Bookworms...What are You Reading?

teagrrl · Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 462 Location: Far away

I'm reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything and it really appeals to the geek in me. So much, in fact, that I got new career ideas. I love Bill Bryson's books in general and will buy the ones I haven't read yet as soon as I get the money...

I also just finished a Val McDermid book - can't recall its title right now, and I'm too lazy to go check - which was also good. I've liked all her books as well because they all seem to have at least one character that I can relate to. And I love crime novels anyway.
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brightcorner · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 65 Location: SF bay area

I love Toni Morrison! Beloved is definitely my favorite, but I recently read Song of Solomon and it was great too. That woman can WRITE.

I am right in the middle of The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (speaking of women who can WRITE), wondering why in the world it took me so long to discover her books. I am just stunned by her prose. I actually just finished the scene where the family travels to the city to see Sound of Music - brilliant.

All of a sudden this past week, many friends have been telling me I should read Ann Patchett (sp?). Does anyone have any recommendations/thoughts about her books? I have never read anything by her.
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Lyric · Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 8 Location: washington, dc

brightcorner-
Definitely read Ann Patchett's Bel Canto - it was one of the best books I have read in a long time. it grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go... you'll be thinking about for days after you finish it. i am looking forward to reading her other stuff.

i'm currently reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell -- quite engaging so far....

CraftinFool · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 809 Location: New England

brightcorner - I also loved God of Small Things.

Arundhati Roy is a fascinating person. She was trained as an architect or something, now she writes and gives political speeches, esp as relates to her homeland and women's rights. I read a speech online that she had given regarding Bush's politics and it was amazing. I'm planning to read a few of her non-fiction works, even though I'm not usually interested in books on politics.

art_skoolgirl · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Orlando Florida

I've been reading a lot lately. Of course we've had 2 hurricanes in the past month knock out our power. lol.

still trying to finish the ultimate hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. 800 pages and i'm only in 461.

also reading Neverwhere by neil gainman

and how to be happy damnit!

all great books so far.
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brightcorner · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 65 Location: SF bay area

brightcorner · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 65 Location: SF bay area

aessedai · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Coastal Maine

I'm reading Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley. I have read a variety of her other fairy tale versions, and so far, so good! (these are all juvenile lit, but I really get into them)

tvethiopia · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Boston, MA

lately my boyfriend, our friend laura, and i have doing a sort of book club. first we read "the davinci code", then "wicked" by gregory maguire. now we're reading "still life with woodpecker" by tom robbins [well, they are, i'm already finished] and "love in the time of cholera" by gabriel garcia marquez. i've enjoyed all of them, but i think "still life with woodpecker" was my favorite. i loooooved it! best book ever written about redheads, camel cigarettes [which i smoke], and making love stay. and also, for the record, my all time favorite book is probably "wuthering heights". what can i say? i'm a sucker for a love story.
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CraftyChicaAZ · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 686 Location: phx, az

i'm currently reading "playing with boys' by alisa valdes-rodriguez and i love it! it's about three latinas in l.a. in the entertainment industry. i loved alisa first book, the dirty girls social club. this one is even better!
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jean · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:15 am Post subject:

the magician's assistant by anne patchett is also really, really good. (i liked it better than bel canto) in addition, she wrote an nonfiction book just recently about her relationship with her bestfriend who died a drug-related death. very moving: it's called truth and beauty and i highly recommend it.
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CraftinFool · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 809 Location: New England

Jean - is the friend she wrote about Lucy Grealy? B/c I vaguely remembered that someone had written a book about Lucy's death and didn't know the name of it or the author. I was so crushed when I heard about her overdose, she was a wonderful author.

jean · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:55 pm Post subject:

yes! lucy grealy. couldn't remember the name this morning. it's lovely, really.

also patchett wrote the patron saint of liars, which i read in one weekend. a great combo of girlie and brainy.
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xuli · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:15 pm Post subject:

Speaking of Ann Patchett ... I haven't read anything by her, but I really want to because complimentary quotes from her are all over the jacket of this short story collection that I just finished and loved. (Did that make sense?)

Anyway, the short story collection I adored so much is called Every Night Is Ladies' Night by Michael Jaime-Becerra. It's awesome. Still in hardcover, alas, but so good.

I also just read Brownsville by Oscar Casares (another short story collection) and it rocked (and is available in paperback).
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jangrl · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 103

just finished the namesake but jhumpa lahiri. i really like her stuff.

was reading neverwhere but couldn't seem to get into it. i do have the bbc series on dvd though and can't wait to cheat! haha.

working on margaret atwood's the blind assassin.

jangrl[/i]
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