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Archive through March 13, 2007

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Movies & Library ARCHIVES: Movies & Library 2009 - 1: Let's share...what are you reading? 2006-2008: Archive through March 13, 2007 users admin

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Slothkitten
Member

09-16-2003

Friday, March 09, 2007 - 7:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Slothkitten a private message Print Post    
I used to post in here a couple of years ago . . . read many good books recomended by the readers here !

I just finished About Alice by Calvin Trillin . . . brief 78 page book . . . wonderful book of love and marriage.
I like most of Cavin Trillin's books.

Got Charles Fraziers Thirteen Moons today . . . loved Cold Mountain, have high hopes .

Kattatude, I love historical fiction, have read every one of Philipa Gregory's books !
Have you read any of Sharon K. Penmans ?
If you like Gregory, you will like Penman .

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Escapee, you asked how many books are in the Kent series... I was probably in my 20's when I read the Kent Family Chronicles, and I'm now in my early 50's, so I don't remember offhand.

I just googled it for ya, and found John Jakes website with all the info on the series:

http://www.johnjakes.com/kentchronicles.htm

BTW, it says there are 8 books in that series. :-)

Trivia: I seem to vaguely recall doing a quick phone interview with Jakes in the late 1980's, for my newspaper column at the time.


BTW, I totally disagree about Nora Roberts books being one much like another. I have that complaint about Danielle Steel, but not Roberts. What I like best about Roberts is her unique versatility. Too tired to go into it now, it's after midnight, but I'll explain why I feel this way some other time.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Friday, March 09, 2007 - 10:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Kattatude, I have read pretty much most of what Nora Roberts has written... which means that I clearly remember my faves, but certainly not all of them. I have probably read it, but I don't remember it specifically. I'll look into it, and see if I have it, and if I do, maybe it will refresh my memory and then I'll let you know. Anyhow, IMHO, even if some of the stories are slow-starters, they are almost always worth the effort. (I just REALLY didn't care for her last one at all, and that's rare for me.)

Kattatude
Member

04-28-2005

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 4:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kattatude a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Mameblanche. I've only read a couple of Nora Roberts' books: Angels Fall and Carolina Moon. I liked both of them. River's End is about a girl with a Hollywood actress for a mother. The mother was killed by the husband/dad. That's about as far as I've gotten so far.

Slothkitten, I haven't read any Penman books. She does historical fiction? I'll have to check her out. I do have The Other Boleyn Girl on the shelf to take with me on vacation next month. I thought it might be a light beach read.

Slothkitten
Member

09-16-2003

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 7:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Slothkitten a private message Print Post    
http://www.sharonkaypenman.com/index.htm

Katt - hope this link works . . . it's to Penmans home page.

Her stories are set in medieval times in England, about 400 yrs before Gregorys . . . interesting real life charactors, like Henry the Second and Eleanor of Aquataine and all thier children, also lot's of great storys of the Welsh . . . well, you can look and see if it suits you . . . if you are interested, let me know and I'll give you the line up ( she wrote a couple out of sequence ). Her books are real rich in detail and charactors and a great read.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Just finished Tales of a Drama Queen by Lee Nichols. Enjoyable quick funny read.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I just finished reading More Than You Know by Beth Gutcheon. It was okay. It started out much better than it finished. I can't decide what I want to read next.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
But I do know that I have to pick up Morrigan's Cross. And then keep my hands off of Cian.

Mak1
Member

08-12-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mak1 a private message Print Post    
Today I finished Cell by Stephen King. It was his typical story, good if you like that stuff, with some gore, horror and explosions thrown in for good measure. I didn't enjoy it much, but maybe I've just read too many of his books.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 7:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Mamie I'm thrilled you're finally about to enter the Nora Roberts Zone. Grin.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 8:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I haven't entered it yet but there are so many glowing reviews of her work here, and you especially Mames, that I just have to.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 8:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Mamie, I'm gonna hunt up my N.R. faves to recommend to you... ANd to further a previous point I made, I will try to showcase her more VARIED stories. You'll be amazed they were written by the same woman.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 9:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
The Stanislaski Series: (I initially fell in love with Nora Roberts stories through this series.)

Taming Natasha (1990), Luring a Lady (1991), Falling for Rachel (1993), Convincing Alex (1994), Waiting for Nick (1997), Considering Kate (2001)

Chesapeake Bay Series:

Sea Swept (1998), Rising Tides (1998), Inner Harbor, (1999), Chesapeake Blue (2003)

In The Garden Trilogy:

Blue Dahlia (2004), Black Rose (2005), Red Lily (2005)

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 9:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
yes, Cian is mine

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 9:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
I almost forgot... you're starting with this series... The Circle Trilogy...
Morrigan's Cross (2006), Dance of the Gods (2006), Valley of Silence

This series is truly off the beaten track for her. A combo of action/adventure/fantasy/. But that's my point. She never lets herself get stale by staying in one 'style' too long. She bounces back and forth, in various genres. Her one thumbprint/m.o. would be her unwavering attention to crafting relationships in each of her stories, with the hero/heroine relating to ALL the other characters in the story, not just the primary romantic relationship. The underpinnings of family, friends, and community is solid. But she never loses sight of the plot either. She balances plot, narrative, and well-rounded character creation with more finesse than any other writer I've encountered.

Mind you I really disliked her last book Angel's Fall and if that's the new blueprint, then I am in trouble, cuz I didn't enjoy it, it was too dark and suspenseful and disturbing for me. Of course it was written with her usual excellent craftsmanship. But I'm hoping desperately it was merely a pothole in her solid literary road.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 9:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
LadyT and Mamie, FWIW- I pictured Cian as Josh Holloway/Sawyer in Lost... And Hoyt as Hal Sparks.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 10:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
You know I love them both, Mame.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
I haven't read any Nora Roberts because some of her titles sounded like romance novels and I hate romance novels. Is that a wrong assessment?

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 8:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Yep it's romance Twinks.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 8:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
I agree that there is always a romance in her stories, and her older stories are pure romance. But her books now are very plot oriented, and very relationhip oriented. By that I mean relationships with family and friends that are wonderfully drawn out, not just side-swiped. If you hate romances but would like to try a Nora Roberts book, you'd have to decide which theme you enjoy. Cuz she has done fantasy/gothic, mystery and SF, and straight stories. Yes, there is always romance, but the couples usually find each other early on and then combat/struggle with outside forces/issues together and usually in concert with family and friends. And that's how she hooked me on her trilogies and series. Cuz while you are rooting for couple A, you get to meet and like couples B and C. And that's how her trilogies work. Plus you get to hang out and enjoy the other 2 couples in each book, cuz the group stays friends, just the focus changes to the other couple. Love that about her style. Love it. I hate to say goodbye to characters I've grown fond of, and with her books, you get to hang around with them longer. And that's my fave part of being a N.R. fan. :-)

(She also writes futuristic-mysteries under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. Those are the In Death series, which have their own fan base. I personally don't like those much at all. But will pick one up if I need an N.R. fix.)

Kattatude
Member

04-28-2005

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 9:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kattatude a private message Print Post    
Slothkitten, you know, I think I read one of her books some years ago. The Sunne in Splendour sounds awfully familiar, and I think I did read it. I will definitely check to see if our library carries her books. Thanks for the link!

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I am reading, once again, Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake since the movie has just come out. It's a very nice read if you haven't read it yet. About a family who immigrates to the US from India and has a son -- and the struggles the parents have as immigrants, but also the son's struggles as an American born to immigrants.

I read a lot of books on the (East) Indian-American or (East) Indian-Canadian immigrant experience.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I have also ordered, an am awaiting my Amazon shipment with, Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet.

Described as: "...unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome."

Slothkitten
Member

09-16-2003

Sunday, March 11, 2007 - 12:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Slothkitten a private message Print Post    
Katt - You're welcome !

Yankee - Was listening to Terry Gross interview with Lahiri this week . . . he read a portion of the book about the train . . . sounded good !

ETA- Correction, I just checked and the interview was actually with the director of movie of this book ( just coming out ) . . . He made Mississippi Masala, too . . so good.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 7:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I am reading Sisters by Danielle Steel. I haven't read one of her books in ages but this one caught my eye.