What are you reading?

Hi Ladies!!

Thought I would crash this thread - I've been on BB everyday and for some reason have never looked here??!!!!

I am a HUGE book lover - I'm in 3 seperate book clubs that all meet once a month, so I go through at least 3-4 books per month!!!
DH is Italian and stays up late many nights a weeks to watch the international soccer, so I usually keep him company whilst reading at the same time;)

I've read a stack of great (and not so great) books recently - perhaps one of the greatest books I have ever read I just finished recently - Its called "We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver.
The book is a series of letters the main character, Eva has written to her husband... kind of like a journal.
Kevin is their son who is in jail after killing a group of his highschool peers... her story is her journey trying to figure out whether she was a terrible parent, and this made him this way, or whether he was just born that way......
Very scary - within a day of finishing it the Virginia Tech massacre happened, and there were just way too many things that were too similar!!
Its very heavy, but it sucks you in, and if you're a mother, there are many points throughout the book that make you question your own parenting (only lightly though!!!!)
It was fantastic, I loved it, and everyone that I have spoken to that has read it has said the same thing - One of the best books they've ever read.

I've also read Running With Scissors - Fantastic!!!

My book groups this month are reading "Perfume", "My Sisters Keeper" and "Tree Of Man" (not looking forward to that one, but have to take the good with the bad!)

I can also recommend "A Million LIttle Pieces" (The one with all of the contoversy on Oprah a little while back) - again, its pretty heavy, but anothe one that sucks you in, and you just can't put down!
"The Lovely Bones" was also really enjoyable, too!!!

Am so excited to have found this thread!!!!

Holly
xxx

I have just finished "The Veiled Kingdom" by Carmen Bin Ladin. She married one of Osama's many brothers and it is her account of life in Saudi Arabia. It doesn't go on about 911 or Osama or anything like that, but it is the story of her life with her husband and how having 3 daughters made her decide she couldn't remain in Saudi Arabia. It is very interesting because although she was rasied and still is a muslim woman she is very critical of the strain of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia and I think her background gives her a really unique perspective. Not that I think that there is necessarily uniformity in Islam, as in any religion, but because often books about a women who marries into a "foreign" culture only to regret or seek to escape it later seem to be by women who come from a totally different background initially (I am thinking of the book by the Swiss (?) woman who married an Afican tribesman and underwent a huge culture shock). No where in the book does she adopt the "poor me, I was lied to about what it would be like" line, but rather it described how she was initally hopeful of change in Saudi Arabia but how, in the context of the revolution in Iran, that change proved impossible. Really very interesting and readable.

Well I bought running with scissors today so I'm going to have something to read tonight *yay*

Hopefully it will get me back into reading... One book I can't wait for is the next HP book ;)

*hugs*
Cailin

Hee Cailin I can't wait for Harry Potter either! DH already knows he will be on DS duty that day while I rush off to buy HP!

In the meantime I'm reading A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. I've read all Bill Bryson's books and I love him. He primarily writes travel books but this book is about science, which sounds really dry but it is a layman's book but written in my favourite Bryson style (ie hilarious). Lots of trivia too, which I love.

His turn of phrase is so funny - he writes the kind of book that can be a bit dangerous to read on the train, you will suddenly snort with laughter in a quiet carriage and have people look at you strangely! I embarrassed myself hugely one day reading Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There" about when he backpacked around Europe, I was helpless with laughter, tears in my eyes, in a packed and silent commuter carriage. Oh dear.

Oh love Bill Bryson too..my dad got me on to him. Real nice easy read and how funny is he!!!! Im reading Anya Seaton's 'The Winthrop Woman' right now..huge fan..historical.

Jo

Well I'm just over a third of the way through "Running with Scissors" And its pretty good :) My gf said to me its really depressing but I haven't reached that yet obviously...

She's got a few books for me to borrow too so I may have some good reads over the next few weeks ;)

YAY!

*hugs*
Cailin

Hi Cai,

Great to see you're enjoying Running With Scissors... you may not find any part depressing... I didn't!!!!
The closest I got was when I found myself laughing out loud a few times, and then when I realised what I was laughing about, I thought Oh God, this shouldn't be funny, if it was my son I would be mortified and worried for his safety!!!!
Perhaps this is what your GF meant??!!!!!
Let us know what other books your gf is going to lend you - I'm always on the hunt for a good book!!!
Unfortunately, from the books I read in my book club, whilst I don't mind most of them (other ladies LOVE them), I am just too hard to please as far as getting locked in to something!!!
I generally always finsh everything (I'm too anal not to!;)) but wish there was more I could love and rave about the way a lot of my book club members do!!!

Have just started "The Gospel According To Luke" this morning - It was recommended to me by a lady in one of my groups who generally likes what I like... Onlt just started, so we'll see how I go!!!
I've read the one they're reading this month - "The Memory Keepers Daughter"..... despite its rave reviews and endless weeks on the NY Times bestsellers list, I wasn't all that impressed, really.....:p

Hope everyone is great!!!

Holly
xxx:D

i am a fan of steven king, wilbur smith, bryce courtenay and dean koontz-
just finished Sylvia - was good

have just started the quest - wilbur smith - totally enthralled... my dad got me into these authors as he had a library full of them ;)

oh and reading what to expect when youre expecting ;)
and the forums when i can

I'm half way through reading "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham! It's his first non fiction book, about a guy named Ronald Williamson who was wrongly accused and sent to death row with no physical evidence that he was guilty.
It's a very sad story, and infuriating at times. I'm only half way through, but it's an excellent read so far. The way they treated these guys.... it's just shocking!

Nic

I was just asked to join a friends bookclub! All very exciting! So right now I'm reading the novel 'On beauty' by Zadie Smith. So far, so good :)

Oooh that sounds good Nic, I'll have to add it onto my list ;)

Hi Ladies!

Well, finished "The Gospel According To Luke" yesterday - not too bad!
It only took me 2 days, it was an easy read, but it was just ok - Not great damn it!!!;)

Nic, your book sounds interesting, I'll look at getting that one - I'm going to start "My Sisters Keeper" today (Jodi Picoult), its one for one of my book groups, so we'll see how it goes!
The lady from Dymocks who runs our book clubs said I'll enjoy this one, so heres hoping!

Cai - How did you go with the rest of Running With Scissors?

Hope everyone is great:D

Love Holly
xxx

I might have to start going to the library and borrow some books.

Nic

I'm going to read "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" JonBenet and the city of boulder by Lawrence Schiller.... thank goodness for the library, it's awesome and Arden now has his own card and loves it :)

Well I've finally finished reading Druids Sword by Sara Douglas, it's the 4th book in the Troy Game series and having read the first 3 I had to finish the series. It is over all a good story and Sara Douglas is a good fantasy writer but she just dragged this story out to much, I think that's why I've been doing other things rather than picking up the book. So I don't really recommend this series to anyone unless you don't mind taking ages to get through it. I'll be starting Blockade by Derek Hansen tonight so fingers crossed it's as well written as all his other books. I've had heaps of great ideas for books from reading everyones posts since my last and think I'll be getting running with scissors(have been thinking about this one for a while anyway) and a few other interesting looking ones I've seen mentioned, thanks and keep reading.

I just finished reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. It was so sad and beautiful. It is about a doctor whose wife has twins but one is born with Down's Syndrome so he tells the nurse to take it to an institution (but she keeps the baby and raises her as her own) and the doc tells his wife the baby died. So many issues in this book - pro breastfeeding, stillbirth, raising a child with a special need, PND... I can't wait to re-read this book!

But a word of warning - it is so well written it will have many in tears. It certaintly had me teary at times!

that sounds like a great book MG - might have to look out for it! i find i only have time to read on my lunch break at work - but that one might not be the best for workplace reading...

I managed to get Running with Scissors and have finally finished it. I actually liked it, wasn't sure if I would, but I did.

Will have to find something new to read now...might go back over the thread later for a look

Nic

I love reading the "Playboy" magazine, "Dirt" the Motley Crue biography, car magazines and when have more time the Harry Potter books. Also known to devour an entertainment/celeb magazine

I'm actually reading the Bible atm. I decided it's something I should do as I've never actually read the whole thing.

I am also obsessed with Harry Potter.

Also reading Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, good so far.

I have just finished Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince - omg I love the Harry Potter books! I only started reading them for the first time at easter, when my mum gave me Philosopher's Stone (ironically I already knew the storyline because I had seen the movie), but after that I was hooked and I haven't stopped until I got to #6 - now I just have to wait for #7 to come out.

I was a bit disappointed though to read an article in the paper a while back that gave away the plot and one particular important event in Half Blood Prince, so I knew what was going to happen before I read it. Still a good read though.

I now have a pile of books on my bedside table that I need to start - Running With Scissors, Three Dollars by Eliot (?) Perlman, Secret River by Kate Grenville, The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf. I am particularly interested in The Beauty Myth - my mum told me to read it, she said she read it when I and my sister were in our teens and it changed her whole approach with us when it came to makeup and body issues.

Oh I hear u about harry potter!! how good is it!!!!!
I can't wait for the last book.
The new movie is out today too!!

I've just had a week of reading...which is so unusual for me as I'm a crossword addict...

Anyway...read...The Jane Austen's book club and Nic Hornby's It's a Long Way Down...

Both were pretty good...easy reads...

Hi everyone,

Re-reading the Harry Potter series for the upteenth time in anticipation of the 7th book coming out - roll on the 21st!! Currently up to Goblet of Fire (again).

Penny - I was a bit disappointed in the 4th book of the Troy Game - felt that it lost its way. I noticed Sara Douglass has a new one out - must investigate shortly.

i just finished up work in a newsagency/bookshop to go on maternity leave and am desparetely missing being surrounded by all my books! I definately recommend Jodi Picoult - she is fantastic - I started off with My Sisters Keeper, which was just amazing. It raises lots of issues so is fantastic for book groups etc. For lighter reading, i love Monica McInerey, Diane Blacklock and Liane Moriarty. They are excellent 'chick lit' authors. Planning on re-reading them while breast feeding:)

Em (Due 17/7/07)

Hanging for the new HP, I can't motivate myself to read anything else at the mo because the release date is so near.
Mother Goose, the memory keepers daughter sounds great, I'll definitely be giving it a read.
Gargy, the new Sara Douglas doesn't look bad but I think I need a break from her for the mo.
I finished Blockade by Derek Hansen a couple of days ago, he continues to blow me away with his writing. This one is about the Australian logging industry and the people who fight against them. He paints such a vivid picture it's really hard to put his books down.

I'm currently almost finished reading "Dating without Novocaine" by Lisa Cach. I'm enjoying it.

Ok - admitting to patheticness - I caved and I am currently reading "The Case for Snape - Innocent or Guilty". My excuse is that it was 1/2 price at Borders today (as I said to DH, probably because of the short shelf life). I've read 3/4s of the 'innocent' case and it's been really interesting. And it's got good links to other epics. Thats my justification anyway :p

I finished reading this book by Derek Hansen yesterday. It's a compilation of short stories with a fishing theme. I know it sounds a bit odd but they are all really good, they're all actually about love, murder, revenge a bit of horror, mystery and intrigue, they just happen to all involve fishing.
Still haven't bought my copy of the new HP yet.

i just finished 'THE SUNDAY SMUGGLER' by christohper parnell..
its a true story about an innocent aussie man jailed for over 11 years in an indonesia prison!! very good book!! love reading about true stories!!

I'm reading "Priestess of the White" age of the five:book 1 by Trudi Canavan. It's a bit weird but a book has to be really really bad for me not to finish it.

Just finished Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - reaaaally good! Well if you like the Harry Potter books anyway!

Waiting for my sister to bring over her copy of the new Harry Potter for me tonight...

In the meantime I have started 'The Story of Tibet - Conversations with the Dalai Lama' by Thomas Laird.

And also have started 'Norwegian Wood' by Haruki Murakami (my sister RAVES about this author).

Will update when I am a decent way through them... :)

I'm reading Burned Alive. True story....not the most sweetest of books, and it makes me realise just how lucky i am to have my husband.

Finished reading this book by William Broderick a few days ago. It's yet another story about the persacution(my spelling sux) of the Jews by the Nazis during the second world war. A bit different to normal as it's the knitting together of the same story seen through different characters eyes to bring about the true story in the end. Quite good, would recommend it to those into that sort of thing. Now I'm reading Harry Potter, Yay finally.:dance:

I just read "The Memory Keepers Daughter" on the weekend, great book.

I'm reading Saturday's newspaper :wall:

Well I have finished Norweigan Wood, Sputnik Sweetheart, and The Wind Up Bird Chronicle- by Haruki Murakami all in the last fornight... He writes really, really interesting books... for those that like non-mainstream literature :)

Its very interesting what you are all reading! I'm just reading BB atm no time for anything else lol but I should get back into it.

If anyone wants an idea of what to read next, grab The Red Tent :)

The Red Tent is one of my all time favourite novels. It is so WOMAN!
A woman after my own heart Kelly... :hug:

Our book club is reading "the devil wears prada". Not my type of book. It's a bit (for me) like eating pumpkin when I was 5 (that is really hard!)