Great Reading

[Paula]

Just read James Patterson's mystery "The Beach House". I'm not a mystery reader in general, but thought this was a great book. It's about "rich people" versus "townies" in the Hamptons involved in a murder mystery -- and the ending is great -- clever and uplifting. I read it over about 5 days at the beach and enjoyed every minute of it. Also read Patterson's "Suzanne's Letters for Nicholas" as recommended on this thread and enjoyed that as well (read it all during a long flight).

Both are great beach reading.

 

[GraytonBound]

just finished The Dogs of Babel that i picked up at sundog the other day....i dont read much fiction & this one was a little dark for me but i enjoyed it

 

[Cil]

I didn't like The Red Tent all that much; I can be a bit funny about books aimed at females, but I *loved* Memoirs Of A Geisha.

Two books I just read that I really liked:

The Known World A book about slavery. I had no idea that blacks owned slaves.
I guess this the kind of stuff that they didn't teach in elementary school back in the 60's. I could not put this book down. It sounds very depressing, and awful things do happen in this tale, but the characters are so human and the writing is so simple yet so lyrical.

1776 This is the first written material I've read that actually presented George Washington as a real human being. The author did tons of research, and all of the letters he found and shared present a personal and vivid look at this exciting time.

 

[Beach Runner]

Just read James Patterson's mystery "The Beach House". I'm not a mystery reader in general, but thought this was a great book. It's about "rich people" versus "townies" in the Hamptons involved in a murder mystery -- and the ending is great -- clever and uplifting. I read it over about 5 days at the beach and enjoyed every minute of it. Also read Patterson's "Suzanne's Letters for Nicholas" as recommended on this thread and enjoyed that as well (read it all during a long flight).

Both are great beach reading.

Honey, you know how I love those James Patterson books! My daughter and I think that he writes like a woman - I don't know any man who thinks and expresses emotions like that.

 

[Paula]

I didn't like The Red Tent all that much; I can be a bit funny about books aimed at females, but I *loved* Memoirs Of A Geisha.

Two books I just read that I really liked:

The Known World A book about slavery. I had no idea that blacks owned slaves.
I guess this the kind of stuff that they didn't teach in elementary school back in the 60's. I could not put this book down. It sounds very depressing, and awful things do happen in this tale, but the characters are so human and the writing is so simple yet so lyrical.

1776 This is the first written material I've read that actually presented George Washington as a real human being. The author did tons of research, and all of the letters he found and shared present a personal and vivid look at this exciting time.

I've been reading The Known World for the past month. It's wonderful literature and gives a perspective on slavery I wasn't aware of (Black owners of slaves, as well as white owners of slaves, and the social hierarchies and how they mix). Exceptional writing, a slow read. Haven't finished it yet because I switched to some easy beach reading (and smaller books since I have The Known World in hard cover nd didn't want to pack it for a flight!).

 

[Paula]

Honey, you know how I love those James Patterson books! My daughter and I think that he writes like a woman - I don't know any man who thinks and expresses emotions like that.

I think of the Beach House as being engaging reading for men and women, whereas Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas may appeal more to women (my hunch only). Memoirs of a Geisha was also written by a man and it's amazing how he seems to get into the Geisha's mind and see the world and tell the story from her perspective.

 

[Beach Runner]

I think of the Beach House as being engaging reading for men and women, whereas Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas may appeal more to women (my hunch only). Memoirs of a Geisha was also written by a man and it's amazing how he seems to get into the Geisha's mind and see the world and tell the story from her perspective.

You are so right! BTW I so understood Memoirs of a Geisha because we had just returned from Japan when I read it. If you observe men "working" until 10 PM at night, all of the sexy 20-something women who accompany them for dinner, and you know (as the book indicates) that the wives are home taking care of the home and kids, clueless about whatever is going on in town, you really get it.

My absolute favorite book? G?del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid that discusses the links between math (G?del), art (Escher), and music (Bach). HEAVY reading, but awesome, IMHO.

 

[Cil]

This book may have already been discussed before, but I don't recall it.

I am talking about the book "The Sunday Wife," by Cassandra King.
It is supposed to take place in the Panhandle. Has anyone read it?


Beach Runner: Your quote below reminds me of an online friend of mine (American) who lives and works in Tokyo. She can hear her townhouse neighbors at night: the husband beats his wife. But police do not handle domestic disturbances there. My friend can't speak Japanese, she has been unsure what to do, but thinks she will take over a plate of cookies and give the wife the number of the local women's shelter just to perhaps be the impetus for the wife to get some kind of assistance.
If you observe men "working" until 10 PM at night, all of the sexy 20-something women who accompany them for dinner, and you know (as the book indicates) that the wives are home taking care of the home and kids, clueless about whatever is going on in town, you really get it.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I bought "The Sunday Wife"... will be reading it down there! 24 days to go!

 

[Paula]

I read the Sunday Wife. It's good, not great. But it's special because it takes place in the area, and Grayton Beach plays a central role in the book now and then. It's worth reading because of that.