What are you reading this year? 2012

[lucylee]

Caught, by Harlan Coben.
Recommended by & loaned to me by ddil -- and VERY good. Crime drama. I read about half of it in the first day. It's one of those books where at the end of every chapter, you're sorta thinking, "Hmmmm... didn't see THAT coming."

[ellyphant]

Just heard that Irish author Maeve Binchy has died. Have enjoyed many of her books. I remember loving her book "Evening Class." I should be using the underline for book titles...must try to remember!

[Harriet]

Binchy has died much too young, ellyphant, but she certainly wrote a long, productive time - many much-appreciated books and most with her name more prominent on the cover than the title! A sign the publisher was grateful to have her writing for them! We've all been benefitted by long-career authors who were able to give us lots of great titles. I know I was sad Ruth Stout was only able to publish a few books while her brother Rex published many fiction works over decades - as much as I enjoyed him, I loved her better. Into their last years, Tolkien and Lewis continued to inspire each other to keep writing great works. Mark Twain even had the foresight to insist one of his books wasn't to be published until 100 years after his already long writing career. How smart was that!

Another recent loss was Marion Cunningham, the very quiet author of books that encouraged cooking simply at home, like The Breakfast Book and Learning to Cook. Most people never knew (I didn't until after her death), but she suffered from agoraphobia (fear of social settings, fear of groups) much of her life. It caused her to become a private alcoholic, but she fought against it and recovered, went on to write several books during her tee-totaling years. She was also the author who rewrote The Fannie Farmer Cookbook.

Favorite quote from Marion Cunningham on how the average novice cook might crack fresh coconut at home.

“Throw it on a cement patio. That’s how monkeys do it, and they are professionals.”

[ellyphant]

I recommended the book "One Part Angel", which started out ok, but was disappointing. Just want to go on record saying don't waste your time with this one! Had to force myself to finish it.

[Nancy]

I'm re-reading Simple Prayer By Joyce Meyer. I don't re-read books very often so this is a good one.

Also reading No More Mondays by Dan Miller.

[BookSaver]

I bought a few paperback mysteries at the library book sale Saturday to have ready if we are able to go camping on Labor Day weekend.

I must have a book at hand for early morning when I get up before everyone else, or if they all go off fishing.

It seems that at least 1 day of camping always includes a downpour. It doesn't hurt so much when a book gets damaged by rain if I've only paid 25 cents for it.

[ellyphant]

Just reading 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.' Very good book, only put it down long enough to post!
Won't need to force myself to finish this one.

[Nancy]

I've been reading traditional kids books nursery rhymes!

And "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"
also "Who Ate All The Cookies"
Don't know the authors b/c dgd liked those books so much she took them home with her.
I found 'em at a yd. sale! I call 'em cookie books!
Painted birdhouses [Today's thrift shop find was fun.]
http://www.amazon.com/Painted-Birdhouse ... 0806918772

[lucylee]

I want to read that book, elly! It has been on my list for sooo long!

I read Hop on Pop to dgs last night...

STILL reading The Hatfields and McCoys AND Some Assembly Required...
and got another Harlen Coben novel from dfriend @ school today!
PLUS 3 magazines arrived at once on Saturday!

[Harriet]

Recently bought a child's Cookie Monster book.

Totally like that birdhouse painting book. That's my kind of reading. The lady who writes the book reviews for the paper said Sunday she likes, "characters you can't shake - who stay with you for your lifetime". Eeewwww. Give me nonfiction and get these characters out of my head.

Magazines - what 3 mags showed up at once, lucylee? I am only subscribed to Quilter's Newsletter right now, and enjoy our state's version of the electric cooperative magazine, also a few catalogs that seem more like magazines - Keepsake, for instance. Both HRH and I must have the newspaper in our hands each day or feel naked. Often I almost purchase health and quiltmaking magazines but pull back. I just find it so difficult to throw them away later. HRH is managing to live without his previous subscriptions to computer and golf mags. Most recent mag purchase was a Vegetarian Times that had some recipes I thought HRH would like. If I were to get a new subscription, it would probably be to Mary Jane's Farm, which I have purchased off the rack at Tractor Supply.