Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[MelC]

Just finished the third book in the Millenium series ("The Girl who...") by Stieg Larsson thanks to my sister the mule who brought it back from Europe last month. It was great and now I have to live with the fact that there will be no more...

I am planning to console myself by digging into Discworld or Spellmans both of which I bought yesterday after being lured into the current Fictionwise sale...spent about $20 once all the rebates etc. factored in (plus I paid with Micropay so actually I didn't even spend that much, just reduced my micropay balance) so for 7 books I should have a pretty Merry and busy Christmas.

Mel

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by MelC

I also really enjoyed all three of those although I don't think I was aware that any of them were Oprah picks. I recommend brushing up on your Hamlet before reading Edgar Sawtelle (and stocking up on kleenex).

Mel

Thanks for the tip! I'm pretty sure I read "Pillars of the Earth" and "Middlesex" before Oprah put them on her list, or at least I wasn't aware that they were Oprah books at the time that I read them.
After I wrote my post (and looking up Oprah's book picks on Wikipedia), I realised that there are quite a few Oprah books that I have read and enjoyed as well (without being aware at the time that they were Oprah books, with a few exceptions). Maybe I should start actively looking for new books to read among the Oprah Book Club books... Also, I wonder why her books have gotten a bad rep?

[lilac_jive]

I finished "The Secret of Lost Things," which I didn't like very much. Onto "When You are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris. I've read all of his previous books and I can't believe I haven't read it yet. Saw it at the library yesterday and snagged it.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by omk3

... I'm not sure I like the idea of the "continuation" of the work of dead authors by others. ...

I thought Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper (AKA Ellery Queen Vs. Jack The Ripper: A Study In Terror) was pretty good. Ellery Queen (joint pseudonym of Daniel Nathan AKA Frederic Dannay and Manford Emanuel Lepofsky AKA Manfred Bennington Lee) wrote the Ellery Queen parts of the book, and Paul W. Fairman, in collaboration with Nathan/Dannay and Lepofsky/Lee, wrote Dr. Watson's narrative.

[WT Sharpe]

Just finished Mark Twain's A Tramp Abroad. Now if I ever travel through time to 1880's Europe, I'll be ahead of the game.

[lene1949]

Originally Posted by David Munch

I second this. It is probably my favorite book at the moment. I finished it for the second time about a month ago, and I am currently reading the sequel. But 4.5/5 is probably also what I would give it... Maybe a 5/5.

Being 3/4ths through the book, I'm not really so impressed as with the first one. Most of the characters are exactly the same as in the first one, and the problems they face are also of the same sort. Its good, but it is nowhere near PotE.

I just couldn't get enough, and when it finished, I was so disappointed... Thankfully I could read it again... I would now like to get it on my new reader, but I don't think that's possible, because it was a 'secure' format...

[omk3]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I thought Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper (AKA Ellery Queen Vs. Jack The Ripper: A Study In Terror) was pretty good. Ellery Queen (joint pseudonym of Daniel Nathan AKA Frederic Dannay and Manford Emanuel Lepofsky AKA Manfred Bennington Lee) wrote the Ellery Queen parts of the book, and Paul W. Fairman, in collaboration with Nathan/Dannay and Lepofsky/Lee, wrote Dr. Watson's narrative.

This actually sounds interesting, I had never heard of it before. And it seems hard to find, when I google it I only come up with the game.
Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper are different in a way, they have entered the public conscience so much, they're like public property, like, I don't know, Superman. I don't feel the same way about Philippe Marlowe, or Arthur Dent. But I will give "And another thing" a try.

[DixieGal]

Finally finished Pratchett's Eric, which I bought several months ago before the eye surgery. Must finish Going Postal today or library download expires. I'm thinking of taking a Pratchett break after Unseen Academicals, which still has a week before expiring.

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by omk3

Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper are different in a way, they have entered the public conscience so much, they're like public property, like, I don't know, Superman. ...

I like the way you said this. For instance, the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie has me on the edge of my seat in anticipation. I have absolutely no expectations of it being close to the classic literature, and only expect it to be a good fun movie. The character has become an icon.

Love love love Robert Downey, Jr.

[Slite]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I like the way you said this. For instance, the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie has me on the edge of my seat in anticipation. I have absolutely no expectations of it being close to the classic literature, and only expect it to be a good fun movie. The character has become an icon.

Love love love Robert Downey, Jr.

I don't know. I'm kind of going 2 ways about that movie. I really DO hope they manage to pull it off. Most Sherlock holmes adaptations for the big screen has been pretty horrid though.

I seem to have some memory about a REALLY bad adaptation starring Roger Moore.

Still reading the Dresden Files. Just started on Turn Coat. Now I have to wait until april for the next book *pout* Oh well, there are other books on my to read list

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

... the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie has me on the edge of my seat in anticipation. I have absolutely no expectations of it being close to the classic literature, and only expect it to be a good fun movie. The character has become an icon.

Love love love Robert Downey, Jr.

Originally Posted by Slite

I don't know. I'm kind of going 2 ways about that movie. I really DO hope they manage to pull it off. Most Sherlock holmes adaptations for the big screen has been pretty horrid though. ...

I'm pulling for the movie, and I hope it's far better than all the previews I've see so far. Holmes is a cerebral hero, and while there are certainly action elements in the books, the main thrust is the interplay between the characters and the solving of the mystery. From what I've seen in the previews, Holmes seems a bit of a buffoon and explosions and gun-play are everywhere. Oh, please--I beg of whatever powers that be--let this movie be better than the studio hype!

[MickeyC]

Just finished The path of the Assassin by Brad Thor. I really liked The Lions of Lucerne which I read a couple of months ago but this one was better.

Just started Life After Death by Dinesh D'Souza. This is a pro-Christian attempt to prove, using scientific facts, that there is life after death as revealed in the Bible. I decided to read this and compare it to The God Delsuion by noted atheist Richard Dawkins and judge who is closer to the truth.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by cassidym

Just finished The path of the Assassin by Brad Thor. I really liked The Lions of Lucerne which I read a couple of months ago but this one was better.

Just started Life After Death by Dinesh D'Souza. This is a pro-Christian attempt to prove, using scientific facts, that there is life after death as revealed in the Bible. I decided to read this and compare it to The God Delsuion by noted atheist Richard Dawkins and judge who is closer to the truth.

I'd love to hear what your take on that one (Life After Death) is.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I'm pulling for the movie, and I hope it's far better than all the previews I've see so far. Holmes is a cerebral hero, and while there are certainly action elements in the books, the main thrust is the interplay between the characters and the solving of the mystery. From what I've seen in the previews, Holmes seems a bit of a buffoon and explosions and gun-play are everywhere. Oh, please--I beg of whatever powers that be--let this movie be better than the studio hype!

I have to say, the previews are not getting me excited about the movie at all.

[ficbot]

I'm still reading the Holmes omnibus from here. I have come to a story which for some reason is not clicking with me, and it is slowing me down. Do I have your permission to skip the rest of the Silver Blaze story and move onto the next one?