What I'm reading: One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni
What it's about: Nine people get trapped together in a passport/Visa office after an earthquake strikes. When the psychological and emotional stress becomes nearly too much to bear, they start telling each other tales of one amazing thing that has happened to them that they've never told anyone.
What I think...: So far, I really like it. All of the characters are very well developed and the story line is really interesting and sucks you in. I definitely recommend it! I hope the ending doesn't disappoint


What are you reading? What's the last book you finished? Tell us all about it!

I just finished Capturing Paris and it was so good I couldn't put it down. It's about a husband and wife in Paris who meet a woman and she turns their life around for good and bad. I am a big reader so this thread will be a go to for me.

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Cute photo and thank you for the book recommendation! We'll have to raid each others libraries!

The last book I read for "fun" was Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption I thought this was an excellent book about a man who beat the odds to survive in WWII, from a plane crash into the Pacific Ocean, drifting for 47 days with essentially no supplies on a raft, to being captured and tortured by the Japanese military, and dealing with PTSD after the war.

A book I read for my research writing class was Social Vulnerability to Disasters Pretty good textbook on the socioeconomic factors that put people at greater risk for injury or death when a disaster strikes.


Oh, and you look so hawt with the glasses!!!

I'm currently reading "You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir!" It's about a British school teacher who rides a bike from England to India for a charity. Tells of his experiences along the way. It's pretty bad how things are in some nations, but it's an interesting book. Not sure what my next one will be.. but I'll definitely be checking Ruby's recommendations and following this thread for other recommendations like from Gillian! (Ruby draws me to the message board)

I am definitely going to buy that, Gillian. It sounds like a really good read. Thanks

Haha! That is the first picture I've taken with my glasses for the boards!
You don't have to read a classic to read a good book! Some of the classics are very boring anyway....and I enjoy a lot of light reading, especially during school semesters.

You're very welcome!

WOW. That book sounds intense but very interesting. It sounds like it would suck you in to the crazy storyline! Hehe, thanks for the compliment I think I look like a nerd haha.

So many good recommendations! I'm impressed! That also sounds like a good read, kell! I love reading stuff that compares other cultures and places to each other. I find it fascinating how different every place is.

I am reading James White's Sector General. It is about a huge hospital space station in deep outer space. I read all in the series years ago. I now downloaded some to my Ipad so I could read some of them again.

Ruby: Like your picture as usual.

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Here's a brief excerpt from the book I'm reading "You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir!"

The next morning, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I held my hand over my eyes to avoid people’s gaze as they looked on awestruck. They thought I was sick. I wasn’t sick, and I wasn’t unhappy, Angela put her arm round me to comfort me.
I was in the biggest slum in Asia. Deravi slum.
I’d met some photographers here for a shoot for the national press, and had had to leave my bike as the paths between the houses had narrowed so much that Shirley’s (his bike) handlebars were pulling down the corrugated houses. My senses were on overload – incense mixed with raw sewage. Banging house music deafened all conversation but I turned another corner and the music died, and I could hear the kids playing cricket on the rubbish dump…

Just a sample of his experience in India.

I guess I should have been fair and found some of the positive experiences to sample too

If you are into the Mystery/Thriller genre, then I recommend anything by W.E.B. Griffin or Vince Flynn. I would start each series at the beginning though so you understand some of the references back though.

Oh my, sounds interesting! Good to know you are a book worm! and thank you for the compliment

I'm supposed to wear them whenever I'm on the computer or reading....but that doesn't always happen. My eyesight isn't that bad.

Aww, thank you! Wow! Very good read it sounds like. Thank you for the recommendation, A!

I like the excerpt Sounds good! Thank you for sharing, kell. I knew you wouldn't stay away...

I have been trying to venture into the mystery/thriller genre a bit more. My roommate reads a lot of that stuff, so I've gotten some good recommendations from her!

Thanks for your recommendations, sweetie!

I definitely would have guessed you would be reading something like Star Trek

HARRY POTTER! Aren't you so glad that I encouraged you to start the series? Tell me what you think of it!

I'm definitely a bookworm! So much so, that I actually write books myself! I have like four different ones pretty much written, just haven't taken the time to go over them one last time and get them edited and published...I have ideas for four other books as well.

Anyway, one of the last books I have read is "Into the Wild". If you haven't seen the movie, you have to see that first. That movie and book is very moving, and it's an amazing true story of a really smart guy that gave everything away (including his $25,000 scholarship check to go to Harvard grad school) and wandered throughout the west coast for years with no money, except for the couple of jobs he briefly took. There's much, much more to it than that, and both movie and book are really good. The book goes into all kinds of extra details which makes it a fun read.

Another book I really enjoyed is "The Lizard King", which is a very detailed book about the life of Jim Morrison, former lead singer of The Doors. That guy was certainly out there, but some of the stories of things he did was just amazing/outragous. That guy was all about experiencing everything in life as quickly as you can, and he lived that way while he was alive.

And finally, a very interesting book I read is called "Rimbaud", which is the biography of the famous poet who wrote some poetry that was so far ahead of its time, it was basically ignored while he was alive. Yet, after he passed, it took off, and the list of people he has influenced is impressive: Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, the entire Beat Movement and it's most famous book, "On The Road", by Jack Kerouac, etc. "On The Road" is probably my favorite book of all-time. A very fun read about a guy that is all down and out, and then decides to meet up and follow a wild and crazy friend of his all over America, hitchhiking from place to place. Just the insight and detail makes it so interesting to read, and it is amazing that it was written in the 1950s.

Anyway, Rimbaud himself lived in France in the mid to late 1800s, and wrote from the age of 15-19, then abandoned everything to live a life of wandering all over the place, including going to 7 different countries without a dime to his name...he eventually wandered down to Africa, learned the native language there, and just sort of dissappeared amongst the natives. Many people have spent many years trying to retrace his trail, and to figure out what made the elusive, enigmatic person tick, but so much is surrounded in mystery...a lot more to his story than that, but I think his story is one of the most amazing of anybody in recorded history...

By the way Ruby, great post idea, and I look forward to hearing about all the books everybody is reading!

MusicMan

I'm rereading Our Band Could Be Your Life, Michael Azzerad's chronicle of the rise of the underpinnings of the independent music scene in the US. Not comprehensive by any means, but it's pretty fascinating seeing what people had to go through in the late '70's and '80's to make non-commercial music. . . and all without the internet!

What I'm reading: The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss (book 2 of The Kingkiller Chronicles) (Book 1 is The Name of the Wind)

Genre: fantasy

The Blurb on the back:I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have hear of me.

What it's about: you've heard the stories, now here's the truth of what happened. The life story of Kvothe, who became as legend in his own lifetime, as told by him to an historian

What I think...: if the blurb isn't enough to make one pick this up I don't know what is. but in any case, imho, it's a brilliant read, if fantasy fiction is your thing. I've never read a book that told it's story quite in this way before.

I like the excerpt Sounds good! Thank you for sharing, kell. I knew you wouldn't stay away... [/quote]

Hmmmm.. I'm soooo weak... I better try harder (so quit being so enticing and drawing me back? hahaha)

I finished the other book I was reading and now I'm reading "Escape from the World Trade Center" by Leslie Haskins (a survivor)
(oh, and I read a short book/story about a guy's love of Escorts)

I'm currently in the middle of The Stand by Stephen King...it's a long-ass book!

I am reading O Alquimista (1988) by Paulo Coelho ( a Brazilian autor)
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Alquimista

On the Road sounds like something I would enjoy! I am going to check it out Thanks MM!

This sounds really, really good! Wow! I am definitely checking those out! Thanks so much, crumbie!

So many good recommendations! thank you everyone! Right now I'm reading my Marriage and Family textbook....there are some interesting quotes in there that I will post in my Afternoon Reading thread....

If that means "The Alchemist" in English... I read that book... and it was very good, I enjoyed it a lot.

Most people would enjoy reading "On The Road." The characters in there are fascinating, as well as all the characters he meets by just getting out there and going all over America by foot, train, and hitchhiking.

Since that book starts out in the spring time, where "the road is just beginning to open up", and the main character takes off then, you may want to wait until spring to start reading it, if you get the time (sounds like you are already busy anyway with college and other books, this would give you an excuse to put it off for a while!). Every year, I used to read that book at the start of spring and envision myself going on all kinds of grand adventures one day...and to an extent, have done so over time...

MusicMan

As I said earlier I am reading "Escape from the World Trade Center". It is a very detail description of this lady's escape from the building. I actually had to put it down because it became too gloomy for me and I had to break away from it for a while. I started another book - "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand I've read her book "Atlas Shrugged" and also "Anthem" so I thought I would read more of her stuff. I happen to disagree with her "objectivism" teachings in a lot of cases, but it's still an interesting read. It's another lengthy read however, and I find it a bit difficult to stick with sometimes because she gets over descriptive at times for me. I'll get back to finishing the other book after a bit more lighthearted reading. There is some positive stuff in "Escape from the World Trade Center" so I will put a little extract of that here:

"Imagine being me. I ran without legs beneath me and with my heart pounding outside of my chest. I ran whit no thought or question about why. I ran with no idea where I was running to, but with a crystal-clarity about the place I was running from. I ran with my arms shielding my head - through areas and scenes that I still do not recognize.
....
In those few moments of flight, there might have been born...an ephiphany. For some, death was the choice to fall or to fly. Others decidedly stood nearby for friends or for duty. In each case, death here was as affecting as life's last hurrah. But for me, it was a beginning...
I exited Tower One and left behind the pride in my career accomplishments, my arrogance, my power suits, power lunches, swollen ego, and self-righteousness.
This is where I was born."

I have finished the book "Escape from the World Trade Center" I learned more than what I knew previously about that horrific day and probably some things I'd rather not have known also but I'm glad I read it. I now need to find another book to read. I am currently reading "The Fountainhead" but that's going to take a while to read so I will have to add some other shorter reads to go with it. I have to have about 3 reads going at a time.

Ruby, I really love this thread. I am a real bookworm as well and it would be fun to read the same book at the same time so we can talk about it. Want to?

I am reading a book called mule by Tony D'souza. Great read about people struggling in the recession who turn to the drug trade (fiction). Well written.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10886242-mule


I am also reading "born to run." A must read for any runners out there.

http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-S ... 0307266303

Since I needed to be reading more than one book at a time, and to gain more insight into Ruby and her likes/dislikes, I've gotten the book "One Amazing Thing" to start reading. So now I have two books going. After this one then I will be checking out Gillian's book... or maybe I'll get it and start it along with these others

I'm really interested in these recommendations. I've been so busy the past few months that I haven't been reading. I miss it greatly. I'll definitely check some of these out.

I need to borrow some books from you Ruby. You have a great selection.

Ruby - I'm about 2/3 the way through the book "One Amazing Thing". I'm really enjoying it. I like the books that get into the interaction between people and their private thoughts. It's also intriguing about the culture in India. I work with some people from India.. I would really like to discuss what things are like in India with them. Especially since they are girls.. but working in the U.S. Well, I also message folks who are working in India. Anyway.. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll need to get Gillian's recommendation next. Tell me this... why does a Kindle book cost as much or more than the actual book!! Seems ridiculous.

With the way school is going (busy!), it will probably be summer! I will definitely pick the book up though and put it with my stack!

The Fountainhead! Classic! Being over descriptive is sometimes hard to keep up with or get into, I agree, kell.

I am glad you are enjoying the book I suggested! You're going to finish before I do!

Yes! We should definitely do that. We will discuss this in detail when I see you next, which is hopefully soon!

Let us read your verdict when you're done with them!

Great!

What if we don't want you to stay out of trouble, Jill?

Well I'm re-reading The Lord of the Rings which I do just about every year. lol You should hear me speak elvish i know I'm a such a big nerd

smart ruby!!! Tell me the answer to the taste of you. Im dying to know!!

Wow! Just saw this thread, nice glasses Ruby!

As for me , I'm reading "Supergods" by Grant Morrison, an exploration of our modern myth: the superhero, "Rebel Bookseller" by Andrew Laties, a book as to why you should support your local indie bookseller, "Charlie Chan" by Yunte Huang, a historical non-fiction drama about the character "Charlie Chan" and why he isn't just a stereotype, and the "Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas Stanley and William Danko, a personal finance book which is just about how being thrifty (and not being materialistic) can make you financially independent.

Please let me know what you decide to read together, I would enjoy reading it with you two!

Finished "One Amazing Thing" A very interesting read for a few reasons. The end really got into thoughts and feelings and stories about people which I found very interesting. I like the people's thoughts kind of books. I'm now about half way through "The Fountainhead" and going to download "Capturing Paris" and start that as soon as I finish posting

i love romantic books,

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan

I just finished reading Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett. It's has a Detective who is a devout Buddhist, murder,corruption,and

sex with ghosts.

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan.

That sounds super interesting, I'll have to check it out

New book I just read!

I did a "book report"/essay for my Marriage and Family class and I chose the book The Natural History of Love by Diane Ackerman, and let me tell you, it was GREAT. There is so much information in there, but it's fun and interesting to read. It has topics about everything from the actual history of love (in Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc) to the scientific studies about love, to abnormal love, etc etc. It's amazing. I couldn't put it down. Fun to read and educational! Double win! Here is an excerpt from the Greece chapter that I found very intriguing and it relates to the ranches! It's about prostitutes

Background: Athens circa ancient times: Athenian girls were like gold. They were hidden from society until ready to marry so that men would not be tempted to cheat on their wives with them. Marriages between non Athenian and Athenians was not allowed. Pure blood was very important in these days. "Married couples sometimes fell in love; but love had nothing to do with marriage, which was intended to produce children. According to Menander, the marriage formula went like this, 'I give you this woman (my daughter) for the ploughing of legitimate children.'"

"If high-spirited women in Athens who were intellectual, cultured, fun-loving, and proud of it wished to speak in mixed company about things that mattered, they became courtesans. Although their lives were uncertain, and at times degrading, at least these women could enjoy the riches of Athenian culture. They were stylish and witty, versed in art and politics, and, in calling, somewhere between a geisha and a prostitute. Men admired precisely those talents in the courtesans they forbade in their wives."

So I strongly suggest you go pick up this book! It's worth the read

RigHt now I'm reading:

A Cook's Tour By Anthony Bourdain
My Life in France - Julia Child
Delta of Venus - Anaïs Nin
The Narrows -Michael Connelly

All simultaneously.

My brain is going to be fried

Ok, I've finished the first book of Ruby's and the Gillian book, still working on "The Fountainhead" and I've started "Dracula" I got to get through all these books I have to read. The book "Capturing Paris" was definitely a departure from my usual reading.. which is a good thing. I enjoyed it I guess because it was a woman's point of view, both the characters and the author, and also, I've been having some similar thoughts as the wife experienced.
Thanks!

I thought it was interesting too. Loving our book club!! I have another one to share. In the Company of a Courtesan. Jill Chandler turned me on to it. How about we pick one to read and have a thread to discuss it?

Love you in glasses!

I just finished rereading all the Sherlock Holmes stories and just now started on the last book of Dean Koontz's Frankenstien series....very good stuff, mystery, humor, action.

One of my homework assignments this week was writing about The Flea an early 17th century metaphysical poem.


THE FLEA.
by John Donne


MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be.
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ;
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.

O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met,
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
Let not to that self-murder added be,
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

Sounds good to me Gillian. Are you reading that now then? I will start reading it.

Yes, I bet! How is Julia Child's book? She's always intrigued me.

I can't wait to read Gillian's book! I'm glad that you liked it and it got you venturing out of your book comfort zone! Let us know how The Fountainhead is going

Ooooo! What is that about, Gillian? Sounds really good just from the title!

Hmmm Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series........relative to Mary Shelley's original version? Which is phenomenal!

A great man! RIP

Interesting, but I'm going to be honest and admit that I didn't like it. Did you?

I'm falling behind! Sorry guys! Just been super busy. I will buy it and start reading it too! I love our book club

I did not care much for it either, but I think our modern sensibilities are getting in the way. I see a flea, or any bug as dirty conditions, so that would be a huge turnoff for a "romantic" poem. Digging a bit deeper, the flea metaphor came into vogue within the British literary circle when a flea was brash enough to land on a rather buxom lady who owned a club visited by poets. They went nuts over the incident and a lot of flea poetry was made.

Right now I am reading Alexander's Rape of the Lock. The poem is 1/4 the way down of the page

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/Pope.html

I finished The Fountainhead. I liked it better than Atlas Shrugged. I have some troubles with the way she writes and I definitely disagree with the "Objectivism" philosophy but I enjoyed the book. Maybe it's because it was about architecture and I've always been interested in that and I liked the hero/main character. I think it's kind of strange the way she describes sex between men and women in her books.. it's almost violent or demeaning. I'm not sure that's the correct description.. but it doesn't seem to be a beautiful thing like I would think it should be.. maybe that's too romantic of a view on my part.

That's something I really like reading about. Different views on sex. I find it so fascinating!

I just started this book :




I'll let you know what I think afterwards

I do not read enough and there are LOTS of books on my "to do" list, but Ayn Rand is definitely at the top. While I do not believe that I will fully agree with much of her ideals, I think I share many of the same beliefs Rand had. For instance, I very much agree with the "Objectivism" philosophy as I understand it. Also, as an economics major, I think I will find her writing interesting at the very least.

I agree with parts of that philosophy.. but not totally. It seems to me in her books she has the two extremes in life... Objectivist and mindless followers. I believe the best scenerio is somewhere in between. I believe in striving for individual excellence but I also believe in helping others out. There is obviously the extreme in both cases, and finding the right mix of the two can be a challenge.

I can't wait to read Gillian's book! I'm glad that you liked it and it got you venturing out of your book comfort zone! Let us know how The Fountainhead is going [/quote]

I finished The Fountainhead. I liked it better than Atlas Shrugged. I have some troubles with the way she writes and I definitely disagree with the "Objectivism" philosophy but I enjoyed the book. Maybe it's because it was about architecture and I've always been interested in that and I liked the hero/main character. I think it's kind of strange the way she describes sex between men and women in her books.. it's almost violent or demeaning. I'm not sure that's the correct description.. but it doesn't seem to be a beautiful thing like I would think it should be.. maybe that's too romantic of a view on my part.[/quote]

That's something I really like reading about. Different views on sex. I find it so fascinating![/quote]

I don't like reading about different views on sex... just reminds me that I'm not getting any. hahahaha

This may not be the greatest forum for this but... I believe that, in the big picture, it is best for everyone to look out for their own self-interest (I think it is the economist in me). That does not mean that you should not help others when it is not at a great cost to yourself, that would just make you a jackass. Of course, I could be way off-base. Like I've said, I still have not read the book. I really have been meaning to for a WHILE now.

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Has anyone read anything by John Fowles?

I've been reading synopses off this website for his novels, and I'm very interested now!

http://www.fowlesbooks.com/novelsof.htm

I have a little under 300 pages left to go on The Stand!

A friend of mine read The Collector and he said it was an amazing book, he couldn't put it down. It is next on my list once I finish The Fountainhead for the fifth time. Fowles is definitely and author that I intend to read in bulk.

The Stand...what's that about? I will have to check it out Keep on truckin' with those three hundo pages!

Oooo, yay! That makes me want to read his stuff even more now. Book shopping, here I come!

I feel like so many people are reading The Fountainhead right now! I will have to join the club

Zig Zigler is what I am reading at the moment and love it.

Zig Ziglar is amazing...such a great view on life and the world in general.

I need to find something new to read.
I picked up a book from my shelf and after a few pages, realized I'd read it already heh

Ruby, just getting ready to start The Collector. If you haven't had a chance to pick it up I'll let you know how it is.

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I know so sad. I watched a documentary about it, and decided I needed to read the book. I will let you know how it is

My neice has read the first book in the trilogy and she said it was and I quote "insanely amazing". I hope you find it a good read.