What book, if any, are you reading now?

Right now I'm reading a book called Monster that just arrived in my local library since it's a very new book. It's not nearly as literary so far as the last book I read which used coyote-related issues as a metaphor for immigration-related issues, but this one is quite entertaining so far. Basically, so far it's what happens when the life of someone slightly aware of the existence of monsters collides with that of someone who is intimately familiar with the supernatural.

Anyone else in the middle of a book? I know some of you are, and hope you'll answer.

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Permalink Reply by David M. Mills on September 26, 2009 at 8:42am: Hey, Ethan... "Monster" sounds interesting. I am reading Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina." A few years back, I started a campaign to read a bunch of the well-known classics, starting with Dante's "A Divine Comedy." I'm up to the late 1800s now. Yes, I did read all 1,400 pages of "War and Peace" last year. "Anna K" is better, at least so far.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ethan Mawyer on September 26, 2009 at 8:45am: I haven't read any of those books yet. I think the longest book i ever read was part of the Harry Potter series. Heavy literature and I aren't on the best of terms.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ethan Mawyer on October 5, 2009 at 2:28pm: Monster was fun, and so was the book I just finished reading. That one is called Gods Behaving Badly and it started out interesting and got better as it went on. The basic premise is that a feud between Aphrodite and Apollo (living with most of the major Olympians in a large house in London) ends up having consequences for a couple of humans and eventually threatens the entire world. I'm probably going to be on the lookout for anything new this author (Marie Phillips) publishes in the near future. I think this was her first published book, and not a bad way to start at all.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ethan Mawyer on October 5, 2009 at 2:33pm: After a little bit of research, I found out that it is her only book but it has done quite well and has been optioned by Ben Stiller's production company to be adapted into a TV series.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shaun Gerardo on October 5, 2009 at 6:18pm: I am reading the dictionary. However, that is an everlasting battle.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ethan Mawyer on October 5, 2009 at 6:22pm: Any compelling characters in that one?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jacqueline M. DeCosmo-Carroll on October 8, 2009 at 11:02pm: Hi Ethan, I read it,Gods Behaving Badly, our book club read it We enjoyed it. Just finished" The 19th Wife" which is all about mormons/latterday saints. Reminded me of" Big Love" and now am reading the script of "August:Osage County. Lots of nice roles for women...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alisa Gus on October 15, 2009 at 8:13am: Nice recs, Ethan :-) I will definitely put them on my list.

Dave, I had actually read all of these, and I agree entirely re: Karenina vs. War and Peace. But have you read Tolstoy's "Resurrection"? It is not the mainstream of Tolstoy's works, but a favorite of mine. It's a lot more dynamic, as well, though at the same time, I truly have no sympathy for either of the main characters.

And as for myself, I am reading "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell", my husband's rec to me, actually, and I have to commend him on his good taste. It is pretty amazing. Resembles Harlan's teratology on the alternate history of Ancient Rome in its attention to detail, but what he manage to do in four doorstopper volumes, Ms. Susanna Clarke manages in one. Her alternate history is one of early 19th century England, where the practical magic is real, but the behavior of those immersed in or touched by it is even more real. These people are ourselves, and Clarke definitely offers a tasty slice of life in the bygone era...that never was. Or was it?

Apparently, the script is being written to turn this into a feature film sometime in 2010, and I will be eagerly reading reviews on it. I want to see it, but I would hate to spoil it for myself if the production doesn't manage to convey that sense of reality as seen through just a slightly warped mirror that characterizes the Clarke's prose.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David M. Mills on October 15, 2009 at 3:45pm: Lisa:
Interesting... I'll have to pick up "Resurrection" at some point. Got a couple books still on my "to read" list after "Anna Karenina."
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Dunkin on December 9, 2009 at 4:33pm: Uh.... Career Criminals, Just finished NewJack: Guarding Sing Sing. Umm... and textbooks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ethan Mawyer on December 9, 2009 at 4:46pm: Can't say I miss textbooks

I'm kinda reading Robinson Crusoe (for the first time) right now but I've been lazy about it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Allen Jackson on December 10, 2009 at 10:40am: Every once in awhile, I force myself to open a book. I spend so much time reading screenplays and writing that it's difficult to find time for novels, and has been ever since I got out of school (many years ago). Recently, I picked up Sinclair Lewis' Arrowsmith and read the first couple of chapters. I can't tell you much about it, yet, except that I can't wait to get back to it, and I rarely say that about anything that I read.; ▶ Reply to This

What book, if any, are you reading now?

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