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Post by mondayschild on Nov 1, 2014 23:36:42 GMT -6
It's not easy for me to get to my library---parking is horrible. When my husband lived and our kids were little we went to the library every week. My husband could find a parking place everywhere. I could tell you stories that you would not believe... Washington, DC., NYC. We have a book sale that benefits our local hospital every summer.I donate my books, but I wouldn't dare go. I would buy way too much! I have to learn to control myself. Books and music are my downfall.
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Post by coco13 on Jul 6, 2015 11:49:50 GMT -6
Hi, has anyone got any recommendations for summer reads? I've just finished reading a couple of books in the Roy Grace series by Peter James.
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Post by weegieburd on Jul 7, 2015 1:43:37 GMT -6
Jonathon Tropper books are always good to read, Marian Keyes is great light reading and always funny. If you like crime novels Peter Robinson, Denise Mina or Louise Welsh (especially Louise Welsh) are very good.
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Post by wkw99 on Jul 7, 2015 4:49:00 GMT -6
I've been reading the Joanna Brady series by JA Jance. I really like her writing style. Joanna is a sheriff in a small town in southern Arizona and her life changes a lot in the course of the books. I also like Jance's JP Beaumont series, but it's a bit darker.
Another good book I read is Night Circus by Erin Morganstern. It's a fantasy, and not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.
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Post by coco13 on Jul 7, 2015 6:16:27 GMT -6
Weegieburd & WKW99, thanks for the suggestions - I can get into a rut and binge on a particular genre so it's always nice to discover new authors. I tend to read a lot of crime fiction and I've enjoyed Lindsey Davis' Falco series, which are set in ancient Rome, and Kinky Friedman's series of detective stories - I re-read them every couple of years.
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Post by mondayschild on Jul 7, 2015 6:44:43 GMT -6
coco, thanks for bringing back this thread. I was thinking about doing it myself. I know what you mean about getting into a rut, but if you love an author, sometimes it's more like an obsession. Last summer I read the complete Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter. I couldn't put the series down until I saw it through. Sometimes I read something that I've always wanted to read but have not been in the mood to tackle. Once I get finished in my yard (if ever) I want to dig into Lie Down in Darkness, by Pulitzer Award winning author William Styron. The print is so small, it will probably blind me! This is a modern classic, published in 1951. I don't get into the classics much anymore, but know that I should. Case in point...I just finished the inane but thoroughly enjoyable Top Secret Twenty-One, Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum book. The characters are so wacky and the plots so off the wall that they give me a laugh and lighten my mood when I need to just be entertained.
Right now, I am reading Tana French's Faithful Place. I think it's going to be good, but have just started it and it will take me a while, given a multitude of other commitments. I have read some books that were recommended here in the past and have enjoyed them, so keep the titles coming!
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Post by mare27 on Jul 7, 2015 11:15:05 GMT -6
Hi, has anyone got any recommendations for summer reads? I've just finished reading a couple of books in the Roy Grace series by Peter James.
I'll say Thanks too, for bringing back this thread...from all the recent traffic, I think we are all needing some distractions...
I'll have to check out the Roy Grace series...
I got "Gunsights" by Elmore Leonard, out of the library...it's the book that Chris Provenzano is using for the new AMC series...so far, so good, I am on chapter 3 and am hooked.
A few months ago I read a book called "Nothing Daunted" based on the letters and journals of two East Coast upper class highly educated woman in their early twenties who decided to move out West and become teachers in the Colorado mountains in about 1916. The story is told by one of the women's granddaughters, using source material that was kept by the families. It held my interest...recalled some of the wildness of Deadwood, but about 40 years later and a lot more civilized for the most part...I thought it would make a good movie, or tv series, if done right. Author is Dorothy Wickenden.
I also like the Jonathan Tropper novels, just got two of them from the library.
Last summer I was reading the novels of Elizabeth George, the Inspector Lynley series. So well written and complicated and way more enjoyable than the PBS series of the same name.
I think she has a new one out that I haven't read yet. Highly recommend, What Happened Before He Shot Her...but you need to read them in order.
Someone at my book club said they were just starting To Kill A Mockingbird...I was surprised as I thought everyone would have read that one...if you haven't yet, I know you'll like it! One of my favorites. Also, I regard A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a classic. if you haven't yet, read that!
One more, I read this a few years ago and go back and re-read it occasionally..The Love Hunter by Jon Hassler. A wonderfully written story...I can see a film there, perhaps.
As to the comments about TO and his son reading a series together...brought back memories. My son and I , many years ago, read the Harry Potter series together and also, The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I read that in High school, he started it as a sixth grader and went straight through all of them. It was a fun thing for us to do together and then the movies were an added plus...of course he's grown now and I can't think of the last time we went to the movies together ..but good memories that started with reading a book together.
Have a great day!
A 4th of July shot, from the Broken Hearts Club.
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Post by mare27 on Jul 7, 2015 11:18:07 GMT -6
Reading a great book Wkw sent me about how to read like a writer. I read like a scientist, so this is good for me. That sounds like a good one ...the title would be....?? |
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Post by coco13 on Jul 7, 2015 12:08:13 GMT -6
Mondayschild & Mare, thanks for all the suggestions - I'll have a nice long list when I go to the library!
Mondayschild, I've read Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse novels - I loved the TV series and I still watch the re-runs when they are on. I know what you mean about Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, I've got a few of them from the library, they kind of remind me of a screwball comedy.
Mare, I've read Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley books up to A Traitor to Memory - like you I preferred the books to the TV series. I've read two books by Jonathan Tropper, This is Where I leave You and Everything Changes, I enjoyed them.
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Post by squeegee on Jul 7, 2015 12:24:02 GMT -6
I am so jealous seeing that you guys read so much! I love reading but hardly ever get around to doing it for pleasure. I have to read a lot for grad school and in my free time I have so many other hobbies. I think about sitting down with a book everyday but only do it every other weekend for an hour or so. It's only on holiday that I read more. Sigh. My ro-read- list is now so long that I probably won't be able to finish it in the time I "have left" lol. What a depressing thought.
Anyway I have been reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (for a while now as you can imagine), and it's great escapism, even if very graphic and violent sometimes, and not exactly high literature ;-)
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Post by mondayschild on Jul 7, 2015 13:07:24 GMT -6
squeegee, don't worry. At some point your life will be less hectic. Plus, we all need some down time! I have not read the Outlander books, but watched season one on TV. The finale was so horrific that I am shell-shocked and don't know if I will keep on with it. I love the characters and the scenery is magnificent, but the awful violence takes me a while to get over.
mare, I have read all of the Elizabeth George books, too, with the exception of What Came Before He Shot Her. I was so depressed by "her" death that I just didn't want to read it. (I don't want to print any spoilers here.) I also have not read her latest--can't think of the title just now. The reviews weren't that good, but I may read it anyway at some point. I love Martha Grimes Inspector Jury series. The characters are wonderful. I've read the whole series twice.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic and a lovely read. Can't believe that someone hasn't read To Kill a Mockingbird, either. Has anyone here read Harper Lee's new book, Go Set A Watchman? I have not read any reviews. I only know that it is told from Scout's point of view as a young adult.
coco, it sounds like we like some of the same books!
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Post by squeegee on Jul 7, 2015 14:30:05 GMT -6
I have not read the Outlander books, but watched season one on TV. The finale was so horrific that I am shell-shocked and don't know if I will keep on with it. I love the characters and the scenery is magnificent, but the awful violence takes me a while to get over. In that case I would recommend the books. I read the book first so I knew what was coming, but the finale was still hard to watch. I even contemplated not watching the episode because I thought to myself "I don''t actually need to SEE that". As far as I remember the book was way less detailed about what happened, a lot of it was hinted at, you didn't have to "watch" it. But I generally find it less disturbing to read such things, images are much harder for me. That doesn't mean the books aren't violent though! But I enjoy them, for the most part, and would recommend them to anyone not too sqeamish (and if you can watch Justified and Deadwood you probably aren't) who's looking for a real page turner. |
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Post by mare27 on Jul 7, 2015 16:44:30 GMT -6
squeegee, don't worry. At some point your life will be less hectic. Plus, we all need some down time! I have not read the Outlander books, but watched season one on TV. The finale was so horrific that I am shell-shocked and don't know if I will keep on with it. I love the characters and the scenery is magnificent, but the awful violence takes me a while to get over. mare, I have read all of the Elizabeth George books, too, with the exception of What Came Before He Shot Her. I was so depressed by "her" death that I just didn't want to read it. (I don't want to print any spoilers here.) I also have not read her latest--can't think of the title just now. The reviews weren't that good, but I may read it anyway at some point. I love Martha Grimes Inspector Jury series. The characters are wonderful. I've read the whole series twice. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a classic and a lovely read. Can't believe that someone hasn't read To Kill a Mockingbird, either. Has anyone here read Harper Lee's new book, Go Set A Watchman? I have not read any reviews. I only know that it is told from Scout's point of view as a young adult. coco, it sounds like we like some of the same books!
Re: the Elizabeth George comment above, I know exactly what you are referring to...it was such a depressing turn...but I did finally read that next book and I was very impressed by "that side of the story" I would recommend it, even though it's tough to think about.
as to sqeegee's comment about time to read, I get it! I go for long periods of time without taking time to read for pleasure...but then something will happen and I start something new...and I seem to make time.
I did decide awhile ago to set aside one evening, usually Wednesday night, just for reading...anything, magazines, newspapers, library books, whatever and I was able to stick to that so it became a habit...Also have to admit, housework is never first on my list and it shows. I would always chose reading. Now, maybe Tuesday night will become the reading night since there is NOTHING to do now on Tuesday!
" I hate housework, you make the beds and wash the dishes and then 6 months later you have to do it all again!" the late Joan Rivers
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Post by mare27 on Jul 12, 2015 10:51:40 GMT -6
Just finished Elmore Leonard's Gunsights.
Enjoyed it, two very well drawn main characters in a tricky Wild West scenario.
I can see why Provenzano was attracted to the novel.
I'm anxious to see what happens with this project...
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