Tuesday Book Club
Five books this week. Wahoo! And two of them by Shannon Hale–double hoo!
I started with her newest one, Book of a Thousand Days, last week, and then yesterday read in one sitting Princess Academy. Truly loved them both. There’s this feeling with some books after just a few sentences that you can settle right in and relax–you can tell you’re in good hands. I definitely get that feeling with Shannon Hale’s work. She’ll put you in a world, explain everything you need to know, give you characters to love, to despise, to hope for romance with. Her novels are realistic fairy tales. I love the form, love her execution of it. You guys know how completely ga-ga I was about Austenland earlier this year. The only thing lacking in the two novels of hers I read this week was Colin Firth as Darcy. But really, how many times can you sneak him into your novel?
Then we have The Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz, the guy who wrote The Four Agreements, which we talked about earlier this year. More mind-expanding ideas, more ah-ha insights. If you liked some of the Four Agreements, such as “Do not make assumptions” and “Don’t take anything personally,” you’ll love where this book takes you next.
Next, a quick airplane read, Nicholas Sparks’s Nights in Rodanthe. I’d never read any of his books, although I did see (and weep profusely at) the movie version of Message in a Bottle. Assessment? Quick airplane read. But I do understand why he’s a best-seller.
And last, a rereading of the outstanding On Writing by Stephen King. I listened to the audio version of it when it first came out, and even though it’s fun to hear Stephen read his own work, I think I prefer the print version–you can take it at your own pace and really ponder some of the lessons. King is such an impressive, prolific writer. If you’re aspiring to make your living as a writer, this should be one of your required textbooks.
Yay! Love a big reading week. How about you guys? What did you read this week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, Books, Reading, Shannon Hale, Book of a Thousand Days, Princess Academy, Stephen King, On Writing, Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements, The Voice of Knowledge, Nicholas Sparks, Nights in Rodanthe, Book Recommendations, Book Reviews
October 16th, 2007 at 5:21 am
I finished rereading Tight Lines (mystery, by William G Tapply), the book I’ve been reading at work.
I also read Moominpappa at Sea (by Tove Jansson) and Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature (twice).
And I’ve started rereading The Golden Compass (aka Northern Lights).
October 16th, 2007 at 6:09 am
Shannon Hale was at the Southern Festival of Books last weekend, but I missed her. Wah! But, hey, I saw Rosemary Wells instead. And, my husband loves that Stephen King book.
I haven’t read a book in a week. This is just wrong. I hope to remedy this soon. I need to find a better blogging balance in my life. But I’m about to get caught up on reviews and post some (via ForeWord Magazine, but I’ll link from 7-Imp) of Kerry Madden’s Lousiana’s Song, Sarah Beth Durst’s Into the Wild (LOVE IT!), and Prue Mason’s Camel Rider. And a 7-Imp review of Home of the Brave today. Not trying to drive traffic to 7-Imp; that’s just all I got in the way of reporting in on reading, ’cause I haven’t started a new book in about a week. Egads.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Alas, I’m still reading Twilight in 10- or 20-minute increments, and savoring each juicy bite. (;
October 16th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I plan to reread The Golden Compass soon. Last night, I read Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin. It was a pretty good story about what happens in the afterlife (when you die, you reverse your age in a land called Elsewhere until you’re a baby, and then you’re sent down the river to be born again on Earth), but I wish I hadn’t read the author Q and A afterward. In answer to the question, “What is one thing about you that would surprise your readers?” Zevin said that she actually didn’t concern herself much about the afterlife, and said, “Que sera sera.” My response: if you don’t care about the afterlife, why did you write this book? And if I care about the afterlife, what does that say about how you feel about your readers?
October 16th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I read CRAZY IN LOVE by Lani Diane Rich, my very good friend. And I loved it, as I do all her books. She’s such a funny writer.
October 16th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Robin, You’re setting the bar with five books. I love Stephen King’s On Writing, though, and I also love Shannon Hale’s work.
I didn’t read any books that were over 32 pages this week, although I did just finish reading a great big stack of picture books. My favorite was Rachel Isadora’s take on The Princess and the Pea.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:00 am
I finished The Almost Moon(really sad but a worthwhile read,IMO)and have started World Without End,the sequel to Pillars of the Earth. WWOE is quite a long book(979 pages)but not as long as Maia was,so I think I can handle it:)
I have that SK book,too Robin(even gave it to my sister to help her with some writing tips). A book like that is probaly better to have in print form but King reading his own work is fab. I have an audio CD of him reading a short story to an audience(L.T.’s Theory of Pets)and it’s so great.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:39 am
I read one I’d been looking forward to: The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perotta. In the EW review, they said this: “Sex, this novel suggests, may not be the sacred mystery that Perrotta’s abstinence advocates say it is. But it remains more mysterious than Ruth, in her peppy lectures, wants to admit.” And I was like, “Thank you, EW!” That is what I liked about the book, though I couldn’t quite put it into words.
I also reread A Wind in the Door by Madeleline L’Engle (I am doing some rereading of her books since her death . . . she is my favorite author) and just finished The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:14 am
It’s midterms, so I’ve been bouncing between American Age: US Foreign Policy at Home and Abroad, Physical Geography, When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina, and Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and US Foreign Policy.
I’ve also been reeeeally slowly reading Love in the Time of Cholera since like August. It’s hard to make time for fiction when I’ve got to read so much else for class.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I just started Evil Genius, and I’m loving it. I like that it’s nice and fat, too.
Robin, I have both of those Shannon Hale books at the house; I just haven’t gotten to them yet. I can’t read as much when I’m doing revisions. It takes a lot of mental energy to keep my entire story straight in my head—kind of like juggling 20 balls—and I have to read something completely different if I’m going to do it at all.
I also own the Stephen King book, and have to say that I totally enjoyed the first 2/3 of it, and then quit reading at the end because so much of that advice I’d heard before. But I liked all the juicy personal stuff in the beginning.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I’m still reading Eat Pray Love and CS Lewis’s The Four Loves. I’m slow these days!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:00 am
In the order I read them… they were all great!
1) Fall of the Templar by Derek Benz & JS Lewis- Book 3 of the Grey Griffins series.
2) Wake by Lisa McMann
3) Rules by Cynthia Lord
4) Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank
5) Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature… I read it a few months ago and re-read it because it is WONDERFUL and also because my book group will be discussing it this weekend. I loved it the second time, too!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:06 am
This week I’ve started Twilight… again… only it’s the audio book version I borrowed from my library. I just kind of added my favorite parts to my ipod so I’m not officially re-reading it I just needed some edward… XD and I’m thinking abot re reading Eclipse again. Also on the actually reading catagory I’m reading Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, Bloom, and on and off The Power of Now. I really like the first one so far, the second one is good but kinda depressing for some reason, and the power of now is good though I’m still in the introduction so i can’t really give any good feedback yet. Also on the finished front I finished The Great Gatspy , and Number The Stars by Lois Lowry.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I am reading Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. So far, great book!
October 16th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Last week I read REBEL ANGELS, by Libba Bray, which is a sequel to A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY. Loved it! Even better than the first!
And now I’m in the middle of both BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT FULLY FURNISHED INQUIRE WITHIN and STRIPPED (on audio).
October 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I loved Princess Academy. It was kind of weird, reading a character with my name - ever had that feeling - but a gorgeous story, definitely.
This week, I read East by Edith Pattou, a retelling of the stunning tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. East was absolutely breathtaking in scope and gorgeous in the telling, and I loved each and every one of the characters. It was just…amazing. One of those truly beautiful fantasy books.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
The only thing I finished this week was an organic peppermint chocolate bar.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Heather, that sounds fabulous. Where can I get one?
October 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I finished reading Back to the Divide by Elizabeth Kay. It’s the second book in a trilogy. I also finished Sir Thursday, the fourth book in Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series. I read Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature yesterday and loved it. I’m going to get my mother and best friend to read it too. Robin, your story speaks to real life so much. I really felt Mena’s frustration and it made me so thankful for having such free-thinking parents and a church that encourages acceptance of everyone.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Kari: I want to read the Perotta too! It’s on my adult TBR pile at the moment.
I read a book that CHANGED MY LIFE and caused a minor mid-life crisis. In a good way, I think. “An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England.” Amazing. All the things I love in a great adult read: an unreliable narrator, meditations on the ultimate worth of books and reading. One of the most original books I’ve read in the past few years. Reminded me of what I love in Nabokov. I was seriously excited by this book.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I’m finishing up with The Secret–all about the Universal Law of Attraction. Good law…it works, too.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Book of a Thousand Days started my love affair with Shannon Hale’s books and I quickly devoured everything else I could get my hands on. If I had the time I’d pick up the only title of hers I haven’t read, River Secrets.
I’m just starting The Coming of Dragons by AJ Lake.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I read Evolution,Me and other Freaks of Nature a few weeks ago. I liked it. Right now, I’m reading Brideshead Revisited.
October 16th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Miri’s Mom, thanks for reading my book! And thanks for having Miri–we really, really like her here.
2ndgenlibrarian, I think I’m going to do what you did: read all of Shannon Hale’s books now right away.
Judy, I only saw the DVD of that. Some of it was kind of hokey, but there was much to like and ponder. Glad you liked the book.
Kelly, you’ve convinced me. I HAVE to read that book. Lady T already whet my appetite for it with her review a while back, and now your enthusiasm for An Arsonist’s Guide has put me over the top.
Katie, thanks for reading my book! And saying such nice things about it! I really appreciate that!
Heather, *snort.* Thanks for keeping it real (and funny).
Miri, I thought of you while I was reading Princess Academy, wondering if you had read that book and how you felt about seeing yourself as the main character. And thanks for speaking of East. It’s been on my bookshelf for about two years now. Guess I should read it, huh?
Diana, I need to get to those Libba Bray books! Thanks for the reminder.
Shai, did you get to see Christopher Paul Curtis when he was in town?
Dylan, I can sympathize with your need for some Edward from Twilight. Isn’t it nice to be able to dip back into these books just to visit our secret boyfriends?
Michelle, nice mega-list! And thanks for making mine part of it! I forgot all about your book club discussing Evolution this month. I hope someone will tell me what you all say!
Katie A., no rush with Eat, Pray, Love–it’s a perfect one to savor.
Sara, I understand how hard it is to read other people’s fiction when you’re supposed to be working on your own. And I agree that the personal stuff in On Writing is juicy, but I loved all of that book, start to finish. I appreciate writers who expose themselves so thoroughly.
Lizzie, your list just gives me a headache. I’m not seeing any pleasure reading there, you poor thing. One day you will break free of college and read what you really love. Unless I’m wrong, and you really love those books you listed. In which case we need to talk.
Kari, I just read a review of that new Perrotta book–sounds fascinating! And how nice that you’re going back and rereading some L’Engle. It feels good to revisit beloved books.
Lady T, I would love to hear Stephen King read some short story of his! I’ll have to keep my eyes open for that. Hey, is Pillars of the Earth that book by Ken Follett? Or am I thinking of something else?
Adrienne, since you were the star of your library’s all-day read-aloud-athon, (I’m sure you called it something more elegant), I’m guessing you made up for the short length of the books with volume. You probably read as much as, if not more than, some of the rest of us this week.
Laura, thanks for mentioning Lani Diane Rich. I see her name around, but I’ve never picked up her books. But now that you said she’s funny, she must go on my list.
Alkelda, that’s so weird about Elsewhere! I think I’d feel the way you did–why write about something you’re not curious about yourself? Odd . . .
Kelley, good for you on your 20-minute bites. With how busy your life is, your 20-minute commitment to reading every night is really an important thing to give yourself. And some day it will be 30 minutes–think how luxurious that will feel!
Jules, with all you’ve been doing organizing the Robert’s Snow project, I doubt that anyone is expecting you to be able to read even a poem these days. Give yourself a break! We’ll be around when you find time to read and review again.
RM1, you read my book twice? Yeehaw! Thank you! And looks like you read a lot this week. Traveling, like me? Or just your usual reading load?
October 16th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
hehe YES it absalutly is! i seriously need Eclipse on audio book!
October 17th, 2007 at 5:33 am
I cannot believe it! I tottally missed commenting yesterday! I finished Green Grass Sea and finished the last of the Harry Potter series on audio. Blogged about that. I am reading Water for Elephants for book club this Sunday and am sorely behind. I loved Princess Academy, btw.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Robin, that’s nothing. The bloggers involved in the project make it easy.
Kelly, damn. I wanna read that novel now (Arsonist’s Guide . . .). Why’d you have to go and add to my TBR pile?
October 17th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Robin -
That’s my normal reading load. Actually, since I wrote that yesterday morning I’ve already read two of Richard Peck’s books. I’d get a lot more reading done if I didn’t spend so much time on the computer….
October 17th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
And I loved the book. Don’t remember the last time a book gave me that many real laugh-out-loud moments. And I think I was in high school (back around ‘70 or ‘71) the last time I read a book twice in a row like that.
October 18th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
How did it get to be Friday already? Even with the time difference and our having internet connectivity problems, shouldn’t be this behind. But…
Great reading week, though not through as many as Robin! Read Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin, who’s now on the buy immediately list. It’s very different from Elsewhere but I found it both enjoyable and very impressive. And I loved Elsewhere. I’d have to see that Q&A remark in context, because I read a long interview with her after finishing Memoirs and everything she said (including some remarks about Elsewhere) was great too.
And then Eva Ibbotson’s The Morning Gift, which was a big, lovely read. One of her adult books re-done as YA.
November 5th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I suspect this is what Gabrielle Zevin meant:
Teenreads.com: In ELSEWHERE, you conjure a vivid picture of life after death. Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, does it resemble Elsewhere at all?
Gabrielle Zevin: Well, there’s probably a very long answer to that question, but in the interest of time and space, I’ll give my short one. While I certainly hope there’s something after the end, the only life I know of for certain is this one. It goes without saying that, having never been there, I have no real idea what the afterlife might look like. It would certainly be an enormous coincidence and surprise to me if it ended up looking at all like Elsewhere. For me, ELSEWHERE was never really about the afterlife anyway; rather, the next life was a way for me to discuss the big things about this one.