Day 2: Today is World Book Day ( http://www.worldbookday.com/ )
For some people, at least. There seems to be a bit of confusion over this. I heard this fact this afternoon while listening to CBC One out of Toronto. I looked it up online to find out more, and found out that UNESCO also designated April 23rd as World Book Day. Me? I don't care as long as people are reading them!
So, in the spirit of World Book Day, what are you reading?
I would like to say that I am currently reading something in-depth and thought-provoking, but in truth, I am reading this:
Not a bad book - but a little on the fluffy side. I am reading this romance novel to let my brain rest a bit after finishing this whopper in 36 hours:
I love S.M. Stirling's books! I think I have mentioned this before, but I am all about the future dystopia. This is the second book in a trilogy that is a sister series to another trilogy by Stirling. The original trilogy (Island in the Sea of Time, Against the Tides of Years, On the Oceans of Eternity) concern a Nantucket that goes back in time - to 1250BC. It's a fascinating story of a small group of people with 20th century technology (that is slowly degrading and in limited supply) who have to make their way in an Bronze Age world. The second trilogy (Dies the Fire, The Protector's War, Meeting at Corvallis) concerns what happens to the rest of the world - mainly Oregon/Washington/Idaho and the UK in the second book... the clincher being it wasn't the same thing that happened to Nantucket. The rest of the world experienced a permanent power outage - something primal in physics changed - not even explosives or guns would go off. Stirling has a talent to draw me into his worlds like no one else - and he is the only author I will buy hardcover with no qualms at all.
14 comments:
That Stirling book sounds intriguing! Sadly, I have to admit that it's been months since I've picked up a book that didn't have the words "Dr. Seuss" or "Knitting" in the title. Do textbooks count? ;-) I feel like such an illiterate- I used to pride myself on being an avid reader, but lately, I've been slacking (and lacking, no surprise!) in the mental stimulation department. I love hearing about what others are reading, though! Take care, Jo! :-)
Have you and/or Andrew been keeping up with Kim Stanley Robinson's latest trilogy? I've been lucky here in DC to catch him for readings/book signings since most of the action takes place in the DC area.
As for the current moment, I'm reading Myths in Stone: Religious Dimensions of Washington, D.C. by Jeffrey F. Meyer and The Rise of Bronze Age Society : Travels, Transmissions and Transformations by Kristian Kristiansen and Thomas B. Larsson... alas, fiction-free for the moment.
I remember reading the Nantucket book a while ago at your suggestion. I will have to look for the others. It was a facinating idea. I am reading The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by Lois Battle
We celebrated world book day in the UK yesterday. My girls were given a £1 book token to exchange for a specially produced book or for £1 off any book.
I'm reading Gather Together in My Name by Maya Angelou. It's the 2nd in her set of autobiographies and is amazing. She has had SUCH a varied and colourful life.
I've been feeling completely brain dead by my job lately, so the only reading I have been doing has been cheesy romances. I think the last one I read was called "the searching hearts" or something goofy like that.
I'm currently re-reading one I haven't picked up in years, "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Love this book!
Have to give Stirling a look, tho!
In non-fiction, I just finished "The Thinking Woman's Guide To A Better Birth" by Henci Goer & "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin. You can tell what's heavy on my mind!
Mists of Avalon is good. I'm still working on Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire, but that's only because I've been in pack-up-and-move-now-unpack mode for the past month. I should finish soon though.
I'm reading Feast for Crows by George RR Martin.
Two thumbs way up so far.
Steve -
I didn't know Robinson had a new book out - I think the last of his that I read was "Years of Rice and Salt." Cool - new books to look for. The Mars series ranks up there with some of my favourite SF of all time.
Jo
I have just finished reading Adrian Edmondson's The Gobbler. Its fairly old, but I enjoyed it. Prior to that was Rik Mayall's 'auto-biography' in the loosest sense of the word :P and I'm heading to Ruby Wax's book next...Can you tell I like to laugh.
I'm reading HypnoBirthing by Marie Mongan and A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.
Still a good read despite all of the hubbub
I usually have about ten books going at once. Let's see, of the ones I can remember, I'm reading: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; Mere Christianity; Yarn Harlot; Confessions of a Knitting Heretic; a Beverly Lewis fictional series on an Amish family; and several others I can't recall off the top of my head....
Years of Rice and Salt was awesome... His latest trilogy uses global warming as a theme and is set in the near future. The first book was Forty Signs of Rain and the second, which just came out in the fall, is Fifty Degrees Below. The last book is tentatively due out in 2007.
Another book that I really enjoyed and might be up your alley is Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, sort of a Harry Potter-Jane Austen hybrid...
Steve -
I do have that book (was a Christmas present from Andrew's brother) but haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Jo
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