Sir Stewart Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I think he's referring to Abstinence Teacher. I felt the same way - my favorite Perrotta books are The Wishbones & Election. Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Which one? I'm getting that "dashed off" feeling from "The Abstinence Teacher". I thought "Little Children" had more depth.Yup - I wasn't all that clear with my pronouns. I agree with you. I liked Little Children but Abstinence Teacher feels like he had a deadline to meet.I just read Perrotta's The Wishbones, which was pretty good. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 A few professors have raved about his work - I am intrigued as well. Let me know how you like it and I might be adding it to my wish listre: the Eckhart Tolle book, A New Earth I'm just shy of 100 pages and find it absolutely fascinating. It's more of a psychology-based book than I thought it would be. It basically addresses the hinderances of an ego-based society in terms of such things as war, diplomacy, profession, etc. as well as with personality, relationships, parenting, etc. It references major religions and the self often. It's definitely a book that makes me think. It's hard to argue with a lot of his observations. It may not be for everybody but it works for me. Pretty philosophical at times, too. Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 I started this last night and couldn't put it down. It was as if someone was in my head. Very comforting during this time. It's nice to know all the crazy I feel isn't crazy, but normal - and they do a good job explaining why you react psychologically and what functions it has. For me, having that information makes me feel better. I highly recommend it. It's intriguing and approachable while remaining empathic and kind. Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted May 16, 2008 Author Share Posted May 16, 2008 re: the Eckhart Tolle book, A New Earth I'm just shy of 100 pages and find it absolutely fascinating. It's more of a psychology-based book than I thought it would be. It basically addresses the hinderances of an ego-based society in terms of such things as war, diplomacy, profession, etc. as well as with personality, relationships, parenting, etc. It references major religions and the self often. It's definitely a book that makes me think. It's hard to argue with a lot of his observations. It may not be for everybody but it works for me. Pretty philosophical at times, too.Interesting. I usually shy away from anything self-helpy, but I've been drawn to this one. May give it a shot. Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 my mom just gave me The Power of Now - so it is on my list - though I am tempted to check out this one, too. I should put it on my reserve list at the library. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Interesting. I usually shy away from anything self-helpy, but I've been drawn to this one. May give it a shot.It's not a typical run-of-the-mill self-help book in any sense. It's not sappy/syrupy and really just deals with ego and how the ego affects us. I suppose it is a self-helper as it does help the person reading it to be introspective and to consider some fairly complex issues about the Self- but that's fine by me. Really, any good book does that anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
the carlos Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Started Chip Kidd's new one, "The Learners" last night. Finished "The Climb-Tragic Ambitions on Everest" by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt and "Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas" by Chuck Klosterman on Tuesday. Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 a friend and I are doing a little "book club" kinda thing and this is our first pick - mine just arrived today. It looks crazy! Link to post Share on other sites
Good Old Neon Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 a friend and I are doing a little "book club" kinda thing and this is our first pick - mine just arrived today. It looks crazy! It sounds like an interesting read, Slate.com profiled the book a week or two back - here's the link: http://www.slate.com/id/2190482/ Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 That does look good. I'm going to have to check it out. Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 I'm about half-way through this, and loving it. I'd read his The Hummingbird's Daughter before, which was also amazing, but in entirely different ways (the difference between fiction and non-fiction, for one...). Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Maudie - I loved that book. It is devastating and heartbreaking. I have read a few other non-fiction works of his. Love him. Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 I don't know why I haven't read his books before. I'd heard such good things about the non-fiction (plus: Calexico [the band not the VCer ] loves him!), and everything I'd heard was true. Across the Wire next, probably. Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I did like Across the Wire a wee bit more than By The Lake of Sleeping Children, though they are similar. The Devil's Highway was my favorite. It's hard for me to gush about that book though, because of the nature of it. It feels weird to talk so nonchalantly about something that is so tragic. It is certainly one of the better books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Bracket The Amish In Their Own WordsBy Brad Igou Iron Maiden Tribute IssueGuitar Legends Magazine Link to post Share on other sites
Somnambulist Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 and I guess I'm on a superhero kick. Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Is that a Carson Ellis illustration? I'm still working my way through the Chronicles Of Narnia books. I haven't read them since I was very young. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Is that a Carson Ellis illustration?If that's the guy who does the covers for The Decemberists, I was curious too. Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Girl, actually. Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 i'm waiting for the paperback to come out next month...is it good? Link to post Share on other sites
la* Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 How is Thunderstruck? It's on my 'to read' list. Currently reading this. I am a big fan of Steve Coll's writing (he also wrote Ghost Wars, which I thought was great): Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I have a horrible OCD habit of forcing myself to finish any book I read. With 3-year-old twins, a full-time job, a part-time job, and my love of movies and music, reading is often on the backburner. Especially when I've started a book like this and I keep telling myself I have to finish it. I really liked Russell Banks' Rule of the Bone and enjoyed, but forced myself to finish Cloudsplitter. This one is a collection of short stories. His stories are so depressing that reading one after another is really depressing. My p/t job is at a bookstore and I keep seeing all these other books I should be reading, but, again; I must finish... Link to post Share on other sites
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