Book Geeks and Bookniks discussion

I love to sit down with a cup of coffee on Monday morning and read what everyone else is reading. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I'm 1/2 thru How to Bake a Perfect Life

I love Monday mornings for that same reason, Stacey, (only with a chai latte!). I've had HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE in my hands several times at B&N but have always left it behind. What's your halfway through assessment?

I finished Laura Dave's THE FIRST HUSBAND late last week. Liked it a lot but gave it just 3 stars. Here's another perfect example of needing options between only 5 stars. It'd be closer to a 4, but it's not QUITE there. Maybe I'll go back and elevate it, though. Ack!

So then I started THOSE WHO SAVE US (Jenna Blum). Here I am the last person on earth reading a fabulous book again after everyone in our group has read and loved it. I think it's going to be terrific! Q and I are hoping to get down to the Tattered Cover on July 7 to meet Jenna and also Holly LeCraw (THE SWIMMING POOL), so I need to either get it read or get well into it.

Just started a wonderful book called "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman. It's a series of interconnected short stories about writers working for a newspaper in Rome. It makes me miss living in a town with a good newspaper.

Mary wrote: "I love Monday mornings for that same reason, Stacey, (only with a chai latte!). I've had HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE in my hands several times at B&N but have always left it behind. What's your ha..."

I'm really enjoying How to Bake a Perfect Life. It's light, but not fluffy...does that make sense, lol. The story had taken a few unexpected turns. It's just perfect for right now :)

Get Those Who Save Us read! I loved it.

Melki wrote: "Just started a wonderful book called "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman. It's a series of interconnected short stories about writers working for a newspaper in Rome. It makes me miss living in..."

Looks good, Melki! I put it on my wish list.

Mary wrote: "I love Monday mornings for that same reason, Stacey, (only with a chai latte!). I've had HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE in my hands several times at B&N but have always left it behind. What's your ha..."

Your not the last one to read Those Who Save Us. :)

I've directed most of my attention to A Visit from the Goon Squad and I'm liking it. Will start hittin Revenge of the Spellmans hard when I'm complete wit AVFGS. Then will start Lamb by Christopher Moore. I've had several false starts on this one but now have an obligation to read it so I'm sure it will take off for me this time around.

I'm finishing up The Red Gardenand liking it a lot. I also started Clara and Mr. Tiffany, which is okay so far. I get to go pick up my hold copy of A Visit from the Goon Squadfrom the library. I started it once before and abandoned it, but decided to try again.

Theresa wrote: "I'm finishing up The Red Gardenand liking it a lot. I also started Clara and Mr. Tiffany, which is okay so far. I get to go pick up my hold copy of [book:A Visit fro..."

I'm enjoying The Good Squad. Hope it catches your attention this time around.

I'm reading a classic this week, All This, and Heaven Too by Rachel Field. I'm enjoying it a lot!

Took me a long time to get into "Goon Squad," but I'm glad I stuck with it. Same goes for "Lamb." I read Rachel Field's "Calico Bush" a long, long time ago. I'd like to read more by her. I must check out this "Those Who Save Us" of which you all speak!
Without messing with Earth's rotation, isn't there a way we could possibly get a few more hours every day to just READ?

Melki, I'll be pretty surprised if "Those Who Save Us" doesn't end up getting 5 stars from me so be SURE to check it out! It has regularly appeared in lots of Top 5s or 10s here over the last few years!

Help, I'm being buried alive in library books! Not a bad way to go, I'll admit. All of my holds seemed to come in at once.
So, I'm trying to zip through Caleb's Crossing, which is kind of slow, although it seems to be picking up a bit now. I also have a Lisa Gardner, Great House, The Queen of Palmyra and Vaclav and Lena.

I just finished ear reading Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer and I'm almost finished with Vampire Zero by David Wellington.

Guess what! I'm finally reading Water for Elephants! Like Elise, I have a ton of library books. My husband is baffled when all of these books come in at the library.

I'm reading the story I'm writing. I have to put the other books away for now until I'm finished. :-(

Good luck, Jamie.

I haven't read Those Who Save Us either. I loved How to Bake a Perfect Life & quite liked The Imperfectionists too. I'm currently reading Keith Richard's autobiography - "Life" which I'm finding quite interesting so far. Although he gets very technical about the music (various chords & riffs) which while interesting is rather wasted on me.

Joe! I see you're reading The Ruins....I loved that book when I read it. It's a great summer read!

Hi Stacey. Yes, Gretchen sent it as a gift and I'm trying to push and get it finished. Seems I've been at it for way too long.

Just finished Love You More by Lisa Gardner. It was great!

Now I'm debating whether to read Great House. It has gotten very mixed reviews, so I'm not sure if I should waste my time on it or move on to another book from my stack.

Elise, I gave up on Great House pretty early on. For me, it was a big disappointment.

That seems to be the general consensus. I think I'll just skip it. Know anything about Mr. Peanut? That's another one I'm "ify" on.

Joe wrote: "Hi Stacey. Yes, Gretchen sent it as a gift and I'm trying to push and get it finished. Seems I've been at it for way too long."

Wish I could have found you more a a page turner Joe.

You've turned me on to so many different authors...I'm very grateful for your insight. Thanks!

Gretchen wrote: "Joe wrote: "Hi Stacey. Yes, Gretchen sent it as a gift and I'm trying to push and get it finished. Seems I've been at it for way too long."

Wish I could have found you more a a page turner Joe."

I thought James Patterson's Private was a good page turner. He's kind of hit or miss, but I liked this one and it's a good start to a series.

Stacey wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "Joe wrote: "Hi Stacey. Yes, Gretchen sent it as a gift and I'm trying to push and get it finished. Seems I've been at it for way too long."

Wish I could have found you more a a pa..."

I'll take your recommendation Stacey and try and work it in to my list. Thanks...

Stacey wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "Joe wrote: "Hi Stacey. Yes, Gretchen sent it as a gift and I'm trying to push and get it finished. Seems I've been at it for way too long."

Wish I could have found you more a a pa..."

James Patterson is one of those authors I have intended to get back to but haven't. Among many others how will we ever get to them all?? Read the 1st in the women's dective series, or whatever that one is called.

I noticed today that John Grisham has started a young adult series??? I didn't pick up and look but interesting. Mentioned that because my daughter really liked the Maxium Ride series by patterson.

Elise wrote: "That seems to be the general consensus. I think I'll just skip it. Know anything about Mr. Peanut? That's another one I'm "ify" on."

I really, really liked Mr. Peanut, but I know the reviews have been mixed.

Jamie wrote: "I'm reading the story I'm writing. I have to put the other books away for now until I'm finished. :-("

I know that feeling, Jamie!

Theresa wrote: "Elise wrote: "That seems to be the general consensus. I think I'll just skip it. Know anything about Mr. Peanut? That's another one I'm "ify" on."

I really, really liked Mr. Peanut, but I know ..."

I need to read Mr Peanut as well.

Ok, Theresa, I'll give it a try! I think it's a mystery, though, so I'm going to push it to the bottom of the library pile. I don't like reading too many mysteries/thrillers close together because I get them mixed up. I'm trying very hard to reflect on the books I've read so I can remember them.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like "Great House." I forced myself to finish it. I kept saying "It was nominated for a National Book Award. It must be an important work of fiction, right?"
Yeah, right!

Elise wrote: "Ok, Theresa, I'll give it a try! I think it's a mystery, though, so I'm going to push it to the bottom of the library pile. I don't like reading too many mysteries/thrillers close together becaus..."

I think the mystery aspect in Mr. Peanut is pretty muted.

Gretchen wrote: "I've directed most of my attention to A Visit from the Goon Squad and I'm liking it. Will start hittin Revenge of the Spellmans hard when I'm complete wit AVFGS. Then ..."

Gretchen, I'm shocked you haven't read Lamb! I hope this time is the charm for you - it's definitely one of my faves!

Elise wrote: "That seems to be the general consensus. I think I'll just skip it. Know anything about Mr. Peanut? That's another one I'm "ify" on."

Hi Elise - I read Mr. Peanut and it was one of those books that I felt for sure had a great story hiding under all the muck of the writing. I got through it, but felt like it didn't live up to its potential.

Miranda wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "I've directed most of my attention to A Visit from the Goon Squad and I'm liking it. Will start hittin Revenge of the Spellmans hard when I'm complete..."

Miranda I'm shocked too!! I think what gets me is it seems to be EVERYONE's favorite by Christopher Moore. I will get through it I have a bit of an obligation and know I won't regret it.

Ok, one yea and one nay for Mr. Peanut. I'll try it, but it has sunk lower in my TBR pile. I'm reading The Queen of Palmyra: A Novel, which I am going to interrupt for a quick trip to the beach tomorrow and a copy of On Folly Beach(because that's the beach we're going to!)

"Lamb" was okay, but definitely not MY favorite Christopher Moore. (Maybe the story was too familiar?) I liked his "Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove" the best, but I'm a sucker for strange titles.

Melki wrote: ""Lamb" was okay, but definitely not MY favorite Christopher Moore. (Maybe the story was too familiar?) I liked his "Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove" the best, but I'm a sucker for strange titles."

The Stupidest Angel is my favorite.

Hehehe - that was a good one. I'm so glad there are other Moore fans in this group!

Melki wrote: "Hehehe - that was a good one. I'm so glad there are other Moore fans in this group!"

I try to see him in person every chance I get He is a joy!

Oooo! I'm green with envy! I'd love to see him in person!

Oh, he's a great entertainer in person! I've seen him a couple of times now & would definitely go again.