The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Lauren]

Holy crap, Sojo, we have SO many favorite books in common, I just had a jaw-dropping read there!

I am a voracious reader as well, and can totally agree that the backs of cereal boxes certainly gave me my daily breakfast reading lesson too! I have always read everything I could get my hands on, and love love love book stores. It's funny, I actually have always much preferred book stores to libraries. Don't know why, but I'd curl up in the aisles and just pick one book after another off the shelves and make piles of those to buy. Fortunately, my parents were big supporters of this habit, so they didn't complain, or force the library card on me! :-)

I love Maya Angelou, so I've read nearly all her work, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was magnificent! I also loved Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez, but didn't read in Spanish! Love Amy Sedaris (and her bro), got an early addition of Color Purple that is all marked up and just beautiful, She's Come Undone made ME come undone, Loved Running with Scissors so much that I ended up reading all of Augusten Burroughs works from it, and Eugenides' Middlesex was truly remarkable, I just recommended it recently to someone, even though I read it years ago! Oh, and I don't care if James Frey made up his whole story or if it was real, I thought Million Little Pieces was profound and heart-wrenching, and a great piece of work!

Whew, sorry, I just got so excited to see someone with such similar tastes! I just started Memory Keeper's Daughter, will let you know how that goes...

Lauren

[Serendipity]

Same here, girls. I would add Amy Tan to your mix. I absolutely love all of her books. Funny you whould mention Wally Lamb. Love his work! I only wish he would write faster. I've read all of his and Amy Tan's books along with many of the others you mentioned.

[Sojourner]

When I first read She's Come Undone, I had to keep checking the jacket photo of the author because I could NOT believe that a man could so accurately depict the spinning out of control craziness that is female adolescence. It still boggles my mind. Funny thing happened...when I was reading this novel I had a total picture of Dolores in my mind - and she was Kathy Najimy (comedian, the funny/chubby nun in Sister Act), okay? I could SO see her expressions and everything in the character of Dolores, throughout the whole book. Fast forward a couple of years...a friend of mine who commuted, always listened to audio books and brought this one to me saying that I had to listen to it 'cause it was so good. She hands it to me and I tell her that I've already read it, and we start to discuss it...as I hand it back to her, I see the narrator's photo on the back cover. Yup, you guessed it ~ Kathy Najimy!! Freaked me out! I had to listen to it just for that! I LOVED that book and the one about the twins, too.

Oh, Jo...Amy Tan, yes. She grew up in nearby Oakland, CA. She's awesome.

Lauren, I've read pretty much all of Maya Angelou's work, too. And I did the same thing as you did with Augusten Burroughs...I've devoured everything he's written. I was reading Magical Thinking in the student lounge one day inbetween classes, and I actually had to exit because I was snort-laughing so loudly! (OMG, the Tang commercial!!! ) Yeah, I totally agree with you on James Frey--I could care less if it was all true, or partly true, or completely made up...it was an awesome read. Have you read the sequel? My Friend Leonard? Excellent, with a great twist at the end. Loved it. I've not heard of Memory Keeper's Daughter, but I just googled it and it sounds really good--I might have to add it to my shelf!

Oooh, I just remembered Midwives, did y'all read that? Very good. And Snow Falling on Cedars, and The Poisonwood Bible, and Memoirs of a Geisha, and Me & Emma, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (ALL of Rebecca Wells), and Wicked ~ how could I have forgotten Wicked?? All of the Harry Potter books, anything by Isabel Allende, Judy Blume or Fanny Flagg (so funny), especially, of course, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Okay, I'll stop ~ but I could go on for hours and hours. And hours.

HeeHee, I started to apologize for the long post, but heck with that ~ I'm in MY journal!!

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[bikipatra]

I have also read everything Augusten Burroughs has ever written with Dry being my favorite.(Gee I wonder why???) I have read it 2-3 times and it still can make me put down the book for a moment it scares me so much. When I was doing the things he describes in that book, I had no witnesses, none that would ever see me again anyway or weren't as bad off as I was. He made me see myself and all the places I went whether in a blackout or not. The book was my witness. The most compelling part of James Frey's book was in the end notes. Where he describes how all the people from treatment turned out and the news isn't good. That is because it is just what happens to addicts and alcoholics- we kill ourselves, slowly or quickly, or goad someone else into doing it. I was in treatment in Thanksgiving of 2002 and a few months later found out that one of fellow patients had gotten out and on Christmas, gotten drunk on some church steps and then committed suicide with his broken liquor bottle.

[Mavesse]

Sojourner...I loved reading your list of favorite books! I count The Color Purple and She's Come Undone among my top ten all-time most-loved. In fact, the two heroines are so real to me, sometimes I forget that they're fiction and their stories are sort of part of my memory, the same way my own life experiences are.

Would you believe I'm only now working my way through the Harry Potter books? It's my goal to have them done before the final one comes out in July. I'm loving them, too

Have you ever read Once in a House on Fire, by Andrea Ashworth? It's the memoir of a girl who had a really awful childhood, but made a future for herself through studying, reading and writing. If you haven't already read it, think you would like it

[CaribGirl]

I have to agree with all of you on the books thing ( except Kaite, sorry). I have recently read Memory Keepers Daughter. I thought it was one of the most well-written books I have ever read.
Let me add a few to the list of authors:
Pat Conroy
Jodi Picoult
Harlen Coben
I'm sure I could think of many others if I sit here long enough. I love Amazon.com like Biki lvoes Ebay. At least once a week a new book arrives! It's like Christmas weekly at my house. And I agree with Jo as far as just owning books. I can never have too many (my husband may argue that point). Maybe someone could start a new thread where everyone lists their top 10 books? ( I would do it, but don't know how). That way maybe us avid readers could learn about some books we haven't already read???

[Serendipity]

Ditto on Pat Conroy! I've read all of his books and a few twice.

Why can't the good authors write as fast as Nora Roberts? (no offense to you Nora Roberts fans)

[CaribGirl]

Jo,
Did you know Pat Conroy has a new book coming out? Can't remember the name of it. He is married to a woman I know so that's how I keep up with him. It will be his forst since Beaches, I think.

[Lauren]

Doesn't that sort of sum up Nora Roberts? Sorry to her fans as well?

The great books are truly worth the wait. And, yes, I agree on the Amy Tan front! Oh, and Caribgirl, LOVE Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper (is that what it was called?). God that tortured me, that whole book was one big fat moral dilemma, and I just couldn't fathom being in that family. Oy. I am more of a bn.com girl, as opposed to amazon, I get the orders REALLY fast because they're based in NYC. I am psyched that you loved Memory Keeper's, CaribGirl, so I will invest my beach time this weekend to it (my friends and family will just have to deal with my silence!).

Biki, I can totally understand how Dry would speak to you, and I completely "get" your witness comments - because even though I don't share in that addiction, the writing was so honest, so gritty, it took you right there, and I felt like I was there, so I can see how it would speak to you.

Sojo, I of course ran out and got My Friend Leonard the moment it was published (I read all these before all the hoopla, so I was already a committed and loyal Frey fan before everyone started yapping about it). I actually didn't love My Friend Leonard quite as much, but yeah, the ending was a holy crapper!

The funny thing about books is that I become so totally immersed in the lives of the characters that if every great book could have endless sequels, I'd be the happiest person alive! When I was a young girl I was obsessed with VC Andrews (you know, Flowers in the Attic?), and this was AWESOME because her books were just one after another of sequels, and story lines where families extend, so you meet cousins with new issues, and then new generations. Anyway, it was hardly great literature, but it brought me SO MUCH JOY to finish a book being in love with the characters and their story, and then be able to pick up the next one and find out what happened to them! Obviously most book sequels, just like in movies, tend to not be particularly well-done, but it just really helped fill that sadness I would get when I would put down a book.

A few years ago I read "The Namesake" and just marveled at the beauty of the story, the characters, and how it truly brought me into the family. I remembered thinking, at the time, that I couldn't wait to read more from the author or have it be made into a movie. Well, lo and behold, the movie came out last month or so, and I was first in line at its first screening! To be fair, movies are almost never as good as the book (anyone read than see Running with Scissors, that movie did not do any justice to the book), but Namesake was a pretty great movie as well, and did a nice job capturing the family's saga. It wasn't as good as the book, but it was still well done.

The only movie that I would venture rivaled the book was The Outsiders. Could be because I LOVED Matt Dillon, but I thought they did a brilliant job giving us the visual that we already had imagined from the book.

Sorry, Sojo, I totally hijaked your whole damn thread! I can't help it, start me on books, I can't shut up!

Lauren

[bikipatra]

The only movie that I would venture rivaled the book was The Outsiders. Could be because I LOVED Matt Dillon, but I thought they did a brilliant job giving us the visual that we already had imagined from the book.

Lauren

Gawd, I have loved that man for most of my life. Did you read S.E. Hinton's Hawkes Harbor? Not like her rest at all.

[Lauren]

Huh, no I didn't! Is it great? Obviously most of her writing is more for adolescents, but is this something I'd find interesting now?

[bikipatra]

Huh, no I didn't! Is it great? Obviously most of her writing is more for adolescents, but is this something I'd find interesting now?

I wouldn't call it great and it is not for adolescents, but just a rather creepy tale. Vampires figure into the story. It is a non-romantic love story between two men, one of whom ostensibly has no feelings.

[Sojourner]

Wow, looks like we hit a nerve here, huh? Lots of book lovers, which is great!

Jo ~ I've actually read Nora Roberts (anything in a pinch!) and she wasn't all that terrible. At least Fabio isn't on the cover of any of her books. Or is he? I've read Danielle Steele and Maeve Binchy, and lots of random books of which I remember neither the author nor title...but these are definitely NOT my preference!! They do, however, provide more entertainment than does Captain Crunch (riboflavin, niacin, thiamin mononitrate, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil...!!).

Please, Lauren ~ don't ever worry about hijacking anything of mine, journal...thread...whatever...I actually love when that happens! Yeah, I read James Frey before Oprah hated him, so it was all good. Oh, of course - Flowers in the Attic (the Dollangangers, right?). Those books were so good they somehow made incest sound reasonable (!!). V.C. Andrews is still a bestselling author of newly written and published books and she's been dead for over 20 years!

I not only become totally immersed with the characters in books, I become totally immersed in the story itself - as though it's really happening. I can't tell you how disturbing that was when I was in my Stephen King phase. I mean, I'm a fairly reasonable person...I don't really believe in vampires...but while I was reading Salem's Lot they were as real as I am. Once I put the book down, they were gone - but inbetween those pages, the fangs were bared and glistening and sunlight was the only safety.

Oh, speaking of vampires! How could I have forgotten Interview with a Vampire? I had a real Ann Rice phase, too! Lasher, the Body Thief...

Caribgirl ~ that's a good idea about a top 10 list. For me, however, I don't know if I could come up with such a list - ?? I know that The Godfather, Les Miserable, She's Come Undone, The World According to Garp, and The Color Purple would definitely make it there, but the rest?? Like I said, I've read thousands of books in my lifetime....how to choose?

Biki ~ I always envy you your unstructured schedule and would likely fill the bulk of my day with reading. It never gets old for me. It's funny how each person's experiences determine the way they relate to a book, huh? Or anything, really. I also read Dry, and while it was sobering (hehe), it was not frightening to me. The part in A Million Little Pieces where he's at the dentist? Now, THAT was frightening. I actually had to put the book down several times to get through that section. Whew!

Mavesse ~ as evidenced by my Harry Potter addiction, I still read some adolescent stuff.....and some of it is very good! I really enjoyed, for instance, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and books 2 and 3 of that series are sitting on my shelf patiently waiting... I'm glad you're enjoying HP!

I know exactly what you mean about the stories and characters becoming a part of your memory and life experiences...I do that all the time. In fact, that's one of the ways by which I judge a book - if I'm still thinking of it long after I've finished reading it, it's made an impact on me. I read She's Come Undone 10 years ago, and Dolores still pops into my head at random moments. Of course it's Dolores as Kathy Najimy, so that's always fun!!

Oh, thanks for the recommendation on House on Fire ~ I've neither read nor heard of it, but it sounds like my kind of story! Actually, it sounds kinda' like my life! Your description of this book reminded me of one called The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, have you read it? OMG, the adversity this woman overcame...it's a very good read and supremely inspiring!

Okay, kids...that's it for me. To quote Lauren (and some other dude), tawk amuungst yoeselves...
Hasta, y'all!

[Serendipity]

Jo,
Did you know Pat Conroy has a new book coming out? Can't remember the name of it. He is married to a woman I know so that's how I keep up with him. It will be his forst since Beaches, I think.

No I didn't know that! I wonder if I can pre-order it at amazon......

Wally Lamb has a new book coming out but it's not actually by him. It's a continuation of the book of essays by women in the correctional institution where he taught a class. The first one was great, so I've already pre-ordered the second.

[Sojourner]

This is an abrupt topic switch, but I had to share this with y'all...

<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_7_21.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D12%252F12_7_21/image.gif"> You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a substantial "drop off," and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. <img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_2_18.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D3%252F3_2_18/image.gif">


<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_33_11.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_33_11/image.gif"> In front of you is a galloping horse which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it.

Behind you is a galloping zebra. <img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_12_105.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D16%252F16_12_105/image.gif">Both the horse and zebra are also traveling at the same speed as you.

What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?


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* Get your drunk ass off the merry-go-round.

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