I have two books I've started to readâ¦..Me Before You, by JoJo Moyes and Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford. They both look good so I decided to put them on hold for next week when I leave for California. It will give me something to do on the plane and at night when I don't have my computer with me.

I am reading 'Krishnamacharya His Life and Teachings', I start a ViniYoga teacher training class at the end of the month, it goes 6 months.This is one of the text books for it. It is a good book.

This post was edited by YogaLady1948 on Fri, Oct 3, 14 at 20:22

I'm reading Pillars of the Earth right now. I'm enjoying it very much, but keep putting it down because the text in the paperback I have is so tiny. I'm going to borrow a hard cover copy from the library which likely will have larger-sized text.

I just finished "The One and Only Ivan", a story written from the viewpoint of a Silverback Gorilla. I was skeptical, but I really, really enjoyed it. Sweet, touching, sad, etc.

I just started the first book in the Elm Creek Quilts Series by Jennifer Chiaverini. It's called "The Quilter's Apprentice". It's okay. Kind of tame for my taste. But I'm a wannabe quilter and my cousin said she loved the books, so I'll persevere.

I just read "Mama and Boris". It is a true story about how a soldier's sister managed to get his two dogs from Iraq to the U.S. after the soldier died. Very heart warming book that can be read in a day.

Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King's latest book. It's ok.

I have enjoyed reading about half of One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz. So far it is not as weird as his books usually are. Of course, I have 300 more pages for that to happen. There are 3 story lines happening but I suppose he will tie them together eventually.

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This post was edited by sweet_betsy on Thu, Oct 2, 14 at 18:25

I just began Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden. I was hesitant to read it, since it is a true story beginning in the late 1930s.

It came up as a $5.95 special in iTunes so I'm listening to it on the iPod. It's unabridged and runs for more than 18 hours. It is going to be tragic, but I know things do get better for her.

Read Memoirs of a Geisha years ago. Really, really liked it. I couldn't get over the fact that it was written by a man. Very fascinating.

I think what makes it work is that he transcribed the book as she narrated it him over 18 months. She did not want to "write" it; she wanted to speak it.

He lived in the same New York hotel that she did in her later life. Apparently, they had a deep respect for one another.

I think anyone would enjoy this story, but anyone from a Scandinavian background might enjoy it even more: "A Man Called Ove". I've already returned it to our library, but I think the author's name is Frederick Backmann.

It's a little slow starting, but my DH had liked it, so I persevered. It was different -- and touching.

I'm reading the Myron Bolitar series by Harlen Coben. I'm just finishing the third one (I think there are 10 in the series). They are good, but not great.

I'm reading the second Maisie Dobbs book, Birds of a Feather, and have the next one when I'm done with it. They are OK, but I think I'l take a break for a while......I have a Martha Grimes novel that I'm anxious to read.....Dakota, which follows Biting the Moon. I thought the latter was very good, so am anxious to get into the follow-up.

I'm reading 'If These Walls Could Talk' by Larry Shenk".
Larry has been with the Philadelphia Phillies for over 50 years, in many capacities. Mainly as publicity director.
His book is not just about the team, but more of an overview of those years when the team won it's 1st World Series, up until the team moved into a new ballpark, about 8-9 years ago.
Those were the years when I was a season ticket holder...I still have my seats that I sat in - They are now in my home.

Wanda, I agree with you about the Bolitar books. I've enjoyed a lot of Coben's plotting, but I think the quality of his writing has suffered from his rapid productivity. I've been amazed that his editor hasn't taken a hatchet (or at least a red pen) to some of his manuscripts.

Phyllis, a friend recently recommended Maisie Dobbs. I bought the first book, but haven't started it yet. Meanwhile, I found another in the series at the library book sale.

I gave up on Michael Connolly's Crime Beat, and I'm reading The Closers, one of his Harry Bosch books. I feel as though I'm plodding through it, and I think I felt that way about the last Harry Bosch novel I read. I don't relate to Bosch very well for some reason, but I know he has a lot of fans. I loved the first Lincoln Lawyer book, and I enjoyed Connelly's crime novels in which the protagonist is a newspaper reporter.

Is that you Yin? Yang here.

As you maybe might have guessed, Connelly is my favorite author. His stories breathe the essence of Los Angeles and its unique places from start to finish. The stories are set in and around my old neighborhoods and adjacent areas, each one provides me a return trip in a very positive sense.

He developed a deep understanding of what makes LA unique from his years on the crime beat for the LA Times. I've met him twice at book signings and have had the chance to speak with him a bit, He's an east coast boy through and through (from Philadelphia) but he really does get it. He's a nice guy and is very humble about his success. I can understand if his stories don't ring the bell for you as they do for me.

For those who like cop mysteries, two other authors whose stories are set in SoCal are

1)Robert Crais, a former Hill Street Blues writer, whose character Elvis Cole is comical as is Coban's but the stories are much better.

2)Stephen J Cannell, one of the creators of the Rockford Files and a dozen other series over the years. He took up writing books when he retired from TV but sadly died of melanoma before his 70th birthday. He did about 10 or so books. His continuing character is an irreverent LA cop.

I kinda gave up on Jodi Picoult a while ago, but picked up Vanishing Acts to read on our trip from Or to OKC. The trip was to the Wedding of DGS (very close to our heats), reconciling with DD and meeting the Native American bride and family. Talk about coincidence/serendipity...ummm. The book is about a lost/found child.... a good man caught up in our legal and prison system (DGS also graduated from the Corrections Academy a week after wedding, and IT scares me) and so many Hopi Indian legends and insights, just as we were on our return trip home thru the Navajo and Hopi country/reservations. I am a great admirer of Jodi ... I am always surprised by her books, sensitivity that she is able to write so brilliantly. Songs of the Whales (or something like that) is the only book of hers I didn't "get".... maybe I need to read it again. I absolutely enjoyed Vanishing Act and I don;t think that I have ever read such a vivid description of our ugly prison system and what it does to those caught up in it.

I just read "The Rosie Project" and enjoyed it. Now I see there is a sequel, "The Rosie Effect".

I started To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie, but remembered that I have jury duty next week, so I stopped reading in order to save it for the down times at the courthouse.

I just finished reading the latest book in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, Bones Never Lie and the latest book in the Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor, Proof Positive. I enjoyed both.

I am plodding my way through the Monogram Murders, an Agatha Christie by Sophie Hannah. It is only ok. I thought the Rosie Project was good. Can't wait to get the new Deborah Crombie!

Thanks for the suggestions, Yang. I haven't given up on Connelly by a long shot. I want to like Harry Bosch. I try to like him. There's still hope. But even if I don't succeed, I'll find other of his titles to enjoy. I've never been to California, so I don't "get" the locale like you do. But I understand the attraction; I'm always drawn to shows/books set in NYC.

Maybe I related better to MC's reporter protagonist because I was once a newspaper reporter myself--though not in the big leagues. But I normally love cop novels, so I don't know what the explanation is.

I'll add the other two names to my list....

I am reading 2 books. An Amish widow and Denver

I just got the latest James Lee Burke novel, Wayfaring Stranger....will start it tonight. I got from our local library.
When I go to the gym I read on my old Kindle and am reading Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde......I enjoy her books and she lives in Cambria, which is about 60 miles north of where I live.

alisande, if you're referring to The Poet, that book has perhaps received the most praise of all of his work. There's a sequel to that story with the same main character, it's called The Scarecrow.

For both the Bosch books and the Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) series, I suggest reading them in order. It's not absolutely necessary, but there is some cumulative character development and also ins and outs of supporting roles that would get mixed up otherwise.

I meant to add that I'm also reading I Am Hutterite, by Mary-Ann Kirkby, and finding it more interesting than I'd anticipated.

Snidely, yes, The Poet and The Scarecrow. I enjoyed them both. I started the Lincoln Lawyer series with #1, but not the Bosch. Maybe that's the problem.

Just started The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, which is on the Man Booker prize list, and so far, liking it very much. I also loved some of his previous books: Black Swan Green and Cloud Atlas. They are stand-alone novels, not series books.

Curious about "Cloud Atlas". DH and I rented the DVD and thought we would die -- of either boredom or laughter. Guess the book was better? (We have adopted something from the movie though. We can make one another laugh by invoking 'the true-true'.)

Thank you, Socks, for starting this discussion. Always interesting to talk about books!

Alisande - I really enjoyed I am Hutterite. There are many Hutterites in our geographical area and I found this inside view of Hutterite life really fascinating.