What are you reading?

[maryb]

Apologies if we already have this thread - couldn't see it. Annie will no doubt close me down and head me off at the pass again if it already exists. ;D Thought that as we have a what are you listening to thread, this might be a good one to include.

I've just started a biography on Rudolf Nureyev by Julie Kavanagh. The book has just been published to some very good reviews. Apparently it's already regarded as the definitive biography of him and includes narrative/info from previously unpublished letters. The book was over 10 years in the making and includes reminiscences from friends and colleagues who had in the past refused to cooperate on any other book. The author herself was a former dancer, so has an insight into the life of a professional dancer.

Will post my comments on the book as I go along.

[annie]

Cool thread, Mary. I'd like to know what you guys read as well.

I am reading "Red Strom Rising" by Tom Clancy. It's an old book. I bought it at a second hand book shop. I love to read. I have shelf-load of books (that are not for school) of different kinds.

[jenhatter06]

nothing fancy, but I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks' new book The Choice -- I've read all of his except Message in a Bottle.

Next on my list to read is Gregory Maguire's Wicked ... one of about four books I've had stacked on a table to read that I'm just getting a chance to get to (plus a list of 6 more I think ;D)

I love reading too, every chance I get ... have a few authors I tend to stick with, but always fun to find out about something new

[Alya10]

Cool thread!
I'm a reading mess (as usual), since I normally read two and three books at the time.
Right now I'm reading "Equador", but Miguel Sousa Tavares, a portuguese author. It was a bestseller and it's about the Governor of the islands of S.Thomas and Prince and his love triangle with the British representative to the islands and his wife. It's set in the XIX century and it's a weave of politics, passion and the life in the tropics.
At the same time I'm also re-reading "The Jewels of the Sun" by Nora Roberts. It's bedtime reading, nothing like a romance to put you in the mood for sweet dreams
Also, I just bought "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoievsky and I'm in the process of gathering courage to start it ;D
lol

By the way what your favourite all time book? (If you have one that stands out)
I loved reading "Possession" by A.S. Byatt and "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang some time ago and going a few years back "A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens (I'm a sucker for classics). It was funny to know Marat was reading "100 Years of Solitude" because that and "Chronicals of an Announced Death" by G.G. Marquez are on my favourites list as well.

[Dina]

I think that this thread is a great idea fairy godmother!
Right now I'm reading (between breaks in my internship, so it means two lines each time!)becoz I never did before "The Alchemist" of Paulo Coelho. I've recently finished "Lenin: the Man Behind the Mask" by Ronald W. Clark (I love russian history;God knows why!) and I'm actually dying for poetry and discovered recently Robert Frost(because I've been used to french writers as Hugo, Baudelaire or Shakespeare for english, I'm a classic addicted!) it's fantastic!

[maryb]

Dina, I could pass on my books from 20 years ago. ;D I've gone through the war/philosophy/history/classics era. I'm now going through my 'I want to read about people phase'.

Good to see that you guys are interested in the thread. I have to admit, I'm interested in hearing about books from readers other than professional critics. There's too many agendas involved. I'm also skipping in and out of a homeopathic remedies book. At my age, you start to look for things to keep you going ... ;D

I'm on annual leave next week, so I'll be reading up on Rudy.

[maryb]

And Alya, re favourite books, I keep going back to 'catcher in the rye'. When I was at school, I was an avid reader - unlike the rest of my classmates. The teacher used to ask us to read a chapter and discuss it in class. I always read a couple of chapters (quick reader). The class didn't enjoy the book and asked if they could quit (about 4 chapters in). I asked 'can I take it home miss?' She was delighted - as was I. I took it home, and I always go back to it every 5 years or so. Maybe it just takes me back to when I was 12, but I always enjoy reading it.

God bless Holden.

[jenhatter06]

;D ... I indulge in a little Nora Roberts from time to time too

Favorites .... hmm ... a recent, instant favorite is "The Devils Wears Prada" (Lauren Weisberger) -- so hilarious and outrageous, but brilliant.

Favorite from school -- "To Kill a Mockingbird." Really the only one that we had to read for class that I really liked. Most of the others were 'eh' - think it made a difference (with me anyway) with having to read a book as opposed to choosing one I wanted to read. I'll read tons on my own and enjoy them. More recently, I have thought about rereading some of them now, as I might get a different perspective of it (and "get it" unlike when I had to read them for school ).

[hellanvodka]

Love the Thread, thanks Mary de fairy!!!!

Just finished THE WAR AND PEACE, not long ago, it was in Russian, took me so long since I haven't been living in my motherland since I was 5& i only picked up how to read and write Russian with my mother (Dad doesn't speak Russian at all) Was a great book, i read it in English before, but looks like i was "lost in translation" , people trust me, translation industry is a huge lie! LOL I prefer origional version. Pretty amazing and boost up my vacab. If you can read Russian, its not a bad idea to give a go, else, forget it!!!!! You can translate the basic meaning, u can't translate the culture!

Finished the "Secret" 1 week ago! its amazing! I am trying to practise it now! To focus on what I what i life rather than "dont want"... a great one to manifest your life, refresh ur thoughts& mind and spiritual power. 5 stars for this!!!!!!!

Currently reading Lonely planet Latin America & central America in both English& Spanish, i am off backpacking to Peru, Balivia,and other 5 countries in that region soon, do i want to get lost? Mate, that challange my Spanish skill, i wont expect highland famers speak English/ RUssian to me tho LOL lol...
while on the road, i will be reading Pushkin's poems that given by my grandpa as well as those poems that were written by my late grandma (never get to read her stuff untill recently given by grandpa). Exciting for that and again make sure i dont forget Russian.

p.s. ;D I am working on my own books "alternative pathway for cancer healing" ;D

[hellanvodka]

dina said:

I
;Lenin: the Man Behind the Mask" by Ronald W. Clark (I love russian history;God knows why!) !

maybe you have Russian connection or that Marat virus influenced ya (who was reading Russian history too) lol ;D
Read that too, its a funny book, a bit different from what the Russians told.
Anyway, i am not a history person. (but a Medicine bitch ) If you really love Russian history, you can't pass St Petersburg and Tsar, cuz since 1917, the "Pure Russian" culture was destroyed and the "Russianess" is only start recovering these days. ;D

[Dina]

I'm a medicine bitch too!lol (you forget I'm a medicine student and soon to be an official intern!) by the way, I want soo read that "alternative pathway for cancer healing" you have already your first customer!lol!
and I'd die to put a foot on Mother Russia's land! I am so going to marry a russian man!(it would be better if he was a tall one!lol!)
by the way: I'm in the chapter 2 of my book: that's a miracle!
ps: I love to write too, hundred times more than to read;especially poetry!!!!!!! I breathe in and breathe out with it!lol the fan fic is just a try!

[maryb]

Medicine bitches? LMAO. I couldn't ever see anyone referring to Florence Nightingale that way. ;D

Some alternative med books that might interest you:

Herbs against cancer - history and controversy, by Ralph W Moss. The book is a work of historical and critical analysis, not a self-help book. Very interesting book and well written. It focuses on western tradition, no reference to Chinese, Japanese or other Eastern herbs - author admits that this is outside his scope, but acknowledges that traditional Chinese medicine holds great promise for cancer patients.

Another book 'treating cancer with herbs', an integrated approach by Dr Michael Tierra, focuses on the herbs themselves (including Chinese etc) and gives a scientific explanation of the compounds that are beneficial and why, and outlines treatments that are used. Very good read too.

I've got tons of alternative therapy books. More than happy to point you off in the direction of a few good reads.

[Dina]

fairy godmother: THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[annie]

I finished that other book i was reading...a fiction..."Archangel" ...it has something to do with Stalin...and how he has an heir/son brought up in Arkangelskoe (did i spell that right?) anyway,it's a crazy story...but it does have a little bit of history...

[maryb]

I'm still working my way through the Rudy biography - it's a very, very lengthy book! But, it's very enjoyable - so far, it puts his upbringing into context. I can picture Russia at that time.

Even as a child, his 'volatile' personality was showing through. The child is the man ...