The Next Best Book Club discussion

Finished reading virus on orbis 1 . Now trying to finish what happened to case mcbride and the shining. Will next read notes from ghost town.

Jane wrote: "Started Bill Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid this morning and I'm laughing out loud!"

I couldn't agree with you more. That is a terrific book and the second of his that I've read. "A Walk in the Woods" is an uproarious telling about his adventures on the Appalachian Trail. Now I just have to decide what of his to read next!

Csencsitz wrote: "I just started The Children of Henry VIII. I have been trying to get into more non-fiction, but sometimes I just get too distracted and bored with the writing (I'm working on that...I ..."

Another good fictional telling of the same era is "Wolf Hall" by Hillary Mantel. Just finished that and found it very easy to read and follow along (but a notepad with some of the names is helpful). Really want to get "Brining up the Bodies," the second in the planned trilogy by Mantel.

Sandra wrote: "I just finished The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti. This was my little review:

"You cannot go back and make a new start, but you can start now and make a ..."

I read The Almond Tree not too long ago and it just makes such a statement and so memorable. The author has given away probably over 1000 copies and she still is putting it on FirstReads if anyone is interested in reading it.

Karen M wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I just finished The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti. This was my little review:

"You cannot go back and make a new start, but you can start ..."

I didn't know she gave away so many copies. It's a great reading.

I finished reading today, Wicked Autumn, and I am also almost finished with, Unwritten.

Right now I'm 15 pages into a book called, Revolving Doors by Perri Forrest.

I don't know what to expect or what's to come & that's the beauty of it!

I finished The Year of Billy Miller, The Real Boy, The Thing About Luck, and am reading Broken for You.

This morning I started Christmas at Cardwell Ranch.

I'm reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.

Just started re-reading Harry Potter a couple weeks ago. I'm on book 4, The Goblet of Fire. Can't decide if I want to start Ender's Game or Game of Thrones when I'm finished with HP.

Haunted by James Herbert

I'm reading To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. Her English and her style is being challenging for me, but I'm really loving the reading.

I'm reading Jokerman 8 by Richard Melo. I'm enjoying it as much as his last novel Happy Talk: A Novel which I've read a few months ago for the Author/Reading discussion. It's a different thing to read, funny, and some times hilarious.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Cormac McCarthy's Suttree and am pretty disappointed so far. His other books rank as some of my all-time favorites, but Suttree is almost like Cormac trying to outdo himself with exposition.

I am currently reading she's so dead to us, he's so not worth it,and this is so not happening.

I put aside The Secret History by Donna Tart...it just wasn't grabbing me. I started The Death of Bees and am really enjoying it. It is a quick read which is what I want right now.

Almost halfway in reading Tucker Max's 'i hope they serve beer in hell. helluva funny book!'

Finished reading The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman – 3.5***
A Wolf-Witch is terrorizing the Navajo people, but why? This is the first in the mystery series featuring Lt Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. It’s a wonderful blend of mysticism, tribal folklore and murder. I’ll definitely continue with the series.
Book Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished reading the new book by legendary biologist J. Craig Venter called Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life. Venter takes us through the major discoveries and advances in biology (and especially genomics) since the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953--leading all the way up to the synthesizing of DNA, and the first synthetic life form. It's a fascinating story told by one of biology's most accomplished practitioners. I've written a full executive summary of the book available here: http://newbooksinbrief.com/2013/12/03...

Finished reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner – 4**** (Audio book performed by Richard Poe)
This is a work of literary fiction that explores themes of friendship, love, forgiveness and vulnerability. The framework is the decades-long friendship of two couples who meet in 1937 when both husbands are on the English faculty at University of Wisconsin. The writing is elegant and the prose simply beautiful (and beautifully simple). If you are a reader who needs a strong plot, with a dramatic storyline, this is not the work for you. The lives of these two couples are like the lives of most of us – without epic drama, but full of the joys and sorrows of a decades-long existence.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished reading Grave Peril by Jim Butcher – 3.5***
This is the third Harry Dresden novel. I really like this series, which is surprising given my usual avoidance of the paranormal / fantasy genre. Butcher writes a good action-packed, page-turner and he explains the rules of the NeverNever so even a non-fan can understand. They’re not great literature, but they are fast, entertaining reads.
Book Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am reading by L.M Montgomery and by frances hodgson burnett. I know they are children's reads (well Emily climbs can be classified as a ya book) but this is my first time reading them and I am loving them.

I'm reading Engleby by Sebastian Faulks.

Reading by Jonathan Nasaw.

Gabriella, I read The Secret Garden his year for the first time too, and I loved it!

I just finished the she's so dead to us trilogy and I'm now reading notes from ghost town

Girls In Love by Jacqueline Wilson

Sandra wrote: "I'm reading To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. Her English and her style is being challenging for me, but I'm really loving the reading.

I'm reading Jokerman 8 by Ric..."

Sandra, I love that one of our Author/Reader Discussion led you to pick up another book by the same author!!!!

Claire wrote: "I put aside The Secret History by Donna Tart...it just wasn't grabbing me. I started The Death of Bees and am really enjoying it. It is a quick read which is what I want right now."

Oh Claire, I am so sad to hear that you put down THE SECRET HISTORY. I really enjoyed that one! Any chance you'll go back and try it again later on?

I'm just starting a Nordic mystery based in Finland, Chilled to the Bone.

The Forest Of Hours
I loved this once, I've forgotten so much about it, but the start's just gorgeous. A kind of philosophical tale about a troll who joins human life. Lives 500 years from Middle Ages to the steam age.

Am reading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.

Dead Giveaway by Charlaine Harris

Just finished JoJo Moyes The Girl You Left Behind. This is one author you can take to the bank. Love her style and the storylines are always intriguing. Gave it a most definite 4.

Finished the audio version of Dead Cert by Dick Francis – 3*** (Book on CD read by Simon Prebble)
Dick Francis writes a good thriller. His plot is well-crafted and moves quickly. There are plenty of red herrings as well as legitimate clues. A fun ride!
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Does anyone know if the Martin Cruz Smith "Arkady Renko" series starting with Gorky Park needs to be read in order or are they all stand alone novels. Thansk

Reading by Jennifer Hillier

Now reading the moon and more.

All Over You by Emily Snow

Finished reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins – 3.5***
This is considered the first modern mystery, and I’ve had it on my tbr list for a long time. I’m glad I finally read it, but it really is quite dated. The melodramatic scenarios and over-the-top dialogue had me chuckling in places where – I’m sure – the original readers felt horror or suspense. It holds up quite well, despite being a very Victorian book, and it’s easy to see why it remains a popular classic.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading The Rotters Club by Jonathan Coe.

I'm reading the prada plan 3 green-eyed monster by Ashley Antoinette.

Finished reading The Great Santini by Pat Conroy – 4****
Lt Col Bull Meecham is the GREATEST Marine Fighter Pilot. Just ask his family or any of the men serving under him. Conroy completely drew me into this dysfunctional family and their complicated relationships. As much as I disliked Bull, I really liked the novel. I have had Pat Conroy on my reading radar for a long time, but never read any of his novels before this. I’m certain this won’t be my last Conroy work.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished the audio version of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov – 5***** (Audiobook performed by Jeremy Irons)
What an excellently written book! Although the subject is distasteful, Nabokov gives us a psychological study that is compelling and interesting. The last time I felt so strongly about such a novel was when I first read Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Just as I was fascinated by Raskolnikov, I wanted to know more about Humbert’s twisted logic and rationalizations. Jeremy Irons does a superb job performing the audio version.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just reread the old John Wyndham classic The Village of the Damned.

The Frangipani Hotel: Stories by Violet Kupersmith

I'm currently reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I'm enjoying the narrative. I'm in the part when the footbinding is described... Oh my...

Stones from the River with Reading Group Guide About 80 pages in and liking it, though I can see why some reviewers said it was a little slow at times or hard to get into.

Gary wrote: "Does anyone know if the Martin Cruz Smith "Arkady Renko" series starting with Gorky Park needs to be read in order or are they all stand alone novels. Thansk"

I've read the first two a while ago but I think there may have been a couple of references to what happened in Gorky Park in the second book, Polar Star and certainly what happened in the first book explains why he is where he is in the second book. I think this may be a series better read in order due to character development. I need to get more of the books since I have books 5 & 7 sitting on the shelf.

I have four chapters left in the moon and more and the I will be reading just one year and golden.