What's on your Night Stand?

[Mike]

I saw this thread a while back, but it died a gradual death. Since it's been a while, and we readers are always reading, you likely have moved on to something else. I'm always looking for new material.

I'm reading (or was reading) "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell - Don't let the name throw you. He writes about how we can change the way we preach to "today's people with "today's" gospel. A friend (or at least I thought he was a friend) loaned it to me. When I realized the book was promoting the emergent Church, I put it down for good.

So I really need good suggestions, hopefully from positive experiences.

(WestTexas, I'm trying to read the book you pointed me to on line, but it's hard for me to read at length on my computer. Too many distracting things to click on, like Mail, and Favorites. And I like to have a book in my hand. But thank you for that link.)

So, what is everyone reading now? :help

 

[NinaMMitchell]

I just findished reading a book called Jade Green, and I just started reading Sang Spell. Both books are by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. They aren't Christian based or anything, but her books are really good. She writes a lot of books for children but she writes for older readers too.

 

[Mike]

Thanks, Nina. 24 hours and only one response!

I'm a guy, and this thread obviously isn't just for me, but at the risk of sounding sexist, I've only found a few female authors that reach me as a guy. And by the way, they happen to be among my favorite authors in biblical fiction. Lynn Austin and Francine Rivers.

I need word of mouth to hear a quick summary of a book AND give their critique. If it's something I'm interested in AND someone likes it, I'm in! I'm tired of getting part-way through a book and burn out 'cause it's just not good.

Some of the books I like take a story from the Bible and bring it to life, either by way of fiction or nonfiction in dissecting it with details about the time and place.

 

[NinaMMitchell]

Some of the books I like take a story from the Bible and bring it to life, either by way of fiction or nonfiction in dissecting it with details about the time and place.

Then maybe you should read Mad Mary by Liz Curtis Higgs (I believe that's her name). I read it and it was EXTREMELY good. The first part is a story, an analogy of the story of Mary Magdelene and how Jesus changed her life, and then the second part is a study that the author did about Mary Magdelene. I would highly reccommend that book.

 

[NinaMMitchell]

Actually, now that I think about it, a guy might not like Mad Mary because the author writes it as if she's talking to a women. In the second half of the book, which is the study of Mary Magdelene, she refers to the reader as "babe" and "sis" a lot. Nonetheless, the story part is genderless. It's still good.

 

[Mike]

Thanks Nina. This wasn't about me, though. I was hoping more people would chime in with ideas for everyone.

What is everyone reading now?

 

[user2207]

I'm an avid reader and read a novel a week.

I'm currently reading a book by Kathy Reichs called Cross Bones. I wanted to read a thriller and am quite shocked with the story (bout half way through it). The plot heavily deals with the possibility that some bones found in Masada are those of Jesus. Whereby he survived the cross by drinking some drug from the sponge that made him appear to be dead. Was taken down and fled to live to the age of 80. Some ellaborate plot by Pilate or something...

The story is ofcourse absolute fiction and total lunacy. Was just really surprised because I certainly didnt get an incling the story would be about this after reading the blub on the back of the book ebfore i bought it. Cant say i particularly like it, but i can never start a book without finishing it and ofcourse no possibility i could ever think this book is anything but pure fiction.

Last week i read Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I think its a really good book but i think all the rave reviews overhyped it too much and there was a little sence of anticlimax.

 

[Mike]

I'm an avid reader and read a novel a week.

I'm currently reading a book by Kathy Reichs called Cross Bones. I wanted to read a thriller and am quite shocked with the story (bout half way through it). The plot heavily deals with the possibility that some bones found in Masada are those of Jesus. Whereby he survived the cross by drinking some drug from the sponge that made him appear to be dead. Was taken down and fled to live to the age of 80. Some ellaborate plot by Pilate or something...

The story is ofcourse absolute fiction and total lunacy. Was just really surprised because I certainly didnt get an incling the story would be about this after reading the blub on the back of the book ebfore i bought it. Cant say i particularly like it, but i can never start a book without finishing it and ofcourse no possibility i could ever think this book is anything but pure fiction.

Last week i read Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I think its a really good book but i think all the rave reviews overhyped it too much and there was a little sence of anticlimax.

user2207, here's a link to a thread I started a while back about a book with a similar plot to your book, Cross Bones. It's by a Christian author, so it's very pro-Christian.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=46660#p568844

 

[freeway]

I have a couple books by Joel Roseburg, and right now trying to read Monster by Ted decker so far so good..

 

[Mike]

I have a couple books by Joel Roseburg, and right now trying to read Monster by Ted decker so far so good..

Love Rosenberg - all his books. He has the credibility in the field as does Clancy, but from a Christian perspective. Too bad Clancy's done writing. He was a very good read, but I still can't believe he spent 30 pages detailing how a hydrogen bomb was assembled in "Sum of All Fears".

 

[KumiOri]

Knights Modern Seamanship
Bowditch American Practical Navigator Vol.1 & 2
2 1611 edition bibles (facsimiles thereof)
Clare Maxwell Hudson Illustrated book on therapeutic massage
oh, and some dust

 

[user2207]

Started Dean Koontz - Life Expectancy. Havent read anything by him before so hopefully its good.

Just a suggestion for people who buy books as apposed to borrowing, bookdepository.co.uk is a great site for buying books. Its free shipping and really cheap. Almost by half. I compared the price of 5 books from an online australian store vs bookdepository (same books) and it ended up being AUD$91 vs AUD$50.

Being Australian though we always pay more for everything so im not sure how great the savings are if you live in other countries.

 

[PouringRain]

I am currently reading The Cup of the World. It's a young adult novel. :P I just finished reading all four books in The Long Price Quartet series by Daniel Abraham.

 

[Biblereader]

Oh, goodness! I thought you wanted to know that I have a box of kleenex,

a remote control lightswitch, and a nail file on my night stand!! :biglaugh

 

[Mike]

Oh, goodness! I thought you wanted to know that I have a box of kleenex,

a remote control lightswitch, and a nail file on my night stand!! :biglaugh

This is the book forum. Unless the warning section on the side of your kleenex box captivates you, this wouldn't fit in.

 

[Feldew]

Right now it's The Shining by Stephen King.

 

[Biblereader]

Oh, goodness! I thought you wanted to know that I have a box of kleenex,

a remote control lightswitch, and a nail file on my night stand!! :biglaugh

This is the book forum. Unless the warning section on the side of your kleenex box captivates you, this wouldn't fit in.

Hee heee. Hmm, I'll have to go read that!

OK, I just finished reading 2 books, both by Carolly Erickson, who writes historical novels, and historical
fiction. I love history.
Book one was: Bloody Mary
Book two was: Tsarina's Daughter
The book about Queen Mary, was extremely well documented, very interesting, full of details.
I think Mrs. Erickson must spend months reading old letters, diaries, and papers about her subject,
before writing.
I'd like to own a copy of that book. It was slanted in favor of Catholicism, in favor of Queen Mary, or Bloody Mary, but, in spite of that, the book was quite good.
The book about the last ruling family of Russia was well done. Tsar Nicolas II abandoned his governmental duties, and sought the contentment of long walks in the countryside while his empire came unraveled. His wife was addicted to some drug, he took cocaine, which, from what I understand, was a commonly used drug for many decades.
The Romanov dynasty came to an end, due to the revolution. They were sent to SIberia, to escape being killed, and the descriptions of the bitterly cold winter in Siberia made me feel as if I was there, with them.
Carrolly Erickson is one of the best writers.

 

[Rick-O-Shay]

lol, well in response to the original question... what don't I have on my night stand? I have been on a book binge lately. Currently I am reading a book called Natural alternatives to Prozac. I have an anxiety problem and was treated with many different medications (pretty much everything but Prozac) and wanted to find other ways to treat it. It's actually a pretty interesting book.

 

[Luci]

I am reading Good News for Bad People by Roy Hession and it's very good. Making Christians to realize again the very basic truths of the gospel that we may not realize so well any more.

 

[old_tractor]

Hi all! First post!

I picked up a Christian fantasy book on Amazon named "In My Master's Hand". Tolkien-esque but no elves or dwarves (so far!) but lots of action, magic with very simple Christian messages. Doesn't beat you over the head with them, but so far it's been about servanthood and accepting God's will for our lives instead of self.

It's definitely not veggie tales so I found it refreshingly adult.

btw glad to be here!