Books on the Nightstand discussion

I am in between books, officially. Unofficially, I am reading manuscript excerpts that will be published next summer, so it's unlikely I will get start a "real" book for a week or so.

I am almost done with my FirstReads win, and then it's on to .

I just started reading Up from the Blue: A Novel by Susan Henderson and it looks like it's going to be a good one!

I'm part-way through Tokyo Vice, a fun book about the author's younger years living in Japan and working the crime beat for a major newspaper there. I know very little about the Japanese news industry, so it's a fun and informative read. I also just started WAR. I've wanted to read it since it came out because I'm interested in current affairs and I think Junger's a great writer.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a draft copy of Angelfire and have almost gobbled it up already. I'm planning to re-read the second Dark Tower book The Drawing of the Three for the Stephen King Fans group, and by then The Distant Hours: A Novel should be released and I will be in heaven. This is going to be a very good month!

Well in between reading textbooks for school, I've started One Day and I've also just picked up Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. Two short comedy books in the midst of Systems of Psychotherapy and Principles of Social Research :)

I started Room last night, and it is fantastic so far. I'm slightly concerned how it will hold up over 300+ pages, but I'm willing to go along for the ride!

Yesterday I finished Hallowe'en Party: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (by Agatha Christie; narrated by John Moffat.)In this later Poirot mystery (1969,) Poirot himself is an older gentleman who must negotiate the changing mores of the times and, their influence on the crime as much as he must be able to discern the facts of the case. The case involves the drowning of a 13-year-old girl at a Hallowe'en Party and overall, the plot is a bit thin and incredible; but does underscore the social commentary that Agatha Christie, clearly an older woman herself dismayed at the changing world, has embedded in this tale. Though a listener may argue that the story remains relevant to present times, it does get a bit tiresome after a while.

The narrator, John Moffat starts off reading rather quickly and I was, at first, afraid I was going to have trouble keeping up; but he either settles down or I got used to him because I ended up not having any trouble at all. His character delineations were excellent, to the point that, though it sounds cliche, there were times I wondered if I was listening to a single narrator!

It was all rather interesting to compare this work with the first Hercule Poirot story, THE AFFAIR AT STYLES. HALLOWE'EN PARTY was simpler, heavier on the social commentary and slower in pace. "Styles" was more dynamic in style, pace, characters and setting; but there is something to be said about an author who exercises her right to truly develop her characters over the arc of a series and enable them to respond to the changing times.

Now I've started The Reapers Are the Angels (by Alden Bell; narrated by Tai Sammons.) Comparisons have been made between Flannery O'Connor and Alden Bell; but as I have not read any Flannery O'Connor (hangs head in shame) I don't know if this is true or not. I do know, however, that the writing is mesmerizing and beautifully wrought even though the subject matter is gory, like dancing with a corpse. The story as set up so far is about a fully human survivor in a zombie world. Shades of I AM LEGEND (by Richard Matheson ) come to mind; but it's much more than that, with its Southern Gothic writing style and the sense I'm listening to lit-fic rather than SFF or pulp.

In the middle of Summer and The Reef - my library book group is doing Edith Wharton this year. But I was sick for a few days and needed something lighter so I picked up The Double Comfort Safari Club.

Brilliant. A great ride, engaging in multiple aspects. Shortlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, and it is obviously deserving.

I just began my very first foray into "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton on my Kindle. I heard a discussion on "Studio 360" (a PRI program) contrasting the book to "Sex and the City" , and it piqued my interest again. Because
"The House of Mirth" has been on my "to read" list forever I decided to take the plunge.

I'm currently reading and enjoying it quite a bit.

Has anyone read it or the series before? And if you have, did you enjoy it?

I just started In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel. I loved the Mitford series and have continued to read her - so far she has not jumped the shark!

I always have several books going:

- I am listening to The Last Child by John Hart
- On my IPHONE via the Kindle App is the 19th Wife by David Eberschoff
- On my nightstand is Body Works by Sara Paretsky - I have to hold an actual book in my hand to read before I go to sleep at night

I just finished Interview With the Vampire and altho it was well written I found it too depressing for my tastes. I am also almost finished with The Witchery and probably would be if the history lessons were cut out of it. I am finding this one to be a sad book as well. Getting ready to start The Invisible Man and have high hopes for this one.

I just started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyafter finishing The Last Run: A Queen & Country Novelwhich is another installment in Greg Rucka's Queen and Country series. If you like espionage and spy thrillers you can't go wrong with this series of graphic novels and prose books. His main character Tara Chace is one of the better female protagonists that I've read.

Shinke wrote: "I'm currently reading and enjoying it quite a bit.

Has anyone read it or the series before? And if you have, did you enjoy it?"

I've read and listened to several of her novels and have like them all so far. She brings the time period that she is writing in alive. These books are well researched and very compelling.

Jay wrote: "Shinke wrote: "I'm currently reading and enjoying it quite a bit.

Has anyone read it or the series before? And if you have, did you enjoy it?"

I've re..."

Yes she does. Reading it I'm getting a feel for life in that time period.

I knew what the history books said but this puts the Tudor family in a new light for me, makes them seem more real. :)

Callie wrote: "I started Room last night, and it is fantastic so far. I'm slightly concerned how it will hold up over 300+ pages, but I'm willing to go along for the ride!"

I finished Room tonight, and I LOVED it. I would be careful who I recommended it to, but it was definitely worth the hype. The only book I would sort of compare it to is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, which is also told very convincingly from a kid's point of view, and was also a book I loved.

Shinke wrote: "I'm currently reading and enjoying it quite a bit.

Has anyone read it or the series before? And if you have, did you enjoy it?"

I started reading THE CONSTANT PRINCESS this past summer, but I had to put it down. As I started reading it, I just couldn't get into it. The openings passages were a little too difficult to align as a narrative. It could be I just wasn't in the mood or; that I was too lazy to put in the mental energy t make it work or; that I'm a bit burned out on the Tudors (I studied Medieval & Early Modern European History in grad school and; worked for a couple of Shakespearean theatres...) In any event, I decided to table it for now until it truly calls out to me.

Tanya wrote: "Shinke wrote: "I'm currently reading and enjoying it quite a bit.

Has anyone read it or the series before? And if you have, did you enjoy it?"

I started r..."

I hope you pick it back up one day. I know the feeling of being burnt out on a subject. I was really burnt out about learning the same thing in History class every year until I wasn't even absorbing anything...then they switched up the syllabus and I started learning about British history and American history. I was so happy for the change I remember everything about the Tudors so clearly. :)

Jay wrote: "I just started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyafter finishing The Last Run: A Queen & Country Novelwhich is another installment in Greg Rucka's Queen..."

Greg Rucka wrote a couple of novels that I loved. They never made a huge splash in terms of sales, but I wish he'd write more.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell had been sitting on my proverbial nightstand for over a month. I had a false start with the audio, switched to print; but then real life kept getting in the way of my finishing. So yesterday, I made the commitment to finish it. I had been told "Thousand Autumns" was a love story and it is; but not the love story I had been expecting. When I closed the book, I cried. Then I had a couple glasses of cheap wine and cried some more. There's a discussion about the book going on with one of my groups, but I really don't want to talk about it. I want to keep the story close to me for a little while longer, maybe a lot longer, before exposing to the harsh glare of any kind of criticism.

Tanya, if you had better wine, maybe you wouldn't have cried the second time ;)

No, seriously, this is beautiful and you just made we want to read this. thanks.

Last night I started reading The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt and The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano

Tanya wrote: "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell ...
There's a discussion about the book going on with one of my groups, but I really don't want to talk about it. I want to keep the story close to me for a little while longer, maybe a lot longer, before exposing to the harsh glare of any kind of criticism."
I know the feeling. I find it very difficult to write a coherent review when I really like a book. I end up repeating 'It was so good.' without being able to articulate why.

Sheri wrote: "I was lucky enough to get my hands on a draft copy of Angelfire and have almost gobbled it up already. I'm planning to re-read the second Dark Tower book [book:The Drawing of the Thr..."
I have an ARC of Angelfire. I should get on and read it.

Callie wrote: "Callie wrote: "I started Room last night, and it is fantastic so far. I'm slightly concerned how it will hold up over 300+ pages, but I'm willing to go along for the ride!"

I finished [book:Room|7..."

Why would you be careful about who you recommend "Room" to? What type of reader would you need to avoid? I ask because I am about to start it.

Lisa wrote: "Callie wrote: "Callie wrote: "I started Room last night, and it is fantastic so far. I'm slightly concerned how it will hold up over 300+ pages, but I'm willing to go along for the ride!"

I finish..."

Lisa, it's only that the subject matter can be disturbing, especially because it's told through the eyes of a small child. I also wouldn't recommend it to someone who doesn't like sad books... there are some very sad parts in it. But if that doesn't bother you, I would go for it! This book will stick with me for a long time.

Just finished
a few minutes ago, and am also reading , and . Happy to see I am not the only one reading several books at a time.

Ann, thank you for recommendingRevolution. Could not put it down till finished. Late night.

Tricia wrote: "I just began my very first foray into "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton on my Kindle. I heard a discussion on "Studio 360" (a PRI program) contr..."
Love "The House of Mirth", am an Edith Wharton fanatic, kindles too. Good Luck.

Just finished 61 Hours - not very impressed. I'm about 100 pages into Alive in Necropolis. So far it's an entertaining read.

Ingrid Betancourt's remarkable story of kidnapping and escape Even Silence has an End could not have been better written. The writing is brilliant and propulsive and absolutely addictive. When I read Out of Captivity about the three U.S. government contract workers taken prisoner by FARC, I realized just how incredibly difficult it is to write about being bored. However, I do see that fellow captive, Clara Rojas, had issues with Betancourt. Frankly, it's amazing they are not both completely jelly-brained after all that time.

I just started Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3) and I'm having a difficult time getting into it. I think that is because I just finished the Harry Potter marathon and read the HP books in 4 weeks in anticipation of the final film.

Trish wrote: "Ingrid Betancourt's remarkable story of kidnapping and escape Even Silence has an End could not have been better written. The writing is brilliant and propulsive and absolutely addictive. When I re..."

Thanks, Trish, for a quick review that has me anticipating savoring Betancourt's book. I just added it to my to-read list.

Rita wrote: "I just started Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3) and I'm having a difficult time getting into it. I think that is because I just finished the Harry Potter marathon and read the HP books ..."

It may be the book, It took me a bit to get into Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3)too.

Mockingjay is significantly different from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. The pacing is different, the point of view changed, and the entire book is more cerebral, less action-packed. I think that has thrown a lot of people off.

I just started This is a book I bought at a library sale about 10 years ago and I finally pulled it off my book shelf.

Ah, ok, thanks Ann and Robin. I've gotten into it a bit now and I'm sure I'll finish.

I finished A Visit from the Goon Squad this morning; not sure how I feel about it yet. I then started The Warmth of Other Suns. I'm liking it so far, but I'm only a few pages into it.

Just finished The Invisible Man and just starting The Moonstone

I just started Juliet.

I am currently reading . It was highly recommended to me by quite a few people. While I'm enjoying the book and the wide variety of perspectives the story is told from, I'm finding the book incredibly depressing.

Nicole wrote: "I am currently reading . It was highly recommended to me by quite a few people. While I'm enjoying the book and the wide variety of perspectives the story is tol..."

I don't think I want anything depressing for a while after reading Interview With the Vampire
and The Witchery.

I've just started reading Inkspell hoping it will be a fun read.

Just finished The Unquiet by John Connolly. It was the weakest of the Parker series so far but had a fantastic ending that made me want to pick up the next book.

Which I did! Just started The Reapers: A Thriller.

Only 50 pages in and I'm having a much better time with this one than the last.

Nicole wrote: "I am currently reading . It was highly recommended to me by quite a few people. While I'm enjoying the book and the wide variety of perspectives the story is tol..."

I really enjoyed that book. I agree with you as well, it is a very sad book.

I am reading Eternal on the Water and loving it. Monninger gives wonderfully rich descriptions full of tiny details. It seems like it will be a touching, yet tragic love story.

Tanya, I also started listening to the audio of and then realized I was just missing too much. I picked up a copy at the library and now I think I must purchase a copy so that I can mark it up. Amazing writer.

I did the same thing with Cloud Atlas, which is now in my very, very short list of all time favourites.

To keep on topic: I'm reading (in book form) a past Booker winner. Very good so far. Listening to on my phone; and on CD in my car.

Jana wrote: "Tanya, I also started listening to the audio of and then realized I was just missing too much. I picked up a copy at the library and now I t..."

Jana, how is the audio of Disappearing Spoon? I had a hard time reading it, but maybe having an interesting narrator would get me through the book.

Rita wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I am currently reading . It was highly recommended to me by quite a few people. While I'm enjoying the book and the wide variety of perspectives t..."

I've finished the book and while I do think it's sad, I find the moral of the story incredibly uplifting. It is important to remember to treasure each day as we live it and I do think that is what Olive was trying to teach.