Anybody read Stuart Kominsky? They are really fun! Toby Peters series and Rostnikof are like eating candy. Whats everyone else reading?...Kirk

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Answers

Just finished "Sastun" about an apprenticeship with a Maya Healer and am into "The Green Trees Beyond" by R.D. Lawerence (memoir of a Spanish/Canadian nature guy). Don't remember ever reading Stuart Kominsky.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Like eating candy," cool line, Kirk, can I borrow that one! I don't know anything about Toby Peters, what are they about?

What am I reading? Well I love reading peoples dreams, so I go to Dream forums and print off peoples dreams, then read them while I am cozed up to the fire. Oh! And the Physic Children, I love reading what they have to say.

They say that we need to start pretending, Pretending our Dreams into Reality. Isn't that cool!

And Lately I have been reading about Mark Twain, He is such a cool dude! I am just fascinated with him, he didn't see things the way other people did, he spoke out against slavery in Missouri, when speaking out was not cool! His first book was banned in some states, the main character realizes that the black fellow that he has befriended is a real person, not an empty shell as he had been taught.

He feels that to not turn the black fellow in will be a sin, and that he is doing a terrible thing by helping him escape. He finally comes to his decision, and proclaims, "well then I will just go to hell then! "

How beautifully , beautifully written, and how now too, what others tell us is the right and just thing, will not be the right and just thing in our hearts. And we have to chose their god or ours! Their hell or ours! Ah! Love that Twain, he says it.

Also I have been reading allot of Black History because my Lea is taking an American Girls Class, and this is black History Month. I read the most awesome story about Harriet Tub man, She was a black slave that escaped and then returned to help over 300 slaves to freedom. She became known as Moses, as she took her people to the promise land.

Fascinating, Fascinating life of a awe inspiring person.

I love the part when she discovers what the underground rail road really was. She had to leave in a hurry in the night. Her fathers last words to her was that if there was no moon, to remember that the moss grows on the north side of the tree. And there was no moon, but Harriet found her way groping in the dark to the house that a Quaker Women had told her would get her aboard the underground railroad.

The next morning as this Quaker women washed Harroits hands, Harriet asked her, " Where is this underground railroad, how do I get on it, where do I buy the ticket." The Quaker lady laughed as she told Harriet, " Why child you have already bought the ticket, it has already been redeemed, you are already on board. This is the underground railroad, right here in my living room, and I work for the underground railroad, and my husband is a Conductor of the underground railroad."

when I read those words, I had a chill because it so correlates with things that have been happening in my life and the world. There has been a railroad that I was afraid of not catching, I was wondering if I was going to miss my ride, but when I read the Quaker women's words to Harriet, I realized that I too , like Harriet had expected the railroad to be different, so I did not notice that I was on board. It was a wonderful affirmation to me, that indeed, My ride has begun!

Gee, Taint reading fun!

Love Tren

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

I'm reading a young girl's fiction called Wise Child by Monica Furlong. I bought it for my girls to read and as I was leafing through it as a preview got caught up in reading it. It's about a young girl called Wise Child who is left alone when her grandmother dies and her father is out to sea and has been for a long time. The village calleach (wise woman) comes to town to take the girl into her care after no one else in the town has the means or inclination to care for her. It is from that point on as she learns that Juniper isn't going to harm her and she embarks on a wonderful adventure of magick, nature, and especially herbs. It's really a neat little book!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

I am just finishing a book called "Grandmother Brown's Hundred Years..1827-1927", written by her daugher-in-law in 1929. A really fascinating read if you like history of ordinary folks in the early days of our country. Came across it in a garage sale a while back and just took the time to read it.

I have never read Stuart Kominsky.........will now have to read one. (I like candy :>) )

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Where do you folks all find the time to read a complete book?? And how do you stay awake?! Soon as I pick up something to read, within a page or two I'm fallin' asleep!! Right now all I'm reading is Countryside mag. (which doesn't come often enough for me!), seed catalogs and two forums!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Heck, Marcia; I CAN'T fall asleep if I'm reading a book unless I'm going on 30+ hours sans sleep - I gotta keep reading til I know who dun it!

I'm reading trash - do you hear me? - I said TRASH! - fiction and I like it, by golly!! Between work and the weather, I don't want to read anything depressing or serious or anything that makes me think about it later on except maybe to giggle!

May have to go look up Kominsky today. The Brat wishes to go to the mall to look for jeans; and of course, her wish is my command; so I will undoubtably be hitting the book store in desperation after about the 3rd store with howling teen-age mating ritual music blaring out of 47 speakers all aimed toward me!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Well, I wouldn't call what I'm reading TRASH, but it has no particular social value -- just entertaining fiction. Not reading anything mind opening at the moment. I was at the library the other day, and decided to take out a few books. However, I do have to get back there and pick up a "hold" -- there's a (relatively) new translation of Beowulf that has been getting rave reviews (by Sean Heaney), so I thought I'd give that a shot again. Haven't read it since college -- didn't like it much then. But I've changed and grown, and this new translation is supposed to be better. Who knows what version I read in school!

Speaking of Beowulf, reading the reviews has pleased me a great deal. Because I always thought that the "monster" Grendel was something akin to a werewolf or werebear or maybe a Wendigo. I kept seeing references in various places identifying Grendel as a DRAGON. Confused the heck out of me. But it turns out I was right about Grendel. AFTER Beowulf kills him, then Beowulf has to contend with Grendel's mother, and after that a dragon. Okay, that's more than you wanted to know, I'm sure. But I do like having the confusing things solved!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Say, does anyone have any recommendation of good fiction set in WARM tropical climates? Such as the Caribbean or Hawaii? I don't want to read about any cold places! That is hot summer reading

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Joy, maybe you would like this one..........

"Islands In the Stream", by Ernest Hemingway. Mary Hemingway published this book post humorously in 1970. The setting is the Caribbean Sea, Cuba and Bimini Island. It describes the life of a painter, Thomas Hudson in the mid-1930’s until his death in the 1940’s while serving as a civilian “coastguard” around the islands during WWII.

I found the book to be exciting and very sad, but a nice read.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

OOPS! Kaminski....KA not Ko.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Joy, if you like mysteries and warm settings (Florida) try Carl Hiaason. He includes a few of the same characters in each and there is a lot of environmentalism, but they are popcorn mysteries. Make me laugh too, a bit like the old Tom Robbins. Try "Sick Puppy".

We all LOVE "Wise Child" here Denise. Don't forget to read "Juniper" too. They were favorite read-aloud books for all the nieces.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

I once heard that women love trashy novels because they are not fulfulled themselves. Hey, it was something I heard and was interested in since I read the trash too. Just finished Heir by Johannah Lysay (sp) I also like reading fantasy/fiction about other planets and such. I usually read the whole seris of Dragonriders of Pern during the summer. Since some of the books happen at the same time, it's fun to make them match (I am then reading 3 books at once)

Hey, did anyone hear that they are making a movie about Dinotopia? I can't wait for that one. Hopefully it will be like a mix of Jurassic Park and Lord of the Rings.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

Dee...Years ago when my life was "unfulfilled", I read lots of those types of novels. I think they were called historical romances!!?? Or was it "hysterical" romances :-)!! After my life was "fulfilled", I read all of the Jean M. Auel books and the Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear series about prehistoric human beings. I really think I might read some of those romances again....!!!

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

I don't know that I'm "fulfilled", but "bodice rippers" just BORE me to death. Maybe it's because the characters are so stupid (and usually have stupid names too!). Or maybe it's that they're TOO unbelieveable?

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2002

I am with you Joy, give me a mystery or something that has some real action to it.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Hehehehe, I got another poor soul addicted to the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. Her husband was out of town for the weekend, so she started reading Friday night and didn't stop until Sunday morning!

The last book I read for enjoyment was "Shaman, Healer, Sage" by Alberto Villoldal. Now I'm doing school-related reading: Mosby's Fundamentals of Massage Therapy, Mother Massage, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, and The Web That Has No Weaver are the four that I'm working on right now.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

For the record!!! I do NOT read hysterical romance! Not even if nobody's looking! I read trash - like Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, etc..

I also read mystery - Robert Crais, Robert B. Parker, Lawrence Sanders, Laurence Shames and Randy Wayne White (both set in FL but don't get the one by RWW that has Havana in the title - BORING!) Karen Kijewski, Rita Mae Brown (Venus Envy is a riot!), too darn tired to run downstairs and look for any of my other favorite authors - oh wait; Clay Harvey, JA Jance; dang, I know there's more!!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Sherri, my niece hooked me on Outlander...in a way, it IS a 'bodice ripper' but it is also so much more. I didn't like her latest one, "The Fiery Cross" so much. The first few were the best. Even for me who doesn't read fantasy or scifi or standard romance.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

I agree about "The Fiery Cross". It seemed like she would start an interesting story line and then just drop when it started getting good, while boring things like breastfeeding go on for pages and pages. Plus, I can't bear the thought of dear Jamie getting old. Hopefully things will perk up once the Revolutionary War starts. (BTW, Sandy is an Outlander fan too)

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Yes very much so I'm having the hardest time not trying to read at stop lights!!!!!hehehe So far Firey Cross is not as good as the first books. I like how she talked about herbs and healing and so far there's not much in this book. Does anyone know of any more books like her books? esp. the healing and herbs??? I like the learning with a good story line!!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Different than the "Outlander" series but the Susan Wittig Albert series about an herb lady (set in modern times) isn't bad. There are many, not unlike the Diane Mott Davidson 'caterer' stories. I do love a good food oriented book. Which brings me to Calvin Trillin and Ruth Reichl. Both have written great food memoirs, I love M.F.K. Fisher as well and several more obscure food authors, if anyone is interested.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

I'm kinda jumping around with my reading. John Grisham is really good and I like Tom Clancey too. John Steinbeck is a favorite too.

I've been reading some stuff by Rudloph Steiner---"Intuitive thinking as a spiritual path" and another book I bought years ago that I just started called "Thinking and Destiny" by Howard(?) Percival. Steiner and Percival were "western" esotericists, rosicrucians I think.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002

The Bookmobile is supposed to have Drums Of Autumn for me this afternoon. So far I still think Outlander is the BEST!. My ol' heart was just a pitty pattin' durin' some o'them steamy scenes lemme tell ya. Yup I read REAL trash..if its not racy enough I get bored. Then again I do read some self improvment crap and stuff thats not so trashy. Hey, George Martin's Fire and Ice series is oh soooo good. If he doesn't produce another book of it soon I may scream. I have never read a series or a book for that matter that so many main characters get bumped off. Never know whats gonna happen next. Sherri and Joy...there are dragons in it but more as pets than personalities. Hmm slogging through Joel Salatin's You Can Farm. Its not what I thought. Just finished reading Devil's Desire..a bodice ripper without enough bodice ripping but I needed brain candy.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002

Hey Alison -- I've read every one of the books in Martin's Fire and Ice series, and am waiting for the next (supposed to be out in September). I wouldn't call Dany's dragons *pets* (!!!!) -- they're still babies now. You mark my words, there soon won't be ANYTHING *pet* like about those critters. I think the next book is picking up seven years after the last ended. Don't forget the prophecy of three returning riding dragons -- who will be the second and third (obviously, Dany will be one of them)? I'm betting on Tyrion Lannister and Arya Stark. Aren't there supposed to be FOUR more books yet to come.

I've read the Dragonfly in Amber series. I don't know why I persist. The first one bored me in parts too, though other parts were good.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002

If you did like Outlander et al, then go to her website. She posts excerpts of future books and an address that you can send requests for autographed bookplates. I did that for my niece (I think I had to provide a self-addressed stamped envelope, who it was for (for the 'to' line) and how many I wanted). She came through in plenty of time for her birthday. I thought that was very kind of an author.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2002