BN Book Club

big hat carmen · Post by **big hat carmen** » December 20, 2005 11:10 pm

z-man wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote:Z-man: Bridge of Birds is my all-time favorite book. For real. I've read it at least once a year since 1984 and it NEVER fails to delight, enchant and enthrall me.

It's classified science fiction/fantasy, but do not let that put you off. I never red sci-fi/fantasy and would have NEVER put it in that genre. I've given this book to tons of people since it came out in paperback and everyone has loved it.

two of our bookshelves are filled with science fiction/fantasy.
Lacey is a voracious reader who had never read much sci-fi/fantasy when we met years ago, it is now her favorite genre.

I look forward to reading your favorite!

One of my favorites, and one I have given to many friends, is James Halperin's 'The Truth Machine', another book that pretty much trancends the science fiction classification. It is an incredibly thought provoking book about the impact on society of an infallible lie-detector.

Did Halperin write a book called A Winter's Tale? It is a marvelous fantasy book that I read long ago.

z-man · Post by **z-man** » December 20, 2005 11:18 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote: Z-man: What are some of your and Lacey's favorites? I'm always looking for new books!

Orson Scott Card has a couple series we like alot. The Tales of Alvin Maker is some fascinating historical fantasy. It is set in what is clearly a variation on the American frontier of the mid 1800s, with names and places that are identifiable, but not what our history records.

OceanCityGirl · Post by **OceanCityGirl** » December 20, 2005 11:26 pm

OCG: Hughart only wrote three books and most people have never heard of him. Just word of mouth. I tracked him down in Arizona and have begged him to write more, but he's very much like his main character....a curmudgeon. He won't budge, even though Hollywood has expressed interest in BoB

I'm hoping I just discovered something she never heard of. I'm also hoping I can pick up at least two copies of it. But my daughter and her bf are into obscure stuff and they read alot. Her shelve ranges from fantasy to sci-fi to anime to historical fiction to things with an oriental flare.
cool, i just did a search at my local borders and they have it in stock. I have to go there to get a movie so cool again.

East Texas Parrothead · December 20, 2005 11:28 pm

z-man wrote:
East Texas Parrothead wrote: Z-man: What are some of your and Lacey's favorites? I'm always looking for new books!
Orson Scott Card has a couple series we like alot. The Tales of Alvin Maker is some fascinating historical fantasy. It is set in what is clearly a variation on the American frontier of the mid 1800s, with names and places that are identifiable, but not what our history records.

ENDER'S GAME was so great! I was totally pulled into the story. Never saw the 'ending' coming! Hit me square between the eyes.

If you read BoB, would you let me know what you think . . . especially since you read the genre? Thanks!

z-man · Post by **z-man** » December 20, 2005 11:42 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:
ENDER'S GAME was so great! I was totally pulled into the story. Never saw the 'ending' coming! Hit me square between the eyes.

If you read BoB, would you let me know what you think . . . especially since you read the genre? Thanks!

The whole Ender series (I think 'Shadow of the Giant' is the seventh) is another of our favorites

ejr · Post by **ejr** » December 21, 2005 12:01 am

I wholeheartedly agree with the comments a few pages back about A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard--very compelling. I often stay away from Oprah endorsed books but loved those two.

Much of my reading is totally different from what I see mentioned here.

Still read Grisham, but the stuff just isn't as good as his early work-his need to publish a book each year leads him to write shorter, formula books.

Love Richard North Patterson and some of his political thrillers.

I also read a lot of nonfiction and am currently plodding through a new book called THe Chosen (not the old one by Chaim Potok). It is a must for anyone in or interested in higher education and is about meritocracy, and exclusion in college admissions, focusing on Harvard, Yale and Princeton (some of the blatant anti-semitism that went on years ago is shocking at best). I know it won't be high on everyone's reading list, but it actually is quite interesting.

Also about to reread (for the first time in over 20 years) In Cold Blood, having seen Capote last week.

conched · Post by **conched** » December 27, 2005 11:57 am

I picked up The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and I'm enjoying it.

This is a good little book about friends and growing up and dealing with parents and emotions. I can see how this would help teens deal with RELATIONSHIPS.

"RELATIONSHIPS...Everybody wants 'em, what do you do with 'em?" JB

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » December 27, 2005 12:31 pm

I just got this for Christmas. I am a Civil War/Lincoln addict, can't wait for the energy to actually read.....

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,
Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I also got this thing A Salty Piece of Land......anyone ever hear of it

East Texas Parrothead · December 27, 2005 1:20 pm

Cubbie Bear wrote:I just got this for Christmas. I am a Civil War/Lincoln addict, can't wait for the energy to actually read.....

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,
Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I also got this thing A Salty Piece of Land......anyone ever hear of it

Mr. Mojito read the Goodwin book, Cubbie. He really liked it.

I'm about 1/3 of the way into BLOOD MEMORY - Greg Isles. Got the paperback for Christmas and decided to re-read. Finished two forgettable ones. It's amazing to me how BAD writers are getting publishing deals while really talented ones are struggling to be heard!

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » December 28, 2005 2:38 pm

Last night, got a bottle of wine, built a fire told the kids to leave me alone and READ

What a joy. However after 150 pages I know more about Salmon P. Chase then I ever thought I would.

East Texas Parrothead · December 28, 2005 2:48 pm

Cubbie Bear wrote:Last night, got a bottle of wine, built a fire told the kids to leave me alone and READ What a joy. However after 150 pages I know more about Salmon P. Chase then I ever thought I would.

So glad you had time alone, Cubbie Cutie.

Mr. Mojito and Maggie the dog have been gone since last Thursday. I've had the house to myself and it's been HEAVEN. Have finished four books and cat-napped when I wanted. It's been just lovely.

conched · Post by **conched** » January 1, 2006 8:19 pm

Wishing you all great reading this year.

I decided to read Where Is Joe Merchant again.

Happy New Year! I will read until I have half my books read, beginning with a good inventory.

Then, I vow to get rid of 1/4!

ejr · Post by **ejr** » January 1, 2006 11:51 pm

For those of us that love the first two volumes of Taylor Branch's works on America in the King Years, the third volume, At Canaan's Edge, will be published on January 10th. My copy is already on order!

If you have not read these books, they are terrific!

East Texas Parrothead · January 5, 2006 6:12 pm

ejr wrote:For those of us that love the first two volumes of Taylor Branch's works on America in the King Years, the third volume, At Canaan's Edge, will be published on January 10th. My copy is already on order!

If you have not read these books, they are terrific!

I've been reading excerpts from volume 3 in TIME. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.

EJR: If you like Branch's study, you might like Judgment Days : Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Laws That Changed America. It's very well done.

Am about to start on Jan Karon's last of the Mitford books . . . LIGHT FROM HEAVEN.

Happy reading in 2006.

El mojito · Post by **El mojito** » January 5, 2006 6:39 pm

Reading "Don't Stop the Carnival"

ya gotta love Norm

big hat carmen · Post by **big hat carmen** » January 9, 2006 7:59 pm

I am working on Greg Iles' The Quiet Game after some recommendations from here. I had the book sitting on a shelf, anyone else buy books and not get around to reading them.

maggiemay56 · Post by **maggiemay56** » January 9, 2006 8:23 pm

big hat carmen wrote:I am working on Greg Iles' The Quiet Game after some recommendations from here. I had the book sitting on a shelf, anyone else buy books and not get around to reading them.

Hope you enjoy The Quiet Game.

I have a few books sitting around that I forgot about! Someone here mentioned The Broker - I had forgotten that I bought it. Senior moment, I guess.

By the way, I finally saw the movie Capote - now I know I'll have to read In Cold Blood. I was too young to read it when it was first published, and somehow missed reading it over the years.

Did y'all know Capote was a childhood friend of Harper Lee? And that To Kill A Mocking Bird was her only book published? (I think)

ejr · Post by **ejr** » January 9, 2006 8:26 pm

maggiemay56 wrote: Did y'all know Capote was a childhood friend of Harper Lee? And that To Kill A Mocking Bird was her only book published? (I think)

There have been occasional rumors that he ghost wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

maggiemay56 · Post by **maggiemay56** » January 9, 2006 8:32 pm

ejr wrote:
There have been occasional rumors that he ghost wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

Seriously?

I didn't know... I read somewhere that he was the basis for a character in the book.

Nicki · Post by **Nicki** » January 9, 2006 10:11 pm

ejr wrote: There have been occasional rumors that he ghost wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

well that certainly gives a person something to think about

I just finished A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve; I loved her book The Pilot's Wife- didn't think this one was as good.