THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I am reading "the Monster in the Box",by Ruth Rendell. I have mostly read her Barbara Vine books and wanted to see if her characters and story lines were as dysfunctional in her "own" books. I am enjoying this mystery, but aside from the fact that there is one very weird character, it's as if I am discussing 2 different authors!

Hi all............A couple of pages ago I wrote that I had ordered the book "The Other Side of the Night", which is the story of the ships Carpathia and Californian which were involved in the fate of the Titanic and its passengers. The author is Daniel Allen Butler. I knew nothing in advance about the book but the subject matter interested me. Well, I am here to tell you that this is one terrific book and I am only half-way though it. Even before finishing it, I am recommending it with four stars!

Jill wrote: "Hi all............A couple of pages ago I wrote that I had ordered the book "The Other Side of the Night", which is the story of the ships Carpathia and Californian which were involved in the fate ..."

Jill- based on that - I'm putting The Other Side of the Night in the James mason bookshelf!

I'm reading a new book:City of Dragons, by Kelli Stanley. It's a noir mystery set in 1940's Chinatown. I'm reading it because it was assigned to me for review, and I'm having a terrible time adjusting to the author's style. She doesn't write in complete sentences. "Went home. Saw a man on the porch. Said hi...." I'm trying to put aside my personal objections to the style & judge the book on its merits as a whole. I'm only about 60 pages in, so I'm trying to give it a chance & remain open-minded.

On my own, I'm currently reading a lot of international literature, as I'm participating in an "Around the World in 80 Books" challenge. Next up will probably be Leon Uris's Mila 18.

I'm going to read Maugham's stories "The Letter" and "Rain" for my land-based book group.

Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Hi all............A couple of pages ago I wrote that I had ordered the book "The Other Side of the Night", which is the story of the ships Carpathia and Californian which were involved..."

Rick........thanks for putting the book on the bookshelf. It's a dandy

I am really looking forward to a productive month of reading in March. I have a long list of books to read, but the first three will be:
Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
American Rust by Philipp Meyer

All three are for my reading group, Reading With Sea, which is why they are first. I'm looking forward to good discussion. Then I want to finish The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and a few others that should be coming in the mail any day. Maybe today! : )

I've been loving, loving using my Moleskine Passion Book Journal and have been taking it everywhere with me. I am loving it so much that I think others need to check these journals out, so I decided to give one away this month. If anyone is interested in getting it, they can check it out here:

http://readingwithsea.wordpress.com/2010...

Otherwise, what are you all looking forward to reading in March?
-Sea

Hi Sea, i love journal writing, too. But my journal not only contains written words bur doodles and sketches, too! :D

I read Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead way back in college and were partly responsible for making me pursue a career in law.

Im reading Wild Swans now by Jung Chang and i love it!

Ivan wrote: "I'm going to read Maugham's stories "The Letter" and "Rain" for my land-based book group."

loved the Bette Davis Version of The Letter- 1941- Herbert Marshall and James Stephenson were especially superb

Jill wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Hi all............A couple of pages ago I wrote that I had ordered the book "The Other Side of the Night", which is the story of the ships Carpathia and Californian which ..."

my pleasure, Jill!

Miss GP wrote: "I'm reading a new book:City of Dragons, by Kelli Stanley. It's a noir mystery set in 1940's Chinatown. I'm reading it because it was assigned to me for review, and I'm having a ter..."

haha- i have to admit- I HATE that style of minimalist writing- I know you have to review it- but I would have a hard time getting into the characters

I am just about finished with The Amateurs by Marcus Sackey and 1/4 done with Captain Blood by Raphael Sabatini - next up for my current thriller book is SAFER by Sean Doolittle and I hope to complete Captain Blood and then Basil by Wilkie Collins this month.

I just finished reading Maugham's "The Letter" - quite a bit different from the Bette Davis film - with a different ending. Imagine Hollywood changing the ending to fit their moral code.

Now I'm reading "Rain" by the same author.

Ivan wrote: "I just finished reading Maugham's "The Letter" - quite a bit different from the Bette Davis film - with a different ending. Imagine Hollywood changing the ending to fit their moral code.

Now I'..."


I think Rain was made into a film in early 1930's maybe 1930- with joan crawford and walter huston

Rick wrote: "Ivan wrote: "I just finished reading Maugham's "The Letter" - quite a bit different from the Bette Davis film - with a different ending. Imagine Hollywood changing the ending to fit their moral co..."

I have it on video and tried to watch it - urgh - it was so dated - and Joan's performance is so exaggerated (not to mention the fact that she looks so many drag queens I know).

Ivan wrote: "Rick wrote: "Ivan wrote: "I just finished reading Maugham's "The Letter" - quite a bit different from the Bette Davis film - with a different ending. Imagine Hollywood changing the ending to fit t..."
Rick.....I think there was also a silent version of "Rain" with the tragic singer Jean Eagles. There was also the version "Sadie Thompson" with Rita Hayworth (I think).
Hollywood loves to eviscerate books when they come to the screen....................why?

Ivan.........I should have addressed that comment to you, and yes, Joan Crawford was way over the top!!!!

Emmett Kelly never wore as much make-up!

currently reading Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife for one of my book groups and am surprisingly enjoying it, really enjoy the sci-fi angle of the story, though it is plodding in places.

Hollywood was working under the Hays Code- which restricted alot of what scripts could contain- many writers hated the film adaptions of their books since the film only bore a passing resemblence to the book. Aslo one must take into consideration that writing a scene in a book is far less expensive then filming it- so many books are edited on screen. But mostly- it comes down to the fact that most writers are in the idea and message business while studios are in the money business-thats why they buy all the rights to a book so they can mutilate it all they want- and still retain the title.

Rick wrote: "Hollywood was working under the Hays Code- which restricted alot of what scripts could contain- many writers hated the film adaptions of their books since the film only bore a passing resemblence t..."
Rick.........those were excellent thoughts on the transfer of book to movie. No wonder many authors don't sell their book rights to film. I don't mind the moviemakers editing out portions of books for film, such as in "Wuthering Heights" but when the film totally changes the storyline, I get grumpy! One of the few books that was not tampered with was "Rebecca" by Daphne DeMaurier which Hitchcock transferred to film almost word for word....."Last night I dreamed I went to Manderly again".......that first line quote always pops up in trivia quizzes.

Rick..........Do you know of any good biographies of our favorite actor James Mason?

YES!!! ROBERT MORLEY'S SON SHERIDAN MORLEY WROTE A BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES MASON CALLED- ODD MAN OUT!

my favorite book to film transfer is Norman MaClean's A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

Rick wrote: "YES!!! ROBERT MORLEY'S SON SHERIDAN MORLEY WROTE A BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES MASON CALLED- ODD MAN OUT!"

Thanks Rick.............I will take your advice and look for it on-line.

I just picked up "The Shadow of Reichenbach Falls" at the library. I looked at the reviews here and it looks like I am going to be disappointed.....they were not very complimentary.......but I will give it a try.

I'm currently in the middle of or at some other point in twelve books, two of which are re-reads, but at the moment am actually reading just two. Which are Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon, the why is because i love her Dark-Hunters series and am eager to read all the books in the series. And Blazing Bedtime Stories IV, the why is because there's recently been a crisis in my family and February in general was very trying and so i am in need of some fun light-hearted escapism, which thankfully is what that book is proving to be.

Currently working on Crime and Punishment for my Russian literature class, and my independent study of Jane Austen's works in German, which right now is finishing Pride and Prejudice. Otherwise that, it's working on the short stories and poems in my German literature textbook, Baroque and Classical music history textbook and then my International Studies Capstone senior project readings, which for me is reading quite a bit of old documents.

O, the joy of being a college student under the gun to try and finish by May. After this, I can actually read for fun again...O, how I can't wait for that day. May 15th, marked and circled on the calender...only 47 more school days with finals and counting...

Jill wrote: "Ivan.........I should have addressed that comment to you, and yes, Joan Crawford was way over the top!!!!"

I finished the story and did watch the film again. I wanted to see if it ended the same way - and it pretty much did. Crawford not as pretty good, Huston rather stilted.

Rachel wrote: "Currently working on Crime and Punishment for my Russian literature class, and my independent study of Jane Austen's works in German, which right now is finishing [book:Pride and Prejud..."

I found CRIME AND PUNISHMENT very good- it was not the dry- demorilizing tome I thought it would be- rather- a very good read

Lauren wrote: "I'm currently in the middle of or at some other point in twelve books, two of which are re-reads, but at the moment am actually reading just two. Which are Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon, the why is b..."

seems very facinating- here is some info you and others might find interesting

Sherrilyn Kenyon (b. 1965 in Columbus, Georgia, USA) is a #1 bestselling and award-winning US writer of both fiction and nonfiction. Under her own name she writes Urban Fantasy and is best known for her Dark-Hunter vampire series. Under the pseudonym Kinley MacGregor she wrote historicals also with paranormal elements.[1:] Kenyon's novels have an "international following,"[2:] with over twenty million copies in print in over thirty countries. Under both names, her books appear at the top of the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today lists, and they are frequent bestsellers in Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Her website averages over a million hits a month, and her visitors come from over forty countries.[2:] Her annual fan convention K-Con is so popular that it sells out every year in under five minutes and brings visitors from all over the world to New Orleans, LA where her acclaimed Dark-Hunter novels are set.

[edit:] Dark-Hunter series
The Dark-Hunters are immortal warriors pledged to the Greek goddess Artemis and dedicated to defending mankind against Daimons (vampires) and other assorted enemies: including a couple of rogue gods and goddesses.

Fantasy Lover, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2002) (ISBN 0-31297-997-5)
"The Beginning" [12:], also in the back of Sins of the Night early print editions (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2002)
"Dragonswan", in the anthology Tapestry, published by Jove (2002, ISBN 0-51513-362-0) and reprinted singly by Berkley (2005, ISBN 0-51514-079-1)
Night Pleasures, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2002) (ISBN 0-31297-998-3)
Amanda Devereaux has a crazy family. Her mother and older siblings are witches and psychics, and her twin sister is a vampire hunter. All Amanda wants is a quiet, normal life. Only when she finds herself the target of an attack meant for her twin, she wakes to find herself handcuffed to a sexy, blonde stranger.

He is Kyrian of Thrace. And while Amanda's first thought is that this might be another of her sister's attempt at extreme match-making, it soon becomes clear that Kyrian is not boyfriend material.

He is a Dark-Hunter: an immortal warrior who has traded his soul for one moment of vengeance upon his enemies. Kyrian spends his eternal days hunting the vampires and daimons that prey upon mankind. He is currently on the hunt for a very old and dealy daimon called Desiderius who has deemed it sport to handcuff Kyrian to a human while he hunts him. Now Kyrian and Amanda must find a way to break their bond lest they give into their dangerous attraction to one another. Or Desiderius kills them both.

Night Embrace, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2003) (ISBN 0-31298-482-0)
"Phantom Lover", in the anthology Midnight Pleasures (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2003) (ISBN 0-31298-762-5)
Dance with the Devil, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2003) (ISBN 0-31298-483-9)
"A Dark-Hunter Christmas", [13:], also in the back of Dance with the Devil early print editions (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2003)
Kiss of the Night, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2004) (ISBN 0-31299-241-6)
Night Play, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2004) (ISBN 0-31299-242-4)
"Winter Born", in the anthology Stroke of Midnight (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2004) (ISBN 0-31299-876-7)
Seize the Night, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005) (ISBN 0-31299-243-2)
Valerius isn't a popular dark-hunter-he's a Roman, which means that the largely Greek Hunters have a major grudge against him and his civilisation for superseding them. To make things worse , he's very conscious of his aristocratic background and breeding. So it serves him right when he runs into Tabitha Devereaux. She's sassy, sexy and completely unwilling to take him seriously. (Not to mention Tabitha is also the sister in law of Kyrian, a former Dark-Hunter and Val's mortal enemy.)

What Tabitha does take seriously is hunting and killing vampires, and soon she and Val have to grapple with the deadliest of all daimons-one who's managed to come back from the dead, and one who holds a serious grudge against both of them. To win against evil, Val will have to loosen up, learn to trust and put everything on the line to protect a man he hates and a woman who drives him nuts.

Sins of the Night, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005) (ISBN 0-31293-432-7)
"Second Chances", in Exclusive Dark-Hunter Collectible Booklet (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005), free giveaway
Unleash the Night, (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2005) (ISBN 0-31293-433-5)
Dark Side of the Moon (St. Martin's Press, 2006, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2007)(HB ISBN 0-31235-743-5, PB ISBN 0-31293-434-3)
"A Hard Day's Night-Searcher", in the anthology My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (St. Martin's Griffin, 2006) (ISBN 0-31234-360-4)
"Until Death We Do Part", in the anthology Love At First Bite (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2006) (ISBN 0-31234-929-7)
"Fear the Darkness", free ebook (St. Martin's Press, 2007)
The Dream-Hunter (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2007) (ISBN 0-31293-881-0)
Devil May Cry (St. Martin's Press, 2007, reprinted by St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2008) (HB ISBN 0-31236-950-6, PB ISBN 0-31294-686-4)
Upon the Midnight Clear (St. Martin's Paperback, 2007) (ISBN 0-31294-705-4)
The Dark-Hunter Companion, co-author Alethea Kontis (St. Martin's Griffin, 2007) (ISBN 0-31236-343-5)
Dream Chaser (St. Martin's Paperback, 2008) (ISBN 0-31293-882-9)
Acheron (St. Martin's Press, 2008) (ISBN 0-312-36215-3)
One Silent Night (St. Martin's Press, 2008) (ISBN 0-31294-706-2)
"Shadow of the Moon", in the anthology Dead After Dark (St. Martin's Press, 2008) (ISBN 0-31294-798-4)
Dream Warrior (St. Martin's Press, 2009) (ISBN 0-31293-883-7)
Bad Moon Rising (St. Martin's Press, 2009)
[edit:] B.A.D. Agency Series
Published by Simon & Schuster

"BAD to the Bone", in the anthology Big Guns Out of Uniform (2005) (ISBN 1-41650-967-4)
"Captivated By You", in the anthology Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down: Three Tales of Erotic Romance (2005) (ISBN 1-41650-159-2)
Bad Attitude, (2005) (HB ISBN 1-41650-356-0, PB ISBN 1-41652-029-5)
Born to Be B.A.D., a reprint of the BAD stories PLUS a new short story called "One BAD Night" (2005) (ISBN 1-41650-750-7)
"Turn Up the Heat", in the anthology Playing Easy to Get (Pocket, 2006) (ISBN 1-41651-087-7)
Phantom of the Night, (2008) (ISBN 1-41650-357-9)
"Whispered Lies," (2009) (ISBN 9-781416-597421)
[edit:] Nevermore Series
TBA/2007
[edit:] Other Novels and Novellas
Daemon's Angel, (Leisure, 1995) (ISBN 0-50552-026-5)
"Love Bytes", in the anthology Naughty or Nice (St. Martin's Press, 2000) (ISBN 0-31298-102-3)
"Knightly Dreams", in the anthology What Dreams May Come (Penguin Group, 2005) (ISBN 0-42521-085-5)
[edit:] Essays
"The Search of Spike's Balls", in Seven Seasons of Buffy edited by Ben Bella (ISBN 1-93210-008-3)
"Parting Gifts", in Five Seasons of Angel edited by Glenn Yeffeth (ISBN 1-93210-033-4)
[edit:] Non-Fiction
The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Middle Ages, (Writer's Digest, 1995)
The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic, (Writer's Digest, 2000)
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, with Hal Blythe and Charlie Sweet (ISBN 0-89879-632-6)
The Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook, 2nd ed. (ISBN 1-58297-295-8)
[edit:] Writing as Kinley MacGregor
Published by Avon (HarperCollins Publishers) unless noted otherwise.

[edit:] The Sea Wolves Series
Master of Seduction, (2000) (ISBN 0-06108-712-2)
A Pirate of Her Own, (2004) (ISBN 0-06108-711-4)
[edit:] The MacAllisters Series
Master of Desire, (2001) (ISBN 0-06108-713-0)
Claiming the Highlander, (2002) (ISBN 0-38081-789-6)
Born in Sin, (2003) (ISBN 0-38081-790-X)
Taming the Scotsman, (2003) (ISBN 0-38081-791-8)
"Midsummer's Knight", in the anthology Where's My Hero? (2003) (ISBN 0-06050-524-9)
The Warrior, (2007)
[edit:] Brotherhood of the Sword Series
Born in Sin, (2003) (ISBN 0-38081-790-X)
Taming the Scotsman, (2003) (ISBN 0-38081-791-8)
"Midsummer's Knight", in the anthology Where's My Hero? (2003) (ISBN 0-06050-524-9)
A Dark Champion, (2004) (ISBN 0-06056-541-1)
Return of the Warrior, (2005) (ISBN 0-06056-543-8)
The Warrior, (2007) (ISBN 0-06079-667-7)
[edit:] Lords of Avalon Series
Sword of Darkness, (2006)(ISBN 0-06056-544-6)
Knight of Darkness, (2006) (ISBN 0-06079-662-6)
"The Wager", in the anthology Elemental: The Tsunami Relief Anthology: Stories of Science Fiction and Fantasy (Tor Books, 2006)
[edit:] Other Novels and Novellas
"Santa Wears Spurs", in the anthology All I Want for Christmas (St. Martin's Press, 1999) (ISBN 0-31297-680-1)
[edit:]

I am currently reading The Blind Assassin because it is the book of the month in one of the book clubs I have joined, but I am enjoying the possibility to get acquainted with Margaret Atwood, whom I had never read. Enjoying it so far!

I finally finished City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley. I hated the author's writing style at first, but it actually grew on me. And, her attention to historical detail (1940s San Francisco) was amazing - little things, like the main character turning on a radio & then waiting for the volume to come up to full as the tubes warmed up.

Still, I'm very pleased to be moving on to an author whose work I love: Kurt Vonnegut. I just started Galapagos this morning. I picked it because it fit two challenges I'm working on in other groups. Needless to say, I'm enjoying it immensely. Vonnegut was a genius!

I'm reading Dante's Daughter by Kimberley Heuston.
This book is a historical fiction book.

I am reading Before I wake by Dee Henderson who is a Christian author. This book isn't one of her better ones but I am still enjoying it. When i get finished with it I will write a review on here and on my blog so anyone can read it.

J.R. wrote: "Has anyone read Alan Bradley's series featuring Flavia DeLuce, a delightfull 11-year-old chemist and lover of poisons? I read the first, 'Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie' last summer and recentl..."

I loved Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book from Bradley. I just started the Woman in White by Wilkie Collins in preparation for reading Drood.

I recently finished The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. A re-read for me. I love this story. It paints a wonderful portrait of affluent society in Victorian New York. My favorite line is the protagonist's comment on 'the abysmal purity of young women'. I also just finished Pamela Clare's new release, Naked Edge. I don't read a lot of romantic suspense, but she's a must-read author for me. This book didn't disappoint.

Congradulations Rick! I am sure the membership surpassed your wildest expectations. Laying the groundwork for what is becoming a mini empire, awesome to see!

**Soumya** wrote: "I'm reading Dante's Daughter by Kimberley Heuston.
This book is a historical fiction book."

love to know your review of that book- love historical fiction

Brian wrote: "Congradulations Rick! I am sure the membership surpassed your wildest expectations. Laying the groundwork for what is becoming a mini empire, awesome to see!"

thanks you so much Brian- you have been a very valuable member- please read my Group Announcement post- first in dicussion-

Miss GP wrote: "I finally finished City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley. I hated the author's writing style at first, but it actually grew on me. And, her attention to historical detail (1940s San Fra..."

interesting on how it "grew on you"- I guess if we give abook a chance- i can "grow on you"

Rick wrote: "**Soumya** wrote: "I'm reading Dante's Daughter by Kimberley Heuston.
This book is a historical fiction book."

love to know your review of that book- love historical fiction"

Sure. i'll post the review here once I finish the book. So far it's really good.

I was at the library yesterday to return "Passage to India" which I was reading as the March read for Young Bright Things( a Goodreads group when I walked by the new 14 day section ( the regular check out is 21 days) and I saw a book with its jacket out and it's jacket was bright yellow and delightfully illustrated almost like a graphic novel. The name of the book is The Possessed Adventures with Russian Books and The People Who Read Them by Elif Batuman. It is the memoir of a Russian Literature grad student and her various adventures as she did her studies. I am enjoying it immensely. I would not normally have pursued this particular book since I don't read that many memoirs and haven't read that much Russian literature. I don't know if it was fate or an aura or what but I am glad it happened and I highly recommend this book.

The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin. This is my second Gervase Fen mystery - and I'm loving them.

Justin wrote: "Sadie wrote: "This will be my first Anne Tyler novel. She's my friend's favorite authors as well. I'll let you know what I think."

I'm curious what you think of the Anne Tyler novel. I've been ..."

I liked the book, but wasn't amazed by it by any means. I do intend to read some more of her novels and then I can get a real feel for Tyler and know better if I like her stuff.

I'm just starting Little Women for another goodreads group that I am a part of. I'm also listening to The Count of Monte Cristo with my husband. It is one of my favorites but he has never read it. Reading Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban with my children and they are loving it.

Rick wrote: "interesting on how it "grew on you"- I guess if we give abook a chance- it can "grow on you"

I'm one of those folks that can't stand to leave a book unfinished just in case it gets better. I kind of always think... what if it got really, really good after I quit, and I seem like an idiot for hating a book I didn't finish? I mean, how can you really have an opinion about something if you only experience a small percentage of it? It's like touching a cat's tail for the first time, & then proclaiming you don't like cats because they're too long, skinny & boney. So, I almost always finish a book. I do have to admit, though, that it's rare for one to go from "I hate this, it's unreadable" to "that was really pretty good" - but it does happen.

Miss GP wrote: "Rick wrote: "interesting on how it "grew on you"- I guess if we give abook a chance- it can "grow on you"

I'm one of those folks that can't stand to leave a book unfinished just in case it gets ..."

Miss GP..........you make a really good point. Books, like people, should be given a chance. I have picked up some books that started out horribly but improved as they went along. Of course, there are those that start out horribly and continue horribly. I must admit that I have put down several books unfinished because it was a too much of a task to struggle with them. But those incidences are few and far between.

Right now I am reading "Tess of the D'Urvervilles" by Thomas Hardy (1891) for the Victorians group read and "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" by Winifred Watson (1938) just for fun. I enjoyed the movie and love this time period's clothing!

Hi everyone,
I am reading an fascinating story called "The Sunne In Splendour", By Sharon Kay Penman. A Glorious Novel of the controversial Richard III. A monarch betrayed in life by his allies. From the bedchambers to the battlefields. Excellent depiction and discription of the scenes of Royal families in battle in England.

I love reading history! Cannot put the book down!

Sharon Kay Penman