What are you currently reading?

Personally, I could not get into that trilogy. Such a shame too, because I loved The Hobbit... I read it in a day when I was in the second grade. I've always been a nerd, heh.

When I read, I want to be engrossed with the material. The structure of the trilogy thwarted my attempts. There are multiple, small segments within each chapter. The breaks were really distracting and my mind in turn wandered. It was difficult to be involved with the story because of it, I couldn't pay attention. Perhaps I should revisit them and see if my opinion has changed. You can always give them a try.

Having seen all of the movies, when I did read the trilogy I started to dissect everything in them that did not follow the original plot. 'Oh, what was that? Boromir just died? BOOK TO MOVIE DOES NOT COMPUTE!'
 
I like the Lord of the Rings books myself. The only thing I have on my list right now is to read the Dexter books. I love the show and just found out there were books.
 
maleficent said:
Some of them are goingto cause m e to regress back to junior high and see if I can actually get thru some of the books without resorting to cliffs notes because the book was so painfully boring.

PRIDE AND PREJIDUCE - Jane Austen
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers
THE DAY OF THE LOCUST by Nathanael West
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving
OF HUMAN BONDAGE by Somerset Maugham
ANTHEM by Ayn Rand
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Love the list Mal~
Especially P & P as well as Gatsby.
I was a bit of a nerd in school and was one of the few kids who actually wanted to read the books not see the movies! LOL
 
Personally I don't make lists of books to read.
I usually just go by what mood I am in when I am at the local library.
Currently I am re-reading a series that I have already been thru about 4-5 times. It's set in the Scottish Highlands in the 17th century during the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie. It's a historical romance but don't let the romance side of it put you off. It's more action/drama then romance. I guarantee you WILL LOVE these books!
Love the fact that everytime I read them something new pops out.
I have heard that they are planning on making the series into a movie. And if they do that I am certainly going to be checking that out!
Author Diana Gabaldon
Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breathe of Snow and Ashes
 
I've so fallen off the wagon this year. In the past 2 years I've read about 60 books for the year, this year I cannot seem to get into gear. :(

I think my mind needs a rest.
 
Right now I am reading three books..

The Vaccination Book - Robert Sears: We have a 2 month old and we want to know everything about the vaccinations before deciding which to get (brand wise) and when to get them

Left Behind Book 1 - Tim LaHaye: My friend lives by these books. Very biblical and since I love biblical stuff (despite not being heavily religious) this book intrigues me

Fooled by Randomness - Nassim Nicholas: This is a breakdown of the open and free market and how randomness can but usually does not exist. It reads much like the works of Douglas Adams in the long run-on comedic sentence structures. Definately need an analytical mind to enjoy and understand this book to its full potential.
 
angelicrock said:
Left Behind Book 1 - Tim LaHaye: My friend lives by these books. Very biblical and since I love biblical stuff (despite not being heavily religious) this book intrigues me
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Be prepared to be hooked on this series!!!
You'll practically be "gobbling" up the books as you get your hands on them!
At least the series is all written now. When I read them I had to wait for each one to come out.
Very excrutiating! LOL :smilielol5:
 
I finished book 1 of the Left Behind series last week, it was very good. I hate to admit to people that despite this being a very religion heavy book, it is really good. Definately better than that other religious book, the bible.
 
I picked up Mario Puzo's The Godfather today. I've seen the movies, of course, but I've really wanted to read the book for a long time and never got around to it. I picked it up this afternoon and I'm already nearly 200 pages into it. I can't put the thing down. Good thing I also picked up The Sicilian to read when this one's finished.
 
Hi I haven't had much time for reading for pleasure this year , as I have had lots of work related study to do. However, I always read one book every year, its been a favourite since childhood, and I am already on my third copy having worn out the other two. Its My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell, its the story of the author's childhood in Corfu. A mix of natural history and funny stories about his family and the people who befriend them.
 
I just started reading "Holidays on Ice" by David Sedaris and I am enjoying it so far, so I might have to pick up some more of his books to read...

I'm also in the middle of a book called "The Four Agreements", and it's not too bad either, if your into self-helpish type of books at all. It has some pretty decent points, imo... I kind of got overloaded with friends loaning me self help books/new age books all of a sudden. I also have a book by the Dali Lhama I'm supposed to be reading....

I also need to start going over my old textbooks in anatomy and physiology, so I can study up some for when Nursing school starts in August... I better get busy!

-Sam
 
I finished reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo and it's even better than the movie. So much more detail about ALL of the characters that it really gives you a better understanding of the story. I watched the both movies (the third one doesn't count, bah) and they're great adaptations, even if the second one extrapolated on the story of Michael Corleone.

Continuing with the top movies adapted from novels theme, I've picked up No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. I thought the movie was really good, but I'm hopingi the novel elaborates on the characters a lot more. It'll be interesting to get deeper into their heads and better descriptions.

After that, I'm thinking about reading Oil! by Upton Sinclair. There Will Be Blood is one of my favourite movies of the last few years.
 
Life of Pi is a good one.

I've been enjoying the Dexter books this summer (Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter and a third just out, don't recall the name, I have yet to read it).

For Steve who hasn't been able to crack open a book, might I suggest "Pigs" by Neal Barrett, Jr.? I read it between one evening and the next morning - it was quick, short, fun, quacky and memorable. Definintely a guy book (though us gals can enjoy it, too).

The classics are always good. Jane Austen is great, so is Graham Greene.

I'll be starting the 3rd Dexter next (I highly recommend them in all their morbid glory).

Tarazan :Angel_anim:
 
maleficent said:
Some of them are goingto cause m e to regress back to junior high and see if I can actually get thru some of the books without resorting to cliffs notes because the book was so painfully boring.

PRIDE AND PREJIDUCE - Jane Austen
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers
THE DAY OF THE LOCUST by Nathanael West
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving
OF HUMAN BONDAGE by Somerset Maugham
ANTHEM by Ayn Rand
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Great minds think a like? I read the first three on your list this summer (well, I'm 90% done with Gatsby). I also read Northanger Abbey by Austen. I loved it. Also on my list (for the rest of the year - a long book or two short books a month):

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (James Joyce)
The Story of My Life (Farah Ahmedi)
The Known World (Edward P. Jones)
Overthrow (Stephen Kinzer)
The Stolen Child (Keith Donohue)
Holy Cow! (Sarah Macdonald)
This Book Will Save Your Life (A. M. Homes)

My mom buys me audio books so that I can listen to them while walking to work and jogging. I don't get to pick the titles - she does! So I just listen to whatever she gives me and then I read my own choices on the side (I have less time for actually sitting down and reading). So these are her titles for me. But they sound great - plus it takes all the guess work out of figuring out what to read!
 
sammyboy24 said:
I'm also in the middle of a book called "The Four Agreements", and it's not too bad either, if your into self-helpish type of books at all. It has some pretty decent points, imo... I kind of got overloaded with friends loaning me self help books/new age books all of a sudden. I also have a book by the Dali Lhama I'm supposed to be reading....
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that one was OK... the message was far better than the actual writing...
. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.
3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.
4. Always Do Your Best
Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret


one of the best self-help type books I've ever read - and I think I bought about 10 copies and gave them out to others was The Traveller's Gift - by Andy Andrews... Definitely a must read...

it goes into the 7 decisions that a person can make for happiness

Those seven decisions are
1)The buck stops here: I am respnsible for me - no excuses no blaming others.
2) I will seek wisdom: I will choose my friends with care,
3) I am a person of action: I can make a decision and I can make it now,
4) I have a decided heart: My destiny is assured,
5) Today I will choose to be happy I am the possessor of a grateful heart,
6) I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit: I will forgive myself, and
7) I will persist without exception: I will find way where there is no way.

it'sa good read... and goes into some great characters from history.. including anne frank
 
I'd just like to make a point that No Country for Old Men is incredibly difficult to read. It's kinda like A Million Little Pieces by James Frey in the sense that the author doesn't use quotes to show who's speaking when. The action is quick, so you've gotta pay attention to every detail as you're reading. Some parts are also written in a southwestern accent. Needless to say, I'm really having a tough time with it. I need to give it a concentrated effort to get through it.
 
sammyboy24 said:
I just started reading "Holidays on Ice" by David Sedaris and I am enjoying it so far, so I might have to pick up some more of his books to read...
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AH! David Sedaris is my most favorite author EVER! Stick with him, you cannot do wrong.

I love that there are other readers out there! I just finished a book exploring Leonardo da Vinci's art called "Math and the Mona Lisa." It was good but it got off topic in a couple areas.

I just moved on to "Franklin and Winston" a book on FDR and Churchill's relationship during the war. So far it is really interesting, with facts about each man that I had never known before.

I guess I'm on a nonfiction kick. I'm a science person (yay microbiology!) so nonfiction books have always been my forte but if anyone has any ideas for fiction books that are quick reads, I would love to hear them!

EDIT: I read A Million Little Pieces and it always felt like Frey was saying "hey look at me! I can write!!!" I couldn't get into it. I thought it was a mediocre book at best. No Country for Old Men was just "read" by my mother and she said the exact same thing as you. She couldn't get in to the dialogue, she was confused during many of the scenes, and she didn't feel a connection with the characters enough to keep reading. She stopped reading it part way through just because it was a draining book to read.

Hope that helps for you!
 
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ive seen john irving mentioned a couple times here, i recommend 'a prayer for owen meany'. favorite book of all time.
 
maleficent said:
ditto - he's really quite funny...

Dress your family in corduroy and denim - Google Book Search

Naked - Google Book Search

put on your next books to read
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I'm going to add another one!

Me Talk Pretty One Day
 
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