I'll be happy to kick it off. I just finished Beautiful Children, and I thought it was fantastic. It's very much a first novel. It's a bit ragged and undisciplined, but the characters are interesting, and incredibly well drawn. The city of Las Vegas, itself, becomes a character in the book as well. And it's not very nice. Very satisfying, and literary.

I am almost finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl and I am loving it. I did see a trailer for the movie based on the book last week and thought it looked pretty interesting. I found it and Barnes and Noble and bought it and I haven't put it down since. It is about King Henry VIII and two rival sisters who start off competing for the king’s attention as part of their family's plan for their family to gain power. I don’t want to give too much away but if anyone is interested in a story about love, sex, and power than you have a winner!

The film is awful and should be avoided at all costs.

Finished reading The Courtier and The Heretic, a comparison of the lives of Spinoza and Liebniz. Exceptional book.

I don't read modern literature very often, but if I were to check out one 2008 book, what should it be?

That completely depends on your areas of interest LR.

I'm currently reading Amand Menon's 'The State Of The Union', about the European Union.

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
That completely depends on your areas of interest LR.

I'm currently reading Amand Menon's 'The State Of The Union', about the European Union.

Let's say fiction and go from there...

Ah I read non-fiction (politics, history etc) and so can't help you.

I will say the new Bond is supposed to be excellent. Its written by one of the great writers of the 20th century (Sebastian Faulks).

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
Ah I read non-fiction (politics, history etc) and so can't help you.

Well then just recommend me your favorite book of the year so far.

I have a feeling it was technically released last year, but assuming that doesn't matter, I strongly suggest getting Arkady Babchenko's 'One Soldiers War in Chechnya'.

As the title suggests, its a Russian journalist writing about his time in the Russain army whilst fighting in the Chechenm wars. Its a brutal tale of bullying, murder and the ways of the Russian army, and more then that its an exertly written analysis of how soldiers act and think in the worst of conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
I have a feeling it was technically released last year, but assuming that doesn't matter, I strongly suggest getting Arkady Babchenko's 'One Soldiers War in Chechnya'.

As the title suggests, its a Russian journalist writing about his time in the Russain army whilst fighting in the Chechenm wars. Its a brutal tale of bullying, murder and the ways of the Russian army, and more then that its an exertly written analysis of how soldiers act and think in the worst of conditions.

I'll check it out. Thanks!

I am a devotee of art and photography books, and I would have to say that my favorite recent purchase is something I'd be happy to recommend: The Places We Live, by Jonas Bendiksen.