It's August; what are you reading?

[Spudd]

I just started "Juggler of Worlds", I think it's called. By Larry Niven. So far I'm not that into it, but I'm only like 2 chapters in so far.

Rose Madder was quite a page-turner.

Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring was so-so.

[mellenhead]

I finished "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. Excellent book - sci/fi end of times kind of story. I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending though.

I am currently in the middle of "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman. The writing is a bit off beat but I'm enjoying it so far.

"My Hollywood" by Mona Simpson is next on my reading list.

[mellenhead]

I hate it when I get books that I don't end up liking.

Tried to read "My Hollywood" by Mona Simpson. I'm in chapter 3 and I don't like it. The book flips between a mother and the nanny she hired that is from the Phillipines. So anytime it is in the nanny's narritive it's in broken english. It's driving me crazy.

I skimmed "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling. I feel like I lost brain cells just holding the book. I liked her first one "So NoTORIous" but this one is terrible.

I just started "The Ghosts of CANNAE, Hannibal and the darkest hour of the Roman Republic" by Robert O'Connell. It sounds really interesting but I'm hoping you don't have to already have a deep background in Roman history to understand and enjoy it.

[Sílvia]

I'm still reading The Pillars of the Earth. It's good. Not excellent, but good. Some pages turn faster than others. I'm still on page 590 or so (it has 1070+), but now that I finished the revision job from hell I'll have more reading time again.

[mellenhead]

I gave up on "The Ghosts of CANNAE". I was LOST, apparently you need to really have a good background in Roman history to read it.

I read "No Wonder My Parents Drank" by Jay Mohr in 2 days. It was good! Make me both laugh and cry. The book is mainly about his son and fatherhood.

I'm waiting for "Boardwalk Empire" to come to my local library, should arrive from the other location tomorrow. I want to read it before the series starts on HBO next month.

[Beverly]

I finished up American Wife a week or so ago and really enjoyed it. Now I'm reading Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen. So far it's pretty good.

[Bugsy]

I finished "Dancing Girls" by Margaret Atwood (finally!) last week, and I've just started "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman. "Dancing Girls" was all right, but it once again affirms that I tend to not like short stories much. Maybe I'm just not a good enough reader to fully appreciate them, but it always feels like I just get to know the characters and then the story ends. They're rarely fulfilling to read, unlike novels.

[Sílvia]

April, I feel exactly the same way about short stories. Most times I just find myself thinking "ok, but then what happened?". It's annoying. I'd much rather get lost in 400+ pages.

[Bugsy]

Good to know I'm not alone in this opinion!

[mellenhead]

I just read two trashy novels: "Poor Little Bitch Girl" by Jackie Collins and "Last Night at the Chateau Marmont" by Lauren Weisberger. They were both totally fluff, trashy and predictable. But I liked both of them, I needed something mindless to read.

I have "Substitute Me" Lori Tharps and "The Red Queen" by Phillippa Gregory that I just pick up from the library.

I'm anxious to read "Mockingjay" (third and final Hunger Games book) by Suzanne Collins, but I"m trying to wait to get it from the library. Doubt I will hold out!

[Rachael]

I have about 100 pages left of Mockingjay, Mellen! It's going down tonight! It was $12 at Target.

It's great, but differnt from the first two books as they aren't in a game. Still lots of action and drama, of course.

[Spudd]

I just found out they have "The Help" on hold for me at the library. I'm psyched! I was like #500 in line when I put it on hold originally. I'll be picking it up this week. I'm hoping to slam through the rest of my current book before picking it up so that I don't have to stress about finishing it before it's due.

[Bugsy]

Spudd, "The Help" was awesome; I totally loved it.

And "Mockingjay" is waiting for me at the library. They must have a million copies of it, because even though I've been on the waiting list for a good 3 months, I was still at least 90th in line. Either that or people are just blowing through it and returning it quickly. Gotta go pick it up tomorrow!

[mellenhead]

And "Mockingjay" is waiting for me at the library. They must have a million copies of it, because even though I've been on the waiting list for a good 3 months, I was still at least 90th in line. Either that or people are just blowing through it and returning it quickly. Gotta go pick it up tomorrow!

I'm so jealous! I think our system only has about 50 copies and there are 390 on the waiting list (I can't see where I am anymore, they changed it to some wacky system). I always try to return books that I know have holds on them right away so hopefully I'll move up the list quickly.

[Sílvia]

Spudd, The Help is next on my list! Assuming I'll ever finish Pillars of the Earth. I like it, that's not the problem. It's just that my reading time seems to be suffering lately.

[Rachael]

And "Mockingjay" is waiting for me at the library. They must have a million copies of it, because even though I've been on the waiting list for a good 3 months, I was still at least 90th in line. Either that or people are just blowing through it and returning it quickly. Gotta go pick it up tomorrow!

I'm so jealous! I think our system only has about 50 copies and there are 390 on the waiting list (I can't see where I am anymore, they changed it to some wacky system). I always try to return books that I know have holds on them right away so hopefully I'll move up the list quickly.

I finished it last night. Can't wait to dish with you girls about it!