Book Lovers Club

Found another "old" author I've never read - Jeremiah Healy. His mystery series is set in Boston with Detective John Francis Cuddy. The book I'm reading - Right to Die - from 1991, is about death with dignity. Interesting current topic for a book that's 25 years old.

hi all, been off line for a while wrapping up old job. No time to read (gasp!) was one of the reasons I left. Looking forward to new job starting tomorrow with better work-life balance.

Had been nibbling away at but yesterday finally finished Evicted by Matthew Desmond, a book about the housing crisis for people in deep poverty. Compelling read and I learned a lot.

On the TBR pile: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove, which I liked; Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst, a Chloe Ellefson mystery (the friend who gave it to me first asked if I liked the Little House series), and all three books in the Guardians trilogy by Nora Roberts, just finished and passed along to me by mom.

His name is Steven Parlato

Here is a look back at Obama's lit picks over the years — because it can't hurt to read like a great leader: http://ew.com/books/2017/01/18/barack-obama-book-recommendations/

Ruth, reading (per your positive recommendation) The Girls by Lori Lansens and loving it - thanks!

Glad you like it, Lilac. I just finished Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. A very good vacation read (I'm on vacation in not so warm Arizona). It's a fictional story of family dynamics in a blended family.

I started reading Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Sympathizer while sitting in the dentist chair waiting for him to make my new crown. I needed a big time distraction! So far on about page 50 it is an intriguing read with the main character a spy, double agent during the Vietnam war. The book won the Pulitzer prize for fiction and the reviews influenced my selection even though I usually find Pulitzer prize winning books difficult to read - sometimes I just don't get the narrative.

Anyone else read this book? Thoughts?

I finished The Gathering by Anne Enright earlier this week. It was a 2007 Booker Prize Winner, and I'm very partial to Booker Prize books. This was about an Irish family with 12 children and 7 miscarriages. The children are grown and one of the brother's dies - which causes the family gathering. The sister who is telling the story keeps reflecting on the past and what things really happened, and should she tell, all the time she's dealing with her own problematic marriage. Interesting writing. Here's a comment about her two teen age girls: "Are they good children? Are the decent human beings? In the main. Though Emily is a bit of a cat, and cats, I always think, only jump into your lap to check if you are cold enough, yet, to eat."

minus...thanks for asking...but would you believe my sinuses are STILL revolting! I thought I was doing better, but then I had to fly last week and I am a wreck again! I called my ENT and told him I thought my head was going to explode! I am now on so much medication that I am hopeful things will fall into place and the pressure will subside. My eyes are so red and glazed over that it is creating blurry vision, I barely can read what needs to get read...this happened to me a few years ago and he had to roter ruter my turbinates....I am beginning to suspect that I need to have them done again. Sooo frustrating... this episode started in late October and it really is getting me crazed! that said...i am still working on reading Why They Do It. I am also reading a few architecture books...and I am still doing my literacy volunteering and with my students I continue to read whatever pleases them. Presently I am reading with one student, The Women Who Made New York. While there are so many famous women FROM New York, the author, instead chose to examine women who made a mark on the great city. Just when I think I know enough about New York, there comes along one of these gems that sparkle and makes for interesting discussion and ultimately learning!

https://www.amazon.com/Women-Who-Made-New-York/dp/...

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/11/see-illustrations-...

https://www.amazon.com/Why-They-Do-White-Collar-Cr...

VR - sorry to hear you're still under the weather. The Women Who Made New York sounds fascinating. Thanks for the links. I'll definitely look out for this one.

minustwo I just put a hold on The Gathering (library ebook) based on that wonderful quote you shared. There are 8 people ahead of me on the holds list - apparently it's a popular read!

goldie - Wow - a library line for The Gathering - a 2007 book. I'll be interested to see what you think. The book is definitely not all light & happiness.

VR - hugs back at ya. And hoping you feel a little better each day. I love to think of you marching around NYC, through the park & around the Met & past the lions & down to the village.

VR - I wouldn't dream of coming to NY without getting in touch with you. But yes, I would be spinning & probably can't keep up with you.

That has been one benefit of cancer - I have met some great BCO people. Had dinner with two wonderful ladies in Boston in 2015. Met with a really neat guy in AZ in 2016, in addition to lunch with a couple of ladies who were in Houston. What excitement will 2017 bring?

I'm nearly finished with Hillbilly Elegy for my book club next week. Although I was looking forward to reading it based on so many positive reviews and its best selling status, I am disappointed. I think that this memoir (Oh my he is way too young to write a memoir) could be told by so many young men who grew up in dysfunctional families, in poor working class communities who found a way out through military service and college. Having said this, I do think the discussion of the book will be lively.

I just read three Franklin Roosevelt books in a row. They would be probably be only interesting if you are a total history nerd like me..... anyone is interested let me know and I will review them for you.

I'm #2 on the library wait list for Hidden Figures.