#Read26Indy discussion

Just found this group and I love the idea! What are you all starting your year off with?

I started with Moby Dick by Herman Melville and Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C. J. Box (I am also still reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer which is a carry over from last year)

I just finished "The Good Soldiers" by David Finkel and now I'm starting his follow-up book, "Thank You For Your Service". The first book is a journalist's account of his eight months embedded with soldiers in Iraq, the second his account of continued experiences with those soldiers once they've come home. Powerful, though not always easy, books. Definitely different from my "usual" reads, and I haven't regretted it thus far!

Just finished "The Cuckoo's Calling". Now I'm trying to decide what to read next.

1Q84, Stranger in a Strange Land, Faust, and maybe Labyrinths before the end of the month.

I have finished Final Sentence, a cozy mystery. I'm currently reading Monsters about the '85 Chicago Bears. I will probably stick to lighter books as I am in a reading challenge this month and I can go through those faster.

I finished And the Mountains Echoed, Vampires in a the Lemon Grove and a book of poetry called Blood Dazzler. I'm half way through The Price of Inequality now. I might finish it today.

What is the Price of Inequality about? Good book?

I'm trying to finish "How The Light Gets In," (Louise Penny) which my book club all loved, but doesn't engage me much. I've just downloaded from Indy PL "A Visit From The Goon Squad" (Jennifer Egan) and that's off to a better start.

I'm desperate for a book that will hold my attention. I'm almost through Orange is the New Black, and I'm listening to A Feast for Crows in audio. Neither of these is really gripping. Help me out, people of Goodreads!

Are you a fan of any particular genre?

Are you a fan of any particular genre?

Listening to Cold Mountain on audio book while I work or am at the gym. It's fantastic, read by the author, the kind of prose you can fall in love with.

Also reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for a spring elective. It's not really my cup of tea, but it's required.

I'll also be reading most of the DC New 52 Swamp Thing and Animal Man books.

Not one genre. I love Stephen king, chris bojalian, Gillian Flynn, Wally lamb, and john green. I'm pretty sure I've read everything those folks have written.

Give The Contortionist's Handbook by Craig Clevenger a try. I loved it. Insanely tense and has enough twists to snap your neck around.

I finished up Allegiant, the last in the Divergent series. Moved on to Where'd You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple. It was a quick read, hard to put down. Funny, and a good look at a mother-daughter bond. Now I have started Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. So far I find that it is beautifully written and engaging. A 1941 Lithuanian family is separated when Soviet police arrest them in the night and haul them off to a cattle car with an unknown destination.

Thanks, Robert! I'll give the Contortionist's handbook a try :)

Andrew - I did Stranger in a Strange Land last January. I had a tough time with it. Not as impressed as I thought I would be with Classic Sci-Fi.

Gaelyn - Have you tried Joe Hill? Stephen King's offspring - and the apple didn't fall too far from the tree! If you like John Green have you tried any Matthew Quick (Silver Linings Playbook)? I read his book "Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock" last year and I could not put it down.

Thanks, Matthew! I appreciate this: I'm an English teacher, so I'm constantly recommending books to students. They share their YA choices with me, which is great, but it's nice to hear some suggestions on the adult end.

Gaelyn wrote: "Thanks, Matthew! I appreciate this: I'm an English teacher, so I'm constantly recommending books to students. They share their YA choices with me, which is great, but it's nice to hear some suggest..."

I think "Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock" won a YA award last year, but I am not 100% sure about that. It is surprising how enjoyable YA fiction can be even for an adult. I find that if I just finished a particularly cumbersome read, I can pick up a few YA books for a relaxing "cool down".

Nice...I put Matthew quick on my list as well.

Nancy, The Price of Inequality is about the problems we face as a nation when our economic policies are skewed toward making the rich richer. In addition to infrastructure neglect, the privatizing of public schools (which is happening in Indiana) and the negative consequences of decades of underfunded research and development, Stiglitz, the author, examines how the economic policies of the last thirty years have become the foundational template for both political parties due to the primacy of big money in elections. The author is a liberal economist (I am a liberal too) so the book looks askance at the free market shenanigans that seemed follow the rise of supply side, trickle down economics. I usually read a book like this every other month. My favorite from 2013 was The Unwinding which was considered one of the top nonfiction works of the year.

Gaelyn, I was going to suggest Joe Hill also. I read Horns last fall and I couldn't put it down.

Wow, I am really liking this! I like to read lots of different things but often don't get as adventurous as I'd like because I don't know what to read (so I default to the tried-and-true). So I really appreciate all the reviews of books and authors! Michael, I will definitely look for The Price of Inequality and also will keep in mind The unwinding. And Matthew, I enjoyed your thoughts on authors conveyed to Gaelyn, and I think I'll put Matthew Quick on my list, too (I liked Silver Linings Playbook). Have a great afternoon everybody, and stay warm!

Happy to see so many other Joe Hill fans on here. I much preferred Heart-Shaped Box and 20th Century Ghosts to Horns. I've not laid my hands on NOS4A2 yet. I cannot recommend enough Locke & Key - quite literally one of the best graphic novel series I've ever read.

Robert wrote: "Happy to see so many other Joe Hill fans on here. I much preferred Heart-Shaped Box and 20th Century Ghosts to Horns. I've not laid my hands on NOS4A2 yet. "

I just finished Horns recently - I liked it better than Heart-Shaped Box. I will probably be setting NOS4A2 as the March book for the book club I recently started on Goodreads (couldn't find any live book clubs in Indy that fit me).

I just added Heart-Shaped Box to my wishlist. We'll see how I like it.

I am reading Grisham's newest - Sycamore Row.

I finished The Price of Inequality. I've heard that Sam Lipsyte is a hilarious writer so I'm going to check out his novel Home Land next. Does anyone have recommendations for humorous reads?

So in addition to the aforementioned novels, I decided to start Donna Tartt's The Secret History since I need a palate cleanser from the Christie novel.

Michael - Check out Michael Dahlie's work. He's a professor in my MFA program and his books are hysterical - I highly recommend The Best of Youth.

Thanks.

Robert, it turns out I have that book on my Kindle. I'll put it on my e-shelf. Thanks again.

I read Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. I'm now reading And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.

Galen, Have you read Stephen Kings sons books? Very similiar to Stephen Kings earlier novels. His last name is Hill, can not think of his first...Could google his name... One book he wrote was "Horns"

guess I was a little late on this suggestion:)

Ha! Seems like the top suggestion for January is Joe Hill! Since this is an Indianapolis book club, it's probably going to be hard to find his books in area libraries.

I just started NOS4ATU yesterday. Pretty good so far. Finished The Princess Bride (fantastic) and Earth Abides (meh) this past weekend. They we're carry overs from last year. I also knocked out vol 5 of American Vampire which was awesome. The Orphan Master's Son is next.

Sorry NOS4A2...

So far, I've reread two books already read. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and a murder mystery by Robert Barnard: Death of an Old Goat.

Enjoyed both.

Just finished Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Starting The Cuckoo's Calling.

I finished Ready Player One last week, but haven't been able to get out of the house to get my next book "Turn Around Bright Eyes." Hopefully this weather can cooperate so I can get out and get this next book.

So far...
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A January pick (You live several lives while reading category)on my Half-Price Books Read More 2014 calendar.
Currently,
Atonement by Ian McEwan
It is a February pick (We are fools in love category)

I just finished Saving Italy by Robert Edsel. It's great if you enjoy art history, WWII and are interested in how the great art of Europe survived WWII.

This month I have read The Interestings, And The Mountains Echoed plus tonight I am starting Into The Darkest Corner. I l e this resolution to keep me on track!!!!

Started on my second book for the challenge, "Turn Around Bright Eyes." It's from Rob Sheffield, who wrote "Love is a Mixtape" It's about the connection between karaoke and love, so it should be an interesting read. I wouldn't be surprised if I finished it over the next few days because it's not a hard read at all.

Starting off with Labor Day by Joyce Maynard since the movie is coming out later this month.

Jennifer wrote: "So far...
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A January pick (You live several lives while reading category)on my Half-Price Books Read More 2014 calendar.
Currently,
Atonement by Ian McEwan
It is a Febru..."
Jennifer, I am also using that calendar to help me find new books to add to my list. It is an awesome resource!

Have read Takedown Twenty and Evanovich and it was ok. I didn't think it was as good as some of her earlier books. I am also reading "The Good Lord Bird" by James McBride which is very interesting and giving a fictional view of John Brown

I finished The Good Lord Bird last month. It was the best book I read in 2013.

Finished The Everything Store (Amazon Story) Bezos is an amazing guy but I wouldn't want to work for him. Lot of similarities between him and Steve Jobs.