I'll start this off since I don't see that anyone has begun the month.  Did finish Tinkers by Paul Harding.   What an interesting book!   It's about life, family, friends, what's philosophically important to the key character and epilepsy.   Quite good, really, but don't read it without taking time to reflect on the messages.   I'll be reading The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.  It's been awhile since I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but I enjoyed the book immensely.

Picked up Olive Kitteridge by Elizabethg Strout, a Pulitzer prize winner.  In some ways this one reminded me of Wineburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson which I read a few years ago.  Olive is a series of short tales about people she knows and incidents in her life while Ohio is a series of short stories about people who live in this small town.  There are some interesting sections in Olive that I suspect will stay with me for a long time.  1)  It's interesting sometimes what strikes you in a book you read.  I keep thinking about a passage where one of the characters recalled how she referred to her mother who abandoned her as having passed away. After all, the child thought, she passed on a plane and went away (California)! At first she didn't understand why people looked sorrowful. Have always wondered why people use that phrase rather then saying died which is a natural part of life.   2)   There's an incident where Olive and her new friend, Jack, are discussing beliefs.  Jack calls her a cowboy and after her response he says:   "A Republican, then?..."  "Oh, for God's sake," she replies, "I didn't say moron.  You mean because we have a cowboy for a president?  Or before that an actor who played a cowboy?  Let me tell you, that idiot ex-cocaine-addict was never a cowboy.  He can wear all the cowboy hats he wants.  He's a spoiled brat to the manor born.  And he makes me puke."  And, of course, Jack is a Republican.  3)  Finally, she knows that Jack will be a very good friend.  "What young people don't know...They do not know that lumpy, aged, and wrinkled bodies are as needy as their own young, firm ones, that love was not to be tossed away carelessly as if it were a tart on a platter with others that got passed around again."

Often, I am sidetracked by a book that catches my fancy.  One such book was The Power of Play by David Elkind.  Excellent read!  The author advocates the integration of play, love and work.  As a former teacher, manager and still a parent I understand what he meant.  Many examples are given of child development and abilities and how to cope with them.  Humor is emphasized as a positive way to discipline.  He tells of a time when his son had so angered him he didn't know what to so he said he was so upset he was going to send him to the moon.  The child got the message, realizing that his father was angry, but it was ridiculous to be sent to the moon.  I remember being so upset with one of my daughter's messy rooms that I would say I was going to get on my broom and and sweep it out.  As parents and people who interface with children often we can learn much by reading what author/researchers like Elkind have to share.  Do check it out. 

As usual I am sidetracked by one of my TBR books, Jazz & Twelve O'Clock Tales by Wanda Coleman.  Am in the midst of an HF read and a long, long fantasy read so I needed something light to break the flow!  And, of course, I found a copy of The Ghost Road by Pat Barker, winner of the 1995 Booker Prize, which I have wanted to read for the past year.  HOORAY!

I've just started Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It's fascinating; it's shocking. I love that I'm finally reading this book.

                                                                                                                                                     Rose

I have a whole slew of books I'm in the middle of reading, but none are novels! Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again by Frank Lipman, MD., What Would Buddha Do? Real happiness: The Power of Meditation. The Te of Piglet.

I need inspiration for a novel to read.  I'm waiting to get a copy of The Paris Wife, which I'm excited about.

I'm reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, as my "Work turned into a Film" for the Contemporary Fiction Challenge. Usually when I read a novel, I sit and read it in a sitting (or two). This one I'm carrying around with me, forcing myself to read a page at a time, while watching netflix. I cannot get into it. I want to like it.

Did anyone else read it? What did you think of Water for Elephants?

I am one of the few people on earth who did not like Water for Elephants. I usually don't share that view, as it really riles people up. I had to force myself to keep going, and then I donated it the minute I was done.

                                                                                                                  Rose

Hmmm.....  I really like Water for Elephants , I have loaned it out many times.  But to each his own.  I hated Life if Pi .

I just finished Austenland by Shannon Hale.  It was a really cute quick read. I plan to start Have a Little Faith  by Mitch Albom today, I am enjoying some smaller books these days, taking a break from huge historical fiction novels.

 Luv'd those 3 Stieg Larsson's books.  Was fortunate enough to be able to see those Swedish movies of the 3 on Roku (www.netFlix.com/).  Wow!  Worth it.  They (Hollywood) are supposedly in the process of getting ready/or/making the first of the 3..."Girl w/the Dragon Tattoo".

Also absolutely lov'd "Water for Elephants" but w/ it, I was lucky enough to listen to the unabridged audio, with the two men's voices (elder veterinarian) and younger version of himself, telling the story.  Phenomenol.  It came with the 9th disc damaged, so missed the last part of that cd disc, but didn't matter.  Shared it on with a gd.friend here, no credit, that shares w/me.

re**

ps: like bree without the b.

Recently I've read Lost and Found by Jacqueline Sheehan, good book, really liked it. I also read The Walk and Miles To Go by Richard Paul Evans, very quick reads and enjoyed them a lot. I then read Damaged by Cathy Glass, sad but true story, and a good one. I just finished Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult which I recommend hearitly. Wonderful thought-provoking story.

Not sure what my next pick will be. Got a thousand to choose from.

I also listened to the audio of Water for Elephants, and didn't think that much of it.  Pretty predictable if you ask me.

Just started Those Bones Are Not My Child by Toni Cade Bambara for the mystery category.

I just started Straight Man by Richard Russo. So far, I am totally underwhelmed. You aren't going to write anything anybody will read fifty years from today if all of your main characters are to a large degree dysfunctional. having compassion toward them" just doesn't cut it.

I just read (and really enjoyed) "City of Thieves" by David Benioff and would totally recommend it to anyone, especially people who like Coen Brothers movies.