Week of 1/6: What are you reading now? What's waiting on your nightstand?

[SusanH]

What are you reading this week? What are you looking forward to reading soon?

You can just list the book or books you're working on, or you can add a few sentences about them, or you can write a short review for us, if you like!

Share your book experiences with us here. :)

[k-mom]

I am reading White Oleander right now. So far it is an enjoyable read about a artistic single mother and her daughter.

[SusanH]

I am reading Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White, which is just amazing. I have about 100 pages left to go, so I'll post more about it when I'm finished. Right now all I can think to say is, "Wow!" What an amazing talent this author has. I will warn anyone considering reading it that it is R-rated, if not NC-17. The protaganist begins life as a child prostitute in Victorian London, and the novel is unflinching in its description of her life.

Next up is probably The Eyre Affair. I have read so many raves about this book that it has jumped to the head of the line of library books patiently awaiting their turn.

I was planning to read Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich, which is on hold for me, but after reading LisaJo's opinion of it last week I must say that my urge to read it has lessened.

[Lisa Jo]

I have not had much reading time lately and will probably spend all week on Prodigal Summer. Which is a good thing - I love Barbara Kingsolver. :)

Susan, you have me intrigued about The Crimson Petal and the White. I'll definitely be putting it on hold. Sugar Plums was truly lousy, a real disappointment for Janet E. fans.

[Ursula]

After being given this book 4 times I'm finally reading a library copy of Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. The book was given to me when it first came out because I travel. However, I don't usually read about travel, I just do it. Then, when I was living in Portugal, 3 different visitors brought me this book. I still couldn't bring myself to read it because I felt I was living it and wanted to read about other things.

Finally, I'm reading it and really enjoying the chapters about the house. I still don't like to read the travel parts.

<font color="#FF850B">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</font>
Ursula
Me: 35, Dh: 34 (1989)
<font color="#FF850B"><font size=2pt> Dd: May 2001</font></font>
19 Months
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[davidsmom]

I am going to start Sandra Cisneros new book Carmela. It is supposed to be really good. I can really relate to her other ones so I hope this one is just as good!!

[rebeccav]

Delurking on this board...

I'm reading a Timothy Findley novel I got for Christmas, <i>The Piano Man's Daughter</i>, which I am really enjoying. It's about 400 pages long, and I've read about 300 pages, in two sittings! Usually late at night with my new baby sleeping on my chest and a mug of hot chocolate beside me!

It is a really good novel, and I am looking forward to reading more of his books. I was turned on to his writing after studying his novel <i>The Wars</i> in an English class last year.

I am also going to get back into my LOTR books I got last year that I've only read the first few chapters of. We got the Special Edition DVD for Christmas, and it really got me itching to read them again. I'm finding now that the time I read best is late at night with my daughter sleeping on me, DH and DS asleep as well.

[SusanH]

Lisa, definitely look into The Crimson Petal and the White. I finished it yesterday and I'm afraid I'm still not sure what to say other than "wow." The ending left me terribly frustrated at first, but I think I've come to terms with its relative abruptness. When one is reading a pseudo-Victorian novel, one has every right to expect a traditional Victorian prologue recapping what happened to every character for the next 20 years. So I felt quite cheated when it wasn't there, lol. I'm itching to discuss this novel with someone, so go read it!

Meanwhile, I have to decide whether to actually retrieve the copy of Visions of Sugar Plums that is awaiting me at the library. I am nearly determined to skip it altogether based on your condemnation.

[Caryl]

I finished The Bookshop last week, which was a quiet little read. I'd like to read another book by Penelope Fitzgerald now; I've heard good things about The Blue Flower. This one was just fine, with an interesting ending.

I am reading Small Wonder right now, essays by Barbara Kingsolver. I lent my copy of Prodigal Summer to my mom, who promised to get it back to me by Friday. (She is loving it, by the way!) The essays are good, but pretty heavy, so I'm taking them slow. I really like Kingsolver as a person as well as a writer; her essays have helped me to get to know her, and she has an incredible way with words.

Susan, I am adding your recommendation to my list! It sounds fantastic. I have enough books to keep me busy through January, but I put it on hold just now since there are lots of people who've requested it ahead of me. :)

[Lisa Jo]

Susan, I am #11 on the hold list for The Crimson Petal and the White, so we may not be able to discuss for awhile. I hope you have a better memory than I do - I forget little details so quickly.

Hmm, to pick up Sugar Plums or not. I'm not kidding about how sub-par it was, but it's tiny and would kill only one or two uninterrupted hours at most. I think you should get it so you can validate my assessment. ;)

[Laura_008]

K-Mom, my mother and I are also reading White Oleander right now! I saw the movie when it came out and really wanted to read the book, I'm enjoying it as well. :)

I have 9 books on my headboard waiting to be read. :o

[djk42]

I just finished White Oleander because I picked up a copy at the library sale for a quarter- I wanted to see the movie because I liked the cast, but I figured I would save money and read the book first to see if it was worth $3.50 for a movie rental. I wasn't impressed, but I was even less impressed by the reading guide in the back. It made me not want to read anything else on the Oprah list. While I don't understand the hype, I did take the time to finish it. It made me sad, and I don't like sad books. It reminded me a lot of the book She's Come Undone except more realistic and a touch less pathetic. And, it made me fear for my children if I were to die, with no relatives to take them in.. I almost wish they had Godparents after reading this book.

If anyone wants to discuss it, start a thread. It is a book to talk about because it is highly emotional.

On a happier note, I got the Christmas Box this year and checked out the rest- am on book three and baby is pulling my arms off the keyboard............