Books on the Nightstand discussion

i started last night.

Elizabeth wrote: "i started [bookcover:The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific] last night."

Make sure to get yourself a copy of the song The Macarena and enjoy.

Cute book, Elizabeth.

thanks linda. i'll check it out.

Elizabeth wrote: "i started [bookcover:The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific] last night."
I read this several years ago and enjoyed the romp. Hope you do too.

I finally finished And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, and Gone Girl. I also enjoyed Knots and Crosses. Now I need to finish Bring Up the Bodies andBad News.

Well, I thought having knee surgery last Thursday would provide an excellent time for reading, however the surgery went ultra well and I am up and out the door already. Did finish , love Anne Tyler. Almost finished with .

Amy, how is Wolf Hall on audio? Are you listening through audible? I've got it on my list to listen to, and was just wondering... also I loved The Expats!

a great Nashville writer j.t. Ellison book called deeper darkness

Carey wrote: "Amy, how is Wolf Hall on audio? Are you listening through audible? I've got it on my list to listen to, and was just wondering... also I loved The Expats!"

I have to admit that it is pretty difficult to keep track of all the characters. And a lot of them have the same name. Plus, that who Downtown Abby/royals obsession escapes me. I am probably not the best person to get a fair assessment :)

Amy wrote: "Carey wrote: "Amy, how is Wolf Hall on audio? Are you listening through audible? I've got it on my list to listen to, and was just wondering... also I loved The Expats!"

I have to admit that it..."

I read , rather than listen to it. I can not imagine listening to it because I had trouble differentiating among the many Thomases in the book. Good luck.

I'm almost 100 pg into Fifty Shades of Grey which I'm not overly thrilled with so far. I just don't think its living up to all the hype. Maybe when I get a bit further into it I'll change my mind.

I've also just started Red Leaves and the Living Token and also Nicholas both of which I am really enjoying so far.

Flora wrote: "I'm almost 100 pg into Fifty Shades of Grey which I'm not overly thrilled with so far. I just don't think its living up to all the hype. Maybe when I get a bit further into it I'll change my mind.
..."

I just finished Fifty Shades of Grey last night. I would have put it down after the first 5 or 6 chapters, but then some friends all decided to read it so I kept with it. IMHO it gets better (both the writing and the plot) and I actually downloaded the second book!

Linda wrote: "I can not imagine listening to it because I had trouble differentiating among the many Thomases in the book..."

Yup - definitely challenging. I have had to use the character discriptions over and over again, and I have rewound quite a bit too.

Does Wolf Hall include a family tree? Those help me immensely with complicated families, and (for me) make historical fiction better in book form, as opposed to audiobook. When I listened to the audio of , I struggled with the family layouts, and lo and behold, the book came with family trees. Very helpful.

Linda wrote: "Just to get the month started (Thanks, Eric, for reminding us) one that I've been working on is Michael Crichton's "

I LOVED this book!

I just started . Very interesting. I can see why it's been banned so many times!

Callie wrote: "Does Wolf Hall include a family tree? Those help me immensely with complicated families, and (for me) make historical fiction better in book form, as opposed to audiobook. When I listened to the au..."

Callie, not really a family tree (graphic), but family lists, headed by the name of a house then the first name was the male head of the household and who else lived there. Next page, new house, new head of house and who live there...

Still helpful.

Angie wrote: "Linda wrote: "Just to get the month started (Thanks, Eric, for reminding us) one that I've been working on is Michael Crichton's "

I LOVED this book!"

Not meaning to give TMI, but I find myself spending time in the room where I am reading this book. Wink, wink.

Callie wrote: "Does Wolf Hall include a family tree? Those help me immensely with complicated families, and (for me) make historical fiction better in book form, as opposed to audiobook. When I listened to the au..."

i found the family tree in galore helpful too callie. i'm not sure i could have followed on audio.

Finished The Illumination this weekend at booktopia and was blown away by the dense, beautiful writing. I appreciated knowing in advance that it was really linked short stories (thanks to Callie, I think). This is definitely a book to give you a lot to ponder, but it is emotionally tough, too. Probably not a beach read.

Also, recently finished Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from EverybodyElse which is an interesting, quick read about myths and practical advice surrounding great performers.

Picked up Books while in Oxford. This is a book about books, but not in the way I was expecting. I didn't know that McMurtry considers himself first and foremost a bookman (trader in rare/used books). This memoir is about that side of his life. Very interesting.

Lastly, just read Rescue Me today for quickie romance. Not my favorite of Rachel Gibson's, particularly didn't love the ending. I do recommend this author in general for modern romance. See Jane Score is probably my favorite by her.

I'm almost finished with Gone Girl.about 70 pages left..it's a page turner, that's for sure.

Lil wrote: "Finished The Illumination this weekend at booktopia and was blown away by the dense, beautiful writing. I appreciated knowing in advance that it was really linked short stories (thanks to Callie, ..."

oo oo oo Lil, I keep saying I'm going to finish
tonight (including the last night of Booktopia - when I knew I wouldn't get much reading done.

Tonight.

I finished Oryx and Crake this afternoon, and thought that though it had a bit of a slow start (and was reminding me of The Windup Girl, not my favorite), it turned out to be a really fun (albeit depressing) ride. I gave it 4 stars, and would have given it higher if it hadn't made me feel so dumb in the beginning!

Now I'm reading Tinkers, and am totally engrossed by the first few pages... although I'm a little freaked out by the lowish rating on goodreads (3.31). I will withhold judgement until I finish it.

On a side note- does anyone ever go back and change their ratings on goodreads? I'm tempted to shift them occasionally, because my memory of the book changes, but it kind of feels wrong. Thoughts?

Callie wrote: "On a side note- does anyone ever go back and change their ratings on goodreads? I'm tempted to shift them occasionally, because my memory of the book changes, but it kind of feels wrong. Thoughts? "

In general no, I don't change my ratings. It's only happened a couple of times and that was when I was borderline on the rating to begin with. The times I have changed a rating, it has usually been to downgrade. Only once did I upgrade: I didn't get the book and then two days after I finished it, I "got" it and thought it very well may be one of the most brilliant books ever! (The book was INVISIBLE MONSTERS by Chuck Palahnuik and the rating was for an online group.)

Callie wrote: "On a side note- does anyone ever go back and change their ratings on goodreads? I'm tempted to shift them occasionally, because my memory of the book changes, but it kind of feels wrong. Thoughts? ..."

I have changed mine as well; just as Tanya wrote; usually if it is borderline. I wouldn't change at all probably if GR had 1/2 stars..mmmm

Callie wrote: "I finished Oryx and Crake this afternoon, and thought that though it had a bit of a slow start (and was reminding me of The Windup Girl, not my favorite), it turned out to be a really fun (albeit d..."

Callie,
Funny that you mentioned this, since I was just looking at some of my ratings and questioning what I'd done in the past. I haven't changed a bunch of books, but have done some and think that many others should be adjusted, usually one star one way or the other. I find that I am much more reluctant to give 5 stars now, and I think that is partially a BOTNS phenomenon, since I am reading a lot of really good books. Also, sometimes I seem to rate a book higher if I have just read it and go to book group or similar and have said maybe nicer things about it than I feel after some time has passed. I wish we could use 1/2 stars here and I also think I would do better if goodreads sent me an e-mail about a month after the initial rating with, "Do you still feel the same about book X?". I definitely look back and feel a star change after I've sat with a book for a while.

One thing I think I am going to change right now based on this discussion is Ready Player One. I loved it, plan to re-read it and now don't know why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5!

Reading & enjoying.... by Ray Bradbury

Just finished I, Lucifer by Glenn Duncan, and If Walls Could Talk by Lucy Worsley. Wasted my time on Anne Rice's The Wolf Gift. I am well and truly done with her. Waiting to get The House on Silk Road and The Language of Flowers from my library to take on vacation with me. Yippee!

I just finished The Fault in Our Stars. It was very good. And am just starting Running With Scissors

Lisa
http://thebookbags.blogspot.ca/

Callie wrote: "does anyone ever go back and change their ratings on goodreads?..."

Yes I have. Mainly it is after I've read a book then discussed it at book group. Sometimes fleshing it out helps me narrow in on how I truly feel about it. I've adjusted up and down. I too wish GR had 1/2 stars.

Finished Still Alice and entered an entirely new world. This book has changed my mental models - always a good thing.

Also finished and loved the ride that is Ready Player One. The audio version is fab. Would highly recommend both.

To answer a question that Callie asked about changing ratings: I tend not to do that. But just today did. I had rated Still Alice as 4 stars when I finished it a couple of days ago, but on further reflection and discussion, have bumped it up to 5 stars.

Hi all - just thought I would pop in and say hi, since I haven't been posting at all (call it missing Booktopia Manchester withdrawal). But I haven't been reading much either - got a bit caught up in watching all 5 seasons of Mad Men and some other non-reading activities. But I listened to about 2 months of worth of BOTNS podcasts today and added a bunch to my "to read" list. Also enjoyed hearing the authors from Manchester, even if I had to cancel at almost the last minute. (I couldn't figure out where my post fit, so "what are you reading" - not much but about to change that.)

Callie wrote: "Finished , and while I appreciated the research (and may pursue some of the books she mentioned), I grew tired of the author about halfway through the book, and if ..."

Felt entirely the same about the Happiness Project - it was like "enough already".

Elizabeth wrote: "Just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I alternated between being mesmerized and incredibly annoyed while reading this book. I listened to the audio version, which was wonderfully narrated by Bernad..."

I just finished Wild for my bookclub and I also had a mixed response. I really enjoyed the back stories when she would talk about her family, her mother's death and her marriage but when she was hiking I got very bored and felt like she was trying too hard to show personal growth from her challenges on the trail.

Now I'm on to "Bring up the Bodies" by Hilary Mantel.

Amy wrote: "Flora wrote: "I'm almost 100 pg into Fifty Shades of Grey which I'm not overly thrilled with so far. I just don't think its living up to all the hype. Maybe when I get a bit further into it I'll ch..."

Thats certainly good to hear. I'm almost half way and still not overly impressed.

I'm right in the middle of Wolf Hall. It is taking me forever. Once I pick it up and start reading, I'm finding it interesting, it's just hard to pick back up and start once I put it down for awhile...does that make sense?

Shona wrote: "I'm finding it interesting, it's just hard to pick back up and start once I put it down for awhile...does that make sense?..."

Ya - I am the same way with audio. I will be going on a short road trip soon so I am hoping to get a good chunk done.

@ linda,

after finishing The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific, i get the macarena reference. that song drives me insane without repeated plays.

i started last night.

Finished the audio of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, which was wonderful... and while the narrator did a wonderful job, part of me still wished it was Susan Gregg Gilmore reading. I so remember her reading from Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen at Booktopia last year, and thinking she was amazing. (BTW- can we call last year Booktopia, even though it wasn't technically Booktopia yet?)

I have now spun the magical random number generator, and it has provided me with a new title- Alice I Have Been. Can't wait to start!

Callie wrote: "Finished the audio of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, which was wonderful... and while the narrator did a wonderful job, part of me still wished it was Susan Gregg Gilmore reading. I so rememb..."

Oh, lucky you.....Alice I Have Been captivated me from the first page (or word, I listened to it on audio). You are in for a treat!

I'm over half way thru Fifty Shades of Grey and I still don't like it. I'm taking a break from this for a while.

The other two books I'm reading, Red Leaves and the Living Token and Nicholas are both really good tho.

Oh the disappointment that is Defending Jacob. Some clever writing, but poorly plotted and the story just did not grab me. Maybe I have read too many great crime/courtroom stories, but I struggled to finish this one.

Shaking the dust of my nook in preparation for my next great read.

Right now I am reading "hombre" by Elmore Leonard. Along with " American Gods " Both very readable books.

So far I've read , , , decided to skip , and am currently reading . Also flipped through Eco-Friendly Crafting with Kids, which I look forward to checking out again when my daughter's a little older.

This afternoon our Friends of the Library group held a pop-up library/book swap at the site where the town will hopefully be building a new library soon, despite recent drama surrounding the whole issue. (newlibrary.ca to see the plans!) In the process of selecting books to exchange/donate/share, I realized just how many unread books I have. As much as checking books out of the library is great on my wallet AND encourages me to read more (because of the due date), I've made a resolution to start reading some of those purchased-but-unread books.

I love seeing what everyone is reading. I just finished re-reading Ron Rash's "Serena" for a book group discussion; I wanted to re-read and discuss it before the movie comes out. I think it is a great read, definitely Rash's best so far - - althought I'm about to start "The Cove".

My book groups are getting me to read things I wouldn't otherwise ... so I just finished "The Remains of the Day" by Ishiguro; it was brilliant.

Now, I'm reading "The Sense of an Ending"; I'm anxious to finish it so I can discuss it, and am about to start "Gone Girl" - - that looks like a really fun read!

I always find it interesting to see which people like a certain book and which ones don't. If I were really ambitious I'd try to figure out if there is anyone on here that consistently rates like I do...but I'm far to lazy to figure it out and there are books stacked here waiting to be read.

silver sparrow aNY ONE READ THIS YET

I just finished . I really enjoyed it. My type of lite reading. It reminded me a lot of Michael Crichton. And ironically, I just started immediately because it was available for the library. Its intriguing so far as well.

started

melodie wrote: "silver sparrow aNY ONE READ THIS YET"

Yes, it's just excellent.

melodie wrote: "silver sparrow aNY ONE READ THIS YET"

Yes, I read Silver Sparrow - - thought it was wonderful. Very well done, but ultimately sad. I have a book review on it at my page on GoodReads.