THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I have to say, I learned almost as much about French society and history by read The Count as I did about the characters.

I do like Dumas tangents. What is not to love about Italian bandits? But there seems to be a pay off from every tangent.

Lyn I heard that about the movie too. I understand having to cut out a lot for 2 1/2 hour film, but the basic story is interesting enough not to make big changes.

Lindz - I was SOOOO disappointed!

Lindz wrote: "I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, it is a monster, and you do need some patience, my word Dumas can go on a tangent, but the pay offs in the novel are getting better and better."

Love Dumas. The payoff is worth it.

I am currently reading A Beautiful Boy. My son has been assigned this book as his summer reading for health class. I read all the books assigned to them for fun and discussion.

Rose - I used to do that with my boys, too. In fact, we still try to read some of the same books and discuss them, but they are both in college now.

I started Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette and am enjoying it so far. I am reading this because (1) I have been interested in Marie Antoinette since watching the movie directed by Sophia Coppola and (2) it fits in with my historical fiction challenge for this year.

Rose wrote: "Lindz wrote: "I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, it is a monster, and you do need some patience, my word Dumas can go on a tangent, but the pay offs in the novel are getting better..."

Hey, the Count of Monte Cristo is a good one. I read it back in junior high or so, by my own choice. Long book for fishing trips with the folks, where I'd hang out in the car while they had their fun fishing.

Hi, I am reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Luis Safron. It is great and I loved the wit of the main character. I just finished The Surrendered which I found both tedious, depressing, and quite morbid. Just not my kind of novel.

I'm listening to Crime and Punishment on my ipod (quick plug for librivox.org--free public domain books to download), and I'm reading The Dark Child (African coming of age story from French Guinea). And then I just started reading my son The Lightning Thief... we got about 1/3 of the way through when I decided it was just too scary for him. He was having nightmares about the Minotaur (he is 5). I'm not yet sure if I'll finish it... since I know I'll be getting some good books for Mother's Day.

Jo wrote: "I'm reading Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life"

That's a good one! Lots of practical advice.

Marialyce wrote: "Hi, I am reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Luis Safron. It is great and I loved the wit of the main character. I just finished The Surrendered which I found both tedious, depressing, and quite mor..."

Did you read "The Shadow of the Wind"? If so, which is your favorite?

I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Everything that Rises Must Converge" - Flannery O'Connor

I'm also almost finished with "The Captain's Doll" by D.H. Lawrence, but probably everyone here has read something he wrote. I just can't seem to get enough of him at present! I read "The Rainbow" last month and really appreciated it.

Melissa wrote: "I started Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette and am enjoying it so far. I am reading this because (1) I have been interested in Marie Antoinette since watching the movie directed..."

Melissa, My History of Royals group is reading that book over the next two months and I will be starting it shortly. How is it so far?

I read

Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Everything that Rises Must Conver..."

Judith, I read Everything That Rises Must Convergea couple of months ago, and I have to say, I wasn't in the right mood for it at that time. The stories are very disturbing and deal with the baser side of human nature. I'll be interested to see what you think.

Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Everything that Rises Must Conver..."
Judith.........thanks for reminding me of
The Portable Dorothy Parker. It was on a back shelf of my library and I pulled it out to re-read. I love her writings.

Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Everything that Ri..."

Love Dorothy Parker! Big Blonde is a great story- really enjoyed bio of her "What Sweet Hell"

I am now finishing up I Sniper, and also reading The Phantom of The Opera as well as a fantasy trilogy (To be read in 20 minute intervals!)

I finished my first Terry Pratchett book- Wyrd Sisters- loved it!!!! bought many more of his books- next one I read will probably be Guards Guards or Mort

I'm reading The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle because I loved the TV show and I wanted to try something new.

I am almost finished with- Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde. It tells what is probably the real story about that infamous couple....instead of the romanticized version. Very engrossing tale of how the press made them cult figures when indeed they were just crooks (and not very good ones) who liked to kill people. A good read and I would recommend it.

Lyn M wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I started Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette and am enjoying it so far. I am reading this because (1) I have been interested in Marie Antoinette since watching th..."

I only just started but I like it so far.

Yesterday, I started Certain Prey by John Sandford; it's the 13th book in his Prey series featuring police detective Lucas Davenport, which Barbara mentioned above. It's my first experience with his work; usually, I like to read a series in order, but this volume was recommended by an Internet friend, who believes it can be read out of order or as a stand- alone. (Of course, he's the same friend who suggested Perez-Reverte's The Queen of the South, which proved to be one that I didn't finish; so I'll see if his recommendation hits the mark better this time! :-))

Judith, I've read the title story of the O'Connor collection you mentioned, and a couple of her other stories. Lyn is correct in saying that they're (at least sometimes) "very disturbing," and that they tend to "deal with the baser side of human nature." But O'Connor also has an awareness of the possibility of virtue, grace and illumination, and her stories are actually intended to point in that direction with a positive message (though in some, like "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," the baser elements are so pervasive that the message, like the titular good man, is hard to find). She's a very challenging writer, whose work often requires re-reading; I'm positive that I haven't gotten all of the meaning that's there out of "Everything That Rises Must Converge." But I want to read more of her work --and will, one of these days!

Werner wrote: "Yesterday, I started Certain Prey by John Sandford; it's the 13th book in his Prey series featuring police detective Lucas Davenport, which Barbara mentioned above. It's my first experience with h..."

I love O'Connor - but she is dark. Wise Blood is a masterpiece. I enjoy dark fiction in moderation - books like The Painted Bird, Fight Club and The End Of Alice.

What am I reading now? A Search for the King by Gore Vidal - which is an enthralling entertainment about Blondel and Richard the Lion-hearted.

Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Ev..."

I think my favorites so far are "The Waltz" and "The Telephone Call". So funny!

Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy Parker
"Ev..."

Isn't "Phantom..." a great read? I only read it a year or so ago for the first time, and I loved it! Such a thriller!

Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy ..."

yes!! I love the stle of writing! Judith- do you know of any other books by the author as he seems to be known only for Phantom???

Ivan wrote: "Werner wrote: "Yesterday, I started Certain Prey by John Sandford; it's the 13th book in his Prey series featuring police detective Lucas Davenport, which Barbara mentioned above. It's my first ex..."

I liked "Wise Blood" and "A Good Man is Hard to Find". I'm finding that I relate to some of her stories in "Everything that Rises Must Converge" much more than others. I really liked "The Enduring Chill" and the title story of the book -- "Greenleaf"
and "A View of the Woods" not so much.

Yes, she's dark, but also sometimes hilarious! Her understanding of personal and group/class prejudices and their impacts is so complete, and her ability to describe them in her multiple quirky characters is pure genius! Everyone (at the very least from the American South) must know somebody like one of her main characters, and its always amazing to find someone you know right there on the page!

Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory which I imagine covered a lot of the same territory; I've also been watching the Showtime series The Tudors on DVD.

I'm quite intrigued by the scheming and back-stabbing and licentious behavior that went on in the court of King Henry. Makes it all seem quite modern! Unfortunately for the people in his court (and in England) King Henry's power made it possible for him to execute just about anyone. At least modern politicians (in the western countries anyway) can't do that.

Barbara wrote: "Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory which I imagine covered a lot of th..."

I just found among my MOUNTAIN of books- a novel on Jane Grey or someone like that by Alison Weir- ring any bells? I dont even remember aquiring it!!

Rick wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory which I imagine c..."

Don't remember that one, Rick but I did read another book about the tragic Lady Jane Grey and her sisters, all of whom were in direct line of succession to Henry VIII. It was The Sisters Who Would be Queen. As with most of the books about that period, it was hard to keep all the relatives straight since they often have several titles and use them interchangeably.

Barbara wrote: "I'm quite intrigued by the scheming and back-stabbing and licentious behavior that went on in the court of King Henry.
..."

I'm not saying that there wasn't a lot of scheming etc. in the court of Henry VIII, but you have to remember that these are works of fiction. I have difficulty with Gregory's work precisely because she takes so many liberties with history. There's absolutely no historical basis for many of the actions and events she supposes in her novels.

Rick wrote: "I just found among my MOUNTAIN of books- a novel on Jane Grey or someone like that by Alison Weir- ring any bells? I dont even remember aquiring it!!

Ah, poor Lady Jane. Wrong place (and wrong religion) at the wrong time. She was actually the first woman to be regent of England, if only for nine days. (Also the person to rule England for the shortest period of time.)

Alison Weir and Sharon Kay Penman write very good historical fiction -- much more historically accurate than Philippa Gregory's books.

Miss GP wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm quite intrigued by the scheming and back-stabbing and licentious behavior that went on in the court of King Henry.
..."

I'm not saying that there wasn't a lot of scheming ..."

You're right of course, Miss GP, that these are works of fiction and the authors probably use a lot of poetic license in their work. One thing that irks me about the TV series (The Tudors) is that Henry is pretty swelte and good-looking for the whole series.

I think it's pretty much accepted that at some point Henry got overweight and sickly (in paintings of him late in his reign he's not so cute). I'm not a history buff so I thought I'd ask.....does anyone know when Henry got ill and gained a lot of weight (around which wife)?

It seems to have been during the four years he was married to Anne Boleyn. He suffered a serious jousting accident in 1536 at the age of 44, from which he never completely recovered. It apparently limited his mobility.

Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Parker" - Dorothy ..."

NO, Rick, I have never read anything else by Leroux; but I would like to find a copy of "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" (I THINK that is the title) just to try something else he wrote. Let me know if you ever come across it in English and read it.

I started Waugh's "Decline and Fall" this morning. I needed something light to intersperse with Flannery O'Connor short stories! I think this one will be a hoot! Reminds me of Kingsley Amis' "Lucky Jim".

Miss GP wrote: "It seems to have been during the four years he was married to Anne Boleyn. He suffered a serious jousting accident in 1536 at the age of 44, from which he never completely recovered. It apparentl..."

Thanks Miss GP.

I'm listening to the audio of The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews. It's a young adult book strongly recommended by some folks in another group I belong to. I don't usually read YA literature (though a lot of it is excellent). Just too many books and too little time. I happened to see this as I was browsing in the library and decided to give it a whirl.

Judith wrote: "I started Waugh's "Decline and Fall" this morning. I needed something light to intersperse with Flannery O'Connor short stories! I think this one will be a hoot! Reminds me of Kingsley Amis' "Lu..."

Polar opposites. Love 'em both.

Barbara wrote: "Miss GP wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I'm quite intrigued by the scheming and back-stabbing and licentious behavior that went on in the court of King Henry.
..."

I'm not saying that there wasn't a lot..."

I'm enjoying the series too. It does show him suffering from the wound on his leg - which will not heal and is septic. However, it sure hasn't had a negative effect on his good looks and perfect physique. [If I were an actor the one thing I would never do for a role is gain weight - bad, bad, bad for your health - and you're never the same even if you take it off:]. I guess Rhys-Myers could have followed in the footsteps of Mike Myers [no relation:] who donned a fat suit and make-up to play Fat Bastard in the Austin Powers films. However, Fat Bastard's nudity was not what one thought of as sexy or titillating - which is what the producers of "The Tudors" are going for - no doubt.

from Wikipedia: Late in life, Henry became obese (with a waist measurement of 54 inches/137 cm) and had to be moved about with the help of mechanical inventions. He was covered with painful, suppurating boils and possibly suffered from gout. His obesity dates from a jousting accident in 1536 in which he suffered a leg wound. This prevented him from exercising and gradually became ulcerated. It undoubtedly hastened his death at the age of 55, which occurred on 28 January 1547 in the Palace of Whitehall, on what would have been his father's 90th birthday.

So, then he would have been married to Anne at the time of his accident and the beginning of his battle with the bulge. 54 inch waist - WOW - that is big (and I'm not skinny myself - but that is big).

I would cast Jonathan Rhys-Myers as Richard Coeur-de-Lion in my ether film production of the book I'm reading now - Gore Vidal's A Search for the King - a wonderfully entertaining novel of the myth/legend of Blondel, the trubadour.

Judith wrote: "Judith wrote: "Rick wrote: "Jill wrote: "Judith wrote: "I'm reading three right now, two are books are short stories. I'd loved to know if anyone has read these authors:

"The Portable Dorothy Par..."

Judith - found this on Amazon

The Mystery Of The Yellow Room: Extraordinary Adventures Of Joseph Rouletabille, Reporter [Paperback:]
Gaston Leroux
Gaston Leroux (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Gaston Leroux Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
(Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
2 Reviews
5 star: (2)
4 star: (0)
3 star: (0)
2 star: (0)
1 star: (0)

› See all 2 customer reviews...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price: $8.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o



In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 5 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, May 11? Order it in the next 28 hours and 37 minutes, and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details


16 new from $5.01 9 used from $4.48



Formats Amazon Price New from Used from
Expand Collapse Kindle Edition

Kindle Edition
$0.95
Available for download now.
Publisher: MobileReference
Published: April 30, 2008 $0.95 -- --
See # more Kindle books
Show fewer Kindle books
Expand Collapse Paperback

Paperback
$8.95
In Stock.
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: April 7, 2006 $8.95 $5.01 $4.48
Expand Collapse Audio, Download Offsite Link $10.49 or less with new Audible membership

Rick wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory which I imagine c..."

Rick, are you talking aboutInnocent Traitor, which is a novel about Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir? It is a really great book, I highly recommend it. I loved the way it is told by more than one character, and it has a lot less characters to remember than some of the other Tudor books.

I just finished the arc of Jo-Ann Mapson's Solomon's Oak--FABULOUS book. Deeply moving, funny, and every character is so real, right down to the dogs. Loved it.

Caroline Leavitt

Lyn M wrote: "Rick wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory which ..."

yes thatis it!
have you read The Sunne in Splendour - Sharon Kay Penman? I am thinking of getting it- but hesitate only because I was so befuddled by all the names and title in the non-fiction- The Princes In The Tower- I fear- so long a fiction book will confuse me

Barbara and Miss GP. Actually, Philippa Gregory is known for the liberties that she takes with the facts, but her stories are still fun. Karen Harper, Alison Weir, and some of the others, however, stick pretty close to the facts. And the backstabbing in his court is all too real. There are many writers and historians that have documented it.

You are correct that Henry was quite obese by the time that he died. In fact, he weighed over 400 lbs. The current thinking is that he suffered from diabetes, which often has as a side effect obesity, as well as ulcers of the legs, which he had, and other symptoms. It is not know whether the jousting accident brought on the diabetes, or exacerbated it. In the case of the jousting accident, he is thought to have sustained a head injury that resulted in frontal lobe damage, which caused a lot of the mood swings and changed personality that he was famous for in his later years.

As for Showtimes, The Tudors. It has even more historical inaccuracies that Philippa Gregory does, but it is still fun to watch. I love the costumes, the intrigues, and Henry Cavill (Charles Brandon).

If you think the Tudors were bad, you should read about the ancient Romans, from Julius Ceasar to Cladius. They really had a lot of backstabbing, poisoning, wife swapping and children swapping going on back then. They make the Tudor dynasty look wholesome!

Rick wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "Rick wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Above Lyn mentioned reading The Last Boleyn: A Novel by Karen Harper.

I didn't read that one but I read The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipp..."

The Sunne in Splendour is the one I recommended to you before. It is phenomenal. I read the first half for the History of Royals group read, and have yet to finish it, but it is well worth the time. And the good news is, you are already acquainted with a lot of the people in Richard III's time, so the names won't be so bad. It starts when Richard is about 5 or 6 and goes through his whole life. The only caveat is that Penman in one of the few people who does not cast Richard as the ultimate villain, so it is definitely a different take, but I think it is actually great to see the other side. I highly recommend it.

Lyn, have you read Michael Sidney Tyler-Whittle's novel, Richard III: The Last Plantagenet? He also takes a much more pro-Richard tack than Henry VII would have appreciated. :-)

Werner, I haven't, but I am adding it to my TBR. Thanks

Lyn M wrote: "Barbara and Miss GP. Actually, Philippa Gregory is known for the liberties that she takes with the facts, but her stories are still fun. Karen Harper, Alison Weir, and some of the others, however..."

Thanks for the info, Lyn - lots I didn't know. I do realize that Gregory's books are entertaining, but what I have a problem with is folks taking them as literal history -- and plenty do. I realize that's not the author's fault; her purpose isn't to write history.

Yeah, I, Claudius is one of my all-time favorite books. Lots of good back-stabbing & insanity there, by golly.

Rick - I loved The Sunne in Splendour. It's a big book, but Penman does a great job of keeping it moving without allowing it to become confusing. She gives a different take on Richard III. (Remember: the victors get to write the history.)

Miss GP wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "Barbara and Miss GP. Actually, Philippa Gregory is known for the liberties that she takes with the facts, but her stories are still fun. Karen Harper, Alison Weir, and some of the o..."

i JUST DONT WANT TO READ A BOOK THAT i KEEP HAVING TO REMEMBER WHO IS WHO- LIKE THE DREADFUL princes in the tower NON FICTION BOOK

Miss GP wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "Barbara and Miss GP. Actually, Philippa Gregory is known for the liberties that she takes with the facts, but her stories are still fun. Karen Harper, Alison Weir, and some of the o..."

I find it annoying when authors or filmmakers just make stuff up about historical people - at least serious works about historical characters. In "Young Victoria" suddenly Prince Albert gets shot protecting Queen Victoria - which NEVER happened. Now, why did they think they needed to make that up and throw it in there? Otherwise great film.