What are you reading?

[Barb D]

I'm recovering from surgery, and I timed the surgery for summer so that I could spend my recovery by the pool reading! And my evil plan worked...

I'm just about to finish Educating Alice by Alice Steinbach. She's a former newspaper columnist. She traveled around the world, taking courses in a wide variety of topics in different countries (French cooking at the Ritz in Paris, Geisha dancing in Japan, a course about Cuban art in Havana...) I love this book, and I just discovered that she wrote an earlier book, Without Reservations, about traveling in Europe without any specific plans. I just bought this one, and it's next on my list.

I'm reading Narnia to DD5. We finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and we're part way through Prince Caspian. I have to explain a lot to her, but I've been surprised at her attention span through it.

I should have been making a running list of what I've read this summer. I'll try to remember. This is in no particular order. A lot of these are kids'/YA books, which I often enjoy more than grown-up books and which I like to read so that I can discuss them with my kids.

The Hobbit (Tolkien)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (reread to get ready for HP6)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 & 2 (waiting for 3 to come out in paperback. I pre-read these before deciding to let DD12 read them. We had some VERY good discussions about the decisions that the characters made.)

Hangman's Curse and Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti (YA books about a family of parents and teens who solve mysteries together. Interesting themes about truth and moral relativism vs moral absolutism. Frank Peretti is a Christian writer.)

The Time Traveler's Wife - OK, I'll admit that I'm a prude, and this one was beyond my prudish comfort level. Maybe this is another reason I like YA books! I did enjoy the story, but could have lived without some of the more graphic scenes.

Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey. Classic picture books, which DD5 adores and which we've read OVER and OVER the last few weeks.

I'm sure I'm missing some... HP5 did take a long time to reread.

 

[Aimee K]

I'm going non-fiction for the moment and reading Mary Magdalene Christianity's Hidden Goddess by Lynn Picknett. I've also begun Star Wars Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Next: Bergdorf Blondes

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I am currently reading "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron. My husband has just started reading "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" in preparation for the upcoming movie. I will probably put Sophie aside and read it along with him.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey BarbD, what was graphic about "The Time Traveler's Wife"? I was thinking about reading it as well and would like to know what I'm getting into. PM me if you'd rather

 

[Barb D]

Hey BarbD, what was graphic about "The Time Traveler's Wife"? I was thinking about reading it as well and would like to know what I'm getting into. PM me if you'd rather

I PM'ed you!

 

[swilphil]

I just finished the Kite Runner. It was an excellent book. I highly recommend it.

Two of my favorite books have been listed here: Sophie's Choice by Williams Styron and Naked by David Sedaris.

 

[Kramer]

I'm half way through War and Peace, its very good. Although one wonders if it would have been as highly acclaimed as it was if it was published under it's original name "War - What Is It Good For?"

 

[Sparx]

Wicked, the same one with the broadway play. really a good story.

 

[SillyMe]

I PM'ed you!

I'd like to know, too.

 

[packetminnie]

Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich

 

[LoraJ]

The Time Traveler's Wife - OK, I'll admit that I'm a prude, and this one was beyond my prudish comfort level. Maybe this is another reason I like YA books! I did enjoy the story, but could have lived without some of the more graphic scenes.

Imagine my shock when we were talking about it for book club reading and someone said it was their DS's required summer reading, and he was going into the 10th grade I think.

 

[Kaycee]

I'm reading several books right now. I'm trying to get caught up this summer before I start law school in August. Everything I'm reading is non-fiction. I'm reading:

Mind Hunter by John Douglas: This one is about the FBI's Investigative Support Unit, the unit that profiles serial criminals. I've almost finished it, and it has been really interesting.

The Majesty of the Law by Sandra Day O'Connor: I started reading this just a couple of days before Justice O'Connor announced her retirement. I have always admired her, and as I read this book my admiration is growing. I'm sad that she's retiring; it's a big loss to the Court.

Self Matters by Phil McGraw: I'm browsing through this one. He offers some pretty good advice for getting your priorities straight.

Actual Innocence by Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld and Jim Dwyer: I haven't started this one yet, but it looks really interesting.

The Supreme Court by William Rehnquist: I browsed through this one last year, but I want to go back and really read it. I may not agree with Rehnquist's political slant or many of his decisions on the Court, but I can't fault his writing in this book on the history of the Supreme Court - it's excellent.

Civil Procedure: Explanations & Examples by Joseph Glannon: Everyone says not to try to prepare for law school, but I couldn't resist.

I am also browsing through several other books on preparing for law school, but I won't list those here.

 

[Barb D]

I'd like to know, too.

I PMed you, too.

 

[Barb D]

Imagine my shock when we were talking about it for book club reading and someone said it was their DS's required summer reading, and he was going into the 10th grade I think.

Ack! No WAY would I let my kids read it! I gave my copy to an adult with whom I trade time traveling books, along with my strong caveat. I don't want it back.

 

[swankybeth]

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy.

 

[Miller1412]

Next: Bergdorf Blondes

Great summer read. I loved it!!

 

[Miller1412]

Wicked, the same one with the broadway play. really a good story.

Funny...I hated that book. A little too much political satire for me. But I hear the show is great, so I'd still love to see it.

 

[Otto's Doll]

I am reading Evening News, and I have Summer By the Sea (Susan Wiggs), Sweet Memories (Lavyrle Spencer) and Bad Boys (Olivia Goldsmith) waiting to be read next.

 

[KimWDW]

THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova