NerdFighters Book Club discussion

Just wondering what is on a Nerdfighter's Summer reading list. I have several books lined up...

1) The Pearl - John Steinbeck ( a book I was supposed to read in HS...about 33 years ago... reading now)

2) Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris (reading now... recommended by my son)

3) Devil in the White City - Erik Larson (recommended at a book sale)

4) The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (my son said I had to read it)

5) Abundance of Katherines - John Green (I read all his other books)

So... what books are on your list?

Me Talk Pretty One Day had me laughing so hard I was crying. I'm currently reading one of his others, When You Are Engulfed In Flames.

I'm really excited to read these books during Summer:

- More Than This by Patrick Ness
- Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have quite a few others I want to read but most are re-reads or classics are have yet to read, like

-Lord of the Flies
-A Little Princess
-1984
-Catch 22

Most summers I have a long list of books to read but I end up buying random books while on holiday which interest me much more. Sometimes it is more fun to have spontaneous reads I guess.

April wrote: "Me Talk Pretty One Day had me laughing so hard I was crying. I'm currently reading one of his others, When You Are Engulfed In Flames."

My son has When You Are Engulfed In Flames. I don't think he read it yet. Maybe I'll grab it from him.

Becca wrote: "I'm really excited to read these books during Summer:

- More Than This by Patrick Ness
- Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have quite a few others I want to read but mos..."

Lord of the Flies... one of my Favorites!

Plan on reading Catch 22 down the road. I have it on my shelf.

I'm currently reading Shift Omnibus by Hugh Howey. When that is finished I will jump on Sand Omnibus.

Books I would like to read:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Dungeon Keeper's Wife by Andrew Linke
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

I've got an hour commute each way so a few of those are audible books to make my ride much more enjoyable.

Having finally graduated from college, I have spent the last month catching up on a bunch of the books I haven't had time to read in the past two years or so. I've finished:
Carrie by Stephen King (now I need to see the new movie)
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston (which is terrifying)
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (beautiful yet... Oddly pedophilic?)
Under Heaven & Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay (both good books)

And plan to read:
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Objects of Worship by Claude Lalumiere

Iris wrote: "Having finally graduated from college, I have spent the last month catching up on a bunch of the books I haven't had time to read in the past two years or so. I've finished:
Carrie by Stephen King..."

Watch the 1976 "Carrie" with Sissy Spacek... it's the only one worth watching. :)

I think I have The Hot Zone in one of my piles of books I picked up at a library book sale. Maybe I'll pull it out.

Amanda wrote: "I'm currently reading Shift Omnibus by Hugh Howey. When that is finished I will jump on Sand Omnibus.

Books I would like to read:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Dungeon Keeper's Wife by Andrew Linke
..."

Amanda... I don't read much sci fi/fantasy. For someone who normally does not read that genre, what book would be a good introduction? Maybe I'll give it a shot! :)

Tom,

I would suggest reading Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey. It is a little sci-fi and a little dystopian/mystery. It was recommended on the Sword and Laser group a long while back and I got the audible book and just held onto it for a long time. It is really well written and will keep pulling you back in.

If you're looking for a short read... The Emperor's Soul by Branden Sanderson is interesting.

On the fantasy side: The Fae series by Elle Casey or the Rachael Morgan series by Kim Harrison

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind is another longer book with a series that follows it.

Brandon Sanderson's Alcatraz series is entertaining even though it is meant for kids.

I am currently reading The Great Gatsby. I never read it in High School, so I'm finally getting to it now.
I really want to reread Harry Potter this summer. As well as finish the Diverget Series. Water For Elephants, and Fahrenheit 451 are the other ones I have lined up.

Amanda wrote: "Tom,

I would suggest reading Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey. It is a little sci-fi and a little dystopian/mystery. It was recommended on the Sword and Laser group a long while back and I got the audib..."

Amanda... Thanks for your reply! I may go with The Emperor's Soul because I don't want to get caught up in a series right now. Also... Brandon Sanderson seems to be an author you enjoy, so may as well start there! I will give Wool Omnibus a shot sometime in the fall. Thanks again!

Brandon Sanderson and Kim Harrison are among my favorite authors. Elle Casey's writing is very addicting, but I'm not sure that I would call her a favorite yet. I will have to venture past more than one of her series for that.

Jodi wrote: "I am currently reading The Great Gatsby. I never read it in High School, so I'm finally getting to it now.
I really want to reread Harry Potter this summer. As well as finish the Diverget Series. W..."

I should be starting The Great Gatsby in the next week or so. Also, Fahrenheit 451 is a great book!

Not sure I should admit this in this forum... but I never read Harry Potter. (grins sheepishly) I generally don't like having preconceptions of books I am reading. Rarely do I see the movie before reading the book, so Harry Potter is kind of spoiled for me.

Winter here in the land Downunder. Just finished The Kite Runner and Ten Thousand Suns by Khaled Hosseini. About to start The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
.

I don't have some special desires to read this summer. I want to get some books of my "to be reading"-pile. I think there are about 80 books? And from work (I work in a library) I also borrowed 60 books. But I just bought a bigger jar. I want to make something like a "reading jar" - I will write those books on little papers, fold them and put it in the jar. When I'm finished with a book I will pull out a paper and read that book. That is a summer project of mine :)

Melanie wrote: "I don't have some special desires to read this summer. I want to get some books of my "to be reading"-pile. I think there are about 80 books? And from work (I work in a library) I also borrowed 60 ..."

That's such a good idea! I am always stuck on which book to read next and a lot of the time I end up re-reading a book that is a favourite. I may just copy your jar idea for this summer :D

Becca: I give you permission! Because I kind of copied it myself. The original idea was a jar for summer activities. Papers in one color for rainy days and papers in another for sunny days :) Maybe I will try that next year!

Jess: The Name of the Wind is fantastic! You're in for a treat.

I just finished BtBF and am starting Brideshead Revisited. I'm doing the audiobook where Jeremy Irons narrates. Mmmm.

Summer reading:
Finished the newest Terry Pratchett-Raising Steam, book of poems by Poe, The Long Earth and Long War (want Long Mars but can't get it),Good Omens, a brief history of everything, Lego magic, read others but can't remember them just now.
Been slowly going through the Mortal Instrument series as I can get them from the library. (not so sure about this series it has high drama but started it so going to finish it.)
Have on the list the Divergent series (Is it worth reading?) and Guardians of Go'holo series (started reading the owl books years ago and never finished the series). Listening to Quiet, Howl's Moving Castle, and Anise boys. The portrait of Dorian Grey
Reading comics as always.
Trying to finish a book every week.
I move around a lot for my work with the government so just read what I can get my hands onto and this library has a good selection of YA.
Anyone got any good suggestions for YA?

Melanie wrote: "I don't have some special desires to read this summer. I want to get some books of my "to be reading"-pile. I think there are about 80 books? And from work (I work in a library) I also borrowed 60 ..."

"Reading jar"... That's a great idea! I already have a few books lined up, but will probably be doing that in the fall! :)

Susanne wrote: "Summer reading:
Finished the newest Terry Pratchett-Raising Steam, book of poems by Poe, The Long Earth and Long War (want Long Mars but can't get it),Good Omens, a brief history of everything, Leg..."

A book a week... now that is ambitious. :)I'm only doing a book a month... but I am already 2 books ahead. How was A Brief History of Everything... it sounds intriguing.

Where is the list to be voted on for our next read? sorry I keep seeing that it's supposed to be at the bottom of the page but I can't find it.

Kate wrote: "Where is the list to be voted on for our next read? sorry I keep seeing that it's supposed to be at the bottom of the page but I can't find it."

Kate... go to the main page of "NerdFighters Book Club" and go all the way to the bottom... past the members... all the way down and you will find the "polls".

May not work on a Mobil device Kate. I had trouble on my phone but found it easily on my laptop.

Tom: I have tried to read a book a week every summer since I was a kid, getting to be harder now since I work and don't have summer vacation :). A book a month is good also, yeah for being ahead of schedual. A brief history of everything is fun it is kinda like browsing wikipedia makes you want to go off on a tangent and learn new things. If you like books like a brief history I also recommend these two history of science books : the violinist thumb )a history of genetics) and the disappearing spoon )history of chemistry). Very cool take the time to read them totally worth spending a month on.

Susanne wrote: "Tom: I have tried to read a book a week every summer since I was a kid, getting to be harder now since I work and don't have summer vacation :). A book a month is good also, yeah for being ahead ..."

Susanne... Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into them. As for it getting harder to read... yeah... that does happen. I work full time, have 3 kids and I'm the only driver in the house. I carry my books with me in hopes to read a few pages here and there. Sometimes I am just too tired to read. It sucks getting older. lol One of the few perks is no homework on the weekend, so that's when I do most of my reading.

I do not have a completed list of books to read. It so happens most of times, and this I really like about life, that I get to read books from unexpected sources. Like this one from here. Thanks! ;)
One planned book though: something by Faulkner. I really liked "Light in August" which I read last summer.

Bianca wrote: "I do not have a completed list of books to read. It so happens most of times, and this I really like about life, that I get to read books from unexpected sources. Like this one from here. Thanks! ;..."

Bianca... I here you... every book on my summer list came from different sources (none from a book store). When I got to a certain age, I discovered I had stacks and stacks of unread books from "unexpected sources", so lists became a prudent thing to do. I never read Faulkner (never even considered him). Maybe I will add him to my list... and that would make you an "unexpected source". :)

Tom wrote: "Susanne wrote: "Tom: I have tried to read a book a week every summer since I was a kid, getting to be harder now since I work and don't have summer vacation :). A book a month is good also, yeah ..."

I work as a field biologist for the federal gov. So yeah I understand the being to tired to ready but yeah no homework, except when I bring my reports home. But nothing like being the main driver for three little ones. If you do a large amount of driving I find audio books to be a good time filler. I don't have the time to read Dante but it has become one of my favorite "I am moving across the country again because of my job" books. It may suck getting older at times but now I have money to buy books with oh and fancy yummy cheese. Cheers

Jaimie wrote: "Jess: The Name of the Wind is fantastic! You're in for a treat.

I just finished BtBF and am starting Brideshead Revisited. I'm doing the audiobook where Jeremy Irons narrates. Mmmm."

I have heard about brideshead but don't really know what it is all about is it good? about willing to try anything that has Irons voicing it.

Tom wrote: "Bianca wrote: "I do not have a completed list of books to read. It so happens most of times, and this I really like about life, that I get to read books from unexpected sources. Like this one from ..."

Hello, Tom, I read your list. Cool that you included the source ;)
I will have to put "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris on my list. So sweet, thanks! :)

Susanne wrote: "Tom wrote: "Susanne wrote: "Tom: I have tried to read a book a week every summer since I was a kid, getting to be harder now since I work and don't have summer vacation :). A book a month is good..."

Suzanne...The three kids are teenagers... so yeah... driving all over the state sometimes. lol My wife can't drive. I just tell myself only a few more years. :) Anyway, I do the audio books sometimes. Most recent I listened to were Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett. Great books!!! Highly recommend them. Sometimes I would get home from work and sit in the driveway for 20 minutes just to finish a chapter.

Tom wrote: "Susanne wrote: "Tom wrote: "Susanne wrote: "Tom: I have tried to read a book a week every summer since I was a kid, getting to be harder now since I work and don't have summer vacation :). A book..."

Snort I sometimes do that too just sit and listen. Yeah pillars is a good book haven't read it in awhile.

Alright, I've been meaning to write this down for a while. So, this is my Summer Reading List.
1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy
2. Specials
3. Toxic (Yes, this is a Pretty Little Liars book. It's a guilty pleasure. Don't judge.)
4. The Time Traveler's Wife
5. Tangerine (It's for school.)
6. The Probability of Miracles
7. Why We Broke Up
8. This Star Won't Go Out
9. A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend
10. The List
11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
12. The Magician's Nephew
There will be way more, I just can't think of any right now. So I'll try to update soon.
-Maggie

Hello all,

this is my summer reading list:

1- If I Stay by

hello all,

here is my summer reading list

1- If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Nerdfighter book club selection)

2-Wool by Hugh Howey

3-The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

4- Warrior by George R.R. Martin

5-Dangerous Women by George R.R.Martin

6- Never Let Me Go- By Kazuo Ishiguro

7- GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso

i will probably some of J.K Rowling newer mystery books too.

Maggie wrote: "Alright, I've been meaning to write this down for a while. So, this is my Summer Reading List.
1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy
2. Specials
3. Toxic (Yes, this is a Pretty Little Liars book..."

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... one of the few books I laughed out loud while reading!

Tom wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Alright, I've been meaning to write this down for a while. So, this is my Summer Reading List.
1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy
2. Specials
3. Toxic (Yes, this is a Pretty Li..."

I know what you mean, Tom! :)
Listening to the audio-book while walking on the street meant donning a big grin on my face or even giggling uncontrollably, which definitely put some passersby at unease. Not me, though. I thought to myself that it would constitute an offense to the great creative spirit of Douglas Adams (who read his own book on the tape - and did it wonderfully so!) not to naturally react to it.

Melanie wrote: "I don't have some special desires to read this summer. I want to get some books of my "to be reading"-pile. I think there are about 80 books? And from work (I work in a library) I also borrowed 60 ..."

Me and a colleague from work printed this reading challenge and cut it into little notes. We extract one note every other week and decide upon a title that fits the indication. After reading the book we discuss our favourite and least favourite parts during a coffee break :)
http://www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca/20...

I don't have a list, I have massive piles of to be read.

That said, I'm reading two books right now:

Your Playlist Can Change Your Life by ... Sorry I can't remember, three scientists

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

This summer I'm making my way through a Vonnegut collection, read Cat's Cradle so far.

Also want to read The Great Greene Heist and maybe re-read 13 Little Blue Envelopes before LeakyCon, since Varian Johnson and Maureen Johnson will be there.

Next one I will start, though, will be If I Stay, since I guess it's the book selected for this group next and I've been wanting to read it anyhow.

Angela wrote: "hello all,

here is my summer reading list

1- If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Nerdfighter book club selection)

2-Wool by Hugh Howey

3-The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

4- Warrior by George R.R. Martin

5..."

Recently finished "If I Stay" because of the NerdFighter Book Club selection (was not on my list). It was not bad. Just "ok" for me. Wool was recommended to me here, so I will be picking up a copy soon.

Chris wrote: "I don't have a list, I have massive piles of to be read.

That said, I'm reading two books right now:

Your Playlist Can Change Your Life by ... Sorry I can't remember, three scientists

The Thief ..."

How is Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle? I plan on reading him, but just never got around to it.

Cat's Cradle was good. It kind of felt like the kind of humor I hoped for from Catch 22, but I found Catch 22 too repetitive to get into and never cared about any of the characters. I found Vonnegut's narrator especially interesting.

Every day by David Levithan

Chris wrote: "Cat's Cradle was good. It kind of felt like the kind of humor I hoped for from Catch 22, but I found Catch 22 too repetitive to get into and never cared about any of the characters. I found Vonnegu..."

I was going to start with Catch 22, but maybe I'll switch to Cat's Cradle. :)

I have so many books I have to read before the summer is over! I will be extremely proud of myself if i actually get to reading them all...

- Godless by Pete Hautman

- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

- This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

- Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

- Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier, Kathleen Duey, Meg Cabot, Garth Nix, Margo Lanagan, Naomi Novik, Diana Peterfreund, Libba Bray, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Scott Westerfeld, and Carrie Ryan

- The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy

- It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Not necessarily in order :) I would love if anyone could give me their opinions on any of these books? Which ones are the best/worst? Thanks :)

Elsa wrote: "I have so many books I have to read before the summer is over! I will be extremely proud of myself if i actually get to reading them all...

- Godless by Pete Hautman

- Beautiful Creatures by Kami..."

The only one on your list that I've read is Beautiful Creatures (I've worked my way through the first three and am about to start the fourt and final one). I'd highly recommend that; even though I personally think things get a bit slow and repetitive later in the series, they are all still worth reading and the first one especially is very well done. Definitely one of the best series I've read in the past year.

Thanks! I really wasn't looking forward to that one as much because I hadn't really heard much about it and wasn't able to gather much about the book from the summary, so basically the only reason I was going to read it was because I got it for free from my library's summer reading program. But now I am definitely looking forward to reading it and am going to move it up in the rotation of books I want to read. :) Thanks, again!

No problem :) I originally heard about the series from my Latin teacher and I was like "Really? I've never even heard of it before..." Then I actually read it and I couldn't put it down!