I'm reading 102 minutes..the untold story of the struggle to survive in the Twin Towers.

It's fascinating reading with some things that are pretty shocking.

Hubby is reading The History of Paris.

I also have library books out...the ones that start with "The Most Beautiful Village of......"

I am reading VANITY FAIR. Again. Not the magazine, the novel. Becky Sharp reminds me so much of myself. (I steal money out of my husband's wallet, too, and I am a horrid mother. And I have been in prison.)

I just finished reading THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LOLA FALANA. Inspiring!! I never knew she wore wigs.

Thin, dear, I think many would be amazed by the number of stars who have no hair. Only their hairdressers (and photographers) know for sure. I, too, have been in jail. Now there's a story some fodorites couldn't handle. =-O

I am, for the first time, reading the Harry Potter series. My granddaughter bought them for me for Xmas and I must say I am really enjoying them. I'd seen J.K. Rowling's biography on the Biography channel and was quite intrigued. I've seen all the movies thus far but, as a writer myself, am paying particular attention to the words she uses for children.

I'm also re-reading my Agatha Christie collection. I do that every so often because her puzzles are so good. No one has outdone her yet and when I visit many of the grand estates in England I try and imagine a murder weekend there in the 1940s. No wonder I linger for so long in the conservatory.

Sitting on the dryer, waiting to go back to the library, are: The Man Who Would be King: The First American in Afghanistan by Ben Macintyre. Fascinating reading, particularly considering events in the past few years. It is the real life story about the man Rudyard Kipling based his famous book on.

Also: Mistress of the Elgin Marbles by Susan Nagel. Great book to read if you are at all interested in the ongoing propaganda battle between the Greeks and the English. Tells the story of the woman who paid for and who's tenacity got the marbles and other treasures to England.

And Nelson’s Purse by Martyn Downer - a real life antique’s road show mystery with lots of history thrown in. And Napoleon’s Wives and Mistresses by the incomparable Christopher Hibbert. Quite sad and very gossipy. Great for a long plane ride.

Love Maigret as well. Says something when the chief of detectives can drink all day and still figure out whodunit!

For Paris, try Edmun White's 'Le Flaneur'.

One I found in a remainders pile which would be interesting for anyone going to the Netherlands: 'Postcards from No Man's Land' by Aidan Chambers. Although it was apparently written for older teenagers, it's an absorbing parallel story about a young man meeting the old lady who sheltered his grandfather after the battle of Arnhem, and her recollections of the time. And it raises a lot of questions about modern life in both countries, too.

I'm reading Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith - the third in the "no 1 ladies detective agency" series. Very enjoyable!

I recently read The Broker - the latest by John Grisham. Since it is largely set in Italy what do some of you who are familiar with the places in the book think of it?

I loved Year of Wonder.

I would vote for Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, some fun historical fiction set in Scotland, France and England. There is a series of 5 books total, where they end up in colonial America...

The first time I read this series I stayed up all night reading. During tax season (I'm a CPA).

Now I'm reading Spoken Here, by Abley -- a book about obscure languages that are disappearing, recommended by the European obscure language threads on this board :)

Now that we've moved to the UK, I'm re-reading a lot of contemporary British novels--I didn't fully "get" all the references and nuances the first time. For example, I just finished re-reading The Rector's Wife. I enjoyed it much more this go-round.

Just finished reading "Memoirs of a Geisha". It was a pretty easy read. Looking forward to the movie.

I second "Pillars of Earth." It's amazing and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I have given it to my teens to read in prep for our upcoming trip. Really helps you understand how it must have been to live in medieval times. It has 4 1/2 stars on Amazon reviews after 601 reviews, so you know it's great.

I loved Memoirs of a Geisha! When is the movie coming out? I can't wait to see it. Will it be a true Japanese production or is it being produced by somebody like Merchant Ivory?
Another vote for Pillars of the Earth. However, it's a very thick book (for a paperback), check that you get a copy properly bound. Pages kept falling out of the first copy we bought.

The movie of "Memoirs of a Geisha" is being released later this year or early next year (not sure, don't have my Entertainment Weekly at hand). Not sure who's directing it, but it stars the woman who was in House of Flying Daggers.

"The Dark Heart of Italy" by Tobias Jones; I am also re-reading H.V. Morton's Travels To Rome. They're both really fascinating and well-written. This is in preparation for the course I'll be taking in Bevano in June. Just for fun (it's going very quickly), I am reading Maile Meloy's "Liars and Saints".

BC

"Pillars of the Earth" is a classic! Also (esp in you are traveling or interested in Great Britain) "Sarum" by Rutherford and if you are intrigued by the Baltic/Russian area, Rutherford has written "Rusky".
Right now I am reading the Iris Orego 'War in Val d'Orcia" and just finished Dunant, "Mapping the Edge"
My husband is reading "Dances with Luigi" and I'm also re-reading a couple of chapters of "Italian Days" by Harrison.
Just returned to the library a non-travel book (!) called "Joy Comes in the Morning" - a wonderful book about a 30 year old female Rabbi (reform of course)
I tried "Name of the Rose" - never could get into it.
My favorite that I loan to everyone is "Miss Garnet's Angel" by Vickers. I wish I could remember who has it now!
I need to take some paperbacks with me in May - so thanks for this thread and the suggestions.
Carol

Currently, I'm reading "A Slow Burning." Pretty good thriller/action book my S/O wanted me to read.

However, with the upcoming trip to Spain, I've been concentrating my reading efforts there (with the except of the current book, which is more of a break). So far read "Don Quixote" (Not exactly light at over 1,000 pages, but delightful) and "Tales of the Alhambra" which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I have several books lined up, but it will be a toss up between "The Broker" by John Grisham and "For Whom The Bells Tolls" (yeah, another book about Spain!) by Hemingway.

The WSJ recently praised the new mysteries by James Swain and Bruce Alexander so I picked up earlier books by each. The Alexander books are set in 18th century London, feature Sir John Fielding (Henry's brother) and written in a style befitting the period.

On the library waiting list for Elizabeth George's lastest.

Had to return "A Peace to End all Peace" (David Fromkin)because they wouldn't let me keep it for longer than 4 weeks. I'll get it again.

On the reading list are China, Inc.( Ted Fishman), Conspiracy of Fools (Kurt Eichenwald) and Dark Age Ahead (Jane Jacobs).

Loved The Time Traveller's Wife, but someone pointed out to me that it is a lot like Outlander, the main characters in both are named Claire, but both are amazingly good books. Trying to get to The Known World, Unless, and The Birth of Venus. Just finished The Lost Daughters of China, really really interesting about China's one child policy gone amok.

With the anticipation of spring.....

<i>The Botany of Desire</i> by Michael Pollan

The chapter on The Tulip is a must for anyone travelling to Holland to see the tulips. Peace.

Robyn :)&gt;-