Books on the Nightstand discussion

Started War and Peace about a week an a half ago, since I promised I would for my 12 in '12 challenge :) I took a break after reading two sections to read The Night Circus and The Sisters Brothers, but now I'm back and about halfway through the third part (20% through the whole book according to my Kindle!). So far, I like the peace parts much more than the war parts.

I'm also trying to finish up The Absorbent Mind in an effort to read 12 non-fiction books this year, and have been going in and out of Barron's New GRE: Graduate Record Examination. Someday soonish I think I might want to go to grad school, and I need to take the GRE in order to do that...

I jut finished Before I Go to Sleep

I just finished Before I Go to Sleep. It was great, a real page turner. Did not care for The Buddha in the Attic. I got about 1/3 through the audio and tired of the first person plural. It was more like a book of lists of experiences. No real plot.

Just finished Paris Wife & absolutely LOVED it. Now into In the Woods by Tana French. Compelling from the get-go!

State of Wonder on my Kindle (love it so far), It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita (howling with laughter much of the time) and A Thread of Grace (need to start reading this one earlier in the day before my brain gets tired) in physical form, The Forgotten Garden on audiobook in the car (and I keep wanting to go out and sit in the car so I can keep listening), and Vampire's Photograph out loud with my 10-year-old son (book is fine, reading with my boy is always excellent).

I'm reading I'm really enjoying this book!

I don't think there's a man, woman, or child alive today who read 11/22/63 and didn't enjoy it.

Thanks for The Orphan Master's Son recommendation! I couldn't even listen to podcast 165 for fear of spoilers until I had finished. (Actually a lot of the reviews I read after finishing revealed more than I would have liked. I loved blazing through this one with no notions of what was going to happen next) Fantastic read!

Switching it up with Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

I finished Defending Jacob: A Novelwhich was very good but I found the ending implausible and that kind of ruined it for me. Quite the page turner though. Now I'm reading The Fault in Our Stars. I got it from my library and it took them forever to process this book....the book was released January 10th and I just got my brand new book yesterday.

Callie wrote: "Still reading Great Expectations. I've also started Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage (for my president biography challenge) as well as Fall of Giants on..."

I am absolutely loving Fall of Giants on audio! I realized last night that I think the narrator is the same that did Galore, which I also really enjoyed. I've never read anything by Ken Ken Follett before, but I'll definitely read more of his work in the future.

David wrote: "Thanks for The Orphan Master's Son recommendation! I couldn't even listen to podcast 165 for fear of spoilers until I had finished. (Actually a lot of the reviews I read after finis..."

Yes, waaaaay too many spoilers out there for Orphan Master's Son. Michael and I tried very hard to not say too much, as we are also spoiler-phobic. Glad you enjoyed it!

I'm finally reading Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. I'm enjoying it - been meaning to get around to this one for ages.

Eric wrote: "I don't think there's a man, woman, or child alive today who read 11/22/63 and didn't enjoy it."

I found 2 in my book group....& I had a couple of reasons as to why that is but not sure....I thought their age, they are both late 20's-early 30's & the are both not for the US, so I am not sure if it didn't "hit" them like it hit some of us....

Shruti wrote: "I'm finally reading Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. I'm enjoying it - been meaning to get around to this one for ages."

I read this a long time ago, I liked it!!

nancy wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Juggling too many books this month and last but can't resist starting new ones all the time. In my backpack now are [book:A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS|1045..."

I'm about half way through it and it's very interesting. Not as much information about Paul and Julia as the title would suggest but great stories about the various 'black' ops that the OSS tried during WWIII. That alone makes it worth it.

Callie wrote: "Still reading Great Expectations.

way to go Callie! let us know what you think of it in the end. It's my favorite Dickens, but have read only 5 or so. Just finished Blue Nights on overdrive audio from the library. What a disappointment after The Year of Magical Thinking which I LOVED. Didion spends a lot of time complaining about doctors and about being old, sometimes I felt like I was on the phone with my 80 yr old parents. Also we never get much of a sense of her daughter's personality, who she was. You get the sense she was troubled, maybe alcoholic/drug addict. Clearly Didion feels she could have been a better mother and blames herself. I was just not moved.

However, this was the first time that I managed to get a book downloaded from the library's overdrive system onto my IPOD. I'm a luddite and had been intimidated by the process of software downloading, but my husband finally convinced me to watch a youtube video on the process (there are many put up by various libraries) It was very helpful and straightforward and not scary. I feel like I'm neolithic man running out of his cave 500 years too late shouting "I've discovered fire!" but maybe there are others out there who haven't taken the plunge into library books on ipod. . .

Upon a visit to the library after listening to this week's podcast, what should I happen to find on the New Releases shelf but History of a Pleasure Seeker. It was fate. I had to pick it up. I started it last night and so far I think I dislike Piet, but in a good way.

Becky,
Don't feel bad...technology can be very intimidating. I asked my 22yo son to find the most economical way for me to stream Netflix to my tv. After waiting about a month (and him not doing anything), I finally decided to research it myself. I found this device called a Roku box that was only about $60....then I stumbled across this article on Cnet that said if you have both a laptop with an HDMI port and an HDTV you can connect them and the tv just acts as a second screen. It took a bit of searching and trial and error but now I have Netflix streaming and it only cost me $6 for the cable. I was so proud of myself! When I asked my son why he didn't come up with it, he said....I didn't know you had an HDMI port on your laptop so I held it up to him and said "see, it says HDMI right above the port". Sometimes it may be a bit hard to do these things for yourself but the boost to your self esteem is worth it.

Suzanne wrote: "...so far I think I dislike Piet, but in a good way."

LOL I'm looking forward to seeing what that means. :)

Janet wrote: "Becky,
Don't feel bad...technology can be very intimidating. I asked my 22yo son to find the most economical way for me to stream Netflix to my tv. After waiting about a month (and him not doing..."

LOL, love it, Becky! Once more proof if you want something done, give it to a woman.

I am reading These characters have me completely sucked into their world. The details are so vivid. I can picture everything.

I'm trying to get through as many books in this year's Tournament of Books as I can before it starts. I've finished Salvage the Bones and The Devil All the Time, and I'm halfway through Swamplandia!. I can't recommend The Devil All the Time highly enough and I can't wait to read his other work.

Callie wrote: "Still reading Great Expectations. I've also started Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage (for my president biography challenge) as well as Fall of Giants on..."

I am listening to Fall of Giants as well. It is really good. I was worried that I would either loose interest or forget who the characters were as the story progressed. I'm rooting for Walter and Maude. Lisa

Well constructed. That's the key thing to say about this Norwegian thriller. Before you find out who the killer is, there are numerous plausible alternative suppositions and reversals. Every bit of information pays off like the Chekhovian revolver, which, once introduced in Act I, must be fired by Act III.

Harry Hole is one of those master sleuths that's actually smarter than the constant reader of mystery fiction. When he reaches an insight, the perceptive reader hasn't necessarily gotten there before him, although in hindsight his conclusion is completely logical.

This is my first book by Nesbo, but it's obvious that there's an overall continuity from one book to the next; that things are paying off that were set up in previous books; and that things set up in this book will play out in subsequent books. Nevertheless, this book stands on its own to be enjoyed on its own merits.

I will definitely return to this series. Too bad the first two haven't been translated into English yet.

Eric wrote: "

Well constructed. That's the key thing to say about this Norwegian thriller. Before you find out who the killer is, there are numerous plausible alternative supposi..."

I just downloaded the audio on this one...also have a hard copy and haven't decided which way to go. Also, I just read where Jo Nesbo is one of the featured authors at BEA in NY this year....would be great to see him in person.

Tamara, Don't be so sure that everyone in the first part of the book died. Just sayin

Finished The Hunger Games, which i really enjoyed and also completed The Murder at the Vicarage which i had stared before Christmas. I'm now readingIn the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin for one of my book groups andThe Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband. Enjoying them both!!

I finally read Midwives which I quite liked.

In more exciting news ... I picked up The Orphan Master's Son from the library today. I requested it months and months ago and have been almost dying with the suspense of reading this book that everyone is raving about. In fact, I'm off to start it right now!

Becky wrote: "Shruti wrote: "I'm finally reading Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. I'm enjoying it - been meaning to get around to this one for ages."

I read this a..."

Been meaning to get to it for a long time. Glad I finally did - I liked it!

Hi! I´m much enjoying Claire Corbetts´s When we have Wings. A wonderful and thought provoking story.

Stayed up waaay past midnight to finish The Fault in Our Stars. This is technically a YA book but adults will probably appreciate it more. Not sure what to read next....I think I need light and fluffy.

Lets just say it is one of those books I say up too late reaching. "Just one more chapter"

Robin wrote: "
Lets just say it is one of those books I say up too late reaching. "Just one more chapter""

Glad to hear it as it's on my radar for this year.

Last month I re-read The Handmaid's Tale and listened to The Year of the Flood. This month I'm tackling The Blind Assassin, continuing in the Margaret Atwood mood I'm in!


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood


The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood; narrated by Bernadette Dunne, Katie McNichol and Mark Bramhall


The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Starting

Linda wrote: "Starting "

I enjoyed this book

Becky wrote: "Linda wrote: "Starting "

I enjoyed this book"

I've noticed many on BOTNS have enjoyed this - even those who don't necessarily like baseball. Since I am a baseball fan, I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm currently about 2/3 thru Blood Bond and I'm just getting started on Promises and Robopocalypse and enjoying all three of them.

I recently finished the latest novel by one of my favorite fantasy authors, Patricia McKillip, called "The Bards of Bone Plain." Switching gears, I've started "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer" by Siddhartha Mukherjee. It's a book club selection but was already on my reading list. I heard the author speak at a local event last fall and am looking forward to finally reading his book.

After finishing Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" on audio the other day, I've started on a classic, "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. This will count toward by 2012 goals on two fronts: one, it's a children's/YA book that I've long wanted to reread, and two, I have a copy (reading books from my shelves is part of my overall goal). I don't think it's cheating if I listen to an audio version even though what I have on the shelf is a paperback! Either way, I'm rediscovering the book. It's been soooo long since I read it that I don't remember many of the details, so it's almost like reading it for the first time and wondering what happens next.

Nancy wrote: "I recently finished the latest novel by one of my favorite fantasy authors, Patricia McKillip, called "The Bards of Bone Plain." Switching gears, I've started "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biogra..."
Nancy, I've been thinking about getting American Gods on audio to listen to in the car. What did you think?

Laura wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I recently finished the latest novel by one of my favorite fantasy authors, Patricia McKillip, called "The Bards of Bone Plain." Switching gears, I've started "The Emperor of All Mala..."
I didn't have any trouble following it, although I initially thought I might. I think it makes a good choice for audio; it is long, 19 or 20 discs if you use CDs, but I found myself eager to keep going on to the next one to see what would happen.

Robin wrote: "
Lets just say it is one of those books I say up too late reaching. "Just one more chapter""

I loved it too. Even got a couple of versions of the fairy tale from my library.

I want to read this so badly, but do not have any time in the schedule right now. :(

i am starting next.

Finally remembered to put an audiobook in the car and it is (drum roll, please)

@ linda,

i love gene wilder. let me know if this is worth a look.

I finished History Of A Pleasure Seeker and can say that I still don't like Piet, but I enjoyed the novel very much and can't wait for the next book. Those of you going to Booktopia in Manchester should try to read this ahead of time because it is a great book for discussion, especially when the author will be available to answer questions.

Now I'm reading A Good American by Alex George which is just fantastic.

Elizabeth wrote: "@ linda,

i love gene wilder. let me know if this is worth a look."

Will do. My husband is just about finished it and seems to have liked it. He keeps telling our son about it - within earshot of me and I have to shoo him away.

I just finished my first Booktopia 2012 (Manchester) novel: Learning To Swim: A Novel. What a great read! The plot rolls along at a good clip. It was a curious experience, however, to read explanations about the Canadian way of life. Accurate overall, but made me feel like part of an anthropological study. (By the way, I've never eaten poutine nor do I say "laneway".)

I've just started a second Booktopia read: Disappearances. The opening is good.

Joanne wrote: "I just finished my first Booktopia 2012 (Manchester) novel: Learning To Swim: A Novel. What a great read! The plot rolls along at a good clip. It was a curious experience, however, t..."

You've never had poutine, Joanne? And you call yourself Canadian ..... :-)