glassreader's books in 2008

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
One in A Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Translator by Daoud Hari
Stone Creek by Victoria Lustbader
The Disobedience of Water by Sena Jeter Naslund

Welcome to the group, glassreader!

Yes, welcome. :)

And welcome again. I picked up The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana at a book store on the overun table. Haven't read it yet. What did you think?

Hi and thanks for the welcome! I found the book very difficult to get through. It took me over a month to finish. He bombards you with so many mundane details about 'what" the character remembers and nothing about the character himself. There are a few shining moments but nothing spectacular. Have you read anything else by Umberto Eco?

9. Mercy by Jodi Picoult

msg#5, No, I've picked up a used copy of The Name of the Rose but not read that either. Thanks for your thoughts, I'll probably still give it a go but try Rose first now.

10. The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte
11. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Did you like I Am the Messenger, glassreader? I read it and The Book Thief within a couple of weeks of each other, and despite all the hype about The Book Thief actually enjoyed I Am the Messenger more. Just curious as to your thoughts on it.

Welcome!

I note you read Mercy by Jody Picoult

I recently joined a group of people who get together once a month and discuss books. Members seem to enjoy her readings. I'm curious if you find her interesting.

alcottacre: I did enjoy I Am the Messenger. It was my first book by Zusak. I have The Book Thief and plan on reading it soon. I'll get back to you and let you know which one I enjoyed more.

Whisper 1: I love Jodi Picoult. I read My Sister's Keeper and instantly became a fan. She is a gifted writer who draws you deeply into her characters. Have you read anything by her?

12. Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

Hi glassreader

I haven't read anything by Jodi Picoult as yet, but the group I've joined will be discussion Plain Truth, so, this will be my first. Have you read this one?

And, Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is the first of hers that I read a long time ago and was hooked ever since.

Did you enjoy Back When We Were Grownups?

Hey Whisper 1

I haven't read Plain Truth yet. I hope you enjoy it!

Back When We Were Grownups was my first Anne Tyler book and it was just ok for me. Have you read it? I have a few others: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Morgan's Passing and Breathing Lessons. Any of those you would recommend over another? I found the characters in Back When We Were Grownups to be shallow. No real conclusion at the end.

I also have The Amateur Marriage.

Hi
I agree that Back When We Were Grownups is one of Anne Tyler's lack luster books. The others you mention are good ones (in my opinion.) I didnt' read The Amateur Marriage though some on library thing highly recommend it. I read all of Tyler's books except for the latest, primarily because of what you mentioned...the later books were just ok, but not great. The earlier words really are worth the read.

Welcome to the group!

The Name of the Rose by Eco was a great read for me, partly because I saw the film about the same time, so I had fewer "translation" issues about some of the writing. However, I picked up Foucault's Pendalum and put it down almost as fast--just wasn't ready at the time.

Did you enjoy The Nautical Chart? I've found other Arthuro Perez-Reverte books more exciting, especially the Captain Alatriste series. I loved The Club Dumas, which is what originally turned me on to his work.

And while I enjoy Anne Tyler's work in the moment (Back When We Were Grown-Ups), I don't recall much about her characters or stories after I've finished the books. Curious, huh.

I did enjoy The Nautical Chart. It was my first by him and I loved the way he writes. Especially the way he writes women from a man's perspective. I have the first two books in the Captain Alatriste series but haven't read them yet.

I'm hoping the other books by Anne Tyler will be better than Back When We Were Grownups. What other books have you read by her?

13. Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel

14. The Pact by Jodi Picoult

15. Pilgrims by Elizabeth Gilbert

16. Black and White by Dani Shapiro

17. the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon

I didn't care for this book.

Why did you not care about it?

message #21.
I'm curious about your thoughts on The Pact by Jodi Picoult I finished Plain Truth yesterday. It was the first I've read of Picoult and I enjoy her writing.
I started to read Second Glance today.

FAMeulstee: I thought the Dad got a bad rap. I understand that the writer is trying to portray someone dealing with autism so I think Christopher's reaction to his Dad was probably accurate. However, the Mom just shows back up on the scene and never says anything to her son about her wrong doing. She lets the person who stayed and cared for their son bear all the burden of wrong choices. I did like the way Christopher was written.

Whisper 1: Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite writers! The Pact was good, a little heavy. It drags through the middle, but I think it has a great ending. I've not read Plain Truth or Second Glance.. yet! I started with
My Sister's Keeper which in my opinion is one of the greatest books ever written. Mercy is another great one.

glassreader
I can understand your point. I loved the book, specially because I liked Christopher very much and was not too bothered about Mom and Dad (parents DO stupid things, not only when they have an autistic child), so I was curious about your opinion, thanks ;-)

glassreader

I was able to obtain My Sister's Keeper from my local library and will start this as soon as I'm finished with Second Glance. Thanks for the recommendation.

18. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

This is NOT a book I would typically read but it was chosen for my book club pick for September. I have to say though... I was hooked! I thought the book would be a bunch of fluff. Single people hooking up and living the high life in New York City but much to my surprise the characters had real depth. I thought about them during the day... oh my! The world of book people! Good drama and a quick read.

hi glassreader..I've added Something Borrowed to my list. Thanks!

Whisper 1> I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

19. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Not as funny as Me Talk Pretty One Day by still very funny!

Thanks to whoever posted a thread about booksalefinder.com I located a bookfair in Atlanta today and I picked up 60 books for about $50!

Wow! That's a great haul, glassreader. Congratulations.

Hi glassreader - just found your thread. What did you think of the Sloane Crosley? I've got it on my TBR list as a result of a favourable review in a UK paper, but have also read some pretty negative comments on e.g. Amazon reviews etc. so am wondering...

Hi FlossieT- I found the book hilarious! It can be crude in some areas and you get the feeling that Ms. Crosley may not be the nicest person in the world. There is also alot of swearing but she's writing stories about herself and laying out how she is/reacts in real life.

I pick what I'm going to read based on my emotions around the time it's time to chose. I needed something funny so I gave it a go. In fact, I thought it was so funny that I bought it for a friend of mine and sent it to her because she was also in need of a good laugh.

I would love to know your reaction if you decide to read it.

Oh my, I really should not check these posts (I'm smiling of course)...Glassreader, I've added the book I was told there'd be cake by Sloane Crosley to my tbr mountain...
Like you, I need something funny to read.

20. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

What did you think of The Book Thief?

Hi TrishNYC> I thought The Book Thief was wonderful. It took about 100 pages for me to fully get into the story but after that I was hooked. I enjoy reading books based around WW2 and I'm always surprised how hooked I get to the story every time. In addition to a rich story line, the writing itself was very rich. I stopped many times to reread certain lines and just think.

I totally agree with you. In the first 100 pages or so I was kinda annoyed with the whole narration by Death. But just when I finally got used to it, Death seemed to interrupt less and less. Like you, I did not realize when I feel in love with the book. It is such a well written book and there were moments when I was reading it on the train and I had to stop cause I did not want to get emotional and embarrass myself. What a beautiful story!!

#40 glassreader: If you enjoyed The Book Thief you might want to give I am the Messenger by Zusak a try. I know I am in the minority, but I actually preferred it over the other.

Hi alcottacre> I read I Am the Messenger back in July and liked it very much.

Sorry, should have checked first. Glad to hear that you liked the book!

alcottacre> That's ok! With thread's going everywhere it's hard to keep up! Have you read anything else by Zusak?

21. Shopgirl by Steve Martin

#47: No, I have not read anything else by him. What else do you recommend by him?

alcottacre> I haven't read anything else by him either. I noticed in the back of The Book Thief two others he has written. Fighting Ruben Wolfe and Getting the Girl. I don't know anything about either. I haven't even seen them in a bookstore. Have you heard of them?

22. How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill

Very uplifting!

#50 glassreader: I have not heard of either of those books. I will have to do a search here on LT to see what everyone thinks of them and if they are worth the time and effort.

23. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Hi glassreader

I read The Secret Life of Bees awhile back. I liked it, but many people do not. What did not think of this book?

Hi Whisper> I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees. I thought the way Kidd wrote each charter was beautiful. Plus, I learned alot about beekeeping along the way! Have you ever read The Mermaid Chair? I haven't but heard it wasn't as good.

Hi Whisper> I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees. I thought the way Kidd wrote each charter was beautiful. Plus, I learned alot about beekeeping along the way! Have you ever read The Mermaid Chair? I haven't but heard it wasn't as good.

Hi glassreader (by the way, I like your monicer it is creative)

I haven't read Mermaid Chair. I bought it shortly after reading The Secret LIfe of Bees, but wasn't prompted to read it because it has rec'd. such poor reviews.

If you read it, I'll be interested in hearing your comments.

24. The Last Time I Was Me by Cathy Lamb

25. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

I enjoyed the Mermaid Chair It took awhile to get into it, but once a sorted out the characters and got over being mad at a couple of them (don't ask--I can't quite remember why--it was almost 8 mos ago that I read the book). I feel her books are very similar to Pat Conroy's - lots of Southern family angst, and it takes her time to develop the characters. They are deep, and I sometimes found myself muttering 'where's she going with this' but when I finished it, I definitely remember thinking positively about it. I haven't rated it in my library (still cataloging) but I'd give it about 3.5 stars.

#60 glassreader: What did you think of Maisie Dobbs? I have enjoyed Winspear's series.

tututhefirst> Thanks for the comments on The Mermaid Chair. I've not heard good things about the book- you're the first! I really enjoyed Secret Life of Bees so I think I'll add The Mermaid Chair to the pile.....

alcottacre> I enjoyed Maisie Dobbs. The way she sets the book up with present day/flashback/present day was done tastefully. I find sometimes that when a writer attempts that style I get lost in the flashback. Winspear gets you to enjoy the 20's and to care about all the characters by the end. I have the other books in the series and look forward to reading them!

Glad to hear that you are enjoying the Maisie Dobbs books. I still need to read the last one in the series.

Do you know of any other mysteries set in that time period? I would be interested in checking into them as well.

message #63. The book club I recently joined went to the movie The Secret Life of Bees. I enjoyed it. I read the book a long time ago and from what I can remember the movie followed the book fairly well.

alcottacre> No, I don't know of any other mysteries set in that time period. Even though I throughly enjoy the mystery when I'm reading it, I always seem to lean towards other genres when it's time to chose my next book. I haven't spent alot of time researching what's out there. I have all of the Maisie Dobbs books and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books and a few other mysteries I've picked up on a whim.

>66 Whisper1: Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books (first one Cocaine Blues) take place in the 20s. They're quite short, amusing mysteries rather than the complicated plot sort, but I enjoy them once in a while.

Thanks for the suggestion, TadAD. I will see if I can locate the books.

26. The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

>26 Whisper1:: Did you enjoy it? I loved it.

TadAd> I loved it! Troost cracked me up with his raw honesty about "real" life. Have you read his others? This was my first by him, but will be adding his other two to the TBR pile.

>72 glassreader:: glassreader

I've read Getting Stoned with Savages and Lost on Planet China.

The first is the same type of book as The Sex Lives of Cannibals, but a shade less funny. It's not that Troost has lost his touch, it's that Fiji/Vanuatu aren't as appalling hysterical as Kiribati was.

The latter is deliberately a more serious book. The Troost humor breaks through regularly...you won't lack for laughs...but it is a bit more of a serious look at the Chinese culture as he saw it.

I recommend both.

27. The Fiddle Case by Christine Palamidessi Moore

28. Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho

What did you think of Veronika Decides to Die? I recommended it to several others for various reasons, but each found something different in the book.

Prop2gether> Not bad. It was my first by Coelho. The topic of "madness" was of great interest. What really makes someone insane or mad? Madness being the inability of explaining yourself... well then I'm mad for sure! I have felt at times, while trying to explain something of great importance, a panicky feeling rising in me when I can't explain it quite right.

At first I couldn't connect with Veronika. Here's a woman who has a good life, a steady life. But when I examine my own life, I too grow weary of the steadiness. Instead of suicide though it pushes me to change things up a bit. :)

I think one of the greatest messages in the book is to be YOU. Don't just settle for the same old stuff. Just because your life isn't working out just as you thought it would, or you're not doing what you thought you would would... don't settle! We are our own worse enemies.

Interesting--sounds similar to my daughter's comments on the book. You might try The Devil and Miss Prym as well. Both books are part of a series by Coelho that seems to be ethics based. I've enjoyed his work very much--simple stories with deep themes.

> 77 glass, "I too grow weary of the steadiness. Instead of suicide though it pushes me to change things up a bit." I couldn't agree with you more, that is why I read using the "Monty Python Method."

- TT

29. Looking for Alaska by John Green

#80 glassreader: What did you think of Looking for Alaska? I read both that one and An Abundance of Katherines by Green this year and thought they were both very good.

alcottacre> I loved it! It was one of those books that started out good, but common. And then... bam! I didn't even realize I was sucked into the characters until half way through the book. I am looking forward to reading An Abundance of Katherines as well.

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

On that note, let me thank you for your recommendation of How Starbucks Saved My Life. I finished it in the wee hours of this morning and was inspired by it. I was worried that it was going to be one long commercial for Starbucks (and I do not even like coffee!), but it did not turn out to be that at all. Very enjoyable, inspiring book.

Oh good!! I too was inspired by the book. My husband and I lived in Portland, Oregon for many years where Starbucks is king. The way he talks about Starbucks in the book is the Starbucks I remember. I live in Atlanta now and I can't remember the last time they had a coffee tasting! It was nice to read about the Starbucks I remember. Also, Gates story was very uplifting.

Hi glassreader and alcottacre.
I recently finished An Abundance of Katherine's and liked if very much. I startred to read Looking for Alaska and had to return it to the library before finishing it. I'll give it another try soon.
Thanks for your comments.

30. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris