Just finished Fred Allen’s memoirs, Much Ado About Me, and started Thos. Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. A friend (unasked) sent me the latter, and I am really not in the mood for it, but feel rather obligated, as he keeps asking me what I think of it . . .
Politzania - I’m in the middle of A Prayer for Owen Meany right now! I picked it up thanks to a previous thread like this one (recommended by, I think jarbabyj and seconded by many).
Once that’s done, I’ll move on to The God of Small Things.
Once that’s done, I’ll need to replenish my collection, and/or go to the library. I’ve been thinking of trying out Terry Pratchett, because so many of you can’t stop raving!
From The Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury
Japanese Inn–the history of Japan as seen from one inn, & the family that runs it.
Holes by Louis Sachar.
Stupid White Men by Michael Moore.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (again!)
I am chugging through the Faye Kellerman Peter Decker Mysteries. A very interesting read simply for the insight on the Jewish religion that I had not known about. The mysteries are pretty good too, though a bit easy to figure out in some cases.
Slowly plugging through “The Battle for God,” and also “Approaching the Koran.” Before that was “The World of Caffeine.”
Besides the books that need to be read for one class or another…
I’m reading The Silmarillion as well. In fact, I bought it at a Barnes and Noble last weekend! 
Angle of Repose is a great book. A bit slow, yes, but very much worth the Pulitzer it won.
I’m currently rereading (as is my annual habit) Crossing To Safety which is simply one of my favorite books of all time.
Anyone read any of Stegner’s works beyond these two? I know I occasionally seem his name come up on some of these types of list threads, but generally just in response to these two works.
I recently finished the ‘Anubis Gates’ and ‘Gun with Occasional Music’, and am currently re-reading ‘Maximum Bob’.
Death on the Installment Plan By Louis Ferdinand Celine
Welcome to the Monkey House by Vonnegut
Ask the Dust by John Fante
Just started Lullabye by Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club).
Right now i’m reading the Shannara series of books by Terry Brooks. When it comes to fantasy these books are great. Each series is anywhere from 3-5 books long and based over about a 1000 year period. If you like books about mythical creatures these books are great.
I’m re-reading The Hobbit.
It amazes me when I see posters reading several books all at once. I am simply unable to read more than one book at one time. In fact, I never finished John Steinbeck’s East of Eden after I accidentally packed it away while moving. By the time I unpacked it I had already started another novel, and as a result it has remained only half-read for a few years now.
Right now, I’m reading (rather…listening to) Empire Falls by Richard Russo. A small town setting, so the book has a bit of a small town pace to it. But it’s filled with some pretty interesting characters and once it starts going, it’s hard to put down.
Just finished On Fire by Larry Brown. It’s an autobiography of a retired fireman and his experiences in a small Mississippi town. It was decent.
Before that Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara. Excellent and interesting. A commentary on the American war for independence from the viewpoint of various participants such as John Adams, Franklin, Washington, British General Thomas Gage, and others.
Next? I’m thinking of re-reading Where is Joe Merchant? by Jimmy Buffet.
That’s all for now.
What’s Sad: I was at my girlfriend’s house the other night and, out of sheer boredom, I picked up Trixie Belden: The Mysterious Visitor.
What’s Worse: That book is on loan to her from MY collection. Ahem. :eek: