Boo's "Gotta Read It" List for December

[boohiss13]

I'm an obsessive reader. And I mean OBSESSIVE.

I do my "Gotta Read It" list for some friends, so I'll put it here:

1) The Calligrapher by Edward Docx
It's a bizarre love story with the history of calligraphy woven into it. Very unique.

2) Light A Penny Candle by Maeve Binchey
Binchey wrote the book 'Circle of Friends' that was then turned into a movie. She's an amazing storyteller and most of her tales are set in Dublin.

3) The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer by Jason Moss
This is a true story about he author, Moss, who becomes interested in true crime as a child, then in his teens, starts contacting serial killers by mail, to see if he can get them to talk to him. He studied each one and what type of victims they went for, and then would pretend to be someone similar to their victims....and it worked. In the end, the FBI asked Moss to come and speak with them, as he got closer to several serial murders than they EVER had. Facinating.

4) I'm with the Band : Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres
I LOVE this book. I've probably read it 20 times. It's just really fun to read. Pamela was a groupie in the 70's and shared beds with folks like Jimmy Page and Jim Morrison. Not exactly intellectual reading, but it is really fun.

You can find all of these at Amazon (link below) if they aren't in your local library.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/flex-sign-in/ref=pd_irl_gw_r/104-0676178-4732700?opt=oa&page=recs/sign-in-secure.html&response=tg/recs/recs-post-login-dispatch/-/recs/ref=pd_rw_gw_r/ref=amb__123983601_2/104-0676178-4732700 (http://)

[vm]

Ooh, really intrigued by the serial killer one - and the groupie one. :lmao: I'll have to look for those. Thanks! :)

[Bianchi]

o.k. two books you really have to read, if you havent:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (a riveting novel about a family in Afghanistan)
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicole Kraus (funny, but sad too)
Bianchi

[pingpong]

I also loved "Light a Penny Candle", and almost anything by Maeve Binchy. Another great author is Rosamunde Pilcher, who writes many stories that take place in parts of southwest England including Cornwall. One of my favorite all-time books is one that she wrote called "Coming Home". I actually wore out a hard-cover copy, between loaning it to friends and family and rereading it, just to enjoy her writing! :rolleyes:

If you want to read an inspiring story that celebrates the strength of women, read "We Band of Angels" by Elizabeth Norman. It's the true story of sixty-nine American Army and Navy nurses during WWII who were trapped on Corrigador and Bataan at the beginning of the Japanese invasion of the Phillipines. All 69 of them survived their capture and years in Japanese internment camps, and when you read about the horrible conditions in the camps, you will understand what an amazing accomplishment this was :bow: .

[vm]

I read Kite Runner and loved it. Haven't read the nanny one - will have to add that to my list. :)

[boohiss13]

OH! Forgot one!

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" (I forget the author)

Ping Pong:

I also loved "Light a Penny Candle", and almost anything by Maeve Binchy.

How fabulous is she? I've read everything she's written save a few, and then there are mny that aren't being distriibuted anymore. I saw her on Oprah once, but I can;t remember what book she was talking about. She was exaactly. Have you read "Firfly Inn"? (I think that's the one...it's about a diner or bakery in Dublin.

Another great author is Rosamunde Pilcher, who writes many stories that take place in parts of southwest England including Cornwall.

Oh, good......a new author. I love finding a new author and then reading every book.



If you want to read an inspiring story that celebrates the strength of women, read "We Band of Angels" by Elizabeth Norman. It's the true story of sixty-nine American Army and Navy nurses during WWII who were trapped on Corrigador and Bataan at the beginning of the Japanese invasion of the Phillipines. All 69 of them survived their capture and years in Japanese internment camps, and when you read about the horrible conditions in the camps, you will understand what an amazing accomplishment this was

Now THAT sounds amazing. (trots off to Amazon to add to my list..."

[July]

A few years back, I enjoyed "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian.

[boohiss13]

OH! OH!

Just thought of one you guys HAVE TO READ!

It's called "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant
This is one of the best books I've read in the past few years. It's a fictional look at what life may have been like for the women in the Bible. Amazing book, really!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312195516/qid=1135956938/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0676178-4732700?n=507846&s=books&v=glance (http://)

[Bianchi]

I loved "The Red Tent". One of my favorites.
Bianchi

[pingpong]

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" is by David Sedaris (or Sadaris?), who also has a show on NPR.

Another great book is "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius". I can't remember the name of the author, but it's a wonderful true story, and the writing style is wonderful, once you get used to it. As an aside, if you are a fan of of "The West Wing", you'll get a surprise when you read the forward, which in this book you have to read upside down. :loco: Really, get a copy of the book and this last sentence will make perfect sense to you!

[Briza]

David Sedaris is good! Just finished Dress your Family...
Naked is also a good one.

Most recent good read is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.

[pingpong]

I'm reading "A Million Little Pieces" right now. Oh my God, the root canal scene...talk about pain! I don't think I could have survived it.

[megancolleen]

I just finished "A Million Little Pieces"....the root canal scene is intense! Also the scene where he confesses all the bad things he's done to the priest. I saw the author on Oprah...he's a pretty amazing guy.

[Briza]

OK...now, after seeing what the The Smoking Gun uncovered...what do you think about A Million Little Pieces and all this controversy? It was a good read, but I must say that there were some parts, including the dentist scenario, that I was a little suspicious about while reading the book. I do like to read memoirs, and realize that they are more often almost a poetic representation of the author's life, rather than an autobiography, but...

[July]

I have not read A Million Little Pieces, but you can't escape the media circus around it right now. Boy, did James Frey look nervous on Oprah the other day!

[Briza]

July,
I caught just the last 10 mins or so when I got home from work. Wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now. But hey, he got us good...hope he enjoys the rewards from all this publicity. Funny thing is, my sister gave me the book back in Nov. I didn't even notice it was one of Oprah's picks nor did I know it was a best-seller of 2005 til all the uproar started.
For those who have read it, my #1 gripe about it, now knowing the facts, is how he falsified the train/car wreck scenario where his supposed one and only friend died. Having been in a major 9 car accident myself, where many people who I knew died, and only I and two others survived...I would be absolutely furious and disappointed if someone used that tragedy to their benefit, especially if they weren't in any way involved. He should be ashamed.