What Are You Reading? Part Deux

[Spideyman]

I read a good bit of The Ridge a couple years ago but was too invested in other books to return to it. Sadly, it got shuffled into a box of paperbacks that I was trading for credit at the book store. If I go back, I'm going to look for The Cypress House or the other title everyone speaks of so highly.

Excellent choice- 1930's depression, touch of "supernatural/shine".

 

[Dana Jean]

Just finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

 

[roadhawg]

Just finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

What did you think of the book? And would i enjoy the book if i enjoyed 1984, Animal Farm and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? As i still need to read A Clockworks Orange but i have considered this one

 

[Dana Jean]

What did you think of the book? And would i enjoy the book if i enjoyed 1984, Animal Farm and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? As i still need to read A Clockworks Orange but i have considered this one

Well, I'm not sure. It is very heavy into drug hallucinations. Every single page. Even though these are adult men, I felt like I was listening to some high school kid with sex and drugs. No rock and roll. (which might have helped me enjoy it more.) . It's interesting. Read a couple chapters (they are quick and short) and see what you think. You can definitely judge the whole book by a couple chapters because it's more of SSDD.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.....

Also, someone who has been heavy into the drug scene might be able to appreciate, relate, enjoy this book more. I am not a drug person. I have never been a drug person so all of their adventures just seemed so stupid, reckless, dangerous. Just sloppy embarrassing and out-of-control ignorant. The opposite of cool.

 

[osnafrank]

Just started "Metro 2034" by Dmitry Glukhovsky

 

[Kurben]

I'm almost finished with Spindle's End (Robin McKinley). I've been reading her books her and there this summer, as a break from school and professional-type books. Nice, easy fantasy. I'm also plowing through the Amber series (Roger Zelazney) again. Haven't read these since junior high, but I found myself thinking about the first one so picked them up again. One observation: WOW, did the characters smoke a lot! They're literally lighting up 2-3 times on every page. I hadn't realized how rare it is to mention smoking in books anymore until reading this throwback book.

Two I recently read that I think you guys might like: for the 'people books' folks- Have You Seen Luis Veldez (Catherine Ryan Hyde). I was sent this for review (which I'm not doing much anymore), and picked it up just to look at it before sending it on to someone else. I ended up inhaling the whole book in two days. My apocalypse/dystopia peeps: The Last One was an absorbing book about a woman who is on a Survivor-type show. While she and the other contestants are out in the boonies, a wild virus sweeps the nation and wipes out something like 70% of humans. I really enjoyed this one. Can't say the same for The Power. Atwood praised it, but I found it to be an overrated and overwrought faux "gurl powerrr" story. It pandered to a certain audience but had no substance.

Great to see you again, Skimom!! Hope you can find time to drop in now and then.

 

[Kurben]

A quick and easy read but Connelly knows his stuff.
Also this...

Great book on the evolution of Apes. Not to technical. The terms that are technical he explains. Wellwritten. Humans and our ancestors are just the last chapter in this book. When how and why did a monkey become an ape? You got the answer in this book.

 

[KJ Norrbotten]

Just finished The Outsider. Now re-reading Mr Mercedes and Pet Sematary, which I purchased today. This new Finnish edition of Pet Sematary is my fourth copy of the novel; I already had an older Finnish edition, a UK English edition and a German version in my collection.

 

[Spideyman]

Just finished The Outsider. Now re-reading Mr Mercedes and Pet Sematary, which I purchased today. This new Finnish edition of Pet Sematary is my fourth copy of the novel; I already had an older Finnish edition, a UK English edition and a German version in my collection.

Have fun with the re reading. Good to see you!!!!

 

[KJ Norrbotten]

Have fun with the re reading. Good to see you!!!!

Thanks, good to see you too!

 

[Dana Jean]

This is exciting. Can't wait to get my hands on it. While their styles are different, Kelly reminds me of Karen Russell. I can't put my finger on why, but she does while still being very much her own unique voice.

 

[Neesy]

Almost finished this one - it is very good - I would recommend it to anyone

 

[Doc Creed]

From a recent book haul at our mega used bookstore:

Rabbit, Run- John Updike
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant- Anne Tyler
Dr. Death- Jonathan Kellerman (this came highly recommended and will be my first Alex Deleware book}
The Forest- Edward Rutherford (nice new hardcover)
Seize the Day- Saul Bellow
We Were the Mulvaneys- Joyce Carol Oates

 

[Doc Creed]

Refuge by Dot Jackson, a novel about Old Appalachia in the tradition of Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain).
I also want to thank morgan again for sending me a copy of The Cypress House which is on my TBR list. You reap what you sow, so I hope you reap a harvest of good books soon!

Here is the new book haul I got Sunday:
Refuge- Dot Jackson
Remember Me Like This- Bret Anthony Johnston
The Unknown World- Edward P. Jones (Winner of the PP)
The Maytrees- Annie Dillard
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry- Gabrielle Zevin
Showboat- Edna Ferber (written in 1926)

 

[urrutiap]

Books im reading currently for August mostly

Star Wars Razor's Edge
Wheel of Time book 2 The Great Horn whatever its called
Elfquest Complete Volume 1

 

[kingricefan]

Almost finished with Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim. Had to get this book after I saw the movie. It's his first book and it's quite well written. Not alot was left out of the movie.

 

[Kurben]

From a recent book haul at our mega used bookstore:

Rabbit, Run- John Updike
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant- Anne Tyler
Dr. Death- Jonathan Kellerman (this came highly recommended and will be my first Alex Deleware book}
The Forest- Edward Rutherford (nice new hardcover)
Seize the Day- Saul Bellow
We Were the Mulvaneys- Joyce Carol Oates

If you like historical novel you might like The Forest. Rutherford always concentrates on a place, not a person or event when he writes. So he follows what goes on in that place for centuries, millennia even. A kind of red thread is the clans, families and so on that lives in the spot and of which we will meet different members in different chapters. Another author that tried a similar approach to Historical fiction is James Michener (The Source, Hawaii, etc). Happy reading. I always like Oates even if Mulvaneys isn't my fave of hers. The others i havent read.

 

[Kurben]

OK. You all have heaped praise upon Michael Koryta. I came across 4 of his cheap and now i'm asking for opinions. Where to start? Any book in particalar i must read? Of these four which should i start with? Any opinions welcome. Koryta is a new author for me. I've got A Welcome Grave, Tonight I Said Goodbye, Last Words and Rise The Dark.

 

[Doc Creed]

If you like historical novel you might like The Forest. Rutherford always concentrates on a place, not a person or event when he writes. So he follows what goes on in that place for centuries, millennia even. A kind of red thread is the clans, families and so on that lives in the spot and of which we will meet different members in different chapters. Another author that tried a similar approach to Historical fiction is James Michener (The Source, Hawaii, etc). Happy reading. I always like Oates even if Mulvaneys isn't my fave of hers. The others i havent read.

Yes, I'm looking forward to that one. When it first came out in paperback (years ago) I was reading it on my lunch break at work, but I only got to around page 50. I think I borrowed it from a coworker so I had to give it back. Anyway, thanks for the info, Kurb. I've heard Michener uses a similar approach to history, as you said. I should find something by him next time I go to the book store. Once upon a time I was thinking about reading Hawaii and Chesapeake (forget title). You have any preferences?

 

[Spideyman]

OK. You all have heaped praise upon Michael Koryta. I came across 4 of his cheap and now i'm asking for opinions. Where to start? Any book in particalar i must read? Of these four which should i start with? Any opinions welcome. Koryta is a new author for me. I've got A Welcome Grave, Tonight I Said Goodbye, Last Words and Rise The Dark.

Last Words and Rise the Dark go with his Markus Novak series / there maybe a 3rd in the series to come.

Note: all books can be read as stand alone, as I did not read in order.

The Luke Perry Series is:
Tonight I Said Goodbye
Sorrow Anthem
A Welcome Grave
The Silent Hour

He has 3 that have a supernatural feel--
So Cold The Night
Cypress House
The Ridge