What are you reading?

puddin' · 07-01-2012, 02:20 PM

"hostile witness", by rebecca forster

nycfem · 07-01-2012, 02:45 PM

Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss

by

Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme

This is a memoir by two adult brothers whose parents both die within a short timeframe, and the brothers become compulsive gamblers and within a matter of a few years lose their fairly sizable inheritance (and gain debt) at the casinos. They are both smart, reflective English professors, and the quality of the writing as well as the way in which they try to figure out psychologically how they let this happen are both very impressive. I definitely recommend this book. It covers grief, our parents' hold on us even as adults and after their deaths, the complicated aspects of sibling relationships, and addiction all with such care.

I was not sure I'd like this book because I don't gamble and felt I might get bored, but instead I'm mesmerized. Big thumbs up!

Martina · 07-01-2012, 03:33 PM

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

The book is about the year she spent reading a book a day. I just finished it. I hope it will inspire me to spend less time watching TV and playing Farmville and more time reading.

Which reminds me, I must go check on my crops.

Mr Nice Guy · 07-01-2012, 05:28 PM

The hunger games book 2

Julien · 07-01-2012, 05:30 PM

Some trashy vampire romance novel, yeah it's light reading, but that's what I need right now.

justkim · 07-02-2012, 07:55 AM

I just finished reading *Wild* by Cheryl Strayed. Fantastic book! This is also a Oprah book club book if you are doing her book club for the summer.

Overview
A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faces down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Martina · 07-04-2012, 03:30 AM

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly.

I loved the Harry Bosch books. These -- the other is The Lincoln Lawyer -- not as much, but they are well done.

07-01-2012, 02:20 PM	#1
puddin' Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: a genderqueer nuisance Preferred Pronoun?: bitchboi Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: new zealand Posts: 7,120 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,467 Thanked 7,962 Times in 2,340 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	"hostile witness", by rebecca forster __________________ be true, be you, be brave.

07-01-2012, 05:30 PM	#5
Julien Member How Do You Identify?: TG/GenderQueer Preferred Pronoun?: I'm flexible, but only up to a point. Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, Gulf Coast area Posts: 1,007 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,247 Thanked 2,702 Times in 737 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Some trashy vampire romance novel, yeah it's light reading, but that's what I need right now. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

07-02-2012, 07:55 AM	#6
justkim Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Me... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Relationship Status: <3 myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 2,023 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,062 Thanked 6,799 Times in 1,553 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I just finished reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Fantastic book! This is also a Oprah book club book if you are doing her book club for the summer. Overview A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again. At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone. Strayed faces down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. __________________ Kim "A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success." - Unknown -

07-01-2012, 02:45 PM	#2
nycfem Moderator How Do You Identify?: femme sub Preferred Pronoun?: Baby Grrl Relationship Status: Attached Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 6,794 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 52,987 Thanked 21,446 Times in 5,101 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss by Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme This is a memoir by two adult brothers whose parents both die within a short timeframe, and the brothers become compulsive gamblers and within a matter of a few years lose their fairly sizable inheritance (and gain debt) at the casinos. They are both smart, reflective English professors, and the quality of the writing as well as the way in which they try to figure out psychologically how they let this happen are both very impressive. I definitely recommend this book. It covers grief, our parents' hold on us even as adults and after their deaths, the complicated aspects of sibling relationships, and addiction all with such care. I was not sure I'd like this book because I don't gamble and felt I might get bored, but instead I'm mesmerized. Big thumbs up!

07-01-2012, 03:33 PM	#3
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,284 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch The book is about the year she spent reading a book a day. I just finished it. I hope it will inspire me to spend less time watching TV and playing Farmville and more time reading. Which reminds me, I must go check on my crops.

07-01-2012, 05:28 PM	#4
Mr Nice Guy Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Kind, sweet, loving, romantic and a rare Butch. :) Relationship Status: I don't drive a Uhaul. :) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Another New Englander Posts: 1,768 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,035 Thanked 4,894 Times in 1,307 Posts Rep Power: 0	The hunger games book 2

07-04-2012, 03:30 AM	#7
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,284 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly. I loved the Harry Bosch books. These -- the other is The Lincoln Lawyer -- not as much, but they are well done.