Books on the Nightstand discussion

Starting out with my 4th oldest TBR book, Middlesex. Then, oldest book on my nightstand (err bookshelf) is Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. Next, I will read my book group choice for April's discussion, the Peachkeeper. I have 11/22/63 out from the library, but unless I am able to renew (the hold list is descreasing), I won't be able to finish 700+ pages before it is due back. Then, I start prepping for the Oxford authors. Before I can read the letters of Eudora Welty, I need know who she is. I have checked out the collected stories and the biography of Eudora Welty; shouldn't be a problem renewing those if I need to :). I continue to read Don't Know Much About History, and hope to complete it in April. I will also read the final latest book by the Vermont retreat authors, Crossing the Borders of Time: A True Story of War, Exile, and Love Reclaimed. This one is also counting as my new in 2012 book for the month. Then I've got The Healing: A Novel, Last Night in Twisted River, and the Baker's Daughter listed next. Finally, I have to re-read the 4th Harry Potter book en route to FINALLY reading the final one in July. That's probably ambitious for this month; with a final coming up mid-month and a twice a week class starting at the end of the month. I am listening to State of Wonder on Audible while in the kitchen or running.

An impressive list Amy!

I'm finishing up which I am really enjoying.

Next up will be another non-fic, .

Just started by Isabel Wilkerson.

I'm working on The Song of Achilles and really enjoying it.

I am reading Moon Women for my F2F bookclub --- so far, I'm not loving it. Maybe because next up is Ready Player One, which I'm really looking forward to reading. My husband stayed up until 4am reading it last week --- scared me, because he wasn't in bed and I didn't hear a computer game (his normal late night activity)

Amy wrote: "Starting out with my 4th oldest TBR book, Middlesex. Then, oldest book on my nightstand (err bookshelf) is Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. Next, I will read my book group c..."
Does Ann Patchett read the audio of The State of Wonder? I'm interested what you think. I just finished it this weekend and liked it alot. Her description of place, the Amazon, was so compelling and I thought the story line was interesting. I look forward to reading Bel Canto.

This month I want to read:
Faulkner or Welty?

Dianne wrote: "Does Ann Patchett read the audio of The State of Wonder? I'm interested what you think. I just finished it this weekend and liked it alot. Her description of place, the Amazon, was so compelling and I thought the story line was interesting. I look forward to reading Bel Canto. "

Hope Davis is the narrator for State of Wonder and; Anna Fields is the narrator for Bel Canto .

Currently reading:
The Night Circus
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
A Dance With Dragons
Oliver Twist
Complete Stories

The only book I am currently seriously reading is The Night Circus, because I only have it for two weeks from the library and I can't renew. I've been reading A Dance With Dragons, Oliver Twist, and Dorothy Parker for what seems like ages, so my goal for this month is to finish up the library books I have checked out and finally get those done as well also. I'm going on a year with A Dance With Dragons, which is just plain silly.

It took me almost 4 months to read A Feast for Crowsso I understand! hahaha

It never takes me that long to read a book, at least not a novel. And it's not that I don't enjoy the book either. I'm blaming it on the fact that I have the hardcover copy and I can't take it anywhere with me because it requires its own stroller.

Hahaha! I understand. Mine was a big HB too and I also usually zip thru books. I think it was also because it was the least exciting book in the series, at least for me. It was hard to get into. I'm looking forward to a dance with dragons though!!

Based on the description, my expectation was that this book was going to be something similar to John Steinbeck's or William Least Heat Moon's (two of my favorite books). I thought I might find within some philosophical ramblings about what America is, about where it's going, about the character of its people. Something more sober and ruminative.

What it is, is...cute. It's a loosely-slung collection of mostly amusing anecdotes from 1964-5 (the Moshers' first year living in Vermont) and from a year in the late oughts of the 21st century, in which Mosher, in his beater car, traveled the country on a 100 store book tour.

Nothing earth-shattering here. It's...cute.

Read Mosher's Stranger in the Kingdom. It's not cute.

I'm intrigued by Mosher's "Walking to Gatlinburg", which got such a stellar and eloquent review on your podcast by a bookseller (I think) a couple years ago.

I'm about to start rehearsing to play Richard in this play, which goes up in June. It's a revisiting. I read it in college when I helped build the set for an OSU theater department production. Eight years later I played Geoffrey in a community theater version. Now on to Richard.

The play takes place on a Christmas Day in the twelfth century, and concerns a unique dysfuctional family who just happen to be the Royal Family of England. There's the father, Henry II, trying to effect a peaceful transition of power to one of his sons while marrying his mistress, Alais. There's the mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the richest woman in the world, who is trying to finagle her freedom and the accession to power of another son. These two hate one another passionately, although the ghost of their love lingers.

And then there are the boys. Richard, a bloody-minded warrior, Geoffrey, an intellectual plotter, and John, a sniveling brat. Add to the mix the young French king, Philip, and his sister, the above-mentioned Alais.

Plots and schemes abound, as do witty putdowns, as the characters plot each other's deaths and simultaneously cry out for each other's love.

Three key observations this time around:

1) This is what the world would look like if psychiatry had never been invented. The family members practice their "talking cures" with one another, although no cure is in sight.

2) This is the original "Game of Thrones", what with its combination of cutting, witty barbs and internecine plots.

3) In many ways, the Plantagenet Family Christmas is the original "Festivus", complete with the airing of grievances, but without the pole and feats of strength.

Doing this show again is going to be fun.

Eric wrote: "

Based on the description, my expectation was that this book was going to be something similar to John Steinbeck's [bookcove..."

What keeps getting me is that I spent the whole book wondering if he would stop at the indy here in Iowa City (Prairie Lights), and when he went to Chicago without stopping I felt sure he was going to miss out. Then, I see that he doubles back... and he gets to Iowa City. And gets stuck in a traffic jam on game day. I was a little sad he didn't have any stories about the book store, but football is a passion of mine, second only to reading and just barely at that, so it was personally satisfying that he dwelled on game day in Iowa City. Sadly, I don't think he appreciates the experience as much as I do :)

Just started A Game of Thrones. It is going good so far; just distracted now...

Just started The Sense of an Ending in prep for Manchester. Looks like it is really short, so I am bypassing the book discussion here until I've finished it.

I'll also put Don't Know Much About History on my nightstand. I also ordered three other Manchester authors' books to be shipped from Northshire. Hope to have History of a Pleasure Seeker, The Song of Achilles, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking finished by Manchester and pick up one by the rest of the authors upon arrival. So excited!

I've been readingWicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West for at least a month now. I loved the musical so much, but I heard the book was pretty different and wanted to see what it's all about. So far, I'm having a pretty tough time getting through it. I've read two and a half books while I trying to finish it. I still have 150 pages left I think.

I am currently working through The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes that was suggested on BOTN and I am loving it. I may need to look into some other books by the author or some similar books.

When I finish these I have a long TBR list but I think I'm going to go with Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime and The Night Strangers The Night Strangers.

I finally finished A Farewell to Arms & I started last night....if I have time after I read it I am going to try to get these 2 read...

Megan wrote: "I've been readingWicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West for at least a month now. I loved the musical so much, but I heard the book was pretty different and wante..."

megan,

this seems to be the case with Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. it is a dense read i think, but it is good. i haven't read any of the follow ups though as i felt like this one was work.

Elizabeth wrote: "Megan wrote: "I've been readingWicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West for at least a month now. I loved the musical so much, but I heard the book was pretty diffe..."

I also had an extremely hard time finishing Wicked. I found Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister to be an easier read.

I finished reading Siobhan Dowd's "A Swift Pure Cry" in one evening, en route to a baseball game, while waiting for it to start, between innings, standing in line at the concession stand, during a rain delay, and finishing just as the car pulled into the driveway! Great timing, and a wonderful book. What a pity that the author died of breast cancer a few years ago and will not be giving us any more of her brilliant work.

I plan to start reading "Doc" by Mary Doria Russell in a couple of days when I start a week of vacation so that I'll be ready to discuss it at a book club meeting right after I get back. I may take another book along just in case I finish it, probably a paperback from my shelves. Two contenders are The Phantom Tollbooth and A Wrinkle in Time; both had 50th publication anniversaries recently, a good time for a reread.

My current audiobook is Amy Bloom's "A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You." I seldom read story collections, but so far I like this one.

Just finished "Cannery Row" and have started "The Absolutist" by John Boyne. I've set a goal to read some WW1 literature this year and this seemed like a good start. Although I have to admit that the beautiful cover is for at least 50% the reason I've bought the book.

Willem, PLEASE let me know what you think of THE ABSOLUTIST. It's not out in the US til July, and so I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone about it!

I've started reading The Night Circus based on Ann's recommendation and I can't put it down. It is such an imaginative story.

Kindle Read:
Paperback:

Kathleen wrote: "I've started reading The Night Circus based on Ann's recommendation and I can't put it down. It is such an imaginative story."

loved it!!

Just finishing upReady Player One on audio. Thank you Michael for this recommendation! It is a futuristic story set in a dystopic 2040s where the world is a mess, but people escape it by playing in this gameworld called the Oasis. There is a contest set up by the founder of the Oasis which involves knowing a lot about 1980s pop culture. It's ingenious b/c that helps to suck in 35-55 yr olds who remember the '80s. The hero has to recite every line of War Games and Monty Python's Holy Grail as part of the contest, plus play a lot of Pacman and Atari games. IT's a great book for audio, also. And it's good for a lit geek like me, gets me into other genres. Plus now I have something to buy for my 44 yr old brother who was a super geek in the '80s, and for my 19 yr old niece who is a gaming addict. . . thanks Michael!

Also starting A Prayer for Owen Meany, my husband's favorite book. . .

Oh, and I only scored 352 words/min, 11th grade level, so don't feel bad, Michael. . . my poor 80 yr old mother scored 186 words/min! 5th gr level. . .

I am reading The Devil All the Time, and feel almost guilty about enjoying a book that is SO WRONG as much as I am!

I just started The Song of Achilles. So far I am really liking it. This is the third or fourth book I have taken from BOTNS, and have loved them all.

Just started reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Very sweet. I'm leading a book discussion on it later this month at my library (I'm a librarian).



The Expats. Really enjoying this! Machinations!



I burned out on The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan when it looked like it would never end...and I couldn't keep up with the details between books. So now that it looks like the final one is finally going to be released I'm re-reading from the beginning. Wish me luck!

(Just started listening to the podcast - really enjoying it!)

Just finished A Monster Calls--highly recommended. Picked up two more from the library today, but I've been requesting so many I can't remember which two they were!

David wrote: "I burned out on The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan when it looked like it would never end...and I couldn't keep up with the details between books. So now that it looks like the final one is finally going to be released I'm re-reading from the beginning. Wish me luck!"

Would you recommend the series to someone who enjoys fantasy? I just realized I had never really heard anyone's opinion of the series, I've just always seen it around.

This week's lunchtime read was editor Brenda Ueland's 1939 Me: A Memoir, which I had hoped would include more detail--or at least some--about the world of 1920s magazine publishing. Instead it was one long list of the men and women with whom she had fallen passionately in love. Ah, well, at least she described them entertainingly.

I know that I've read something of Rumer Godden's, but can't recall what or when, so next week I'll start in on a three-in-one volume of her novels. In the meantime I'll dip alternately into Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff and Stephen Fry's third book of reminiscences, The Fry Chronicles. Next up on the e-reader: Gelett Burgess' The Burgess Nonsense Book (1901) and F.P.A.'s In Other Words (1912). These last few weeks have been hectic and I'll be glad for a good laugh.

Dana wrote: "David wrote: "I burned out on The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan when it looked like it would never end...and I couldn't keep up with the details between books. So now that it looks like the final ..."

I would definitely recommend the series to fans of epic fantasy, with the caveat that it starts out strong then somewhat loses it's way about 7 books in. Haven't read the final books, so hoping that it finds the path again.

David wrote: "I would definitely recommend the series to fans of epic fantasy, with the caveat that it starts out strong then somewhat loses it's way about 7 books in. Haven't read the final books, so hoping that it finds the path again. "

Thanks! I think I'll give it a try.

I just finished In the Woods which is a murder mystery set in Dublin. Very good and tonight I should finish Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers which is surprisingly fascinating.

I am starting vacation on Sunday - 8 days on a cruise to Greece. It took me a whole 15 minutes to pack my suitcase but I've been trying for the last 3 days to decide what books to take....in keeping with a Greek theme, I'm thinking about taking Song of Achilles....any other suggestions?

Yes. Herodotus' "Histories". Which is much more entertaining that you might think.

Ann wrote: "Willem, PLEASE let me know what you think of THE ABSOLUTIST. It's not out in the US til July, and so I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone about it!"

Hey Ann. Just wanted to let you know I've finished "The ABsolutist". Don't want to clutter the board with my opinions, but you can find my review of the book on my page. Hope you'll get the chance to read the book soon and I'm looking forward to either your or Michael's opinion on it.
Keep up the good work on the podcasts!

Go ahead and clutter the board with your opinions. I always do! Isn't that what it's for?

Eric wrote: "Go ahead and clutter the board with your opinions. I always do! Isn't that what it's for?"

I was thinking that exact think, Eric. One person's opinion, another person's reading material...

I am working my way through The Captive & The Fugitive for my Proust group, listening to The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America and desperately trying to finish Parrot and Olivier in America.

I normally really like Peter Carey, but Parrot and Olivier is not grabbing me at all. I've been reading it since January and still have over 100 pages left to go. For some reason, I find it extremely difficult to follow, which is rare for me, and as a result find it frustrating to pick back up. But I hate to leave books unfinished, so slogging on and hoping to wrap up by end of April.

4 stars - Got kind of bogged down with allergies and trouble getting it finished because of dripping nose ad itchy eyes. Shouldn't have taken me as long as it did.

Eric wrote: "Yes. Herodotus' "Histories". Which is much more entertaining that you might think."

Great suggestion. Definitely worth a look-see. Though I wonder how much energy you are going to have to read anything except magazine-length items. One's brain turns to mush when one's eyes get overworked, no?

Just started .

Just finished The Night Circus, and now I'm reading Last Puzzle and Testament for a light read before moving on to Oliver Twist as my main book (i.e. the one that moves around with me all day).

I'm reading I am Madame X and Rules of Civility...good period settings..and about to start the biography of artist, Lee Krasner.
Finished Cats Table (beautifully written) and Expats (a terrific story).

I've just finished It's Kind of a Funny Story which was very good. A book I would recommend for teens.
Now I am reading The Magicians - good so far.