A DISers Book Club!

[DisneyKevin]

I would have chosen Pillars of the Earth and World without End as my favorite books of the year.....but I read them last year.

They are two of my all time favorite books.

 

[Sugardimples]

My favorite for 2009 is People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Has anyone else read it?

 

[stitchlover]

I would have to say my favorite book of 2009 was The Giver by Lois Lowry.

It is actually a book you would find in the "Young Adult". My daughter was required to read this book for her Pre-AP Language Arts class and I had never read it. I went ahead and read it so I would know what they are teaching. It was a very interesting book and I loved watching my daugther change as she read this book. She hates being told what to read so she started out with a chip on her shoulder. Then she slowly got into the book. Then she really got hooked and on the way to school every morning and the way home it was all she could talk about. The ending is open to interpretation and in fact the author won't really say how it ends. She wants everyone to interpret it how they want. It really doesn't take long to read...I think it took me about 4-5 hours off and on to get through it.

 

[Peaceableone]

I would have to say my favorite book of 2009 was The Giver by Lois Lowry.

I love Lois Lowry's books. Take a minute to read Gossamer. It is so cool.

I just finished reading Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I hope the movie is better then the book. I felt so depressed the whole time I was reading this. Once I finished I moved on to No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay. This was much better. If you are looking for a book, check out this story. Basically, a 14 year old girl wakes up and her whole family is gone. Just vanished... why, how.. etc. Here at home, there is a line up for this book, my husband and son..

I'm stuck on what to read next. Jules Vern, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (recommended by son, 13) or The Apprentice, Book 1 (young adult, recommended by my other son 11 who is loving this series). The kids want to share with me now. There is also what I want to read, Finger Lick'en Fifteen (Evanovich). I love her books.

Comments?

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I would have to say my favorite book of 2009 was The Giver by Lois Lowry.

It is actually a book you would find in the "Young Adult". My daughter was required to read this book for her Pre-AP Language Arts class and I had never read it. I went ahead and read it so I would know what they are teaching. It was a very interesting book and I loved watching my daugther change as she read this book. She hates being told what to read so she started out with a chip on her shoulder. Then she slowly got into the book. Then she really got hooked and on the way to school every morning and the way home it was all she could talk about. The ending is open to interpretation and in fact the author won't really say how it ends. She wants everyone to interpret it how they want. It really doesn't take long to read...I think it took me about 4-5 hours off and on to get through it.

If you and your daughter liked The Giver, try Gossamer by Lowry. It apparently falls along the same storyline. I had to teach The Giver when I taught an eighth grade reading and language arts class a few years back. I found it a bit disturbing and wasn't a fan, but it did win the Newbery so I have some respect for it. I am glad that Lowry's works have changed your daughter's attitudes towards reading. Try a few of her others with her and see how she likes them.

Peace - I also like the Evanovich Stephanie Plum series. I can't wait to get back to them. I only have a few pages left in The Lost Symbol, but my Wii has been distracting me from finishing them.

 

[froggy5657]

I just read _The Boy in the Striped Pajamas_ I forget who wrote it, but It was phenomonal. I love reading on the kindle.

 

[mommyceratops]

I just Julia and Julie and adored the movie anyone read the book??

 

[MelissaFromRI]

I just Julia and Julie and adored the movie anyone read the book??

I read the book and really enjoyed it.
I found that the movie was more about Julia and the book was more about Julie

 

[tanyabanana]

Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden. First of a trilogy about Genghis Khan. Not what I would normally read but I really enjoyed these.

If you liked Julie and Julia get My Life in France by Julia Child. Loved this book! It is on my short list of favorites for the year. It's like the other half of the Julie and Julia story/movie. I actually enjoyed it more than the Julie and Julia book.

 

[BriarRosie]

Hands down....Water for Elelphants

Awesome book.

Ditto. I really enjoyed Water for Elephants, as well. Now I have to put Pillars of Earth and World Without End on my list based on all the people who suggested it.

Recently, I've been going through a lot of the Mercedes Lackey books. Some of the Valdemar novels about Heralds, some that are not about Heralds but take place there, and some books that take place in Victorian/Edwardian England. Oh, and some in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.

Last night I finished her book Brightly Burning. I was surprised by the ending, which actually is a good thing.

 

[DisneyKevin]

If you liked Julie and Julia get My Life in France by Julia Child. Loved this book! It is on my short list of favorites for the year. It's like the other half of the Julie and Julia story/movie. I actually enjoyed it more than the Julie and Julia book.

Reading My Life In France now.

Loved the movie. How can anything with Meryl Streep be bad? But the book is wonderful.

Really enjoying it.

 

[Plutes]

I just finished reading Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I hope the movie is better then the book. I felt so depressed the whole time I was reading this.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who felt this way! I was so disappointed in the book, I probably won't even bother with the movie. The book is almost always better, so Lord help this one!

I got five James Patterson books for Christmas, so I've been reading through them. I finished I, Alex Cross (very good), Swimsuit (okay, but not a favorite), and Witch & Wizard.

Witch & Wizard was BY FAR the worst Patterson book I've ever read. It was such a BAD, blatant attempt at ripping off Harry Potter. It was actually painful to read. I'm leaving my other two Patterson books behind for a bit after that one...trying to decide what to read next. I might have to go with Water for Elephants, after seeing all the suggestions for it here. It's been on my list for a few months now, and just haven't gotten to it.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

Reading My Life In France now.

Loved the movie. How can anything with Meryl Streep be bad? But the book is wonderful.

Really enjoying it.

I predict an Oscar for Meryl Streep. She was AMAZING as Julia Child.
I really loved "Julie & Julia"

 

[Sweetpeamd]

My favorite book that I read this year was [U]Cutting For Stone[/U]by Abraham Verghese. I LOVED it!!! Trying to explain it would be like trying to explain an episode of Seinfeld, not b/c it's a comedy but b/c it is so rich with story lines. Anyone with an interest in medicine, Africa, twins or just a well written novel would enjoy it.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

UPS just delivered my copy of Cast Member Confidential by Chris Mitchell.

During the holiday season I decided to read a couple of Disney books I picked up last fall at Compass Books at Disneyland's Downtown Disney. I read David Koenig's Mouse Under Glass - Secrets of Disney Animation and Theme Parks. The book was written in 1996 and covers major Disney films from Snow White through Tarzan. He summarizes the original stories, when applicable, and the Disney film version. He also goes into each film's background including the challenges, what ended up on the cutting room floor and how some of the films were represented in Disney theme parks. It's a fun book for any Disney animation fan, but has not been updated since it was originally published.

Right now I am reading Hidden Mickey - Sometimes Dead Men do Tell Tales! by Nancy Temple Rodgrigue and David W. Smith. The premise is a couple of friends are on a Mouse Adventure Treasure Hunt in Disneyland and stumble upon a diary hidden by Walt Disney in his apartment above the fire house on Main Street. Walt intended its finders to go upon a quest to find a series of clues and treasures he hid in the last few years of his life. It's really a fun book filled with lots of Disney history and trivia, but Chapter 2 - where they find the hidden diary - is a bit long.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

 

[Madi100]

Reading My Life In France now.

Loved the movie. How can anything with Meryl Streep be bad? But the book is wonderful.

Really enjoying it.

I am not a fan of Meryl Streep. I don't hate her, but not I don't particularly enjoy her. With that said, I LOVED Julie and Julie. I rented it the other night, and I wasn't really expecting to like it, but I found it very, very enjoyable. I have a bit of an issue. When I see a movie, and I find out it's based on a real story, I just want to learn more.

Is My Life In France an easy read? I should not have liked the movie. I don't like France or French food, and I'm not entertained by Julia Child as a cook. What really intrigued me was her relationship with her husband and Julia as a person and her desire to cook.

 

[OKW Lover]

Haven't read this recently, but a few years ago I really loved "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". The movie was fun, but the book was so much more.

 

[mommyceratops]

Reading My Life In France now.

Loved the movie. How can anything with Meryl Streep be bad? But the book is wonderful.

Really enjoying it.

Let me know what you think of the book? I might have to pick it up.

I need to think of my fave book of the year, right now Water For Elephants stands out most but there was a book I picked up at the book fair at school and I need to look at the name. I enjoyed it.

 

[PeterPan09]

I just finished "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane. I'd never read it and got interested when I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie. It's a good read with a nice twist at the end.

It was my first book on my new Kindle and I have to say that the best thing about the whole experience was that I didn't notice that I was reading on a "device", I just noticed how much I enjoyed the book.

 

[tanyabanana]

Is My Life In France an easy read? I should not have liked the movie. I don't like France or French food, and I'm not entertained by Julia Child as a cook. What really intrigued me was her relationship with her husband and Julia as a person and her desire to cook.

I thought it was an easy read.
If you liked the movie I predict you will like My Life in France. It was one of those books that has kindof stuck with me and that I am glad I read.