Constant Reader discussion

Hi All. I haven't been on Goodreads very long, but my reading list has ballooned to the point where I'm finding it IMPOSSIBLE to choose what to read next! Every day, I'm finding more and more books that I just HAVE to read. I wish I could read more than one at a time!

So I've decided to let someone else make the next decision for me! If you have the time, please take a look at the books on my "Unread" and/or "To Read" shelves and vote on what you think I should read next.

Hopefully at the end of it, I'll have one less decision in life to make, and I'll have met some nice book lovers to follow along the way. Consider it a social experiment :)

Ready? Go!

And thanks
Ruby xoxo

I'm not very familiar with many of the books on your to-read list, but I did enjoy the audio of Water for Elephants.

I compared your books and mine, Ruby, and find we have almost nothing in common, so I don't know if I'm a good one to recommend books for you.

I liked Clockwork Orange a lot, and also No Country for Old Men.

There's lots of interesting looking stuff on your lists, Ruby, but most of the ones that I think I'd like best I haven't had the chance to read yet either - such as Murakami's After Dark, Saragamo's Blindness or Eugenides' Middlesex.

I did enjoy Water for Elephants two or three years ago, that was interesting, especially the life of a traveling circus.

Cormac McCarthy's The Road is very well written - stark, lean, powerful, and it made me very sad for days. So I'm not sure that's a recommendation, depends on your mood!

I have read Suzanne Collins' trilogy of The Hunger Games for my in-person book club, and they are a quick, plot-driven, page turning experience. Young adult dystopia of a sort I rarely read, but good at what they are.

I didn't like Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes since I found its symbolism too heavy after a while. But you seem to like science fiction better than I do so maybe you'd feel differently.

Hope this helps!

I noticed you like Vampires and Zombies but have never readDracula. Classic horror alsoThe Haunting of Hill House, The Little Stranger, and The Woman in White. These last three are not vampires or zombies but spooky nonetheless.

Ruby wrote: "Hi All. I haven't been on Goodreads very long, but my reading list has ballooned to the point where I'm finding it IMPOSSIBLE to choose what to read next! Every day, I'm finding more and more books..."

You have alot of books there that I haven't read, but I really enjoyed and recommend:
The Book Thief
Blindness
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Water for Elephants is a good one.
The Lovely Bones is good if you're in the mood for a sad book.
Neverwhere was a pretty easy and fun book.
Stardust is another fun one, much much better than the movie.
A Clockwork Orange was good. You can either read the first version he published which didn't include the last chapter, this is the one the movie was made from; or you can read the full version he published later which I have to say leaves you with a whole different message in the end. Quite an odd feeling.
I also highly suggest Middlesex. Amazing book.

Out of the frying pan (your own indecision) and into the fire (the indecision created by posters here). But a fun parlor game!

Wow - thanks for all the commentary guys! I'm actually considering taking a few off my list - namely Hunger Games and a couple of other YA books. I'm pretty sure I'll get irritated with YA quite quickly.

Kitty I have to set the record straight - I'm really not a fan of vampires. I think you must have spotted about the only vampire book on my list! (The World On Blood - which is quite a modern and interesting take on the genre). I do love my zombies and dystopian fiction though.

Philip - thanks for your comments. I'm actually reconsidering Bradbury a bit too. It's something I feel I *should* read, while at the same time not being too enthusiastic about it!

So far, it looks like Water for Elephants, Blindness and A Clockwork Orange are leading the pack. Out of those 3, i'd probably be most enthusiastic about A Clockwork Orange.

It's strange, but so many people have recommended Water for Elephants to me that I almost don't want to read it for that reason. But disliking something for its popularity is just as silly as liking it for that reason in my book! I'm sure I'll love it once I take the plunge.

Keep the sggestions flowing - I probably have a few days left before I finish my current book Feed
I'm loving it BTW...

We're reading A Clockwork Orange for Classics in December. Why don't you join us then for the discussion. Blindness is one of my very favorite books, but it's quite disturbing, so be prepared.

Ooooh. I LOVE disturbing. If a book or a film can disturb me, then it has done very well indeed.

What about Oryx and Crake?

Now, I found Jude the Obscure to be disturbing, but I doubt most readers would describe it that way.

I can add a recommendation for Blindness. I think it's marvelous.

I really liked The Magicians by Lev Grossman and now there's a sequel too The Magician King. The story is part magical and part black/disturbing.

Instead of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes why not read Dandelion Wine It's an absolutely delightful book.

Ruby wrote: "Ooooh. I LOVE disturbing. If a book or a film can disturb me, then it has done very well indeed."

Then you might like The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark.

Thanks for the correction. I really scanned fast. You did get some excellent recommendations. Happy reading.

I would not tke The Hunger Games off your list, Ruby. They were a fun read, lots of brain candy for sure with thrilling page turning events.

I would recommend Dead until Dark (Charlaine Harris) if you are in a light and fluffy kind of mood.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - highly recommend, a true story to boot. Very gripping and also entertaining. And if you get a map of Charleston, you can follow along.

Also second the rec for Haunting of Hill House for a spooky mood.

Slaughterhouse Five because everyone should have read Slaughterhouse Five at least once.

Jim wrote: "Slaughterhouse Five because everyone should have read Slaughterhouse Five at least once."

What Jim said.

Thanks all! I just happened to come across a nice cheap copy of A Clockwork Orange and Regeneration - you gotta love Penguin Classics!

This also means I should be able to participate in the December Classics thread - my first book club! I was introduced to Pat Barker's work in another thread of this group too - so thanks again :)

Also found a $5 copy of The Strain which I've been dying to read. Although I had intended to start with Il Orfanato and/or Pan's Labrynth first, I don't think I can wait.

I've added The Haunting of Hill House to my To-Read list. I'm sure it'll creep me out - The Amityville Horror always gave me the horrors!

Also added Jude The Obscure - it sounds amazing. I'm not quite sold on Dandelion Wine yet, but always happy to be persuaded.

Not sure we have a clear winner yet though..... :)

Quick tally:

Blindness is leading with 4 votes
Water for Elephants & A Clockwork Orange both have 3 votes

There are a few on 2 votes:
Middlesex
The Hunger Games
Slaughterhouse Five
Haunting of Hill House (which wasn't on the list to start with!)

I'm less than halfway through Feed, so still a bit of time to persuade me..

Can someone vote more than once? Middlesex is also wonderful.

Of course, Sherry! You can do whatever you like in this thread. Just stay classy ;)

I also vote for Middlesex. Fantastic book. And since we can vote more than once, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is another great book on your list. And, I also recommend Infinite Jest. It's another fantastic book but it's also quite long (over 1000 pages). Not that that's a deterrent, but you may have to devote more time to reading it than the others. I guess it depends on what you're looking for. Any three of these would be great next reads (in my opinion).

Okay, Haunting of Hill House, best in that sort of genre. I would read it again!

Karen M wrote: "Okay, Haunting of Hill House, best in that sort of genre. I would read it again!"

I know I would read it again, and the movie with Julie Harris is so spooky.

The audio book of HoHH is also quite effective.

I've never "read" an audio book. I can't imagine enjoying a story as much in someone else's voice. I guess that's why I always prefer a book to its movie version - my imagination fills in the blanks in a way that makes it work for me. I would imagine that the same story could be much more or less enjoyable depending on who is voicing it!

Reading a book is an art form, Ruby. I really enjoy audiobooks. I get most of my mysteries and thrillers down that way. Having said that, one of my very favorite audiobooks was Empire Falls by Richard Russo. The bonus was an interview with the author at the end. I still remember the characters in that book, and it was years ago when I "read" it. Another good book on audio was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. You should try it sometimes. It makes doing chores or taking walks or driving long distances fly by.

I suppose the author would choose the narrator pretty carefully, to make sure the voice reflects the author's intended feel. But still.....I dunno. The narration would dictate how I envisage a character - which could be a good or a bad thing!

I think the company making the audiobooks, such as Recorded Books, probably pick the reader. They have a whole stable of good readers. But if the author is still alive, I'm sure there is input. If you ever start listening to them, make sure they are unabridged. When I first started, the abridged versions weren't labeled very well, and I accidentally listened them them instead. Give it a go. It's a whole new experience. I love them. I can get more books read that way.

Well I've raced through Feed a ot more quickly than I anticipated. I expect to finish in the next day or so.

Any last minute votes? We're looking at a tie between Middlesex and Blindness I think.
Just behind by a vote would be: Haunting of Hill House, A Clockwork Orange & Water for Elephants.

I don't think I'll be reading HoHH directly next, even if it tops the list, just because I don't have my hands on a copy just yet! Not sure my Water for Elephants copy will arrive in time, but it should be here very soon. On the other hand, I believe we have 3 or 4 copies of Middlesex in the house for some reason! (There's only the two of us here!)

What I love about audiobooks, Ruby, is that they allow me to read when I otherwise couldn't. I listen while I take my morning walk, while driving, while doing mindless tasks like picking up the house, etc. I never just sit and listen to one.

You're right that the reader makes a big difference. If you ever get a chance to listen to Bill Bryson or Neil
Gaiman read their own books, do it. They are a real treat.

I would totally listen to Neil Gaiman read his own books!

In my case though, I'm never doing less than half a dozen things at once as it is (unless I'm reading a book). I couldn't absorb another set of sensory input!

Plus, I enjoy making the time to really enjoy a book and get completely absorbed in it. Until a few weeks ago, the only time I had to read was when travelling for work (on the plane & in the hotel). Now that I've reconnected with reading, I really appreciate the full immersion experience.

So.... how to choose between Middlesex & Blindness I wonder? I'll be finished Feed in the next couple of hours I think. I've just read the back cover of Blindness again, ad that's looking like a good follow on from Feed - all post-apocalypsey & stuff.

What do we think?

Ask yourself if you'd rather have sex, or rather be blind.

Or should I ask myself if I'd prefer to be indeterminately gendered or blind?

Actually, either way I think that must be a vote for Middlesex.

Shame, as I was thinking of breaking the tie by going with the highest average Goodreads rating - which is Blindness.

Slightly off-topic, I got 3 new books today. Two I had ordered from Book Depository (my new favourite vendor) and one was on special at the newsagents:
Mother Puncher
On the Beach
The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Ruby wrote: "So.... how to choose between Middlesex & Blindness I wonder? I'll be finished Feed in the next couple of hours I think. I've just read the back cover of Blindness again, ad that's looking like a g..."

Blindness. One of the best books I've ever read.

Perfect timing! I just finished. Feed. Onto Blindness :)

Thanks everyone for your input. I have books lined up for the next 6 months now I think! I'll definitely try to read A Clockwork Orange for the December discussion too.

Oh, shoot, you mean we're not going to get to pick the next one? I agree, Blindness is very good. But I often have problems with books that have been raved about. So go into it with NO expectations, then things might work out better.

Kitty wrote: "I noticed you like Vampires and Zombies but have never readDracula. Classic horror alsoThe Haunting of Hill House, The Little Stranger, and [book:The Woman ..."

I owe you an apology. I started cataloguing some of my books on here, & discovered there were a lot more vampire books than I had thought. Then again, I used to go out with a goth, so no prizes for guessing how they came to be on my shelf!

Sherry wrote: "Oh, shoot, you mean we're not going to get to pick the next one? I agree, Blindness is very good. But I often have problems with books that have been raved about. So go into it with NO expectations..."

I do try not to go into books with expectations of any sort, as I don't like to be influenced (positively or negatively) by the popularity of a thing. That said, I'm not so enthused right now about reading The Book Thief or Water for Elephants, and that's purely because so many people have raved about them. It's like "Oprah's Book Club" - that sticker will drive me away every time!

Now that I'm getting into Blindness, I'm adapting to Saramago's style of prose. The almost stream-of-consciousness style of writing gives a sense of momentum and urgency, but also a vulnerability to the characters, as it's almost like an internal monologue. Keep in mind I'm still on Chapter 1, so that could all change!

I just might let you guys pick the next one too, since I'm so keen on so many books right now, the decisions are getting that much harder!

That happens when you join Constant Reader. I still have unread books on my shelves that I bought when I first discovered it. I went absolutely crazy buying books. But a good crazy.

I think you ought to read Middlesex next. I loved it, but some people I know were cool to it. I'd be interested to see what you think. (By the way, I think you are a great addition to Constant Reader. You've really livened up the place!)

Ruby,
I thought Middlesex was a great read. I'd recommend it. Blindness is probably a better book, but it is a lot more work.

Ann

Goodluck Ruby. Both Middlesex and Blindness are on my TBR.

Sherry wrote: "That happens when you join Constant Reader. I still have unread books on my shelves that I bought when I first discovered it. I went absolutely crazy buying books. But a good crazy."

Haha! That's exactly what has happened!

A couple of months back I had to take my cat interstate for a month of radiation treatment. It was an awful time, but I had time on my hands, sunchine and a beautiful quiet park at my disposal. I also happened to have the perfect book for that moment - American Gods. It reminded me of being 16 and spending the entire summer reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy back to back and listening to Talking Heads on a loop! I think that reminded me how much I miss reading. My craft has suffered though (I have an Etsy shop) - I haven't made anything new since!

Thanks for the warm welcome, Sherry and everyone. This is a wonderful group for discovering new things :)

After I first joined CR, every time we voted in a new list of books for the coming year, I would immediately go out and buy them all. Now I've moved to a smaller house and am more picky about what's going to take up bookshelf space so I patronize the library more.

What do you sell in your Etsy shop, Ruby? I love Etsy. I have a friend who sells gorgeous jewelry there.

I make jewellery and accessories in a wide variety of styles (from shabby chic to horror): www.rubytombstone.etsy.com
What is your friend's shop? Knowing me, I've probably browed it before - I'm incorrigible!

I'm also a member of the Down Under Street Team (DUST) on Etsy, and our team leader, Julie-Ann was involved in a plane crash with her 15 year old daughter last week - it is just about the most tragic story imaginable: http://rubytombstone.blogspot.com/201...

So while I'm not crafting much at the moment, I've been helping the team with some fundraising for JA's family.