Books on the Nightstand discussion

I am reading Ayelet Waldman's new Love & Treasure which I have been looking forward to for a long time. Really enjoying it so far.

The Wives of Los Alamos

Today from Amazon I received "By Its Cover" the latest in the Commissario Brunetti mysteries by Donna Leon. It is a series I really enjoy. Also reading "The Days of Anns Madrigal".

Still reading & also reading

Crossing to Safety

I'm reading Atonement.

I am so far behind with the books I was planning to read. Have to switch my focus to Booktopia Boulder authors. Reading Want Not right now.

This book tells the story of the women (and men) who worked in a prefab town (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), enriching uranium for the Manhattan Project. The work of the enrichment plants was compartmentalized in such a way so that a very few people actually knew what was being done.

Chapters alternate from the viewpoints of the "girls" to the big picture storyline of the research into atomic theory and the practical application of it, leading up to the deployment of the bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I found the book informative, but the writing seemed rushed and choppy. The story of the "girls" never seemed to stay with one point of view long enough for the reader to get a sense of any of the individual personalities. The book seemed like it needed a rewrite or two, and then it could have become a better "Greatest Generation" document to rival "Unbroken", or similar modern classics of the narrative WWII history genre.

Last night I finished .

Gerald wrote: "Last night I finished The Martian."

What did you think about it? I listened to it and loved it!

Susanne wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Last night I finished The Martian."

What did you think about it? I listened to it and loved it!"

As an audio book it was great,well narrated. The story was terrific and never lost the excitement or the suspense.As a long time Nasa watcher every countdown made me nervous.Not knowing a heck of a lot about the inside of Nasa I did wonder about the politics and the cost and make up of the Mars missions. Although there were foreigners involved in the mission ( I can only assume that they were not from this country)foreign nations such as the European nations did not seem to be involved in the missions.As for the science of the mission I dont know although I have read about the complexities of setting up the Mars landing sites.I do feel that I have a decent idea of what Mars is like much more than after seeing or reading pre Moon landing stories. Basically I loved the novel also.

Gerald wrote: "As an audio book it was great, well narrated. The s..."

I agree. I had a few questions about the science (although he was so McGuyverish I bought it, although, the ending...could that really happen?) and the ability of an engine/booster/whatever-it-was created by one country to fit seamlessly with a shuttle made in another country, BUT the book was so entertaining, I didn't care. I put aside the other books I was reading to finish it.

Susanne wrote: "Gerald wrote: "As an audio book it was great, well narrated. The s..."

I agree. I had a few questions about the science (although he was so McGuyverish I bought it, although, the ending...could th..."
The ending...The description of the ascent I guess was plausable although not plausable from our moon with no atmosphere .

I am listening now to Remembered this from an early podcast but another listen and not a read. I am really getting lazy.

Gerald wrote: "I am listening now to Remembered this from an early podcast but another listen and not a read. I am really getting lazy."

...and there are five more waiting for you after you get done with that one, Gerald.

People Are Unappealing: Even Me by Sara Barron

Just got this from B&N and loving it! It's like watching an episode of the tv show, which if you've never experienced, you should try!

Jen wrote: "
Just got this from B&N and loving it! It's like watching an episode of the tv show, which if you've never experienced, you should try!"

Yay! Love Veronica Mars and I'm very happy about this series. Hope you continue to enjoy it, Jen!

Just finished The Cartographer of No Man's Land

On to:
The Museum of Extraordinary Things

New Life, No Instructions: A Memoir

Then I have to delve into my huge own it pile!!

Linda OK I just clicked on the book cover.

All Standing: The True Story of Hunger, Rebellion, and Survival Aboard the Jeanie Johnston, and it is really interesting.

I gave this to my mother last year as she is very proud of her Irish heritage. She enjoyed it so much that she got a second copy to give to another relative. Now I'm curious about the book.

The Moon and the Sun by Vonda McIntyre. It hasn't grabbed me yet, but probably would have when I was a teenager.

I'm wondering if Ann and Michael have done a podcast about how your literary tastes change as you age. Mine certainly have, though it's more of a genre-based change rather than a specific topic area.

I am totally absorbed in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. What a great gem! I don't want it to end — that would mean Game Over!
Happy reading all!

Pam wrote: "The Moon and the Sun by Vonda McIntyre. It hasn't grabbed me yet, but probably would have when I was a teenager.

I'm wondering if Ann and Michael have done a podcast about how your literary tastes..."

What a great idea for a topic!

Just finished Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship (loved it 4.5 stars!) & now starting The Middle Place

Finished Love and Treasure. Now I'm reading The Vacationers by Emma Straub. Pretty funny.

Just about to start We Were Liars (Booktopia Asheville) and I'm really excited for it.

Just finished The Bookman's Tale which was so much bookish loving fun.

Now I'm reading The Perfume Collector for book club next week.

Also for fun I'm reading Only Forward which I'm loving so far. A great kind of surrealist science fiction.

The volume of books here is just amazing to me. I just finished Running by Patrick Lee and Carry Me Across the Water by Ethan Canin. Both awesome. Going to do reviews now. (Have to learn how to include the images/links in my comment :]

I finished last night.

Listening to

Read the hard copy, original first edition. Could not put it down.

This book is a slow burner. It may not grab you within the first fifty pages, but persevere, and you'll be rewarded.

As the story progresses, you'll see how the six principal characters in this story (set in war-torn Chechnya from 1994 through 2004), interrelate and touch each other's lives.

The title comes from the definition of life found in a medical dictionary. In the context of this novel, that definition refers to, not only the cells and processes within one organism, but individual people relating to one another within a sea of desperate humanity.

I've noticed lately that some novels set in the modern day real world, especially in countries at war or with repressive regimes, resemble dystopian science fiction stories. This is one of those.

Funny at times, but also devastatingly heartbreaking.

Pam and Lil: that exact topic (reading taste changing with age) was just covered by hosts Simon and Thomas in the The Readers, a book-based banter podcast produced in the U.K. Highly recommend both this episode and the podcast in general. Simon is brilliant. (And I think he is coming to the U.S. for a Booktopia?)

Chanda2426 wrote: "I am totally absorbed in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. What a great gem! I don't want it to end — that would mean Game Over!
Happy reading all!"

I listened to this audiobook and loved it. I wasn't much of a gamer but knew enough to understand the general ideas.

Our Book Club just met and discussed A Better Way of Dying by Jeanne Fitzpatrick and Eileen Fitzpatrick. This is a book everyone, regardless of age, should read. Described as "The fail-safe plan for ensuring one's final wishes are respected." It explains why a Living Will does not cover all events and discusses natural death. It also includes a Compassionate Care Protocol to ensure that your wishes are met. Tough topic but applies to us all.

I just finished Life after Life by Jill McCorkle. I enjoyed it but had a very hard time keeping track of the characters at the beginning. I wish I had seen the "cast of characters" listed at the end of the book when I started it. I am still not sure if three of the Hospice patience are related to other characters in the book. Does anyone know if Willis Morgan Hall,Mary Grace Robertson or Jeremiah Mason Bass are related to others?

Eric wrote: "
This book is a slow burner. It may not grab you within the first fifty pages, but persevere, and you'll be rewarded.

As the story p..."

My book club read this too. I agree a slow start but mesmerizing at the end.

Just thought I add this, Mickey Rooney dead today at the age of 93! RIP

Pam wrote: "Chanda2426 wrote: "I am totally absorbed in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. What a great gem! I don't want it to end — that would mean Game Over!
Happy reading all!"

I listened to this audiobook..."

I love the 80s references! They remind me how old I am!

That very topic was discussed on a recent episode of The Readers.

Pam wrote: "The Moon and the Sun by Vonda McIntyre. It hasn't grabbed me yet, but probably would have when I was a teenager.

I'm wondering if Ann and Michael have done a podcast about how your literary tastes..."

I've been reading I Want to Show You More over the weekend and am finding it quietly devastating. The stories center on suffering, loss, grief, infidelity and mental illness, all with an undercurrent of religion and faith and, sometimes, the loss of it. The writing is beautiful and often startling. I'm looking forward to finishing it and picking up something a tad lighter.

I finished Not I:Memoir of a German Childhood by Joachim Fest and Shotgun Love Stories by Nickolas Butler. Really enjoyed Shotgun Lovesongs!

I just started listening to The Martian audiobook. At first I wasn't sure if I could listen to 10 hours of log book entries, but this morning the story came back down to earth and now I'm hooked.

I'm listening to the audio of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. My eldest son always makes fun of me for not finishing the series (I only read the first 3 books) whereas he has read the entire series 8 times. I have vowed to read/listen to them all this summer in preparation for a trip to Universal Studios in December. I always knew there was a trip that a 60 yo mom could enjoy with her 28 yo son...lol.

The man who narrates the HPB on audio,Jim dale is doing a one man show here in my hometown Wilmington de. I believe it's going to BWAY.

Gerald wrote: "The man who narrates the HPB on audio,Jim dale is doing a one man show here in my hometown Wilmington de. I believe it's going to BWAY."

Jim Dale is a fabulous narrator, no doubt about it.

Janet wrote: "Gerald wrote: "The man who narrates the HPB on audio,Jim dale is doing a one man show here in my hometown Wilmington de. I believe it's going to BWAY."

Jim Dale is a fabulous narrator, no doubt ab..."

He stole my Hagrid voice!

I read these books to my son (who is now 24) as his goodnight book - yes I read to him probably long past when most parents would. Somehow we listened to one of the books on a road trip with my husband/his dad. Hagrid had the same voice that I had given him.

"Bertie Plays the Blues" by Alexander McCall Smith (one of my favorite authors). :)