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[ab_grp]

I'm reading Catching Fire, which I downloaded as soon as I was able to get a new book from the Kindle Lending Library.  I have to say that I'm even more into this one than the first one! It will be hard to wait until next month to download the third book, so I'll have to keep busy with others.  Time to scour this thread for ideas.

[llanfair]

I'm currently reading How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown of Caltech.  This guy is the real deal: a serious scientist with a gift for words and a talent for analogy as well as wit.

[ab_grp]

I'm currently reading How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown of Caltech.  This guy is the real deal: a serious scientist with a gift for words and a talent for analogy as well as wit.

Ooh, I think Polly mentioned that book upthread.  I immediately put it on my wish list then, but given the second recommendation I might need to just go ahead and pick it up.  I had considered it as my pick for book club but wasn't sure if it would have general appeal.

[prof_smartypants]

I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, as I never got to it before.

I've never read any Dumas. Thank goodness for Kindle and free classics, as I probably never would have bothered. It's awesome! I've been going to bed early just to cuddle up and read.

[voxprincipalis]

I almost finished The Maze Runner, and then, stupidly, I accidentally returned it to the library. (I just grabbed all the audiobooks in the car and brought them in, not even really looking at the titles.) I had one CD left. So now I'm going to try to get the actual physical book and just read the last couple of chapters. Dork.

Now I am listening to Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I had gotten out before I realized they were making a movie of it. I was wary of it, because I think Jonathan Safran Foer is ... well, annoying in ways only someone who is published in The New Yorker can be, but it is less pretentious than I had worried it would be. I do think that the good narration on the audiobook helps *a lot.* I could see that in print, the primary narrator might well be insufferable.

VP

[dr_alcott]

Now I am listening to Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I had gotten out before I realized they were making a movie of it. I was wary of it, because I think Jonathan Safran Foer is ... well, annoying in ways only someone who is published in The New Yorker can be, but it is less pretentious than I had worried it would be. I do think that the good narration on the audiobook helps *a lot.* I could see that in print, the primary narrator might well be insufferable.

VP

Huh. Parts of this novel (especially in the second half, if I recall correctly) rely heavily on images. I'm curious about how an audiobook is going to attempt to capture those. Or maybe it won't even make the attempt. You might want to get yourself a print copy, Vox, just to see those graphics.

I didn't like ELAIC as much as Foer's first novel--thought it was a little too gimmicky and overwrought in places--but I did like it. I don't think I'll see the movie.

[bibliothecula]

I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, as I never got to it before.

I've never read any Dumas. Thank goodness for Kindle and free classics, as I probably never would have bothered. It's awesome! I've been going to bed early just to cuddle up and read.

Stephen Fry has written a terrific modern-day version. In the US it's called Revenge; in the UK the title is The Stars' Tennis Balls. It's deliciously evil.

[ab_grp]

I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, as I never got to it before.

I've never read any Dumas. Thank goodness for Kindle and free classics, as I probably never would have bothered. It's awesome! I've been going to bed early just to cuddle up and read.

Stephen Fry has written a terrific modern-day version. In the US it's called Revenge; in the UK the title is The Stars' Tennis Balls. It's deliciously evil.

Thank you, Bibliothecula! I am going to look into this.  I admit that I have not yet read The Count of Monte Cristo (though it is on my bedside table), but I loved the movie and story of revenge. 

[erictho]

I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, as I never got to it before.

I've never read any Dumas. Thank goodness for Kindle and free classics, as I probably never would have bothered. It's awesome! I've been going to bed early just to cuddle up and read.

When you're finished, you might enjoy Stephen Fry's The Stars' Tennis Balls, which is a modernized retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo.

On Far Too Late Edit: note to self *read* the whole thread before you post in! Sheesh.

[llanfair]

I am reading The Count of Monte Cristo, as I never got to it before.

I've never read any Dumas. Thank goodness for Kindle and free classics, as I probably never would have bothered. It's awesome! I've been going to bed early just to cuddle up and read.

Stephen Fry has written a terrific modern-day version. In the US it's called Revenge; in the UK the title is The Stars' Tennis Balls. It's deliciously evil.

Thank you, Bibliothecula! I am going to look into this.  I admit that I have not yet read The Count of Monte Cristo (though it is on my bedside table), but I loved the movie and story of revenge. 

I haven't read any Dumas, either, but now I'll make a point of it!

Ab_Grp, you're right about How I Killed Pluto - it was Polly.  I'd forgotten where I'd heard about it.  It's a great tale, but it's nonfiction - would that work for the book club?

[voxprincipalis]

Now I am listening to Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I had gotten out before I realized they were making a movie of it. I was wary of it, because I think Jonathan Safran Foer is ... well, annoying in ways only someone who is published in The New Yorker can be, but it is less pretentious than I had worried it would be. I do think that the good narration on the audiobook helps *a lot.* I could see that in print, the primary narrator might well be insufferable.

VP

Huh. Parts of this novel (especially in the second half, if I recall correctly) rely heavily on images. I'm curious about how an audiobook is going to attempt to capture those. Or maybe it won't even make the attempt. You might want to get yourself a print copy, Vox, just to see those graphics.

I didn't like ELAIC as much as Foer's first novel--thought it was a little too gimmicky and overwrought in places--but I did like it. I don't think I'll see the movie.

I finished the audiobook today and just now looked up some of the images online. I did not notice their lack in the narration (and nothing was said about them), which I think was a good thing, because when I looked at them now I thought they were extremely contrived and incredibly pretentious. Which I know about, because when I had design classes they were full of people who were also extremely contrived and incredibly pretentious.

After all is said and done, I don't know whether I loved the book or hated it. While listening to the end, I definitely had heavy boots, which I also know about but wish I didn't. The narration was one hundred dollars.

Jonathan Safran Foer makes me laugh and cry and also makes me angry, obviously. He and I have a complex relationship, even though we've never met. His writing reminds me of Mahler symphonies, which I eventually had to stop listening to.

I may eventually read Everything Is Illuminated, but not until I've gotten over the bruises from this one.

VP

[prof_smartypants]

Now I am listening to Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I had gotten out before I realized they were making a movie of it. I was wary of it, because I think Jonathan Safran Foer is ... well, annoying in ways only someone who is published in The New Yorker can be, but it is less pretentious than I had worried it would be. I do think that the good narration on the audiobook helps *a lot.* I could see that in print, the primary narrator might well be insufferable.

VP

Huh. Parts of this novel (especially in the second half, if I recall correctly) rely heavily on images. I'm curious about how an audiobook is going to attempt to capture those. Or maybe it won't even make the attempt. You might want to get yourself a print copy, Vox, just to see those graphics.

I didn't like ELAIC as much as Foer's first novel--thought it was a little too gimmicky and overwrought in places--but I did like it. I don't think I'll see the movie.

I finished the audiobook today and just now looked up some of the images online. I did not notice their lack in the narration (and nothing was said about them), which I think was a good thing, because when I looked at them now I thought they were extremely contrived and incredibly pretentious. Which I know about, because when I had design classes they were full of people who were also extremely contrived and incredibly pretentious.

After all is said and done, I don't know whether I loved the book or hated it. While listening to the end, I definitely had heavy boots, which I also know about but wish I didn't. The narration was one hundred dollars.

Jonathan Safran Foer makes me laugh and cry and also makes me angry, obviously. He and I have a complex relationship, even though we've never met. His writing reminds me of Mahler symphonies, which I eventually had to stop listening to.

I may eventually read Everything Is Illuminated, but not until I've gotten over the bruises from this one.

VP

From what I have heard about this book, "Extremely Contrived and Incredibly Pretentious" would have been a good alternate title.

I will probably read it at some point. I really enjoyed the movie, Everything is Illuminated.

[dr_alcott]

After all is said and done, I don't know whether I loved the book or hated it. While listening to the end, I definitely had heavy boots, which I also know about but wish I didn't. The narration was one hundred dollars.

Nicely done, VP! And this pretty much sums up my reaction too.

Perhaps one of the reasons I liked Everything Is Illuminated better is that I read it first, and the writing seemed fresher and less gimmicky than Extremely Loud. There were plenty of passages in EII that made me laugh out loud.

[llanfair]

I've just finished The Artist, The Philosopher, and the Warrior by Paul Strathern.  Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Cesare Borgia all in one really interesting read.

On deck: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran.  Can't wait.

[tinyzombie]

I've just finished L.J. Davis' A Meaningful Life, and now I wish he'd written more novels. It was highly enjoyable - uncomfortable, too, but in a darkly humorous way.

I'm also reading The Ambassadors. Rather slowly. I love James, but this one's a doozy.

Tomorrow I'll get my paws on another David McCullough - I so loved his The Great Bridge, and I think now I'll move on to John Adams. I also have Massie's Catherine the Great waiting for me at the library, and I'm eagerly awaiting John Jeremiah Sullivan's Pulphead (hurry uuuppp, ILL!)