Arapahoe Library District discussion

Tell us about the book you are reading or just read!

I'm reading The Story Sisters by aalice Hoffman. Love the author and its one of her more recent books. Still reading but it has taken me by surprised several times already.

Just looked her up...did not know Practical Magic was based on a book! Cool, will have to check her out.

I adore Alice Hoffman, and have read pretty much everything she's written. Off the top of my head favorites - The Dovekeepers (much different than usual), Practical Magic, The Blackbird House, and The Ice Queen.

I am currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

I am reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane also by Neil Gaiman. It is so good--sort of reminds me of Practical Magic.

I am reading Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover and listening to The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling

I read The Ocean At the End of the Lane and loved it! I also, loved The Graveyard Book by him. I agree, they have a similar way of mixing fantasy and reality.

I am reading Elizabeth Smart My Story. It's a great easy read.

I am currently reading Death Without Company by Craig Johnson. He's a great author!

I'm reading Perfect by Rachel Joyce. Interesting premise and good reviews

I'm reading The Monuments Men. It's very good. Wonder if the upcoming movie will be as good as the book.

I'm reading As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson. I love the Longmire series. Craig Johnson is an extraordinary writer.

Cheryl, I have a hold on Monuments Men right now! It's nice to hear it's a good read :) I just started the super fluffy and fun That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between by Victoria Beckham. I was expecting a memoir style book, but it's actually a fashion tip filled book in the style of a glossy fashion magazine. Perfect light read!

Bridget--I hope you'll like The Monuments Men. I thought it was so interesting. I just hope they don't make a mess of the movie even though there are some big names starring in it! Victoria Beckham..... that should be a light, fun read!

Done (and a little disappointed) with American Gods. On to The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd.

Glad to hear, also, that The Monuments Men is good :)

I just finished Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath. I love his stuff--the research and conclusions always resonate with me and stick around a long time after I've read the book. Some highlights: classroom size, affirmative action, dyslexia, and power.

Jeri wrote: "I read The Ocean At the End of the Lane and loved it! I also, loved The Graveyard Book by him. I agree, they have a similar way of mixing fantasy and reality."

Yes, love that "magical realism" genre--ALD doesn't support that one in the catalog, but you can search goodreads for stuff tagged magical realism.

Jeri--yes, I really liked The Monuments Men. Have heard good comments about The Invention of Wings. Will be interested to hear what you think about it!

Just finished Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles a runaway best seller in Europe. It is witty, with a fast paced plot and very engaging characters. I can't wait for the next translation

Sounds like a good one Laurie!

Monuments Men is coming up on my holds list. After your comments Cheryl, I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Laurie,
I think you'll like this one! Edsel isn't the greatest writer, but the topic itself is so interesting. The soldiers and civilians involved in searching for the missing works deserve our admiration. I learned so much about an aspect of the war that I knew very little about before reading this account.

We should all pick a book of Alice Hoffman's and have an impromptu book club. I hardly ever want to go to the preplanned ones by the libraty but would love to be a part of one again.

Her newest is out in February - I'm in :)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Love this idea! Should we meet back in March to discuss The Museum of Extraordinary Things? :-)

I will try to have this one read. It would be fun to discuss it here. I am a very slow reader and also belong to two other book clubs, but I will try to participate. Since it's a new book it might be hard to get a copy.

For ease and availability it might be best to pick one of her older books. (Although I'm definitely excited about the new release.) Shooting for middle ground, how about Blackbird House?

The Museum of Extraordinary Things may be hard to get hold of for awhile. I'm up for a discussion of any Alice Hoffman book.

I am currently reading My Beloved World by Sonya Sotomayor. Excellent memoir. Reading it for a book club I belong to.

ALD only has one copy of Blackbird House--should we try something with more copies: The Story Sisters, The Red Garden, Green Angel/Green Witch, and The Dovekeepers have multiple copies. Thoughts on any of those?

Any of them sound good to me!

How about The Story Sisters or The Dovekeepers--picking based upon this blog post?

"While The Dovekeepers I must say is by far her masterpiece with its prose and award style writing, my favorite is The Story Sisters, primarily based on the emotional reaction I had reading it."
http://athomewithbooks.net/2012/06/be...

Jessica wrote: "For ease and availability it might be best to pick one of her older books. (Although I'm definitely excited about the new release.) Shooting for middle ground, how about Blackbird House?" Jessica, have you read The Dovekeepers?

I haven't read The Dovekeepers yet. I'm game though. I may even have a copy already, gotta check the shelves but either way sounds like a plan. I'll start a new thread and we can all chime in there-goal for haven't it read by March 1? Seems like several people are in the middle of other things so giving it a few weeks should put us all on the same page/book.

Yay! Thanks Jessica.