I tend to read a bunch of things at one time. And I confess that I have a huge list of novels that I don't get to due to work time. But at this very moment I have started to re-read Steinbeck's "East of Eden", because it's one of my all time faves. If you like sagas and family tension along with a good story of good and evil, you'll like this. And you can always watch the movie along with it with James Dean in it. I'm also reading "Southern Daughter" which is a biography of Margaret Mitchell. I'll let you know when I get further into that one. My non-fiction books are all around me. I have a great older book by Paul Zollo called "Songwriters on Songwriting" going on that I recommend to EVERYONE. It's got fascinating interviews with all kinds of legends. What are you reading right now?

I am reading your comment.. I know, smart-ass answer... i will give a proper one soon!

I am a terrible reader, and wish I would read more often. My problem is that reading makes me sleepy. It doesn't matter how interested I am in a book, it only takes me a page or two for my eyes to start drooping. For this reason, I don't tend to read in bed at night, and have yet to find a good time of day that suits my schedule.

This is all to say that I have a great pile of books that I have started (with the best intentions), but am yet to finish. More recent books in this pile include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, and Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman. I am hopeful that I will finish Einstein's Dreams at least, partly because it consists of lots of little short stories, and it would be hugely embarrassing if I couldn't even finish that. Plus, it's a really good book, with lots of fascinating explorations of theories of time, but in a way that is non-scientific and more relatable to our own loves, lives and experiences.

A long time ago, I also started The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, which I am determined to finish sooner rather than later. However, I am going to have to start that one again from the beginning.

Having said all that, I recently read a whole book from start to finish, in around 4 or 5 days!! This was a big achievement for me! ;-) It was The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I'm not really sure why this one was different. It was a very easy read, I will admit, but that shouldn't detract from the subtleties of its craft and the weight of its impact. I would recommend that one for sure.

Lisa - I am a HUGE James Dean fan, and therefore I know the story of East of Eden very well. I do have the novel sitting on my bookshelf, but it is yet to make it to my pile of books that I have started to read...

You couldn't ask this while I was reading a deep and meaningful book, could you, Lisa! LMAO (It's not that often, so I'm only kidding! All of your friends are going to be questioning your decision to invite me here, Lisa!! xoxo)

Sadly, my choice of reading material is usually of the mystery genre (especially if there are forensics involved). I just today started a book by an author from NJ, Harlan Coben. Neat guy; neat stories. All of the ones I've read so far take place in Jersey (I'd say he's ALMOST the male version of Janet Evanovich, just not quite as "whimsical") and have good story lines. Just not at all deep. Kind of like me.

brandy/loxo is a smart ass, but that is one reason we love him. elle, i want to know what you're reading even if it's the TV GUIDE! that can be fun. my mother was an avid reader and she STILL insisted on reading that horrible national enquirer. she said it was cheaper than tranquilizers. everyone is always reading something. even self help books. we ALL read those. but we don't admit them that often. so i want some confessions, people! elle, we begin with you! hahaha

helen, i always get sleepy reading too, and it makes me feel like such a horrible non intellectual. i don't understand why it does that. i think i need a high powered itty bitty book light! try east of eden, because it reads quickly. you're sure to fall asleep with some descriptive thing, but this is like a soap opera. you'll like it. i know you well enough to know! the adventures of huck finn is also a fast and fun read. i hate the books that bog me down too slowly!

mary catherine, is the poisonwood bible scary and depressing? i keep thinking it is. but i have had ALOT of people tell me i'd love it. so i think i need to give it a try. thanks!

there are great suggestions on the facebook page. we have to get these peeps to come over here. anybody have any suggestions of how to get them over here???

oh good!! thanks!

you're smarter than i am, ruth. every time i read chopra, i have no idea what he's saying. and i read other guru's all the time. but something about deepak goes right over my head!

i think you're smarter, cuz i'm not young, and i've been to hell a few times. sorry you were there too!!! let's stay out!

Ooooh, been waiting for a chance to talk about books! I can't get enough! Right now, I'm reading Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane......Only just started it, and I'm a busy kinda gal, so I won't have a "book report" for a few weeks. Can't wait to hear what everybody's reading.....

Mary Catherine, my son's girlfriend keeps telling me about Poisonwood Bible. She thinks its a great book, and I have it on my very long list of things to read. Will be interested to hear more about it....

Funny Poisonwood Bible should come up - I just sent it back to Texas with my best friend! I remember I liked it, in a disturbing kind of way, but I'll be dipped if I can remember exactly what it was about. She'd come to visit without reading material and I found it on my bookshelf and thought she'd like it. (Which reminds me, I wanted to see if she'd come and join us over here!)

So, am I the only one on here that reads lighter stuff? Any Stephanie Plum fans here (although after book 10 or so, even I gave up on them)? I have to say this new guy, Harlan Coban, writes real page-turners!! Sucks you in from the first couple of pages, and does it with a dry, often sardonic, sense of humor. I'm reading Tell No One right now and I'm really liking it!

Now for all of you history buffs, I recommend Sex With Kings. My Texan friend (who sent it to me after reading it - if it wasn't for her and my one neighbor, I'd get no REAL reading done at all!! LOL) described it this way..."It's a good read if for no other reason than to confirm that "the royal treatment" isn't all it's cracked up to be!!" Disclaimer - not explicit at all and a bit repetitious in spots, but it IS interesting and enlightening!

" Mother Tongue" English & How It Got That Way" by Bill Byson is a witty, yet factually documented , look into why english language is sometimes strange....ie ,phonetics do not always describe the word ,ie, colonel or island...........shakespeare coined so many words and addages that are still said today....fun to skim through...jami,thanks

in 1970, I was given a hardback copy of "Grapes of Wrath" and never did finish nor like it......yet it is so acclaimed....anyone really, really like it? should I re-read this monster or what is wrong with me???!!!!!