tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post7381665611043934660..comments2024-02-25T05:03:48.092-07:00Comments on Eudaemonia: What I Read in JanuaryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-72680994279168465702008-02-02T21:34:00.000-07:002008-02-02T21:34:00.000-07:00Wow, but you manage to get a lot read!I've had the...Wow, but you manage to get a lot read!<BR/><BR/>I've had the Elmore Leonard book on my TBR pile for a while. You've convinced me to move it up!Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-40313825049428108402008-02-02T19:46:00.000-07:002008-02-02T19:46:00.000-07:00Lisa, I've mostly been reading books about 1968 po...Lisa, <BR/><BR/>I've mostly been reading books about 1968 politics and the '68 Democratic Convention--a book that's often overlooked is "No one was killed," by John Schultz.<BR/><BR/>But I needed some quick info about Zoroastrianism, as Helena's mother (in my DC novel) was a Parsi, and found the book, "Zoroastrianism," by Paula R. Hartz, in the Young Adult section of the library. It's wonderful--explains the basic tenets, gives an overview of the faith's history and includes passages from the Avestas (their holy book), commonly used prayers, and lots of pictures. I probably need to check out more "adult" literature on the faith. But this book has convinced me that Zoroastrianism is a truly beautiful religion, and that it would be a terrible shame if it disappeared.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-26257706219892545082008-02-02T15:07:00.000-07:002008-02-02T15:07:00.000-07:00The best book I read in January was "Swords of Tal...The best book I read in January was "Swords of Talera," by an incredibly sexy & talented writer named Charles Gramlich.Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-79760574164040098912008-02-02T14:38:00.000-07:002008-02-02T14:38:00.000-07:00Lisa, I can't believe you read so many! I am in aw...Lisa, I can't believe you read so many! I am in awe!<BR/><BR/>Can't wait for Monday for MY reading fix! ;o)Ello - Ellen Ohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311917335471167591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-67517702439380615592008-02-01T23:46:00.000-07:002008-02-01T23:46:00.000-07:00Yogamum,You'll have to tell me how you like Neil G...Yogamum,<BR/><BR/>You'll have to tell me how you like Neil Gaiman. I've never read him either. "The People of the Book" sounds really good.<BR/><BR/>Debra, <BR/><BR/>I hope you find more time! Hey, and your book list looks a lot like Larramie's. I read "Look Me in the Eye" and I have "Lottery", but I haven't gotten to it.<BR/><BR/>Orchid Hunter,<BR/><BR/>Hey, thank you for coming by. I can't remember how I found your blog, but your posts are fascinating. I'm still thinking about the one on sleep. And thanks for calling my attention to "The Raw Shark Texts". I just ordered it. When Fight Club, Life of Pi and Trainspotting all popped up in the first review, it sounded like something I'd like. It's possible they could adapt this (of course I haven't read it yet). The description makes me think of Memento, which I thought was great. <BR/><BR/>Shauna,<BR/><BR/>Actually Tim Hallinan gave me the idea. He posted his reads for December and I thought it would be a nice record beyond the list that I keep. AND, the book you described reminded me that I'm going to have to break down and look up "Regency England". I keep coming across descriptions of books set in that period and I have no idea when it was. <BR/><BR/>Karen,<BR/><BR/>I think an "Oscar" lunch is a great idea. Hey, and if I had three kids (or two or one) I wouldn't be able to do any of this stuff. I don't cook often and I don't get out much :)<BR/><BR/>Usman,<BR/><BR/>Well if you guarantee it, that's good enough for me. I've been meaning to read Orhan Pamuk anyway. I've read a couple of essays of his and I've actually been to Turkey three times, which makes me even more interested in reading him.<BR/><BR/>Tim,<BR/><BR/>I really liked "Twinkle Twinkle" and back in July I'd resolved to read more books in translation, so that was my first (I think) translated from Japanese. <BR/><BR/>I already emailed you my address. That is so kind of you and since I read the first book in the series, I will feel especially honored to read the second one before the rest of the world gets to. Thank you very much!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-79987041195430046332008-02-01T23:21:00.000-07:002008-02-01T23:21:00.000-07:00Hi, Lisa --I'm so glad you liked "Twinkle Twinkle....Hi, Lisa --<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad you liked "Twinkle Twinkle." I really thought it was wonderful.<BR/><BR/>If you'll e-mail me a snail-mail address, I'll send you an ARC of "The Fourth Watcher," which I hope you'll enjoy. Morrow sent me scads of them (they're really generous in a lot of ways), and I'd love to send you one.<BR/><BR/>Haven't read much this month, what with everything, but what I liked best was a re-reading of Banana Yoshimoto's "Kitchen," which is one of my 10-15 favorite novels in the world.Timothy Hallinanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551263887774445511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-50304875999864267342008-02-01T21:58:00.000-07:002008-02-01T21:58:00.000-07:00My TBR is longer than ever. What I am reading is s...My TBR is longer than ever. What I am reading is slow.<BR/>Orhan Pamuk's MY NAME IS RED. I am sure it is a great treatise in good multipoint writing for all authors. A great story. May be slow for some; not for me.<BR/>Lisa I guarantee you'll love it. Pamuk surely deserves his Nobel Prize. yes his protagonists are heavily flawed, yet likable and understandable in what they do and why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-67556430781080320092008-02-01T21:08:00.000-07:002008-02-01T21:08:00.000-07:00YIKES more titles for the TBR list! This is way ou...YIKES more titles for the TBR list! This is way out of control but if I ever get to the point at which I'm reading as many books a month as you (and writing a new book, and maintaining two blogs, and working full time, and volunteering for a noble cause...!) the effort will all be worth it. Man, I'm pooped just listing all that, lol! Definitely read Oscar soon so you and Carleen and I can have a little book club session. I finished that in January, read Lynne Reeves Griffin's Negotiation Generation, and am almost done with The Time Traveler's Wife, which I've been meaning to read for ever. Also read The Acts of the Apostles for Junior Great Books with a quick review of The Giver on tap. Next up: Lisa See's Peony in Love. K.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-10965219885516911332008-02-01T20:32:00.000-07:002008-02-01T20:32:00.000-07:00I really enjoyed hearing about the books you read ...I really enjoyed hearing about the books you read this month. I hope you do this again.<BR/><BR/>As for my favorite book read this month, I think it was Petty Treason by Madeleine E. Robins. It's about a "fallen woman" who's a detective in an alternate Regency England.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-43466365119946639182008-02-01T20:27:00.000-07:002008-02-01T20:27:00.000-07:00I haven't read a damn thing in January, which is s...I haven't read a damn thing in January, which is such a pity - I'm just too busy. I looked through my old posts the other day and was surprised at the amount of reading I used to do. What went wrong? PhD studies, that's what. *Sigh*<BR/><BR/>The best thing I'd read 'recently' is a book called <I>'The Raw Shark Texts'</I> by Steven Hall. Apparently they want to make a movie out of it, which I believe will be impossible to accomplish well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16532403180123519635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-54514646310956968512008-02-01T17:01:00.000-07:002008-02-01T17:01:00.000-07:00I am trying to find time to read more. Right now, ...I am trying to find time to read more. Right now, it's while I'm in bed---not a good way to complete anything these days! I did read Lottery, Catching Genius, The Tin Box, Look Me in The Eye, and assorted mysteries. I'm hoping that 2008 brings me time and energy to relax and read :-)debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676300309029588465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-7977508793352781262008-02-01T16:08:00.000-07:002008-02-01T16:08:00.000-07:00I haven't been reading nearly as much as I should,...I haven't been reading nearly as much as I should, but I enjoyed Geraldine Brooks' "The People of the Book" this month. I also read "The Madonnas of Leningrad" by Debra Dean -- also good, but not as good as Brooks.<BR/><BR/>Next on my stack: Neil Gaiman's "Stardust" because everyone is always raving about him and I've never read him.Yogamumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02736784200874589271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-52833016661860439042008-02-01T14:48:00.000-07:002008-02-01T14:48:00.000-07:00Steve,I'll have to note these (I still have to get...Steve,<BR/><BR/>I'll have to note these (I still have to get to Candice Harris' "What Angels Fear" -- it's on the stack).<BR/><BR/>I may have to check out the Goldman book. He is quite the interesting character himself.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-86709062255689775612008-02-01T13:39:00.000-07:002008-02-01T13:39:00.000-07:00Now that January's over, I'll say...Nonfiction: Wh...Now that January's over, I'll say...<BR/><BR/>Nonfiction: Which Lie Did I Tell by William Goldman<BR/><BR/>Fiction: Mmm, a tie between Meg Gardiner's Crosscut and CS Harris' Why Mermaids Sing.Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-4295126740180913342008-02-01T12:43:00.000-07:002008-02-01T12:43:00.000-07:00Felicia,No, thank you. After reading your story, I...Felicia,<BR/><BR/>No, thank you. After reading your story, I am so inspired by all that you've accomplished and at the talented, confident woman that you are. Congratulations on the release of this wonderful book. I await the sequel :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-29206612697989260062008-02-01T12:39:00.000-07:002008-02-01T12:39:00.000-07:00Lisa: Thank you! Thank you and more thank you!!!Wa...Lisa: Thank you! Thank you and more thank you!!!<BR/>Warmest, f.smallspiralnotebookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697991256540348836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-72328367877287338802008-02-01T12:31:00.000-07:002008-02-01T12:31:00.000-07:00Julie, So much to read, so little time :)Josephine...Julie, <BR/><BR/>So much to read, so little time :)<BR/><BR/>Josephine,<BR/><BR/>You can never tell what people will like, but I thought these were some of the most interesting and well drawn characters I've read in a very long time -- and I include the father, Jack's women -- all of the secondary characters too. I was actually pretty surprised that you liked this as much as you did because although the characters were brilliant, the action was fairly slow -- in a way that I enjoy, but didn't expect you to. :)<BR/><BR/>Charles, <BR/><BR/>I should also mention that it's actually on those cardboard pages that they use for kids' books -- it's more like a book to enjoy as much for the illustrations, look and feel as for the simplicity of the rules.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to have to note "Dust Devils". I used to read lots of thrillers and I've gotten away from them, but I think there are some lessons I could learn from them that would be helpful to me right about now.<BR/><BR/>Larramie,<BR/><BR/>This month, all of the books were fairly short -- under 300 pages and none of them were difficult reads. Also, Scott goes to bed earlier than I do and I'm a bit of an insomniac, so I usually read for a couple of hours before I go to sleep. <BR/><BR/>Carleen, <BR/><BR/>I've got Oscar waiting and may tackle him this month. Oh, and thanks for writing to the Governor! Rep. Levy emailed me about the upcoming session and the bill and when I asked what else we could do she asked that we urge the Governor to support. I read through the bill twice and it sound very sensible to me.<BR/><BR/>Therese,<BR/><BR/>I read Sue Miller's "The Good Mother" years ago and it really haunted me. I've got another of hers on the shelf that I've never managed to get to. I'll have to try to make the time.<BR/><BR/>Melissa, <BR/><BR/>It is so cool that you love all of those older movie stars and WWII era stories so much. I hope I have a chance to meet you when you go to the conference in April.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-67505005020893520772008-02-01T12:05:00.000-07:002008-02-01T12:05:00.000-07:00Hmm...I suppose the best book I read in January wo...Hmm...I suppose the best book I read in January would probably be Maureen O'Hara's autobiography, 'TIS HERSELF. I really enjoyed it.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-88070180838467371242008-02-01T12:01:00.000-07:002008-02-01T12:01:00.000-07:00Other than my own new novel, which is not presentl...Other than my own new novel, which is not presently in "best" shape, I've read just one book to completion. Sadly, it's not any kind of "best" either, so I won't name it!<BR/><BR/>Right now I'm reading Sue Miller's latest, with Mary Russell on deck.Theresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915740239016736614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-45516140233764261092008-02-01T11:04:00.000-07:002008-02-01T11:04:00.000-07:00And I just wrote Gov. Ritter. Thanks for making i...And I just wrote Gov. Ritter. Thanks for making it easy to do!Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-33722327808126903562008-02-01T10:51:00.000-07:002008-02-01T10:51:00.000-07:00I'm with Larramie! Wow! I read a couple of good ...I'm with Larramie! Wow! I read a couple of good ones last month: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack.Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-74106940455998887292008-02-01T10:13:00.000-07:002008-02-01T10:13:00.000-07:00Where, how and when do you find all this time to r...Where, how and when do you find all this time to read, Lisa? Seriously?!Larramiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14788910637361812265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-31218678665592505502008-02-01T08:35:00.000-07:002008-02-01T08:35:00.000-07:00I'm glad you mentioned the Leonard book. I haven'...I'm glad you mentioned the Leonard book. I haven't heard of this but it definitely sounds like something I want to get. <BR/><BR/>"Dust Devils," a noir thriller by James Reasoner was the best thing I've read so far this year. It's short but with a lot of cool twists.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-21055010149844031502008-02-01T08:34:00.000-07:002008-02-01T08:34:00.000-07:00Lisa: glad you liked "Josie and Jack" - a gal from...Lisa: glad you liked "Josie and Jack" - a gal from my writers group hated it because of the characters - she missed the whole point - how to make a story work with less than sympathetic characters, and how this bok offered understanding the variations and degrees of psychopathy.Josephine Damianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952030380866201241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-73041419694569278432008-02-01T02:45:00.000-07:002008-02-01T02:45:00.000-07:00Thanks for posting this - good incentive to start ...Thanks for posting this - good incentive to start reading something as well as blogs!virtual nexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955335598875413324noreply@blogger.com