What are you reading?

Jewlz, I think you and I are reading soulmates.  The Handmaid's Tale is in my reading top ten, nay top 5.  And I absolutely adored The Lovely Bones, although I wasn't so fond of Lucky (Sebold's memoir about her rape). And, I'm totally hooked to the Sookie Stackhouse books.    If you haven't read Geek Love- it may be something to lay your hands on.  It's another favorite. 


I am reading Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri.  I loved The Namesake and that other book she won the Pulitzer for, and so far so good.

LOL!!! Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is one of my favourites, too!!!  So now we know for sure that it's true, we are reading soul mates!  Have you read A Confederacy of Dunces? That's probably my all-time fave.

No, I have not read that but I'm about to online reserve it from the library.     Alrighty, how about The Red Tent? Or The Pact?  If you haven't read The Red Tent, you need to leave work immediately and start reading. 

Jewlz, I think you and I are reading soulmates.  The Handmaid's Tale is in my reading top ten, nay top 5. 

I think you are both secret Canuck lovers! 

Ha! "The Handmaid's Tale" is AMAZING.  I actually have a funny family story about it:
My dad came across me reading it one day (I think I was about 10? 11?), and he mentioned that it might have some bits that I wasn't going to be all that interested in (I think he meant s-e-x ).  At which point, I turned to him and casually mentioned that it was the second time I had read it.  From then on, he pretty much gave me whatever book I seemed interested in--"adult" or not.  But we were always pretty much like that (1000s of books in the house, and no "rules" about only reading what was "appropriate"), and I think it's what helped me turn into a voracious reader.  The event was such a non-issue for me, that I didn't even remember it (as something important) until a few years later when a librarian wouldn't let me check out Judy Blume's "Tiger Eye" because "it wasn't okay for a 12 year old".  My dad marched right in, told her the story, and told her to let me check out whatever I wanted! If I remember correctly, they made him write a "note" to keep on file that I could check out whatever I wanted "even if deemed inappropriate". 
But yeah, "Handmaid's Tale"--top ten for sure.
I'm re-reading Glen Cook's "Black Company" series, which is excellent. Next up is some non-fiction (history).

I'm re-reading Glen Cook's "Black Company" series, which is excellent. Next up is some non-fiction (history).

I'm glad to hear you recommend this series - I have the first book somewhere (it was one of the few books that made my "shlep it to England" list), so I'll try and find it. I just read Fire, by Kristin Cashore, which I enjoyed. The library has Graceling (her next book) on hold for me.

Right now I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on rave reviews from friends. I don't think I'm sold on it, though. I'm more of a fantasy fan than a psychological thriller type, and so far (200pgs in), I'm not sure that I really give a crap about anyone.

Ha! Jennie, my mom had a similar *sorta* thing.  I also grew up in a house with thousands of books.  But, my mother had a shelf of books that were "off limits" to me, the baby.  When I was twelve I devoured each and every one of them while she was at work.  They were things like Wuthering Heights, Maus I and II and The Catcher in the Rye.  When I told her later that I read them all she said, "Duh. That's why I made that shelf, to ensure you would read books I really wanted you to read." My mom, the genius.

Right now I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on rave reviews from friends. I don't think I'm sold on it, though. I'm more of a fantasy fan than a psychological thriller type, and so far (200pgs in), I'm not sure that I really give a crap about anyone.

It's the worst book I've ever read. And I've read The DaVinci Code. 

It's the worst book I've ever read. And I've read The DaVinci Code. 

Haha. Yeah, I think I may give it one more commute trip home (so, 50pgs) and if I still don't give a crap, return it to the library and start reading something more fun.

The DaVinci Code was barely adequate as a "I'm stuck in a plane for 5 hours and have nothing better to do" book.

It took me a while to get into the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I found it really picked up.  Really liked the second book.  Haven't started the third yet, though.

It took me a while to get into the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but I found it really picked up.  Really liked the second book.  Haven't started the third yet, though.

I kind of assume that if I'm halfway through a book, it damn well had better have "picked up" by then. Still, I have nothing else to read on the trip home, so I'll give it one more shot.

Ha! Jennie, my mom had a similar *sorta* thing.  I also grew up in a house with thousands of books.  But, my mother had a shelf of books that were "off limits" to me, the baby.  When I was twelve I devoured each and every one of them while she was at work.  They were things like Wuthering Heights, Maus I and II and The Catcher in the Rye.  When I told her later that I read them all she said, "Duh. That's why I made that shelf, to ensure you would read books I really wanted you to read." My mom, the genius.

Love it! 

I'm glad to hear you recommend this series - I have the first book somewhere (it was one of the few books that made my "shlep it to England" list), so I'll try and find it. I just read Fire, by Kristin Cashore, which I enjoyed. The library has Graceling (her next book) on hold for me.

Right now I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on rave reviews from friends. I don't think I'm sold on it, though. I'm more of a fantasy fan than a psychological thriller type, and so far (200pgs in), I'm not sure that I really give a crap about anyone.

Oooh! Fire! I loved that book.  I was lucky enough to get it through Bookgeeks (a website I write reviews for).  If you like free books, they have contests every month with giveaways! Graceling is also excellent.  Yes, Glen Cook is a master.  And, I also thought "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" was only meh.  I didn't really get all the hype about it. It seemed quite a slog through for me, reading-wise. And I'm generally a mystery-addict, but it just didn't do it for me.
If you liked "Fire", you might like Robin McKinley's "Sunshine".  Totally different book (more urban fantasy--more adult than YA type lit) but same kick-butt female character feeling. Or, if you can find her, PC Hodgell's books. Wow. They're amazing.

p.s. while I was teaching middle school I had a "mature" book section in my classroom.  Full of books like "Wuthering Heights", "Maus", and "Huckleberry Finn".  You would not believe how attractive middle-schoolers find something labelled "mature".  Easiest book reccs I ever had.  I also made it so, if they were reading "mature" books, they had to talk about them with their parents, which often got their parents reading along. Loved it! Our library had a "good books" section that was mostly created with books the kids had loved and constantly recommended to each other--because they kept coming in and asking where the "good books" were--now we had somewhere to point them!

If you liked "Fire", you might like Robin McKinley's "Sunshine".  Totally different book (more urban fantasy--more adult than YA type lit) but same kick-butt female character feeling. Or, if you can find her, PC Hodgell's books. Wow. They're amazing.

Robin McKinley is one of my favourite authors. I like The Blue Crown better than Sunshine, but probably because I like books about horses more than books about vampires. (Deerskin is also great, I re-read it every so often.) I'll keep an eye out for PG Hodgell, I haven't heard of her before.

Robin McKinley is one of my favourite authors. I like The Blue Crown better than Sunshine, but probably because I like books about horses more than books about vampires. (Deerskin is also great, I re-read it every so often.) I'll keep an eye out for PG Hodgell, I haven't heard of her before.

Oooh, "The Blue Crown" was *the* book of my childhood. I read it at least once a year. And have an enormous soft-spot for gold-ish coloured horses and anything resembling a large cat. Definitely look for PC Hodgell.  She's difficult to find (had publishing issues) but her books have recently been re-released by BAEN in omnibus editions. Definitely read them in order if you can, they're great as a series. If you have a computer or e-reader, BAEN regularly sells her e-books for about 5 bucks each or 5 for 20 dollars.

If you have a computer or e-reader, BAEN regularly sells her e-books for about 5 bucks each or 5 for 20 dollars.

Thanks for the recommendation! My library has her most recent book, but that's it, and apparently all of London only has 2 others in omnibus, but BAEN has the full set for $25. Sadly, that means I'd have to read it on a computer monitor, which isn't my favourite thing in the world. (I spend too much time on the computer as it is!)