I just finished Cutting for Stone, not sure what I will start today - I need something "light" after this one.  It was beautifully written and creative, and it will stay with me for quite awhile.  I guess I was due for something deep since before that I read A Dog's Purpose - which was great fun.

I'm reading Tell No One by Harlan Coben.  (The movie was really good, and I'm liking the book as well.) I'm also still trying to finish up last month's book, the horrendous Wolf Hall.

                                                                                                   Rose

I just finished People of the Book, ,by Geraldine Brooks, and will hand it on to a woman friend who likes historical fiction that is based on 'reality' and written by someone who "does his/her 'homework'", that is, a diligent researcher.  The plus with this book is the wonderful writer's imagination that Brooks brings to her writing.

Bonnie - I loved People of the Book.  That was not an easy read but it was great.  I plan to pass that on at my bookclub this weekend.  We are going to see The Help.

Rose - is Wolf Hall a chore?  I just can't do another chore book right now, I think I am still worn out from reading Angela's Ashes.  I have spent today going over my TBR trying to pick my next book.  I think I will watch a movie tonight and start a book Saturday.

I agree that  Brooks' People of the Book was brilliant. Be aware, though, that her latest, Caleb's Crossing, is full of flaws.

I'm finding Wolf Hall a chore because it's loaded with men named Thomas and it's pretty boring. (The author has written many great books, so I'm extra disappointed.)

                                                                                                         Rose

I started Cage of Stars, myy MIL wants to discuss it with me, and we are going to the beach this weekend, I better make some time to finish it this week.

I also started listening to Ape House by Sara Gruen.

I am reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, and I can hear those black women's voices as I read, and it's just delightful..... I didn't realize that it might be possible to 'catch' their speech patterns and those wonderful similes and metaphors in use there, and then (Mississippi in the late 50s and early 60s) on the printed page! 

I read it with my eyes and my ears rush to join in the act!   I love it . . . . . plus, I am thrilled to find a story peopled with real HUMAN beings----persons who live, think, feel, work, worship, suffer, rejoice, get angry, act mean sometimes and generous other times.....the whole gamut of experiences and the feelings  about them that we all have.  (And least this once, Hon, it doan matter if you see the movie first, or read the book fore you see the movie.) 

Bonnie - I just saw the movie this past weekend.  I read the book about 2 years ago so the movie brought back many parts I had forgotten about.

Am reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe - interesting so far and Druids by Morgan Llywelyn.  For me, these are the first books by these authors.  

I finished Ape House - really didn't like it but I did finish it.  I was listening to it, if I had been reading I would have scanned and finished much sooner.

I also finished Grave Goods (Historical Fiction) - it was great.  Now what to start next??? Maybe a quick YA???

I would only read a YA book if I were teaching middle school.

                                                                  Rose

Rose - ha-ha - remember I have a 14yo, I like to read what she is reading sometimes, but not the vampire crud!  Also I often research and find books for her on PBS then that gets me interested.  Plus an easy read is nice sometimes! 

I'll expand my opinion to say reading some YA books also makes sense if you have a YA in your home!

I back you completely on skirting past the vampire genre (is it going away soon?).

                                                                                                  Rose

I just started the Vampire Shrink.  Since paranormal is not one of my regular reading categories, I enjoy something about vamps once in a while.  I loved Sunshine by Robin McKinley.  Hope this one is half as good.

I fear that "contemporary Lit" does not mean the same to me as 97% of the participants. Nevertheless.

Currently reading Kennedy's Brain by Henning Mankell. A couple of months ago, read Depths by the same author. In these two books (I think there are 3 or 4 more), the not-so-well-known Swedish writer of detective fiction has left his usual protagonist, hard-bitten, once hard-drinking detective Kurt Wallender and is focusing on "the evil that lurks in the hearts of men".  I am pretty sure that is what these books are "about." Past that, I am having real difficulty figuring much of anything out about the book I am reading now, probably less about Depths.

I just started All the Numbers today.

I fear that "contemporary Lit" does not mean the same to me as 97% of the participants.

This made me wonder what you meant, John.  I read lots of Historical fiction, so to me 'Contemporary' means anything in the present day setting.  What does it mean to you?

Any fiction written in the comtemporary period that qualifies as literature.

BETRAYAL  by Karin Alvtegen. Very different and a good read. She is another Scandinavian author.

Mary

A most respectful question now, for all those recently commenting on Scandanavian writers:

The only one I know writing today is Henning Mankell. I read one Wallander novel and my main impression was the way Mankell sets the whole tone of the novel with his description of winter in Sweden. Bleak.

And if a writer is good, and I think Mankell is quite good, the tone must be consistent with the overall world-view the author demonstrates in the work. Mankell does this; does he ever. And in every other book of his I have read.

Is what I am describing what you all have been encountering in these other Scandanavian writers you write of? Any others who are not writing cozies ? I just may want to try them out. Always looking for new writers of quality.

I am not much of a cozy reader

Mary

Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty
Author: Tim Sandlin

This book has me laughing and laughing!  I am 56 years old and it is about baby boomers in a California nursing home in 2020.  OMG, this is funny stuff!

There is a Scandinavian author that I love--John Ajvide Lindqvist. He wrote "Let Me In" or "Let the Right One In"--the book is sold with both titles. His newest is Harbour. He is billed as the Swedish Stephen King.

Of course, there is Stieg Larssen, although I guess he does not count as "writing today", but he is definitely a more popular crime writer than Mankell--at least here in the US.

John, I just saw your question about the Scandinavian mystery authors.  I've read a half dozen different authors now, and every one is bleak--good word to describe it (I've been telling people the books are "dark".)  I guess I like this style though, because I've enjoyed every one I've read.

Thomas, I will check out Lindqvist, that's one I haven't read before.

Diane

I am still reading Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux.  It was the selection of the basement book club, but I didn't get to start on it until after Christmas.  I need to see if it will fit in one of the challenge categories for 2012.