An FSU Without a Book Thread is Like an FS Event Without Snark

[Spinner]

I'm having a Halloween read of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. Fun story!

[Prancer]

So I read Before I Sleep.

rfisher and I must read the same sort of books.

[PrincessLeppard]

I'm having a Halloween read of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. Fun story!

This is an excellent book.

Next, you should read a zombie novel.

[Spinner]

This is an excellent book.

Next, you should read a zombie novel.

Just finished, it was good! Now, after the National Book Awards controversy, reading Lauren Myracle's Shine.

[TygerLily]

So I read Before I Sleep.

rfisher and I must read the same sort of books.

What was the verdict? I can't remember what rfisher thought of it.

I read it because of this thread and thought it was interesting but not as gripping/suspenseful as I'd hoped. It was still worth the time!

In fluff reading news, I just finished the latest Kelley Armstrong. I'd read her others all together in a clump and this was the first one I had to wait for and I wished I'd read the previous one more recently since there was clunky exposition at the beginning and I actually had to read it since I couldn't remember what happened in the last book. And then the ending

Spoiler

wasn't so much ending as prelude for the next book.

Spoiler

And does Armstrong have a thing for young women matched with much older men? This is at least the third such couple in the series. And don't get me started on the metaphorical murder victim still loving her metaphorical murderer. I dislike the werewolf books because I can't get past that.

I might need to find some new fluff.

[Prancer]

What was the verdict? I can't remember what rfisher thought of it.

I read it because of this thread and thought it was interesting but not as gripping/suspenseful as I'd hoped. It was still worth the time!

I thought the book was well written overall, and I thought the author did a good job of creating a female protagonist; there were a couple of times that I thought "Hmm, the author must be a man," but I didn't check until I was finished (he is), and it wasn't as obvious as in many other works I've read. The details were interesting and well done; he based Christine's peculiar amnesia on two real amnesia cases, and Christine's character has an authenticity that I thought was pretty impressive.

But in terms of suspense? Er,

Spoiler

I thought it was obvious that "Ben" was the villain from the beginning, and by the time Claire told Christine that she (Christine) had been having an affair, I was pretty sure that "Ben" wasn't Ben, so.....no great surprises there. And that ending was CRAP. Her memory comes back, along with her husband, son and best friend, and everything is all tied up in rainbows, all neat and tidy and completely unbelievable.

It was interesting. I'm glad I read it. But suspense? Not really.

[Grannyfan]

So I read Before I Sleep.

rfisher and I must read the same sort of books.

I was totally underwhelmed by this book. For greater suspense with truly surprise endings, I recommend Thomas Cook. That being said, I was disappointed in his last book.

[sk8sue]

I'm having a Halloween read of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. Fun story!

It is a fun story; I did that last year with his audio book of it. If anyone would like to watch Neil Gaiman read the story himself in its entirety, video is available here on his website, taken from readings he did on a book tour. I love the way that he reads aloud, he is such a good storyteller.

[TygerLily]

It was interesting. I'm glad I read it. But suspense? Not really.

It's nice not to be alone! *makes mental note to take Prancer & rfisher's book suggestions even more seriously*

[rfisher]

We're teachers. We're used to people not paying any attention.

[PrincessLeppard]

My Dystopian Lit class just finished reading Fatherland by Robert Harris. It's a murder mystery set in Nazi Germany. In 1963. (It assumes the Nazis won.) An excellent book, deserving of a much better movie than it was given.

Disclaimer: Every year, only about half the class finishes it. I'm not sure why; I think the book is excellent and usually reread it within two days after I assign it. This year, it looks like about 75% made it through, which is

[BelleBway]

My Dystopian Lit class just finished reading Fatherland by Robert Harris. It's a murder mystery set in Nazi Germany. In 1963. (It assumes the Nazis won.) An excellent book, deserving of a much better movie than it was given.

Disclaimer: Every year, only about half the class finishes it. I'm not sure why; I think the book is excellent and usually reread it within two days after I assign it. This year, it looks like about 75% made it through, which is

I read this book within the past few years; I believe it was because you'd mentioned it before. Didn't know it was a movie, but I agree that it's a terrific book. for your students!

ETA: I just got Haruki Murakami's latest, "1Q84", in the mail.

[Jenny]

"TOBG" isn't serious history; even Warnicke (the historian cited by Gregory as "supporting" the book) has disclaimed it. Any Tudor fans interested in reading the Mary Boleyn book may be interested in reading this review of it:

http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/15...r-book-review/

What I like about The Other Boleyn Girl and the subsequent Queen's Fool is that Gregory appears to have spent a lot of time and effort researching both, and a lot of time and effort thinking about it before turning what she learned into stories. Her subsequent books have been far less well researched IMO, with too many errors or leaps of fact, and characters that are quite one-dimensional. I read a couple more, then gave up on her altogether when I found I really didn't care about the characters any more.

Random factoid for those interested in Mary Boleyn - the Duchess of Cambridge/Kate Middleton is descendant of her daughter Catherine Carey. Depending on which historians you believe, Henry VIII may have fathered one or both of Mary's children (general thinking seems to be the son Henry, but not the daughter). Either way, that's some interesting pedigree the future queen has

[oleada]

ETA: I just got Haruki Murakami's latest, "1Q84", in the mail.

I am beyond jealous. Can't wait to read this one....if only I had time to read for fun! Please let us know how it's like.

[Spinner]

It was interesting. I'm glad I read it. But suspense? Not really.

Oh, now I'm with you. It might help if you got the title correct.

[Prancer]

Oh, now I'm with you. It might help if you got the title correct.

Excuse me. Before I Go to Sleep.

I don't want anyone to get confused and buy the book by accident .

[Spinner]

Excuse me. Before I Go to Sleep.

I don't want anyone to get confused and buy the book by accident .

or Before I Sleep or Before I Sleep or Before I Sleep. back at ya

[TygerLily]

We're teachers. We're used to people not paying any attention.

Yeah, yeah, but so am I!

Naw, it's just handy to know who likes the same kinds of books as me. I used to be absolutely terrible for buying people books that I liked and then the recipient would dislike them. By "used to" I mean that I'm getting slightly better at predicting who will like what. My poor grandfather sends the grandkids books every year that are so badly suited to us that it's basically a family tradition to not read them.

[Buzz]

Just got myself a copy of Steve Jobs bio and plan on starting it today.

[modern_muslimah]

I just finished reading Fever Cure (trashy romance novel). It took forever to finish because it wasn't that gripping to be honest. I think I'm done with Phillipa Ashley.

Now I'm reading The Help since my book club decided to read that. I'm only a few pages. I have to be honest and say that it wasn't my first choice but I didn't want to go against everybody. It seems like an easy read though.