Tuesday Book Club
Been a little busy writing my own book, so this is the first book I’ve managed to read this year. But it’s a doozy: Walking the Gobithe latest true-adventure memoir by my heroine Helen Thayer. Thirteen years ago, when she was 50, she was the first woman to travel solo, on foot, to the magnetic North Pole. Buuuurly. And now, at 63, she and her husband (who’s 74), trekked the entire length of the Mongolian Gobi Desert, nearly 1,500 miles. On foot. In the summer.
Why? Because they’re insane! And incredible! It took them 81 days, averaging 25 or so miles a day in heat as high as 127 degrees (remember this is on foot–they led the camels behind them), and Helen was walking on a bum leg the whole time, and they nearly died of thirst when they ran out of water after one of their camels rolled over on top of the water jugs–well, you just have to read it to believe how monstrously hardy these people are. Makes any petty discomforts of mine during the summer seem ridiculously minor. Oh, and did I mention they were both stung multiple times by scorpions? And they had to eat disgusting rancid foods just to be polite to the nomads who offered them? And they were nearly shot by smugglers and by Chinese soldiers? Fun, fun, fun. It’s the kind of story I love to read, would hate to live.
How about you guys? What have you been reading this week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, Books, Reading, Helen Thayer, Bill Thayer, The Big Bad Burly Thayers, Walking the Gobi
January 15th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns. Absolutely engrossing and heart-rending.
Also, I’m enjoying my reading for the Cybils poetry judging committee.
And I read my own manuscript yet one more time. The good news is that parts of it are starting to sound like I didn’t write them.
Do you know what I mean, Robin? Do your own words look alien to you after a while?
January 15th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Anti-spam words? Man, I’ve been out of the loop.
I read THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION. Loads of swashbuckling fun!
I’m also so so sick!
January 15th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I read The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan. So good. So good. So good.
January 15th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I’m reading Deception of the Emerald Ring(one of the follow-ups to Secret History of the Pink Carnation-glad you liked it,Diana!)by Lauren Willig and still in the midst of Emma. My next classic read after that will be yet another attempt to tackle Martin Chuzzlewit(so many Dickens novels,so little time!).
Speaking of classics,I saw the first film in Masterpiece Theater’s Complete Jane Austen series,which was a new version of Persuasion,on Sunday. Not the worst JA adaptation I’ve seen but certainly not the best. Very cut and paste with the storyline and the dialogue,plus the big finale had Anne Eliot running laps around Bath as if she was in the Regency version of the Amazing Race!
Next Sunday will be Northanger Abbey,which looks to be alot better,thanks to an Andrew Davies script.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker
January 15th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I finished Eric Rex and am still working on Spanking Shakespeare. But so far, Spanking Shakespeare is hi-freakin-larious!
January 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Sara, I know exactly what you’re talking about–I love that feeling! It’s one of those moments that makes me feel like a Real Writer, because the words suddenly look like they belong in a real book, as opposed to being something I just made up sitting here in my office. I’m so happy you’ve had that experience with your current ms! Looking forward to reading the finished product.
Diana, the anti-spam thing is just a few days old. I’m trying it out. If it makes a big difference on my end, and doesn’t annoy all of you guys too much (please speak up if it does), I may keep it. Sorry you’re sick! Cut that out! Is this pre- or post-European honeymoon illness? (I know, I’m so far behind on yours and everyone else’s blogs. Forgive me.)
PJ, I have yet to read a Riordan. Man, I am so far behind in every respect–need to read Eoin Colfer, too, before Miri sends the book squad after me. Thanks for reminding me–I need to compile a 2008 wish list.
Lady T, thanks for the Persuasion review. I recorded that, and need to watch it this week. I love that Masterpiece Theatre is giving us all this Austen! And as for Martin Chuzzlewit, why haven’t I read that yet? I LOVE Dickens–he’s even more of a hero to me than Helen Thayer (though probably not as burly). That one goes on my list . . .
Little Willow, what say you–a must-read? Or can I read Dickens first?
Shai, hope you’re feeling better this week! And yeah, Spanking Shakespeare is da bomb.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I finished Lisey’s Story by Stephen King. Bool!
I am almost done with the Italy section of Eat, Pray, Love and it is making me so hungry!
January 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
“Bool” indeed, Deborah! Wasn’t that book creepy and so wonderful? Still gives me chills to think about it. But it was just so literary and beautiful in the midst of all the scary parts. Loved that book.
And of course you know how wonderful Eat, Pray, Love is. No scary parts except when her pants don’t fit after eating all that great Italian food.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I’m reading Cybils YA fiction finalists. I read Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones and Billie Standish was Here by Nancy Crocker, and now I’m reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I also snuck in a couple of quick reads of early readers: Pa Lia’s First Day by Michelle Edwards and The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean by Alexander McCall Smith. Both of those were quite fun, and recommended for early readers.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Not a good week at all, but finished Harold Was My King - 1968 children’s historical about the Battle of Hastings and time after it. Great book but the history’s done well, so it’s pretty bleak. Now reading Maureen Johnson’s Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, which is perfect for the moment - funny but not at all just fluff. And I have a new Connie Willis to read next!
January 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Sounds fun!lol I’ve finished the second book in the sweep series the coven and loved it even more then the first! ^^ also read a raisen in the sun which was pretty good but a little sad
XD good times!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexia and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. I enjoyed both very much and it was kind of a relief to read two good YAs in a row, as I’ve read a lot of crap lately.
Better get my YA fix by the end of January, as I’ll be reading primarily adult books for my work with the Alex Award committee beginning in February! Needless to say, it should be no problem for me to hit 50 this year!
January 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I’m still reading Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz. (I’m on page 121 of 460.) It was written in ‘87 and is really, really wordy, but I loved Koontz and King when I was a teen and I’m embracing my inner teen this year. A few of his oldies were recently released with new Afterwords, so here I am reading a LONG book (like this wordy for me post) and unable to report a finished read today. Any suggestions to help me read faster would be greatly appreciated. But not tonight, because I’ll be watching American Idol.
Did I mention I’ve been drinking coffee ALL DAY LONG…
P.S. Your anti-spam is user friendly and doesn’t make me cross my eyes or have a seizure, so all is well.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I’m about halfway through Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. So far, so good. Before that, I finished For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The only book worth mentioning this week was a reread of Sarah, Plain & Tall. Short but so sweet!
Reading about Helen Thayer makes me feel REALLY lazy. Wow.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Jen, that’s quite a week of reading! It’s nice to have a reason to pack it in like that sometimes, isn’t it? Of course, based on the number of books you read last year (wasn’t it something like 260?), I’m guessing you’d have read that much this week anyway, with or without the Cybils. What fun!
Lady S, there’s an eclectic pair. I love switching back and forth between history (or even better, memoir) and comedy. Puts everything in perspective.
Dylan, yeah, Raisin in the Sun isn’t quite the comedy, is it? But still powerful (despite the lack of gut laughs).
Molly, can’t wait to see what your list of reading for the Alex Award is going to look like! I need to dip into adult every now and then (Martin Chuzzlewit is going to count, right?), so I need some recommendations.
Heather, thanks for letting me know about the anti-spam thing. And cheers on the coffee overload–you know I love that. Keep on with the Koontz. That guy scares the crap out of me, but the books certainly stay with you, huh? Same with King. Have you read Lisey’s Story yet?
Kimmy, good week! Aren’t you kind of sorry you’re finally done with all the HPs, though? What other series can we turn you on to? Have you read the Twilight series? And His Dark Materials?
Michelle, it’s so nice to go back and reread something you know you love–very little risk, high enjoyment. I’m going to be doing that a few times in the near future myself. And yeah, on Helen Thayer–you should read her book about trekking to the magnetic North Pole. Polar bear attacks, etc. Made me want to get under the covers and suck my thumb.
But then a lot of things make me want to do that.
January 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Yeah! XD not so much! But it was good and i’m fairly glad I read it!
January 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I’ve read Dickens and Austen, but I have yet read Martin Chuzzlewit or Persuasion!