What BOOK are you reading right now?

As far as all this talk about "Travels with Charley" by Steinbeck: Not one of my favorite books by Steinbeck. I believe I've read most of them and my favorite would probably be "The Wayward Bus". Great book.

I don't think enjoyment of "Travels with Charley" is about Steinbeck as much as it is about dogs and road books. "Wayward Bus" is certainly one of his very best as a serious novelist.

But I do agree about sentimentality! Hitler was famously sentimental.

Thanks, Piffka--and sorry for the delay in replying. The weather has been so nice here (as I'm sure you know) that I've had a hard time coming indoors...

I did make it to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, and it was wonderful. My cousin, who lives in Tulsa, gave me a tour, which was great because his family is very involved in the museum. I was impressed! Most of my fave 19th Century American artists were there: Catlin, Bodmer and King (all of whom painted Indians) as well as Bierstadt and others.

And, as I promised myself, I brought Theroux's "Dark Star Safari" along for the ride, and he was (and still is) the perfect companion on any journey!

Tartarin, is that a cat, oh, how fine.

Hmm, I liked Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon when I read it long ago.

I read Blue Highways while on a Blue Highway trip. Terrific book for meandering...

Yes, that's Dalai Lama (aka Dolly), sister to Katmandu. She lives in the blue bowl on the dining room table, though she's outgrown it and has to get out and stretch quite often.

What an f.princess, how darling. The f is not a knock, but laud.

I think I was born to travel and got waylaid by life, nobody's fault, but I love all the writing, and past the writing, the doing.

I loved "Blue Highways" and also plowed through "Prairy Earth". I have his boat trip book on the shelf; must might that my next long read...

I'm reading "Fausto" from Goethe among other, I found quite entertaining & some part are pretty funny, but it treats a big problem in a deep way

I'm reading a more recent classic, The Dog of the South by Charles Portis. It's amazingly funny, anarchic and subversive. Makes me wish I could teach a lit course. We'd cover The Dog of the South, The Crying of Lot 49 (Pynchon), and Running Dog (DeLillo).

Three books where quests, of different sorts, provide a narrative framework.

Has anyone else read Portis?

i'm loving this - travel books really really make me happy

D'art -- That opens up a whole new can of frankly delicious wormies, and that's southern writers, particular contemporaries. I subscribed for a while to Oxford American. Am a passionate fan of southern (particularly rural southern) writing. Obviously Faulkner and Welty but the newer writers interest me a lot.

D'art -- I went looking for a ppb copy of Dog of the South and have so far failed BUT came across the following which may interest you: http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=1223

Believe it or not, Tartarin, it was that very Rosenbaum essay that inspired me to buy "Dog" at my friend's used book store. Another friend sent me the article when it appeared in print (1999), and I held onto it for years, thinking Portis sounded like a guy I should get to know. Now I'm saving Rosenbaum for when I finish reading the novel, which should be tonight!

Re Southern writers: I'm starting to get into them myself. I still plan to read "The Optimist's Daughter". Do you have some other recommendations?

Not yet -- I'm a neophyte in exploration stage! Pretty soon I'll be loud and opinionated!

Hate to intrude upon this learned gathering, but I just read - tonight - the list of graduates from eldest grandson's graduating class. Sat in the bleachers, and yelled when he tossed his hat. But what I found among the faculty personnel list was a name I knew - from long ago. Grandson told me everybody hated her.

Thing is, a commencement couple of pages is not the most interesting reading in the world unless you're related to one of them. There he was scraggly beard, droopy pants, and all. And sitting next to me, reading assiduously the whole time, was his kid brother. So immersed in his Harry Potter he never looked up.

Ah, yes, reading--the great escape! It helped me survive years of family life, relatively intact...

Can't believe I'm admitting this.....but just picked up a paperback copy of 'Black House' by Stephen King. I'm usually right on the ball with his releases, but got off track when the baseball book came out. Plus minor issues of work and child-rearing came into play..... :wink:

I'm reading "Poem Of Mio Cid", it'a such a wonderful story!

At the moment I am reading 'The Number One Lady's Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith, and very much enjoying it so far! Would recommend it.

"Samaritan" just arrived. Will start soon and report...