Extracurricular Readings
Thought I'd create this post for members to share with the group their impressions or recommendations of other books they've read that weren't part of the IRC's reading list.
posted by JayC @ 10:12 AM
Thought I'd create this post for members to share with the group their impressions or recommendations of other books they've read that weren't part of the IRC's reading list.
posted by JayC @ 10:12 AM
9 Comments:
OK, well what have I read recently? At our last meeting, Sonja loaned me a book she read on vacation "Lifeguard" by James Patterson. A mystery that a breezed through in a couple days. Good story but maybe a bit pulp-y for my tastes (If I understand that word correctly).
I also recently read a sci-fi classic, "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov. Naturally, I'd heard of this book before, but I hadn't known it was actually a series of 'robot stories' loosely tied together by a few common characters. I found it very interesting in that, since the stories were written mainly in the 40s, Asimov proved to be quite prescient in many ways and also rather naive in others. I would recommend this book.
Also, after our first meeting I purchased one of the books Jim brought as part of the Kerouac show and tell box - "The Windblown World" edited by Douglas Brinkley; this is mainly a collection of Kerouac's journals written while he was at work writing "On the Road" and "The Town & the City". I found this very interesting as well, especially all the little nuggets of observational wisdom found throughout his journals. Highly recommended if you liked "On the Road."
I also found (at Half Price Books) the other day a copy of Kerouac's "Dr. Sax" and have started to try to read that, although the first section is virtually "unreadable" (for me, anyway) due to the style of writing. Perhaps it will get better as On the Road certainly did.
So...what have YOU been reading? Idle minds want to know...
-Jay
Ok, I bought "Lifeguard" by James Patterson while I was on vacation because Jan had read it while she was on vacation. To me this was a perfect 'vacation book'. It was interesting, had some twists in the plot (you didn't know how it was going to end by page 5), and didn't require you to pay total attention while you were reading. I started and finished it during the 28 hours between the time I had to leave my bags with the hotel bellman, flew (with multiple stops) and got home. I would still recommend it highly for some fun reading.
I had to look up 'pulpy' to see exactly what Jay meant. I can certainly understand why this book might be liek that for some - especially a guy. And, Kathleen, you might agree with Jay too if you read it. I'm not sure.
I love the fact that we can all suggest books to each other and some will like them and some won't. That's part of what I wanted to get out of the book club.
I just finished reading Bob Dylan's "Chronicles Vol.1". I'm sure it would not necessarily interest everyone, but if you want to get into the mind of a puzzling and fascinating cultural icon (although, he would hate that label), it's definitely worth reading. It's not a kiss and tell book (Joan Baez is barely mentioned) and it's pretty evident he's only letting you know what he wants to let you know. And after you've read it, he remains puzzling and fascinating.
Ah...another Sunday morning and day 3 of Project: Read the 'Impossible to Read' Dr. Sax by Jack Kerouac. I may finish it today if NFL football doesn't claim the whole rest of the day (as it often does).
Sonja, I (of course) didn't mean to be critical of your Patterson book (in fact, that would be in direct violation of one of the terms of the IRC!). I enjoyed it too - just not something I would usually buy for myself. I liked how it was a 'fast read' too - most books take me a long time to get through. Last weekend I was racing to finish it before the road trip for the Colts-Titans game in Nashville, but didn't quite make it - so I was left wondering for two more days "whodunnit?."
Dale - isn't Dylan's recently released CD called "Chronicles" as well? I don't have a lot of his music but I do have a little. I may give the book a try during my current "vacation" - Jay
Dylan's latest is called Modern Times. I haven't listened to it but it is suppose to be very good.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you probably already know, and if you are not, you probably don't care...but the seventh title has been announced: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
saw a preview today for the next Harry Potter movie coming out in July I think. Looks pretty good.
I was at the theater watching "We Are Marshall" (Rosemary Skaggs Carr - Marshall '49) Very good. I know it's not technically an extracurricular reading, but I still recommend it.
I also recently finished "The Defense" by Vladimir Nabokov. This is about a mono-maniacal chessplayer and how he almost was 'rescued' by marriage and brought back to "the real world" instead of his chess obsession. As a former player, it was very interesting to me & I recommend it to all.
-Jay
I have recently started "The Town & the City" by Jack Kerouac and have really been enjoying it. More of a traditional format/style than "On the Road" and very entertaining.
I also picked up a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne on my last trip to half-price books in Greenwood that I'm looking forward to reading.
I got a lot of books read in 2006; if I can maintain that pace in 2007, I may set a personal record...
-Jay
I just finished reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." It's a "mystery" seen through the eyes of an autisitic 15 year old boy. I think it made the "book club" rounds a year or so ago. I know it was one of the Today Show's picks. It was pretty good. An easy read. I started it yesterday and finished it today. Now, on to The Magnificent Ambersons!
Post a Comment
<< Home