Readers and Reading discussion

I just finished Mike Lawson's latest (#5), House Justice: A Joe DeMarco Thriller, which was published last week. It was a bit more convoluted and complex than his other thrillers, but it was GOOD. The action in this book never stopped, from first page to last.

The cast of characters in this book (Iranian, Russian, CIA, Congress) was large, but Lawson kept them under his control and they made the story what it was. The author apparently knows all about the dirty political games played in Washington and many of them are exposed in this novel.

A can't-put-down book loaded with one surprise after another!

This past week I finished Love You, Mean It: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Friendship.

The four co-authors of this book were living good and happy lives in and near New York City before these lives were tragically altered on September 11, 2001.

A few months later, when the book opens, four women who have been in touch due to such tragic circumstances decided to meet for drinks. They found unconditional acceptance and help to get through each day. Nothing they had ever had or been before 9-11 mattered because now they were widows, the loves of their lives murdered.

As the months passed, their bonds grew stronger and they became "The Widow's Club". They knew that in order to move on with their lives, they needed each other's strength.

While sad, this book was never depressing because it is about the bonds of women's friendships. This book made me look at my own friendships and think about how they started, what kept us together, and what we have done for each other. I feel very lucky.

Thank you for this. Im gonna place this in my list. Thou am not too sure when I can get hold of it since I often buy book when there r cheap. Always interested in books on women n friendship.

Leo, I often buy books very inexpensively through AbeBooks.com

But..... I do not know how much their shopping to Malaysia would be.

ABE has vendors all over the world. I just ordered a book from England and the shipping was $5.

I just finnished SLIDE by Saira Viola , an emerging writer of modern fiction . The press blurb and back cover describes it as a kooky tale of gangster fun but it is so much more than that . There are so many themes covered in this exciting story I was laughing and tearful all at the same time . The writer uses contemporary references to style and culture to entice the reader into a world of strip clubs , bars, and bling- bling nightlife but the characters who fuel this nocturnal economy are funny, sensitve and in some respects tragic. It is a modern portrait of the society in which we live where rich girls and urban princes get together to take drugs, get high and enjoy an existence without moral boundaries or a moral code . But who will we sympathise with more the glitter people who have it all or the jobbing felons who are just struggling fom one day to the next .What struck me most about this novella was the grainy descriptions of two kinds of classes that rock the drug economy and their perspectives on the world . The writer comments through the narrative of how "honest it is to be a prostiute" there is no masquerading and no game play the reader is compelled to ask am I judging or should I look harder at the realities before me . The style of the novel is unqiue and up lifting a real play on words that is smart and clever . I very much enjoyed this book and the universal themes it discussed.

I could not wait to read Steve Martin's new book, An Object of Beauty: A Novel and as soon as I heard about it, I put it on my WANTS list at ABEbooks.com. It is not being published until Nov. 23 so I jumped at the chance to buy an ARC a couple of weeks ago. I was especially interested because it was set in the NY art world which I try to keep up with.

Well, the old adage "be careful what you wish for" holds true once again. The book was marginal at best. I despised the main character even though she was barely fleshed out. None of the characters were, for that matter. The writing style was odd...it was written as if it were a movie, which is probably Martin's hope. Heck, he probably had a movie contract for it before he even started writing the book.

It was a daily "chore" to pick up this book. This is why I rarely buy fiction...I felt compelled to finish it. Thank goodness for the library

Just finished The Art of Devotion by Samantha Bruce-Benjamin. Utterly beautiful. The reviews on this book are amazing. I loved it.

I just finished "Her Awful Symmetry" by Audrey Nifenneger. I'm passing it on to another bookloving friend. Haunting images, far less confusing that "The Time Traveler's Wife".

Shannon

Shannon wrote: "I just finished "Her Awful Symmetry" by Audrey Nifenneger. I'm passing it on to another bookloving friend. Haunting images, far less confusing that "The Time Traveler's Wife".

Shannon"
------------------

I tend to prefer a straight narrative. I recall when The Time Traveler's Wife came out, a lot of people didn't like the jumping back and forth in time.

My library discussion group has The Time Travelers Wife on the list for the group. I am going to take a pass.

* the title is Her Fearful Symmetry. I hope that wasn't a indication of your thoughts on the book, Shannon. :)


The Time Traveler's Wife

Her Fearful Symmetry~Audrey Niffenegger

I like a straight narrative too, Alias.

I just finished Midnight Angels: A Novel by Lorenzo Carcaterra. I was soooo looking forward to this book - Florence, my favorite European city — and art. What a combination! I even BOUGHT the book, and I rarely buy fiction.

Well, I was greatly disappointed. The plot and premise were just plain ridiculous. So many stupid things were done by the characters. Kate was such a lightweight and all of a sudden she was thrust into something for which she was ill-prepared. Murder and mayhem in the streets of Florence. COME ON, now!

Had this been a library book, it would have been abandoned.

Sorry to hear you bought a dud, JoAnn. I seldom buy fiction books anymore. I use the library. Or I go to a used bookstore that sells books for a $1.

I will buy nonfiction. My reasoning is I tend to underline and write in my non fiction books. It helps me to organize my thoughts. I figure I can always use these as a reference, too.

However, there is a new indie bookstore that opened up near me. I would like to join their book club, but understandable, they want you to buy the book. My friend and I said we will alternate. If the owner doesn't complain we will try that. Of course it all depends on the type of books they read and the quality of the discussion. I was in the store today, and the owner said she had 60 people signed up. So she would have two different times. 6 or 8 pm. That still is way too many for a nice discussion if 30 people show up. We shall see. The first meeting is this Monday.

Alias, I rarely buy fiction either because I am so picky about it. What can I say, this was a moment of weakness. I probably buy 10-15 novels a year, rarely in hardcover, mostly through ABE

Alias, you're right! Her Fearful Symmetry. And I mangled the author's name as well. Sheesh. Time for me to get back into practice.

Here are two other titles I finished this weekend by Vendela Vida: "And Now You Can Go" and "Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name." The first was her debut novel. Very different books, both memorable.

Shannon wrote: "Alias, you're right! Her Fearful Symmetry. And I mangled the author's name as well. Sheesh. Time for me to get back into practice.

Here are two other titles I finished this weekend by Vendela Vida..."

-------------------------

That's a easy name to get wrong. :)

Here are the GR link to the two books you mentioned.
If you click on the links you will get a synopsis and other info. If you click on the author's name you will get info on the author.

And Now You Can Go ~ Vendela Vida

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name: A Novel~ Vendela Vida

I just finished reading Flesh and Blood by Johnathan Kellerman. It was a great crime mystery novel. I enjoyed it alot. Since I can't get enough of Milo & Delaware. I am still reading more of Kellerman's books. Even though not in order. =)~

I just finished #4 in the Kick Keswick series
Friends in High Places by Marne Davis Kellogg.

An enjoyable romp through some interesting places in Europe--- fun characters and food, jewelry and fashion talk. What more could I want? LOL

Today I finished With Hope by Dorothy Garlock. A new to me author who I will for sure be reading again.

With Hope is about Henry Ann Henry a young woman in 1930's depression era Oklahoma. She and her brother tend to the family farm after their father has died. I thouroughly enjoyed this book.

I have read all of her books that she has written recently and loved all of them. I just discovered an author new to me, Patti Callahan Henry. I just read Driftwood Summer and really enjoyed it. I love reading. I have at least 6 books lined up to take with me to Iowa. I will be visiting my mom for 10 days. I am rereading Dorothea Benton Frank's Plantation. I love, love, love it.

I am adding Patti Callahan Henry on my authors to read. Her books look like they may be my cup of tea.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I just finished #4 in the Kick Keswick series
Friends in High Places by Marne Davis Kellogg.

An enjoyable romp through some interesting places in Europe--- fun characters and food, j..."

I ADORE this series JoAnn! I wish Ms. Kellogg would hurry and write more :)

Dee Ann...next book in the Kick Keswick series is due out in late fall/early winter. Not soon enough for me!

Have you read her Lilly Bennett series?

Thanks to Alias for giving me the kick to get back in here. Since I last posted, I read Vendela Vida's latest, "The Lovers" and just finished "The Lonely Polygamist." On deck now, "The Heretic's Wife" about England during Henry the 8th's reign. To be a bookseller is to be accused of terrorism!

What did you think of The Lonely Polygamist, Shannon?

Good to "see' you.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Dee Ann...next book in the Kick Keswick series is due out in late fall/early winter. Not soon enough for me!

Have you read her Lilly Bennett series?"

Yes! I have read all her books, but Kick is the best series in my opinion. I want to BE her! tee hee

I just finished reading The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by Susan Wittig Albert. It is the first in her new series and I loved it! It is set in 1930 in a ficticious town called Darling and the cast of main characters are the women who have banded together in a garden club. Murder and other mysterious goings on lead the gals to become amateur sleuths. It was a fun, quick read.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "What did you think of The Lonely Polygamist, Shannon?

By the time I got to the end of the book, I was sad and tired for that guy! And exasperated. With 28 kids and 4 wives, I know there are too many characters to flesh out, but so many stories were skipped over. Most of the kids were ciphers on the page, not real characters.

I finished Michael Connelly's well-plotted new book, The Reversal, and it was a winner. I finished it in record time. I had not realized that this book featured both Harry Bosch AND Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer).

I am always amazed that Connelly can write a GOOD book every year, unlike some of the authors who do this and churn out dreck (IMHO). He never wastes a word.

I'm plodding through Franzen's Freedom- I am hooked but honestly, the characters are very unlikeable. Next on my list is Ape House. I had it on hold at the library and they emailed me it's in YAY. My sis purchased the first in the Follett trilogy so will get that soon. so many choices and not enough time- that's our mantra isn't it? I read a lot but never enough!

Nancy, I ran into someone just the other day who had that book (Ape House) in her hand. She'd just started it and we got to talking about one of the state colleges that has an ape study somewhere in the central part of the state. The local Parks and Recreation used to run bus trips out there.

Shannon, there's a Primate National Research Center here in the Midwest at the University of Wisconsin Seems to me I read once about busses going there. I meant to check it out after I read Ape House, but never got around to it.
Lois

I understand that The Ape House was patterned off one in Des Moines.
Sue

Closer than I thought! Hi Sue, good to see you.

Lois

Hi Lois, I've turned into a lurker but read all the posts. I'll try to add more to the conversations.
Sue

Just finished In the Shadow of Gotham which will rank among my worst reads of the year. I should have ditched it but it won The Edgar for best first mystery so I kept thinking it had to get better. I am currently listening to Fallen Into the Pit which has been pretty good so far.

I'm reading The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud and I'm picking up Room at the library today.

I just finished reading What We Keep.

Patricia, how did you like Charlie St. Cloud? I read it years ago and loved it.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Patricia, how did you like Charlie St. Cloud? I read it years ago and loved it."

JoAnn, I'm 3/4 of the way through Charlie St. Cloud. I got to page 153 last night and WOW!!!! Didn't see it coming. So I stayed up way to late reading until my eyes crossed and my head was falling into my lap. I've got a bad cold so I'm going to stay in bed today and finish it!! LOL! (First time I've ever been happy to be sick) I think I have the ending figured out. But I'm usually wrong!

I am currently reading Cornflakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock 'n' Roll Life written by the music critic for the LA Times Robert Hilburn and finding it very interesting. Hilburn was able to parlay his love of music into a part time gig writing about country acts and that led to full time work writing about popular music. He seems to have interviewed all the most important acts from the late sixties on.

I am also listening to a fantasy novel Throne of Jade read by Simon Vance.

I just finished Lee Child's new book, Worth Dying For. Not very good, but the author does manage to pull the reader along. There was a lot of back-and-forth driving, which I think happened in one of his recent books. Back and forth, taking different cars, back and forth -- ad nauseum.

I've been introduced to Vince Flynn's books this year, and have enjoyed two very much. They are thrillers featuring a clandestine agent named Mitch Rapp, who works for the director of the CIA. They are fairly thick books, but move very quickly. I've read Transfer of Power, and The Third Option, and have a few more on the shelf (from my daughter). I prefer to space them out. And JoAnn, you got me started on Mike Lawson's Joe DeMarco series, which is excellent. I usually alternate mystery/thrillers with all other types of books that I read. I recently read Wuthering Heights (for the first time, for my local book group), and am now reading David Baldacci's The Camel Club. Ah, books!

I may have to try Vince Flynn since if you like Mike Lawson and Flynn, I probably would like him too,

I assume his books need to be read in order???

My husband and sister like Baldacci but I find too many mistakes in his books.

I just finished Night by Elie Wiesel

Now reading The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer

Meredith

Meredith wrote: "I just finished Night by Elie Wiesel

Now reading The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer

Meredith"

I read all of those Hot Flash books in one month! It was a lot of hormonal reading. LOL

Meredith wrote: "I just finished Night by Elie Wiesel
------------

I could barely see the pages through my tears when I read Night. Night is an excellent book. It power, for me, came from it's matter-of-fact understated telling.

Just finished A Mist of Prophecies by Steven Saylor. As expected, I really enjoyed this entry in what I think is one of the best historical mystery series out there. I am now readingThe Eighth Circle a classic PI tale published in 1958. I am also listening to a suspense thriller, Trust No One, by Gregg Hurwitz.

I finished The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again by Nancy Thayer

I enjoyed this book even if the plot slightly improbable.

Now reading Drop Shot by Harlan Coben

Meredith

Recently finished Moonlight Mile which I found very enjoyable. I was glad to see Patrick and Angie back. Now reading an older thriller The Freedom Trap by Desmond Bagley and listening to The Tender Bar: A Memoir by J.R. Moehringer.

I am reading At Home on Ladybug Farm and loving every page! Light reading is good.

I just started reading The Distant Hours.

Patricia wrote: "I just started reading The Distant Hours."

I read and enjoyed The House at Riverton a couple of years ago but have not read any other works by Kate Morton.