What are you reading now?

In the comments section, tell us what books you are reading, and why you made your choices.

Comments

[Murph]

Benjamin Black's (John Manville) newest novel after Christine Falls --- The Silver Swan

[Lallum]

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple. Unexpected, harsh take on Australian life through the eyes of a traumatized cop.

I mix fiction and non-fiction reads so I can hop from one to the other. So I am also on The Great Transformation by Karen Armstrong. A former nun turned expert on history of religion, and this is a very accesible re-telling of the origins of the major religions.

[BarbieCat]

I'm about 50 pages into Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian as a book to hold and read, and while driving or walking, am listening to Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Mineral.

I often have two books going like this, but have learned to chose two quite different ones, usually a fiction and non-fiction, so I don't get confused.

My choices are often based on current interests, or at the opposite extreme, complete escapes from the everyday.

[dotyfrance]

I'm finishing reading "Body of lies".
And then, I will start "American Gangster".
I've always loved readind the books movies I like, are from.
Especially Russell's movies...
It's always interesting, and that makes the pleasure of the movies last longer!
That's how I discovered James Ellroy, Patrick O'Brian...

[Anne S]

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco. I know it is not a 'new' book but I hesitate that long to read it after seen the film. The script writer did a very good job as this is a very dense book. By the way, does anyone know if there is an internet site where I can find the translation of the latin text? I am afraid that my latin is a little bit rusty.

Anne S

[Mary F]

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin

Recently read this book... It's Immaculee's amazing story about surviving the Rwandan holocaust. I highly recommend it... it's amazing, beautiful, poignant, faith-building/restoring... truly beyond words! Has the potential to change lives!

[Avril]

"Mother's Ruin" by Nicola Barry. It's the story of the life-long effects on a child of living with an alcoholic mother (who, in Nicola's case, was also a medical doctor) and is Nicola Barry's true story.

She writes, "My mother is in the bath, lying in the now lukewarm water, streaked yellow with her vomit. I see a hippo wallowing in mud."

Very poignant so far - haven't had time to finish it yet.

[Francine]

Einstein, his Life and Universe. Fabulous!

[Kuniko]

I've just begun reading the newest Japanese-language version of Brothers Karamazov. This translation by Ikuo Kameyama got quite a reputation and was at the top of the best seller list in the paperbook category at amazon.co.jp. I don't remember any other book written in 19c topped the list. When I was young Dostoyevsky was one of the most popular writers in my country. I read Brothers Karamazov in two different translations in my high school days and it became my all-time favorite book. It looks like the Russian novelist was kind of a forgotten writer in the past 3 decades or so here but now he's come back!

[Zhora]

I'm reading Philip Pullman's "The Subtle Knife", the second part of his "His Dark Materials" series. The first part, which I already read, is "The Golden Compass" of course, which will come to theatres early next month.

That's also the reason why I started reading it, because the upcoming movie had sparked my interest.
I like watching fantasy, but truthfully I'm not too much into reading it. But this story is really spellbinding. I'm loving it. A totally different world - and yet so closer to ours. I'm really excited to read what is yet happen.

So next I will of course read the third book "The Amber Spyglas".
And after that I have a classic lined up for me: Dostoyevsky's "Crime & Punishment".

I would also like to take this opportunity to recommend my two favourite books, both by Wally Lamb: "She's Come Undone" and "I Know This Much Is True".

[Lauren]

Just finished the Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory- if history books were written like this the world would be History Majors. Impeccably researched, brilliantly written- it will keep you engrossed! Start with the Other Boleyn Girl or The Virgin's Lover. You can email me thanks on getting you hooked later :P

Re-reading Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth because I want to start the new one (sort of a sequel) by Christmas. This book made me switch my Ancient Egyptian Civ major to Medieval History and Mythology. Good Stuff- epic.

[Flossie]

I recommend The Maytrees, a novel by Annie Dillard. It is very discursive and philosophical like her essay writing, but it does have a plot. It challenges stereotypes of what people must necessarily feel in reaction to crises (betrayals) in their relationships and shows that forgiveness and love can overcome socially conditioned reactions for people of independent spirit who act out of deep self-knowledge. Such people move on and do not chain their spirits to the past. It is profoundly true. Flossie

[Cindy]

I've just re-read one of my favorites, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I will follow it up with his new sequel, World Without End, but I'm taking a short break in between the two as both those books are about 1000 pages and heavy!!!

I am about 70 pages into a new book, Redemption Falls, by Joseph O'Connor, and I am loving it. It begins post-Civil War South and tells the stories of several very colorful characters. It is not written chronologically, so it requires paying attention, but I can already tell this is going to be a wonderful book.

[Anne]

I have just finished Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. He also wrote Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River. Shutter Island is an errie, startling and suspensful thriller. It will keep you turning the page, unable to put the book down until you are finished. Then it will continue to haunt you. There are so many twists and turns that even those who think they can solve the clues will be mystified, horrified and shocked.
I understand that this is to be made into a movie by the great Martin Scorsese with the genius talent of Leonardo DiCaprio. I am actually wondering if I should have read the book, but with Scorsese's mastery it will still hold the thrill.

[Gayle-Lynne]

I have been reading "Steve And Me" by Terri Irwin. It tells the
story of Steve and Terri's life together and their efforts in conservation. I appreciated the work of Steve Irwin. This book was Terri's way of further healing in her grief process and to reach out to the rest of us who mourned with her and her family.

I am also reading "American Gangster"--which is the novelisation based on the screenplay of the film.

And I rereading some chapters of Richard Winston's biography: "Thomas Becket". This is one of the better biographies written about Becket. It has rich source materials including the Icelandic Sagas.

Gayle-Lynne

[Pat Macsata]

Just started the Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown. It is a serious treatment of Diana's life. No question but that she was a fascinating woman, with little intellectual achievement, yet had the ability to charm. Hers is a very sad story.

[Pat Macsata]

As recommended above by another reader, I read all the Boleyn books by Phillipa Gregory. Well researched and vividly written. The author sends you back to the historic times of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I with gusto.

[Keith Housewright]

I am reading the 19th book in Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series which inspired Russell Crowe's fanstastic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This particular book is called The Hundred Days and I am just into it. I bought the entire O'Brian series as one set (paginated over 6,900 pages) and I am like page 6200 at this point. What fantastic books and what a joy to read. The previous book, The Yellow Admiral finally has Captain Jack getting his Admiral's flag just as Napoleon has escaped capture. It is a great series and I can only hope RC can make more movies based on this great series in the future.

Keith

[secretariat7]

I just got done with This is Your Brain on Music: Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel Levitin, and I loved it.

The author tackles such subjects as the neuroscience of listening and performing music, what makes a musician, why we like the music we like, and the evolutionary origins of music - all without losing the "magic". It was fascinating. I especially liked his discussion of Joni Mitchell's music, the music instinct, and the revelation that even in the brain, music is all about connections.

[Poke]

I thought I posted yesterday but I don't see it.
I am reading Wideacre, the first of the Philippa Gregory books.
I finished the Other Boleyn Girl and liked it so much I went back to the beginning so I could read her books in order. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet looks like it may be next.
I am on pause with Shantaram for the moment. And the Al Gore-Assault on Reason is the only non-fiction on my night table.

[Kathy Sweeney]

RHETT BUTLER'S PEOPLE. Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite books so I jumped at a chance to read this one! I just finished Tess Garritsen's THE BONE GARDEN.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Oh, and I did just also read WORLD WITHOUT END-finally the sequel to PILLARS OF THE EARTH!!

[Marilee Reyes]

"Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom" by John O'Donohue. Anam Cara is Gaelic for soul friend. The Celtic belief is nature based and is explored in this book and applied to contemporary life by Donohue, a Catholic scholar and poet. One of my many favorite lines so far ... "Light is the secret presence of the divine."

[poke]

Addict that I am I had to swing by the buy one get one half off at Borders tonight. Came Home with The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford..which promised to explain about "who gets what and why". And "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" Sogyal Rinpoche, to help me deal with Mom's decline. And Better Homes & Gardens on Plumbing for a brother who is jack of all trades and this is his latest interest.

[DRW]

Perdita by Paula Byrne, biography of wonderfully scandalous Mary Robinson, late 18th century mistress of the future George IV, amongst others. Chosen as I have been deep into the period
since the Aubrey Maturin series 3 years ago. Having read all of Phillipa Gregory, the Bolyn Inheritance was better than the Constant Princess, very depressing but not up to standard of theprevious books. Continue to read her because of the quality of her imagination & history. Just finished the Reavers by George MacDonald Fraser, in the same tongue in cheek combination of history & humour fiction as The Pyrates. Picked up in England last month, don't know if out in America yet: a worthwhile hoot of a book. Also fun & light, The just out Kissing Christmas Goodbye, by MC Beaton, most recent in her Agatha Raisin series of mysteries. Started & prob won't finish After the Ball, a 1920s mystery in Perthshire by Catriona McPherson that is to be avoided: there are more commas than common sense in her writing: so stilted it detracts from the tale. Read about McPherson and thought I would give her a try: oh well, learn as we go!