Gone with the Wind

I'm in love with this book. It's a huge monster book, but I am just plowing through it like it's nothing. Booyah! This definitely goes in the "can't put it down" category, FYI.

Also, I love www.goodreads.com! As I joined in the fun I promptly found lots of friends and book recommendations. I thank M and N for this nudge to join, finally.

I also just finished reading The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. I would read it if I were you. After I was done with Tourist, I reread Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and the 3 books following it. It was at this point that I decided to embark on my Gone with the Wind journey. Now, as my mood for reading has obviously shifted to the "large, imposing-type books" category, and I feel quite confident in my amount of stamina, I think I'll tackle Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Who's with me?!! I really need a book club...

Another (fabulous) Book

I am reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy and have about 50 pages left. First of all, it's written in a larger print and has thick pages, which is always nice. I'm reading at an incredible rate! But second of all, I really can't put it down. I like books like this. I don't like, say, trying to read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and feeling like I have to force myself to read more of it. I like to be excited that I have time to read, not feeling like "I really should be reading my book. Ho hum." (Did you like the ho hum part? I'm trying to bring it back.)

I haven't read Cormac McCarthy before, although R just finished the Border trilogy and liked it. I think I'd like to read No Country For Old Men, since I have no intention of seeing the film adaptation and to have nightmares for the rest of my life. (R saw the film with his brother and said it was one of the freakiest ones he's ever seen.) Plus, if it's anything like reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote then I will be sufficiently freaked out without the help of visuals.

I would like recommendations for other books that are in the can't-put-it-down category. I don't always need that specific breed, but I'm having a phase people. Thank you, the end.

two books

i would like to recommend a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, even with it's accompanying profanity. it was quite funny, and yet also poignant and even heartbreaking. i read it with my book group. so far i only know that i've read it and my pal Kristen who lives next door (and just gave us free internet access to their wireless connection) has read it. i don't know if the other two gals have gotten around to it yet. that's the problem with book groups, trying to get on the same timeline. on the one hand, i'm glad to be in a book group: you read with a little more purpose, have people to discuss the book with, i tend to pay attention more to details and trying to remember them. on the other hand, what if the other members are offended by the profanity, what if they don't finish it for a long time and it's a little awkward. it's a gamble, those book clubs.

i'm also going to prerecommend a book called Arc of Justice, on R's recommendation. I have read 5 pages. i'll report more later.

i'm going to also shockingly mention another book, even though it means that i will flagrantly disregard my own title to this post. it's called The Stranger and will take about one afternoon to read. it's translated from the French, and is also the impetus behind a The Cure song which I have been singing in my head ever since I finished said book. again, happy reading.