[daisyscarlett]

What books are you packing to take to the beach this year?

Or are you just going to "hang out"?

[daisyscarlett]

Good Morning ping......

[Utah Girl]

I am just finishing 'Love, Greg and Lauren', the story of the woman at the Twin Towers who had flaming jet fuel land on her. Great book. Next on my list is 'Slander' by Ann Coulter, then 'P is for Peril' by Sue Grafton. After that a book called 'Mormons and Muslims.' I like to read...

[Aquamarine]

I don't have much time to read books anymore between reading FR, my junk mail and magazine subscriptions but one book that does stand out in my memory that was excellent reading was Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.

[homeschool mama]

Good evening...10:25pm in California. :o)

Just finished Prisoners of Hope, a nonfiction about the American Aid Workers in an Afghanistan prison. Worth reading.

Currently reading 2 books: Flower Fairies by Louisa May Alcott (reading this with my daughter - we're making little fairy dolls too)...and Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney.

Add'l books I plan to read this summer include: Trapp Family Singers (true story of the von Trapp family), and Fenelon's Spiritual Letters to Women.

And of course I need to cover all the new books for school. Great books can be read while on a stationary bike. :o)

[Timeout]

What a great opening! Well done.

My all-time-favoritest-beach-books-ever are the Mitford books by Jan Karon!
They are so funny, heart rending and romantic...all at the same time. Whenever I pick one up and thumb through it, I'm transported back to a shady spot at the edge of the bay with the gulf breeze blowing through my hair. Father Tim is a hoot!

I also love Francis Mayes' books, "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Bella Tuscany".
The couple buys an old villa in Tuscany and this is a journal of their travails in trying to restore it. Hilarious. The second book is about their travels around and getting to know Italy. Warning: YOU WILL WANT TO LEAVE FOR ITALY IMMEDIATELY! Her writing style is marvelous...."languid" comes to mind. Perfect hammock book.

Lastly, I love any of Sharon Kay Penman's earlier novels about Wales. ("The Sunne in Splendour"..."Here Be Dragons")
Best historical fiction I've ever read. You won't be able to put them down.

Thanks, daisyscarlett. I'm in a good mood already this morning just thinking about all these good books!

[lodwick]

Great stuff to start my day - thank you.
I started laughing with retrokitten's "...it's ugy and it's ugly..." and have not stopped.
The retreiver with his beach gear is too precious.

Gran's non-documented summer...FOF

A tremendous Tuesday to one and all.

PS: If I read it, most likely it's on this monitor, although Slander is alledgedly in the semi-trustworthy hands of the USPS.

[Portnoy]

Just finished Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination" which is an excellent book. Its considered one of the top Sci-Fi novels of the 20th century

Currently reading William Gibson's "Neuromancer". Gibson coined the word "cyberspace". Considered "Cyperpunk", its a slow but interesting read.

On the horizon for my week long Northern Michigan vacation, I have planned "Founding Brothers", "From Here to Eternity" and/or "David Copperfield".

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Excellent thread. Thanks for taking on the task.

I just got back from an early morning surveillance. I just hate getting up at 4 am to go sit in a hot cornfield for 5 hours. To make things worse, I left my car windows down last night and it rained. So I sat in a hot cornfield on wet lambswool and got a soggy tuckus.

I get to repeat the entire event tomorrow morning. Uck.

Kind of a funny Bare Escentuals story. My mother found out that all her friends were using Bare Minerals so she decided to hop on the bandwagon. ( I guess my telling her I would supply her with all the minerals she could ever want wasn't good enough for her). She ordered the kit from the informercial and told me that she really didn't think it gave the same coverage as the informercial. Well they gave her 2 mineral viels ( transluscent powder) and two warmths. No foundation!!! So I called the company, explained that my mother got an incomplete order and they are replacing everything.

I called the president of the company and told her what happened and told her that she needs to itemize what should be in the kit. Since there is no itemized sheet, gals might not know that they got the wrong stuff and be disappointed.

I will say, now that I know what should be in the kit, it's a HUGE value. All those brushes are worth more than the entire kit itself.

I also called the production company for those of you who wanted to know what the informercials would run. She said that they don't have a schedule, but they are running constantly, my mother says that she can't turn on the TV without seeing it somewhere.

The informercial can be seen on STYLE, Lifetime, CBNC, Animal Planet, Bravo, FoodTV, and several broadcast stations when they have paid programming.

[Lee'sGhost]

Well, I haven't had time to read a book lately, but, as a few of you know, I have written one. Only problem is I can't break through to an agent to have it published. The following synopsis is basically my cover letter to agents. I would be interested in hearing whether the novel sounds interesting to fellow Freepers and, who knows, maybe if you know of an agent . . .

There was a running joke among the “‘surfmen” of the U.S. Lifesaving Service that went, “The regulations say we've got to take our boats out any time a ship runs aground – even during a hurricane. The regulations don't say anything about having to come back.”

Dear Ms. XXXXX:

Aphrodite's Whisper is a novel about Ethan Roberts, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, deeply tormented by the deaths of his best friend and an innocent woman. In becoming a surfman, he has found refuge in the untamed isolation of Cape Hatteras where he and his six crewmates stand ready to challenge the most lethal waters of the Atlantic. With nothing to rely upon but the strength of their arms, their faith in each other and a twenty-five-foot rowboat, they know that each rescue may be their last. For Ethan, the next call for help may be the one that finally frees him from his guilt and pain. Whether it be through redemption or death – he no longer cares.

The stoic Missourian’s passion for life is rekindled, however, when the rescuer becomes the rescued during a bitter nor’easter in the winter of 1903. As surely as the flare from the floundering APHRODITE signals the end of a prized yacht – so it also marks the beginning of a love that blossoms beneath the wings of the first aeroplane, endures the tragedy of a marriage of convenience, and transcends the absolute devastation of “The War to End All Wars.” Aphrodite's Whisper is also the story of Carol Canady, a strong-willed New Yorker of prominent parents who finds herself stranded on Ocracoke, one of the Outer Banks’ most remote islands. With the help of Ocracoke’s quirky villagers, Carol begins to discover her true potential and the deeper meaning of life. In Ethan, she finds a man confident enough to accept her as an equal and caring enough to see the emptiness that has been her life. Enlisting the aid of Danny Williams, a young waterman from Harkers Island, they sail the coastal backwaters on a journey that ultimately takes them back to Carol’s home. On the way, they uncover a German plot to smuggle arms, witness man’s first flight, and discover that love does not necessarily conquer all. Then their story truly begins.

Nearly 150,000 words long, Aphrodite's Whisper represents more than two years of research, writing and editing. It is part Legends of the Fall, part Bridges of Madison County, and has test marketed exceedingly well with both men and women. Though painstakingly researched, the book’s historical detail serves only as the canvas upon which the characters come alive. The story itself, however is a timeless tale of two people who share a love so strong it survives betrayal, war and even death.

The recent success of Cold Mountain clearly demonstrates that the market is hungry for well-told historical fiction with three-dimensional characters. And though it is only a small thread woven into my story, the upcoming hundredth anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight makes that aspect of my novel all the more timely and appealing. In short, I believe that this is a well-written story about everlasting love, perseverance and human conflict that the reading public will enjoy.

Though I may be a first-time novelist, I have been a journalist and writer for many years. While I am very proud of my work, I realize that you are the expert and that your constructive criticism is essential to our combined success. With that said, I sincerely believe that you will find Aphrodite's Whisper a compelling read and a piece you will be more than willing to present to publishers. I look forward to hearing from you and hope that we will have a rewarding and productive association. Thank you.

[rightinalabama]

Hi, Yall... I saw your topic this morning and just had to reply.. I notice that Janet Evanovich's Hard Eight is on the fiction best seller list. If you haven't read this Stephanie Plum series you are missing too much fun. I have to put her books down because I can't read through the tears of laughter(out loud.. it hurts!) I went through One for the Money in a day and had finished the rest of the series two weeks later. Be sure to start with One for the Money!

Also you girls should enjoy the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George. She unfortunately died a few months back but her books like Murder on a Bad Hair Day are precious.

Maybe I will see you all again soon!My claim to fame is being Timeout's sister...Bye for now!

[joyce11111]

I just finished reading Beach House. I got it yesterday afternoon, a real quick read. It seemed like a 4 or 5 hour read.

I thought it not the usual James Patterson.

I sell my used books at Amazon.com. I listed it this morning, in less than an hour it was sold, and, on it's way to a new owner.

I am also reading John Sandfords Chosen Prey. Last week I read Mortal Prey, by Sandford. I have read all of his books.

I am reading John Adams, by David McCullough, as well.

I am very interested in books, and, would like to be on your ping list.

[Endeavor]

DS:

excellent subject. I am reading through Coulter's book now. Don't ask me why, but I am struggling through it -- I know you guys know what a Coulter fan I am, but I'm sorry, I'm struggling. Each chapter so far seems the same. Slap me. Put bamboo shoots under my fingernails, but that's how it hits me.

Am still reading the TR book, have started the Seabiscuit book, still in the Revelation book and am struggling to stay current on my equine journals. Throw in National Review and The Weekly Standard and I'm lucky if I know what day it is. Somewhere in there I actually make it to work, which reminds me, I was in Peoria today (eat your hearts out) and thought, "So, this is the town about which politicians say, 'If it plays in Peoria...'" or some such thing. Peoria's a nice town and all, but I doubt they take themselves as seriously as the politicians do.

Honestly, it seems impossible to concentrate on any one thing these days, which may explain why the first couple of chapters of Coulter's book seem the same - I'm probably reading the same ones over and over again.

As far as an excellent summer reading book, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy - it's such a good book that I have, for years, refused to read the end because I didn't want it to end. Sue me.