What are you reading these days?
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 695
I just finished Silent Tears: A journey of hope in a Chinese Orphanage by Kay Bratt. It is her diary detailing the 5 years she spent volunteering in Chinese Orphanage while her husband was working in the private sector. Some parts about how the children (especially disabled children) are treated were very difficult to read but I enjoyed reading about the Chinese culture and experiences the family had during their time in China. I'd give it a B, maybe B+.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 2,066
JustAGirl - Yes! David Sedaris has written a few really great hilarious books (Me Talk Pretty, Dress Your Family, Engulfed in Flames, Holidays on Ice are a few good ones) however the book before this last one was weird...he's my favorite author and I was really disappointed I wasted my money on it. Some of his books are weird creative writing, others are basically a compilation of his journals. I like his journalistic books, I do not care for his creative writing. And I am dying to see him do a live reading!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,913
Small sidetrack:
When asked, my sister said her favorite Mother's Day present last year was her husband figuring out to protect her kindle (ziplock!) so she could read it in their sauna. (My youngest nephew was all eye-rolling angst "WHAT!?!?!? It's a ziplock!" My oldest nephew completely got it.) LOL
Originally Posted by POAndrea 
I made a life-changing discovery last week: I can read my kindle in the tub if I put it in a zip-lock bag. Brilliant!
When asked, my sister said her favorite Mother's Day present last year was her husband figuring out to protect her kindle (ziplock!) so she could read it in their sauna. (My youngest nephew was all eye-rolling angst "WHAT!?!?!? It's a ziplock!" My oldest nephew completely got it.) LOL
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
Freaking ziplocks... Seriously, simply brilliant. 
One of my favorite authors is Tom Robbins, he is absolutely off the wall and his writing is like very wordy philosophical fiction, often with multiple story lines that don't come together until late in the book. I love the way he plays with words and symbolism though. 'Jitterbug Perfume' is my fave, but he's probably better known for 'Even Cowgirls Get The Blues' because they made a terrible movie about it, lol.
One of my favorite authors is Tom Robbins, he is absolutely off the wall and his writing is like very wordy philosophical fiction, often with multiple story lines that don't come together until late in the book. I love the way he plays with words and symbolism though. 'Jitterbug Perfume' is my fave, but he's probably better known for 'Even Cowgirls Get The Blues' because they made a terrible movie about it, lol.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 339
A ziplock. Wow. I know what I'm doing later.
One of my all time faves is An Invisible Thread. It's nonfiction, just a great uplifting story about how one person really can make a difference.
Wally Lamb is another good author.
I love this thread. I've almost downloaded Silent Tears and the WW2 book several times. I'm getting them now.
One of my all time faves is An Invisible Thread. It's nonfiction, just a great uplifting story about how one person really can make a difference.
Wally Lamb is another good author.
I love this thread. I've almost downloaded Silent Tears and the WW2 book several times. I'm getting them now.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Northeastern US
Posts: 122
AAAAAHHHHH Tom Robbins!!! He's going to have a new book out in March, I think. Autobiographical (is that a word?)!
I'm excited. I was stumped on what to read, but now I'm heading over to Amazon. Thanks, SR Peeps!!!
I'm excited. I was stumped on what to read, but now I'm heading over to Amazon. Thanks, SR Peeps!!!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 342
Love this thread. It's gotten me remembering about books I read in the past and enjoyed.
I remember reading "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy. Loved it, the quirky characters. I read a summary of it and thinking I might read it again since it was so long ago and it doesn't seem memorable to me. Also will look into other books by Walker Percy.
Love all your recommendations. It didn't take much to get back into looking at the self-development books recommended. I used my amazon points to get "Crucial Conversations" and "The Gifts of Imperfection".
Hope I keep balanced though with making time for fiction reads.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I remember reading "The Moviegoer" by Walker Percy. Loved it, the quirky characters. I read a summary of it and thinking I might read it again since it was so long ago and it doesn't seem memorable to me. Also will look into other books by Walker Percy.
Love all your recommendations. It didn't take much to get back into looking at the self-development books recommended. I used my amazon points to get "Crucial Conversations" and "The Gifts of Imperfection".
Hope I keep balanced though with making time for fiction reads.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
My list has grown exponentially, and I've lost track of who recommended what so thank you to EVERYONE for sharing.
Another one of my read again & again's is Anne Rice..... her Witching Hour triology is mezmerizing to me. Hell, her entire style of writing is a bit hypnotic to me, I always feel like I am IN the story. I re-read them about every 5 years or so.
I also found "Positivity: Top Notch Research Reveals the 3:1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life" which I had forgotten about. It is highly rated & was given to me at a great seminar I attended through our corporate home office last year. One of the presentations was done by one of the higher ups that specializes in positive psychology & he talked about how we can change our world based on changing our perceptions & attitude. (Of course, it circled around to how creating these positive environments can help us to draw in the same like-minded type of clients, minimizing drama & increasing productivity & all around happiness) It was very inspiring but I forgot about reading the book after the seminars ended.
Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life: Barbara Fredrickson: 9780307393746: Amazon.com: Books
Another one of my read again & again's is Anne Rice..... her Witching Hour triology is mezmerizing to me. Hell, her entire style of writing is a bit hypnotic to me, I always feel like I am IN the story. I re-read them about every 5 years or so.
I also found "Positivity: Top Notch Research Reveals the 3:1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life" which I had forgotten about. It is highly rated & was given to me at a great seminar I attended through our corporate home office last year. One of the presentations was done by one of the higher ups that specializes in positive psychology & he talked about how we can change our world based on changing our perceptions & attitude. (Of course, it circled around to how creating these positive environments can help us to draw in the same like-minded type of clients, minimizing drama & increasing productivity & all around happiness) It was very inspiring but I forgot about reading the book after the seminars ended.
Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life: Barbara Fredrickson: 9780307393746: Amazon.com: Books
Stoic
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wash D.C.
Posts: 321
If anyone hasn't been there, check out GoodReads
It's a fantastic community, and chock full of any book you can think of. If you're looking for something new to read, you can input the books you've read, etc, and the suggestions it gives can really open you up to new authors and books.
It's a fantastic community, and chock full of any book you can think of. If you're looking for something new to read, you can input the books you've read, etc, and the suggestions it gives can really open you up to new authors and books.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,450
I am home sick from work today and decided to pick up a book my dear friend bequeathed me when she moved to New Zealand a year and a half ago. It's called The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas and 75 pages in it is pretty great! A bit challenging at times, but satisfying.
I love this thread! I am an ensemble member at a theatre that does all adaptations of books so I always have reading homework. Who knows, perhaps somewhere in these posts is our next big hit...!
I love this thread! I am an ensemble member at a theatre that does all adaptations of books so I always have reading homework. Who knows, perhaps somewhere in these posts is our next big hit...!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,780
Bumping this thread to say 
.... my reading shelf is full again, yay!
Also I am adding "And I Don't Want to Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen for anybody that is interested in something a little intense.
I have read this book many times since I was a teen, but it hits me hard every time. It is a detailed accounting of Nancy Spungen's life as told by her mother. Most people know the public story of Nancy as Sid Vicious' damaged & crazed girlfriend & how it culminated in the very public murder of Nancy by Sid, followed shortly by his own overdose.
This telling of Nancy's life starts from her infancy. Her mother shares the horrifying experience of trying to raise a child suffering with mental illnesses at a time when the healthcare industry as a whole was unable to help her properly diagnose & treat in any way during Nancy's lifetime; and how it spiraled further out of control as her drug & alcohol addictions grew.
As a parent, it is truly gut wrenching to read, but I applaud her for being brave enough to put the truth out there.
.... my reading shelf is full again, yay!Also I am adding "And I Don't Want to Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen for anybody that is interested in something a little intense.
I have read this book many times since I was a teen, but it hits me hard every time. It is a detailed accounting of Nancy Spungen's life as told by her mother. Most people know the public story of Nancy as Sid Vicious' damaged & crazed girlfriend & how it culminated in the very public murder of Nancy by Sid, followed shortly by his own overdose.
This telling of Nancy's life starts from her infancy. Her mother shares the horrifying experience of trying to raise a child suffering with mental illnesses at a time when the healthcare industry as a whole was unable to help her properly diagnose & treat in any way during Nancy's lifetime; and how it spiraled further out of control as her drug & alcohol addictions grew.
As a parent, it is truly gut wrenching to read, but I applaud her for being brave enough to put the truth out there.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,778
Originally Posted by FireSprite
Bumping this thread to say .... my reading shelf is full again, yay!
Also I am adding "And I Don't Want to Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen for anybody that is interested in something a little intense.
I have read this book many times since I was a teen, but it hits me hard every time. It is a detailed accounting of Nancy Spungen's life as told by her mother. Most people know the public story of Nancy as Sid Vicious' damaged & crazed girlfriend & how it culminated in the very public murder of Nancy by Sid, followed shortly by his own overdose.
This telling of Nancy's life starts from her infancy. Her mother shares the horrifying experience of trying to raise a child suffering with mental illnesses at a time when the healthcare industry as a whole was unable to help her properly diagnose & treat in any way during Nancy's lifetime; and how it spiraled further out of control as her drug & alcohol addictions grew.
As a parent, it is truly gut wrenching to read, but I applaud her for being brave enough to put the truth out there.
.... my reading shelf is full again, yay!Also I am adding "And I Don't Want to Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen for anybody that is interested in something a little intense.
I have read this book many times since I was a teen, but it hits me hard every time. It is a detailed accounting of Nancy Spungen's life as told by her mother. Most people know the public story of Nancy as Sid Vicious' damaged & crazed girlfriend & how it culminated in the very public murder of Nancy by Sid, followed shortly by his own overdose.
This telling of Nancy's life starts from her infancy. Her mother shares the horrifying experience of trying to raise a child suffering with mental illnesses at a time when the healthcare industry as a whole was unable to help her properly diagnose & treat in any way during Nancy's lifetime; and how it spiraled further out of control as her drug & alcohol addictions grew.
As a parent, it is truly gut wrenching to read, but I applaud her for being brave enough to put the truth out there.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: USA, Eastern
Posts: 6
Just came across the Laundry List for Adult Children of Alcoholics. Man could I relate. I am an alcoholic (sober a few years) married a still active alcoholic (drinking about 9 years) and just realized that the ACoA is TOTALLY me, even though my parents were not alcoholics (my mother was bi-polar). Anyway, I bought the Big Red Book from the Adult Children of Alcoholics....amazing!!!! How have I missed this fellowship all these years???
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,450
Originally Posted by FireSprite
Also I am adding "And I Don't Want to Live This Life" by Deborah Spungen for anybody that is interested in something a little intense.
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Northern California
Posts: 563
Originally Posted by Lyssy
Oh, I love, love, love book threads. It increases my "wish list" by pages sometimes. 
Finishing The Help (I know, very late with this one!), also reading The Omnivores Dilemma, and Under the Influence (for obvious reasons.)
Have The Book Thief on my Kindle for my next read. Or maybe Gone Girl. Or....so many books, so little time!
NCG
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: right here, right now
Posts: 6,516
Let me just say: John Green.
The Fault in Our Stars (book is way superior to the movie that came out a couple of years ago)
Looking for Alaska
Paper Towns
I laughed. I cried. I passed them on to my kids. They're all about young adults and he captures their thinking and way of speaking and their hopes and dreams in a way that was amazing to me. There's lot of pain and tears and death too, just so that you're warned.
The Fault in Our Stars (book is way superior to the movie that came out a couple of years ago)
Looking for Alaska
Paper Towns
I laughed. I cried. I passed them on to my kids. They're all about young adults and he captures their thinking and way of speaking and their hopes and dreams in a way that was amazing to me. There's lot of pain and tears and death too, just so that you're warned.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
