What Are You Reading?

[Krikit 1,164]

Darn. I can't remember the name of the book I just finished. It was good, though.

I am now reading Dublin by Edward Rutherford.... the first of a two-part historical epic. I'm about a quarter of the way through but it takes a little time as I refer back to the pronunciation guide for the Old Irish words. But I love languages so I find that really interesting. Plus I really enjoy historical novels.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Currently Reading: "Party Of One: The Loner's Manifesto" by Anneli Rufus.

[arya 22]

I'm currently reading The memoirs of a Geisha. It's pretty good. My favourite books are by George R R Martin, it's a series called A song of ice and fire. The first book is called A game of thrones. So far there are 4 books out, but it's supposed to be 7 in total. I have been waiting for the next one for a long time, he seems not to be getting them out fast. Anyway, they are fantasy books and once you start reading, you can't stop. I also love Jane Eyre, Time traveler's wife and Harry Potter.

[sachinky 465]

Reading THE BLACK HOUSE by Stephen King and Peter Straub.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yahoo!...I found another old VJ message thread to add to.....

Lol....I haven't read a book in over a year, I must confess....

But last week I went to the local library...

And found a copy of..."The Lost Symbol", By Marc Brown.....

He's the author of that DaVinci Code book, btw.....

Anyways, I started reading it (while my son was napping)....And was hooked.....

350+ pages and 2 days later...It was quite the read!

Anyone else read it?

I definitely recommend it!....

I liked the 'conspiracy' aspect of the book tooo.....

Lol....Gives us all something to think about.....

And yes, there is a "surprise ending" to this.....Which makes us all really think about things....

Happy reading! May you find the lost symbol too!

Ant

Haha - there was a time not so long ago that I read a lot of Arthur books and watched a lot of Arthur on TV...good series for kids.

[Peachey 10]

I'm reading UBIK by Phillip K #######. Really good, lots of surprises

[Colleens 40]

I have just started reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am busy with my family right now before my POE so I am only about 20 pgs in!! It will be good for the trip back to TN on the 13th

[Marilyn. 340]

right now I am listening to Outlander by Diana Gabaldon... I think I got the suggestion from this thread..

it is pretty good so far...

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I haven't read in months now.

I need to start reading again, I have a few books piling up.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ant, you hadn't read a book in over a year? I'd go crazy! I am constantly reading and carry a book with me everywhere - you never know when you will get a few minutes to read . I tend to go through at least a book a week, and have a whole bookshelf of books I am waiting to read by my bedside table.

So, I am currently reading The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor by Sally Armstrong. Krikit - you would enjoy this book as it is the fictionalized account of a true person written by one of her ancestors. Here is the account from the back of the book:

"In 1775, twenty-year old Charlotte Taylor flees her English country house and boards a ship for the West Indies with her lover, the family's black butler. Soon after reaching shore, her lover dies of yellow fever, leaving her alone and pregnant in Jamaica. Ever resourceful, Charlotte swiftly makes an alliance with a naval commodore and travels north with him to the Baie des Chaleurs in what is present day northern New Brunswick (near Miramichi). There she finds refuge with the Mi'kmaq, delivers her baby- and so begins the life of one of the earliest women settlers in the vast Northeast. . . . Using a seamless blend of fact and fiction, Charlotte Taylor's great-great-great-granddaughter, Sally Armstrong, reclaims the life of a dauntless and highly unusual woman".

I am enjoying it thoroughly and reading far, far later into the night than I need to be, making it difficult to get up in the morning. "A highly unusual woman" barely begins to scratch the surface of Charlotte Taylor! Much of the account is actually based upon Charlotte's own diaries. I highly recommend it.

I just finished two other books I also highly recommend by an author who grew up and lived in Chatham, Ontario where I used to live. I actually know her mother quite well and remember the excitement when Lori's first book was published. Why I didn't read it then, I don't know, but I wish I had because I missed out on enjoying it that much sooner! I actually found her second book first in a sales bin here, and picked it up because I recognized the author's name. Less than half way through the book, I had to order in her first book through Amazon because I loved her story telling style. Both books are excellent - and her third novel has just been published so I am waiting for that to come out in paperback to order it in as well.

Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens is about an unusual relationship between a little girl who is abandoned by her mother into the care of an elderly black woman named Addy Shadd. The book recounts Addy's life through the nurturing and mothering of the little girl, Sharla, and the eventual finding of the road home for both of them. The book is set in and around Chatham, and is based on the community of North Buxton - a real community that was founded in 1849 for the re-settlement of escaped slaves. North Buxton is still a vibrant community today, and hosts an annual homecoming every year that is attended by thousands of descendants of the original settlers who come back from around the world.

The Girls by Lori Lansens is also set near Chatham, and is the story of a pair of conjoined twins joined at the head. It is a remarkable story of two distinctly different personalities living their lives together from their birth after being abandoned by their mother and adopted by the nurse who helped at their birth and her Czech husband to their deaths in mid adult life. Again, a phenomenal story very well written.

Edited April 7, 2010 by Kathryn41

[OBX 51]

Ant, you hadn't read a book in over a year? I'd go crazy! I am constantly reading and carry a book with me everywhere - you never know when you will get a few minutes to read . I tend to go through at least a book a week, and have a whole bookshelf of books I am waiting to read by my bedside table.

Same here! I feel lost if I don't have anything to read. Getting my library card when I moved here was a lifesaver.

[Krikit 1,164]

So, I am currently reading The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor by Sally Armstrong. Krikit - you would enjoy this book as it is the fictionalized account of a true person written by one of her ancestors. Here is the account from the back of the book:

Ooooh, you're right. I would like that book, Kathryn! Thanks for the tip. The books by your friend's daughter sound good too. Well, maybe not the conjoined twins one. That would freak me out a bit. lol

[antda 13]

Ant, you hadn't read a book in over a year? I'd go crazy! I am constantly reading and carry a book with me everywhere - you never know when you will get a few minutes to read . I tend to go through at least a book a week, and have a whole bookshelf of books I am waiting to read by my bedside table.

Kathryn-Sad to say, that is true...

Lol...With the craziness of dealing with immigration stufff, pregnancy/a baby, moving, and everything else in between....

I'd be lucky that in the last year if I got any sleep and/or anything else accomplished!

And it wasn't until recently that I got reading again, now that things have settled down a bit, and I recently found the local library....

Oh how I have yet to re-discover the love of reading for fun again!

Rest assured, I love reading, and eventually I'll get back to reading again...

Haha - there was a time not so long ago that I read a lot of Arthur books and watched a lot of Arthur on TV...good series for kids.

Udella&Wiz-Oh yeah, I like the Arthur series too. My favourite character is Fern, who is one of the lesser-known characters on the show...lol...Who do you like?

For more info on arthur characters...you can all read more here....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arthur_characters

On that note...Does anyone have any recommendations for children's books too? Something to think about later on down the road for my son....Thanks....

Happy reading, everyone!

Ant

P.S. Thanks all, for the adult book/reading recommendations that you posted already on this message thread! Definitely a lot of books to consider the next time I go to the library...lol..I best be brining a big bag along with me!...

Edited April 8, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[OBX 51]

On that note...Does anyone have any recommendations for children's books too? Something to think about later on down the road for my son....Thanks....

Happy reading, everyone!

Ant

I used to read to both of my boys every night until they were quite a bit older and reading chapter books...then they would read to me.

One of my favourite children's author is William Steig...Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Brave Irene, Dr De Soto, Spinky Sulks

And of course everyone needs to have at least one copy of Robert Munsch - Love You Forever (To this day I cannot get through that book without crying.)

Edited April 8, 2010 by OBX

[antda 13]

I used to read to both of my boys every night until they were quite a bit older and reading chapter books...then they would read to me.

One of my favourite children's author is William Steig...Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Brave Irene, Dr De Soto, Spinky Sulks

And of course everyone needs to have at least one copy of Robert Munsch - Love You Forever (To this day I cannot get through that book without crying.)

Obx-Aww...That's a sweet thing to do...To read to your boys and then have them read back to you.......

Definitely recommended for good family time together.....

I bet you when your sons have children, they will continue the same traditions too....

I'm just getting starting about reading to my son at night/during the day..He might be a little bit young to understand though..But at least I'm starting somewhere...lol....We just read the Velveeteen Rabbit again...

Hmmm...I haven't heard of William Steig...I'll have to check his books out sometime...What are his stories about? And what age/reading range are his books targeted at?

And yes, I remember Robert Munsch (I think he was Canadian too...lol...)!

I loved that "Love you forever" book! I wonder if they have a copy of that here in the USA....I'll have to ask the library about that one...Lol..either that, or find a copy of it in Canada to buy...

I remember the poem..."I love you forever and ever and always, as long as you're living my baby you'll be...." And the final illustration of the boy with the mother in his arms...lol....(yeah, that one left me kind of mushy too...)

I also liked that Munsch book about the kid named Andrew that had to go pee..What was it again? It was funny to see the kid in the snowsuit...lol....Then there as that one that had the song..clang, clang, rattle, bing, bang...I'm going to make my noise all day...What was that one again? Mortimer, I think? Lol...I'll have to look up the Munsch stuff....A definite must read, Munsch!

Rofl...When I told my husband about Robert Munsch..He thought I meant Edward Munsch (the one that did that scream painting)... Never mind, I guess I'll have to explain to him about Canadian literature....

Thanks for the suggestions....

Happy reading to you and your sons too!

Ant

Edited April 8, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA