Phyliss, I read "The Hot Zone" and really liked it, especially since I had worked at the health dept and been involved in infectious disease outbreaks. Been meaning to take it by the Health Dept. and give it to the Adm. that took my place, so she can read it
I'm reading "Hellfire" by John Saul. I have such a huge stack of books to read before I put them out to sell in my shop. Finished a couple of Sandra Browns last week but can't even remember the titles now, terrible to be so addlebrained. lol

Last month I read "I Hate My Neck" by Norah Ephron. Very funny,I identified with lot of it.

I just finished a book called "Paris Trout" by Pete Dexter. It's a National Book Award Winner. Warning right up front, though, this book is not for everyone. It is violent. There are some parts of the plot that were hard to read, disturbing. Some elements of the story (plot, setting, characters) remind me of "To Kill a Mockingbird," but without the innocent main character. There is a trial around a racist crime in a small southern town. There is a lawyer trying to do the right thing, but he is much more flawed than Atticus Finch. The writing style, though, reminds me of Cormac McCarthy's books. Ugly details are not softened, some parts are hard to read b/c they are so disturbing. The title character is inhumane. It's not a feel good book, no humor, but I couldn't put it down. I especially love a book with complex character development, that's probably what I liked about this one. But, I'll probably have to go read something funny now to counteract this story. I almost make it sound unreadable, that's not what I mean to do. It is very well written, very well told, in a way that elecits a lot of emotions- just not happy ones. It is a powerfully told story, and that is what makes it a good book.

One amazing book I read recently is "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. It is actually shelved in the young adult section of my library. It's a Nazi Germany story with a surprising narrator, death. But it's subtle, that doesn't make it dark. Actually, it's very sympathetic. The main character is a young girl who becomes adopted and tells the events that unfold in her small German town as Hitler and the war take over life. It is so original, so touching, so metaphorical, so innocent and loving. I enjoyed this book so much. It was so good it's hard to describe, you just have to experience it.

Right now I am reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I might finish it this weekend. Don't know what I will read next. Got a couple of books from a chain letter might start one of them.
Kittywhiskers

M is for Malice by Sue Grafton
I am getting nervous, cause I am getting closer to T is for Trespass and I think that is the last one that came out!

I really,really, REALLY have enjoyed these books! I am surprised at how much I like reading them, PLUS I know I wouldn't have even gave them a second thought if I hadn't seen them mentioned by so many other KT'ers, so thanks bunches!

I am reading PROPERTY by Valerie Martin. Set in Louisiana in 1828 (during the plague). A very unhappy wealthy white woman takes her dissatisfaction out on her slave, who is the unwilling mother to the Master's two children. The story reads almost like a diary, written by the Master's wife.

I am reading Jodi Picoult's "Keeping Faith". I have read several of her more recent books and found them very good and thought provoking. Keeping Faith is an earlier book, and I am still trying to get into it. Laura Lippman's "Sugar House" was a good read

Mostly a lurker here but couldn't help responding to this one. My two favorite books for this year are Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum and The Other Bolyn Girl by Philippe Gregory. Don't be put off by its size. It's so good it's a quick read.
Also enjoyed Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva. Just started Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. It was highly recommended by a friend. I was surprised to see that several people didn't like Water for Elephants. My entire book club loved it. Maybe it's a generational thing

Currently reading Road to Rodanthe by Nichols Sparks. I wanted to read it before i saw the movie.

Currently reading Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais, the second in the Elvis Cole series. It is entertaining, and I like how the author describes the food the characters are eating.

I agree with other posters about Water for Elephants. It had potential and could have been so much more.

Reading Black by Ted Dekker. Next in line is Tis by Frank Mccourt. I read his Angelas Ashes and loved it.

I am reading "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown. Enjoying it so far. Just recently finished "Don't Cry Now" by Joy Fielding (pretty good) and "19 Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. That's the 2nd book I have read by her (the other one was "My Sister's Keeper") and I really enjoy her books. I will read more by her.

Now reading DON'T TELL A SOUL by David Rosenfelt. Next on tap is SAVAGES by Bill Pronzini (a nameless detective novel).

I enjoy mysteries best of all & try to stay caught up on the most popular writers.

Now reading "Adam" by Ted Dekker. Just finished "Oath" by Frank Peretti, a real nail bitter and page turner. Had to catch up on housework before starting "Adam" as these two authors keep me suspended in time.

Has anyone read "The Shack" by William Young? Need to know if y'all liked it or not.

Dottieq, what is Those Who Save Us about?

Of the books mentioned I've read
Water for Elephants
Life of Pi
The Red Tent
The Book Thief
My Sister's Keeper
Digital Fortress
To Kill a Mockingbird

I enjoyed all of them except To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm not sure why. Maybe I was expecting too much?

I also have many of the other books listed that are on my tbr shelf. I have all the time in the world now that I'm not working, but both times I've been on chemo I have had no desire to hold or read a book. Not even to listen to an audio book. The last book I listened to was The Same Different As Me and it was wonderful. I would definitely recommend it.

Seems like we have quite a community of readers here at the table. I've taken note of alot of your suggestions - and am always willing to add more to the list. Thank you one and all....and keep adding more to this post - I'm sure lots of us are making notes.

I read No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay while I was traveling in So. Dakota. It was one of those books I couldn't put down. He has a new book coming out this month titled Too Close To Home. I want to read that also. They are paperbacks.

I'm in the middle of Gilbert Morris' The Spirit of Appalachia series. I love historical fiction, and this series incorporates a lot of non-fictional events and people into the storyline. Before I started this, I read several series by Beverly Lewis and Karen Kingsbury - completely different, but both great.

I'm reading the account of, walking the Cherokee Trail of Tears, by Jerry Ellis. I tend to go towards adventure. I like to go on authors adventures. Such as sailing alone around the world, etc.
The next one though, will be about, the painting of the Sistine Chapel.

I'm trying to muddle my way through Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir. It's a wonderfully researched, complicated and twisting biography of (surprise!) Mary, Queen of Scots, and the murder of her husband.

I found Ms. Weir's audio book, The Lady Elizabeth, fascinating. It covers Elizabeth's life up to the time she became queen. After listening to it, I had to read more by the same author.

As always, I'm listening to the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich anytime I'm doing "busy work" or driving in the car.

Phillipa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl and Constant Princess were great reads, and am now reading Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Very thought-provoking I must say. Will read others of hers and all of Gregory's I can find. Really enjoyed her.

dottieq and haffie... did you watch the movie of "The Other Boleyn Girl"?

I, too, read the book and it was sooo good... the movie was a let down though and I honestly feel that if I wouldn't have read the book first, the movie never would have made sense.

I am reading "The Blue Bedroom and Other short stories". Its just one of those $Tree books, but prettty good. Mostly light reading and you can put it down whenever. I am getting ready to order The Insufficiency of Maps, A novel", don't remember the author, but sounds good. I have a list a mile long in my shopping cart with Amazon.com!

Just finished reading the following book and took it to my DM to read today. It's light (and funny!) Southern humor and is FILLED with great recipes. Don't know what I'm gonna read next - need to check my stack of books.

Being Dead is No Excuse : The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral
Author: Gayden Metcalfe, Charlotte Hays

Hi Niki
I didn't go to see the movie because I had already been told by some folks that it could not do the book any justice. I find that with most movies, they can't live up to the books anyway. Or rarely. I love to read and really get into a good book...movies by necessity can only last up to three hours at most!

I'm about 1/4 of the way through "Sullivan's Island" by Dorothea Benton Frank. It's very good.

Just finished "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of her others.

LindainIowa, just started the book you mentioned today and it was a mistake even beginning it! (I'll NEVER get anything done today! LOL)

The beginning is sure an entrapment to keep you reading!

This morning finished Letters from Sam by James Patterson.

What a delightful, heartwarming book.

"What cats want you to know" and "Understanding Multivariate Statistics". The latter is more for those nights when you DON'T want to sleep!

Hey janie_ga...My son is in college for mechanical engineering and is currently taking multi variable caculus III...put me to sleep just after it went waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over my head.

Currently re-reading Hunters Of Dune By Brian Herbert and Kevin Johnson. It's one of many of the sci-fi Dune series.

Have a good day everyone!!!!

I'm a lurker-also a huge book lover. Figures my first post would be about books huh?
I just recently finished a book called Where the River Ends by Charles Martin. It was one of the best books I've read this year. Right now I'm reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.

I'm in the middle of Agnes and the Hitman co-written by Jennifer Cruisie and Bob Mayer. Full of characters from a nice lady caterer with anger management problems to Southern mobsters. Witty dialogue, a bit of romance without getting mushy and a whole lot of adventure. I think men might enjoy this read almost as much as women.

Just now reading 4th of July by John Sandford, with somebody else. I thought I had read this one, and maybe I did and just forgot. Anyhow, his books..full of murder and mayhem..have been favorites of mine for years. I used to enjoy the Kate Scarpetta books by one of our semi-local authors, whose name I can't call to mind right now, but they have diminished in quality, in my opinion. Can you tell I enjoy murder, mayhem, and forensics? Does that say anything about any sociopathic tendencies?

Hi, mellocat, and welcome!

Nan, I just finished (scanned might be a better word!) a book about Kay Scarpetta... "Book of the Dead". Can't remember the author either, but will in a minute! I did not enjoy it at all, in fact, found it boring so just flipped through the last half of it. I loved the first books by Patricia Cornwell (that's her name!) but then have not found them to be interesting.

I have a new to me Tony Hillerman book about Jim Chee and the Legendary Lieutenant Leaphorn, "The Skeleton Man". I can get lost for days in a Hillerman book.

Also just finished "Kaleidoscope" by Dorothy Gilman. Light and fluffy but entertaining. I like to feel happy when I finish a book.

Also re-read "To Kill A Mockingbird" recently. One of my all time favorites.

Vanni...sorry I haven't been on this site in a while. Just came across your question. Those Who Save Us is about the holocaust but from a different perspective. It deals with a young German girl who falls in love with a Jew and gets pregnant and what life was like for her when her lover was hauled away to a concentration camp and she had to hide the fact that the father of her child was a Jew. I've always felt that a lot of innocent Germans got caught up in a horrible regime they wanted no part of (such as the Pope) but as a matter of self-preservation couldn't do much about it and this book tells such a story. Nicki....I didn't see the movie (The Other Bolyn Girl) because I heard it was a big disappointment. Will probably look for it when it comes on HBO. But I loved the book.

Thanks to this post, I grabbed the kid's copy of their high school's required reading To Kill a Mockingbird from our library to read. I've read hundreds of books in my adult life but detested reading when I was in school. Though I have to admit my favorite time of day in grade school was when the teacher read to us and I can list every single book that was ever read to me.

I'm having a tough time putting To Kill a Mockingbird down.

Jodi-

I havn't started it yet,but my next read will be Jodi Picoults Keeping Faith.I'm going to start it when i start chemo in about 10 to 12 days..
Kathi

Nothing new here...It's a book I found at the thrift store for 59cents....by Mary Alice Monroe it's called "Sweetgrass"

She also wrote "The Beach House"...which I think is the book I got from someone here then sent it on to someone else. It was a good book and "Sweetgrass" is good so far.

I'm watching for more of her books.

patti

kathi, same here. Right now I'm finishing Continental Drift by Russell Banks. It's ok, but not great. As soon as I'm done with it I'm starting Keeping Faith.

Hugs and good luck on that chemo.

This month my Book Club read:
1,000 White Women-The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

I thought it was wonderful! I'm usually not a big fan of historical fiction, but this was great! Based on a true event, and then the author writes about what could have happened. Back in the 1850's the Cheyanne Indians wanted to increase their tribe numbers, so they asked the US govt to "trade" 1,000 white women for 1,000 horses. The US govt said no, but in the book, they agree. Very interesting idea. Characters were outstanding!! Written in journal form and quick read. Some language & violence esp at the end, but it's not too bad.

Next month we read: Whistling in the Dark

We read Water for Elephants at the beginning of the year and I thought it was okay. Normally would have never read about the circus. Others seemed to like it more then me.

Read Life of Pi, but it took me about 3-4 times to get through it!

Has anyone read Middlesex? I want to know if it's worth reading. Ii don't mind the topic, but it seemed really hard to get into?

I've got my list made of all the books you guys have recommended.

Teresa-who once had a dream about being locked in a library all night. (Wouldn't be so bad!)

Just started James Patterson's _Mary, Mary_.

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Excellent book! It's an account of the German occupancy of Guernsey Island just outside Great Britain during WW2. The story is told through letters between islanders, a writer from London and her friends. Very unique way to tell a fascinating story.

Jodi-

Teresa, One Thousand White Women was our book club's most enjoyed book. It really brought on some good discussions.

Teresa, Middlesex is a wonderful book, IMHO.

Fowl Play - Janet Evanovich. Y'all are just too high-brow for me. I like "fluff".

Linda

Quote from Rosebudms) I have a new to me Tony Hillerman book about Jim Chee and the Legendary Lieutenant Leaphorn, "The Skeleton Man". I can get lost for days in a Hillerman book.

Rosebudms, did you see where Tony Hillerman died last week?

Phyllis-My MIL bought Middlesex, so maybe I'll borrow it and try again. Even if I don't like the book, I feel accomplished if I finish it.

MaryannTX-We thought it was interesting that 1000 white women, was written by a man. He seemed to capture the female point of view rather well. BTW, all the members of my BookClub are from Texas (but live in VA) Air Force wives.