Books, Books, and more Books !

so... what is everyone reading ?

i notice we have quite a few avid readers here, so i thought we could have
a thread dedicated to books, a 'Book Club' perhaps ?

i read about 4-5 books a month, as i dont really have much of a life

ever since i was a little girl i've been reading, when i was little though,
i read hundreds of books

lately though, i have strayed, and i want to get back into it.

i am still reading 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' by Dave Eggers,

which is a great book, i am just having trouble getting back into it because i put
it down near the end, which was silly of me to do !

so, recommend me some books, or tell me what you're reading now, favourite authors,
favourite books, just come and talk with me all about books !

p.s.

i love Books

gee, bet you thought I was going to say a barn...LOL But seriously, my mother was head librarian when I was little. She used to take me to work with her all the time, and I learned to read at a very young age. Right now I am reading The Devil's Code by John Sanford, and I am also working on my children's book.........again....

I love reading books, too. Mind, I read all manner of books; so I'm not stuck on one "thing." I mention that in the hope nobody will think I'm some morbid gloomy-Gus type when it comes to literature preferences.

Right now, I'm reading a book with the scary title Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders by Greg King (Barricade Books, Inc.; New York, New York; 2000). Wait! Stop! Don't run away! Let me explain!

First: In spite of the fact that everybody who ever met her thinks Sharon Tate was a wonderfully down-to-earth and sincere person — who (by the way) loved cats and rescued a stray kitten only days before her murder, feeding it with an eye dropper and adopting it into her family of dozens of cats — the public at large has always thought of her as some sort of stupid bimbo who slept around and ingested drugs like candy. As it turns out, the negative mythology is untrue; and I feel an obligation to send positive vibrations toward her, in a feeble attempt to offset the humiliations and ridicule heaped upon her both before and after her death.

Second: There's a huge, gaping flaw in the way the State of California chose to prosecute the case against Leslie Van Houten. Mind, neither authors King nor Vincent Bugliosi (Helter Skelter) discuss this discrepancy — and for good reason, as it calls into question the rushing to judgment of Van Houten. Basically, it has to do with the concepts of burden of proof and "brainwashing."

Since "brainwashing" conjures up Manchurian Candidate images of helpless prisoners of war, Bugliosi and his colleagues in prosecution avoided ever using the term. But their entire case against Manson dealt with his having "total control" over the actions of the so-called Family.

Van Houten — who was not present during the Tate/Sebring/Folger/Frykowski/Parent murders but was on the scene during the subsequent LaBianca murders — was accused and convicted of murder (as were Charles Manson, Charles Watson, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel). Although the state presented evidence clearly indicating Watson, Atkins and Krenwinkel had actually killed people (and that Manson had ordered the murders) no evidence that Van Houten had killed anyone was ever introduced. And, the state took every opportunity to show Manson held absolute sway over Van Houten and the others.

Both King and Bugliosi contend Van Houten "knew what she was doing," even though what she did didn't result in anyone's death. (Remember, the state must prove a crime. The accused have no burden to prove absence of a crime.) And, although when it comes to Manson the state trots out all manner of expert psychologists to substantiate the "brainwashing" case againt him, when it comes to Van Houten suddenly there's not a psychologist to be found. We're just supposed to take the prosecution's word for it, that she "knew what she was doing."

So it's as if the judge, jury and general public were wooed into the idea of having it both ways: assert Manson "brainwashed" his followers, but turn around and assert the "brainwashed" people weren't "brainwashed" at all. Van Houten went to prison for life absent any evidence she killed anybody. It's illogical that she received the same punishment as Manson et alii.

Okay, so who cares? Well, I do for one. I value books; and any non-fiction book which contains shoddy scholarship ought not to be published. But both Helter Skelter and the book I'm presently reading subscribe to the same "gaposis" in scholarship when it comes to Van Houten. But that's the end of my story.



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What a GREAT thread!!!! I love to read!! I read alot of Stephen king books, he's the best! Rightnow I am in between books...but am hoping to read the newest S. King!!!!!!!

hmm... i read so many different things, different authors, fiction/non-fiction.



hissy, favourtites ?

Mr.Cat, i can appreciate your interest in that.

Debby, favourites - Stephen King, or others ? i am not a huge fan of his, though,
i did read 'The Dark Side' and i loved it

anyone else out there reading ?

recommend me some books !

I haven't felt like tackling any novels lately. I've been skipping around between a few non-fiction books.

Collected Poems by Dorothy Parker (my fave is Resume)
Why Cats Paint By Heather Busch and Burton Silver (funny)
Toxic Parents by Dr. Susan Forward (heavy)
Dictionary of Word Origins By John Ayto (popcorn for word addicts)

I think I'll post Resume in Paws and Reflect, since i have the book handy.

I to read!!!! It's my absolute favorite pasttime. I do go in spurts where I will read 4 books in a month & then not read for a few weeks. I'm currently not reading a novel but last night I thumbed through my copy of 'Cats for Dummies' (when I first got my cats I didn't realize that they were feral & was so perplexed by their behavior that I bought the book, thinking I was doing something wrong). I have a Patricia Cornwell paperback that I'm going to read next. I can't remember the name but it's a Kay Scarpetta one. I have to fly to LA on wednesday so I'll crack it open then.

I'm a huge fan of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver and I'm just now getting into Jonathon Kellerman.

great thread Blue!!

Has anyone here read 'She's come undone' ? I can't remember the author but it was an Oprah bookclub choice. It wasn't the kind of book I would normally choose but it was really good. I would recommend that to you Blue. maybe someone here remembers the author.

I love to read but lately have gotten away from it. I like those family sagas that go on and on. A good long novel. I also like to read about artists and their lives like Emily Carr and The Impressionests etc. I guess because I like to paint myself.

i finally finished 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius'

*whew*

now what? hmm... :confused2

i think i'm going to read another Dean Koontz, because entertainment wise, it is fullfilling.

i have 'Fear Nothing' and the sequel that i havent picked up yet, i bought them in a
Used Book Store a few months ago... anyone else read them?

i really need some light reading right now

Great book! Lots of suspense and computer intrigue. I love his books where he brings out Kidd and LuEllen, they make a great team. John Sanford is the author btw.

Next is Women Who Run With Wolves...

Originally posted by airprincess
Has anyone here read 'She's come undone' ? I can't remember the author but it was an Oprah bookclub choice. It wasn't the kind of book I would normally choose but it was really good. I would recommend that to you Blue. maybe someone here remembers the author.

Click to expand...

Colby, sorry i missed this post! i have read that book twice, i loved it.

it's not the kind of book i would usually read either, but, i couldnt put it down.

i'm pretty sure the author is Wally Lamb.

My co-worker LOVES to read, so I am able to get many books from her to read. Some of my favorite authors are Sanda Brown, John Stanford,
Barbara Delinsky, John Grisham, Linda Howard, John LesCourt, Patrica Cornwell, Stephen King, Belva Plain, Barbara Taylor Bradford, James Patterson & And of course Danille Steel. I read many others books by different authors too!! I mainly read when I go to the gym and walk on the tread mill, or ride the bike -- it passes the time. I just started Dream Catcher by Stephen King and I am sure it will be good.

Books. Wow! What a great subject! <G>

I just finished #4 in the Mitford series by Jan Karon. This is a great series! I can't wait to get #5.

The Left Behind series is also good reading. A new one should come out pretty soon.

I finished the Prayer of Jabez last week. Has anyone else read this little book? It's a small book, but has a powerful message.

Other favorite authors are Grisham, Stephen King, Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, Iris Johanson, James Patterson, Maeve Benchey and many others.

There is a used book store and it's one of my favorite places to hang out.

smiles....

I love to read James Patterson books. Also I really like "The Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun. Rene got me hooked on them. It is a series of 20 or so books all about a man, James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum. It a mystery type of book and they are very entertaining and very addictive. I can't wait for the next one to come out. Has anyone else read them?

Michele

In reply to all! The left behind series scares the heck out of me...I am afraid to read it....I don't want to have nightmares.
I will definately look for..."shes' come undone" now!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blue....have you ever read anything by Anne Rice? She is awesome!!!!!!

Right now I've four books going. Our bi-weekly book group at the library decided upon "any Star Trek book" for the next meeting, which is fine with me as I've taken a liking to science fiction over the past few years — partly because so many "intellectuals" look down their noses at that genre.

So, I'm reading Star Trek: The Lives of Dax, edited by Marco Palmieri. (Simon and Schuster Incorporated; Paramount Pictures. New York, New York, United States of America. 1999.) It's about the character Dax, from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; and it's more interesting than I'd imagined.

Also being read is Patricia McCormick's novel Cut. (Front Street. Asheville, North Carolina, United States of America. 2000.) It's about a young woman who cuts herself, a real-life phenomenon which is quite widespread yet remains largely unmentioned.

I'm about finished reading The Amundsen Photographs, edited by Roland Huntford. (The Atlantic Monthly Press. New York, New York, United States of America. 1987.) It contains photographs made by Roald E. G. Amundsen, the first human to reach the South Pole, plus explanatory text by Huntford. In spite of mendacious British propaganda to the contrary, Amundsen the Norwegian was the genius of polar exploration.

Finally, due to certain flatmates of mine, I'm reading Caroline Alexander's novel Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal of Shackleton's Polar-Bound Cat. (Harper Collins Publishers Incorporated. New York, New York, United States of America. 1997.) I've expounded upon this book in another thread, so I'll not repeat myself here.



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Michelerad--I love the Cat Who books too. I've missed the last few, though. As soon as I get a few more of my unread library-discard books taken care of, I'll let myself go back to the library and check out what I've missed.

Debby--I love Anne Rice's vampire books. I haven't read the witch series thoough. Are they as good?

I've just re-read Tolkein's Lord of The Rings again (all 3 books). I think it's one of the best books ever written. I can't wait for the movie to come out in December! I've seen the trailer and I think that Aragorn (the King) is absolutely georgeous!

Anyone tried P.G. Woodhouse? The Jeeves and Wooster books are the funniest I've ever read. I have read them all and enjoyed every second!

Blue you've got me here - I'm definitely a bookworm!! I read at breakfast, I read in buses, I read in front of the TV, I read anytime I can and have a book nearby. I should admit that at this rate one cannot be very picky about the sort of books but still...
Alexnell I'm absolutely with you on D. Parker - she's an all time favourite of mine!!! Too bad I can't get much of her works in the original
Anne, Lord of the Rings, well what more can one say!! And isn't Jeeves funny too!!!!
Oh dear they are so many I can't account for all of my favourites. I'd better stick to what I'm reading these days.
OK I just finished Thomas Harris' three books (in English he he ) and I was overwhelmed. The most recent book I read was Notes from a Small Island - written by an American about Britain - it's hillarious!!!
The book which I read recently and enjoyed a lot was called Cold Mountain, the name of the author escapes me but it was about teh Civil War in the US and it was a completely beautiful book. Wow I'd better stop or I can keep this on forever....