Tuesday, December 29, 2009

From Leslie...

Books
  • Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's - John Elder Robison
  • The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party - M. T. Anderson
  • The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: Kingdom on the Waves - M. T. Anderson
If you enjoy Look Me in the Eye, check out lecture given by author at Google's Boulder, CO office. Long, but good follow-up to book. Regarding Anderson books, I'm a huge fan of books on tape and both of these are excellent to listen to as well. - L
Movies
  • Julie & Julia - I throughly enjoyed this movie with Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci - absolutely charming love story

Pat's Suggestions

Books
  • The Help - Kathryn Stockett
I've read this (The Help) on Pat's recommendation and have suggested to numerous people - 5 star read

  • Mudbound - Hillary Jordan

Monday, December 28, 2009

From Greg...

Gotta see:

  • Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe

Gotta read:

  • The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

True account of the Chicago World’s fair and the serial killer who took “advantage” of the times. Reads almost like a novel.

Favorites from Dennis

Long time favorites...
  • The Iliad - Homer
  • The Odyssey - Homer
  • Tale of Genji - Murasaki Shikibu
  • Shogun - James Clavell
"My all time favorite author is Homer. I have a half-dozen translations of the Odyssey and Iliad and one in Greek which I gave away (I was made to study the poems in Homeric Greek for two years while in high school). I am also a very big fan of Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji--much more difficult than the Greek poems but an astounding, evocative tale, often credited as being the world's first novel."

Currently reading...
"Right now I'm reading The Secret Land of Z but haven't read it enough to recommend it."

Recommended by Anne

Books
  • Blindness - Jose Saramago
  • The Year of the Flood: A Novel - Margaret Atwood

Recommended by Kelly

Books
  • Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books - Azar Nafisi
  • A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder - Michael Pollan

Recommended by Kathy

Books
  • The Last Pope - Luis Miguel Rocha - mystery, supposedly based on fact; slow start, but picks up quickly and is really interesting
  • The Wednesday Sisters - Meg Waite Clayton - group of women who start a writing group; quick read and enjoyable.
  • The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton - mystery set in three different times of the main character's life and death; predictable, but very enjoyable and a quick read
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larson - mystery and quick read - LOVED it
  • The Girl who Played with Fire - Steig Larson - second in above series; author turned in first manuscript (Dragon Tattoo) and two others; died two weeks later

Recommended by Jim

Books
  • The Camel Club - David Baldacci
  • The Collectors - David Baldacci
  • True Blue - David Badacci
  • Drop Shot - Harlan Coben
  • Fade Away - Harlan Coben
  • Tell No One - Harlan Coben
  • The Final Detail - Harlan Coben
  • The Innocent - Harlan Coben
  • The Woods - Harlan Coben
  • The Last Coyote - Michael Connelly
  • The Lincoln Lawyer - Michael Connelly
  • Cold Moon - Jeffery Deaver
  • The Twelfth Card - Jeffery Deaver
  • Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
  • World Without End - Ken Follett
  • Hart's War - John Katzenbach
  • Mad Man's Tale - John Katzenbach
  • The Analyst - John Katzenbach
  • Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - Doris Kearns
  • Alex Cross's Trial - James Patterson
  • I, Alex Cross - James Patterson
  • Swim Suit - James Patterson
  • The 8th confession - James Patterson
  • Mission Road - Rick Riordan
  • Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski
  • Dead Heat - Dick Frances