Unputdownables Book Club discussion

This folder is for what we are reading right now. If you want, you can open a new folder (there are instructions to do this in the GENERAL folder) to talk about a particular book.

Right now I'm just not in the mood to read any of the books in my TBR pile, so I've been rereading HP and the Deathly Hallows. I'm hoping it gets me out of my reading funk.

You're the second person who has told me they are re-reading HP... maybe you all are onto something. :)

I felt like I was having a dry spell too (not really getting engaged in reading) and was just revived by reading The Hunger Games. Have you read it?

I have not read the hunger games but have been intrigued and waiting to get my hands on a copy. I recently read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I expected soooo much more power in it with all its hype but still a great read. The ending, while sad and happy, is the best!

I am reading Citizen Washington by William Martin. The premise is that Washington has just died and one of his compatriots/adversaries is trying to "get the goods" on him so that he will not be so revered and almost elevated to godlike status. He tasks his nephew, a writer, to research his life and come up with the story. The nephew begins by interviewing every who was close to and/or knew Washington in a professional manner. The story unfolds and is quite interesting.

Raymond wrote: "I have not read the hunger games but have been intrigued and waiting to get my hands on a copy. I recently read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I expected soooo much mor..."

I read it years and years ago (before the movie) and it didn't really capture me either. I think the movie was far better.

LemonLinda wrote: "I am reading Citizen Washington by William Martin. The premise is that Washington has just died and one of his compatriots/adversaries is trying to "get the goods" on h..."

It's fictional or not?

Yes, Wallace, it is fictional.

I'm 100 pages into A Reliable Wifeand I'm having mixed emotions about it. The story is interesting and compelling and I want to read ahead to see what happens next. However, I don't have much sympathy for either of the main characters, much the same as Wuthering Heights. We'll see if that changes...

Zoe, I read A Reliable Wife earlier this year and felt that way all through the book. It was OK but that was all. I never felt invested in the characters at all.

LemonLinda wrote: "I am reading Citizen Washington by William Martin. The premise is that Washington has just died and one of his compatriots/adversaries is trying to "get the goods" on h..."

That sounds really interesting. Adding it to my To-Reads list!

Fiona wrote: "Nadia wrote: "Right now I'm just not in the mood to read any of the books in my TBR pile, so I've been rereading HP and the Deathly Hallows. I'm hoping it gets me out of my reading funk."

I want to re-read HP as well! Feel free to make yourself a reading list in that section if you want to add more books... I know you read a lot. Raymond -- you too! Let me know if you have any trouble and I can hep you both.

I spent ..."

Zoe wrote: "I'm 100 pages into A Reliable Wifeand I'm having mixed emotions about it. The story is interesting and compelling and I want to read ahead to see what happens next. However, I don'..."

I do remember LemonLinda saying she didn't really care for it. DO you ever give up on books, or do you always read them all the way through?

I usually power though thinking that it might change and/or I might have missed something. And I usually get something even from those books that are not my favorites. However, since joining Goodreads and getting such great input I feel that I am a more informed reader and usually choose those books that I will really like.

The only book I can ever remember not finishing was Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice. It was during my freshman year of college when I was in "party mode", LOL! Oh yeah, I also only read about 8 pages of American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (sp? - I'm on my phone). I just couldn't get into the whole stream-of-conscious writing and I could tell I wouldn't like the book nearly as much as the movie. Mostly I just feel compelled to finish a book once I start.

I've become a little more like that. i used to put a book down if I didn't like it, and now I give it a bit more of a chance. But if I really don't like it, I won't make myself read it. We all have such long TBR lists it's hard to keep spending time on a book that you aren't into when there are so many waiting to be read.

I was in a reading rut, but got out of it with the help of The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist and Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen. And so now, I'm reading The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle - I'm not sure how I feel about it so far. We'll see!

The Tortilla Curtain is on my list to be read this Fall! Will look forward to hearing what you think.

I added The Unit per your review.

Wallace, I hope you enjoy The Unit - can't wait to find out what you think of it! As for The Tortilla Curtain - so far, it is interesting. I'm hoping to review it by next week - if I can get through it this week. I still need to add a review of Kitchen - that was definitely an interesting, odd read.

I'm reading Preventing Alzheimer's: Ways to Help Prevent, Delay, Detect, and Even Halt Alzheimer's Disease and OtherForms of Memory Loss. Lots of info. Info overload.

Finished reading The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes and listening to Night. Both were great reads - gave both 5 stars for very different reasons. One I could barely put down because I had to find out what happened to CeeCee and her family. The other one was equally as compelling but was sickening at the same time because it was a true account of what actually did take place.

The Quiet American is such a great book, Fiona! I haven't read much else by Graham Greene, which is funny to me, since my best friend in grad school wrote her thesis on him - and she raved about his work, so I'm not sure why I've never picked up anything else:) Let us know how The End of The Affair is and maybe I'll start there in picking up some Greene novels. Cheers!

After two months of digressions, and planning but not doing, I'm finally going to start with The Passage by Justin Cronin. With the long weekend coming up, all I want to do is read and make up for the last month.

I just finished The Passage 5 minutes ago - literally! Curious to hear your thoughts on it Aths! :)

Aths, you will love The Passage! It was such a great book! I can't believe we have to wait awhile until the next book in the series, but I'm sure it will be worth it! Can't wait to read your review it!

Zoe, what did you think? Did you like it?

Zoe & Nadia, I am so engrossed in this book now, I found it hard to detach myself from it and go over to a friend's for lunch. When a close friend of mine gave me a ring, I was hesitant to answer the phone. Can't wait to get back to more reading.

Aths, I know! Its that kind of book! I remember when I was reading it, I didn't want to go to bed, because I just had to find out what would happen next! So glad you are enjoying it!

I really enjoyed it! I had forgotten it was the first of three and when I got to the end I was so frusterated because I still had so many questions. When I remembered I was very relieved, LOL! I heard the next book follows the same timeline but from different viewpoints (I think it's called The Twelve???).

Okay, I am dying for a book like that but I have a friend who said I won't like it because it is too scary/creepy and now I am hesitant. I guess I could try it and just return it if it's too much (after September, of course, which is book buying ban month for me).

You ladies make a good sell though!

I have to say that the book starts off really well, and although it is not edge-of-the-seat frightening, it surely is chilling. And I started reading this book before sleeping, and guess what? Yeah, I had a nightmare - within 20 mins of going to sleep. I usually sleep with the blinds open, so that I don't oversleep in the morning, but last night, after waking up from my scary nightmare, I closed the blinds, because I kept feeling that someone was standing there. Boy! I won't ever read this book right before sleeping.

For now, I put it down for a while, it's hard reading that almost-800 page book, written in small print, for so long and realizing I've only turned a few pages. It reads fast, but that's a lot of text to take in. So I picked up The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Oh gosh, Aths... that might be too creepy for me then!

Aths, like you I read it at night and was worried that the creepiness would give me nightmares - luckily for me I didn't have any. And after awhile I didn't think it was so bad. I definitely can't wait to find out what your thoughts are on it when you finish it. Enjoy the Bees book :)

Wallace, you will enjoy it - creepiness and all! I'm hoping you give it a chance. I think you will like it.

OK, I will put it back on my list then. ;)

Wallace, you should put it on your list! Like I said, it's not frightening or nightmare-worthy. Plus all that creepiness oozing out gives the book a thrill. My imagination goes in overdrive most of the time, that's why I have extra-imaginative nightmares, lol! But I like that about any book - when it can permeate into your subconscious!

Yay! I think you will definitely love The Passage, Wallace! Can't wait to find out your thoughts on it ;)

It's on my list, thanks ladies! :)

Right now I'm reading Full House by Janet Evanovich. It's my first book by her and it is wonderfully mindless reading. Such a good book for when you don't want to concentrate too hard and want things light and fluffy.

Just finished To the End of the Land. Well written but s-l-o-o-o-w. Definitely not a page-turner.

I'm on to The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart (I think this may be his debut novel). I'm also listening to Let the Great World Spin on my iPod and enjoying it tremendously. I didn't like it at first, but it's fast becoming a favorite.

Has anyone read The Northern Clemency? I'm about 70% through it and it is SLOOOOOOOW! Amazon awarded it best book of '08, but I really don't see it. It's one of those that I'm just plowing through in order to finished it and get on to a better book!

Miss GP wrote: "Just finished To the End of the Land. Well written but s-l-o-o-o-w. Definitely not a page-turner.

I'm on to The Wake of Forgiveness by Bruce Machart (I think this..."

I hear Let the Great World Spin is a fabulous book. The hype scares me off, so you will have to report back when you are finished and let us know what you thought.

Zoe wrote: "Has anyone read The Northern Clemency? I'm about 70% through it and it is SLOOOOOOOW! Amazon awarded it best book of '08, but I really don't see it. It's one of those that I'm jus..."

I've never even heard of it! Good luck getting through it!

I have a few going right now, which is definitely at least 2 more than I can handle. I seem to be having difficulty choosing one book at the moment. I am reading Hunger Games, To The Nines and I just started Juliet and I received Fall of Giants in the mail today.

I'm reading Dracula and really enjoying it! Perfect for October.

I just finished Room by Emma Donoghue, and I have to say that it was a great book. I struggled with the narrator's voice (five-year old Jack) for the first 30-odd pages, but then it got better. I could hardly put the book down.

I'm reading ,yet, another unputdownable book. I am almost ashamed to say that I read 240 pages into the night until my sound asleep face fell into the book. I finally went to sleep. Really good book.

Those Who Save Us

I have this one down to read sometime the first of 2011. Glad to know it is that "unputdownable".

LemonLinda wrote: "I have this one down to read sometime the first of 2011. Glad to know it is that "unputdownable"."

You will love this book if you are at all interested in WWII. It is unusual because it is told from a little known look at the women who were caught between the Nazis and the Jewish communities and how they handled the turmoil. I haven't written my review yet because I just finished it this morning and I'm still "mulling" it over in my mind. I'll post my review here when I do it and it will be without spoilers.

Judith, I also have this on my shelf. I am looking forward to heart your thoughts. I like reading different perspectives of WWII.

Vicki wrote: "Judith, I also have this on my shelf. I am looking forward to heart your thoughts. I like reading different perspectives of WWII."

Sorry, I listed WWI but you knew what I meant. I have edited my post. Thanks.

This is for Wallace. Hi. I need a little help for this group. I am not getting email notifications of comments, etc from "The Unputdownalbe Book Club". I have examined my prefrences of email notification and I can't see the problem. I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask for help and since you are listed as not receiving emails I thought I would take a chance and post my question here. Can you help me? I feel as though I might be missing some interesting things that are going on here. Thanks

Here is my review for Those Who Save Us :

Up until I read Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum I never considered the shame and the secrets that most of the German women who were caught between the Nazi's and the turmoil concerning the treatment of the people in the Jewish communities and the concentration camps. To make matters worse, the ones that were lucky enough to escape those horrors, after the war, by marrying American soldiers, and immigrating to the United States were usually ostracized by their American neighbors just for being a non Jewish, German woman in that time period.

This captivating story is brilliantly told in flashbacks about Anna and her daughter. Floating between Anna, who did what she had to during in early forties Germany to survive the war and her daughter Trudy, the narrator, born as a result of that war, Jenna Blum tells a fascinating tale, with the present in 1997 Wisconsin in a book you can't put down. I read this novel in one and a half days while reading late in the night until my face fell in my book.

Enlightening as well as extremely entertaining Those Who Save Us is my new all time favorite history thriller. Blum is working on her next novel set also in Wisconsin and I will be on the look out for it!