What Are You Reading?

ziasha07 · #1 05-05-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers

I LOVE "Memoirs of a Geisha"!

I read it about 3 times now. But the movie was SOOOOOO disappointing to me. Did you see it?

"crush " trilogy probably a little young for my geezerly behind...

And I love my Bible.

Yeah, the movie definetly fell short in my book. I expected more scenes, more eloquent kimonos. They barely skimmed the sections of her life. I know the movie was two hours as it was but I wouldn't have been upset if it was three or three and a half.

"Crush" most definetly. Not sure how old you are but its for the 14-24 ish type crowd.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

You should read Geisha, A Life. It's the real biographical story of the woman who spoke to the author of memoirs. She was promised anonymity but he revealed who she was, so she decided to set the story straight. She was basically shunned because she talked to this guy, and he changed things around.

For example, as a geiko (the Kyoto district word for geisha) her virginity was not sold, it was more of a coming out event. Prostitutes had their viriginity sold, but not geisha. They use the same word (mitsuage i think) which means something like "catch," like what a fisherman brings in, but it is not the same thing.

Really? I will definetly have to look into that!

Drolefille · #2 05-05-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers

Never heard of those. Are they historical fiction? ( it sounds as though they are) I am such a sucker for that genre!

Ha, some are yes.
The Last Amazon is by Stephen Pressfield, I got hooked on him after reading Gates of Fire (based on Thermopolye) after watching 300

People of the Wolf is written by a paleontologist/archaeologist and is about, so far, the precursors to the Inuit being pressured to move south.
The Virgin's Lover is by Phillipa Gregory and she writes a lot of Tudor historical fiction. I've read a bunch by her including The Other Boleyn Girl (Mary Boleyn), and The Constant Princess (Catherine of Aragon). This one's about Queen Elizabeth I.
Fairest, fantasy fiction

And World War Z is written as if it were true, by Max Brooks (Mel Brooks' son) and is awesome. I'm still a little freaked out admittedly. He also wrote The Zombie Survival Guide which I need to read once I'm not spooked by moaning noises. I'll just say this, there are zombies in the ocean too. And they're still roaming around down there to occasionally surface and/or grab the occasional diver. And that's just a tiny bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziasha07

Really? I will definetly have to look into that!

Yes, I was really pissed at the Memoirs guy after reading that book, and the real one was way better.

JWithers · #3 05-05-2007, 10:55 PM

I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess". I love Phillipa Gregory.

Do you have Showtime? The new series "The Tudors" is amazing. Well, of course Jonothan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie, who, self-admittedly bears NO resemblance to H8, it is a really juicy, beautifully done foray into the early years of H8's rule, specifically his break with the Church and Anne Boleyn.

I am an anglophile and make no excuses.....

ziasha07 · #4 05-05-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers

I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess". I love Phillipa Gregory.

Do you have Showtime? The new series "The Tudors" is amazing. Well, of course Jonothan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie, who, self-admittedly bears NO resemblance to H8, it is a really juicy, beautifully done foray into the early years of H8's rule, specifically his break with the Church and Anne Boleyn.

I am an anglophile and make no excuses.....

Ha. I love historical fiction as well! I though I was the only loser. I loved Masterpiece Theatre's show on H8 and his wives. "The Other Boelyn Girl" will be on the top of my summer reading list along with the geisha book.

Oh have you heard of a book called "Darkside Zodiac"?

JWithers · #5 05-05-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziasha07

Ha. I love historical fiction as well! I though I was the only loser. I loved Masterpiece Theatre's show on H8 and his wives. "The Other Boelyn Girl" will be on the top of my summer reading list along with the geisha book.

Oh have you heard of a book called "Darkside Zodiac"?

Honey, I am HUGE history geek with emphasis on British history! LOL! Lay down your hand and I will still be the geekiest!

PBS had a series about the six wives of H8 a year or two ago, but I missed it...in any case, "The Tudors" on Showtime is HAWT!!!!!

Also, I am a huge fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine (gotta love those Angevins and the Plantegents!) ....the remake of "The Lion In Winter" with Glenn Close as Eleanor is perfection. But a better portrayal of her in a fictional biography is "The Book of Eleanor" by Pamela Kaufman. Lovely.

Are the geek police coming??? My husband said he heard sirens!

mystikchick · #6 05-06-2007, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers

Also, I am a huge fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine (gotta love those Angevins and the Plantegents!)

you get my brownie points for the day. i've admired eleanor of aquitaine since i had to pretend to be her in fifth grade when we researched and performed as an historical persona. what a woman, i mean really. queen (twice!), head of huge territorial holdings that were coveted by all and snatched by none, went off on the crusades, patroness of the arts, strong, feisty, unconventional, and all while living in the middle ages. she blows my mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille
I'm loving the Tudors and it has nothing to do with the hottie king who always has his shirt off and some rock hard nipples... um... ahem... well this is awkward.

not watching the tudors, but jonathan rhys-meyers....yummmmmmmmmm (ever since bend it like beckham. also have you seen him in matchpoint? even when he's scummy he's so delicious)

ahem.

now back to the topic at hand.
i'm reading:
the secret life of bees - sue monk kidd (started it last night, love it so far)
the places in between - rory stewart
the sorrow of war - bao ninh

mulattogyrl · #7 05-07-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystikchick

the secret life of bees - sue monk kidd (started it last night, love it so far)

Yes, this is a good book.

I'm reading:
Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich
Daddy's Girl - Lisa Scottoline

Just finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I enjoyed this too.

JWithers · #8 05-06-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jock16

hustler.

the one i'm looking at now is back from 1983. i like the classics.

Keepin' it classy as always, Jock.

JWithers · #9 05-05-2007, 11:01 PM

Have you ever read "Descent of Woman" by Elaine Morgan? Now I am a Christian, but a free-thinking one, and it delves into the alternative theories of evolution, using the role of women as the basis for it's main query "are we naked apes or hairy porpoises?"

ALSO, have you read anything my Steven J.Gould? He is an evolutionary biologist with several titles, including "The Flamingo's Smile".

deadbear80 · #10 05-05-2007, 11:02 PM

Right now I'm reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult. VERY sad, but I'm enjoying it!

JWithers · #11 05-05-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadbear80

Right now I'm reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult. VERY sad, but I'm enjoying it!

That book broke my heart....."My Sister's Keeper" (is that the right title? is equally as tragic....she writes so well!

epchick · #12 09-14-2007, 05:57 PM

For fun I'm reading the Shopaholic series (right now i'm on Shopaholic ties the knot)

For class I have to read (i'll just list them all)
The Squatter and the Don
The Devil in Texas
Music and the Mill
Las Hijas de Juan
and the shadows took him
what Night Brings
Child of Many Rivers

Let's just say I haven't had the time to read the shopaholic books b/c my class readings have taken up a lot of time

AlexMack · #13 05-06-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadbear80

Right now I'm reading The Pact by Jodi Picoult. VERY sad, but I'm enjoying it!

That's my all-time favourite Jodi Picoult book. I've read most of her work-she's kind of hit or miss. Some of it is awesome and some is really had to get into. The Whale's Song (I think it's called) is set in the town next to mine. I really want to get 19 Minutes, her latest book.

Right now I am reading total crap. I'm re-reading my teenage horse novels because I've run out of things to read and have no time for the library or the bookstore. I'm also working on the Sword of Shannara which I stole from my boyfriend on a whim. It's okay, nothing special.

Drolefille · #14 05-05-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWithers

I have read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Constant Princess". I love Phillipa Gregory.

Do you have Showtime? The new series "The Tudors" is amazing. Well, of course Jonothan Rhys-Meyers is a hottie, who, self-admittedly bears NO resemblance to H8, it is a really juicy, beautifully done foray into the early years of H8's rule, specifically his break with the Church and Anne Boleyn.

I am an anglophile and make no excuses.....

I'm loving the Tudors and it has nothing to do with the hottie king who always has his shirt off and some rock hard nipples... um... ahem... well this is awkward.

I've never been so happy for the free 6 months of Showtime in my life

yay for being a new cable subscriber.

JWithers · #15 05-05-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I'm loving the Tudors and it has nothing to do with the hottie king who always has his shirt off and some rock hard nipples... um... ahem... well this is awkward.

I've never been so happy for the free 6 months of Showtime in my life

yay for being a new cable subscriber.

And it has nothing to do with the firmly carved upper lip and constant glisten to his shirtless torso. The piercing blue eyes really do nothing for me.

Nah. Not so much. I need a moment alone now.

OMG!!! He is one sexy beast!!