Book Club

Since Christmas I've read the following:

Born Standing Up, by Steve Martin
True Grit, by Charles Portis
The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua
The Lover's Dictionary, by David Levithan
Flights of Love, by Bernhard Schlink
Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen

I'm now deciding between either An Object of Beauty, also by Steve Martin or The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Thoughts?

As for the books I've read, I actually have enjoyed them all (and I think that's what has successfully kept me on this little reading kick...)

Born Standing Up was great. It was light... An easy and enjoyable read.
True Grit? Fabulous. Just like the movie, but indeed, i liked it better than the movie. The characternof Mattie Ross comes off even better in print and the dialogue is fantastic.

The Battle Hymn? Chua definitely has issues, but she does try to tell her story with humor. It was a fascinating look into just what can happen when drive and perfectionism can take over a life (and one's children's lives...)

The Lover's Dictionary was inventive and perfect for those with ADD, as the entire story is told through dictionary entries.

Flights of Love? I had wanted to read this after watching the Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Antonio Banderas film, "The Other Man" (recommended by the Mom). The movie was based on one of the short stories from this book. I enjoy Schlink's writing and i like reading about his German settings.

Water for Elephants? Good story, interesting characters-- looking forward toseeing Christoph Waltz' take on the schizophrenic August when the film version opens later this year. I will say, though, the part I liked the most, was the epilogue wherein Gruen tells of her inspiration and research fornthe book. It was great insight into the writer's craft. Turns out while, writing what you know is still always true, you can supplement "what you know" through research. ;)


What books have you been reading?