Book Lovers Club

voraciousreader

Loved Thunderstruck too! I read Devil in the White City first, Isaac's Storm second, followed by Thunderstruck and then In The Garden of Beasts! I can't wait for his next book!

voraciousreader

I understand Larson's next book is going to be about the sinking of the Lusitania!

ruthbru

Did you like Isaac's Storm? I haven't read it yet.

voraciousreader

Loved it! Read it several years before Katrina! Having read the book, I was frightened for the people in the advance of the storm. I learned something unforgettable about Rabbi Henry Cohen of Galveston. Just like I had to visit Chicago, after reading The Devil, I had to visit Texas and learn about the Galveston Movement after reading Isaac's Storm. I don't know what it is about Larson's writing that makes it so compelling to read...He just picks such fascinating topics to write about and then goes into detail that is memorable and never boring. I tried reading Anne Applebaum's new book, Iron Curtain but grew bored after the first 100 pages. On the contrary, the first 100 pages of a Larson book just warms you up for the rest of the ride!

ruthbru

I think it is because he does so much research that he is able to weave the stories together perfectly. Along with enjoying the results, I really admire his craftmanship.

ruthbru

Oh my, started Gone Girl last night, could not put it down & just finished it now. I don't know what to make of it....both of the main chararcters are despicable and crazy!

LuvLulu07

ruth  Agree about Gone Girl - a bunch of crazies in that book!  

Started Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art, by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo.  Really liking it so far.  Laney Salisbury also authored The Cruelest Miles.  

AnneW

I agree, ruthbru! As much as I despised the characters, it was a good read. I hear her other books are similar.

I'm finishing LIFE by Keith Richards. It's really amazing he never OD'd, and it's a testament to the resiliece of the Rolling Stones as a band. Lots of good rock and roll history in this book. But I'm already looking toward what I want to read next. So many choices! I have a really bad habit of employing my Kindle's "buy now" feature with one click when I have insomnia...

voraciousreader

Anne...READ JOE QUEENAN'S BOOK NEXT!!!!!  One for the Books....

or....try Geoff Dyer's Out of Sheer Rage or his National Book Critics Circle Award Winning book...Otherwise Known as the Human Condition.

Ruth...Would love to hear what you think of them as well.

mcsushi

I have to agree with everyone on Gone Girl. I really disliked the characters, but I couldn't pull my eyes away from the disaster. Usually, I hate books full of contemptuous characters, but this book was an exception. With all its twists and intrigue, I just had to see how it ended. I almost lost interest, but the first chapter of the 2nd section was such a suprise, I was hooked. My friend ran out and read her other two after reading Gone Girl and enjoyed them both. She said they were similar. I'm glad I read it, but not enough to read anything else by her. 

I also read The Buddha in the Attic. Has anyone read this? It's short. More a novella than a novel. The writing is elegant and sparse. Very Japanese. It's a quick read and I really recommend it. Her other book (also really thin) is When the Emperor Was Divine. I recommend it as well. 

voraciousreader

Loved The Buddha in the Attic!





Reading The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg. Anyone else reading it or planning on reading it?

ruthbru

Voracious, I will put them on my list but HAVE to read some boring journals, a Book Club book, and a Christmas present book first!

voraciousreader

Ruth... Queenan is hilarious when he describes HIS reading list and people who recommend books for him to read! His head spins! I regret if I made your list too long! Regardless... I hope you enjoy everything that you read!

ruthbru

You can never have too long of a reading list .....just need more time!

LuvLulu07

Too many good books, too little time!  

AnneW

Queenan it will be. Sounds great! Thanks for the suggestion, now to buy it with one-click. Painless.

powermom

Hey book lovers-been lurking here for a few weeks. Bet you can help an iPad novice (so excited, Christmas gift from HDTV). Where can I go online to download books onto the iPad? Any tips or good bargains?

Timbek2

Power mom

Many public libraries have ebooks you can check out and download to your iPad for free! My library has an app that I can use to browse titles. Then I also use the kindle app to download the titles to. They are checked out for free and it's wonderful! That would be my first source.



Otherwise you can buy ebooks through amazon or through iTunes if you wish.



I just finished reading Dreams of Joy by Lisa See. So depressing but great read. I also read Buddha in the Attic. Quick read. Didn't love it. Not what I thought it would be. I love historical fiction! Thankful for this thread. Getting back into reading these days as I've got four more taxol to go! . Have a great day!

powermom

Thanks timber. I'll check it out.

Natalie3

I have been reading here, but just signed up today to post.  I hope I get this one right since my last 2 disappeared !!

I tend to read mostly non-fiction.  i love history (mostly American and British). I love biographies and autobiographies. 

my favorite author is David McCullough. "1776" (American Revolution) and "Mornings on Horseback" (bio of Teddy Roosevelt) were two of my favorites.

The last two books I have read are O'Reilly's  "Killing Lincoln".  (EXCELLANT !!  I have read much about Lincoln, but really learned new facts in this book.

and

"Mrs. Kennedy and Me" written by Clint Hill who was her lead secret service man and became close friends with her.  Did any of you know she never actually lived in the White House ?

"Loving Frank" is a good suggestion I picked up here.  Thanks.  Always been a FLW fan

voraciousreader

Yay Natalie! I always knew there had to be more than a few non-fiction lovers! A few of us also read Killing Lincoln and loved it. Really put you on the ground so you could truly better understand the battles. Killing Kennedy is also a good page turner. Loving Frank... IMHO, meh! If you go back a couple of dozen pages on this thread, a few of us had a very lively discussion of the book.



Sorry you have to join us here at bco.org... But welcome anyway!!! Us book lovers know that reading is the best tonic! Welcome!

ruthbru

Killing Kennedy is the Christmas present book on my 'to read' list! I am a non-fiction gal too Natalie and have read all the books you listed .

Jelson

sorry to break up this non-fiction lovefest - but I have to report on the most recent NOVEL I have finished reading!! Treasure Island!! (the exclamations points actually in the title) by Sara Levine.

a directionless 24 year old finally reads Robert Louis Stevenson's novel and is galvanized to action when she compares how timid her life has been compared to that of its protagonist. She is convinced that she must distill the essence of the book and live by its precepts - which she believes to be Boldness, Resolution, Independence and ....Hornblowing. In the process she reaks havoc on her job, her boyfriend, her friend and her family. I gasped at times, at the awful, selfish things she did and said. A short book, quite hilarious. and bonus, there is a parrot......

Moonflwr912

If anyone likes Sci Fi, Baen Books, has a website with free books available. Usually the authors first one in a series, but sometimes more than one. I bought my last hardcover in a series, and it included a computer disk with all the authors books, all 20 of them. I was able to upload them to my reader in EPub format. Just FYI.

Natalie3

I have a question.  I was going to order "loving Frank" and I see it is a novel.  "blend of fiction and non-fiction"

i thought is was non-fiction.  Any comments from those who have read the book?  how long a ago did you discuss it here.  I went back and could not find the commentaries

THANKS

ruthbru

It takes the facts and blends them with motivations, background etc. the come from the mind of the author. It is a good read. On the left hand side of the page, go to 'Search'. You can type in 'Loving Frank' and pick this forum and 'all time frames', and comments about it should appear.

voraciousreader

I talk about Loving Frank on page 69 of this thread. I also mention my dislike for Bridges of Madison County. Joe Queenan has some choice words for the latter as well in his new terrific book, One For the Books.

voraciousreader

Finishing up another novel.... Jami Attenberg's The Middlesteins. It is good... Very good. It's all about the vice food has for the main character. It is sad and a subject I know too well about because I have a morbidly obese sister. It's the first book that I have ever read about how obesity affects the loved ones. Still thinking about the last novel I read...the Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. A gem.

voraciousreader

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323874204578219563353697002.html

Great Wall Street Journal article about why "real" books are here to stay.  Seems like, as a lover of non-fiction, I'm not in the minority when it comes to reading "real" books.

AnneW

VR, I'm half way through Queenan's book. It's a hoot. It's like a celebrity "dish" on all the big names, only with books. He is so wonderfully unapologetic for his likes and dislikes. And now I wonder if I should just ignore Middlemarch, even though it's on my Kindle waiting for me...

Had my finger just about ready to hit the one-click for The Middlesteins. Will probably give in to temptations, though I have sooo many others to read right now. Unlike Mr. Queenan, I cannot have 32 books in progress on my bedside table or in my Kindle. I'm much more into book monogamy. But I will have one non-fiction going generally, in addition to my fiction-du-jour!