Books on the Nightstand discussion

I am in the middle of Ready Player One and loving it! Thanks Michael!

I thought it was an interesting read too!

I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!

I'm currently about half-way through The Kitchen House for my face-to-face book club, and about 4/5 of the way through Manhood for Amateurs: the Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father and Son. I recently read Waldman's Bad Mother, and it's interesting to compare their thoughts on parenthood, marriage, etc.

I want to send a big thank you to Michael (and you too Ann - you both are awesome). I just finished Ready Player One and absolutely loved it. I wasn't that interested in it after Michael talked about it as I am not into video games, other than the few I played in arcades in the 80's. But I saw it at the library, decided to try it and could not put it down. It was a fun read, even for a non-gamer like me. The writing was engaging and I grew to love the characters. I was so excited that the last arcade game mentioned in the book was my personal favorite! So thanks again for the recommendation and encouraging us to step out of our comfort zones.

I'm reading The Pale Horseman. This is my second Bernard Cornwell book and I'm loving the series. The writing is spectacular!

I just finished Anansi Boys and was pleasantly surprised. I saw a number of reviews that compared this unfavorably to American Gods. They were very different books, but that wasn't a bad thing. The story of Anansi Boys was less epic in scope, but I enjoyed the boys' story and how Fat Charlie and Spider developed.

Shannon wrote: "I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!"

Alice Bliss is a quick and interesting read. a good viewpoint of life waiting for a parent in the military to return home.

i also read Next to Love before i read Alice Bliss. you might look into this one too. it's a good read as well.

Elizabeth wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!"

Alice Bliss is a quick and inte..."

I had to force myself to put Alice Bliss down last night so I could get some sleep! It is a very compelling story. I will look for Next to Love....thank you so much for the recommendation Elizabeth!

That rec does sound good Elizabeth. Putting it on my tbr. :)

i finished The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier which i found interesting and started Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.

I finished The Family FangThe Family Fang last week and it was so good. I highly recommend it!

I borrowed The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor from the library. It's wonderful. I love her sense of humor and the wry observations she makes.

I finshed The Snowmanand really liked it but felt like it bogged down a bit at the end. I got twist and turn fatigue.

I have started Sarah's Keyfor my book club. Once that is finished I will have to see what mood I am in.

I've started my second attempt at Cutting for Stone.

I've gotten a good start on I, Lucifer: Finally, the Other Side of the Story

Flora wrote: "I've gotten a good start on I, Lucifer: Finally, the Other Side of the Story"

Sounds like fun - What's your opinion?

I am reading A Fortunate Age (love going back to the 1990s!)I am waiting on several books from the library, but I expect I will probably only get The Night Strangers in this month. I plan to pick up one or two other Chris Bohjalian titles since he is our December retreat author and I've never read any of his books. Next up on my TBR is An American Tragedy, The Book Thief, Smart Girls Like Me, and The Fundamentals of Play.

I just started reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Just started reading: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86...

Am waiting for OhioLink delivery of three items from my library want list: John Tingey's The Englishman who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the publishing house history The Curtis-Culligan Story, and Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom. Until they arrive, I'll spend my lunch hour with Leonard Maltin's The Great American Broadcast and my evenings squinting at Donald Ogden Stewart's A Parody Outline of History on my Kobo.

Shannon wrote: "I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!"

What did you think of ? I saw and heard good reviews but strangely enough the cover sort of freaked me out and I just couldn't buy it.

I am slowly reading A Fine Balance . I expected to love it but it is slow and I'm forcing myself to read it.

I started Domestic Violets and it is already funny. Thank you Michael for the recommendation.

I finished listening to The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared . I enjoyed it quite a bit. I love how the books intertwined with her life. The ending and future of books and libraries almost made me cry. I love books and I want everyone to love books. I especially want elementary school and public libraries to succeed and properly introduce children to the world of books and reading.

Elizabeth wrote: "i finished The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier which i found interesting and started Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Au..."</i>

I read The Ledge in the last month as well - I thought it was okay. I think I am spoiled by some of the other similar books I had read before - like [book:Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster and recently Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth, which I thought were better. I liked the middle of The Ledge, but felt the beginning and end (more personal about the author) really dragged or seemed self-serving.

I just finished Dennis Lehane's A Drink Before the War - the first of this series. I have seen the movies Mystic River & Gone Baby Gone, and those plus numerous fans encouraged me to start this series at the beginning. I thought the book was good, maybe even very good. I think in a little while I will read the next one.

I have moved on to The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset since I was able to pick it up for $4.50 for my Kindle on Amazon this week. I think it was a mistake - later in the day it was back up over $17. I'm only on the first book and it is quite good. My 12 year old son has already read it in hard copy and is reading the 2nd book on his Kindle.

Lisa wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!"

What did you think of[bookcover:A..."

Lisa, I was not impressed with Annabel at all. I devoured Middlesex--so it wasn't the topic that bothered me. I just found the story boring and the characters unbelievable. I would not recommend it.

Shannon wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I just finished Annabel, and am getting ready to start Alice Bliss. I love this time of year, I read so much more!"

What did you think..."

I agree - I didn't like Annabel at all (I too loved Middlesex) - there didn't seem much of a story and the characters weren't that sympathetic.

Just finished The Night Circus(did not want it to end)and We the Animals: A novel. Thank you Ann. What else do you have?

I finished The Heretic's Daughter yesterday. Not bad, although it had a similar issue to other books I've read recently, where it feels like it takes a very long time to get the story moving. I also feel like it may not be the most interesting book for discussion, but we'll see how book group goes tomorrow.

I also finished The Associate on audio, and it was probably my least favorite Grisham. One of the parts of his books I always enjoy are the multiple narrators- in this case, I was so tired of Kyle MacEvoy by the end that I didn't really care what happened to him.

I am very excited though, because next on audio is The Night Circus, and I can't wait to be back in this world! I've also started Water Witches in print, and it's very good so far.

Robin wrote: "Just finished The Night Circus(did not want it to end)and We the Animals: A novel. Thank you Ann. What else do you have?"

My library only has we the animals on audio!

Victoria wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "i finished The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier which i found interesting and started [book:Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story ..."

I liked the ledge, but didn't love it. Into Thin Air is excellent. And the other book you mention is one I've heard of, but have not read. Thanks for the recommendation.

Lisa wrote: "I am slowly reading A Fine Balance. I expected to love it but it is slow and I'm forcing myself to read it.

I started Domestic Violets[bo..."
I emailed Alice ozma after reading [book:The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared|9862827] and she responded right away. I love the idea of sharing a read with my girls every night until they are 18!

Esther wrote: "Flora wrote: "I've gotten a good start on I, Lucifer: Finally, the Other Side of the Story"

Sounds like fun - What's your opinion?"

I'm about half way thru it and it really is a fun read. It is dripping with satire.

Just finished The Gunslinger. Starting Only Time Will Tell :D

Finished The Night Circusand am going to disagree with the general consensus on this one. I enjoyed the descriptions, the characters, and the premise of the magical circus, but the plot didn't hold up by the end. The dust jacket flap says two magicians have a competition, but the competition was lackluster as far what I expected to be a competition. Also, the resolution of the competition was ho-hum. It was hard to get close to any of the characters except for Bailey, and some of the scenes were distancing. We're not really privy to most of the other characters' thoughts, even though certain scenes are told through their view point. I enjoyed the first two-thirds more than the last third.

I've been reluctant to pick up The Night Circus, despite all of the rave reviews, because I just don't like circuses or magicians. I was, however, pleasantly surprised with Water for Elephants when I read it for a book group, but I just can't get excited for another circus book. Maybe when the hype dies down...

Elizabeth wrote: "Robin wrote: "Just finished The Night Circus(did not want it to end)and We the Animals: A novel. Thank you Ann. What else do you have?"

My library only has we the an..."

After reading it in print, i would love to listen to the audio. It is definitely a story to hear.

I just finished Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes and am looking forward to the next one in the series, Fadeaway Girl. I started The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler yesterday and am having trouble putting it down!

Just starting The Witching Hour

Finished today and best single word description...FUN!!! And I am not in any way a gamer or 80's nut. Recommend widely.

Now, what next?

Just finished The City & The City. Amazing but I'm going to reserve final judgement until I read the last few pages again. I was so tired when I read them that I feel I have missed something but I just couldn't stop myself!!
Now I am reading Heartbreak River which is a badly written YA. I don't want another DNF so soon after Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life but I am fighting the urge to throw it against the wall.

I've just stated - gotta love the title!

Last week I finished and loved Maine which was my summer book (thanks, Ann!)and am readingThe Reservoir and Falling Together which I just picked up from the library. Next upThe Night Strangersand thenThe Invisible Bridge for one of my book groups.

I finished Alice Bliss (beautiful and heartbreaking) yesterday, and am looking forward to diving into Stones from the River today!

I can't wait to start The Night Strangers! I just need to finish up The Hunger Games.

Shannon wrote: "I finished Alice Bliss (beautiful and heartbreaking) yesterday, and am looking forward to diving into Stones from the River today!"

a great read. i hope you enjoy it shannon.

I am currently reading The Night Circus. Reading the book certainly feels like one is at the circus!

Jan wrote: "I just finished Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes and am looking forward to the next one in the series, Fadeaway Girl. I started The Hypnotist by..."
Well I just had to finish it last night. All the hype around The Hypnotist is well deserved. Just when you think you have it figured out here comes another twist. I look forward to more from this writing duo from Sweden.

Amy wrote: "I am reading A Fortunate Age (love going back to the 1990s!)I am waiting on several books from the library, but I expect I will probably only get The Night Strangers in this month. I plan to pick u..."

Amy, I just downloaded The Night Strangers and am eager to read it....it got good reviews. Another good one by C. Bohjalian is Midwives. That is the only other one I've read and I really liked it.

Flora wrote: "Just starting The Witching Hour"

I read this years ago and loved it. Was very creeped out by one of the characters!! Hope you enjoy it.

I am reading Return by Karen Kingsbury and also Duma Key by Stephen King. Two very different books.