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Here you go. Fresh, clean slate.

Reading Patrick McGilligan, Tender Comrades. Interviews with blacklisted screenwriters

Wow! I'll bet that's a super read. Enjoy!

Said super, meant fascinating.

Picked upThe Ginger Tree from Friends of the Library bookstore. Were 20 year old women that naive in 1903? I read The Pecan Man rated it three stars. It held my interest.

Hello everyone I am reading Night Play book 5 of the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon so far I love this series!

I'm reading Geisha, A Life

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers, and have to admit the book is dated ... really for hardcore Wharton fans, and those with a strong interest in Victorian literature (focusing on class issues).

I’m reading Sunset Limited and I’ve realized it’s going to take me all summer to read the book. So to break it up, I’m reading Before the Fact by Francis Iles which inspired the Hitchcock film Suspicion. I also got a free copy of The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes on my Kindle. After I finish that I’m going to look for the Hitchcock silent film. I have the DVD of the Jack Palance adaptation Man in the Attic which was alright.

Robert � I have Tender Comrades. I haven’t read it yet. I would be really interested in what you think of it. Another book you mentioned was From Reverence to Rape by Molly Haskell. I forgot I had read that a while ago. I thought it was okay. I’m not keen on Ms. Haskell. When she’s on TCM talking with Robert Osborne, I like to listen because you always get good information from him. But the entire time I’m thinking there are more knowledgeable people than Ms. Haskell he could be discussing films with. I know that’s not nice, but there’s something smug and irritating about her. I wish someone like Eddie Muller had a regular spot on TCM instead of coming on every now and then; he gets you excited about films even though they’re mostly noir films. I would love for Robert Osborne and Eddie Muller to have a regular noir essentials show. Sorry, I got a little off subject there. ~ Marie

Just started Hyperion.

Am reading Leopard's Prey by Christine Feehan.

I will be read Den of Thieves by V.R. McCoy very soon. I believe it will be a fantastic book and you all should give it a try as well! It's an ebook and can be found on amazon and Ibook I believe. Happy reading!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

Here is the link.

About a third of the way through 'Under the Dome' and REALLY want to read 'Crazy Rich Asians' when it comes out this month BADLY. May also try 'The 5th Wave' - have the sample on my Kindle and it's gotten such great word of mouth.

On a sidenote, found out Kindle did an upgrade that, now, allows you to change the lower left corner (where your progress on the book shows) to PAGE NUMBERS (when available), as opposed to perecntage or timeframe it guesstimates you will take to finish. LOVE THAT, it was my one gripe about Kindle, much prefer knowing what "page" I am on like the "old-fashioned" book-reading days! =0)

Listened to the audio book of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (audio performed by Dylan Baker) � 5
Another great Steinbeck novel! I particularly liked the occasional chapters that were more like editorials about the conditions of the people, the land, and the economic times. The audio was well done, and Baker seemed to be channeling Henry Fonda as Tom Joad.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

@ Kim N: That is actually on the list of books I want to read soon. I loved Memoirs of a Geisha and when I found out that the main geisha who contributed to its information, Mineko Iwasaki, had wrote her own book refuting some of Arthur Golden's allegations about geisha life, I was quite interested. Are you liking it?

I am currently reading The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame, in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century by Joel F. Harrington. I like it very much.

I'm partway through the following:

A re-read of one of my favorites, Pee On Water by Rachel Glaser.

A very ordinary collection of stories by Richard Bausch, Something Is Out There.

Here We Are in Paradise by Tony Earley--pretty good so far.

I read almost half of Mary, Queen of France by Jean Plaidy last night. Sort of informative, but Plaidy's style just is a bit, ennh.

Shar wrote: "I think I am going to start reading The Lovely Bones as soon as I am finished with The Time Traveler's Wife.:)"

Shar, I really enjoyed The Lovely Bones, I hope you do too.

Cass wrote: "@ Kim N: That is actually on the list of books I want to read soon. I loved Memoirs of a Geisha and when I found out that the main geisha who contributed to its information, Mineko Iwasaki, had wro..."

Cass, I am thoroughly enjoying it. I had read some reviews on it and many do not rate it favorably because they think Mineko was arrogant or self-centered. I'm not getting that at all. She clearly had a different childhood than most of us have, and I'm sure it's difficult for many people to relate to her or to be able to see how that kind of life is appropriate. Also, from what I've seen of the reviews, many people truly loved Memoris of a Geisha and were upset that Mineko didn't like the result of the book and decided to write her own memoirs, so they say she did it for "fame" or "attention". Again I don't get that from the book at all. I think she truly wanted to correct the misconception of geiko (geisha) life.

Ever since the 6th grade, I've had this love and fascination with the country of Japan. A school project that I did got me interested in Japan and it's culture and also instilled wanderlust in my soul.

This memoir is renewing that love and fascination for the Japanese culture, specifically the traditional culture that Mineko is talking about.

Kim, did you readThe Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet a very good book about fuedal Japan . Here is the link to the group discussion.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

I haven't Carol - I will look into it right now. Thank you!

I just finished Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore in time for our discussion on the 15th. I really enjoyed it. A few places had me wondering why the main character did or did not do something but overall it was a fun read.

Finished Unburnable and currently reading fluff as my mental break while I process the similarities I found between the main character in She's Come Undone and the one in Unburnable.

Just recently finished The Siege which I loved, In the Flesh--very unusual; I am now slogging through The Custom of the Country, so far a bit disappointing, since I loved The House of Mirth. I plan to try The Death of Virgil soon; I know that will not be an easy read.

Speaking of Edith Wharton, I just finished The Buccaneers, which is really only for hardcore Victorian lit fans.

Just finished Wool enjoyed it a lot. Will be reading Deeply Odd next

My reading plans for June include The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, Seeing by José Saramago, The Princess Bride, and Bridget Jones's Diary.

I am waiting for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore to be available at my tiny library but it may be next year before I get my hands on it. Luckily I have plenty of other books to keep me occupied

Robyn wrote: "My reading plans for June include The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, Seeing by José Saramago, The Princess Bride, and Bridget Jones's Diary.

I am waiting for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book..."

I enjoyed The Princess Bride :-) and I also am on a waiting list for Mr. Penumbra's... lol

What a contrast ... I continue to read Henry James' What Maisie Knew while my current viewing is streaming the ultra-violent JUSTIFIED. Both are scary in their own particular ways. Observation: those inhabiting the drawing rooms of England a hundred years ago can be just as cruel as a gun wielding, psychopath in Harlan County, KY.

Larry wrote: "What a contrast ... I continue to read Henry James' What Maisie Knew while my current viewing is streaming the ultra-violent JUSTIFIED. Both are scary in their own particular ways. Observation: those inhabiting the drawing rooms of England a hundred years ago can be just as cruel as a gun wielding, psychopath in Harlan County, KY.
..."

So very true!
It is really funny, I've often thought Amazon must think I have multiple personalities.
Nabokov to Bruce Willis's movies. heh

Downloaded What Maisie Knew this morning. You all made it sound interesting. Right now I am reading The Painted Veil.

Just started on paper towns, which I really like so far. And I plan on rereading Vampire Academy, one of my favorite series

I'm a fan of AGE OF INNOCENCE and HOUSE OF MIRTH, but have read a couple others by Wharton I didn't enjoy as much. I haven't read THE BUCCANEERS but did enjoy it on DVD.

I'm just finishing up Dewey Defeats Truman, by Thomas Mallon. A bit lighter weight than my usual, but it has given me enormous reading pleasure. Can't figure out why--the pace is leisurely, the characters commonplace. If anyone has read it or other work by Mallon and has a theory I'd be interested.

Accidently picked up The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. I was only passing the bookcase, and saw first one, then this one...actually I pulled it from the shelf for my husband. But. :) When I sat down to read, my hand strayed to The Rook, and opened it up and read the first few pages. Hooked. Tough luck for husband! :)

That makes 4 I'm actively reading, plus a few others in the background. They will simply have to wait.

Kat wrote: "I'm a fan of AGE OF INNOCENCE and HOUSE OF MIRTH, but have read a couple others by Wharton I didn't enjoy as much. I haven't read THE BUCCANEERS but did enjoy it on DVD."

Hadn't realized the story had been filmed, which would be a more ... approachable medium.

Today I started reading Angel's Fall by Kimberly Cates. It's not my typical type of book to read (heavy romance) but it is so dang funny so far. The dialogue has me laughing and it's just so "soap opera dramatic" that it makes me laugh LOL. I just happened to pick the book up at a UBS recently and I'm glad I did (well so far I'm glad, I may change my mind half way through LOL)

Just finished One False Move and really enjoyed the wise-cracking of Coben's main character Myron. Next, on to The Moonstone.

I finished reading The Spy Who Came In from the Cold a couple of days ago. It was the 2nd book I've read by John le Carré, the first being A Most Wanted Man.

I was very disappointed in Most Wanted because it seemed shallow and written to be filmed. The eponymous "wanted man" was a real cypher. We heard a bit about him, but never anything that showed what made him tick. Like the legal aid lawyer who takes him on as her pet project, we can't get close enough to touch him.

I picked up The Spy... because I still wanted to know what all the fuss was about re: le Carré. What a great contrast to the other. Here, the central character is a bit of an enigma, too, but because he is essentially an enigma to himself, or rather, because he is in flux. So accustomed to living a false life, he isn't sure, IMO, that he can live a real one. Until he makes a "real" grand gesture. Cold-War-dated a bit, but worth the read.

Am reading Chronicles of Nick: Inferno which is a YA series novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Also reading Marc21 for Everyone and Metadata. Summer semester started yesterday. :(

Mary Ellen wrote: "I finished reading The Spy Who Came In from the Cold a couple of days ago. It was the 2nd book I've read by John le Carré, the first being A Most Wanted Man.

I was very disappointed in Most Wan..."

OMG! "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" is one of my very favorite books, Mary Ellen. It's not a spy book, it's great literature. The settings, the atmosphere, the characters, the prose...his recent books can't really be compared to those amazing early works.

Just finished The Book Thief on a rec from a friend... really well done book. Have just started The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ... looking forward to getting more into it! Have heard great things.

Have finished up The Emperor's Tomb, by Joseph Roth, which I enjoyed except for the dated and reactionary views about women and lesbianism, which were pretty offensive. But it did give me a fascinating look at a time and place which I knew nothing about (the Austrian-Hungarian Empire on the eve of and after the first World War).

Also finished Dewey Defeats Truman, in which all the characters are nice. Now I'm reading the first of the Patrick Melrose novels, in which NO character is nice. Quite a change.

Still plugging away at SWANN'S WAY. It's so dense and rich I rarely can do more than five pages at a sitting. But I find it extraordinary, it seems to infuse a sense of the sacred into the most mundane moments of life. Looking forward to reading the archived discussion when I'm done (probably in August!).

Scott, I haven't read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy since college years, but I still often remember that wise advice, to always bring a towel!

Shar wrote: "I think I am going to start reading The Lovely Bones as soon as I am finished with The Time Traveler's Wife.:)"

Those are both good. I thought it actually helped clarify some things to also watch the movie version of Time Traveler's Wife.

The Lovely Bones was a good movie, too, but I didn't love the casting in it.

Listened to the audio book of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (audio narrated by Michael Maloney) � 3***
I really wanted to love this book, I had heard so much about it. But I could not get over my impression that the narrator, 9-year-old Bruno, is written as far too young, immature and oblivious. Good premise and a good ending, but it doesn’t quite do it for me.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I listened to The Lovely Bones as an audiobook (NOT the author-narrated one), and as Susie sounded so okay with herself, the nasty episode wasn't all that horrifying.

Helen wrote: "Mary Ellen wrote: "I finished reading The Spy Who Came In from the Cold a couple of days ago. It was the 2nd book I've read by John le Carré, the first being A Most Wanted Man.

I was very disap..."

Helen, I don't know if I've read any real "spy" novels (I did have a Tom Clancy phase, if that counts!) but I agree this is something more. I was thinking of trying Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Have you read it? How does it compare to TSWHIFTC?

I'm reading
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Alias Reader wrote: "I'm reading
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson"

Do check in on our discussion of this book. It was a great discussion and its never too late to add comments.