books???

I love to read and go through books like water (well maybe not quite that many books, since I am drinking more now <>).

I like pretty much anything and was wondering what you all have been reading lately.

I love historical fiction.  Some authors I really like are Dorothy Dunnett and Judith Tarr.

I also like scifi and fantasy authors like Terry Pratchet, Douglas Adams and George R.R. Martin.

I also love books that make you think - one of my fav's of all time is called "Blindness" by Jose Saramago.  I also really liked Instance of the Fingerpost by Ian Pears (sp?).

I am currently reading the Davinci Code - thought I'd see what all of the fuss was about.

What are you all reading?  Any recommendations?

I'm about to start the Thrall's Tale... by Judith Lindbergh.  I love all the Harry Potter's and tend to lean toward anything to scare the poop outta me!

Right now I'm reading a non-fiction historical account of a very dark side of America.  I had no idea.  It's quite frightening.

War Against The Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign to Create a Master Race by Edwin Black.

Truly eye opening. 

My favorite two books of all time are James Joyce's A Portait of the Artist as a Young Man and Virginia Woolfe's Orlando. Both of them are brilliant, and they'll definitely get you thinking. Three years on and I'm still trying to figure out the ending of Orlando. ;) hehe!

Right now I'm mainly reading novels required for university (23 this semester alone!) The Bridge by Iain Banks, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and about five others are on my reading list for the moment. haha! And only two weeks till exam time *sigh* I love procrastination. ;)

I'm currently reading Jane Austin's Persuasion.  Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy is in my desk drawer at work...next on my list.  Then I think back to Jane Austin for Pride and Prejudice - I'm addicted to all the Jane Austin movies, figured I should finish reading the books (or start, for that matter!)  So far I've read Sense and Sensibility and the first half of Persuasion. 

I would also like to read some Henry James sometime...any suggestions?

Just thought of a funny, fun author I love.  Christopher Moore.  My favorite, Lamb, which is the untold story of Christ's childhood, as told by his pal, Biff.  It's really fabulous.

Hiya Syd!

The Turn of the Screw is a good James novel, nice and creepy (and, of course, terribly mysogynistic like most James novels). Think Jane Eyre, except with the governess as the crazy one. It's also a relatively short novel, so it's a nice break between the length of Jane Austen novels.

Hope this helps! :D

I have to do a lot of technical reading for my job, so I like pure escapism. And I do go through a lot of books too....the employees at the used book store know me well :) I always have to have a stash of unread books (at LEAST 30 on hand)

Lawyer and Detective novels - something with a twist

John Grisham, Dean Koontz, oh, I have too many authors to list them all.

I go through them so fast, I've started a spreadsheet with what I've read (Book Title, Author, rating from 1 to 10) so I don't buy books I've read already....lol.

I take my list with me to the book store and try and look for books written by authors I've previously enjoyed.

Wow!  You are crazy ready!  LOL.  What a great idea!  I should do the same.  I like the detective novels too, and I've bought the same one more than once!

How about something like, GOOD TO GREAT, or THE WORLD IS FLAT. Or try a classic, like, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

Right now I'm finishing up The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. It's nonfiction about a young Hmong girl with epilepsy and the culture clash between her family and her doctors. It's really good -- deals with everything from medical ethics to immigration to anthropology to history...

sydthekid -- If you want to read Henry James, I really liked The Bostonians. If you're into that "Novel of Manners" genre (Austen, etc), you can't go wrong with Edith Wharton! The House of Mirth is one of my favorites.

thanks everyone!  I am going to print this list for my next trip to the library...

crazy-reddy - the book I mentioned in my original post, "Instance of a Fingerpost" is a who-dun-it. 

It is really interesting, because you hear the story from different individuals' perspectives, but it isn't until the last person that you learn the truth.  It's kind of like Eco's "In the Name of the Rose" if you've ever read that.  It is written from the historical perspective, though, so not like modern detective books.

Tgarrison, To Kill a Mockingbird IS fabulous! I've never seen the movie, you? I heard it's even better which I find hard to believe!

I've seen the movie a 1000 times and would watch it again in a heartbeat! Better yet, get the book on tape. The one I listened to was read by the author. You get a whole new experience that way. John Grisham's books are kind of chilly on tape. I also listened to Dracula that way, and that was something else. Dracula is all corespondance or journal entries. Read out loud is a little creepy! I try not to get abridged versions. I want the whole enchilada!
And I love the classics...Ivanhoe, Les Miserable - that one was GREAT! Hunchback of Notre Dame. Throw in a little Old English and it gets challenging. But perhaps Mockingbird is my favorite.

I love reading too... not currently really reading anything though... just thought I'd insert, just make sure while reading the Davinci Code to keep in mind that it is in fact fiction. Many people are forgeting that and taking it for fact and that's where the fuss is coming in...

Take Care.

I thought it was a great story and it reminds me of the movie National Treasure. I had a church member get a little upset about it a few days ago and she wondered about going to the movie. I reminded her that National Treasure was a great story but that I really didn't believe there's a map on the back of the Declaration of Independance. The guys in the movie found the treasure and I really didn't believe they really found a real treasure. Its just a great story! Same with the DiVinci Code. Here's one pastor telling you, its no big deal. Enjoy the story.

I personally haven't read it... but as long as people keep in mind it is in deed fiction I'm sure it can be a good story... but it's when people go around saying "oh Jesus and Mary Magdelane [sic] have a relationship" or that Jesus has kids or something and they beliefs it because of the fictional book.... that's when things aren't good because it is not a docterine of any faith...

Take Care.

That's what I told my church member. I really don't get all the hype or the leap that got us there. Just like I don't understand the Harry Potter controversies. Last time I checked there were no flying cars reported in London being flown by witches or 4-legged creatures that are half people, half horse in any forrests ove there. It's just a story! If you get a chance, I thought The DiVinci Code was rather good.

I am currently reading the Chronicles of Narnia series. I absolutely love to read, but don't do as much for enjoyment while in school. Too much other stuff to read :P

C.S.Lewis' non fiction is especially good.

Amber:

Ya, I have spreadsheets for EVERYTHING. My daughter calls me the 'Spreadsheet Nerd'....LOL LOL LOL. I don't care...they make me happy. And I can't count the times I've started reading a book and THEN remember I've read it - totally wrecks the 'read' for me. But never fear...I have 29 more to choose from...haha. That doesn't happen any more. And....the good thing is, if I try a new author, the bad rating is also in my list, so I know to avoid any books written by them.