I just finished re-reading Huckleberry Finn for the 4th or 5th time. What an amazing work of literature. Even the appearance of Tom Sawyer towards the end of the book, cannot marr the beauty and thoughtfulness of this book.

As far as I'm concerned in American literature, there is everything that came before Huckleberry Finn and everything that came after it.

:raises hand: Me too

I've never read any of Twain's works, maybe I'll need to do that. I have tried reading James Fenimore Cooper on a number of occassions, but the old english makes it too difficult. Last year MsGilmore received a book called "500 must read books" (or something like that) that breaks down by old fiction, new fiction, old non-fiction, new non-fiction, auto/biographies. I went thru the entire book, and had only read 2. One was Catcher in the Rye, which I read after Hinckley shot Lennon, and it was terrible...couldn't see what anyone saw in that book. I don't recall what the other was. Anyway, had not heard of many of the books on there, and the synopsis of a lot of them didn't make me want to read them.

<---- was unable to get through The Scarlet Letter

I dont think I could part with any books, I have what should be a living room in my house that is the reading room, with many bookcase(thanx GD). I only purchase certain authors unless they are my research books.

If you want to try something shorter of Twain's works to whet your appetite, I would suggest Pudd'nhead Wilson. It's a very interesting story about racism and slavery, but typical of Twain fashion, he doesn't beat you over the head with the message, he just tells the story and let's the readers draw their own conclusion.

P.S. I've never read Catcher in the Rye or On the Road, but I'd like to get around to them someday.

I'm reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, it's alright, i haven't finished the first book yet, but so far it seems worth it to buy.

I don't recommend wasting the time on Catcher...I would recommend to anyone Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugarman. He was the manager for The Doors (as a music buff Bugs, I think you'd enjoy it) and it details many of the behind the scenes lives of the Doors band members, as well as the author's. I was amazed on the amount of drugs use and alcohol that went on, way more than I thought...

I once shared a room with his brother.

Hang in there, Spooky. The first book is mostly set-up and backstory - they get WAY better as they go.

Oh thats good to know =]

I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (he wrote the Kite Runner). It was another amazing book!

I got it for Christmas, picked it up on Monday and only put it down when life got in the way. A really great book for understanding what it is like for women in Afganistan, before during and after the Taliban rule. It is fiction but the way it is written, it almost seems as though Hosseini is recounting a true story.

Both books were incredibly well written but both were also so depressing! I'm glad that I read them but I don't think that I would eve want to read them again.

so you're the guy mentioned on page 183? wow, that sheds a light on so many of your posts

I enjoyed both, and I also enjoyed "The Sari Shop" by Rupa Bajwa.

Kinda like watching The Godfather, huh?

not reading any books, but have been reading short stories online at everydayfiction.com; a friend had one of his published there.

There is a BOL book swap. Contact Kiwi, Corky or MaryBeth

I thought y'all were migrating to electronic books?

I didn't get mine for Christmas.

Wanna buy me one?

Last I heard Kiwi had the books.

Big Boy Rules by Steve Fainaru

Risk Mgmt of Remote Deposit Capture - FFIEC

"A work of genuine literary effort." - NY Times

"An extraordinary achievment that plays over the readers senses with boldness, grace, and daring." - Chicago Tribune

"One of the FFIEC's best to date! Thrilling!" - LA Times

LOL!!