TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . ABOUT US . CONTACT . CHAT  
Bomis   Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through January 23, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Movies/Library ARCHIVES: Library 2005: Let's share....what are you reading? (ARCHIVES): ARCHIVES: Archive through January 23, 2004 users admin

Author Message
Yankee_In_Ca

Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_In_Ca a private message Print Post    
Hey, Kady -- I'm just staring Life of Pi! Maybe we can discuss a bit once I'm through! (I'm also reading LOTR at the same time).

Kady

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 5:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kady a private message Print Post    
Sure Yankee, Egbok is reading it too. I don't like to say too much cause I don't like spoiling things for people. The writer did a very good job on this book. Some of the descriptions were so vivid...I had to skim over them cause they grossed me out. Pi is a very interesting young man.

After seeing the first LOTR's, I decided to read the books. I started with the Hobbit which was okay. Then I started The Fellowship and barely made my way through it. It was hard for me to follow and understand. I never picked up the other two. The movies were okay but I haven't felt the desire to finish reading the books.


Egbok

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 10:28 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Egbok a private message Print Post    
Hi Kady and Yankee!

It's been a long, rough road this past week because I was celebrating my 50th birthday all week long!! LOL!!

I am now back on track and will be picking up Life of Pi, which I started over a week ago with the authors' forward.


Seamonkey

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 12:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
When you all discuss Life of Pi, I'll sit in if that's ok. I read it quite some time ago and bookcrossed it, in fact I think Man_of_War has it, but anyway as you discuss it, I'll remember more, I'm sure.

I finished Enslaved by Ducks which was amusing and engaging but I was a little bit frustrated with some of the techniques which would say that the author either doesn't understand basic conditioning, or is being humorous without making it clear.

Now intend to start Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie McDonald. I have her new novel and being crazy, realized this is her old novel and feel like I should read it first.. why, not sure..

Mamie316

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 12:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I am reading We Need To Talk About Kevin right now. It is very dark and sometimes hard to read but it is engrossing.

Seamonkey

Monday, January 12, 2004 - 2:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
BTW, the book I just finished has a website :)

Ducks

Mamie316

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 7:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
Finished We Need To Talk About Kevin, a very good book and very disturbing. I wonder how close it gets to how the parents of the school shooters really feel.

Seamonkey

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 8:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Mamie, that is on my wish list on BN.com.. waiting for it to go to paperback.. sounds worth reading to me.

Fall on Your Knees is quite compelling/engrossing. I find myself staying up even later reading it. 500 pages of very small print so it still takes some time. Glad I finally started it.

Mary, this one is from Oprah's list, so I assume you have it or have read it.

Marysafan

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 8:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Marysafan a private message Print Post    
Sea..I have it, but haven't read it yet. I have only made my way through half of the Oprah books, but I have all but three I think. I am looking forward to your input because so far I am finding people either loved it or hated it...very little middle ground.

Mamie316

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 9:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I found with a lot of Oprah's books that they were very depressing. It seemed to be a theme with her.

Seamonkey

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 10:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Well this one is weird, yes, somewhat stark, but well-written, interesting in that it covers a period of history in Canada instead of the US and about immigrants TO Canada. And black/white issues in Canada.

OG might like it. Might.

For an example of a depressing Oprah book that I thought was not nearly as well-written: Icy Sparks.

I'd say this is more literature than some Oprah books. I'm talking the pre-hiatus books. Haven't really followed the books since it started up again, except that I did buy East of Eden because I realized I hadn't read that one in High School.. and I certainly enjoyed that.

Hermione69

Friday, January 16, 2004 - 10:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
I'm reading the first Artemis Fowl book and have the other two waiting in the wings. Also picked up Life of Pi at work.

Seamonkey

Friday, January 16, 2004 - 11:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Ah Hermi, I remember Life of Pi being on your wish list way back.. hope you like it.

I finished Fall on Your Knees this morning and plan to start Macdonald's second book (over 700 pages), The Way the Crow Flies which takes part near the Canadian border during the Cold War era... anyway I'll start it later .. still have the paper to read and daytime stuff.

Fall.. well I can see why some like it and some don't. I found it worth reading

Calamity

Friday, January 16, 2004 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
I just finished Bill Maher’s When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden - a critique of how the US government has responded to the War on Terror. The lynchpin of his argument is that - just as during World War II when the government called on its citizens to “do their part” by conserving fuel, buying war bonds, etc. - there is much today that the American public can be doing to help safeguard our country. But since that would involve some sacrifices on our part (which could cause a backlash among some voters) as well as possibly affect the bottom line of highly influential corporations, the administration has chosen to ignore this avenue.

The book illustrates his points with glossy reproductions of WWII-era propaganda posters updated to reflect current events, as well as entirely new artwork. As for the text, it’s rather skimpy and the tone swings between earnest idealism, caustic humor, and righteous indignation (some would probably say self-righteous indignation).

I don’t always agree with Maher’s opinions and conclusions (although I do more often than not) but think he asks some very serious questions that more Americans would do well to consider. And that is as blandly as I can describe this book without turning The Library into News and Views :) .

Latest illustrated books I’ve read were Chris Van Allsburg’s The Stranger, and Dav Pilkey's The Moonglow Roll-a-Rama.

I checked two books out of the library and am unsure which to read first - one is Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (author of The Thief Lord, which I quite enjoyed) and David Grinspoon’s (now, that’s an unusual name!) Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life.

Also this year, I plan to re-read some longtime favorites of mine that I haven't visited in years. I've always been afraid that if I read a special story too many times it will lose some of its magic but what's the point of loving something if you don't get to enjoy it?

Kimmo

Friday, January 16, 2004 - 3:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kimmo a private message Print Post    
I finished the Roland Bainton book and am now reading...."An Outline History of the Middle Ages," compiled by George Fox Mott and Harold M. Dee! Oh, doesn't that sound exciting?

It is literally an outline (Roman numerals and all) starting from the 4th century through the Reformation. I'm almost up to the Norman conquest!

Slothkitten

Friday, January 16, 2004 - 5:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Slothkitten a private message Print Post    
Hi everyone !

Found a new writer . . Lesley Hazleton.
I'm reading her memior " Driving to Detroit " and am facinated. Her style is so clear, simple and elegant, I love it.
This woman is actually a automotive writer ( and lot's of other things, she's a charactor! )and this book starts out as a road trip and goes all over the place. Very funny, too.

Before this career she was a middle eastern political writer, was so glad to see she's written several other books.
Hope they are as good.

Finally got the newest Ann Rule !

Another memior " Waiting for Snow in Havana " by
Carlos Eire.
He was airlifted out of Cuba at age 11 ( without his folks ) . . story about his life before and after. It looks like a great story.


Calamity, I love to read my favorite books over again, a wonderful feeling to read those special words again . . to see beloved charactors again.
So far, still magic !
Someone said " I love to re - read my favorite books again and again ; it's like listening to a beautiful piece of music over and over. " :.)

Adven

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 2:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Adven a private message Print Post    
I've discovered Christopher Moore, a novelist who defies description and is the funniest writer I've come across in years. No, make that ever. He is weird, offbeat and, at least to me, hilarious. He's been around for about ten years and has 7 novels out, all gems, but impossible to characterize. If you like Carl Hiaasen or Douglas Adams, then multiply their skill by 10 and you have Christopher Moore.

Seamonkey

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 4:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Adven, isn't it wonderful when you find an author you love AND you find out they've written a raft of books for you to enjoy?

Adven

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 7:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Adven a private message Print Post    
It is, Sea. When I read his first one, I thought maybe he got lucky and that the next ones wouldn't be as good, but they're all fantastic. It amazes me that he can be as consistently hilarious as he is without straining for a gag or taking the story off track in order to be funny. When I was half way through the second one, I was almost gleeful realizing I had five more of his to read afterwards.

Seamonkey

Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 9:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
I fully understand the glee of which you speak

Calamity

Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 2:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
The name Christopher Moore seemed familiar so I looked him up and...nope, it wasn't the same author. But now I'm deeply intrigued by those book titles - Island of the Sequined Love Nun? Or my favorite, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove? (I've always liked the word "melancholy". And "cove". And "lust", for that matter.)

Slothkitten: I used to re-read favorite books all the time when I kid (to the point that my mom actually took some away from me in an attempt to get me to find something else). But when I got older, I just stopped. Don't know what happened. But that's going to change :) !

Adven

Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 6:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Adven a private message Print Post    
Well, I'm hesitant to recommend him to others, Calamity, simply because I've had people rhapsodize to me about books, only to use the paper they're printed on to wrap fish after 50 pages.
Christopher Moore isn't for every one. He defies characterization, but his general trend is to throw in a demon or vampire or even a talking fruitbat into the lifes of very ordinary, yet offbeat people and see what happens. Humor is an individual thing, but I've never read anyone funnier or who can so smoothly take a completely ridiculous premise and turn it into a great story.

Seamonkey

Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Hmm, well OF COURSE there are talking fruitbats at TVCH.. I've even talked to her :)

This book I'm reading.. wow!! It is 500 pages and I'm wishing it was 1000.

Alas, the end is approaching.. my newly-discovered author, Ann-Marie MacDonald, but now I'll be done with all two of her books. (or, both of her books)

Calamity

Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 2:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Okay, Adven, consider me warned. Actually the only thing that really concerned me when I scanned Moore’s book reviews was the mention of “occasional gross-out death”. I’m a wuss when it comes to graphic violence and gore/grossness. But I’ve always liked stories that mix the mundane with the fantastic and that’s what intrigued me about Moore’s work. Of course, my expectations might be completely warped.

P.S. The author I had been thinking of was Christopher Buckley.

Adven

Friday, January 23, 2004 - 6:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Adven a private message Print Post    
Christopher Buckley's another of my favorites! Huh, small world.

Actually, there's a kind-heartedness in Christopher Moore's books that tempers a lot of the gross out stuff. He plays it for laughs and handles it in a way that doesn't seem gratuitous. I've got a cast iron stomach, though, and, now that I think back, there are a few scenes I recall that would not be for the squeamish.