Which book are you currently reading?

[Casper]

I love Dave Sedaris. Did you read "Me Talk Pretty One Day" ? His humor in it is just perfect.

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.

[phesina]

Another good Scandinavian author is Per Olav Engquist - check those out!

Does he write mysteries, Randi? If not, what sorts of books? Is he Danish?

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!.

[Edwina's Secretary]

In honor of Dominick Dunne - who died yesterday - I just ordered three of his books....

[phesina]

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.

[Randi]

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

[phesina]

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.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I just started reading "Still Alice". A book written about a lady and her life in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.

[phesina]

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

Randi, I just finished reading "The Royal Physician's Visit." OH... MY.... GOD!!!!!.. What a stunning, breathtaking book!!! Beautifully written, too.

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!

[Catherinedana]

Reading "The Great Gatsby". . . .again