Tuesday Book Club
Finished Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. WOW. To know what the human mind and body and spirit are capable of–mind-blowing.
But that’s it for my non-HP reading. From now on it’s all Harry Potter, all the time until I finish books 5 and 6 and happily welcome book 7.
Which brings me to an important point: One of our regular readers made a request that I ask everyone not to discuss book 7 on the blog for at least two weeks after it comes out, to allow everyone a chance to read it. I’m not even sure if two weeks is enough. I really, really hate it when someone posts spoilers. I’m one of those people who doesn’t even shake my Christmas presents–I like to be surprised. So please don’t send any comments about HP 7 that I’m going to have to read and edit out. Let’s all maintain a cone of silence on this one.
And now to you: what did you read this past week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, Books, Reading, Book Reviews, Book Recommendations, Autobiography of a Yogi, Anti-HP Spoilers
July 17th, 2007 at 5:25 am
I’m mired in the Potters. I finished #3 and am in the midst of #4. Rereading them, I am newly impressed with Rowling’s storytelling. I’m getting all caught up in the story again, that whole I-don’t-want-to-stop-turning-pages thing, even though I already know what’s going to happen. I also am appreciating how much she set up in earlier books that became more important later.
It also made me remember some of the reasons the books are so much better than the movies, but that’s to be expected, of course.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:42 am
OMG!
I can’t believe Hermione is pregnant with Harry’s twins - Luke and Leia!
July 17th, 2007 at 5:46 am
I don’t even LOOK in the direction of my Christmas presents. And I will probably have to wait in line behind my kids for HP7…ordered one copy, what was I thinking?…so thanks, Robin.
I finished Flora Segunda this week. I agree with Chasing Ray’s review of this one: (paraphrase) Give yourself over to the language and the world-building. Don’t look back.
I’ll add that it reminded me of Joan Aiken’s work, too. And that Ysabeau is now coming to Robin’s party.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:53 am
No finished book for me this week. And I’m going to consider cutting my goal in half to 25. (I want my ms in the mail by the end of the year.)
July 17th, 2007 at 7:18 am
“I killed them. I killed all the Death Eaters,” said Harry.
Hermione places a hand on his shoulder giving him a gentle pat.
“I love you, Harry,” said Hermione.
—
“Hermione, I’m afraid he’s gone to the dark side,” said Ron.
“Serious?”
“No. Harry. Sirius is still a good guy.”
July 17th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Deep into New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
Am I the only one who’s not re-reading all the HPs before book 7?
July 17th, 2007 at 7:47 am
PJ, yes, you are. But it’s not too late. Sure, the books are massive, but if you read them day and night like the rest of us crammers, you’ll be ready. Start now!
Patrick, that’s it for you. Funny, sure, but you’re making me nervous.
Heather, as someone who’s looking forward to reading your novels in the near future, how can I say that’s not a reasonable decision? So go ahead and read less, write more.
Sara, it’s so cool that you just finished and loved Ysabeau’s book, and soon you’ll get to met her! I think we should all have that as our goal–love the book, meet the author. I’m inviting J.K. right now.
Adrienne, I totally agree with you about the storytelling in those books. Rowling really is the master. As I’ve said before, I think she’s our generation’s Dickens.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:11 am
PJ, don’t let her lie to you. Those of us with memories don’t need to read again.
The key reference to remember is in the 3rd book, when Harry betrayed the Ewoks.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Patrick, I’m beginning to suspect something: you’ve never read HP, have you?
July 17th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I’m still reading Order of the Phoenix.
I finished Hot Stuff by Janet Evanovich- a good airplane read.
July 17th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I finished up Swim to Me by Betsy Carter(due out in August) and am on the brink of completion with Peyton Place-what a humdinger of a book that is! Of course,I’ll be keeping a vigil on Saturday to await my precious copy of HP7(Amazon has promised me guaranteed delivery on that date and I’ve had it on pre-order since February,so it BETTER show up or heads will roll).
I will respect your no spoiler policy on the new HP,Robin,but it may be hard not to talk about it elsewhere! I’ll probably blog about it after I read it but will try really,really hard not to ruin it for others.
July 17th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Deborah, me, too.
Lady T, feel free to talk about it anywhere but here. I just don’t want to have to moderate it if I haven’t finished it myself! If it’s on someone else’s blog, I can just look away.
July 17th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Robin, if I haven’t read the books would I know about Neville giving Harry gillieweed so he could save the Gungens from Smaug?
July 17th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Well, I should have a lot to report, but…eh…okay, here goes.
First off, the book I did manage to finish on “holiday.” The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill took me a little while to get into - it was one of those cut-price bookfair purchases that stared me down from my shelf for months before I finally opened it (others in this category include The Thief Lord, one of my favorite books, at least on a par with Inkheart, by the same author (right about now the hints should be giving you a nice tan, Robin), and D.J. MacHale’s The Merchant of Death, first in a series I now by the newest installment of in hardback the day it comes out). But once I hit the second or third chapter, it just completely sucked me in. There’s something extremely Heroes of Might and Magic about it–maybe the turn-based nature of a severely outnumbered fortification under siege–and, partially because of that, I loved it. It’s the only book I’ve ever seen actually pull off psychosis as a villainous motivation, and daggum, Scipio Bellorum is one cool villain.
Of course, I’m rereading the Harry Potters, though I started from the fifth, because I reread GoF for Mother Reader’s 48-Hour Bookathon. I’ll probably go back for PoA after I finish HBP, which I’m currently…um…well, let’s see, (Robin, you might have to help me with the white-out, I’m not sure how the codes work on your blog) [Miri, are you kidding me? You think I have advanced skillz like that? Do you not know me by now?--R] Harry is expounding his “Malfoy-is-a-Death-Eater” to anyone who will listen. Just in case there’s anyone on the planet who hasn’t read HBP, you know. I did stay up until 2 this morning reading it, gave myself a nasty headache, but after a dose of Tylenol at 10:30 this morning and another hour and a half of sleep, I’m good as new!
I’ll probably just stay off the internet until I’ve read Deathly Hallows, which should be approximately eight days after it comes out - Mom buys them, so she reads them first, so I have to hang on an extra week. It works well for everyone, though, aside from that–she only has to keep secrets for a day, because I’ll probably read it in eight or nine hours.
Wow, that was long.
July 17th, 2007 at 10:06 am
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah - I would say drop everything and read this, but you’re all up in that Harry Potter stuff, so maybe just put it on your list somewhere. And go to the website - http://www.alongwaygone.com to see videos of Ishmael (he’s hot, as well as brilliant, if you need extra motivation) talking about Sierra Leone, his book, the writing process, etc.
And… Notes from a Spinning Planet: Ireland by Melody Carlson. This was the first Christian fiction I’ve ever read! I really like what Carlson is doing with the Notes series - showing YAs the problems facing people in other parts of the world (in this case, the Troubles in Northern Ireland) It wasn’t so heavyhanded that a non-Christian, or semi-Christian (can’t think of a better word) would be put off by it. I didn’t like that the Maddie, the main character loves Irish food. Yuck.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Luckily I’ll be on a boat when HP7 comes out, and I’ll have my copy with me, so I won’t have to worry about finding spoilers on the internet.
I’m rereading book 6 now. I thought I’d be able to start at 1 and get through all of them before 7 came out. That lasted for all of 50 pages into book 1, and then I just jumped right into book 6 when I realized I had only a week left and very little free time. Thank goodness my mother sent me her CDs of book 6, so now I’m reading in the car on audio and at home on paper.
I promise not to post any spoilers. I was very good about that for the last book, although I accidentally gave away one of the BIG secrets to a friend a YEAR after the book was published. He was really upset, but I just couldn’t believe he hadn’t read it after a YEAR!
July 17th, 2007 at 11:26 am
The Thief Lord, Miri. Check.
Molly, what do you have against Irish food? I’ve read some of Melody Carlson’s books, too. I like thme.
Nancy, I did that same thing to someone. You figure after a year or so, everyone in the world has caught up, right? You can probably guess the thing I revealed from book 6. Gulp. Whoops.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:29 am
You told them Ron was frozen in Carbonite?
July 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Great, Patrick. Tell everybody.
July 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Patrick does seem to know his way around the geeky pop culture references, but isn’t it “Gungans,” with an “a”?
July 17th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Hi!!!! I’m so sorry that I’ve been MIA! My new job is so crazy and I run around all day like a crazy woman! But I haven’t forgotten you!!!
I’ve been reading like a mad woman. I’m into the 80s now! (I have no life.) This week I read…
Dean Koontz’s Whispers! Fantabulous! Shelley Bradley’s Naughty Little Secret! Fantabulous (I read it in 3 hours!)! Ranma 1/2 vol. 5. Fantabulous! Another Graphic novel called Ray. It was okay (Not anywhere as cool as Ranma 1/2). And lasty Marisa Acocella Marchetto’s Cancer Vixen! I LOVED this book / graphic novel. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I could almost see my mom when I read this story! Funny, heart warming, and inspiring!
And that’s it for me!
July 17th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Christen, how we have all missed your enthusiasm and your exclamation points. Welcome back! And you’re already over 80 books for the year? You are SMOKIN’!
Adrienne, thanks for chiming in, because I have no idea what he’s talking about.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 17th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Is that how you spell it? Who is the geek now, Adrienne?
July 17th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Thank you, Patrick. I have decided that I am of an age where I need to be good at *something*.
Robin, Jar-Jar is a Gungan, so I’m afraid we have to hate them, although it does explain why giving Neville gillyweed was a good idea.
July 17th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I read the comedic play They All Want Something by Courtenay Savage, then started a great novel due out next year…
July 18th, 2007 at 2:04 am
“Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians” by Brandon Sanderson is clever and funny. That is all I’ve managed to finish this week.
I am not rereading HP.
Thanks to Patrick for the chuckles. I think he should write his version of Harry Potter.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Michelle, do not encourage him. It’s best not to make eye contact.
Adrienne, thanks for the tip. I can’t even look at that link because there might be a picture of Jar-Jar there, and let’s not get started on how I feel about him/it.
Little Willow, you’re the only one reading plays. I love it! Thanks for rounding out the list.
July 18th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Uh, did anyone see this?
http://www.patiscool.org/2007/07/speaking-of-jedi.html
July 18th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Everyone should read plays! and poetry! and novels! and non-fiction! and newspapers! and …