I'm reading "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett.
One of my absolute all time favorite books.
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Originally Posted by Glory87
Oh, I loved Pillars of the Earth! I didn't find it very mathy at all.
ROFL I think it was "AICPCU Property and Liability Insurance Principles" that was mathy.
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Originally Posted by Glory87
I also read Confessions of a Carb Queen last week! . . .that part of the book could have been a little more fleshed out for me.
again
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Originally Posted by FrouFrou
. . .getting ready to start To Kill A Mockingbird later today...loved the movie but never read the book, I don't think.
Oooh. Another favorite.
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Originally Posted by alinnell
. . . but wanted something set in that time since I finished the two books by Ken Follet: World Without End and Pillars of the Earth which I loved so much I'm sure I'll read them both again.
I was so pleased with World Without End when it came out. I couldn't imagine the sequel could be as good as the original, but it was.
Finished "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult a couple of weeks ago for my book club at work - I liked the book, thought it was intriguing. First book of hers I've read, and I would like to read more by her.
Just started "Duma Key" by Stephen King. I haven't had the time to really get into the book yet, but so far I'm enjoying it. I have always liked King, so I'm sure I will like this one.
How funny you would put Change of Heart and King in the same post - I just finished Change of Heart, what was up with all the wacky King references? I counted 4-5 in the first 50 pages. One of the prisoners was named Dufresne (Andy's surname in Shawshank), someone was referred to as Green Mile, there was a reference to a hidey place in the book the Stand and then a pure Stephen King name shout-out. What the ****, it was VERY distracting and I like King! I have read a bunch of Picoult and it felt very "rote" for her - her favorite stuff: trials, lawyers, prisons, child abuse and miracles. It was interesting the first 4-5 times, but now she's a big /yawn.
I loved Duma Key WHILE I was reading it, but it completely fell apart for me when I started thinking about it later.
I wrote the following spoiler in WHITE - don't highlight this text if you don't want to potentially be spoiled for Duma Key!
***** Definitely liked it better than his most recent work, but it was no Salem's Lot, Shining or Stand. I thought it was very interesting that although the main character lost his arm, there was almost NO descriptions of what life is like as a one-armed man (besides handshakes). He drives, he showers, paints, he makes bologna sandwiches, makes love - nothing about what that's like with one hand. It wasn't until the very last pages that having one hand makes a task (a very important task!) very very difficult to do.
Later, I was confused about the book. Elizabeth is old and suffering from Alzheimer's, but why does she keep encouraging artists and artists to stay on her island? Is she hoping Perse will reach them? If so, why? She knows Perse is pure evil and horror. Is she using them as a "barometer" to ensure Perse is still safely hidden away? If they don't get any flashes, Perse is still safe, maybe?
My idea of Perse as a barometer doesn't even make sense since Elizabeth KNOWS he is painting, encourages him, encourages him to have a show. She seems to know something "amazing" is happening with the painting and she is all gung-ho for him to continue. She doesn't want him to sell them, but the whole thing is very confusing.
My new interpretation - Perse has had partial hooks in Elizabeth - she encourages Elizabeth to rent to artists since Elizabeth owns the entire island, if she doesn't rent to artists, Perse can never hope to be free (since she acts through the art). Elizabeth tried to free herself at the art show when she "woke up" and realized that Perse was all over the pictures and was encouraging them to be sold to spread her power and influence over others - so Perse killed her, she didn't think she needed Elizabeth anymore.
Really, the whole thing is maddening and made no sense. Perse killed 3 of Elizabeth's sisters, a BIL and a beloved nurse. Who would possibly tell an artist "go paint something! see what happens!" in this scenario, can't blame it on the Alzheimers, she had been renting to artists for years!
If we don't know when the crack in Perse's container happened, maybe it happened years and years ago, allowing Perse to exert a tiny bit of influence over Elizabeth. Maybe that's why she kept throwing the doll in the water - on some level, she KNEW it needed to be done again?"
>>Got a question, are the between the number Plum books good to read if you have only read a couple of the number books, or will it give away any surprises?<<
No, there are not any spoilers in the 'between the number' books.
They have a supernatural twist in them, and, as I recall, both
males of interest are off someplace else (on assignment, undercover).
Same, funny, off the wall slapstick from Stephanie and Lulu.
k
Thanks for the info. I"m only on 4 in the number series and have a couple between the numbers I'd like to read too.
My 3 favorites of Picoult are 19 minutes, The Pact & My Sister's Keeper.
I'm sitting at work dying right now because Stephenie Meyer's new book, The Host, came out yesterday and I forgot so now I'm just counting the minutes until I can go buy it and start reading. Her Twilight series are my favorite books, well those and the Stephanie Plum series by Evanovich or the Heather Wells books by Meg Cabot. LOL, I love books.
I'm currently reading 4 books...The Appeal by Grisham, Playing for Pizza by Grisham, Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Alex Lindsay, and The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly.
I just finished Marley and Me...gosh I love that book! I also just finished Diary of a Mad Bride. Next on my list is Jodi Picoult's The Tenth Circle and either Running with Scissors: A Memoir or A Million Little Pieces. I haven't decided yet!
Does anyone listen to books? How difft is it to actually reading a book? I would prefer reading, but can't find the time, and my book list is growing ever longer...lol
Currently reading "Heart Shaped Box" by Joe Hill. I've never read any of his, kind of dark and weird, but it's not too bad.
I tend to get stuck on authors and go back and forth between ones I really enjoy. My favorite is Jodi Picoult, but I've read every single one of hers.....I'm a bit addicted lol. Another favorite I've had since high school is Dean Koontz. His are a lot alike though, so I'll read some, then move on, then revisit him. Good thing he's written quite a few novels. Last fave author is Robin Cook. He's awesome, but being as he's a doctor, if you don't have knowledge of science/healthcare, I imagine his books could be difficult to get through.
I can totally understand where many of you are coming from. I spend too much money on books. If it's a fave author or a book I've been dying to get my hands on, I buy them. Otherwise, I pick them up used at local GoodWill's and Savers (thrift store). The hardest thing for me to do when I moved out here was to decide which books I could bring.......they take up too much room, and we were tight with space on the move.
Just finished reading Rethinking Thin by Gina Kolata, pretty interesting insights concerning the whole obesity/diet industry.
I am currently reading Secrets of a Former Fat Girl by Lisa Delaney, so far I enjoy her writing and what she has to say.
I have a stack on my nightstand of waiting to be read books. I think I will pick up Mary, Mary by James Patterson next. I have started reading The Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum, but it is the third time I have tried to read it. I'll give it one more chance, then I will put it away and try again at a later date.
I thought Marley and Me was a lovely book. It reminded me of a crazy chocolate lab Emma that we raised and loved until she passed away at only 8 years of age due to lymphoma.
Some of my favorite authors are Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, James Patterson, Robin Cook, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum.
I'm reading The Chronicles of Narnia. I'm currently on book #4, Prince Caspian. Its very good so far. I cant wait to see the movie. All the stories have been pretty good. Its too bad they didnt start with the first book for the movie.
Has anyone read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon? They were suggested to me by a friend. They did not sound like my type of book at all, but she suggested them so highly that I couldn't resist. I have read the first two so far and have really enjoyed them.
Does anyone listen to books? How difft is it to actually reading a book? I would prefer reading, but can't find the time, and my book list is growing ever longer...lol
I often listen to books on CD while commuting. I'll have one book going in the car and a paper book going at home. Currently I'm working on German language CDs in the car instead of a book. I really didn't expect to be able to listen to books, expected I'd zone out and spend all my time backing up to figure out where I drifted off. It's happened only a couple of times. Books on CD are so expensive, I've done them all by checking them out of the library.
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Originally Posted by CHS_teacher
Has anyone read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon? They were suggested to me by a friend. They did not sound like my type of book at all, but she suggested them so highly that I couldn't resist. I have read the first two so far and have really enjoyed them.
I love this series. I think I discovered it because Jack Whyte (who wrote the Camulod Chronicles - a series of books starting with King Arthur's grandfathers. I recommend the series highly!) had a list of his favorite authors and books. Outlander was on the list.
and either Running with Scissors: A Memoir or A Million Little Pieces. I haven't decided yet!
I've read both and they are both amazing. But I especially loved A Million Little Pieces. After reading each of these I actually went and read everything else that both authors have written, lol.
again
