Since I made a Disney Reading List, I decided to also make a thread for normal book recommendations. Just put anything you're reading and think is good. My most stand-out recent book is "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. It's about how talent and ambition are a prerequisite to success, but that luck and societal factors are just as important. I love all his books and I found this one to be really interesting.
I'll start this one too -- I'm reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - another YA novel (I teach middle school, what do you want from me?). It had one of the most original voices I've ever seen in a book. The topic is a bit weighty as its about a German family just before and during the Holocaust, but it is a PHENOMENAL book - I highly recommend it to all.
Zipadeedoodah -- yeah, man
Those sound great. I'm a big Gladwell fan and the YA literature that's been coming out recently has been quite a mixture from what I've read and heard. Glad you've found something with weight.
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I'll start this one too -- I'm reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - another YA novel (I teach middle school, what do you want from me?). It had one of the most original voices I've ever seen in a book. The topic is a bit weighty as its about a German family just before and during the Holocaust, but it is a PHENOMENAL book - I highly recommend it to all.
Is this something you're considering for a class or somehow work related? Or did you just get exposed to it at work?
teacherdrama wrote:I'll start this one too -- I'm reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - another YA novel (I teach middle school, what do you want from me?). It had one of the most original voices I've ever seen in a book. The topic is a bit weighty as its about a German family just before and during the Holocaust, but it is a PHENOMENAL book - I highly recommend it to all.
Is this something you're considering for a class or somehow work related? Or did you just get exposed to it at work?
Zipadeedoodah -- yeah, man
I read The Book Thief in my Editing Children's Books class and it was very well written...it may be the best book I have read all year!
I read ALL the time. Right now I am reading The Monk by Matthew G Lewis. It is a classic that I am reading because it was in "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die". It is surprisingly good. After I finish (today hopefully) I will start "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" by Le Carre.
I belong to a site called shelfari.com where you can list books you've read, want to read, and what you are reading. You can also do reviews or just rate books. It is pretty awesome! If you are a member let me know! I am Caitie S from NJ!
I read The Book Thief in my Editing Children's Books class and it was very well written...it may be the best book I have read all year!
I read ALL the time. Right now I am reading The Monk by Matthew G Lewis. It is a classic that I am reading because it was in "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die". It is surprisingly good. After I finish (today hopefully) I will start "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" by Le Carre.
I belong to a site called shelfari.com where you can list books you've read, want to read, and what you are reading. You can also do reviews or just rate books. It is pretty awesome! If you are a member let me know! I am Caitie S from NJ!
If I live for about 22,000 days and I'm supposed to read over 1,000 books, that's about one book every 22 days. Which seems doable, except I read lots of stuff that isn't on that list. I suspect I may need an extension.
caitiesus wrote:I read The Book Thief in my Editing Children's Books class and it was very well written...it may be the best book I have read all year!
I read ALL the time. Right now I am reading The Monk by Matthew G Lewis. It is a classic that I am reading because it was in "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die". It is surprisingly good. After I finish (today hopefully) I will start "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" by Le Carre.
I belong to a site called shelfari.com where you can list books you've read, want to read, and what you are reading. You can also do reviews or just rate books. It is pretty awesome! If you are a member let me know! I am Caitie S from NJ!
If I live for about 22,000 days and I'm supposed to read over 1,000 books, that's about one book every 22 days. Which seems doable, except I read lots of stuff that isn't on that list. I suspect I may need an extension.
22,000 days is only 60 years - I hope you (we all) live longer than that!
Zipadeedoodah -- yeah, man
22,000 days is only 60 years - I hope you (we all) live longer than that!
To be fair I was basing that estimate on a Moody Blues song which is never the best place to get your science. Still there's a pretty decent section at the start where you can't read, so I wasn't that far off. 
I am an awid reader and I have only read about 50 books from the list (at least last time I counted). My goal is to read at least 20 books from the list every year...but I doubt it will happen!
Just finished The Monk...I recommend it, especially if you like gothic novels.
One book I really enjoyed was The Time Traveler's Wife. I think it's going to be a movie next year as well. Novel, but fun for those of us who like a little sci-fi with our novels.
My favorite book of all time is A Wrinkle in Time.
May 2008 CSR 
I finished The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by Le Carre. If you like spy books and mysteries, you should pick it up! I t was really well-written and captivated!
I am now reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I am only 50 pages into to it and I highly recommend it!
I am now reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I am only 50 pages into to it and I highly recommend it!
Have heard of this -- I'd like your opinion when you finish it! I hear it's great.
All the talk in the Pets thread got me thinking...
Dogs Never Lie About Love is one of my favorites, and very enlightening. Goes into how dogs think and what that means in terms of life with a dog. Some very touching accounts of the love that knows no bounds (dogs').
One fiction book I read a while back that I really enjoyed was the Life of Pi. It's not for everyone, but it has some interesting things to say about religion and spirituality.
I have a list of classics that I want to read before I die . . I have to say some are hard to get into and take me a lot longer to read than they should considering how long or short they are. I love to read, but with school books taking priority, I don't read nearly as much as I would like. I am currently reading pride and prejudice, after finishing sense and sensibility last week. I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into, but I really like the stories overall.
I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
aglassslipper17 wrote:I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
I HATED Pride and Prejudice as well as Moby Dick.
Some classics I liked (or loved): Les Miserables, 1984, A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Three Musketeers, Count of Monte Cristo, Grapes of Wrath....I have a thing for French novels.
Zipadeedoodah -- yeah, man
Annie wrote:aglassslipper17 wrote:I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
I HATED Pride and Prejudice as well as Moby Dick.
Some classics I liked (or loved): Les Miserables, 1984, A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Three Musketeers, Count of Monte Cristo, Grapes of Wrath....I have a thing for French novels.
Moby Dick is just an exercise in perseverance. The language just seems intentionally esoteric and downright strange. In fact there's a great blog post I read a while back that talks about Moby Dick:
http://defectiveyeti.com/?p=2520
There's a bit of bad language in there but it makes me laugh every time I read it.
aglassslipper17 wrote:I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
One of my favorites is a separate peace.
That is one of my favorites. I love literature that still is easy to get involved with.
teacherdrama wrote:Annie wrote:aglassslipper17 wrote:I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
I HATED Pride and Prejudice as well as Moby Dick.
Some classics I liked (or loved): Les Miserables, 1984, A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Three Musketeers, Count of Monte Cristo, Grapes of Wrath....I have a thing for French novels.
Moby Dick is just an exercise in perseverance. The language just seems intentionally esoteric and downright strange. In fact there's a great blog post I read a while back that talks about Moby Dick:
http://defectiveyeti.com/?p=2520
There's a bit of bad language in there but it makes me laugh every time I read it.
That was far more entertaining than Moby Dick! I'll confess - I'm one of the "I tried really hard" people - couldn't get through it. I struggled through Pride and Prejudice, but I did actually read that one.
Zipadeedoodah -- yeah, man
teacherdrama wrote:Annie wrote:aglassslipper17 wrote:I don't care for Jane Austen's writing style. It is hard for me to get into,
I agree that it's not easy! But the stories are good. What are some of your other classics? I've been stuck on Moby Dick and Brothers Karamozov for EVER.
I HATED Pride and Prejudice as well as Moby Dick.
Some classics I liked (or loved): Les Miserables, 1984, A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Three Musketeers, Count of Monte Cristo, Grapes of Wrath....I have a thing for French novels.
Moby Dick is just an exercise in perseverance. The language just seems intentionally esoteric and downright strange. In fact there's a great blog post I read a while back that talks about Moby Dick:
http://defectiveyeti.com/?p=2520
There's a bit of bad language in there but it makes me laugh every time I read it.
Not sure if I want to read this, as Moby Dick is on my list of yet to read . .
One fiction book I read a while back that I really enjoyed was the Life of Pi. It's not for everyone, but it has some interesting things to say about religion and spirituality.
I loved Life of Pi - I am happy that I have been seeing that some schools are adding it to their curriculum.
I recommend that strongly.
I finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and thought it was fantastic. It was intelligent, funny, and tore at my heart strings. If you haven't read it yet, try it!
I am trying to decide on my reading list for the honeymoon. Right now I am thinking of taking a young adult book by Maureen Johnson and The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory.
With how fast I read, those probably won't be enough and I was considering taking Emma by Jane Austen which I started a while ago and I liked the beginning. I don't know if I want something that dense though. I only have a day until we leave for Ohio!
I'm a BIG "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley fan. That book really made me change the way I think about things.
Also poetry. If anyone wants to talk poetry, let's go!
May 2008 CSR
I'm a BIG "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley fan. That book really made me change the way I think about things.
Also poetry. If anyone wants to talk poetry, let's go!
BNW is one of my favorites. Probably helped shape my cynical outlook, but that's another story.
Not sure if I want to read this, as Moby Dick is on my list of yet to read . .
Haha, it was funny! I would say it might not discourage you from reading it, but it will definitely help you justify not doing so! It's not a spoiler though.
Good post Brad, that really made me laugh.
Hi,
I'm reading a book right now that is a list of classic books--in the genres of Childrens Fiction; Classic Fiction; Memoirs; Modern Fiction; Science Fiction; Thrillers; and Travel--called *501 Must-Read Books* that I purchased from Borders Express' bargain shelves. There are a lot of interesting titles, but then I once read Plato's *The Republic* for fun. I'd like to read *War and Peace* by Leo Tolstoy.
Sixty years--45 normal years and 15 leap years--is exactly 21, 915 days, so Brad and the Moody Blues were very close with their estimates of 22,000 days. But because they're both over, they don't win the Price is Right Showcase.
Jim
Hi,
I'm reading a book right now that is a list of classic books--in the genres of Childrens Fiction; Classic Fiction; Memoirs; Modern Fiction; Science Fiction; Thrillers; and Travel--called *501 Must-Read Books* that I purchased from Borders Express' bargain shelves. There are a lot of interesting titles, but then I once read Plato's *The Republic* for fun. I'd like to read *War and Peace* by Leo Tolstoy.
Sixty years--45 normal years and 15 leap years--is exactly 21, 915 days, so Brad and the Moody Blues were very close with their estimates of 22,000 days. But because they're both over, they don't win the Price is Right Showcase.
Jim
Interestingly though, I think I read that the life expectancy has been increasing by about 25 years every 100 years. Which is really interesting I think. They don't think that can continue, but who knows?
I had a friend in Nashville who read 700+ books a year. It's been almost ten years since I talked to him about that, but when I worked with him that number went up several years in a row. That's really his only hobby. He stays home with his dogs and reads (and goes book shopping). He's a big mystery fan, goes to the conventions and all.
edit: In retrospect, I don't remember exactly what the number was, but I do remember it was staggering to me. I know it was well over a book a day, but might have been just under two a day average.
I had a friend in Nashville who read 700+ books a year. It's been almost ten years since I talked to him about that, but when I worked with him that number went up several years in a row. That's really his only hobby. He stays home with his dogs and reads (and goes book shopping). He's a big mystery fan, goes to the conventions and all.
edit: In retrospect, I don't remember exactly what the number was, but I do remember it was staggering to me. I know it was well over a book a day, but might have been just under two a day average.
LIFL, you have a lot of interesting friends. I hope this one belonged to as many libraries as possible!
May 2008 CSR