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I have his books on tape, with him reading them. It makes it that much more of a fabulous experience. Some of his earlier, less polished, more sarcastic stuff gets on my nerves a bit, but "Me Talk Pretty .. .", "Naked", "Dress Your Family. . ." and "When you Are Engulfed. . ." are incredible works. He has a very brilliant and unusual mind (he's a sick puppy!) :pQuote:
Originally Posted by jenn_librarian
I did not know about it until recently. My partner asked me to pick it up for him at the public library, and when he finished it, I read it too. I am at part I now, but I will definitely read the next parts. It is very easy to read and I can hardly stop when I start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirsten
OK, I'm going to admit it... I haven't read any of Stieg Larsson's books yet. :o I was busy trying to find more by Sue Grafton, which Sara sent me some of. The library have them - at least some of them - then I spotted Sophie Kinsella's books there.
I guess I'm like Catnapper; I like to read light and fluffy mysteries before I sleep. At the moment I'm reading some of Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholics" books. You can take them to the park, since you don't have to concentrate that much.
However, I'm also reading "Surely you're joking" by Richard P. Feynman, which I digged out from John's boxes.
Another good Scandinavian author is Per Olav Engquist - check those out!
Have any of you read "Curiousity killed the catsitter"? I quite enjoyed that!
Well, I have to admit that I've been disgusted yesterday by the chapter I read last night in my current book, "The Final Days". It described an awful case of animal abuse, done to a cat, really sad. My heart was bleeding when I finished that chapter. :( I know that animals being killed by psychopaths is often a stylistic device in thrillers, but it's always breaking my heart!
Kirsten
I sure did. :) I believe it was the first book of his that I read. I don't see how anyone can read that book and not go back for more.Quote:
Originally Posted by jenn_librarian
Currently rereading Quantum Psychology by Robert Anton Wilson and Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger.
Does he write mysteries, Randi? If not, what sorts of books? Is he Danish?Quote:
Originally Posted by Randi
I looked on amazon.com to see if they had anything by him. All they had listed were a few reference books which mentioned novels by him.
So then I went to the Ann Arbor District Library's web site, and guess what.. there are LOTS of books by him there! Randi, can you suggest any in particular I might start with? Thank you!. :)
In honor of Dominick Dunne - who died yesterday - I just ordered three of his books....
I had just been thinking, what with all the Ted Kennedy news, that I want to reread "A Season in Purgatory." And now I think I'd like to reread more of his books.
phesina, I'm sorry... I was sleepy and mixed something up yesterday. However, Per Olav Engquist IS a good and well known autor. I just got a book by him that is called "The visit of the Royal Physician". I haven' had time to read it yet, but I'm sure it's good.
What I meant to say is... check out Sjowall & Wahloo! Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3%B...hl%C3%B6%C3%B6
Thanks, Randi! I know the bookstore has books by Sjowall and Wahloo, but I haven't read any of them yet. Thanks to the Wikipedia page, I now know to start with Roseanna.
Here's what the library's summary link has to say about The Royal Physician's Visit:
The Royal Physician's Visit : A Novel
An international sensation,The Royal Physician's Visit magnificently recasts the dramatic era of Danish history when Johann Friedrich Struensee -- court physician to mad young King Christian -- stepped through an aperture in history and became the holder of absolute power in Denmark. His is a gripping tale of power, sex, love, and the life of the mind, and it is superbly rendered here by one of Sweden's most acclaimed writers. A charismatic German doctor and brilliant intellectual, Struensee used his influence to introduce hundreds of reforms in Denmark in the 1760s. He had a tender and erotic affair with Queen Caroline Mathilde, who was unsatisfied by her unstable, childlike husband. Yet Struensee lacked the subtlety of a skilled politician and the cunning to choose enemies wisely; these flaws proved fatal, and would eventually lead to his tragic demise.
distributed by Syndetic Solutions, LLC.
I just started reading "Still Alice". A book written about a lady and her life in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.
Went to the public library, wanted to take Millenium Part II (Stieg Larsson), gone! Wanted to take a Per Olav Engquist book, gone! Well, I'll have to wait or go to the bigger central library instead of the annex which is near my home but rather small.
Instead I took Robin Hobb, Shaman's crossing.
And also a book about cats (surprising isn't it?). Pretty basic probably, about education, food, behaviour, etc. but I always enjoy looking at the nice pics anyway :D It was just in front of me, among the newest aquisitions, I could not resist grabbing it! :D
Finished "The Final Days" now, and really don't know what to think about it. Geez, the bad guy in that book was so evil, so psychopathic! And there was cruelty towards animals, I didn't like that at all! Also, the book had something like an open ending, which is also somewhat annoying. And yet it was written in a way that made it hard to put the book aside.
Tonight, I started "Die Pestärztin" ("The plague doctor") by Ricarda Jordan. Only read the first 10 pages so far, but it seems to be in interesting medieval story. :)
Kirsten
Randi, I just finished reading "The Royal Physician's Visit." OH... MY.... GOD!!!!!.. What a stunning, breathtaking book!!! Beautifully written, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Randi
I've never been particularly interested in historical, royal-intrigue stories, but this one had me utterly fascinated. I couldn't put it down unless I absolutely had to.
These were all real people in Danish history 200-some years ago, and events in the story actually did take place, more or less?
I think I have to work up more energy to start another of his! When I take this one back, I'll look over what else is in the library catalog. Any others you would particularly recommend?
Meanwhile, last week I got "Roseanna" and "The Man Who Went up in Smoke" by Sjowall and Wahloo at the mystery bookstore, and I read "Roseanna" before starting "The Royal Physician." It was EXCELLENT, and now I'm going to read "The Man Who.."
Also, in memory of Dominick Dunne, whose recent death was mentioned by Sara, I went on to Amazon.com and ordered "A Season in Purgatory" and "People Like Us." Right after I sent that off, I happened to look down on the floor, and there was "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" by Dunne! (Which I didn't even remember I had, let alone that it was just lying there, unnoticed by me until just that moment.)
Many thanks to Randi and Sara for loads of good reading ideas to keep me going for a while! :love::love::love:
Reading "The Great Gatsby". . . .again
Phesina, I'm so glad you liked "The Royal Physician's Visit." I'll start reading it one of these days and am looking forward to it. :) Btw, I live on the corner of Struenseegade.
When I think of more good books, I'l let you know.
Oh, that's so funny that your street is named for him! Is Johann Friedrich Struensee well-known still from Danish history? I kind of got the idea from the book that he, and the events and other central participants in the story, faded away into obscurity after the would-be revolution failed.
I took the book back to the library yesterday, wound up coming home with "Lewi's Journey" and "Blanche and Marie" by Enquist.
Yesterday I met a young Swedish woman at the gym. She graduated from MIT last year and is now working as an engineer at Ford Motor Company. I told her I had been reading a number of Swedish and other Scandinavian authors recently and had just finished Enquist's "Royal Physician." She was really enthusiastic and impressed when I mentioned him!
Right now I'm about halfway through "The Man Who Went Up in Smoke."
Again, thanks for the leads, Randi!
I just finished reading Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
I'm now reading the sequel, Through The Looking Glass And What Alice Found There.:love:
I'm into science fiction. I love to read anything by Robert A. Heinlein. I'm currently reading "Space Cadet" by him.
Sci-fi books are great! I have never tried any of his books yet, must check it out. I am still reading "Troublesome Minds" by Dave Galanter. Yes, it is a Star Trek novel :p I began reading it at the beginning of the summer and I got to ONE boring part and just stopped reading for a few weeks. The problem with Star Trek is most of the books, episodes, and a few movies are good but there is one part in all of them where I want to shoot my brains out, then it DOES get good again. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by david p
One of my favorite authors is Karin Slaughter and I just received notice from my public library that her newest Undone is ready for me to pick up so I will be starting that one within a day or two. Have several on my nightstand with bookmarks and will finish those but ready to start something new:D The ones on my nightstand are Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and Christless Christianity by Dr. Michael S Horton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Demi Is A Digimon
Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorites of all times. Ranks among The Hobbit and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - all books I read as a youngster but still pick up and read again.
I'm jealous of you reading it for the first time with fresh eyes!
Cathy
I just finished Max Lucado's new book: Fearless.
I liked it a lot. :love:
David, if you are in to sci fi you should check out Joe Haldeman. I read his book The Forever War reciently and now I'm reading the first book in the Worlds trilogy. Very dark sci fi but extremely gripping in my opnion.Quote:
Originally Posted by david p
Since everyone seems to read Stieg Larsson these days, I finally started with my first one yesterday. It's the first of the trilogy; I think the English title is "The girl with the dragon tattoo" (Swedish title: "Män som hatar kvinnor", German title "Verblendung"). My co-worker gave it to me; she gave up reading after 100 pages, but I find it interesting so far. Saw that there's going to be a movie soon, based on the novel.
Also, I have ordered Dan Brown's new book, "The Lost Symbol". It was delievered today, and I can't wait to read it! :) But of course I will first finish the Stieg Larsson book! ;) I ordered "The Lost Symbol" in English btw, as the German translation hasn't been released yet.
Kirsten
I'm now reading "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters" by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters. :)
Two books at once? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Oyster
Kirsten
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
How do you like that one? Read it a while ago...Quote:
Originally Posted by Zippy
Kirsten
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirsten
I'm really enjoying it.It's like reading a dream that's how I would explain it.After this I'm reading Romeo and Juliet.
I swith between wuthering heights and my sister's keeper by Jodi Picott(sp?)[the mother in this book is driving me crazy].Has anyone read it?
No, I haven't read that one.
But I was really fascinated by Wuthering Heights, especially by the character of Heathcliff. Both fascinated and disgusted at the same time, a very complex figure! You want so desperately find something good, something human beyond all his cruelties, and yet you have to realize that he's driven by nothing but his obsessive love that drove him mad...
BTW, just finished Stieg Larsson, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", and have now started "The Lost Symbol", Dan Brown's new book. Anyone else reading it?
Kirsten
Kirsten, do you know that Karen maintains a blog of the books she reviews? You probably do, but just in case, here is the link Blog.
I was just looking through the new ones the other day. There look to be some really interesting books on there.
Currently reading "The Girl from Junchow" sequel to "The Russian Concubine" by Kate Furnivall - very interesting.
Also finished Steig Larsson's two books (described in earlier posts) and can hardly wait for the third due to be released in May 2010 in Canada.
I have "The Book of Negroes" on my bookshelf and have been told it is riveting. May be my Christmas read this year.
Any new suggestions? I am always looking for a good read:)
I'm in the midst of a few books.
At school I'm in the middle of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" about the life of 2 Afghani women during the rise and fall of the Taliban. This is NOT a middle school book, but just a book that I brought in from home to read while I have down time at work. The author also wrote "The Kite Runner".
At home I'm reading "The Boy from Baby House 10", a book written by a boy I had at school. His name is John Lahutsky, and he was a Russian orphan, and it details his ordeal in the Russian orphanage system. It's a tear jerker for sure, and makes one wonder how any of these children survive. I'd recommend it for anyone to read.
I also have a few other young adult books going, but they are not holding my attention as much as these are. I do recommend "Under the Persimmon Tree" by Susanne Fisher Staples. She details the lives of an American woman who moved to Pakistan, and a Pakistani/Afghan refugee girl during American occupation. Very very good. She also wrote "Haveli" and "Shabanu", both about a girl named Shabanu, and her life over in the middle east (I'm blanking on the country at the moment).
Jenn,
Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns were incredible - certainly made me appreciate living in our western culture.
I will have to keep an eye out for the others you have mentioned - they do sound very interesting, thank you.
Betty
Right now I am reading Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel.
I was still reading On Killing by Lt. Col Dave Grossman, but I don't think I'll finish it. I also started re-reading Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat.
Just finished "Gob's Grief" by Chris Adrian. OMG!!! Read it!
I'm reading Eli by Bill Myers. It's about what would happen if Jesus had come today instead of 2000 years ago. Absolutely fascinating book!