What book are you reading?

rrivers

Leyna Minai wrote:

Who Princess wrote:

rrivers wrote:

I was having trouble getting through "World War Z" so I downloaded "The Hobbit" to my Nook and have been loving it!

I have never read Tolkien, always thinking it was kind of hard to read, based on what others have told me. But I am loving "The Hobbit" so far!

The Hobbit is a lot of fun. The Lord of the Rings is more serious but still has its lighter moments. I think LOTR may appear a difficult read if you judge it by the obsessive fans!

I agree, The Hobbit was a lot more entertaining to read, I couldn't even finish reading The Two Towers. It's just so long and slow and drawn out. Hobbit has more excitement to the story.

Yeah I was surprised by how fun "The Hobbit" is to read. I think I have tried to pick it up and few times and not being able to get into it, but this time it sucked me right in. I'm bummed to hear that about the rest of the series, I'm planning on going right through it all. Reading it on the nook might make it easier for me because I think I tend to read things faster on their rather than reading a real book.

I will have to take a break though because I am going to read Stephen King's new book, "The Wind through the Keyhole" when it comes out next week.

Nastasja

The Plague of Fantasies - Slavoj Zizek

vant0037

I just finished Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield." It seems to me that I always say to myself, after finishing a book, “wow, that was really good.” That may be because I have a good sense of what I will and will not enjoy (and so I avoid books that I probably won’t enjoy…sorry “DaVinci Code”). But in this case, I have to say that “David Copperfield” will end up truly high on my list of great fiction. I would strongly recommend it to anyone. Every one of Dickens’ characters are lovable, admirable or detestable (in true Dickensian fashion right? His characters are the cornerstone of his genius). His narrative voice is fantastic as well; observations that the narrator makes are usually spot-on with what the reader is thinking, making the voice trustworthy and authoritative when he tells us what a sinister creature Uriah Heep is, or how Agnes is and always has been his better angel. A+ recommendation.

I just picked up John Grisham's non-fiction "The Innocent Man." If you know anything about this case or The Innocence Project, you'll understand what an important book this is. Bringing to the masses this notion that "presumed innocent" actually means something, or that there is such a thing as "wrongfully convicted", wow, that's powerful stuff.

riotgrl

vant0037 wrote:

I just finished Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield." It seems to me that I always say to myself, after finishing a book, “wow, that was really good.” That may be because I have a good sense of what I will and will not enjoy (and so I avoid books that I probably won’t enjoy…sorry “DaVinci Code”). But in this case, I have to say that “David Copperfield” will end up truly high on my list of great fiction. I would strongly recommend it to anyone. Every one of Dickens’ characters are lovable, admirable or detestable (in true Dickensian fashion right? His characters are the cornerstone of his genius). His narrative voice is fantastic as well; observations that the narrator makes are usually spot-on with what the reader is thinking, making the voice trustworthy and authoritative when he tells us what a sinister creature Uriah Heep is, or how Agnes is and always has been his better angel. A+ recommendation.

I just picked up John Grisham's non-fiction "The Innocent Man." If you know anything about this case or The Innocence Project, you'll understand what an important book this is. Bringing to the masses this notion that "presumed innocent" actually means something, or that there is such a thing as "wrongfully convicted", wow, that's powerful stuff.

A Tale of Two Cities remains one of my favorite books. I remember struggling to read it during high school but afterwards, and to this day, it remains on my top 10 list!

riotgrl

I just started Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. It is part book and part cookbook. It is a great read that challenges the low fat, no animal fats traditional diet etiquette of the past 50 years. I highly recommend it!

vant0037

RKCNDY wrote:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I haven't finished it yet, but it is a fascinating read. We are taught by society that the 'loud, outgoing, and personable' people are the smartest and are 'leaders'. Studies have shown the opposite is true.

As a loudmouth extrovert myself, I resent this.

RKCNDY wrote:

Also, the theory that 'open' work areas foster more productive employees is hugely false. People actually work better when they can work alone, in solitude; working in groups or open areas actually fosters anger, resentment, and counter-productive work habits.

This MUST be true. I am lucky enough to have my own office and half the day, I don't get shit done, in part, because most of my work happens in court. But when something needs to get done, then it's done and done well. A big part of this is that I'm in an office, no one around, I can work at my own pace (something like, 20 minutes of writing, 20 minutes of PJ.com, 20 minutes of writing, email, water, copy, 20 minutes of PJ.com, repeat ) and get what I need to get done accomplished in a way that suits me. I can't imagine being able to motivate myself in a room full of people.

OK...back to books. Sorry for the digression.

Fifi_Ireland

The shadow rising, book 4 of the wheel of time series.....totally addictive!

oona left

"The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Stieg Larsson.

Who Princess

rrivers wrote:

Yeah I was surprised by how fun "The Hobbit" is to read. I think I have tried to pick it up and few times and not being able to get into it, but this time it sucked me right in. I'm bummed to hear that about the rest of the series, I'm planning on going right through it all. Reading it on the nook might make it easier for me because I think I tend to read things faster on their rather than reading a real book.

I will have to take a break though because I am going to read Stephen King's new book, "The Wind through the Keyhole" when it comes out next week.

Don't be discouraged about LOTR just yet. I first read the books when I was 13 and I couldn't even tell you how many times I've read them. At the same time, I'm not one of those fans who thinks it's the most glorious epic every written and can't bear to hear any criticism. I just like the story.

Since the movies came out I don't think you come across quite as many of the fanatics as you used to. The movies drew a lot of people to the books who probably wouldn't have read them otherwise. The crazy fans probably never watched the movies and considered them sacrilege. :fp:

ComeToTX

My Seinfeld Year - Fred Stoller

Carey

Indifference71 wrote:

Just started Catching Fire. Should have this one finished by the end of the week.

More like end of the month for me. No time!

Ms. Haiku

The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan rescued his empire by Jack Weatherford.

I'm at the part where Genghis Khan and his kids are dead, so we are on to further destruction created by the grandkids.

Who Princess

Ms. Haiku wrote:

The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan rescued his empire by Jack Weatherford.

I'm at the part where Genghis Khan and his kids are dead, so we are on to further destruction created by the grandkids.

That sounds like a good read!

smarchee

oona left

RKCNDY wrote:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I haven't finished it yet, but it is a fascinating read. We are taught by society that the 'loud, outgoing, and personable' people are the smartest and are 'leaders'. Studies have shown the opposite is true, examples are Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Rosa Parks...quiet, reserved people that made huge advances. The loud outgoing people actually are less smart than the quiet reserved people. The reason we don't listen to the quiet people is because they are afraid to speak up, or are bowled over by the loud talkers who are too busy yapping away to listen to others' ideas.

Also, the theory that 'open' work areas foster more productive employees is hugely false. People actually work better when they can work alone, in solitude; working in groups or open areas actually fosters anger, resentment, and counter-productive work habits.

Yes, I hate cubical farms.

This sounds very interesting!

When we relocated to a new building a year and a half ago, the company chose to go with an "open floor plan." I wasn't too found of the idea beforehand, and have found it's actually worse than I feared.

Anger, resentments, and counter-productive work habits? Check, check, and check.

rrivers

oona left wrote:

RKCNDY wrote:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I haven't finished it yet, but it is a fascinating read. We are taught by society that the 'loud, outgoing, and personable' people are the smartest and are 'leaders'. Studies have shown the opposite is true, examples are Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Rosa Parks...quiet, reserved people that made huge advances. The loud outgoing people actually are less smart than the quiet reserved people. The reason we don't listen to the quiet people is because they are afraid to speak up, or are bowled over by the loud talkers who are too busy yapping away to listen to others' ideas.

Also, the theory that 'open' work areas foster more productive employees is hugely false. People actually work better when they can work alone, in solitude; working in groups or open areas actually fosters anger, resentment, and counter-productive work habits.

Yes, I hate cubical farms.

This sounds very interesting!

When we relocated to a new building a year and a half ago, the company chose to go with an "open floor plan." I wasn't too found of the idea beforehand, and have found it's actually worse than I feared.

Anger, resentments, and counter-productive work habits? Check, check, and check.

I had a similiar experience. In January I switched jobs from working in an open area with people I really liked to a new job where I have my own office. From my own perspective, I find myself more relaxed at work. You hit it on the head with this: "Anger, resentments, and counter-productive work habits? Check, check, and check." And I liked the people I was in the office a lot.

stargirl69

Neil Pearts Ghost Rider:Travels on a Healing Road ... for the third time

youngster

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. Great book so far, about 1/3 of the way through it.

PKTrekGirl

Like pretty much every other woman in North America between the ages of 20 and 65, I'm reading "50 Shades of Grey".

And ladies, don't tell me you're not reading it. It's not at the top of the best seller list because all the men are reading it!

Anyway...it's pretty okay I guess. Certainly a huge change from my usual mysteries and spy novels, that's for sure! :P

vant0037

"Amulet" by Roberto Bolano

If you've never read Bolano, you are missing one of the great authors of the 20th century.

I HIGHLY recommend "The Savage Detectives" (with the wonderful-to-pronounce spanish title of "Los Detectives Salvajes") and his posthumously published "2666."

You will not be disappointed.