What Are You Reading?

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Mel217

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Mar 10, 2017
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I've been poking through a large bin of old childhood favorites for awhile now, most notably the Sweet Valley series. So many childhood memories buried in complete 80's YA cheese! There's something strangely enjoyable about reading books you remember reading as a kid and haven't picked up in decades, and amazingly the stories are (in most cases) completely stupid but so nostalgic the enjoyment factor is through the roof. Most of them include about 50 instances of "I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT", and the main characters I spent my childhood years thinking were "cool" and "spunky" are now just sociopaths in my mind. Ah, well.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I listened to this on cd during a period when I was moving. Stressful! It's a really a beautifully done "book on cd" though. Would it have been better on paper? I'll never know! I've read parts of the book, but really I like the cd better. But if I'd read it first, who knows? I LOVE the story. I actually saw the movie first. Which didn't effect the cd or book at all. It was fine, and Eastwood's daughter was pretty good! And it was nice to see people (I now know) who were real characters in the story. I'm glad it was made, but it was no threat to the source material. Like say "To Kill a Mockingbird", or "Gone with the Wind". Since I opted for cd, I can't call it "a damn good read", but it was a damn good listen. And steamy! Like you said. Unless you watch the movie 'Body Heat' (1981), it don't get much steamier. It made me really want to visit Savannah. The other book I listened to during the move was Russell Johnson's "Here on Gilligan's Isle"! Oh bite me, I enjoyed it! Not steamy, but it was interesting. He was a good guy.

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I liked the book, too, and went to Savannah in 2008. It was in April. Here is a pic of me in front of Paula Deen's restaurant. Sorry, I haven't uploaded any of the city, the camera battery is dead. Hope you get to go.
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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
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I liked the book, too, and went to Savannah in 2008. It was in April. Here is a pic of me in front of Paula Deen's restaurant. Sorry, I haven't uploaded any of the city, the camera battery is dead. Hope you get to go.
His hair is a bit longer, but you look somewhat like Edward Norton! (in the 2nd pic)

edward-norton-at-the-palais-du-festival-in-cannes-france-picture-id74719641
 

twiggymarie

Daughter of One
Mar 17, 2011
332
1,911
Texas, United States
I've been poking through a large bin of old childhood favorites for awhile now, most notably the Sweet Valley series. So many childhood memories buried in complete 80's YA cheese! There's something strangely enjoyable about reading books you remember reading as a kid and haven't picked up in decades, and amazingly the stories are (in most cases) completely stupid but so nostalgic the enjoyment factor is through the roof. Most of them include about 50 instances of "I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT", and the main characters I spent my childhood years thinking were "cool" and "spunky" are now just sociopaths in my mind. Ah, well.

I did the same thing recently, and had a few moments where I truly wondered about my reading tastes as a young kid. The Nancy Drews were better than SVH or the BSC, but even those had a few moments of internal grimacing. Still, all in all it was fun and incredibly nostalgic.
 

Mel217

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2017
904
5,756
I did the same thing recently, and had a few moments where I truly wondered about my reading tastes as a young kid. The Nancy Drews were better than SVH or the BSC, but even those had a few moments of internal grimacing. Still, all in all it was fun and incredibly nostalgic.

The BSC is so amazingly cheesy! I remember thinking, as a kid while reading those books, that sitting in real life would be SO fun once I got old enough to do it. The kids I watched weren't nearly as cute, obedient, or fun. They screamed a lot and threw things a lot. Same with growing up watching Saved By The Bell. "High school will be SO FUN!" *halfway through Freshman year* "Kill me..."
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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Why are there forums for Other Movies and Other TV but no Other Books?
I don't know but if you look in Bred Any Good Rooks Lately there are several old threads that fit the bill. Kurben and I have posted some over the past year...I just can't remember all of them. Maybe the Mod Squad can create Other Books for easy access? Lol
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
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The High Seas
I don't know but if you look in Bred Any Good Rooks Lately there are several old threads that fit the bill. Kurben and I have posted some over the past year...I just can't remember all of them. Maybe the Mod Squad can create Other Books for easy access? Lol
Thanks Doc. By a circuitous route, I discovered Cori wanted a new thread started for Books My Teacher Read, so let it be written, so let it be done.
 

morgan

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Jul 11, 2010
29,353
104,579
North Dakota
Finished The Magnolia Story the other day. A little hokey, but cute. I'm always drawn to these books about entrepreneurs - rags to riches stories. Sadly, it seems as though their ideas of "rags" is vastly different than my own. Most come from upper middle class, which I wouldn't consider poor. The last book like this I read #GIRLBOSS was the same. Just because you choose to hitchhike across the country when you're 20 and shop in thrift stores, doesn't make you homeless.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Edge by Jeffery Deaver. It's not grabbing me, I just want it to be over. Then I can start The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. My reserved copy finally showed up at the library. They had to bring it in from some podunk town because the local library's copy had been ruined. So happy they offer this service! :)
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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Finished The Magnolia Story the other day. A little hokey, but cute. I'm always drawn to these books about entrepreneurs - rags to riches stories. Sadly, it seems as though their ideas of "rags" is vastly different than my own. Most come from upper middle class, which I wouldn't consider poor. The last book like this I read #GIRLBOSS was the same. Just because you choose to hitchhike across the country when you're 20 and shop in thrift stores, doesn't make you homeless.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Edge by Jeffery Deaver. It's not grabbing me, I just want it to be over. Then I can start The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. My reserved copy finally showed up at the library. They had to bring it in from some podunk town because the local library's copy had been ruined. So happy they offer this service! :)
You may enjoy Sidney Sheldon's books. My favorite rags to riches books by him are The Stars Shine Down and Master of the Game.
 
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