanishing Acts on CD...have four disks out of 14 to go. (this is one LOOOONNNNGGG book!) It's really fantastic...and I'm loving the way she flips between characters' viewpoints.
I finished Persepolis almost overnight and then went on to Ex Libris. It's a fun book--several essays by a wonderful writer who is also a major bibliophile. I love the book because I can SO relate, but I'm also a bit intimidated by how well she does what I thought I did so well...use big words, love books, read widely, etc. She's like that kid in your class who ALWAYS gets the A+ when you get the A after working your heart out. You know?
I finished putting the new bookcase in our bedroom together and loaded it with all the books I've been picking up at sales over the last couple years. It's full! I have one shelf plus 2 books that I've actually read...the rest are all unread...all 4 shelves worth. I have a lot of reading to do, chicas!!!
beachgal, seems like you and I have similar tastes, for sure! Thanks very much for visiting my blog and I'm glad you like it. I started it because I wanted to keep track of what books I've read and my thoughts on them, and a blog seemed like a perfect format. I never thought about linking to Amazon via 3FC - thanks for the tip.
I loved Tipping the Velvet! Have you read Affinity as well? That's amazing, too. I think of the three, my favorite is Fingersmith though - just so many twists and turns that kept me guessing. I have Night Watch on my TBR shelf but haven't gotten to it yet. I did see the two BBC adaptations (got them from Netflix) and agree with you on how well they depicted both stories. I can also understand your hesitation to recommend these books; there are certain people I know that would not enjoy them, but overall, I think unless someone has very firm views against homosexuality, then the quality of the storytelling overrides any sexual content. And IIRC, Velvet is the only one with really explicit scenes.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Persepolis! I couldn't wait to read the second one, either. Not that I want to distract you from your other reading, but another great graphic memoir is Blankets by Craig Thompson.
I had to laugh at your analogy of Fadiman to the A+ student - that's very true!
Rebel - I just wanted to thank you for the idea of large print books while on the elliptical. I love it! I had tried regular print books before and it was too difficult for me. It has made it so much easier to keep going for longer periods.
I haven't been here, since my eating has been more than a little off plan.
But I worked out today, and am feeling good.
I just updated my booklist, and have read 31 books this year.
I'm about to start The Birth House by Ami McKay.
Earlier today I finished Turnabout and earlier this week read a couple of other books by Margaret Patterson Haddix in the Shadow Children series. My 12 year old and I are fighting over them. Really really good and I'd be loving them even if I didn't have a 12 year old. (BTW, how did he get to be 12 years old? )
Keep reading, and keep taking good care of yourselves.
I read The Birth House quite some time ago and liked it.
Right now I'm reading Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and can hardly put it down. I read in bed until three last night. My sister put me onto this author books and now I discover she's on the best seller list!
A while ago, I read The Book of Eve by Constance Beresford-Howe and really enjoyed it. It's part of a trilogy and I am going to try to find the other two books.
Aren't you glad we learned to read? I feel so badly when people say so casually, "Oh I don't read!" It adds a whole extra dimension to Life.
It almost makes me cry when people tell me they don't read.
Ruth, I am reading The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy right now--I think that was a recommendation of yours from a long while back! It is SOO good. I find myself being transplanted into the story so easily. I've read almost the whole thing since Thursday (albeit, it is short!). I've read a lot about China but never about Chinese-Canadians. Just fascinating.
The Birth House is on my wish list at paperbackswap. It sounds so good!
I've read 5 of Jodi Picoult's books now. I wasn't crazy about Nineteen Minutes, and I don't know why! Just didn't hit me as hard as some of her others. And I didn't really feel satisfied with the ending. My favorites are still My Sister's Keeper and The Pact.
Last edited by JessieW; 04-16-2007 at 09:49 AM.
Reason: wanted to add more :)
Jessie, my problem with that book was that I kept craving Chinese food, my nemesis. Amy Tan does the same thing to me. I think I was oriental in another life!
Hey, LitChick! Yes, we do seem to have similar tastes! I used to copy and paste everyone's comments on books next to them on my 'books to read list' but now I just put your name next to them and I know that's enough reason. Yes, I've read all of Sarah's books. I liked Affinity, but it didn't have the sharp crispness of Fingersmith or Velvet. I loved the arc of the story in Velvet (I think you're right about it being the only one with explicit sex) and I love the way she worked out an ending that's satisfying but realistic as well.
It's amazing how she shows so many aspects of society...I feel like so many people covered the very poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich during that time period, but no one seems to have covered the middle class or the somewhat poor--or even the ones no one thinks of, like the prostitutes or the petty thieves. Of course, there's Dickens, but I just loved the way Waters managed to show you so many different layers of society. It's fascinating! Fingersmith definitely kept me on my toes the entire time...I loved how she managed to give you enough information about the theives' world so that you understood, but she didn't bombard you with every detail every known about that world.
I'm listening to the 11th CD in the 14 CD-long Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult, and though I really enjoy the story and I have great respect for her attention to detail, I'm ready to scream with frustration at the way that she goes into minute detail about so many different subjects! I think she could easily have told next to nothing about the father's stay in jail...instead she's giving recipes for meth, including rap songs about prison, telling exactly how to make prison weapons, and showcasing at least two very violent battles between groups of inmates. Oy! This is after I've learned everything there is to know about the Hopi tribes, being a search and rescue worker, the Arizona legal system...get the idea? I'm so ready for her to get on with it!
Anyways, I love that Waters doesn't do that...she gives you enough detail to make it rich and realistic, but she doesn't go to town over it. I've read as many articles on her as I could find and she recommends reading the two big novels written by Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White and Moonstone. She also recommends My Secret Life by Walter, a five volume set of Victorian erotica disguised as the diary of a casanova's life. I read Woman in White and though it was a bit of slow going at first, once I got into it, I could not put it down! It was fantastic!!! If you liked Fingersmith, try that one...the twists and turns will almost make you dizzy! I haven't done Moonstone yet, but it's on my list.
Actually, I'm currently reading one of the books I purchased at some used book sale--it's The Other Victorians by Steven Marcus. It was originally published in 1966, but this copy is a 2nd edition from 1974. It's the study of pornography and sexuality in Victorian society; the author used his background in the study of Victoriana and the wealth of collected books and papers at the Institute for Sex Research in Indiana (originally Kinsey's labs) to show how a portion of Victorian society revolted against traditional ideas of purity and lack of sexuality. It's fascinating...the medical views about sexuality were really odd. I'm only in the first chapter, which explores background and history, but it's fascinating to learn more about this period. If Ruth was Asian in another life, I think I must have been a Victorian housewife. My mom always said I was born in the wrong era. Did anyone watch 1900 House when it was on PBS? I would have died for the chance to be on that show!!!
Thanks, LitChick for the recommend on Blankets. Our local library doesn't have it, so I'll have to put it on my Paperbackswap list. (Huge thank yous to the person who mentioned that site...I've sent about 7 books out so far and have gotten a ton back! What fun!!! )
Rebel, so good to see you! I know that it's hard to stop by when you feel you aren't totally OP, but that's when you most need to stop by! Do come and visit, okay? We promise not to yell or bite, just encourage you a lot as you have encouraged us with your great post! 31 books, eh? You are amazing!!! You and LitChick are making me think I should start some kind of list of books I'm reading too! It's so nice to know other people who devour books like I do...like several of you mentioned, I just can't imagine a world without books and lots and lots of reading! I have friends who never read at all and I just can't understand it!!!
Ruth, I'm so glad you're liking Nineteen Minutes. Like you, I didn't realize I liked Picoult so much or that she was so popular until I started seeing a lot of stuff about Sister's Keeper and realized she'd written two books I really enjoyed. I'm eager to finish Vanishing Acts and move on to something else of hers.
Hey, Jessie! Remind me again...what's The Pact about? I don't think I've read it yet...
Me:
So, I finished Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman...I liked the essays a lot...but they were so rich I often felt I needed a break in between them! I caught up a little on magazine/cooking light/catalog reading in between essays. I think my favorites were the ones I could really, really relate to, like being a grammar ****, loving the food porn in books, and the different ways people love books. DH refuses to write in his books, crack the spine or do anything that might show a human has touched them. I, on the other hand, write tons, highlight, put sticky notes (or toilet paper/kleenex when I don't have anything else) on the pages, crack the spine before even reading it so it'll sit comfortably in my hand, and frequently leave books in odd positions, like face down or propped open between the salt shaker and the fruit bowl.
What do you do with your books? Are you a lover of the book itself or of the words (so that you don't care too much about the medium on which the words are transmitted)? Anyways, Ex Libris is a 'must-read' for anyone who loves books as much as we all do. The essays are short, funny, and witty, and the book is a very slim volume...so it won't distract from the rest of your reading.
Persepolis 2 is in at the library...can't wait to pick it up tomorrow!!! I may have to set a goal of not letting myself touch it until I have done a certain amount of work on my resume...but it'll be so hard to not sneak a peak the second I pick it up!
Laurie, The Pact is an early Picoult. It's about two teenagers who have been friends since they were babies, date, and then she dies and the BF is with her. He says it was a suicide pact but he passed out before he could do it. I wrote a review for it on bookloons.com, that would probably be easier to read than me trying to synopsis it here! (Did I just make synopsis into a verb?)
I have been bummed at my lack of time to read the last few days. I have about 30 pages left on The Jade Peony but I am so exhausted by the time I get home I can only read a few pages. Maybe tonight before church?
Thanks for the review site, Jessie. It's www.bookloons.com and has good stuff! Some websites we can post with impunity.
Beachgal, I know what you mean about books on tape. They speak every word. At least when you read it, you can skip parts as I did for the 40-some page description of a squash game in Saturday. Who cares? Pas moi!
LOL Ruth. I tend to make myself mad skipping passages. Many times I find myself skipping ahead to dialogue and then I am angry because I've missed the description.
I finally finished The Jade Peony last night. I thought it was really excellent. A new, interesting subject for me. I would highly recommend it! I then started Blameless by Thom Lemmons, which is for me to review. A Christian fiction, seems like it might be interesting and a quick read. It is a retelling of Job, according to the back of the book.
rebel, I've had 'The Birth House' on my 'to read' shelf since December, after reading some very positive reviews on it. Also since I lived for many years in Nova Scotia, I'm interested to see how the area is depicted. I'll be curious to see your thoughts on it when you've finished.
Ruth, I don't understand non-readers, either - especially when they seem proud of the fact they don't read! And I think parents who don't encourage their children to read do a disservice to them. Oh, and 'Not Wanted on the Voyage' is one of my favorite books! I was surprised to see it mentioned til I looked and saw you were Canadian, too, haha - it seems not many folks outside Canada have heard of it. It's a fabulous retelling of the Noah story, but I think a Christian would have to be somewhat liberal in their thinking to not be bothered by its interpretation, at least in my experience in recommending it to a couple people down here who most definitely did not appreciate the story - and I learned to be very careful in what I recommended!
beachgal, have you read 'Slammerkin' by Emma Donoghue? I recently read it and it reminded me quite a bit of Sarah Waters's books. There's also 'The Crimson Petal and the White' which is a bit on the sensationalist/escapist side of historical fiction, but still quite an entertaining story.
I know I'm going to be alone in this, but I read 'My Sister's Keeper' by JP and hated it. A good friend of mine loved it and recommended it, but I found the characters didn't ring true and felt Picoult used a lot of overdone metaphors. It definitely turned me off from reading any more of her books. I'm always interested to see where tastes differ and align with certain books, particularly with people who like a lot of the same books as I do.
All those Victorian books sound so interesting! I'm a big history buff - and I loved 1900 House! It was my favorite of all those shows.
For a more accessible 'book about books' I really enjoyed 'So Many Books, So Little Time' by Sara Nelson and 'How Reading Changed My Life' by Anna Quindlen. I added so many books to my wishlist from reading those two.
Oh, and I am most definitely a courtly lover of books.
My Sister's Keeper is my absolute LEAST favorite of all Jodi Picoult's novels. Maybe tied with Mercy for least favorite. But she is overall my favorite author. So if you haven't read any of her others, LitChick, give her another chance.
I agree with Rebel. I haven't read My Sister's Keeper...in part because the subject matter doesn't interest me...and in part because I've heard quite a bit of negative feedback on it. Instead, LitChick, try Plain Truth. It's my favorite Jodi Picoult and makes for incredibly engrossing reading. It's one of those books where once you start reading it, you are dead to the world until you swim up to the surface after turning the last page. You know?
No, LitChick, I haven't read Slammerkin yet, but it's on my list. I'll have to bump it to the top, eh? So, are you an expat Canuck or did you just live there for a while? My dad is from Canada--naturalized in '84, I think. My grandparents lived there until their deaths. It's an amazing country!
), wonderful commentary, and things I want to talk about with you...but if I wrote everything, my fingers would fall off and the post would be so long I'd have to split it! 
I'm so glad this thread is so active...I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves only one thing more than food--BOOKS! 
)
For some reason, I don't feel guilty about it as long as I'm in the bathroom... But I also take a book with me pretty much anywhere I go...I read at the doctor's office, at restaurants, when waiting anywhere. At least now I don't read when I walk like when I was a kid! 
Anyways, I just wanted to say that your pretending to go to the bathroom just to get reading time...I could relate. 
I checked with the library and Better (in hardback and Audio form) is being catalogued, so I can't reserve it yet. Darn! 
Like with Harry Potter, for instance. 
...wish we lived closer so I could invite you over for a P&P movie marathon when you're done. 
It really is a must read book...wow!!! Oh, hon, I loved Fingersmith too--in fact, Sarah Waters is my favorite author, hands down. I just fell madly, madly in love with Tipping the Velvet (if you liked Fingersmith, you should love that too). Sadly, some of the topics in it make me wary of recommending it to friends...but maybe I shouldn't be so prudish on their behalf? 
I have a lot of reading to do, chicas!!!
)
I know that it's hard to stop by when you feel you aren't totally OP, but that's when you most need to stop by! Do come and visit, okay? 
Remind me again...what's The Pact about? 
I don't think I've read it yet...
