Tuesday Book Club
Two books to report:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–BEST BOOK I’VE EVER READ IN MY LIFE and I’m willing to stand by that no matter which classics you want to throw up in my face. Dickens? Close–very close. East of Eden? Loved it, but no contest. I’m taking a break, then I’m going to read it again. I noticed Kelly read it twice in probably that many days last week. Bravo, K.
The second book was
I’m calling that a great reading work. Very satisfying. Love a week like that.
How about you guys? What’s on your list from last week?
[By the way, I'm going to be slow on the moderating again today. Sorry--must hike. But post now and I'll catch up as soon as I get back!]
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Reading Clubs, Book Clubs, Book Reviews, Book Recommendations, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Miss Spitfire, Sarah Miller
July 31st, 2007 at 6:29 am
Finished Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell and am reading The Sisters Grimm.
July 31st, 2007 at 7:25 am
Since unpacking is just too boring to do for very long at a time, I got a lot of reading done this week. I finished Snowbone by Cat Weatherill (quirky), Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell (also quirky) and Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan (oh-so-good).
Best book you’ve ever read? That’s a pretty bold statement there, missy. I don’t know if I could ever definitively say that about ANY book.
July 31st, 2007 at 7:42 am
HP7, of course. Can’t stand with you, Robin, on the “best book ever.” I had issues. Although, she definitely passed my Snape characterization O.W.L.S. test with an Outstanding. My biggest problem, and it’s been said better elsewhere, was the limited editing. I’m NOT blaming her editor, because I’m sure there was no time, but it made me want to cry. It was like looking at her in her rumpled PJ’s when I wanted fully pressed wizard regalia… All you have to do is go back and re-read the first book to see what I mean. That was perfection on each page.
Also, I finished Plain Janes. I was baffled by its ending, although I loved the concept.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:01 am
I recently finished The Prize Winner of Defiance,Ohio by Terry Ryan(saw the movie awhile back and really liked it,so I finally just went ahead and read it. The author also passed away recently,another spur to get me going) and am now reading Waiting:the true confessions of a waitress by Deborah Ginsburg. Waiting is very readable and if you don’t vow to become a better tipper in the future after Chapter Two of this book,you are hopeless,completely hopeless!:)
I’m also indulging in some Jane Austen-P&P,to be exact. In looking over my 50 book challenge list,I noticed that I haven’t had any JA in my literary diet for some time now. With the upcoming release of Becoming Jane,I think it’s the right moment to recharge my Austen batteries.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:14 am
Things are picking up at work, so my recreational reading time is dwindling. Plus I couldn’t justify spending the entire weekend draped over a book like I did last week with HP7.
(Did you see this? ** It contains BIG Harry Potter spoilers!! **)
This week I finished “How Nancy Drew Saved My Life” by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:54 am
Like Kelly, I too made my way through a second, more relaxed read of HP 7. My other book last week was the fabulous Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers. I will admit to being besotted with Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books, so this book, with its quirky heroine and Egyptian artifacts carrying ancient curses won me over very quickly. I only hope we see more from LaFevers.
P.S. - On an entirely unrelated note, I bought my ticket for Chicago today. I’m in!
July 31st, 2007 at 9:54 am
True, I read it twice, Robin…but the second time I had 24 hours travel time. Very well suited for reading HP the second time
Let’s see. I’m reading Eric Berlin’s book and listening to a book I’m not loving. In fact I cheated on that book and snuck a Ruth Rendell in–”The Water’s Lovely,” which was highly satisfying.
Mostly, though, I’m editing the Forest and catching up. Oh, and cleaning. What a mess my house was…
Hike away, Robin!
July 31st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
As promised, I read HP & The Chamber of Secrets AND I’ve already started on Prisoner of Azkaban.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Wired by Liz Maverick. (The debut Shomi novel.)
And I’m almost done cleaning my room. And by clean I mean neat and organized for the first time in almost two digit years.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Finishing up Leonardo’s Shadow by Christopher Grey, which I really liked.
Reading Ted Hughes’ poetry for children, as just compiled in a lovely anthology by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Enjoying that, too.
LOVE LOVE LOVED Peter Sis’ The Wall, which Eisha and I hope to co-review along with Knuffle Bunny Too.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Is it bad that I have devoted myself to catching up on Entertainment Weekly and Vogue since I finished HP#7? Because that’s what I’ve been doing. I also picked up a copy of this magazine called Cook’s Illustrated, which I am now completely in love with and am probably going to have to subscribe to.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Adrienne, is it bad? Not as far as I’m concerned. I have a big fat “O” magazine here waiting to get my attention.
Jules, I love to hear you’re so enthusiastic about that book! Looking forward to reading your review.
Heather, you are such a good, good person for doing your cleaning and organizing. I totally fell off the wagon on that. I admire your persistence.
Kimmy, thanks for reminding me not to talk about HP7 yet! Keep reading, and enjoy every single one of them. I’m going to start rereading the whole series again some time soon.
Kelly, I’ve been hearing great things about that Ruth Rendell book. Glad you like it. And I went over to Goodreads to check out that discussion you’re leading on HP7–fascinating stuff. I love hearing other people’s take on it.
Tricia, you’re coming to Chicago! Fabulous! Looking forward to meeting you.
Katie, thanks for that link you sent. I’m totally using it in tomorrow’s post. Because I have no shame when it comes to borrowing people’s links. Plus, I loved it.
Lady T, that’s so nice that you’re heading back to some Jane Austen for a while. I enjoyed your post today about all the new Austen movies and adaptations coming out–what a thrill for all of us fans!
Sara, we’ll just have to agree to disagree about HP7. We can still be friends. But let’s not ever discuss it, okay?
Eisha, yes, I stand by my statement. Best book ever for all sorts of reasons, including the intense emotional ride. But back to you: I’m so, so happy that you’re reading more than unpacking. Or at least in equal doses. Your whole move was ordeal enough–you deserve lots of time immersed in make-believe.
Jone, what is The Sisters Grimm? That sounds promising!
July 31st, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I had a busy busy reading week!
Let’s see…
I finished two audio books. Dean Koontz’s The Good Guy (it was good) and The Miserable Mill (I love Lemony Snicket).
I also read another Cindy Gerard book, Under the Wire! Loved it! Love her! Love a good smut book!
And speaking of smut, I also read another romance called Express Male. It was cute and I read it in a day!
I also read three YA books. I read volumes 6 and 7 of Ranma 1/2. I LOVE this graphic novel. I can’t get enough of them. Lastly I read Meg Cabot’s When Lightning Strikes, the first in the 1-800-Where-R-You series! LOVED IT!!!! I hope to start the next one this week!!!
Hahaha… so I’m just about at a hundred books this year. I’m either an amazing reader… or I have NO life… I think the jury is still out on this one…
July 31st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Christen, you are simply a reading machine. Yow. Great, great job!
“Love a good smut book”–now there’s something for a t-shirt . . .
July 31st, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I, sadly, have not read whole books since I last checked in, choosing instead to actually write mine (and let me just say that I’m at that stage of the writing process where I’ve stopped aiming for good and am hoping for salvageable, but you can edit anything but a blank page, right? Right?)…I’ve been doing a lot of drawing and painting, too, to fill the procrastinatory void. (Funny thing: I’ve found a total inability to draw my current MC, Naomi, but I can paint her. Weird.)
I did, however, buy a book and start it - a thousand page paper brick by the name of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I’m saving it for next week, though, when my schedule changes rather abruptly and there’s no telling when I might need a book.
Hang on–I did read a book this week. After a fashion. Darwin Awards 3, about people who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it. Very good if you like the darker side of funny.
July 31st, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Absolutely, Robin. If anyone ever tried to pick apart The Book of Three (my favorite book) I’d be all bared teeth and sharp nails. I will say that after finishing HP7, I feel satisfied. And there are many, many things I DID love. Like her little nods to her readers…she was so respectful of them and their investment in the story. I could go on, but you’ve already voted it BBE, so…
July 31st, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Thank you, Sara. Maybe we can talk about it after all.
Miri, I’m so excited you’re working on your own book! Yippee!!! Keep going! Finish! Go!
July 31st, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Hey hey. I’m enjoying GoodReads because now I have an easy electronic way to keep track of the books I want to read. I need to set up something like that for the books I lend out. I always lend out books, think I’ve written the titles down somewhere, and then forget where “Somewhere” is.
I just finished Maureen Johnston’s Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes and enjoyed it very much.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:39 am
The Sisters Grimm is written by Michael Buckley. First in a series of orphan girls. It is on a reader’s choice list for this coming year. I think you need to know your Grimm fairy tales to really get the humor but it is a good read.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:32 am
Hey,Robin,I’m finally going to get to read Austenland! Amazon sent a coupon as thanks for my HP pre-order(sweeet)and I had to spend atleast twenty bucks to use,so I went for AL! Really looking forward to it after hearing such good word of mouth about it:)
Oh,and I goofed up-it’s Debra,not Deborah Ginsburg who wrote Waiting. My bad!
August 1st, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Glad to see I’m not the only one reporting on Wednesday!
Greetings From Planet Earth — Kerley (superb)
Letters From Rapunzel — Holmes (also superb)
How to Steal a Dog — O’Connor (gripping)
Study Driven — Katie Wood Ray (will help me be a better writing teacher)
Dragon of the Red Dawn — Mary Pope Osborne (reading every book in this series is just something I do…there are 4th and 5th graders every year who are relieved to have permission/validation to read at this level. Sometimes it is their true level, and sometimes they learn the joy of “book candy” that they can pop off in 20 minutes.)
The Professor’s Daughter — Sfar (YA/adult graphic novel. Funny funny funny.)
The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects — Buckley. (Jone–the second one is even better than the first!)
No Talking — Clements (one of his best)
Educating Esme — Codell (gets me pumped up to start a new teaching year every time I read it!)
August 1st, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Alkelda, I’ve joined Goodreads, but haven’t even begun to take advantage of all its cool features. One more thing to play with . . .
Jone, that sounds good! I need to add it to my list.
Lady T, YAY! What a nice present for yourself. Hope you love it as much as I did!
Mary Lee, you read all those in a week? Aaaa! I’m so lazy! But how inspiring to see your list!
August 1st, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I’m rereading HP7 also. I don’t know about best book ever, but I did really like it. For two days after I finished it the first time I was emotionally on edge, it affected me so strongly. Strange, I know.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Today, I shall read Alanna the First Adventure.