Classics Without All the Class discussion

I just finished two books that have been sitting on my night stand for way too long! yay! So not I have no print book to read! I will have to see what my bookshelves contain! Otherwise I am listening to Cloud Atlas! I also have no graphic novel going either which is a little bit rare for me, but since I have two 20 page papers to write by the end of the month I probably shouldn't get in over my head too much.

I am reading Iced and trying hard not to be disappointed. NaNoWriMo is my priority this month so reading has actually slowed down. I have a couple from the library I need to finish Equal of the Sun and Soulless. And then the library just emailed me and told me I have Stephen Colbert's new book America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't to go pick up.

I SO want to read America Again! You have to tell me whether it is good. :) (which it definitely will be since it is Stephen Colbert...) lol

I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones, The Notebook, and the Catcher In The Rye! So far I'm liking all three but Game of Thrones is taking me ages! I really do love it but I'm such a slow reader and it's such a large book that I'm not making hardly any progress. I also restarted it because the first time I tried reading it, I was confused and then I watched the first season and then I tried reading it again, and things have been going smoothly. I do like it though!

I am so impressed about people reading several books at tha same time. I've never been able to do that. I can't even start a new book on a same day I just finished one.
So right now I'm reading Vanity Fair. It's quite long so I'm trying to finish it fast so I can start a new one.

Kaitlyn wrote: "I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones, The Notebook, and the Catcher In The Rye! So far I'm liking all three but Game of Thrones is taking me ages! I really do love it but I'm such a slow reader ..."

Hello Kaitlyn
I wasn't able to finish the game of thrones series, I gave up at book three, it was way to slow for me without any real reason for being that slow, but I'm actually curious about your opinion regarding to the series, because I feel the series actually really good. I even like the changes I think most of the cases they are improving the story. So for now I think I never going to finish the books but I'm waiting for the series

I am reading the Game of Thrones series too, and I'm in the 3rd book. I also watch the series. The first book and season match pretty well. But watch out after that. There are characters in the second book that aren't in the tv show at all, and some characters are all rolled into one. Also, the end of the second season is the beginning of the third book. So, big changes between the book and tv show begin to happen after the first book/season. I move through the books pretty slowly too, always reading other books at the same time. It isn't that I don't like the books, because I do, but there is something about the way they move that I just feel like I need a break. Also, I think it is that the stories aren't often resolved. So, the books can seem very long with little resolution - which I suppose is some of the appeal. I am planning on having the third book finished before the third series begins; hopefully, the tv season will be as awesome as the book. :)

Besides A Storm of Swords, right now I am also reading Cloud Atlas and listening to The Alchemist read by Jeremy Irons. I am really liking The Alchemist a lot, and am beginning to see the appeal in Cloud Atlas.

Kaitlyn wrote: "I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones, The Notebook, and the Catcher In The Rye! So far I'm liking all three but Game of Thrones is taking me ages! I really do love it but I'm such a slow reader ..."

Yay for slow readers! I am such a slow reader, and it's really sad sometimes cause I would love to read more books. Oh well, it doesn't make me any less of a well rounded reader.

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. According to my Kindle, I am 18% completed with the book. I'm hoping to finish it by the end of the week.

I'm one of those many books at once people but my main focus right now is on Snow by Orhan Pamuk. Set in 20th century Turkey and written by a Turk, this book could easily become a classic.

Reading Love Anthony by Lisa Genova...am having fun spending time on Goodreads, too -- especially reliving my childhood books.

Hi, I am new! Will usually stop when family and work allows...

You have a great group here. I am currently reading the 3rd book of Game of Thrones... I am amazed!!! Funny how I writer can provide so many different characters and makes us either love or hate them.

Geri wrote: "Reading Love Anthony by Lisa Genova...am having fun spending time on Goodreads, too -- especially reliving my childhood books."

Careful Geri. I've been known to get lost in Goodreads for hours! lol It's so addicting. I know I haven't rated even half the books I've read.

I've got His Excellency George Washington and 1Q84 going now. Next will be The Road to Sata and a Daniel Boone bio. (I'm getting used to heavy reading in anticipation of school starting again). Any recommendations?His Excellency: George Washington1Q84

I started Swann's Way yesterday and I have a feeling it's going to take me straight into December or longer!

Carolyn wrote: "I started Swann's Way yesterday and I have a feeling it's going to take me straight into December or longer!"

Yay Swann`s way is on my next to read shelf too but i`m a bit scared of it. Do you know that there is a bookclub on goodreads that called: 2013 a year of reading Proust or something like that?

I'm currently plowing my way through The Count of Monte Cristo. So far I'm not enjoying it as much as The Three Musketeers. That's not to say I don't like it, just not as much so far. :) I still have a ways to go before I complete it, though, so I may change my mind.

You guys have a lot of interesting books you are reading. I can see my to-read list is going to continue to grow from this group :), but that's a good thing!

Cassie, I checked both of those out of the library and unfortunately had to return them as I just couldn't slog through them. Maybe I'll get them on tape. My to-read list is about five times longer than my have-read. :P

I'm currently reading The mark of Athena, The lost Library and Gunslinger Girl 7.

I'm reading "John Dies at the End." I usually read non-fiction, so I want to mix it up with something really weird.

I like The Three Musketeers too Cassie, but I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo (yet). I'm reading A Most Dangerous Method: The Story of Jung, Freud & Sabina Spielrein by John Kerr. Really interesting so far.

A whole group for Proust? Zounds! I haven't even been able to find all of the volumes for the book.

Yesterday I finished Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. I can see why people were upset by it and a bishop in the Church of England actually burned it. He raises some good questions about marriage and rights of women in turn of the century (19th to 20th) England.

Elizabeth wrote: "I like The Three Musketeers too Cassie, but I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo (yet). I'm reading A Most Dangerous Method: The Story of Jung, Freud & Sabina Spielrein by John Kerr. Really int..."

I feel like the Count doesn't flow as well as the Three Musketeers. I'm only halfway through, so it definitely still has time to grow on me, but Musketeers was just so much fun :).

Is A Dangerous Method the same story line as the movie that recently released about Freud and Jung? I was a psych major in college, so that might be one I have to look into!

I know Cassie, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did! Yes, the film with Keira Knightly was based on the book - must look into seeing it too. Intrigued now I'm reading the book.

Hi! I am new to this. I live in Alabama....(yes a southerner/red neck ). I am not very good at english/grammar/spelling etc. In fact it was my worst subject in school. I have never joined a book club/blog. I started to really enjoy reading about four years ago. I am an allover the place reader. Although not big into biographies. I am currently reading "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.....Loving this book! Oh I also am allover the place when I write (ha ha). (rambling...sorry!)

I am reading "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and "Under the Banner of Heaven". I also keep a copy of "Leaves of Grass" (the so-called "Deathbed Edition") on my night stand to taste every night or so.

I`m reading Leviathan by Paul Auster.
The beginning is a bit slow so I hope there will be an upcoming plot acceleration.

I am what the New York Times calls a "The Multi-Tasker" reader so I have, let's see..."The Cape Ann," "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" "The Dress Lodger" and....that's all I can think of though I'm sure there are more.

I loved the first few A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIF/Game of Thrones) books but was less impressed with the last two.

Selena wrote: "I am what the New York Times calls a "The Multi-Tasker" reader so I have, let's see..."The Cape Anne," "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon," "The Dress Lodger" and....that's all I can think of though I'..."


I am a Multi-Tasker reader also. It's horrible. LOL. I just recently finished
The Dress Lodger. It was interesting.

I'm trying to read A Local Habitation along with reading Cloud Atlas and finishing NaNoWriMo. I hit 30k today so it's all downhill from here! =)

I am reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, World War Z by Max Brooks, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Essays in Love by Alain de Botton

Yuri wrote: "I am reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, World War Z by Max Brooks, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Essays in Love by Alain de Botton"

World War Z... that is my "comfort" book. I've read/listened to that book more than any other.

Ryan, I only just started it after it was on my "to read" list for so long! (I admit that the movie trailer was what motivated me to read it now before my opinion is influenced by the film).
I'm glad to hear such a positive remark on the book. I'm definitely enjoying it so far myself.

Yuri wrote: "(I admit that the movie trailer was what motivated me to read it now before my opinion is influenced by the film)"

This is a good call. After you finish the book, if you rewatch the trailer, you might wonder why they called the movie 'World War Z'.

Besides being post-apocalyptic and about zombies, I think the greatest aspect of the book is the amount of emotion that is contained in each individual story. Max Brooks did a phenomenal job!

I just read Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. Terrific book. Just a one-day sort of thing since it is less than 200 pages, but an excellent story of families, loyalties, secrets and justice.

Yuri, I loved And Then There Were None, let me know what you think!

I'm currently reading Paul Theroux's 'Dark Star Safari' and recently read Hemingway's 'A Moveable Feast' which I enjoyed immensely.

Elizabeth, I will be sure to!

Luke. Oh, I just read A Moveable Feast recently. I loved it! I'm a big fan of Hemingway's and Fitzgerald's so it was really great to have this small insight into the men behind my favorite novels. I'm not usually too fond of memoirs but this one definitely has a permanent place on my shelf.

Nichole wrote: "Hi! I am new to this. I live in Alabama....(yes a southerner/red neck ). I am not very good at english/grammar/spelling etc. In fact it was my worst subject in school. I have never joined a book..."

The best way to improve your language skills is to read, so you're on the right track for sure! Congratulations to you to discovering the joys of reading!

Ryan wrote: "Yuri wrote: "I am reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, World War Z by Max Brooks, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and Essays in Love by Alain de Botton"

World War Z... that is my..."

I recently reread Ender's Game after having read it 20 years ago in college. Still awesome after all these years! I liked World World Z quite a bit too.

I may be spread too thin on the reading right now: my current reads include Cloud Atlas, Robopocalypse, and In The Woods.

>Yuri and Tanya, I loved Ender's Game as well. I found the ending very touching. Very few books I've read recently have measured up. Are the other books about Ender as good or should I quit while I'm ahead?

Currently reading Dracula (so far it's off the charts), Oliver Twist (so far I'm a bit disappointed), and an indie book I received for free in exchange for a review -- The Moon Dwellers

Anthony, I recently read Dracula in a book club and loved it. The funny thing is that I was the only one. Every one else thought it was boring and didn't like it at all. Glad to here I'm not the only one who enjoyed it! :-)

I'm currently reading: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.

Angie, you definitely aren't the only one. The writing is awesome, the pace and tension building, the multiple view points and distinct characters... as I'm reading it taking this all in I'm thinking, yes, this is a classic. :) I was actually planning to use some examples from the book in a blog post about depth of descriptions. Stoker's descriptions of certain scenes show them to me with an imaginative precision that most modern books I'm reading do not, particularly YA books. I'm enjoying it a lot.

Im addicted to audiobooks & recently finished these 3:
"The Kid" by Sapphire (did not like)
"Mildred Pierce" by James M. Cain (loved!)
"This Is How You Lose Her" by Junot Diaz (loved!!)

I currently am reading four Jane Austen classics: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Northanger Abbey. First time reading anything by the famous Jane Austen and I'm loving it!

I just finished reading " water for elephant " and I don't really know what to read next . " If you could see me now " seems tempting but I don't think I'm in the right mood for it .
I might as well give " Tess of the d'ubervilles" a shot.

Anthony wrote: "Angie, you definitely aren't the only one. The writing is awesome, the pace and tension building, the multiple view points and distinct characters... as I'm reading it taking this all in I'm thinki..."

Interesting observation regarding the precision of Stoker's language. A lot of recent popular YA fiction (especially fantasy/paranormal) I've been reading are sloppily written. So I've been going back to reading favorites from my youth. I'm working my way through The Complete Sherlock Holmes among other things. A good writer who knows how to use language is such a delight.

Still enjoying princess stories....right now I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl...love thus kind of story !

Tanya, that whole Tudor series was fantastic. I was not disappointed. I also enjoyed the renaissance Borgia books by Jeanne Kalogridis.