Hot Fudge Book Club

[susanarosa]

This is the pile of books coming out west with me for the next two weeks:

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything - Janelle Brown
City of Theives - David Benioff
Breaking Her Fall - Stephen Goodwin
The Breakdown Lane - Jacquelyn Mitchard
Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand
The Gravediggers Dughter - Joyce Carol Oates
The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs
Pretty in Plaid - Jen Lancaster

The worst part is that we're going to have to stop at a book store at some point...

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything - Janelle Brown -- I could not stand any of the three protagonists but finished the book. The good thing was that I believed the author didn't like them much either.
City of Theives - David Benioff -- This was a recommendation from the woman at Borders after we stood around and talked about books for about 15 minutes. This is a pretty magical book and have recommended it to many people. I hope the Beav will read it at some point because I want to talk to people about it.
Breaking Her Fall - Stephen Goodwin -- Decent book, found some errors in consistency. It's kind of a dude book.
The Breakdown Lane - Jacquelyn Mitchard -- Enjoyed this more than Breaking Her Fall probably due to being able to relate to the narrator better. As a matter of fact, I pictured her as the mother of a friend from high school. Interesting glimpse into the scary world of Multiple Sclerosis.
Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand -- FABULOUS beach read. I enjoyed this a lot. It's fluffy but well written and interesting.
Pretty in Plaid - Jen Lancaster -- One of her best. Such a Pretty Fat wasn't her best work so I was worried Lancaster was churning these out faster than her talent allowed but this was a really honest read.

I didn't make it to the other two.

Right now I'm reading the new Sedaris When You Are Engulfed In Flames and I'm enjoying it so far. It's difficult not to enjoy Sedaris.

[Andy]

I'm still into reading about the ups and downs of 60s and 70s iconic music groups.

Chuck Negron (and his bandmates) of Three Dog Night did quite a bit of drugs and I'm only halfway through. The worst is yet to come I suspect.



On the bright side, I've rediscovered their version of "One" as well as some other classics.

[guest]

I'm still into reading about the ups and downs of 60s and 70s iconic music groups.

I always though TDN was the most white of the white bread groups, so their cool factor went up 1000% when I learned they were all junkies.

Remembering the year that my sister and her lame-ass first husband gave me a 3 Dog Night LP, out of the shrink wrap and no doubt received unwanted as a record club selection at their home, for Christmas. I never listened to it either. This is why we stopped gifting as a family.

Working through a compilation of Crawdaddy stories from the 70s. Last night I read an interview with a 13 year old Michael jackson who even then made it clear he had no intention of growing up. The first article in the book was an interview, er, attempted interview with a too stoned and even more paranoid Sly Stone.

I don't think I'll have time to finish this before the return date. Can you go down and extend it?

[The Beav]

I'm still into reading about the ups and downs of 60s and 70s iconic music groups.

Chuck Negron (and his bandmates) of Three Dog Night did quite a bit of drugs and I'm only halfway through. The worst is yet to come I suspect.



On the bright side, I've rediscovered their version of "One" as well as some other classics.

Never Been To Spain is my fav.

[Craig]

Road to Shambala is at the top of my TDN list.


Picked up what I thought was another installment in a science fiction series by this guy that I began reading back in high school. Right away I was thinking that this novel was covering a lot of ground already explored in the first book (book one was actually #2, kind of like what happened with the original Star Wars). Maybe 50 pages in I know that I've already read all of this, albeit years ago. A re-examination of the cover found that the art and title of the original had been altered, and indeed this was the old original. Bummed, yes I was.

[Andy]

Just finished Three Dog Nightmare yesterday. Holy shit, how is Chuck Negron still alive?

There was a reference to Kurt Cobain at the end, their paths almost crossed when a sober Negron was called to council him (Cobain bailed from the facility before they could talk). It made me realize I'm much more attracted to the up, down and up again story of redemption over the guy who just gives up and kills himself, what a fascinating book.

[guest]

I started reading Middlesex. I had given a copy to my dad and asked for it back after he finished it. Fuck, I can't believe I gave this piece of shit to my father. I'm pretty sure he was lying when he said he finished it.

The girl at Borders gushed over how good it is, but I imagine they're trained to do that: "oh, you're buying "Henry the Helpful Horse? I laughed, I cried...".

The guy's style is too flowery and I lost count of the gratuitous Detroit references in the first chapter. It's as if he's trying to lock up Lowell's minions as his audience. I figured I could take my time with it since it doesn't have to go back to the library, but I don't know if I'll pick it up again.

I've been aware of this guy, Eugenides, for a long time because he graduated from the same HS as I did and the alumni bulletins beat it to death if anybody ends up having a success. It's a fluke. It was a crap school and the numbers prove it. His first novel was made into a movie which my brother described as unwatchable. He looks like a weirdo and he moved to France. Write about France, please, and stop beating up on Detroit.

[Ya Mar]

Read Empire of the Sun. I always figured it for a boring, bourgeoise fairytale, but it's a nice little subversive read.

Finished The Angel's Game. I read the author's previous book, Shadow of the WInd. People love these books. I found SW completely predictable, and I really didn't get the point of AG. A mess.

Read two of the Harris vampire books. Those things are like crack. Brenda was making fun but when there was nothing else to read, Brenda finally picked one up. Someone stayed up to four am completely hooked. . . .

Trying to get into Pynchon's new book. I like Pynchon; Brenda says overrated. This book might convert me to that line of thinking. After re-reading the intro three times, I had to ask myself Why am I working this hard to be entertained?

Ruined by pulp?

I am about 600 pages into Against the Day, and it has been on my nightstand for about a year. Every time I try and pick it up again it feels like such hard work. I'll probably have it on the plane tonight, again, but doubt I will get any further along.

Also working through N.T. Wrights Surprised by Hope. Quite an interesting read, and a very unique take on many problems in modern christian thought (or, more accurately, modern christian lack of thought). Hopefully get that finished while in New York.

[Andy]

I was a little bored up until the second half of this book, then the stories about SNL and people like Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy and Martin Short kicked in and it got really entertaining. I'm just now to the part where he starts working with Letterman.

[Middle Street]

Whilst I was away on vacation (jail) I read 193 books not bad for 148 days jail time. But If I have to read another Grisham book I'll kill everyone.

[middle aged female]

Whilst I was away on vacation (jail) I read 193 books not bad for 148 days jail time. But If I have to read another Grisham book I'll kill everyone.

But then you'll just end up reading more books by someone else that you'll end up hating. Hardly worth the effort

[Andy]

Some really dated (and even offensive in the modern day) points but also some things are that are still spot on and funny. Not bad for an autobiography that's 50 years old. I'm enjoying it.



Next up:

[Woodwards Friend]

I'm about 100 pages into Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Discipline. His prescription for environmental health is bigger cities, more nuclear power, and more genetically engineered food. He makes a compelling case because, about every 10 pages or so, I feel the need to take the book and whack some dopey Detroitist on the head with it for prattling on about organic urban agriculture, green spaces, and solar power. You want a fun eco-friendly art project? Paint your roof white. The end.

[Doctor Detroit]

I'm about 100 pages into Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Discipline. His prescription for environmental health is bigger cities, more nuclear power, and more genetically engineered food. He makes a compelling case because, about every 10 pages or so, I feel the need to take the book and whack some dopey Detroitist on the head with it for prattling on about organic urban agriculture, green spaces, and solar power. You want a fun eco-friendly art project? Paint your roof white. The end.

Is that eco-friendly all year for all places? IE in Michigan it may be advantageous to absorb heat in the winter. I thought I read something about how modern ultra energy efficient windows actually cost you more money in certain places over the course of all 4 seasons, as you can't open your drapes and allow the sun, even in winter, to help heat via greenhouse effect. Then again, that could have been some partisan douchebag with an agenda just trying to shit on Obama's tax credit for windows under a certain efficiency rating.

[Woodwards Friend]

I'm about 100 pages into Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Discipline. His prescription for environmental health is bigger cities, more nuclear power, and more genetically engineered food. He makes a compelling case because, about every 10 pages or so, I feel the need to take the book and whack some dopey Detroitist on the head with it for prattling on about organic urban agriculture, green spaces, and solar power. You want a fun eco-friendly art project? Paint your roof white. The end.

Is that eco-friendly all year for all places? IE in Michigan it may be advantageous to absorb heat in the winter. I thought I read something about how modern ultra energy efficient windows actually cost you more money in certain places over the course of all 4 seasons, as you can't open your drapes and allow the sun, even in winter, to help heat via greenhouse effect. Then again, that could have been some partisan douchebag with an agenda just trying to shit on Obama's tax credit for windows under a certain efficiency rating.

Brand didn't go into great detail but this white city idea but the idea is that white rooftops, concrete and light color ashphalt help to reflect sunlight back into space thus helping to off-set global warming.