Books on the Nightstand discussion

Just curious to see what everyone's picking up the most off of their nightstand!!

I just finished Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates and am going to be starting The Story of Edgar Sawtelle today.

Currently reading:
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Also in my bag (in case I finish before I get home):
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde

On the nightstand (literally):
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Finding Fish by Antwone Q. Fisher
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I'm currently reading The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver.

I'm also going to hit Edgar Sawtelle next! I've heard so much buzz about this book that I can't wait to get to it.

Summer, The Book Thief is one of my all time favorites. It's a heart breaker.

I'm reading chapters.
Chapters of books that will be published Jan - April 2009.
A chapter of this, a chapter of that.
It's part of our thrice-yearly ritual we call 'Sales Conference' where we meet to talk about upcoming books before we start talking them up with booksellers.
I figure that before next week is out, I will have read one chapter each of approximately 100 books.

This is not my favorite part of the job. If the chapter is good, I want to keep going. If it's not my cup of tea ...

However, I now have a longlist of books that I can't wait to read. There is some *great* stuff coming out this spring. I can't wait to tell you all about it, but I'm not yet at liberty.

:)

Sounds like kind of a maddening process, Ann! But can't wait for the great ones for sure!

CR Travels with Herodotus and it is surprisingly better than I had anticipated.

Also (when I can afford the gas!) am listening to Housekeeping on CD's in the car.

Am picking around in Legends of the Fall here and there too.

Susanne

Hello!
I just finished The Book of Lost Things by Connolly and started Murder in the Rue de Paradis by Cara Black. As of now, next on the list is You Suck by Christopher Moore.

I've heard soo many good things about The Book Thief... it may just bump Moore from the "next up" spot...

I just finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and, for all of you about to start it, I envy you meeting this character and book for the first time!

Like Ann, I'm reading lots of pieces of things prepping for conference. One full book I'm reading and loving is Hands of My Father, a memoir about growing up, in the 30s and 40s, as the hearing son of two deaf parents. The storytelling is remarkably good!

I'm also reading Presentation Zen for business "stuff."

I also forgot my "current classic" - Howards End. I always like to have a classic going at all times in addition to whatever else I'm reading.

Hi, this is my first time posting. I just finished reading "Alias Grace" by Margaret Atwood and have now started "Serving Crazy with Curry" by Amulya Maladi. Since this is a thin one, I'm thinking about starting one of my other books on my nightstand: "The Shack" by William Young or "Into the Forest" by Jean Hegland.

P.S. I love this podcast!

Hello,

After having my arm twisted to read my first graphic novel, I've just finished my 4th. My 2 favorites of the group are The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Right now I'm reading Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. I love this collection of short stories. I've just finished the third and can't wait to find time to read the rest.

Christine

Aileen, a very big welcome to you!! I'm so glad that you posted, and thank you very much for your nice words about our podcast :)

I read Into The Forest a long time ago, and I still remember it very well -- it's a very intriguing book with lots to discuss after you've read it. Have fun!

Thanks for the welcome Ann. (I've been lurking for a while).

I guess I will be starting "Into the Forest" soon! Thanks!

Hi Aileen,
I read Into The Forest some time ago also and I thought is was well written and well worth the time.
Let us know what you thought about the plot when you've finished.
Cheers,
Susanne

Hi Aileen.... thanks for the kind words and thanks for posting... so glad you liked the episode!

Michael

Hi, this is also my first time commenting. Right now I am reading four books: Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse "Eugene Onegin," Sylvia Plath's "Ariel," a Harlequin romance to give me a break from all the intensity, and I'm also re-reading Kate Moses' novel about Sylvia Plath "Wintering." I'm enjoying all of them right now. I really love your podcasts btw; they've given me some great recommendations. As a result, my nightstand is literally completely covered by my to-be-read piles of books right now.

Almost finished with "All Shall Be Well and All Shall Be Well and All Manner of Things Shall Be Well," the slightly overtitled debut by Tod Wodicka. It's touching and funny at the same time, and it takes a few unexpected turns as well.

Catyche -- thanks for posting! It's nice to meet you, and I am quite intrigued by your reading list. I read an article somewhere yesterday about whether or not the lines between "high art" and "low art" are blurring, and based on your reading list, they just might be! I think a Harlequin romance would be just the break from Sylvia Plath.

Jon - I read just a few chapters of All Shall Be Well, and really liked what I read. I had a heck of time selling it to booksellers because of the title ... I ended up referring to it as "that book about the medieval reenactor". It's on my "get back to someday" pile.

I am reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and then next I will be starting Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian.

Fiction: I'm about 2/3 of the way through Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, which is a kind of mashup of fantasy (wizards!) and alternate history wherein the titular magicians deal with restoring magic to turn of the (19th) century England. It is written in a pre-Victorian style, and is veery long (800+ pages). They way the author (Susanna Clarke) weaves this style of writing in with the mythology/history of English magic is interesting. [but I really need to finish so I can start Oscar Wao, and then Edgar Sawtelle, and then. . . ]

Work: Just started Groundswell. If you're interested in all things social media/technology/networking (insert buzzword here), this is a good place to go. Case studies backed up by Forrester research's data.

Non-Fiction: The History of God. This one is perpetually on my nightstand. I've gotten through Moses, I think. But it is really interesting and unbiased (so far) if you're curious about how our (humans) perception of God has developed/evolved through history.

Fun: Marvel's Civil War. My brother sent me his stack of 6 compilations. No, I will never give up the comic books.

So many books - maybe I need a Kindle. . .

I'm currently reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. I'm about to finish up The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Very funny stuff.

We're going to be leaving on vacation in a couple of days and here is the list of books I've saved for the trip:

The Sister by Poppy Adams
My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

all seemed like good light summer reads.

L - have heard great things about Soul Mountain -- let us know what you think!

Lynnea, Excellent list! Have a great vacation!

Stephen - I have strong feelings about the Kindle. I prefer the Sony Reader, as it doesn't tie you to Amazon. I realize that Amazon ebook prices are low now, but they are subsidizing the books -- the publishers actually sell to Amazon at a higher price. My concern is that once there is sufficient market share, the Amazon prices of the books will go up substantially. Just my opinion, and based on no knowledge whatsoever. I do appreciate the convenience of buying a book in an instant, I just wish that there were a way to designate your store of choice and buy from them. I have a problem with proprietary formats. Sorry, off my soapbox :)
Groundswell is great -- I also recommend David Meerman Scott's The New Rules of Marketing and PR, and also Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargva

Stephen-

Never give up comics!

there's really no need to... :)

Ann,
I totally agree with your stance on being anti-proprietary formats. From what I've read, the reader is as good a product as the Kindle but even they only just recently opened up with offerings from outside of the Sony store (I assume b/c Kindle is taking the lion's market share). Can't publishers sell to both Sony and Amazon? Or is Amazon twisting their arms (a la iTunes)?

And Michael, thanks for the support. Luckily my wife is patient with the 9 boxes of 17 year old comic books in our attic (all poly-bagged of course).

Stephen,
publishers can provide their books in any format they wish, and they are priced the same (I believe -- I have not actually investigated, but am pretty sure).

So if I sell a $30 e-book to a "retailer" at $18, all e-book formats are at $18. But at this moment, Amazon is selling all of their books at $9.99 or less (again, I'm pretty sure, though there may be some exceptions). Amazon is taking the $8 loss. They are smart to do that, because people can now justify the Kindle by saying that it will pay for itself in 15 books -- a $30 hardcover now costs $10 on the Kindle. And Amazon gets the markup on the Kindle, too (no idea what that might run).

I like that I can buy an ebook from any retailer I choose -- in my case, I choose to support my own customers when possible, but even if it were buying from the Sony store, I at least have a choice.

The industry is still in a gigantic period of flux, and nobody has any idea of where it's going to fall. For now, I'm OK with my Sony Reader (especially since it's company provided and I didn't have to buy it), but I am hoping that they soon come out with a wireless way to purchase books on the fly. That will be the only way that Sony (or other reader) can even hope to grab some of the people going for the Kindle.

Oh, I should also add that I have no idea why digital books are priced at or higher than the hardcover. Industry paranoia? It makes no sense to me, and I expect that it will change sometime in the future.

L, I loved "Eat, Pray, Love"! and I've been meaning to get around to Oscar Wao and Edgar Sawtelle-I've heard great stuff about it. Thanks for reminding me Stephen! And thanks Ann for the great welcome.

Just finished Howards End. Now I can fully concentrate on Edgar Sawtelle.

I also need to choose my next classic from the classics pile I have going. I'm thinking either Anna Karenina or The Age of Innocence.

I'm reading the second Dexter book right now. It's ok, I find crime fiction comforting in its set forms. I'm listening to "The Canterbury Tales" on audiobook.

I purchased the audiobook of "Dies the Fire" based on the fervent recommendation of an acquaintance and couldn't stop rolling my eyes whilst listening to it- I don't think I'll persevere. Dreck.

Ann, thank you so much for the insight into the digital book industry. This was all new information to me. I like to read about them, but haven't taken the leap yet. It sounds to me like I should wait a while until the industry corrects itself a bit.

JT, I loved both Anna Karenina and The Age of Innocence, but Tolstoy's writing resonated more for me than Wharton's.

Barbara, I actually ended up going with Anna Karenina and started this morning!

Stephen and Barbara, I love Anna Karenina. Good choice.

Barbara, if I didn't have the Sony Reader issued to me at work, I would be waiting, too. It will get there, I just don't think quite yet.

Taueret -- I love crime fiction -- though I've never quite thought to describe it as "comforting," I do believe it is, as it is what I turn to when I'm not feeling well or want a treat.

Micha, good luck with your book.

The Other Boleyn Girl has gotten a bit of a bad rap in some circles, but I loved it.

Ann, I loved The Other Boleyn Girl too. I thought it was really briskly paced and a fun read.

and by the way, I thought the film adapatation did it no justice, but then most adaptations don't, in my opinion.

Right now I'm on the last pages of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, I'm somewhere near the end of Robin Cook's Virus and Jane Austen's Persuasion.
I should be able to finish The Bell Jar and already have the next book: Robin Paige's Death at Bishop's Keep.

Stephen, you should never give up comic books! I grew up with Astérix (Goscinny & Uderzo) and will always treasure the comic books we (my brother and I) have. We actually got them from our uncles.

Ann, your job sounds interesting, I hope to maybe, one day, hear more about your and Michael's job?

Kathrin

Kathrin,

I think I have the best job in the world -- for me, anyway. I think we may do a podcast where we talk a bit more about what we do. I was wondering if anyone would really be interested. Thanks for the encouragement.

Ann, I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in what exactly you're doing. :) I'd love to listen to a podcast where you and Michael talk about your job!
And that's not only because it is one of the things I can do once I've completed my studies.
Kathrin

Actually, Ann, after listening to your last podcast today, I was thinking that, next to teaching, this sounds like my dream job. I'd love to hear more about it.

Ann,
I'd also be very interested to know more about your job. You do sound very happy and relaxed in your podcasts....so it shows that you love your work! :-)
Isn't that what we all are supposed to do?...find something we love to do and then find someone to pay us to do it!
Susanne

Currently I am reading YOU on a Diet by Dr. Oz lol. I watched Oprah and was facinated by the way this doctor teaches so easily and how you are left knowing so much. He has many books that he has written. They are easy reads. I am also reading "Paula" by Isabel Allende; who happens to be one of my favorite authors.

Adriana, I love Isabel Allende, too. I read The House of Spirits almost 20 years ago and still remember parts of it quite vividly.

Just read David Benioff's CITY OF THIEVES. The best book I've read in a couple of years. It's what Michael Chabon should have written after KAVALIER & CLAY set his personal bar so high...

I'm currently reading "Foundation" by Isaac Asimonv. It's been on my TBR list forever and I finally decided to tackle it. I enjoy more of the fantasy books in the sc-fi/fantasy genre, but this is a classic I felt I should read. It's interesting so far.

I'm also listening to "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. It's a book I've heard a lot about, and the sequel sounded interesting so I thought I'd try it. I'm really enjoying the story so far, but I'm not sure why. I like historical fiction and the characters in this story are really coming to life for me.

Anne, I'd also love a podcast about what you and Michael do. If I'd known there was such a career back in my high school days, I'd definitely have aimed in that direction. Even though there probably wasn't a lot of publishing jobs in Utah.

Jon, many booksellers were raving about City of Thieves, and one of them raved about it on WAMC. Haven't managed to scare up a copy yet.

Debbie, Pillars of the Earth is one of my all-time favorites!

I'm reading Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn. Yeah, I have a bunch of Star Wars novels sitting unread on my shelf, and have been for years. I figured that it's time I read some of them. At least finish the Thrawn trilogy. Most likely once I complete The Last Command I'll skip on to another genre.

Moony, I remember that book from when it first came out! That was when nobody knew who Timothy Zahn was. have fun!

Anne, I'm about half way through listening to Pillars of the Earth. I had to turn it off tonight earlier than I planned. Maybe I'm in the wrong mood, but the character of William (the new Earl) is driving me crazy. He seems a little one dimensional to me - pure evil with no redeeming qualities at all. I hope somebody puts a sword through him soon! I'll finish the book, but it's rare that I have such a intense reaction to a character. I wonder if it would be the same if I were reading the book instead of listening? The narrator is John Lee, and he is doing a great job, maybe too good.

I just started The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff and it is really captivating. It draws you in from the first page. I am trying to sneak reading a few more chapters at my desk, hopefully it will be a quiet day at work!

Alexandra --- I hope you like Austenland. I am a big Shannon Hale fan and I really loved this book. It's a perfect book for summer.

On my bookstand (actually a bookbasket) I have *The World Without Us* by Alan Weisman, and just finished Jon Katz's "Running to the Mountain*.

JT: I've been wanting to read *Anna Karenina* for 6 months (make that 25 years), but I'm scared! I have no one in my current reading life with whom to plow through it. Are you reading the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation (see the New Yorker Nov. 7 2005 article *Translation Wars*) or the more commonly available Constance Garnett version?