Community Room

[krb2g]

Peppermill et al.,

My favorite Dorothy Sayers mysteries are the ones that have Harriet Vane too. I particularly liked

Gaudy Night (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery) and

Have His Carcase (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery), although as far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with any of her detective fiction: she wrote several full-length mysteries and a number of short stories as well. In her spare time she also translated The Song of Roland and almost all three parts of Dante's Divine Comedy.

Thanks for the Amanda Cross recommendation; I have read several of her books (was actually introduced to her in a feminist theory class that assigned an article that used one of her murder mysteries to talk about the way we conduct criticism) but haven't read all of them yet. As you can see I love reading murder mysteries written by academically-inclined women.

Another author whose mysteries I've been enjoying is Charlaine Harris. The Sookie Stackhouse books are more along the lines of fantasy/romance than straight mystery, but I devoured them once I started watching True Blood. I think I liked the Harper Connelly stories even better (but she can hear the dead, so there's definitely a supernatural element there too). Her earlier books, which I am going through (just finished

Shakespeare's Champion (Lily Bard Series #2) today), are enjoyable to me too.

[CAG]

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IBIS wrote:

CAG, it seems that we have similar reading tastes!

I also started "A Reliable Wife" not sure if I would like it. But eventually I was drawn into Goolrick's writing spell. I too have it on my list of favorites.

I agree, it's definitely worth reading!

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CAG wrote:

To everyone:

I have one more book that I would like to suggest. I just finished "A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolrick. When I first started reading it I wasn't sure I would like it. It was different than what I expected. It is now on my list of favorites. It is full of twist and turns.

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IBIS

We certainly do have similar tastes. Please let me know any other books you have enjoyed. I am sure I would like them. I have appreciated your comments.

[IBIS]

CAG, I would recommend "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" which is the February book in the B&N Literature by Women book club. The story has incredibly well-written strong women... made of "invisible steel". It takes place in 1912 and the grandmother and mother in the story have married weak or cruel husbands. Like Lisbeth Salanger, they learn to rely on themselves to take charge of their own destinies. They pass on their hard-earned lessons to Francie, the 11-year-old girl who fights her way out of the miserable poverty in Williamburg before WW1. CAG wrote: IBIS We certainly do have similar tastes. Please let me know any other books you have enjoyed. I am sure I would like them. I have appreciated your comments. CAG

[rosia408]

Just finished Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger in the First Look  club. Absolutely loved this book. Laughed and cried aloud. Since then I read Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton which was hauntingly sad.

 I am just starting The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Whoa, I am having such a difficult time getting into that book. The moving around from one time to another, and one age to another is so hard to follow. I don't know if I want to persist with it. I don't usually give up on a book, but this may be one time I may do just that! Has anyone else read this book and liked it?

[Frostbacksgirl]

I'm about to finish up reading My Lovely Bones, which is a very good book. I've really enjoyed it. If you haven't read it, I suggest you read it.

[nlsamson]

I loved the second one even more..Now I can't wait for another. 

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DSaff wrote:

I need to get this one! I loved "Dog On It."

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nlsamson wrote:

I just finished reading Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn.  I wanted something that was easy and quick to read for a recent trip to New Orleans.  It amazing how much I really enjoy this series. 

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[bookowlie]

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CAG wrote:

Peppermill-I like the parallel you suggest. I am giving that some thought. I read the article you refer to earlier and found it interesting. 

To everyone:

I have one more book that I would like to suggest. I just finished "A Reliable Wife" by Robert Goolrick. When I first started reading it I wasn't sure I would like it. It was different than what I expected. It is now on my list of favorites. It is full of twist and turns.

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CAG,

I read "A Reliable Wife" about 6 months ago.  I agree, it was also different from what I expected.  Full of twists and turns is definitely an appropriate way to describe it.

[Peppermill]

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IBIS wrote:
Peppermill, thank you for this article. It was fascinating reading. Who knew that I loved gossip?

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  Don't we all, at least some of the time?  And don't we usually hate to admit it? 

Glad you enjoyed the article.

[Peppermill]

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rosia408 wrote:

Just finished Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger in the First Look  club. Absolutely loved this book. Laughed and cried aloud. Since then I read Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton which was hauntingly sad.

 I am just starting The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Whoa, I am having such a difficult time getting into that book. The moving around from one time to another, and one age to another is so hard to follow. I don't know if I want to persist with it. I don't usually give up on a book, but this may be one time I may do just that! Has anyone else read this book and liked it?

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Rosia -- I'm glad that someone besides me had difficulty with The Time Traveler's Wife .  I took the CDs back to the library without finishing them.  But everyone else told me how great it was.  Maybe another time I'll try again.

[Peppermill]

KRB -- thanks for the Dorothy Sayers / Peter Wimsey suggestions.

When we were reading either The Nine Tailors or The Divine Comedy , we learned that the accomplishment she was supposedly most proud was her trslation of the DC.

As you can see I love reading murder mysteries written by academically-inclined women.

It was that relationship of Sayers to Heilbrun that led me to mention Amanda Cross.  Do you work in academia yourself?  I don't, but my interest has been fueled by a "professional woman" perspective.

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krb2g wrote:

Peppermill et al.,

My favorite Dorothy Sayers mysteries are the ones that have Harriet Vane too. I particularly liked

Gaudy Night (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery) and

 Have His Carcase (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery), although as far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with any of her detective fiction: she wrote several full-length mysteries and a number of short stories as well. In her spare time she also translated The Song of Roland and almost all three parts of Dante's Divine Comedy.

Thanks for the Amanda Cross recommendation; I have read several of her books (was actually introduced to her in a feminist theory class that assigned an article that used one of her murder mysteries to talk about the way we conduct criticism) but haven't read all of them yet. As you can see I love reading murder mysteries written by academically-inclined women.

Another author whose mysteries I've been enjoying is Charlaine Harris. The Sookie Stackhouse books are more along the lines of fantasy/romance than straight mystery, but I devoured them once I started watching True Blood. I think I liked the Harper Connelly stories even better (but she can hear the dead, so there's definitely a supernatural element there too). Her earlier books, which I am going through (just finished Shakespeare's Champion (Lily Bard Series #2) today), are enjoyable to me too.

[ranna]

Yay! I just got confirmed to be getting the book. This is great! (:

Anyway, I'm currently reading:

The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #5)  

Really lovely book and series I recommend it to all of you.

For those who haven't heard about it:

It's about this kid named Percy and he has ADHD and dyslexia. His friend, Grover, brings him to a camp called Camp Half-Blood and there he realises that the Greek mythologies are real and he is actually the son of Poseidon.

I love the series quite a lot, actually.

[Vermontcozy]

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liisa22 wrote:

I just finished "Eternal on the Water" and "Before I Fall"  both of which I loved!  Now am reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes".    

Don't know how to get the pics of the books on here....

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Good Morning liisa22..I was going to help you Add product,then read Pepper came to your rescue..I love that feature..Best  Vtc,Susan

[krb2g]

Peppermill,

I'm in grad school at the moment. I hope to explore the intersection of race-based slavery and American imperialism in 19th century American gothic literature in my dissertation (still in its earliest stages).

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Peppermill wrote:

As you can see I love reading murder mysteries written by academically-inclined women.

It was that relationship of Sayers to Heilbrun that led me to mention Amanda Cross.  Do you work in academia yourself?  I don't, but my interest has been fueled by a "professional woman" perspective.

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[milkamilka]

I just finished with the first chapter of Before I Fall! Pretty amazing book, can't wait to continue with it. I also have Shutter Island in my bookshelf, can't wait to start to read it. I've heard that it is one of those books you just cannot put down.

[Frostbacksgirl]

I just finished reading Witch and WIzard by James Patterson. It was a very good book with alot of humor. I truly enoyed it but again I don't think I've ever read a book by him that I didn't like.

[liisa22]

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Vermontcozy wrote:

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liisa22 wrote:

I just finished "Eternal on the Water" and "Before I Fall"  both of which I loved!  Now am reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes".    

Don't know how to get the pics of the books on here....

---

Good Morning liisa22..I was going to help you Add product,then read Pepper came to your rescue..I love that feature..Best  Vtc,Susan

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Thanks Susan and Pepper!

I read

The Shack  yesterday! Wow

(yea!  i did it!)

[DSaff]

I loved "The Shack!"

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liisa22 wrote:

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Vermontcozy wrote:

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liisa22 wrote:

I just finished "Eternal on the Water" and "Before I Fall"  both of which I loved!  Now am reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes".    

Don't know how to get the pics of the books on here....

---

Good Morning liisa22..I was going to help you Add product,then read Pepper came to your rescue..I love that feature..Best  Vtc,Susan

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Thanks Susan and Pepper!

I read

The Shack  yesterday! Wow

(yea!  i did it!)

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[liisa22]

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DSaff wrote:

I loved "The Shack!"

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I did too.   At the end of Ch. 17, I just said " NO!!!!!!!!!!!!"      I was both afraid to go on, and yet compelled to go on.

[Frostbacksgirl]

I am now reading The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. So far, it's pretty interesting.

[Anna_Louise]

I just finished reading

Eternal on the Water 

  and am now reading

Tithe (Modern Tale of Faerie Series #1) 

Anna Louise