BOOKS THREAD

I can hold my head a bit higher today. I finished reading "To Kill a Mockingbird." It was never assigned in school and since I'm not a big fiction reader, I just never got around to it. My library branch had it on display so I picked it up. I enjoyed it, even though I'd seen the movie and knew what happened. Next up is Maraniss' "Rome 1960."

 

I finished Guests Of The Ayatollah, which I really enjoyed, and have been getting caught up on some magazines before I start another book.

The wife picked up some books from her parents house a while back and two of them were Shogun and Noble House. Never read any of James Clavell's books - or saw the miniseries - but I'm intrigued by them. They're a load to read but I'm interested in any thoughts on them.

 

Clavell is Michener with more emotion and a clearer perspective. Geography and Culture play as central a character as anyone else in the narrative. He was a POI during World War II and it only enriched his writing.

 

King Rat, his novel about being a POW, is well worth reading.

I liked his Japan trilogy, although it becomes a bit of a slog at points.

 

My favorite Grisham book is 'Bleachers.'

Bought it at Kroger for 5 bucks and finished it that same night. I've read thru that and 'The Last Juror' and 'The Summons' a handful of times.

Been awhile since I read 'The Firm,' so I may re-read that one of these days.

 

finally got myself a copy of bright nights, big city yesterday in greenwich village.

anyone here tell me what i'm in store for?

 

80's yup self-indulgence, in spades.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes. This was about the second or third Grisham book which I read. I thought "The Firm", which was his breakout book, was the weakest of his books.

I would read every Grisham book which would come out and then I stopped reading them because, while they were good books, I thought it was somewhat formulaic even though the books were about different legal topics. I kind of got the feeling that he was just writing the book so they could make a movie of it, although that may be my craziness coming into it.

I listened to an unabridged Books on Tape version of "The Innocent Man" and thought it was terrific. Then I listened to Playing for Pizza, and that was great because it was different. I also listened to Bleachers. I think I will get around to some of the books which I missed.

 

Slight timeout: I've ordered three books off Amazon, including Pearlman's book. I've checked my tracking, and I have this to show:

What in the world? It takes 5 days to stay in the same city? Where did it arrive to five days later? I WANT MY BOOKS! Anyone else see this?

 

It's a chore when it ceases being fiction and starts reading like a travelogue. If I want to read travel writing, I won't pick up a novel.

Grisham is a maestro of tripe, King with a sweet tooth.

 

Cracked "Hard to Forget: An Alzheimer's Story" by Charlie Pierce tonight. I might finish it in one night...and I've already cried three times. It's not a disease that's ever touched my family, so I can't imagine the impact if it had.

I'm an unabashed Pierce fan, but I'd strongly recommend it to anyone.