yep... read Sarum and London... not in one sitting, but in a couple of days... takes me about an hour per 200 pages... I think I read them a couple of summers ago... you know us teachers w/ all that free time on our hands in the summer [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] ...<p>One historical I couldn't read was "Aztec." Something about the style, I guess... just didn't hold my interest.<p>Cali

Christian Romance, snl? Jeepers, I hate romance anyway, but it seems to me that IF I wanted to read it, I'd want the "velvet patch" stuff. [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] And if you (anyone) don't know what I'm referring to, just think about it for three or four minutes -- it'll come to ya! <p>One of the best books I've read in a long, long time was Gracie Allen's biography by George Burns. It was GREAT!! WHAT A LADY!! And how much did Mr. Burns love her? SOOOOOOO much. I bet you wonder... did he cheat on her ever? And was I one surprise bunny to find out that YES, he did! Little Miss Gracie never let him forget about it either -- and he felt he deserved it. It was with some nothing little dancer, young, and he was around 50 at the time. MLC? Maybe. He just thinks he was incredibly stupid. He spent the rest of their lives making up to her for it -- without bitterness, it sounds like. He knew he screwed up and fessed up to it BIG TIME.

yeah nb, I forgot to mention, I like biographies too, not so much the dry factual ones, but the ones where they try to bring the person to life, and get in their head, why they did the things they did (and so I prefer autobiographies)... forgot to mention cali (and what in the world are you doing up at 5:30 am anyways) I Loved sarum, really brought england alive to me...I think I tried aztec too, and didn't finish it for same reason.....nb, I also read several books at a time, I wonder if that is typical of people who real widely, and read alot...sometimes it takes me months to get through one (especially heavy duty science, or philosophy)...<p>Here is a couple of suggestions for those who wonder why we are here, and why we do what we do (including maritaly)<p>How the Mind works, by steven pinker<p>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A.../sr=2-2/ ref=sr_2_2/002-8118139-6669611<p>An absolutely fascinating work relating our biochemistry to behaviour.... a whole chapter on "family values" .... some disturbing things too, did you know the single greatest risk factor for a girl child is being in a family with a step-father? He is a science writer, and has brought together a lot of current and emergeing research tying genetics, biochemistry (of the brain), and human behaviour....also lots of chapters on what exactly is intelligence, how we think (and make decisions) and lots of other stuff.<p>
A good companion book is Genome, current paperback explaining a lot about genetics and human health/behaviour.....did you know that sperm althers a females brain chemistry, predisposing her to continue mating with the sperm donor (true in all species, including humans...which may explain some of male responses to female infidelity, focusing on the physical)...the stuff on the genetics of sex is beyond fascinating.... also reveals the notion that some species mate for life (some birds etc.) as false, genetic analysis reveals there are no species which practice fidelity, just some are sneakier than others.... the conclusion is inescapable, as far as mother nature is concerned, infidelity is essential to species survival....and is very....normal.<p>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...1/sr=2-1/ ref=sr_2_1/002-8118139-6669611<p>Another good book for the agnostics and atheist crowds...The Creator and the Cosmos, by Hugh Ross, his detractors try to refute him by attacking him personally (how droll), but his science is impeccable, one cannot prove God exists, but one CAN prove it is much more likely He does than does not, the book is all science, and the conclusions airtight...<p>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...99/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-8118139-6669611<p>I recently bought another book looks pretty good, Reviving Ophelia saving the lives of adolescent girls, by Mary Pipher Ph.D explores the awful job we do (as a society) of raising healthy successful women...even as a boy in the 50's early 60's I was pretty much outraged at the way girls were treated and encouraged, I didn't know why I was, didn't even have a sister...I always talked/listened to them, let them play sports with us, and tried to protect/encourage them, I guess life as a rescuer starts pretty young.<p>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A.../sr=2-1/ ref=sr_2_1/002-8118139-6669611<p>[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: sad_n_lonely ]<p>[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: sad_n_lonely ]</p>

I love how this thread had developed into a reading discussion thread.<p>I LOVE BOOKS!!<p>I will read anything if it stays around long enough. I still have boxes & boxes of books that I haven't unpacked I just don't have the place for them. There are books in every room of my house, the car, etc. I don't want to be anywhere & have to wait without a book.<p>Sheryl, I love the book All my patients are under the bed. Back when STBX loved me he was doing business with some people who lived in the same area as James Herriot, he was their vet, so they got me an autograph copy of one of the 1st children books he did. I am with you about Harry Potter, you can't put them down, looking forward to 5, there will be a fight over who gets it 1st in this house, but I will win. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Cali, I love Nora Roberts. Anything, because her categories are a nice bedtime story that won't keep me up all night. Have you read her as JD Robb, new one out by March 5 or all ready. Then her newest hardcover is out in mid April. Mia's story is out in June, forgot release date but the biggie IMHO is Chesapeake Blues or something like that in Oct, this Seth's story from the Quinn brothers' series. Like you after Dday I couldn't read romance very much.<p>Romantic Suspense is my favorite read. <p>But I love history, I majored in history because I read a historical then I have to research till I found out all about the people. Same way with movies I then research it to death picking apart what they did wrong or got the facts wrong, etc.<p>Lor(Lor), a use bookstore, I think I could hate you. Just kidding. My very favorite UBS closed the same month as things started going south for me & the STBX, my OS now cracks jokes about Mom which do you miss more dad or the bookstore, the answer the bookstore [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img]

Please don't hate me because I have 35,000 books I can take home at any time [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] .<p>IF I could find a place for them there.<p>My poor H looks around the house and says "Uh, honey, shouldn't some of these books be at the store?"<p>There're the home "keepers" Mary Renault, Diana Gabaldon, John Irving, any Celtic or dark/middle ages history, Arthurian books, faerie/folk tales/lore from anywhere, a dozen or so Bibles & hymnals, books like THE HISTORY OF HOROLOGY that are too odd not to keep.<p>I have all my self-help books currently stored in a stack of closed wicker picnic baskets.<p>Ah, books.... [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

I have a stack of about 30 books by my bed that has been growing since D-day. I guess I'll move them to the bookshelf one day... [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] My tower of books is sort of like my "monument" of personal growth. [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

snl... I am up at 5:30 because my school day starts at 7:20... YUCK!!!!<p>Lor... a used bookstore is the retirement job of my dreams... I think I could be very jealous...<p>Sing... thanks for info on Nora Roberts... haven't tried her books as JD Robb... I can't wait for "Seth's" book... I absolutely LOVED that series...<p>Cali

I have this vision of seeing my bed tottering on a stack of books.<p>I have this bad habit of throwing them under the bed when I finish paperbacks so there are always bks under the bed.<p>The STBX & I still share books. Well, I do more than he does, but I read a book of type or author that I know he likes, so I give him the bk. He never turns them down.

OK...best time in my life...hands down...was between colleges..lived with a girlfriend in an old rundown house...my room didn't have the walls finished..but was huge. Had one big bed in the middle with about 20 pillows on it, huge windows on every wall, 2 stong lights and mounds of books....MOUNDS! Was like a maze!
Granted this was in the 70's so there was a "hippie" bohemian influence to the whole decor...but I loved that room.<p>SNL..The Reviving Ophelia Book is good...and I see girls living those lives described every day. I suggest every parent of a girl read it.<p>Diana Gabaldon books are keepers...had to buy a second set as I am a book lender and those are still making the circuit at work (after 2 years..there are still people waiting for them!)
Was reading her newest one when we had to move and haven't found the box yet!<p>Recently unpacked a box of my parents old books, so I'm comforting myself reading some of their old favorites ( Mom's death a year ago today..Dad died about 8 years ago)lot's of history and some old Richard Armour..very funny.<p>Got a house warming gift from a friend..book of epitaths from 1800 tombstones and the stories behind them. Who was it that said "you get 2 numbers on your stone. It's the - that's important."<p>Should we start a music thread next?
T

Oh Boy, <p>A thread on reading material, one of my favorite things.<p>I`m like Sheryl, I have about 5 book going all at once, I pick up the book that suits my mood. I`m also a historical novel buff and like SNL I like the books that do some story telling in them, make the characters come alive. I just finished one on Mary Queen of Scots and am now in the middle of one on Queen Elizabeth. <p>I am also reading an Amy Tan book, a self help book on what women want, Mars /Venus (in french BTW) <p>I also like Ann Rice books and books about serial killers. I have a serial killer dictionary, a book on the Holmolka/Teal case and a great book on Ted Bundy. I`ve reread those books a couple of times. Does that make me twisted? <p>I hate those romance novels. I have picked them up a couple of times and everytime I do I think "this stuff is drivel and I could write this" It always amazes me when I see "New York Times Bestseller" on the cover. <p>It`s always been a secret desire of mine to write a book. I figure if I went the romance novel route I could do it easily. They seem to all follow a pattern. Boy meets girl, girl hates boy, girl slowly falls for boy against her will, boy "takes" girl, girl falls madly in love with boy, fate separates them, blah blah blah....<p>Anybody know a literary agent? [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

daisy...I also like Ann Rice books and books about serial killers. I have a serial killer dictionary, a book on the Holmolka/Teal case and a great book on Ted Bundy. I`ve reread those books a couple of times. Does that make me twisted? <p>snl....yes it does (twisted) sorry daisy.<p>daisy...It`s always been a secret desire of mine to write a book. I figure if I went the romance novel route I could do it easily. They seem to all follow a pattern. Boy meets girl, girl hates boy, girl slowly falls for boy against her will, boy "takes" girl, girl falls madly in love with boy, fate separates them, blah blah blah....<p>snl...Haha, my thought exactly, what an easy way to make a living....somehow I am not so sure is that easy....and why not reverse the genders anyeays, girl takes boy, boy falls madly in love etc. etc...<p>but, as too writing a book, boy now we are getting in deep here...you betcha...<p>1. Sci-fi adventure<p>2. Memoirs (and helpful stuff) about life as a repairman, and the people you meet (in their homes).<p>3. Some kind of adbenture/disaster survival thing.<p>4. A book about human relationships, and marriage, written by a LAYMAN, I am tiring of talking heads, and experts....of course that would mean one becomes one...oh well.<p>5. I really love historical novels, but am incapable of the attention to detail necessary to research and write one...oh well.<p>6. And lastly book on philsophy, why do we exist, and what should we do about it.<p>better write a romance novel first though, I suspect would starve on many of these, and sci-fi is a tough feild....I do think a new twist on romance novels is to move em to high tech, and center one around an on-line thing.....exploring all the advantages, pitfalls, and permutations that brings to the mix.

I wonder if their is a corelation between introspective, reader types, and participation on MB...a sort of self-filtering effect, and to some extent we all "fit" each other more often than we would in the population at large...<p>re fit, I also wonder if there is a corelation between marital dysfunction and reading, do those who share a need/love to read more likely to fit than a marriage where one does, and the other doesn't...or even worse one hates to read, and thinks it is stupid, waste of time etc. I know I always feel a lot more comfortable with folks who are wide read, and somewhat introspective... and I do poorly with loud, boisterous, hang out at the bar, or play with fast toys all the time crowd.

SNL,<p>I find that most people on MB are erudite and introspective too. And obvioulsy we all like to read ALOT or we wouldn`t waste so much time here pouring through all these threads. It`s fascinating to me that although we are all coming here with different experiences and points of view most MBer`s seem to have alot in common i.e. their logic, need to analyse and sense of humour. Every once in a while though you do get a moron posting but they are quickly flamed off the board. I don`t post to them but it`s fun to watch. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>I think I could write a romance novel but I figure if I ever do decide to sit down and write a book it would be more along the lines of an Erma Bombeck/Andy Rooney type of book. Humourous anecdotes about stupid people, situations, and dumb stuff I have done. <p>I have thought about writing my memoirs but have decided I`ll have to wait until I am 80 and most of my family and peers are dead because I doubt they would appreciate what I would write.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>I find that most people on MB are erudite and introspective too. And obvioulsy we all like to read ALOT or we wouldn`t waste so much time here pouring through all these threads. It`s fascinating to me that although we are all coming here with different experiences and points of view most MBer`s seem to have alot in common i.e. their logic, need to analyse and sense of humour. <hr></blockquote><p>I agree!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] And if we all feel comfortable here, chances are that our spouses don't.<p>"Opposites attract, and then opposites attack". The very qualities we love about our spouses are also the qualities we can begin to hate. <p>I believe there's reasons we're attracted to mates who are different than we are. I love to read, H doesn't. I love think, analyze, and spend quiet time at home, H doesn't. We each bring a different piece to the marriage - different strengths, talents, likes and dislikes. Perhaps the problems begin when we forget to appreciate the differences. My H is fun and spontaneous - that's something I love [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] . But it's also the very qualities that get on my nerves sometimes, right? He is a lot of fun, but he is also forgetful and irresponsible. He loves that I'm organized and thorough - I can keep the bills straight, keep a calendar, make sure we're on time, etc. But then if I'm too organized and cautious, he feels trapped or bored. <p>I guess this is why I have trouble with "fit". Our needs are always changing. If a couple can "fit" when they marry, then when needs change, why can't they make adjustments so that they can continue to "fit".

Aspiring novel writer here too!<p>How many novels have I begun? A BUNCH!! [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>My fav one, and I keep meaning to get back to it, is of course a murder mystery -- aboard a cruise ship... that way all my suspects are in one place, doncha know? [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img]