What book are you currently reading?

[Sugarlump]

Currently reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ive seen the films but have never read the books, I am reading a chapter each night to my 6yr old boy before his bedtime. He is loving it and so am i, although he is asking to watch the films and i am unsure tbh maybe the first one but even that is dark in places. Hubby has read the books and said they get significantly more detailed and darker too so i will have to be careful!

I (as an adult) don't like watching the Harry Potter films ... I find them too scary for me! Stuff of nightmares. 

[lainiepop]

I agree with u sugar, i cant remember which film in particular i thought was freaky, the one where the death eaters attack the olympics, and the bit where the weasleys house is destroyed, i hated the bit with bellatrix running through the cornfirlds after someone, dunno why but i find her especially creepy. I didnt like the dementors either. Not bothered by voldemort really!! One of friends has let her kids see see all the harry potter films including her 2 yr old twins?! I would never let elena watch them, she is scared of the snow monster in frozen!! Some are rated a 12a (pg13 in the US i believe?!) so that says i all!! Perhaps i should discuss this in movie reviews?!

[MooseMom]

I've just finished The Light Between Oceans and have not yet recovered.

[iolaire]

I'm an avid reader, between a work commute of about 45 minutes each way and dialysis I read anywhere from 2-5 books a week.  As soon as I went on dialysis I asked my wife for a kindle for Christmas and now checkout eBooks from the library rather than physical books.  I'm loving how light the basic kindle is and that it fits in my coat pocket.

Of my recent books I've saved the names of the following to recommend to my book club; Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford and The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin.  Both take place in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and have some negative content but overall are more uplifting. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells the story of a Chinese boy/man during world war two and his friendship with a Japanese girl who is sent to an internment camp. The Orchardist tells the story of a man who takes over the families orchard, prior to modern transport, and his encounter with two girls who are running away from a house of ill repute...

In the last month I've read four of the Night Soldiers series by Alan Furst.  They are all spy novels set during world war two - covering various agents from a different country each book.  They are quick reads with good details and uplifting stories.

I've just finished The Light Between Oceans and have not yet recovered.

I've added this to my want to read list. Thanks

[iKAZ3D]

I just finished reading Divergent by Veronica Roth, and have moved on to the second book Insurgent. Definitely worth the read, I suggest it!

[Sugarlump]

Can anyone recommend a nice uplifting book to read (not too heavy content)

[iolaire]

Can anyone recommend a nice uplifting book to read (not too heavy content)

Maybe "The One and Only Ivan", its a short simple book (with drawings) about animals in a shopping center in New Jersey (USA).  It does have some hits of animal abuse but the story is light hearted and it has a happy ending.

[Sugarlump]

I have just finished THE FIRST WIFE by Emily Barr, good (a little spooky and twisty in a good way) and about to start reading
ATLANTIC SHIFT also by her. I am an Emily Barr fan 

[kristina]

I am just re-reading one of my favourite books by Wilhelm Hauff which is called "Lichtenstein".
It is a wonderful story during the middle-ages about the Counts of Wuerttemberg who were ruling the area of Wuerttemberg in Swabia near the Lake of Constance...
This unfortunate ruler of Wuerttemberg was ousted by his own people of Wuerttemberg because he was too young and too eager and made so many mistakes,
so that he was eventually banned by his own people of Wuerttemberg as an unwanted ruler...
Wilhelm Hauff shows in his masterful writing the times and customs of the middle ages and reading the book puts the reader into the middle ages in such a way
which is hardly ever achieved by any writer or perhaps even any film-maker...The Book puts history back in a very interesting way to study... Worth reading...
 and worth studying...!
Mind you, I am a bit bias because I have adored Wilhelm Hauff's thoughts and historical researches for many years ...
...and I find his individual style of writing especially endearing......

[Sugarlump]

I am currently reading (after a rummage in the charity shop where Ed Sheeran's clothes turned up!!!!  )
C'est La Folie by Mathew Wright.
It is a wonderful descriptive but funny book about an Englishman who decides his life has been boring and staid so far and not lived up to his childhood
expectations of being a superhero or a train driver to the Queen!!! so he buys a tumbledown house in France and attempts to live a different kind of life!
It echoes my dreams, if I wasn't a dialysis patient, of doing up a tumbledown house in France and having chickens  and sheep and growing veggies and
having 3 hour lunches!!!!
Trouble is I don't speak french fluently!! and I am not very practical when it comes to diy or man machines but I am good with chickens and veggies!!!!
If only ....

[kristina]

I am currently re-reading the fairy-tale of 1001 Arabian Nights.

[Rerun]

I am reading "Ruby Ridge" by Jess Walter.  I lived in Boundary County Idaho when that siege was going on and I was a Federal Employee.  It was scary.  Plus in my previous Job in Spokane, I worked with the FBI Informant that sold Randy Weaver the sawed off shotgun that got him the Federal Offence that he did not show up to court for so they went up to Ruby Ridge to get him.

I'm loving this book because I know some of the names and all the places the author talks about. 

[kristina]

Rerun, that must have been a very scary experience...
... I have been wondering how one could possibly evaluate someone who is an FBI Informant or any other Informant...
because, how can we know (or trust) whether they are telling us the truth...
...or whether they are just creating tall stories for the money they can make  ?

[UkrainianTracksuit]

There's a group of elderly men that get into heated discussions about poetry and literature in a park near my home.  They started discussing themes from Doctor Zhivago in ways I've never heard before.  So, I'm re-reading Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago.  Maybe when I'm done I can walk up to the older guys and join their ranting and raving.   

[kristina]

Hello, Ukrainian Tracksuit,

Could you please elaborate a little more about the heated discussions of these elderly men ?
After reading the book Doctor Zhivago I have always felt that Pasternak wrote mainly "between the lines",
but I could not yet work out what he really meant to say between the lines in Dr. Zhivago ... What do these elderly gentlemen think ?

Have you heard -  by any chance -  of the USSR writer Juli Daniel ?
There is another question mark about his political Court case,
because many years ago the book of his trial was, like Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago, smuggled to the West and published here
and the contents of the book are all the details about his own political trial in the USSR...
The book contained all what was (supposed to be) said at the Court trial but I could not believe it because Juli Daniel made fun of Pushkin's poetry
and that is impossible, that would be almost bordering on blasphemy in USSR or Russia.
During the trial Juli Daniel also (supposedly) makes fun of the political regime in the USSR (according to the book)
and I can't believe that either because had he done so he would have put his wife and child's future in jeopardy...
... and I can't imagine a father and husband in the USSR to risk that...

I have written to the authorities in the USSR and later to Russia but unfortunately I have never received an answer...
... and I have been trying to find out whether this trial actually took place or whether the book was a spoof ?
I have even been wondering whether or not Juli Daniel exists at all ?

Another important point is
that according to the book of the Court case Juli Daniel was supposed to be one of the two pall bearers at Pasternak's funeral,
but according to my researches there was no Juli Daniel at Pasternak's funeral; no one in Pasternak's family knew a Juli Daniel,
in fact I could not find any evidence that Boris Pasternak himself knew a man/poet/writer called Juli Daniel...
What do you think?
Many thanks, Kristina.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Hello kristina,

I have to admit I pay attention to the elderly men for entertainment.  When there is nothing entertaining to do, and it's the middle of the afternoon, I get some chuckles listening to them.  As for Doctor Zhivago, they were discussing the roots of the names of the characters.  Pasternak was very witty and he made points about who the characters were and what they represented through their names.  I know the older gents had a deep discussion about "unethical acts" [such as Lara's affair with Komarovsky] and how the tenets of "Soviet society" at the time would have viewed such actions.  They did a lot of "comparative arguing" between the book and War and Peace also. 

By between the lines, do you mean the points that Pasternak set out to make?  I learned in Russian literature class that the main motifs of the book are a critique of the revolutions of modern Russian history, the loss of individuality and loneliness.  So, each of the VERY mixed up relationships and events of the novel alludes to these points at some time. 

Do you by chance mean Yuli Daniel?  If so, yes, the "show trial" did happen and he did very much exist.  You can probably find more information and books referencing the "Sinyavsky–Daniel trial" as Daniel was tried together with Andrey Sinyavsky.  Anyways, the anti-Soviet propaganda both of them preached were in works of fiction.  Sinyavsky wrote "The Trial Begins" and Daniel penned "This Is Moscow Speaking".  This was the collection of stories that were smuggled to Paris to be published.  It is believed that since it was fiction and they used pseudonyms, their anti-Soviet rhetoric wouldn't be figured out.  This was a prime example of "samizdat" [or самизда́т if you want to get technical!] where Soviet dissidents used to use pseudonyms and have a system set up to pass subversive works they copied out all in handwriting.  [It always amazes me to this day the dedication these people had.]  However, the KGB did figure out that Sinyavsky was the author "Abram Tertz" and Daniel was "Nikolai Arzhak".  As I said, it was a typical Soviet show trial where the decision that they were guilty was decided before the trial even began.  Both authors entered "not guilty" pleas which on its own was a shock.  They argued their case both knowing their future was sealed.  It was a closed court so all of this was done in secrecy and few sources managed to get information.  Western newspapers did give the trial some coverage.  Anyways, to make a REALLY long story short, Daniel was sentenced to 5 years and Sinyavsky received 7 years of hard labour in a work camp.  The trial was extremely important for the dissident movement within the USSR and it was a sign that Brezhnev was in the process of reverting to more "authoritarian" governing.

As for the pallbearer question, there are quite a few sources the list BOTH Sinyavsky and Daniel in those roles.  Sinyavsky was the closer friend to Pasternak though.  Keep in mind I haven't studied Russian literature in umm, 8 or 9 years, but I think the "Encyclopedia of Censorship" states this as fact.  Anyways, there are quite a few books and journal articles out there that mention this trial and the influence of these two writers.  They may further answer your questions and aid in your research.   

I hope this answered some of your questions. 

[mcjane]

The Testament by John Grisham

Fantastic book, can't put it down.

Jane

[cariad]

My son wrote to Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda series, and he received a reply!!!

I am so delighted for him, he was glowing when he ran upstairs to tell Gwyn and me that he got an email.

Here is Dyl's email (when he talks to Americans he prefers to be called Elliot. Yes, he's an unusual one.) He composed it entirely on his own, even chose a smiley to add. This is actually how he talks. All the time.

Dear Mr. Angleberger,

I just finished reading your downright AWESOME book The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Before I moved to Britain from America my brother Aidan used to read this book all the time. The book was put in my room and I decided I wanted to have a go reading it. I enjoyed reading it so much that I went as Dwight for World Book Day. World Book Day is something people here celebrate. It's a day where you can dress up as your favourite book character, and later on you can go to a book fair and get some cool books.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved to Britain when I was only six and here I turned seven. I am sending you some pictures that were taken after World Book Day with me in my costume and Origami Yoda on my finger.

Yours sincerely,


Elliot

And here is Mr. Angleberger's response:


Hey dude! That's the best Dwight costume I've ever seen!
I'm honored!

I hope you'll consider visiting me on origamiyoda.com! That's the best way to send me stuff or ask questions, etc...

Thanks again, dude, I'm very flattered!

--Tom

My Aussie friend went out and got three of his books based on our recommendation (her younger son loves origami) and he brought an 'emergency origami yoda' to the choral performance that his brother and my kids were in last night. I told my Aussie friend that Tom Angleberger is permanently in my good graces and anything I can do to promote his books in the country, I shall be doing. So it's probably just as well that she didn't subject herself to my pressures and just went out and bought the books preemptively.

I want to add pics of Dyl in his Dwight costume but it will have to wait until after work. 

[kristina]

Hello kristina,

I have to admit I pay attention to the elderly men for entertainment.  When there is nothing entertaining to do, and it's the middle of the afternoon, I get some chuckles listening to them.  As for Doctor Zhivago, they were discussing the roots of the names of the characters.  Pasternak was very witty and he made points about who the characters were and what they represented through their names.  I know the older gents had a deep discussion about "unethical acts" [such as Lara's affair with Komarovsky] and how the tenets of "Soviet society" at the time would have viewed such actions.  They did a lot of "comparative arguing" between the book and War and Peace also. 

By between the lines, do you mean the points that Pasternak set out to make?  I learned in Russian literature class that the main motifs of the book are a critique of the revolutions of modern Russian history, the loss of individuality and loneliness.  So, each of the VERY mixed up relationships and events of the novel alludes to these points at some time. 

Do you by chance mean Yuli Daniel?  If so, yes, the "show trial" did happen and he did very much exist.  You can probably find more information and books referencing the "Sinyavsky–Daniel trial" as Daniel was tried together with Andrey Sinyavsky.  Anyways, the anti-Soviet propaganda both of them preached were in works of fiction.  Sinyavsky wrote "The Trial Begins" and Daniel penned "This Is Moscow Speaking".  This was the collection of stories that were smuggled to Paris to be published.  It is believed that since it was fiction and they used pseudonyms, their anti-Soviet rhetoric wouldn't be figured out.  This was a prime example of "samizdat" [or самизда́т if you want to get technical!] where Soviet dissidents used to use pseudonyms and have a system set up to pass subversive works they copied out all in handwriting.  [It always amazes me to this day the dedication these people had.]  However, the KGB did figure out that Sinyavsky was the author "Abram Tertz" and Daniel was "Nikolai Arzhak".  As I said, it was a typical Soviet show trial where the decision that they were guilty was decided before the trial even began.  Both authors entered "not guilty" pleas which on its own was a shock.  They argued their case both knowing their future was sealed.  It was a closed court so all of this was done in secrecy and few sources managed to get information.  Western newspapers did give the trial some coverage.  Anyways, to make a REALLY long story short, Daniel was sentenced to 5 years and Sinyavsky received 7 years of hard labour in a work camp.  The trial was extremely important for the dissident movement within the USSR and it was a sign that Brezhnev was in the process of reverting to more "authoritarian" governing.

As for the pallbearer question, there are quite a few sources the list BOTH Sinyavsky and Daniel in those roles.  Sinyavsky was the closer friend to Pasternak though.  Keep in mind I haven't studied Russian literature in umm, 8 or 9 years, but I think the "Encyclopedia of Censorship" states this as fact.  Anyways, there are quite a few books and journal articles out there that mention this trial and the influence of these two writers.  They may further answer your questions and aid in your research.   

I hope this answered some of your questions. 

Hello Ukrainian Tracksuit,
Thanks so much for your answers...
You are right, I was wondering about the roots of the names representing the different characters in Dr. Zhivago
and I was also wondering who in society(in Russian and later in USSR society) those different names represented
and there seems also a good point in comparing the different colours within society in  Pasternak’s “Dr. Zhivago” and Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”...
Please let me know if you find out more... (I take heated discussing about literature  always very seriously
because there are so many fascinating literary conundrums...)...

Thank you very much for your assistance to assist me in “my Juli Daniel puzzle”.
I could hardly believe it at the time when I studied the book about the trial in Moscow
because Juli Daniel’s political justification at the trial almost read as if he was on a “suicide mission”.

Many authors in the West – I remember particular Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir
and many German authors like Heinrich Boell, Guenther Grass (some politicians and student organisations worldwide)
organized meetings and signed papers of protest which were eventually sent to the USSR authorities.
 
I eventually felt unsure about the truthfulness of this political trial
because none of the USSR or Russian authorities answered my enquiries
about Juli Daniel's existence and/or his political trial in Moscow...
... and I could hardly write to Jean-Paul Sartre and ask whether or not he signed the protest about a bonifide writer - or whether it was a spoof...
...That is the reason why I was wondering whether the story about the trial was  real or whether it was a spoof which went out of hand
and because so many renowned poets/writers/authors had already signed papers/letters of protest  sent to the USSR, the spoof could not be stopped anymore...
... I had started with my research before computers and google... and unfortunately there were no answers for my questions at the time...

I remember especially one very impressive poem by Juli Daniel which is named “Commit me to your memories, I give you each a verse”,
where he laments about his hopeless situation at the time...

Thanks again Ukrainian Tracksuit  for your answer, it is very much appreciated and puts my mind at rest about this "Juli Daniel puzzle",

Kind regards from Kristina.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

You're welcome, Kristina.     I'm happy that those answers were suffice.  As for the elderly men and their discussions, I hope I can finish Doctor Zhivago [and they'll let me join a discussion!] before they move on to another work!

These are two interesting academic journals about the trial.    If you're interested, I suggest The Iron Fist: The Trial of Daniel and Sinyavsky by David Caute and Satirists on Trial by Walter Kolonosky.

[kristina]

Thanks again Ukrainian Tracksuit, 
I shall look out for these academic journals and hopefully I can locate them and read “The Iron Fist: The Trial of Daniel and Sinyavsky” (I have looked up the summary
of it on the Internet and it promises to be a very interesting read; it also seems to include the execution of the American couple who became involved in cold war espionage,
 Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Greenglass-Rosenberg)...
... and I shall try to locate “Satirists on Trial”by Walter Konosky. Thanks again for your kind information.

Have you been interested in the Daniel/Sinyavsky Trial for long ? I thought their resistance and refusal to make compromises was quite fascinating...
... and very rare in history to come across... I suppose, that made me interested in reading the book of the trial all those years ago during my studies...

I also hope for you that you can finish "Doctor Zhivago" and join the discussion of the gentlemen before they move on to another topic...

Thanks again for all the information from Kristina.

[Sugarlump]

I got given two foodie books:
Don't Panic Dinners in the freezer and
Don't Panic More Dinners in the freezer

I keep looking in my freezer but they haven't appeared yet!!!!! 

(Actually very useful books)

[cariad]

I got given two foodie books:
Don't Panic Dinners in the freezer and
Don't Panic More Dinners in the freezer

I keep looking in my freezer but they haven't appeared yet!!!!! 

(Actually very useful books)

Oh, those sound brilliant! Love the titles!

[Sugarlump]

They are American but obtainable on Amazon.
Great ideas for bulk cooking for the freezer or just generally.
Ihad some chicken so made 4 chicken curries and 4 chicken supremes, wrapped individually in the freezer.
That's about as organised as I get with food 

[talker]

My interest in reading spans a wide spectrum of interests.

Mysteries, westerns, certain biographies, bible, religion, occult, metaphysical, and healing, were and are in my days reading.
This is kind of a carry over from childhood days when I found reading opened doors in ones imagination.
It is unusual though, that any title is read cover to cover in one reading. Although it does happen,
Some need to be read over and over. Rare would be a book that is spared my written notes throughout the book.
A few reveal a deeper insight with each reading, and each rereading is deeper than the previous read.

Currently with slips of paper showing where my reading was at:

Meditation Within Eternity  Eric Pepin
Silent awakening   Eric Pepin
Soul Retrieval   Sandra Ingerman
The God in You  Robert Collier
What Happened In and To Moral Philosophy In The Twentieth Century?   Fran O'Rourke

talker