What are you reading?

[ruthie33]

I seem to go in book "phases". Did the Twilight thing, did the Jodi Picoult thing. Right now, I'm kinda into the "self help" thing. I seem to be having a few intimacy / relationship issues so I've just purchased 4 new books on the subject.

Ok, don't laugh, but I just finished reading "Real Sex for Real Women" by Dr. Laura Berman. It's really a great book and I think a must read for all women.

Next on the list is "Reclaiming Desire - 4 keys to finding your lost libido" by Andrew Goldstein and Marianne Brandon.

Next is "Femal Brain Gone Insane - an emergency guide for women who feel like they are falling apart" by Mia Lundin.

Finally, a novel but sort of related to all the above called "I'd Rather Eat Chocolate" by Joan Sewell. What got me on this book was right on the front cover it says "if I had a choice between reading a good book and having sex, the book wins". Anyone who tells me they haven't felt like that before is a liar!!!

I have a bunch of other novels I just picked up at a second hand store too but now they've been pushed to the side so I can do my self discovery phase for a while. I have enough reading to last me the winter for sure. I know the next novel I will read will be "Marley & Me".

Anyone else find these self help books helpful??? Or have any suggestions???

 

[spyrosmom]

"Born of Fire" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Fluff, it is. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to read at home, but luckily I have time to read at work. I can't really follow the heavy stuff and work at the same time, so fluff it is for today. I just put the new Anne Rice on hold at the library. I haven't read her since the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches. I skipped on the Jesus series. The new one is something about angels and I think it takes place (mostly) in medieval times. It sounds like it could be really good, or a total snore. I'm also looking forward to a reread of "Lover Unbound" by J R Ward. Oh my, that's a fave! I was also wanting to read the above mention Dr Laura Berman book, just to see what is has to say. I listen to her radio show on the way home from work. I should put that on hold as well. As it stands, I am not so patiently awaiting "Shalador's Lady" in March 2010, "Lover Mine" in April 2010, and "A Dance With Dragons" whenever Mr Martin decides to finish it. That one's been pushed back several times since the original release date. And then there is some straight fluff, no intellect required "Divine Misdemeanors" that comes out in December. That will provide an afternoon of guilty pleasure. See, as I go I keep thinking of things I need to read. Now that I think of it, I may reread "A Cry to Heaven" by Anne Rice, haven't read that since high school, and as I recall it was pretty good. And perhaps the 1st few Vampire Chronicles are in need of a reread. I should try the Sookie Sackhouse books, but I can't get past her name, pathetic, huh? Ok, that is enough rambling for now. Off I go

Nan

 

[rjroubi]

I came so close to ordering Eating Animals, but went with Everythings is Illuminated. I'll have to add it to my Christmas list. I love Jonathan Safran Foer's style. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is amazing!

Eating Animals really was phenomenal--my sister is reading it now. After I finish my current book, it sounds like I will have to order Everything is Illuminated...lol.

Oh my, so many books and so little time...

 

[ruthie33]

Nan, definitely read the Laura Berman book. I too, listen to her show occassionally on the radio - she reminds me of a more up to date Dr. Ruth!! Some of the book I found a little "intense" for my liking but there are a lot of good ideas / suggestions and it lays everything out in a very simple way.
I wish I had more time for reading. Working 2 jobs kills a lot of my spare time but I try to read a little every day even if just for a few minutes.

 

[maddiesmum]

I'm reading "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst.

A novel in which a man experiences his grief at his beloved wife of not too many years' sudden death, as she falls out of a fruit tree in their back garden, by teaching their dog to speak since the dog was the only witness to his wife's last hours and to the fall and he wants to know what happened exactly. In alternate chapters, the first person narrator-husband tells us of his lessons with the dog and language and also of how he met his wife and of their life together. It is tender, melancholic and funny. The depths of his grief can only be perceived through narrating the depth of his love for his wife. It is not at all depressing, but just exquisite and the writing is fabulous. I want to hold up individual paragraphs to my students and daughters and say, "look at this paragraph, this is how to write a paragraph!" It is lean writing, not stuffed with unnecessary verbage, but not too sparse or Hemmingway-esque either.

Beautiful and a book to savour, not rush. If you like Ann Patchett (Bel Canto), you will love Parkhurst and "Dogs of Babel."

After that I will read the new collection of stories, "Hardly Knew Her," by Laura Lippman, she of the Tess Monaghan PI series based in Baltimore. Some of the best PI books ever written. I wish she'd publish another 10 of them tomorrow! Give them a whirl. Not at all hard-boiled. And then, Robert Parker has a new Spenser novel out.......and there's Nevada Barr's "13 and 1/2", and Kathy Reich's "206 Bones". Bonanza time!!!!

Clare