Books on the Nightstand discussion

Just got back from the library with !!! and !

Esther wrote: "I am reading To the End of the Land."

Just got this one from the library...interested to hear what you think.

Finished The Keeper of Lost Causes last night. I was a little disappointed with this book. Although I enjoyed it I thought it was a bit slow moving.
I picked up Redshirts next - I'm ready for a lighter read. Enjoy it so far.

Finished The Night Circus and went to see the author speak. She's great! So is her book.

Now reading: Ancient Light by John Banville (gorgeous prose), Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, Last of the Mohicans by Cooper, May We be Forgiven by AM Homes and dipping into a couple others.

Dawn wrote: "Just got back from the library with !!! and !"

i put Albert of Adelaide on hold. i can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

i started this morning.

Two books I've been looking forward to reading. Finished up and am about half way through . So far both have lived up to my expectations.

Moved on to as I try to up my scary books for Halloween. A really smart book about werewolves - I would have thought that was an oxymoron, but check this out and you will see what I mean. I'm only a couple of chapters in and it's wonderfully fun. Finished last night. Nothing fun about that - just creepy. Definitely a good October read - only in the dark though!

Please keep me updated re: The Twelve. I liked the first 2/3 of The Passage a lot more than the last 1/3. When I finished, I debated about evening reading The Twelve. Which...I'm sure I will. I'm interested in your take on it.

Dawn wrote: "Just got back from the library with !!! and !"

I am finally listening to Crossing the Borders of Time: A True Love Story of War, Exile, and Love Reclaimed and am thoroughly enjoying it. I began Gillespie and I and was excited to discover the setting is Scotland because I am going there in a few months, was actively looking for books set there when I began this one only knowing that Simon of the Readers loved it - a nice little serendipity.

Just finished The Shadow of the Wind and am re-reading I, Juan de Pareja with my 10-yr-old son and we are both enjoying it very much.

I've been reading an assortment of things lately. Earlier today I read several of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories for a book club meeting. We chose these to coincide with a meeting so close to Halloween. I've also been reading and listening to a poetry book compiled by John Lithgow. It's called Poets' Corner and described as a poetry book for the whole family. Each poem is accompanied by a short author bio and some commentary as well as suggestions for other poems by that author not included in this volume. It comes with a companion CD, although not all the selections in the print edition are included.

Other things I've read lately include Portobello, short novel by British mystery/suspense writer Ruth Rendell; it's unusual in that there really isn't a mystery or crime to solve, and no detective. I've also read Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro, a collection of short stories; We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, a classic horror novel that was also a book club selection timed for the spooky season; Gothic: Ten Original Dark Tales, edited by Deborah Noyes, a compilation of horror stories mostly written by authors known for YA literature; and The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani, set in medieval Iran at a time when the arts, including carpet weaving, flourished.

Recent audiobooks included The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear, part of her Maisie Dobbs series, and The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason. Right now I'm listening to A Person of Interest by Susan Choi. The protagonist is an elderly math professor at a small, definitely not Ivy League college who becomes a suspect in the letter bombing of the hotshot younger professor in the office next to his. It's by no means a thriller and more of a character study. While it's not one of those audiobooks that I can't put down and listen to every minute I can, it's interesting enough to continue.

Finished It Can't Happen Here. It was a good read and really brought to light the risks of blindly following a leader! It is tongue-in-cheek and works on that level. Here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Now on to East of Eden.

Talulla Rising

Nancy wrote: "I've been reading an assortment of things lately. Earlier today I read several of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories for a book club meeting. We chose these to coincide with a meeting so close to Hall..."

I loved The Blood of Flowers...even though I read it quite awhile ago, it still comes to mind from time to time....I guess it's the feminist in me.

I have given up on , I don't dislike it-it just isn't holding my intrest. Started very interesting so far. Also have next and on audio book.

I just posted my short review. My expectations weren't high and it wasn't perfect, but I did enjoy it. And it's a fast read, even at 550+ pages.
Keetha wrote: "Please keep me updated re: The Twelve. I liked the first 2/3 of The Passage a lot more than the last 1/3. When I finished, I debated about evening reading The Twelve. Which...I'm sure I will. I'm i..."

On to !

A Mercy

A complicated book, but so thick and rich it drips with fascinating history and beautiful story telling. I agree that you have to pay attention to read this book, but it is worth it. I absolutely loved it. 5 stars.

Muffysbookclub© wrote: "August & September I finished reading Learning To Swim by Sara J Henry, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, The Night Circus by Erin Mor..."

I read Jennifer Lauck's book last March and loved it. Also her followup memoir (the name escapes me tonight . .) I also have a couple of yours on my TBR list (The Night Circus, The Sense of an Ending) -- both recommended by my local NPR station host, Kerri Miller, or MPR. Happy page-turning!

An Asperger syndrome boy is kidnapped and the only person who can save him is Budo, his imaginary friend. But Budo can't physically affect the real world.

This book combines a bit of with a bit of . But it has perhaps more heart than either of those.

I have been listening to the audiobook version of Skippy Dies for a few weeks now. I will occasionally get bored with it (there was one place that I thought would have been a perfect ending) but then something unexpected happens and I get hooked into it again. I'll hold off judgment until I finish it :)

Now that the movie is out I guess it's time to finally get around to reading .

Finished today. Started

Elizabeth wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Just got back from the library with !!! and !"

i put Albert of Adelaide on hold. i can't wait to hear your thoug..."

Elizabeth - I LOVED it! I read it in about 24 hours and then found that I was sad that I wouldn't be spending time with Albert on his quest again last night. I definitely recommend it.

Dawn wrote: "Now that the movie is out I guess it's time to finally get around to reading ."

Absolutely amazing book (I thought). Can't wait to hear what you think.

Just finished The Price of Loyalty by Ron Suskind. It was difficult to put down, which seems strange since it is about Paul O'Neill's experience as Secretary of the Treasury in 2000-2002.

Experiencing my first whispervoice book via audible/amazon...the 11th sookie stackhouse book. I've had the kindle edition since it was first published, but couldn't get around to reading it. Picked up the audio in order to try out the service and am enjoying it more in audio than "print".

Finished Redshirts which I really liked except for the codas (why did they think these were necessary?) and In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin which was bothfascinating and boring (loved the politics/history angle but hated Martha and her many romances). Also took in Stuck Rubber Baby which is a very intense graphic novel.
So now I get to start a bunch of new books! Launched into Zoo City and Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker both of which I'm enjoying enormously.

@ dawn,

thanks for the update. i have my copy from the library, so i plan on getting to it soon.

Hi! I just discovered the podcast (today actually) which led me to this group.


I finished a lot of non-fiction books this October:


I've read one fiction book this month:


I'm currently reading:


Although I think I may start reading:

I started which was one of the bookseller speeddating selections at Bookshop Santa Cruz.

Susanne wrote: "Hi! I just discovered the podcast (today actually) which led me to this group.


I finished a lot of non-fiction books this October:
[bookcover:The Fiddler in the Subway: And Other Great Pieces Yo..."

welcome to the group susanne! i am wondering what you thought of the tony danza book. i am a teacher and i would like to read it. let me know if it's worth the time.

Elizabeth wrote: "welcome to the group susanne! i am wondering what you thought of the tony danza book. i am a teacher, and i would like to read it. let me know if it's worth the time. "

I enjoyed it. It shows some of the struggles teachers face, but it doesn't delve too deep into them. He only taught one double period of English, but he went into the school to teach with all good intentions. He was dedicated to his students. It shows some of the mistakes first-year teachers make. It also has a neat letter one of the experienced teachers wrote to him.

I'd say it was worth your time. I enjoy reading educational/childhood success books. Have you read Outliers: The Story of Success or How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character?

Rated both Graceling and The Graveyard Book 3 stars, and 1.5 stars for The Third Gate.

Had to stash all my lovely books from Booktopia on the 'to be read' shelf along with the new Dave Eggers. Far too many on my currently reading already for my MFA program. Most activiely, I am reading In the TIme of the Butterflies (Julia Alvarez) and Birds of America, short stories by Lorrie Moore. I also am a teacher Susanne and How Children Succeed is being passed around like Halloween candy. I really would love to read it soon.

And for those of you more astute to these postings, how do I put the book cover image in these posts?

Lara wrote: "I also am a teacher Susanne, and How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character is being passed around like Halloween candy. I really would love to read it soon."

It was a very interesting read. It focuses on "productivity" character (as opposed to moral character): curiosity, optimism, enthusiasm, self-control, persistence, etc. Also, allowing them to fail then learning to pick themselves back up and keep going.

"And for those of you more astute to these postings, how do I put the book cover image in these posts?"

When you're writing a comment, click on the "add book/author" link just above the comment box. Type in the name of the book. At the bottom, you can choose to display the book as either a "link" (for an underlined link that goes to the book) or "cover" (for a picture of the book that links to the book).

Dawn wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Just got back from the library with !!! and !"

i put Albert of Adelaide on hold. i can't wait..."


I'm so glad you loved Albert as much as I did!!

Susanne wrote: "Hi! I just discovered the podcast (today actually) which led me to this group.


I finished a lot of non-fiction books this October:
[bookcover:The Fiddler in the Subway: And Other Great Pieces Yo..."

I am love, love, LOVING Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I highly recommend it!

Valerie wrote: "Finished Redshirts which I really liked except for the codas (why did they think these were necessary?) and In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin which wa..."

Yup. You either love the end of REDSHIRTS, or you really really don't.

Michael wrote: I am love, love, LOVING Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I highly recommend it! "

It was quite enjoyable. It wasn't as complex as I was anticipating, but I couldn't put it down. I'm lucky I got any work done today.

I listened to this book, and the narrator (Ari Fliakos) TOTALLY captures the tone of book. He did an EXCELLENT, AMAZING job.

Almost through listening to the audiobook of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. And just started reading the ebook Defending Jacob.

Both because of BOTN recommends.

I've decided to put down The Woman Who Died A Lot and pick up Cloud Atlas where I left off a week ago, starting with the fourth story. I'm getting more into it than I did the last time. (These are both audiobooks. I listen to a lot of audiobooks.)

On my Kindle I've started reading The Knife of Never Letting Go. And on my nightstand I've got a copy (yes, an actual book) of Pathfinder.

Reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, which I am really enjoying. Her last one wasn't as good, I thought, as The Forgotten Garden. Also read The Devil in the White City and The Woman in Black, both of which were appropriately spooky for Halloween. Up next is Justin Cronin's The Twelve!

My reading pace has slowed waaay down since July as I've become more physically active/less sedentary; but I did manage to eke out a couple of books this past month:



Coraline (by Neil Gaiman)
Coraline discovers an alternate reality though a small door that at first, seems to open onto a bricked up wall in the new house that her family has moved into; but in fact leads her to her Other Mother and Other Father. Coraline's Other Parents extend a tempting invitation to remain in this Other place which is very much like the one she has left; but much better in terms of the food, care and, attention from parents that Coraline craves.



Coraline (written and narrated by Neil Gaiman)
The audio edition of the children's book (see above.) I'm making my daughter read the book before she listens to the audio. Right now, she has her own images that she talks about and songs that she sings (mouse circus); but I know that if she listens to the audio, she will think her interpretation is "wrong." Because the author narrates, many consider this (as) the way the book is supposed to be heard, and for me, this actually works against my recommending the audio. I like the idea of my daughter using her imagination to read into the book and create something out of it using the author's materials, versus having the world created and handed to her.



The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire (by Robert Kirkman et al)
Graphic novel compendium highlighting leadership issues amongst a group of zombie apocalypse survivors. Though the artwork is in not my favorite style (a bit too cartoonish/unrealistic), I really like the storylines.



The Gun Seller (by Hugh Laurie)
Very clever, but a bit tiresome after a while. The wittiness obscures the plot and I found it difficult to find the"heart" or voice of the novel. It's about a former British soldier who is hired out as a hit man; but nothing is as it seems and nothing turns out the way you would think. Sounds intriguing, yes? But alas, the prattling never stops and it was actually a bit of a relief when it was over. I read it in small doses.



Gotz and Meyer (by David Albahari; translated from the Serbian by Ellen Elias Bursac)
This is a short but deep novella about a post-war Jew in Belgrade who researches his family tree. During his research, his mind seizes upon the names of the drivers of a Black Raven (a Saurer transport truck used to gas its passengers) that was used at the Fairgrounds (a holding camp for Jews.) The story is nearly stream of consciousness and, the sanity of the narrator is questionable; but the pathos is riveting. It's not an easy read: It's a bit difficult to understand what the question posed by Albahari is, so the answer (s) may or may not be evident. I sometimes wonder if a novel such as this would make more sense if I were Jewish.


I'm about to start The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains (by Nicholas Carr.) Ironically, one of my weight-loss support groups has started a book club ("Remember to exercise your mind as well as your body") and this is their first pick. I'm notoriously bad at book clubs/group participation; but I'm willing to try again! Just skimming through it today, I'm thinking there's something very McLuhanish about the book. I wonder where my copy of Hamlet on the Holodeck is?

Liked but did not love Gone Girl. 3 stars. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Whaddya know? The book I'm reading is featured in this week's podcast.

finished & & almost finished with

Beth Anne wrote: "Almost through listening to the audiobook of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. And just started reading the ebook Defending Jacob.

Both because of BOTN recommends."

Defending Jacob should have come with a warning... that you will stay up all night reading it because you cannot put it down! Luckily I started on a Friday. Hope you enjoy it!

Blair wrote: "Moved on to as I try to up my scary books for Halloween. A really smart book about werewolves - I would have thought that was an oxymoron, but check this out ..."

Sequele to The Last Werewolfwas recently released. I have to say that it was just as enjoyable and a great Halloween read. Talulla Rising, check it out.