Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Would anybody like to start a book discussion?  I just finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  It is an incredible novel and I highly recommend it.  The story is set in a remote rural village in Imperial China and follows the life of two girls who grew to womanhood in the rigid, male-dominated traditional society, where women were completely without value except for the purpose of bearing sons.  Great detail about the cruel and excrutiating practice of foot-binding, as well as the lost art of nu shu, a secret language women developed to communicate with each other, unknown to men.

I'm also reading A History of God by Karen Armstrong and Writing Brave and Free by Ted Kooser.  Finding Darwin's God is waiting in the wings, but I need to find a good novel.

How about it?  What's on your nightstand?

I started reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series when I was pregnant with my daughter more than 16 years ago.  Somewhere along the line I stopped reading novels.  I just never seemed to have the time with two energetic kids at home, school activities and neverending holiday crafting.  Last month I picked up book 5 of the 7-book series (Wolves of the Calla) and knowing I would be hungry for more when I finished those 700-something pages, I picked up $6 just before I got to the end.  So now I'm reading Song of Susannah.

Next up, book #7, the Dark Tower and then the 4 or 5 other SK books I have neglected over the years.

You'll be pizzed at the ending! Drat that Stephen King!  :wink:

I plan to read a kid's novel titled "Uglies" or something to that effect. A coworker loaned it to my client, and I want it when the client is finished with it!

I gave up reading about 10 or 11 years ago when the internet drew my attention.

Gave up all my magazine subs.

Have opened some OS manuals since but haven't read a book since.

Oh Carnut that is a shame!  Can't imagine life without a good book handy.

I love to read! And Justin has caught the same bug from me. He loves to relay to others what he has read. He reads well above his grade level, so it won't be long until we can have our own little family book club. We went to a bookstore (at his request) last weekend. I lucked out and found some awsome books on clearance. Part of his Christmas is now tucked away at my office. I can hardly wait to give them to him!

p.s. I'm raising a nerd! LOL!

Good for you!  I have one of those.  He's at a university now pursuing a degree in bioengineering; he wants to do research in neuroscience.  He was always a reader, loved the Harry Potter series when it first came out, loved the Redwall series and always enjoyed science fiction.  Nerds rule!!

After my life as an Army brat, I came to Southern California when I was 6 years old. My mother was from NY City where they read books. I learned to read books. My mother had a collection of classics, all of which I read. My husband was an aberration as a Californian because he loved to read books too. He used to read me James Michener's "Hawaii" in the bathtub. After we separated, he sent me many books. The ones I loved the best were by Michener. I read like a maniac. Most of what I've learned in my life comes from reading.

Now that my vision has deteriorated, I only read Time Magazine, Rolling Stone and Better Homes and Gardens. Also I look at the pics in Lucky for fashion tips. I read the news on the computer.

So I just collect books now ... books that I know I'll never be able to read but I want to have them. I love political books. The last book I read cover to cover was Dave Holloway's book. Before that, I read cover to cover "House of Bush, House of Saud."

Within the next few days, I intend to purchase "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama and "Culture Warrior" by Bill O'Reilly.

Louise, my friend, if we lived near one another, I would read to you.

Awwwww, Justins, it would be the lap of luxury for you to read to me. Thank you. I love you to pieces.

I can still read, it just is harder than it was in the old days. I used to recline on a pillow on my sofa and read a paperback. The light came from a lamp across the room. I could see just fine.

I 'm reading the Stephanie Plum series of books by Janet Evanovich. They are very funny, light, fluffy reading. I read for stress relief, so I am keeping it fun and entertaining for the moment.
I have asked for Larry Garrison's book for my birthday, so maybe I will start that one soon.

Hi Mom!  I love James Michener too!  I love historical fiction.  Shoot I just love to read.  I started first grade when I was 5.  They didn't want me, but my Mom said she's already been to kindergarten, she reads, does multiplication, etc.  Reluctantly they took me and I won the First Grade Reader Award out of a hundred or so students both semesters. I read all the books in the children's section at the library by the time I was 7 and had to get permission to check out adult books. Before the internet, when I would get desperate to read something, I would open the kitchen pantry and start reading the labels!  LOL.

Louise - they make books now with large print, and ontape.  Our library here checks out the audio books.

Right now I'm reading 2 books:

Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow - it's about WWII & life lessons learned

Coroner's Journal - It's written by the Louisianna Chief Medical Examiner about the horrors of Katrina and ID'ing all the bodies.  What a nightmare.

LOL @ Sunfreak reading labels! I used to do that, too!

I love the parts where he discusses the Grifters.... but that's all I will say....


I am a voracious reader... Love Stephaine Plum too!  MeMere was the one that turned me on to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum....

I am into fluffy right now... I get enough reading heavy duty at work....

I tend to get fascinated with a subject and read lots on it and end up with a big collection of books on the topic. I've done that in the past with Lizzie Borden and Jack the Ripper.

My topic of choice right now is reincarnation, and I've recently re-read a book I really like on the subject. Has anyone else here read Mission To Millboro?

BT, I know what you mean. I have more books on Fung Shui than you could imagine.

I have not read the book you mentioned but I'm a firm believer in reincarnation. I discussed it years ago with my daughter (born 1966) and she said she is a reincarnated Viet Nam vet.  I cannot doubt her.

Louise,

In another thread - I don't remember which one - you made reference to a story about fate.  Again, I don't remember details, but it was quite haunting.  If you recall, please post the name of the book as I think I would like to read it.  Thanks!

A's,

It was in the Corey Lidle thread.

"Appointment in Samarra" - a novel by John O'Hara, published in 1934 by Harcourt, Brace and Company, Inc., New York.

The foreword was written by W. Somerset Maugham and I've condensed it.  In Bagdad, a merchant sent his servant to the marketplace for provisions. The servant came running back very frightened. He said, Master, I saw Mr. Death at the marketplace and he made a threatening gesture toward me. Lend me your horse so I can ride to Samarra where death will not find me. And he rode off. The merchant went down to the marketplace and found Mr. Death and asked "why did you threaten my servant." Mr. Death said it was not a threatening gesture ... it was only a start of surprise ... I was astonished to see him in Bagdad for I have an appointment tonight with him in Samarra.

A's, I have never read the book, just the foreward.

I just googled it and found this summary: It is the story of Julian English, a rather unlikable, conceited Cadillac dealer who throws a drink in an influential businessman's face which leads to his rapid downfall in a fictional Pennsylvania town at Christmas time in 1930. He captures the time and culture of early depression America in a small city where everyone knows everyone else.  Julian apparently made a fatal mistake.

Some years ago I was discussing the movie "The House of Sand and Fog" with my daughter, which was a heartbreaker. She said, "Each character made one fatal mistake that created an entertwined chain of events that led towards all their downfalls."

I believe in fate. If I go back to get my sunglasses and then get in an accident, I wonder what would have happened had I not gone back. I would have escaped. Others have told me I would probably have been hit by a big rig and going back saved my life.

I don't understand fate and we can't explain it in scientific terms.

Reading now:

WAR OF THE GODFATHERS The Bloody Confrontation between the Chicago and New York Families for Co.


Just finished:  The Bad Guys Won....

Re: the 1986 NY MET Team.....

I love the Stephanie Plum series.  I have read them all.

I just finished Larry Garrison's book.  

I'm currently reading Suzanne Somer's new book about bioidentical hormones.  I forgot the name of it.  

I'm also reading "The Twelfth Card" by Jeffrey Deaver.  It's a Lincoln Rhyme novel.

I recently finished Michael Baden's Remains Silent.  Yes, that's Dr. Michael Baden from cable news.  The main character is a coroner and I really enjoyed it.  

I'm now reading one of Nelson DeMille's older books, The Gold Coast.  It's a departure from his other books that I've read but I'm enjoying it.  For any Vietnam War era folks, I'd recommend Up Country by DeMille.  It's about a retired Army guy who goes back to Vietnam to investigate an incident from back during the war.  He meets up with a woman who is supposed to help him with papers, travel arrangements, etc., because she knows the country.  So along with stories of the war, he encounters some scary and exciting situations and of course, there's the woman.....  Two quotes I loved from this book:  This woman is much younger than him and at one point he looks at her and says, "To you, Vietnam is a country; to me, it's a war."  Poignant, I thought and I realized that to me, Vietnam is a war also :( .   The other is this woman, who smokes, always has a cigarette after sex with him.  She says she should quit.  Then says maybe she could just smoke after sex.  He says, "That's still half a pack a day!"   :)   DeMille has a wry sense of humor and keeps you in suspense.  

As for raising nerds, I'll remind you that Bill Gates was, and still is, a nerd.

I read L.Garrison's book.I am now reading "Snow" by the Nobel prize winning author Pamuk.He reminds of Faulkner.CAT

Well, I went to Amazon today and purchased Culture Warrior, The Audacity of Hope, Bush At War, and three CDs. Springsteen's The Seeger Sessions, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris' new one which did not get the best of reviews but I listened to a sample of every song and I loved it, plus a ten year old one by Emmylou called Wrecking Ball, produced by Daniel Lanois.

Good for you!  Happy reading and listening.  I just heard a Kate Wolf song on the radio today that was so sweet and haunting I have to go and buy it:  Across the Great Divide.  I hardly know who she is so I Googled her and found that she passed in 1986.  

Louise, this is totally OT, but I have been wanting to ask you if you have any impressions of Jerry Brown.  I know you have been in LA for a long time so you probably have some thoughts on him.  

Actually, I can make this on topic!  I have a book by Jerry Brown called Dialogues (1980's?) in which he engages in conversations with many thinkers and activists from a variety of fields, and the arts, whose thinking could be considered progressive and "outside the box".   I find him very intelligent and engaging but that whole Gov. Moonbeam thing seems to stick!  So I am wondering what you and other monkeys think about him these days.

Dear A's Fever,

I've always been impressed with Jerry Brown, even before he was governor of CA. His father Pat Brown was also a CA governor. I hate the Governor Moonbeam thing, which I think came from his embracing dialogues with thinkers and artists. Linda Ronstadt was his girlfriend. He later became mayor of Oakland. I am sure he will win his bid tomorrow for Attorney General of CA.

Thanks, LV.

I do hope that when y'all buy from Amazon you use the SM link... it helps support the site, so please keep that in mind.


I just read Al Franken and Ann Coulter... swearing off all political books from now on... whew!!

Ooops, Mrs. Red, I didn't realize we had an Amazon link. I will use it in the future.

Thanks LV... it's at the bottom of each page and on the front page... I knew I could count on you!!!  :D

Thank you,Mrs Red.I didn't know about the link either.CAT

I just noticed this thread. I'm a reader from way back.

Most amazing novel I've read in a long time is "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver.

For light reading, I've always headed toward true crime & mysteries. I have nearly all of Agatha Christie, and all of Sherlock Holmes, for starters. My favorite of Agatha's is "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd".

Elizabeth George and Ruth Rendell write very up-scale contemporary mysteries set in England. (Need to read Elizabeth George in sequence; she has continuing characters.)

Dennis Lehane's "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island" are excellent reads. He does a wonderful job of putting atmosphere in a story.

For deeper reading, I like historical non-fiction. I've done marathons on European monarchies. This began when I became interested in Nicholas & Alexandria, the last, tragic rulers of Russia - the influence of Rasputin, their hemophiliac only son ... The hemophilia traced through all of the European ruling families.  Henry VIII is good for a focused study - worth reading several books about him. Same is true of Louis and Marie Antoinette.

And I've read dozens of works about World War II. "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William L. Shirer is a good jumping-off place.

Hi Ms. Marple,

Now why does it not surprise me that you like mysteries?????

Poisonwood Bible, a wonderful novel, a real achievement.  Kingsolver's abililty to develop so many characters over time and place is very impressive.  I also read her novel Prodigal Summer which is a really good read but not as impressive as PB.  She is such a good storyteller!

Just finished Wallace Stegner's All the Little Live Things.  Very good, very engrossing novel about culture clash in the 1960's.

Hi A's,

After I read Poisonwood, I got several more books by her. They were enjoyable reads - she is very skilled. But "The Poisonwood Bible" surely is her magus opus. All those palindromes!

I have loved Emmylou for years. She is from my hometown of Birmingham, AL, so I kind of grew up listening to her. She is beautiful, and very gifted as a singer/songwriter. I always keep in mind that each review is subjective, so I just buy what I like. Isn't that the purpose of music anyway - to give the

I have computer gremlins today.   :lol:

My last sentence was supposed to say that the purpose of music is to give enjoyment to the listener.

Yes, honey pdh3,

If I like a singer or group, it doesn't much matter to me about the reviews. I just love Emmylou and have all of her CDs. If not for her and Dave Holloway, I would have no clue where Meridian is.

xoxoxoxoxo

Hey Ms Marple...  do you ever read the alphabet mysteries that Sue Grafton writes?  Those are a fun read....

also, have any of you ever read Joan Hess and Magody mysteries?  They are so clever and a lot of fun!!

I think I read one of Sue Grafton's. No Joan Hess and Magody.

Here's a lightweight, fun series: Diane Mott Davidson writes about a caterer who always manages to wind up solving murders. GOOD recipes included. Titles are cute: "The Cereal Murders"  "Dying for Chocolate"  "Killer Pancake"  "Sticks and Scones"  "Chopping Spree" etc.

And a very interesting series: Nevada Barr writes about a National Park Ranger, Anna Pigeon, who fortunately gets assigned to different parks, where of course a murder immediately occurs. What's great is that she's a good writer, brings the history and atmosphere of the park into the story. Usually includes a map of the park. An especially spooky one was set in Dry Tortugas; includes the story of Dr. Mudd, who was imprisoned there after setting John Wilkes Booth's leg. Another thing I like is that Anna is not a beautiful young babe; I think she's 40-ish.