The Reading Room

Slow day it seems (though unfortunately not here at work). So figured I would throw thiws out there and see what kind of responses it gets.


What book are you currently reading? Bonus points if you opine on your fave read of all time.


I just finished Joe Lansdale's "Mucho Mojo" and "The Bottoms" and now have to try and find more of his stuff. He's they guy who wrote the story behind Bubba Ho-Tep.

Fave book - thats a tough one. Going by rereads it's either Herbert's "Dune" or King's "The Stand" (that copy is so far past dog-eared).


Wha'bout you all?

since school is in progress....no fun readings here....just some concrete textbooks and codes...

Fav. book...ha...to tell the truth...i hate books...i am more of a magazine man :) ....anything about science or animals.... i just started my subscription to Reptiles...so we will see how that goes...it took me a week to wipe out the October issue...

Anytime I try to read for more than 20 minutes, I always end up taking a nap :D

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

Anytime I try to read for more than 20 minutes, I always end up taking a nap :D

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Heck, bro the only time I get to read in the past decade or so is on the throne - don't feel bad. I feel yer pain with the school assignments though - even if it was more in the literature vein they have a real talent at trying to force you to read stuff that makes you NOT want to read like ****ens or Melville.

I love reading.. Pretty much any wall not taken up by animal cages has a bookshelf (though one of them has a fish tank on top of it, and another my hermit crab lives on)

Right now I'm very slooooowly reading through Harry Potter. I'm a fast reader, but I just didn't want to finish it in two days.. lol

Favorite book.. hm. It used to be 'Island of the Blue Dolphins'.. then it was 'Where the Red Fern Grows' (both animal stories.. lol) I enjoy Stephen King books, and I like Madeline L'engle.. I don't know I guess.

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

Heck, bro the only time I get to read in the past decade or so is on the throne - don't feel bad. I feel yer pain with the school assignments though - even if it was more in the literature vein they have a real talent at trying to force you to read stuff that makes you NOT want to read like ****ens or Melville.

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ha...i tried to read Moby @@@@ a few times...never got past the second page....actually i think the first few pages of my copy are missing because i slobbered all over them when I fell to sleep while trying to read...

I like reading short stories, poetry, magazine articles.....anything that I can completely read in under 10-20 minutes :)

I am currently reading NOTHING! THIS SUCKS! I am an avid reader but due to school (teaching school), toddler/preschoolers, and herp keeping I'm feeling the pain of not having read a book since summer. Hate to be unorigional but the last book I read was the latest Harry Potter.


I used to love Dean Koontz, but my all time favorite series is the Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. All five books are packed with details of prehistoric life and a lot of interpretations, but very interesting all the same. Another author of fantasy is Jennifer Roberson. My sister and I got hooked on her series young. Still love em!

I'm also a big fan of Diana Gabaldon's series Outlander. She just published her latest in the series a few days ago and I am desperately trying to get to a book store to pick it up! So that will soon be my "current" read!

I tried reading Stephen King when I was younger but choose IT and never really returned, though I'm told he is awesome.

And Daniel, I'm unfortunately one of those people who pick up a book and can't put it down. When I didn't have kids I was well known to still be reading "just one more chapter" until 5 - 7 AM!

I just love reading. Just wish I had more time... Poo...

I have been reading the Harry Potter series. I also like the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, it's an awesome series of books, let me tell you. I love all of King's books really, as well as Dean Koontz.

I love to read when I have the time. I read most of King's stuff, as well as Koontz. I actually like Koontz a little more, partly because his books have not all been made into movies! :)
Not reading anything right this moment. My favorite author (at least one of them) is Poppy Z. Brite; if you like twisted, read her stuff.

Right now I am flipping through "Green Iguana, the ultimate owners manual". And re-reading "Wicked: The Life And TImes Of the Wicked Witch Of the West'" by Gregory Maguire. I've also read "Confessions of an Ugly Step-sister" by him as well. Good stuff.

As for favorite authors, Tory Hayden and Stephen King top my list.

I love to read, the last one I read was Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Book two of The Wizard Knight.

My favorite author is Anne McCaffrey. I love the pern series. Dragons that have been bio-engineered on a colonized planet that soon lost touch with it's past and now doesn't know it was colonized. Actually much more complicated, but you'll have to read them to know.

Will be picking up a few this weekend on the next library trip. Seems a friend of mine from college has been published for years. I never knew, must go find all of his works I can read now. Chris Reynaga is his name. I have been on a hunt to get in touch with old friends, just found this one.

Also picking up a few recommended by a friend.

Any thing by Richard Marciko or Tom Clancy. Tom clancy is good for technical details and stuff, Marcinko is an awesome writer. He created Seal Team 6, and his books go by fast. There is action from the word go!

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Originally Posted by unimom

Gene Wolfe's

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Hah! Too cool.

I remember reading Shadow of the Toturer (think thats right) by him waaaay back in high school. Unless I am completely misremembering - which is . . uhm . . .. not unlikely given everything that transpired in the interim.

I am glad to see so many replies!

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Originally Posted by wendyhoo9

And Daniel, I'm unfortunately one of those people who pick up a book and can't put it down. When I didn't have kids I was well known to still be reading "just one more chapter" until 5 - 7 AM!

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I know exactly what you mean. I can't put a good book down. I have been known to skip nights of sleep to finish a good book. I read the last Harry Potter in under a day (24 hours). I love the off (tax) season, once Cody's at school, Fridays are mine. LOL

Yeah I too have been sucked into the Harry Potter books. I also love the three other authors Wendy has already named Diana Gabaldon, Jennifer Roberson and Jean Auel. I don't like to read anything that is scary, and yes I am a big wuss. :shh: I also love A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare.

Puck! I love Puck, what a wondeful character. Mischeivious little guy, got to love him, all time favorite Shakespear though is still Romeo & Juliet. Although real life is Taming of the Shrew :)

The Hopeless Romantic ;)

In no particular order, my favorite authors of all time.

Ernest Hemingway
Frank Herbert
J.R.R.Toilken
Arthur Conan Doyle
Tom Clancy
Agatha Christie
Joseph Heller
Stephen King
James Herriot(awesome books)
Rudyard Kipling
Charles ****ens
Mark Twain
Edgar Alan Poe
Edgar Rice Burroughs

I'm not reading anything right now :(

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Originally Posted by unimom

I know exactly what you mean. I can't put a good book down. I have been known to skip nights of sleep to finish a good book. I read the last Harry Potter in under a day (24 hours). I love the off (tax) season, once Cody's at school, Fridays are mine. LOL

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The only thing that drives me to bed in the middle of a good book is the thought of the 7 AM wake up call courtesy of my 3 year old! Even then I can go till 4 AM!

I used to read alot, now I have the same issue as some others. I'm asleep in 5-10 minutes. I like Crichton, that's probably the most of one author I've read. I am also into the DragonLance series but my progress with that has slowed. My boss at work got me hooked on audio books wich is great for the 30+ drive each way to work. The Davinchi code, Angels and Demons, Digitial Fortress...all by Dan Brown are SUPERB to say the least. I hope the movie coming out of The Davinci Code is as good as the book.

*edit...I forgot to mention I have a book on Oscars sitting here in front of me at the moment (fish).

right now im reading the latest issue of Reptiles Magazine, and The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. its for a book report at school but i like that book anyway.

The Chronicles of Narnia are very good books, but I actually liked The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the least of the bunch.

ooooh, thats harsh!:P;) we got to pick are books as long as they were fiction and that is the one i picked because its my favorite!

I probably liked it less because I was made to read it in school.. the six others I read on my own. School can often ruin a book for a person.

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

I am also into the DragonLance series but my progress with that has slowed.

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Hey I have a bunch of those on my shelves. Everyonce in a while I will pull out, heroes or twins or something and dive into the deep recesses of the D & D world. *sigh* If only I could game still. I may go back home for Christmas, if I do I must join the guys for an all night gaming secession LOL

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Originally Posted by Shelby

I probably liked it less because I was made to read it in school.. the six others I read on my own. School can often ruin a book for a person.

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LOL, i know what you meen! im in the 8th grade and so far out of all those book reports i have had to do i only like like one book called The Medallion.

My word does anybody read any non-fiction!!??

Right now I am reading a few books. I am reading back & forth between Sports Illustrated (not a book but bare with me) & David Sklansky's Theory of Poker while on the um, throne.

I am reading the Swiftboat Veterans book about John Kerry "Unfit for Command" (Yeah, I know, late, but an interesting read nonetheless) & it rests by the bed side.

I also have two out of the apartment books. One is sitting in my car & the exact title escapes me but it is about a woman who was once Osama Bin Laden's sister-in-law. She divorced his brother and moved away from the country. She & her daughters spend a lot fo time in the US as well. Definately an interesting read. The other book, which is in my locker at work, is How to Win No Limit Hold Em Tournaments by Tom McEvoy & Don Vines.

Yeah, I don't get to read often so it takes me a while to finish all of these books but hey, I have a book almost anywhere I go at my disposal so that is nice!

As for a favorite book, I would hafta go with Leadership by Rudy Giuliani. A great book. If I had to go fiction, I would hafta give Of Mice & Men the nod!

Yep.. I remember when I was in school I'd finish the book in two days, and we were supposed to take 3-4 weeks to finish it. It was so boring waiting for the rest of the slowpokes to finish.

im reading the diary of anne frank for school too. thats non-fiction.

I never had to read that.

yeah its ok, but it uses a lot of words we dont use anymore. but its still good

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Originally Posted by Eddie_Z

My word does anybody read any non-fiction!!??

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Paper. Then again most of the stories might as well fall under the fictitious category ;) My programming ventures keep me reading technical books most of the time as well.

I love to read! I'm currently on Stephen King's Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla... I'm almost halfway through. I've only got two more books in that series... I don't wanna see it end! I get 80 minutes a day to read while commuting to Boston on the train, so I'll be finished with the series soon enough.

Obviously I'm a King fan (I even have a picture of me standing in front of his house) but I also like Steve Alten, Michael Crichton, Brian Jacques, and tied for first place with Stephen King is any of Uncle John's Bathroom Readers... I dare you to pick one of those up and not read it for at least an hour at a time.

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Originally Posted by Eddie_Z

My word does anybody read any non-fiction!!??

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I'll have to introduce you to my husband who also reads non-fiction. He reads mostly historical, political and military history. Usually has 3 books going at once too!

I read lots of non-fiction as well. I have mostly books on fauna and flora... and various other sciences. Some history books too.

I have several favorite authors. I love forensic & medical thrillers, so I enjoy Jonathan Kellerman, his wife, Faye Kellerman, Harlan Coben, Robin Cook, John Grisham and Dennis Lahane (Mystic River). I know there are many others, but I can't remember them right now! LOL


I'm also enjoying Jodi Picoult, and reading her book Mercy right now (by the way, Jo, how did you like My Sister's Keeper?)

I'll be reading Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult next and have four of her other books on reserve at the library, along with Nicholas Sparks' At First Sight, Jame's Patterson's Lifeguard: A Novel, Judith Janice's Long Time Gone, Anne River Siddon's Sweetwater Creek: A Novel, and James Frey's A Million Little Pieces (an Oprah Book Club Book). And I've just put Dan Brown's Digital Fortress on hold.

I also love to listen to audio books. The BEST one ever is The Promise by Donna Boyd. It's about Werewolves, and it's SOOOO awesome! She has some others about werewolves and you just can't put it down or want your ride to end (if you're listening or reading, either way is compelling). It's not horror at all, and really makes you think.

I also enjoy Virginia Lanier's Bloodhound series (Ten Little Bloodhounds, etc).

There's many, many more, but that's a start! LOL

oh i have this really annoying habit (to my friends and family ) of reading like 3-4 books at the same time so right now im in the middle of


*Foundation (im gonna finish the whole series) by Isaac Asimov

*Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien

* i just finished Eragon and the sequel Eldest by Christopher Poalini

(anyone here read Wheel of Time?)

EDIT ps i also read the whole dragonriders of pern series (someone earlier mentioned it)

and Koontz is an awsome author my favorite is Sieze the Night (BTW does that book have a prequel?)

i read a whole bunch of tom clancy

basicly if it has words and pages i'll read it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm recent nonfiction . .

"An Anthropologist On Mars"
"The Serprent and the Rainbow"

(ACK! unrelated - I am eating a red pear right now and it kind of tastes like bacon - bring that stroke on!)

Thanks to Robin for getting me hooked on Jodi Picoult (and she came to our town and I missed meeting her!!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRGH). I'm with Wendy on Auel and Gabaldon (her newest one is out....YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!).

Basically I'll read the backside of a shampoo bottle if I have to LOL. I come from a family of natural speed readers so as my husband says I "eat books". My usual trips to the library might include books on true crimes, forensic pathalogy, a good sleazy romance or two, medical mysteries (fiction or non-fiction), historical fiction, non-fiction stories of vets or wildlife rehabbers, etc. I figure the librarian must think I'm pyschotic LOL.

Mike only gets nervous when I read books like "Bothersome Bodies". Very interesting true crime stories about how people dispose of those they have...ummm...disposed of :dead:


~~Jo~~

A love of reading is the best inheritance you can ever give your child.

HAHAHA

Too funny. "American Psyco" was an ok movie - but the book was brilliant and disturbing on sooooo many levels.

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Basically I'll read the backside of a shampoo bottle if I have to LOL.

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I was brought up the same way - back of cereal boxes at breakfast etc. I worry for my kids that reading is so downplayed these days - that the imagination is less stimulated - all the entertainment leaves no room for exercising it - heartily agree with your closing statement.

We share that worry too as quiet reading time is so under-valued in today's instant society. Here's a couple of tricks I've used to get the 4 kid's loving books at an early age (and so far it's sticking)....

Library books are like treasures. They go up high. It's a treat to get your library book down and read and then it goes back up high. Kids LOVE stuff they can't have easily LOL.

Reading with mom or dad at bedtime is a special time. Nice alone time with a parent in a busy house with siblings. As the older ones started reading to themselves, it was a deal to have their reading time if they got their butts to bed at a decent hour.

Best thing though, bar none, is let your kids see you love reading and enjoy family trips to the library or the bookstore. There's nothing that encourages a kid to read more than seeing their parent(s) enjoying that simple pleasure. Though around our house if mom gets a new book, it's more like "okay who is making dinner cuz mom is in la-la land with her book tonight" LOL


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Though around our house if mom gets a new book, it's more like "okay who is making dinner cuz mom is in la-la land with her book tonight" LOL

~~Jo~~

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Okay I hate to admitt it but Cody does the same thing. If it's time for lunch, Cody will be like "Mom, can you make me a sandwich? Oh never mind you're reading."

I know that he's a great kid when he brings me one too, even if it is baloni & ketchup. LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

We share that worry too as quiet reading time is so under-valued in today's instant society. Here's a couple of tricks I've used to get the 4 kid's loving books at an early age (and so far it's sticking)....

Library books are like treasures. They go up high. It's a treat to get your library book down and read and then it goes back up high. Kids LOVE stuff they can't have easily LOL.


~~Jo~~

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Wow.. that is pure genius! :)

Another great author is Nora Roberts. She writes mystery/murder type mysteries that keep my attention.