Books on the Nightstand discussion

I'll start the new thread ....

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- the only word I can use to describe it so far is "delightful".

Because of hearing favorable comments on BOTNS, I've dived headlong into Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. 100 pages in--I think I love it.

Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....
"

Thanks! I completely missed the turn of the calendar!

Kateri wrote: "Because of hearing favorable comments on BOTNS, I've dived headlong into Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. 100 pages in--I think I love it."

Yeah, soooo many people recommended that book, and I had never heard of it. On my reading list, for sure!

I reading Light by M. John Harrison, but I keep getting distracted by Kraken by China Miéville. The latter is a lot of fun. I didn't expect fun out of China Miéville.

I'm reading The Nobodies Album, and loving it!

Just started Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers.

I'm reading the 4th Thursday Next detective/fantasy book by Jasper Fforde called Something Rotten. Great series with a lot of humor by an author with an imagination that amazes me.

Ann wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....
"

Thanks! I completely missed the turn of the calendar!"

THIS is why I'd make such an awesome BOTNS assistant :-)

Kateri wrote: "Because of hearing favorable comments on BOTNS, I've dived headlong into Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. 100 pages in--I think I love it."

I picked up Shantaram at a library book sale, also after hearing about it on Books on the Nightstand. Haven't started it yet but it does sound good...

Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- the only word I can use to describe it so far is "delightful"."

Major Pettigrew is the best book I've read so far this year. Hope you continue to enjoy it!

I've continued listening to Cronin's The Passage, and I'm really impressed with how the narrator is able to cover so many different voices! The audio was difficult to get through for me in the first several chapters, because of the relentless apocalyptic tone. Once things picked up, however, I didn't have a problem anymore. And I don't think I would have had a problem at all if I were reading it from the page! I'm more than halfway through now, and it's terrific. I particularly like the layering of stories of so many characters.

I'm also reading a great classic - Peter Benchley's Jaws, just for a little bit of summer fun. Reading the novel has helped me solve a little mystery regarding a famous line from the movie:

When Quint is first asked about hunting great whites, in the movie, it sounds like he responds to some questions by saying, "You talkin' about porkus, Mr. Hooper?" What is "porkus?"

In the novel, the term he uses is porkers, referring to any large catch of fish, but especially great whites. Quint says it with his New England accent, so it sounds like "porkas." And so there you have it!

Happy Reading!

Currently working on Oryx and Crake and really enjoying this one so far.

I just finished The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst, this morning, and all I can say is WOW.

Pam wrote: "I'm reading the 4th Thursday Next detective/fantasy book by Jasper Fforde called Something Rotten. Great series with a lot of humor by an author with an imagination that amazes me."

I listened to this book and really enjoyed it. You're right, Jasper Fforde is so clever! My favorite character was Allan. I'm not sure why. Hope you enjoy it.

Maureen wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- the only word I can use to describe it so far is "delightful"."

Major P..."

Maureen -- I LOVED it!! Also one of my favorites so far this year.

I just finished Water for Elephants and oh boy did I love it!

I just finished The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I loved the character of Mary, and I thought the author's rendition of Holmes was excellent. The actual mystery plot was unfortunately very weak. I'm not sure if I want to continue reading the series.
I am about a third of the way through Wolf Hall, and I plan to start The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest this afternoon.

I just finished The Lake Shore Limited on audio. Loved the characters of Sam and Billy, was kind of meh about the other 2 narrators. The story was beautiful, and I loved the New England setting. The author (Sue Miller) read the story, which I think adds a certain layer to the reading- who else but the writer could understand how the words should be read? It actually made me wonder if authors are normally involved with the audiobook productions of their books?

I've since started the audio of The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers, and I'm really enjoying it. It makes me want to read more about the Depression, and about the gangsters of the time. Really enjoying it, although the reader isn't my favorite.

I'm reading The Passage. I've always been funny in that I stay well away from books that are hugely hyped or even bestsellers. I normally read them years, years, later. I'm odd that way. I do make exceptions with authors that I love. Assorted authors that I buy their books the second that they're released, regardless of bestseller status, include: Stephen King, Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, Dean Koontz, John Irving, Lawrence Block, Lee Child, etc.

However, with the Passage, I think it deserves every single word of praise that it has received. In some ways, the relentless narrative drive reminds me of classic, early Stephen King - The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone, etc.

I started reading The Passage while on vacation last week, and I can't wait each day until I have a spare minute to continue reading. Love it.

James Lee Burke has a new one out next week and he is also on my Amazon pre-order list.

I am enjoying The Passage as well as one who usually doesn't bite on these "must reads". I've gotten to the half way point when he switches gears. I heard someone say that The Passage replaces the annual Stephen King story. I still have Under The Dome saving it for one of those dark and gloomy nights.

So for all you lovers of The Passage -- if one is not into the vampire/dystopic type genre would it still be a good read? I bought it, but not sure if I'm going to read it (not my typical fare) or give it as a gift.

A Guardian podcast about literature for an austere age and a nagging feeling that I don't read enough classics led me to The Grapes of Wrath. I have loved all of the Steinbeck I've read. It's well written but it sure is tough reading. I feel like I am helping the Joad's pack up and sell their belongings. I am worried sick over what will happen to their animals (don't sell the geldings for glue, please Pa.) Steinbeck is overwhelming my mirror neurons. I don't know if I'm getting sentimental in my old age or it's because of how this story seems entirely current and relevant when it examines the spectre of the faceless corporation stealing from the regular guy (and the seeming futility of opposing it) but I might struggle to finish this.

Suzanne, re: The Passage, I've read about 40% so far. It's definitely dystopic. It does go into some of the psuedo-scientific background of the vampires, but it doesn't spend a ton of time - yet - delving into vampire mythology per se.

And, I should say, I'm bored to tears and totally uninterested in 99.9% of the "vampire" fiction that I've seen in the last 10 years or so. The vampire trope just doesn't do it for me.

Nonetheless, as I mentioned earlier, I'm thoroughly loving The Passage.

I'm reading Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things. A good read for those of us with "book addictions." I can happily say I am not a hoarder ... except when it comes to books and yarn. And I have clearly defined limits (my house is only so big) on both of those.

Vanessa wrote: "A Guardian podcast about literature for an austere age and a nagging feeling that I don't read enough classics led me to The Grapes of Wrath. I have loved all of the Steinbeck I've read..."

I read it last summer, Vanessa. I concur with many of your observations - especially how timely the book relates what is happening today.

Rest your mind about the animals.

Suzanne wrote: "Maureen wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- the only word I can use to describe it so far is "deli..."

Yay!! I love it when someone else loves a book as much as I did. :)

I'm listening to Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.) I thought it would be the perfect audio to start after having listened to MATTERHORN (by Karl Marlantes; narrated by Bronson Pinchot) since the latter was so intense and I needed something on the lighter side. I had actually started it last week, but I wasn't ready to come "out of the bush" so to speak, so I tried again today. I'm not crazy about it so far as I find Bill Irwin's delivery a bit too understated, deadpan, slow and, enervating; but as I'm really in it for the whale songs, I'll give it a little longer before I make the choice as to whether or not I'll continue with it.

In print I just finished The Bells: A Novel (by Richard Harvell.) It's about the son of a deaf-mute bell-ringer who becomes a musico. It turns out the boy has an unusual auditory gift that enables him to hear sounds in true resonance. The story juxtaposes the sublime against the barbaric; but the payoff for the tough, tense passages are the glorious triumphs expressed in the music. The story is set in 1760-ish Vienna and features the music of Dufay, Vivaldi, Charpentier and Gluck among others. Even though you read about music, the music itself can be heard through the pages and in that way it's a very "tactile" book (And yes, there's a description of an opera that brought me to tears.) I actually put together a "soundtrack" of the music that the book refers to and that's what I chose to listen to after MATTERHORN, when I couldn't settle into FLUKE.

I'm about to start Peter & Max: A Fables Novel (by Bill Willingham; illustrated by Steve Leialoha,) an illustrated novel about the Pied Piper and his brother. It's a Fables novel (but not a graphic novel) that runs a bit to the dark side of a fairy tale.

This Time Together, a memoir by Carol Burnette This Time Together: Laughter and Reflectionsis a delightful way to spend a summer afternoon. There are no stories told out of school - just nice stories about nice people. This book is mainly about her shows and the people who helped put them all together.

Linda wrote: I read it last summer, Vanessa. I concur with many of your observations - especially how timely the book relates what is happening today.

Thanks for the good news about the animals Linda. As painful as the book is in places, I won't be able to stop reading. Steinbeck's writing was such a gift to the people of that era. We'll always remember them and their struggles will always feel immediate.

I'm curious about that Carol Burnett memoir, Peg. I don't normally like celebrity memoirs but I just love Carol and she's had a boundary-breaking, difficult life.

Vanessa, I was thinking of doing the audible.com version since she narrates her book but the library copy came up faster. Each section is at most 2 1/2 pages so it reads extremely fast.

Melissa wrote: "I just finished The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I loved the character of Mary, and I thought the author's rendition of Holmes was excellent. The actual mystery plot was unfortunately very weak. I'm not..."

I loved Wolfe Hall. After I finished, I bought it for my Mom for Mother's Day. She became so involved with the characters that she was totally crushed when she finished the book and went online and found out what really happened to Cromwell. I hadn't read Mantel before. I'm just beginning her An Experiment in Love, which is a very different type of book.

Finished Oryx and Crake and I really liked it. Altho it did leave me with questions like what exactly was the govt role in all that was going on. Anyway, can't wait to read The Year of the Flood

Currently am reading The Left Hand of Darkness but I haven't read enough to form any opinion on this one yet.

Flora wrote: "Finished Oryx and Crake and I really liked it. Altho it did leave me with questions like what exactly was the govt role in all that was going on. Anyway, can't wait to read The ..."</i>

I've read both [book:Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. My impression is that corporations have taken over and there really isn't any government left.

Peg wrote: "I'm listening to Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.) I thought it would be the perfect audio to start after having listened to MATTERHORN (by Karl Marlantes; narrated by Bronson Pinchot) since the latter was so intense and I needed something on the lighter side. I had actually started it last week, but I wasn't ready to come "out of the bush" so to speak, so I tried again today. I'm not crazy about it so far as I find Bill Irwin's delivery a bit too understated, deadpan, slow and, enervating; but as I'm really in it for the whale songs, I'll give it a little longer before I make the choice as to whether or not I'll continue with it."

OK, I totally bailed out on FLUKE: OR, I KNOW WHY THE WINGED WHALE SINGS (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.) The narrator was doing nothing for me and there weren't enough whale songs :-/

I'm uploading Grave Peril (Book #3 in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher; narrated by James Marsters) to my iPod now.

Tanya wrote: "Peg wrote: "I'm listening to Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.) I thought it would be the perfect audio to start after having listened to M..."

I enjoyed Grave Peril. Ihave to say that I did not care for the next Dresden Files book, Summer Knight, but my teenagers convinced me to stick with the series, and I'm glad I did.

Tanya wrote: OK, I totally bailed out on FLUKE: OR, I KNOW WHY THE WINGED WHALE SINGS (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.)

I tried reading a Christopher Moore book. Bloodsucking Fiends I think? The guys at work all loved it. To me it was all jokes, no characters I cared about. I gave up pretty quick.

I have only read the first three Harry Dresen novels, e.g. thru Grave Peril. I pluck away at that and similar series between heavier reads. Good to know that the 4th one isn't great so I won't give up either. I did like Grave Peril. It was a little more somber in tone and had a great ending I thought.

I just started The City & The City by China Mieville. I'm a bit confused so far, but loving it.

Ashley wrote: I just started The City & The City by China Mieville. I'm a bit confused so far, but loving it.

YAY! I am so excited someone is reading this. I read this at the beginning of the year on a Nancy Pearl recommendation. It's really interesting and despite being confusing, it's still very readable-no small feat. I guess Mieville is known for changing up his style a lot and this one he intentionally chose to write in a noirish fashion. This is the only book I've read by him. Some of his other works are a lot more florid and abstruse I gather.


I'll be interested to hear what your impression was by the end. I think I understand what was going on with the two cities by the end but I'm not positive.

I'm reading a compelling novel about Mississippi in the early 1960's, The Queen of Palmyra: A Novel. It is much more working class and grittier than The Help. Florence, the narrator, is an 11-year-old white girl who often is taken care of by her grandmother's maid. She accidentally sets off a chain of events that veer off into unforeseen consequences.

Based upon the glowing reviews that Ann gave about Barbara Kingsolver's writing on a recent podcast, and because my neighborhood is abundant with fresh foods, I am enjoying Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. I feared after the first chapter that I would be scolded for 357 pages because I don't eat locally, but her style is so lovely and honest that it is nothing but enjoyable while at the same time making me want to examine my food plate!

Bloodmaiden

I just finished The Magicians in audiobook format. Up next in my audio list is Await Your Reply .

Tanya wrote: "I'm listening to Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (by Christopher Moore; narrated by Bill Irwin.) I thought it would be the perfect audio to start after having listened t..."

Hi Tanya, I love Christopher Moore and I would suggest you try another of his novels. My all-time favorite is Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. This book is very funny and endearing. Somehow it manages to tell the story of "Biff" and his supposed friendship with Christ with consistent Christopher Moore humor, without being religiously offensive. The book isn't preachy either. We read a very elaborate and interesting story of the Greatest Story Ever Told from Biff's point of view. The spirit of the book is quite hopeful, with a cameo or two from a demon and an angel of Moore's other books you might have heard of. It's a great follow-up after reading darker material.

Another good Christopher Moore book to listen to is Practical Demonkeeping. This is a classic among Christopher Moore fans. It's full of fun, and it's packed with eccentric characters that readers expect from the little town of Pine Cove in northern California.

I'm glad you asked about this topic in general. I am also looking for recommendations for light material after finishing The Passage. Maybe we can start a whole new BOTNS topic devoted to light/humorous reading? For now, I'm reading Philip Hoare's The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea, just for a change of pace. But I would appreciate any suggestions on material that would make me laugh. Thanks in advance and thanks, Tanya, for bringing up the topic! Happy reading!

John wrote: "I just finished The Magicians in audiobook format. Up next in my audio list is Await Your Reply ."

I just finished AWAIT YOUR REPLY. How was THE MAGICIANS? I just put it on my reading list last week.

Suzanne wrote: "I'll start the new thread ....

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson -- the only word I can use to describe it so far is "delightful"."

I loved loved loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand!!

200 pages into The Passage ... Great so far! Hard to put down.

I finished what I consider a beach read - Harlan Coben's Caught. Highly entertaining mind candy.

Started The Nearest Exit The Nearest Exit which is the second in the Milo series. Hooked me from the get go and now ALMOST sorry we have theater tickets for this afternoon. Love reading but live theater trumps it especially at The Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.

Peg wrote: "I finished what I consider a beach read - Harlan Coben's Caught. Highly entertaining mind candy.

Started The Nearest Exit The Nearest Exit which is the second in the Milo series. ..."

Peg, I became a fan of Harlan Coben after reading The Innocent. I also read Caught recently and enjoyed it.