Merry Generic Winter Day-Off With No Religious Content

[nononono]

Originally posted by barely_legal
I may have to respectfully delegate you to the NotBob corner for book recommendations. I really didn't enjoy Black Dahlia and I hated The Corrections. In fact, I think The Corrections is why I refuse to read books recommended by NotBob anymore.

But Oprah loved it and it was a major bestseller, so I am clearly in the minority on that one.

Oh, dear. I'll do better next time. If it helps my cred, I've recommended both Never Let Me Go and Into Thin Air often. Don't tell me that about The Corrections - I haven't even cracked it and am in need of a compelling read. An Oprah rec concerns me slightly.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by barely_legal
I already read your book. Catch up!

I've now added another 5 books to my library hold list (shut up -- I would go broke if I bought every book I read and I'm too impatient to wait for paperbacks). I've added Folly, a Barbara Cleverly (which I also initially read as Beverly Cleary -- I miss the Ramona books) and a Walter Mosley.

Has anybody read Krakauer's book Into the Wild? I added that too. I didn't realize until after finishing Into Thin Air that he's the same author who write Under the Banner of Heaven. That was an interesting read too.

Into the Wild was interesting. You'll probably get through it in an evening.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Is it wrong to pick out a book and read it primarily because you love the Garbage song that uses the same title?

Not at all. You might also want to check these out:

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
2 (is the minimum size of minority we are in). Though the plot line about the father could have become a wonderful story or novel if 85% of the book had been pared away.

Did we ever talk about Motherless Brooklyn on this board? Because it occurs to me that it's an excellent book. And about Brooklyn, in part, my favorite borough that I don't live in. Can't go wrong.

[barely_legal]

Originally posted by catrin_darcy
Barely, I read a ton of mysteries too (though I don't read nearly as much as you do, it looks like) and P.D. James has always been a favorite. I agree that Martha Grimes is not nearly as good as she used to be, and I agree that the Cat Who... books are crap.

Try Ian Rankin. Police procedural/mysteries set in Edinburgh, with one consistent detective (John Rebus) who's very interesting. Start with the beginning novels, which are a ways back. Not sure of the first one -- maybe Knots and Crosses or Hide and Seek, around there.

Great - thanks! I've heard of him but haven't read anything by him yet.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by barely_legal
yeah, I picked the one with the earliest publication date. Sometimes that gets confusing with multiple editions and paperback editions, but I got the right one this time. I will let you know what I think after I read the first one. The good thing about reserving books this old is that I should get them from the library very quickly.

Do not buy, borrow or read Next by Crichton. It is crap.

$40 Million Dollar Slaves (not your genre -- this is more for Ty), is a good, quick read, though. It should be mandatory reading for Burger.

TM

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Not at all. You might also want to check these out:

None of those songs is as good as The Trick Is To Keep Breathing. IMO, of course.

Plus I'm a huge sucker for the Prozak Nation, Girl Interrupted sorts of books... I love depression!!!

I also bought An Inconvienent Truth (DVD) and a book by Kathleen Woodiwiss (along with pre-ordering the Curtis Sittenfeld novel in paperback). My goal is to really mess with the program at Amazon that has to pick selections that I might like. They're currently listing out for me a bunch of broadway musical CD's because I re-purchased Hair the other day (even though I have no interest in any other musical soundtracks. ha!). Listening to it in the car this week has made me very happy. I screamed/sang Frank Mills on my way to work this morning.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
2 (is the minimum size of minority we are in). Though the plot line about the father could have become a wonderful story or novel if 85% of the book had been pared away.

Personally, I refuse to read anything Oprah recommends on principle.

But then again I also read about wars and the mafia.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by catrin_darcy
Barely, I read a ton of mysteries too (though I don't read nearly as much as you do, it looks like) and P.D. James has always been a favorite. I agree that Martha Grimes is not nearly as good as she used to be, and I agree that the Cat Who... books are crap.

Try Ian Rankin. Police procedural/mysteries set in Edinburgh, with one consistent detective (John Rebus) who's very interesting. Start with the beginning novels, which are a ways back. Not sure of the first one -- maybe Knots and Crosses or Hide and Seek, around there.

I love the Rebus on BBC America. I've only seen episodes with John Hannah as Rebus.

Can you tell I watch too much tv?

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
2 (is the minimum size of minority we are in). Though the plot line about the father could have become a wonderful story or novel if 85% of the book had been pared away.

You can also count me among the haters of The Corrections. I found it irritating at best.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
I also bought An Inconvienent Truth (DVD) .........

you know when you give Al Gore more spending money you simply increase Big Mac sales at McDonald's. Increased Big Mac sales translates to more Amazon jungle being clear cut for cattle ranches. More jungle being clear cut translates to more global warming. Be part of the solution and get it from your library?

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Adder
Personally, I refuse to read anything Oprah recommends on principle.

But then again I also read about wars and the mafia.

What if she recommended something after you bought it but before you had read it? Talk about your rock and hard place.

[nononono]

Originally posted by taxwonk
You can also count me among the haters of The Corrections. I found it irritating at best.

Better or worse than discussions of the McCarran-Ferguson Act?

[tmdiva]

Originally posted by barely_legal
I'm running out of books to read. I've been traveling a lot lately and reading more than normal and my favorite authors aren't writing fast enough to keep up with me.

I prefer fiction mysteries and thrillers and some of my favorite authors include Ruth Rendell, Martha Grimes (although she sucks lately), and Reginald Hill. I've read all of the Kathy Reich and Margaret Maron novels and I like series like that. I don't like the Dick Francis series or stupid series like "The Cat Who" crapola. I love the two novels I've read by Kate Atkinson. and I liked Minette Walters earlier books. I don't like books that Oprah likes.

If anybody can recommend books along these lines that I might like, I would appreciate it. I like some nonfiction as well, so I'll take those recommendations too (I would love to find a decent book on the Crippen murder -- I started Thunderstruck but was bored by all of the Marconi stuff so I didn't finishi it, but I'm interested in famous historic crimes). I finally got around to reading Into Thin Air this week and loved it so any books on similar subjects that are written in the same style would be great. I'm not going to read anything that is over 600 pages long, and 500 pages is a stretch so keep that in mind.

Thank you in advance for any help. NotBob, I love you but you shouldn't even bother responding to this, I think.

I may be Wonking, here, but I'm currently about 100 pages from the end of In Cold Blood. I'd never read it before, but seeing Capote last year made me want to. It's been quite a rewarding read.

tm

ETA Well, at least I wasn't the 30th rec for In Cold Blood--maybe they figured you'd for sure already read it? I also read Kite Runner over vacation and really enjoyed it. Next up is Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey, which was recently named Best Oregon Book Ever by Portland Monthly magazine.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
What if she recommended something after you bought it but before you had read it? Talk about your rock and hard place.

Gift it.