Reading Books For Pleasure

[FurryFury]

48.) Lockwood and Co. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathon Stroud 3/5

Didn't love this Juvenile novel but it was decent. Having three kids live together with no adults AND conduct paranormal investigations kept jarring me out of my willful suspension of disbelief. Still the world created and story were interesting in their own way.

July

49.) Freddie Mercury by Peter Freestone with David Evans 4/5 Still so much I would like to know but I feel I've concluded my reading on Mercury. I wish people were more honest and consistent about things but reading it from so many different sides has helped me get a decent picture of both Freddie and the people around him.

50.) The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 2/5

This woman seems like a loon to me. To think that getting rid of clothes would be easiest?!? She doesn't know me.

To thank inanimate objects for their use and help, well, maybe it's a cultural difference thing? But then to just get rid of so many inanimate objects heartlessly, how do those two things work together?

I do need to declutter like a mother fucker though I will be using an entirely different system from "what gives me joy" because I'm way too attached to way too many things.


51.) Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb 4.5/5

Ah, to be back in this world with these characters was magic indeed and yet, I wanted to shake Fitz so many times.

Before I start book two in this trilogy I want at least a projected release date and I can't seem to find one.

52.) Dead Spots by Rhiannon Frater 4.5/5

Trigger warning: Deals, in part, with stillbirth / miscarriage.

Thought this book would possibly give me nightmares but it was a good read that felt hopeful instead. Yay! I love Rhiannon Frater!

 

[SquishyBits]

Not a problem around my house... I have at least a shelf's worth of books that await being picked up and read. Still, I add to it, and it never feels like it will run out.

I know the feeling. I have one "to read" shelf right now that is over flowing and may soon possibly turn into a second shelf. I can't seem to help myself. I just keep adding to it.

Not sure where I heard it or how exactly the quote is phrased but someone once told me that books are like trophies of the places you have traveled in your mind. It has always stuck with me because that is how I feel about my collection!

 

[FurryFury]

Loved The Witch of Hebron by James Howard Kunstler. I was worried about the witch but she turned out to be a sexy, glorious, good crone! Yas!

 

[FurryFury]

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson is a Y.A. book. Once again Sanderson has made me enjoy his writing when I was leery of it. Good job Sanderson.

 

[Farawyn]

I need to read. I haven't been. Even though reading is an escape, it does bring me back to myself. It gives me comfort. I could use some of that.

Good summer reads? I don't like chick lit.
Suggestions.

 

[HubbyApproves]

Hello all,

New to this thread, but an avid reader so thought I'd say hi before jumping in

I've just finished Kafka's Metamorphosis and holy shit, it was amazing. His writing was like a dance. Crazy good.

 

[Farawyn]

Hello all,

New to this thread, but an avid reader so thought I'd say hi before jumping in

I've just finished Kafka's Metamorphosis and holy shit, it was amazing. His writing was like a dance. Crazy good.

Love that the guy wakes up as a bug and is still contemplating how he can make it into work!!!

 

[HubbyApproves]

Love that the guy wakes up as a bug and is still contemplating how he can make it into work!!!

I know! So great

 

[Farawyn]

I know! So great

What made you read this now?

 

[HubbyApproves]

I need to read. I haven't been. Even though reading is an escape, it does bring me back to myself. It gives me comfort. I could use some of that.

Good summer reads? I don't like chick lit.
Suggestions.

David Sedaris's Me talk pretty one day had me laughing out loud.

Murakami's Norwegian wood was beautiful... I know you said you don't do chick lit, but have you read any of Jeanette Winterson's stuff? She's cooky and cool...

Two of my faves are The hours by Michael Cunningham and The shipping news by Annie Proulx.

 

[HubbyApproves]

What made you read this now?

Wanted a quick read & it's been on my 'to read' pile for too long

Going for something longer now...a Bonte maybe? I usually try to balance male/female and classic/contemporary, but I'm in a classic kind of mood.

 

[Farawyn]

David Sedaris's Me talk pretty one day had me laughing out loud.

Murakami's Norwegian wood was beautiful... I know you said you don't do chick lit, but have you read any of Jeanette Winterson's stuff? She's cooky and cool...

Two of my faves are The hours by Michael Cunningham and The shipping news by Annie Proulx.

Love Sedaris.
I'm going to look into the books. The Hours.
Thank you.

 

[desertslave]

48.)

50.) The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 2/5

This woman seems like a loon to me. To think that getting rid of clothes would be easiest?!? She doesn't know me.

To thank inanimate objects for their use and help, well, maybe it's a cultural difference thing? But then to just get rid of so many inanimate objects heartlessly, how do those two things work together?

I do need to declutter like a mother fucker though I will be using an entirely different system from "what gives me joy" because I'm way too attached to way too many things.

Thank you for this! I keep feeling like the kid from The Emperor's New Clothes because I just can't get into this philosophy. At. All.

I think it's probably because I grew up in a gentle battleground of simplicity vs. clutter (mom/dad), and was mostly on Daddy's side. I definitely have an attachment to purposeless things (seashells, unusual rocks, glass sculptures) but unlike the author, I have a special fondness for things that are just beautiful for the sake of being beautiful. I do, also, love functional things that are also beautiful. I just don't insist on functionality.

My ex (who liked to cook) asked me one time why I had to have so many shades of red glass. I asked him why he didn't only cook with cinnamon and forget about the garlic, basil, rosemary, and cumin. I won!

 

[Farawyn]

Thank you for this! I keep feeling like the kid from The Emperor's New Clothes because I just can't get into this philosophy. At. All.

I think it's probably because I grew up in a gentle battleground of simplicity vs. clutter (mom/dad), and was mostly on Daddy's side. I definitely have an attachment to purposeless things (seashells, unusual rocks, glass sculptures) but unlike the author, I have a special fondness for things that are just beautiful for the sake of being beautiful. I do, also, love functional things that are also beautiful. I just don't insist on functionality.

My ex (who liked to cook) asked me one time why I had to have so many shades of red glass. I asked him why he didn't only cook with cinnamon and forget about the garlic, basil, rosemary, and cumin. I won!

I love this whole post.

 

[HisArpy]

Re-reading Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I love book three - amazing. Everyone knows the movie (either the American or Euro version) of the first book, but the books have much more detail and are so vivid.

Speaking of the movie/DVD, if you haven't seen all three, you should. They're done in Swedish, but the English dubbed versions are done well enough you don't notice the dubbing at all.

 

[ShyGuy68]

Re-reading Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I love book three - amazing. Everyone knows the movie (either the American or Euro version) of the first book, but the books have much more detail and are so vivid.

Speaking of the movie/DVD, if you haven't seen all three, you should. They're done in Swedish, but the English dubbed versions are done well enough you don't notice the dubbing at all.

I'm a fan of the books as well, and have read them a few times, and also have the audiobooks. I liked the first of the movies the best, and then the third is my second favorite.

I'm currently reading Vertical by Rex Pickett, but I'll put that down tomorrow when I go and pick up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

 

[JustbeingRandy]

Just getting back into reading after quite a hiatus. Always loved reading but became rather discouraged after a few novels. Just seemed like there was such a huge lack of imagination. Or that I was reading a series that to be honest, should have been just one book. That it seemed to drag on and on. So I'm doing some searching, and hoping to find a few good books. Thinking of seeing if Harlan Coben has any new books, as he was always a favorite.

 

[Farawyn]

May read The Virgin Suicides again, just to be maudlin.

 

[FurryFury]

I LOVE your POV!

At the same time I am currently engaged in a decluttering project of HUUUUGE proportions and it's NOT at all natural for me.

I have goals for the future and must do what I can.

Thank you for this! I keep feeling like the kid from The Emperor's New Clothes because I just can't get into this philosophy. At. All.

I think it's probably because I grew up in a gentle battleground of simplicity vs. clutter (mom/dad), and was mostly on Daddy's side. I definitely have an attachment to purposeless things (seashells, unusual rocks, glass sculptures) but unlike the author, I have a special fondness for things that are just beautiful for the sake of being beautiful. I do, also, love functional things that are also beautiful. I just don't insist on functionality.

My ex (who liked to cook) asked me one time why I had to have so many shades of red glass. I asked him why he didn't only cook with cinnamon and forget about the garlic, basil, rosemary, and cumin. I won!

 

[FurryFury]

Interesting. I never got to book three.

Book one was okay for me. Took me three tries to get through it. I felt it could have used a lot of editing. In the end, I was glad I read it.

Book two felt way too "girl can do all the things" to me. Didn't care for it.

Tried to watch both the Swedish and American movies but didn't care for them.

Re-reading Steig Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I love book three - amazing. Everyone knows the movie (either the American or Euro version) of the first book, but the books have much more detail and are so vivid.

Speaking of the movie/DVD, if you haven't seen all three, you should. They're done in Swedish, but the English dubbed versions are done well enough you don't notice the dubbing at all.

 

[HisArpy]

Book 3 in Steig Larsson's series is about Lisbet going to trial. Lots of interesting imagery in it. Lisbet's spiky haired goth/punk rocker image in my mind will haunt me forever. Oh to be 25 again...or even 30.

The movies are hard to watch I'll grant you that. They are dark and not at all americanized. Not pretty. But, from a pure filmmaking perspective, they are fantastic. The biggest hurdle most people have is that they are not like Hollywood movies. This comes from different viewpoints on what's important and what's not. Here, it's FX and beauty. In Europe, it's intrigue and deviousness with less emphasis on beautiful or handsome scenery or actors. Watching European movies is kind of like culture shock in film.

A perfect example is the motorcycle chase scene at the end of book 1. Here, it's almost blah. There it's exciting because it's so out of control for the roads, culture, and societal norm.

There are other differences too. For ex; Lisbet's half-brother could have been dropped from the story completely without affecting anything. In America, it would have been and anything by that character needed for plot development would have been sanitized. Yet, for the culture there, it plays an important part of making her more human and explaining some of why she is almost sociopathic.

I really do like the series and how the characters are portrayed and developed. I have a book coming out next year which has elements of this type of character in it. When it gets closer to publication, I'll comment on it more IF the forum allows me to. As of right now I don't know when it will be cataloged by the publisher. We are still in the initial phases of publication and don't even have cover art done yet. But, that's a different thread. And, ONLY if the mods will allow it.

 

[FurryFury]

56.) Imager by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. 4.5/5

Really enjoyed this fantasy book. I will be reading more in the future.

57.) A History of the Future by James Howard Kunstler 5/5

The third in a series. Will continue reading them, because I am fascinated and there is social justice in there as well.

58.) A Full Life Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter 4/5

Oh, President Carter, how little I knew ye. I am happy to have picked this book to read and enjoy. I now know far more about this president and I feel richer for it.

 

[Farawyn]

I may read All the Pretty Horses again by Cormac McCarthy.


Any recommendations?

Male protagonist, don't like happy endings.

 

[pete]

I may read All the Pretty Horses again by Cormac McCarthy.

Any recommendations?

Male protagonist, don't like happy endings.

love that book!

have you read the entire trilogy?

 

[Farawyn]

love that book!

have you read the entire trilogy?

Of course I have!!! The 2nd book was a little hard to get through without the Spanish translations. But yea, love his bleakness. Good stuff!