Hey, What are you Reading?

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Hey, What are you Reading?

Topic Author: Ralph Hipp

Posted: Jun 24, 2008

Replies Posted: 10 comments

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Hey, What are you Reading?

I've become a big fan of audio books, but the new ones are expensive and hard to come by. Very few of them are at the library yet. There's still nothing I like more after the news than sitting down and thumbing through the pages of a hot, new bestseller. I just finished "Home," which is the early years biography of Julie Andrews (terrif...) and loved the exciting conclusion of "Sail," the latest knockout punch from my favorite author, James Patterson. I read it all last week! Finished on Thursday morning. (Love the Women's Murder Club, too.. and am waiting for number 8.) People Magazine just came out with its list of hot summer reads (which you'll find below) and I actually found one of them, "Nothing To Lose," at the Topeka Public Library.

I am also keeping up with my history and biography reading that I love to do.. winding up reading a book that was sent to me here at the station by Indiana history writer Ray Boomhower. His book on Bobby Kennedy was one I enjoyed very much.

How about you? What are you starting, or finishing, or planning on reading this summer? Maybe we can even start our own little book discussion club here on the Ralph blog page! We're also tracking down your book reviews on these choices:

PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S SIZZLING SUMMER READS:

"A Summer Affair," by Elin Hilderbrand

"This Charming Man," by Marian Keyes

"The Beach House," written by Jane Green

"Nothing to Lose," by Lee Child (this is the one I found.)

"Sweet Love," by Sarah Strohmeyer

"Stalking Susan," from the pen of Julie Kramer

"America America," by Ethan Canin (Barnes and Noble is offering 40% off on this one.)

"So Long at the Fair," by Christina Schwarz

"The Film Club," from David Gilmour

"Stand the Storm," by Breena Clarke

"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," by David Wroblewski (this one's a long one.)

and "Attachment," by Isabel Fonseca

If you see one of these, "People"s critics say grab it!

(Hey, get ready for the 2009 Big Read! We'll all be sharing the story of "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.)

Stay tuned for details. RH

Posted by: Kristine Location: Walnut, KS
Am currently reading Austerity Britain by David Kynaston and just finished Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World by Thomas Cahill. Both insightful and relevant books.

Posted by: Marie Location: Topeka
I've only been listening to audiobooks for a couple years, but have come to LOVE them - especially downloading them through TSCPL's NetLibrary service, and the State Library's Overdrive service. Find an MP3 player that works with both formats, get online, and start browsing! My current audio is "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, already mentioned in the comment by BW. The book and narrator are both excellent; I'm excited to hear the rest, but not ready for it to be over! Continued happy reading, Ralph, and thanks for posting about books. :-)

Posted by: kay Location: mayetta
hi ralph-im currently reading some of sylvia browne books--"life on the other side"-you may have seen her on talk shows-she is a renown psychic--her books really make you stop and think hard and long-positive reading books, and inspirationional ones along with true life stories seem to be along my favorites-after caregiving for my sister in law and my husband the last 4 yrs,my interest in books have taken a new turn-they have both passed on now-i enjoy reading your blog-take care-kay

Posted by: duane Location: junction city
Ralph, I use to read alot of books by Don Coldsmith a native Kansasan. Now I have started to read most of the current authors such as Dean Koontz or Nora Roberts. I have also started to read a few of the old classics.

RH: Duane, I want to get you hooked on James Patterson. Both his new books, "Sail" and "Sundays at Tiffany's" (books that, with his style, he writes with separate authors on the side) are both excellent!

Posted by: Tracie Location: Topeka
I'm currently reading "Hooked on Murder" by by Betty Hechtman and is about solving the murder of a crochet group leader. Other members of Topeka Crochet are reading it as well, and we plan to have a book discussion before summer's end. Normally, I don't go for the best seller's list of books. I like historical fiction and tend to reach for those most, but it's fun to have a book series about crochet, even if the type of writing isn't my cup of tea.

Posted by: Diana Friend Location: Topeka
Hi Ralph, This is a great list of books to read, and ALL of them are available to check out at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. You can reserve them in advance or select from the shelf at the library or on the bookmobile. Also, if you go to www.tscpl.org and click on the "Books" icon, you will find many more recommended books by our librarians. We also would love to hear from readers about their favorite summer reads. You can post to the library's blog at www.tscpl.org.

RH: Thanks, Diana.. I plan to read all these this summer, and get them from TSCPL!

Posted by: Suzy I read just about anything... I'm a book-aholic. I love the Stephanie Plum stories (Janet Evanovich is the author). They are a pretty quick read, but hilarious throughout! Right now, I'm reading Lean Mean Thirteen, I'm waiting for Fearless Fourteen to come out in paperback.

Posted by: Jan Location: Manhattan
I just finished reading "The Sleeping Doll" by Jeffery Deaver. It is good guys and bad guys. It had some interesting twists and turns in it. I really enjoyed it. Thought you should know.

Posted by: Kelly Location: Topeka
I love James Patterson too but have not read Sail yet. Might have to pick that one up. Right now I am reading Dean Koontz "The Darkest Evening of the year " and Diane Chamberlain "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes" Both very good reads so far. Since I am constantly reading more than one book at a time I would love a book discussion here!

We'll try to "Sail" into a discussion group here! Ralph

Posted by: BW Location: KS
Our book club selection for June was The Book Thief by Zusak. Wonderful! I would definitely recommend it. I have recently read three books by Augusten Burroughs, Running With Scissors, Magical Thinking and A Wolf at the Table. Currently I'm reading Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky. I'm anxious to read Harlen Coben's new book also.

Posted by: Lois Location: Topeka
One of my daughters joined the LDS church many years ago. At that time they told the new ones joining one thing about Joseph Smith and then on a TV history show the other night they said something different about the same situation. I'd had a book about his life for a long time and now that over 500 pg. book is what I'm reading. I'm a huge reader so read all kinds of books. I read books on civil war, other history, and biographies and autobiographies (have a small bookcase of the latter two subjects). Some day I hope to get some of the books on William Allen White as he was still doing the Emporia Gazzete when I was a kid. Patricia Cornwell is a wonderful mystery writer. I could go on and on but I think by now you get the idea that I love reading,too. I usually have 2-3 books going at the same time!