Reading a new book

It's called MAZURKA by Aaron Paul Glazer

I've no clues as to what it is about, Chatty. Can you elaborate? Fiction, non-fiction? Do you like it?

Thanks.

All I know about Mazurka is that it's a Polish Folk Dance.

I've just finished reading the third book in the Elm Creek Quilters Series by Jennifer Chiaverini -- and thoroughly enjoyed it! Maybe that's partly because I'm a quilter, but I think it's also because I enjoyed the women's stories. The three books are: The Quilter's Apprentice; Round Robin; and The Cross-Country Quilters. Here's a link to Chiaverini's website which includes synopses of these books as well as others: Elm Creek Quilters Series
I recommend them as enjoyable, heart-warming reads.

I enjoy books where womens' stories are told..and how they interconnect so I will look for these books Sandy..
Have you read Maeve Binchy's books..?I recommend them..plenty stories there.

I read and loved the knitting books starting with the Friday Night Knitting Club. I think there are currently 3 books, but my memory is a little fuzzy on that one!!

Mountain Ash: Yes! Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors, and I have almost all her books. I love the interconnections between characters from one book to the next. Seeing a character you've met before is like unexpectedly meeting an old friend!
Yonuh: Thanks for the Friday Night Knitting Club recommendation. I'll look into those for my Kindle. (I'm a crocheter, not a knitter, but maybe some day ....)

The first book of Maeve's that I read was Light a Penny Candle..Many years ago.
The impact was that I read some of the book with tears running down my cheeks.There after all her books have been on my book list.
I feel I know the people and yes the interconnection is wonderful.She writes shorts stories as well as her novels.
She weaves her stories with absolute magic..

I have Irish in my ancestry and maybe her books resonate all the more due to this.
She describes a very happy upbringing and this rings through her writing..I would love to meet her.

Sandy N, thank you for sharing your review of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilters Series. I'm not a quilter - but I collect quilts, and from what I read on the website you linked us to, I expect I would enjoy this series.

By the way, I just minutes ago finished reading your novel, "I. O. U. Sex," and I thoroughly enjoyed the way you and co-author Sandy Allen wove together the three women's stories into one satisfying novel.

Your three characters seemed like real people to me, and though your book is almost 400 pages, I read it cover to cover in under 24 hours.

Just as Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilter series follows members of the Elm Creek Quilters through a variety of experiences, I certainly hope that we will be reading more about the adventures of YOUR protagonists, June, Kiki and Peggy.

And to everyone on the forum reading this post, I urge you to check out Sandy's hilarious book about three lifelong friends who've stuck together over the many decades since high school, and make a pact over drinks one night to look up their old high school boyfriends -- and "make amends" for the sexual frustration their virginal behavior caused.

The book's available on Amazon, in both paperback and Kindle formats -- and at Barnes and Noble in both Nook and paperback. "You go girl!"

Thank you, Anne, for your kind words. My co-author and I are so glad you enjoyed the book, and we sincerely appreciate your support.

That Aaron Paul Lazar Chatty mentions is a good writer. I'm enjoying "Healey's Cave," so much. I can't wait to get back at it. Only half way through but it's one excellent read.

Anybody read The Hunger Games? I just finished the trilogy, wondering if anyone else here has read them and any thoughts??

I haven't gotten around to reading those yet. The trilogy is on my list to read. I got caught up in the Game of Thrones series and read all 5 books over the last few months. I'm currently reading Diana Gabaldon's The Scottish Prisoner. Once that is finished, I might try the Hunger Games trilogy. Although from what I have read, I'm not sure it would interest me; I'll check it out.

Cross,
I haven't heard of those "Hunger Games." But that trilogy title peaks interest. I'm currently reading a book by Diana Gabaldon.
This gal writes some fat books. And it takes a while to get through just one of hers. This Diana has an imagination to top all imaginations. She should leave her brain to science; what an intellectual. What R the Hunger Games about, Cross?

The Hunger Games are set in the future, the main character is a 17 year old girl, the country is divided into districts and each district picks one girl and one boy to go to an arena and fight for survival. It's different from my usual read but so was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and I thoroughly enjoyed that series and can't wait to see the movie. There is also a movie of The Hunger Games coming out some time next year I think.

Thanks, Cross. It does sound interesting and different. I'll have to look it up when I finish these Gabaldon books.

I'm reading Ride to Raton, the second book in the Owen Family Saga series by Marsha Ward. (The first is The Man from Shenandoah.) The books take place in the old west, after the Civil War, and they have no sex or profanity. The thing I'm enjoying most about them is the dialogue, but the characters are interesting too. They're fun reads.

I've read all 3 of The Hunger Games Books too. Scary to think of the world becomming like that. I normally read the same fiction most of us read but once in awhile I like odd things. These were odd! By looking at it on some movie site I like the looks of the girl they got to play Katniss and the little girl who plays Rue is a cutie. Woody Harrelson is playing Haymitch, perfect casting there. I'm not much of a movie goer but this one I'll have to see.

What did you think of them?

I must admit I didn't read The Hunger Games. I read descriptions of the books and the subject matter just didn't appeal to me. I have read too many 'dark' books lately and need to find something much lighter for a break.

Just finished a book I got for Christmas last year. It's a good one. Called "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, by Lisa Patton. Check it out. Great story and the next one will be out sometime next year early.

Now reading Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy. Have always loved her books and think this is the only one of her's I haven't read. Found it in paperback the other day so bought it. Only a few chapters into it so far, but it's as good as all her others.

Loved Minding Frankie...I have it on audio too..enjoy.You may weep.

I watched the tv mini series The Pillars of the Earth on REELZ channel and loved it, so I downloaded the book for my Kindle. I'm hoping the book is as good as the mini-series. The author is Ken Follett, has anyone read this book ? I think it was written in the late 80s. Thanks for any input. Tricia

My husband has read that book..Pillars of the Earth..and he feels it's the best book of all time!
I've not read it but his daughter has. Took her a while to get thru it, but she did. Don't think she felt the same though.

I read this book years ago when it was first published - I am a big fan of Ken Follett - and I loved it.

I also watched the mini-series with my husband, who thought it was fabulous. I thought the mini-series was OK, but nowhere near as good as the book. But I always fault movies and mini-series for the fact that they can never cover the full depth and breadth of the book! Enjoy!!

If you liked Pillars of the Earth then you'll like World Without End too. It takes place in the same setting but two centuries later. Fantastic book that I highly recommend.

I'm reading "Death Comes to Pemberley" by P.D.James. It's sort of a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, and I'm loving it! Here's a description from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/29/142848012/pride-and-prejudice-meets-clue-at-pemberley

I didn't realize that P.D.James is 91! I've read a couple of her books and intend to read some more.

Is that PD's newest book? I saw she had a new one out... I've only ready one of her books -- Death in Holy Orders -- but I really enjoyed it, and want to read more...

If PD is still writing at age 91, then I guess there's hope for me.

[color:#3366FF]Jabber: There's always hope! Even if you get to where you can't type, you can use voice recognition software. Keep writing![/color]

Thank you, Sandy.

Thank you ladies for the suggestions ! I will definitely look for World without End Sany, and Death comes to Pemberley Yonuh. I will also look into P D James. I just spoke to my daughter and she told me she had read Pillars of the Earth before watching the tv shows and didn't think they were very good either. So I'm happy I saw them first !!

WELCOME Peacee52 to our cyber home... I am reading another Aaron Paul Lazar mystery called FOR THE BIRDS! It is awesome...

Aaron Paul Lazar is an excellent author, Chatty. I bought Healey's Cave for a neighbor and her sister bought two other books of his. I'm on my third Dianna Gabaldon, "Voyager"; the first book was 600 plus; the 2nd 700 plus and this one is 900 plus pages. This gal can write. Her descriptive abilities are outstanding! I prefer smaller books, 200 plus pages or so are fine. But once a person gets hooked on these Diana G. books, they seem to be a goner!!!

yonuh,
I'm thinking reading all those Diana Gabaldon books helped you meet the quota for that NaNoWriMo club you joined. What say you?

I don't know, jabber. I read a lot - I devour books by the dozens, hundreds even, every year. I panic if I have nothing to read!

Exactly! That's why you're able to meet a 50,000 word deadline in a month.

Love the concept of using voice recognition software to write a book. Are there any you particularly recommend?

Somewhere we have a license to an early version of "Dragon Naturally Speaking" but we haven't used it.

In a somewhat related vein, Ronda Del Boccio, who is my mastermind partner, mentioned a free tool, Screenr this morning when we were talking.

It only allows you to record five minutes at a time, but it allows you to create and share web screen casts. You could use this to read a part of a book chapter you're developing or have published, while allowing users to read it on the screen. Or read it on the screen while they hear you speak it.

It opens up some interesting book marketing options.

I love to read, but I am never getting time to focus on and make progress writing a book. Ideas from those of you who have done it are welcome!

I'm with you, Yonuh. I've always got a book going. Right now I've started rereading The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King. It was written in 2005, and the protagonists are all approaching 50 yrs old. They've been friends for 30 years.
Anne: Thanks for the link to Screenr. It sounds intriguing. Unfortunately, my computer doesn't have a camera. But I'll keep the info for the future, in case that should change.

On Saturday nights I watch a show called PIT BOSS, it's about a man Shorty Rossi who rescues Pit Bulls and finds then good homes. He is a small person and has just written a book called, FOUR FEET AND GROWING. I am looking for his book to begin reading it, he's had quite the life.

Found the book and am beginning to read it today!

chatty: I clicked on your blog link and it took me to a post from 2011. You might want to double-check it.

I recently re-read Two Old Women -- and enjoyed it all over again. It's the retelling of an American Indian legend, and it takes place in Alaska. If you're interested, I wrote a review on the Boomers & Books blog:
Book Review: Two Old Women

Sounds like it's a fascinating story, Sandy. I will see if I can find it at my library...

I'm almost finished with "Doc" by Mary Doria Russell. I've never read anything by her before, but after reading this one, I might seek out more of her work. "Doc" is a fictional biography about Doc Holliday, but it's obvious she has done her research on the time and place. Here's an interview with her about the book: http://blog.printsasia.com/2011/11/09/mary-doria-russell-latest-release-doc/

Thanks for the link, Yonuh. I read every word of it. Was amazed and intrigued to find Davenport, Iowa mentioned in the discussion of Kate's (Doc Holliday's friend) background.

I lived in Davenport for roughly 20 years. It's a community on the Mississippi River, across from Rock Island, Illinois. I never think of it in conjunction with Dodge City... Though I guess both cities DID exist at the same time.

Again, I was not previously familiar with Mary Doria Russell, but I plan to find this book and read it.