The latest in reading technology

Check this out, its the simplest and most interactive that I've come across.

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

This is the story of two Will Graysons, each character’s chapters written alternatively by each of the authors. The first Will Grayson (John Green) has a large gay friend, Tiny Cooper, who I think is the central binding character of the book. He certainly looms large and loud throughout the whole book. The second Will Grayson (David Leithan) inhabits a parallel universe until he meets the first Will and Tiny.
Will Grayson has been Tiny Cooper's best friend since elementary school. Tiny is, according to Will, "the world's largest person who is really, really gay" and constantly falling in and out of love--and dragging Will with him everywhere. When his latest attempt to hook Will up with a girl fails, Will meets Will Grayson, another teen who is depressed and discouraged. Both Wills make an effort not to feel too much in life, but are changed after meeting, and continue to change as the plot proceeds to a really big finale.
The book works well with the two authors bringing their own styles which mesh well and its funny, frank and inspirational.
Highly Recommended
In the video below John Green reads from the book, its a bit of fun!

Something I Found on YouTube

A short extract from the TV series that Alain De Botton made, based on his book 'The Architecture of Happiness'

The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton

A fascinating book about the relationships we have with the buildings we inhabit, homes, workplaces and public buildings.  It is a work of psychology and philosophy as De Botton examines why some buildings (and the fixtures and fittings) are ugly and some are not, why they can evoke a particular feeling within us and how buildings can reflect cultural characteristics as well.
A really very interesting book on a topic that is rarely discussed in the public arena.  Highly recommended.

Notes from our July meeting

Yes I know it's late but I wanted to get the first set of notes up and running - they come from Rebecca who is the book club convenor.
'Last week we had a smallish but quality turn out at our first meeting for some time.  There were a few recommendations, notably:
Jasper Jonesby Craig Silvey; The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst; The Fracture Zone by Simon Winchester; Wild Things by Dave Eggers;  Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan;  The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko; Valley of Grace by Marion Halligan; Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver; What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell; An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell; and the Gastronomy of Marriage by Michelle Maistro.
The new titles for this time are:
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout; A Week at the Airport by Alain de Botton; Widow Clicquot by Tilar J Mazzer; Dear John by Nicholas Sparks; The Book of Love by Phillipa Fioretti; Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott and Rhubarb by Craig Silvey.'
Our next book club meeting is next week so I'll post the notes and whatever comments as soon as I can.

The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst

Set in 1937/38 the book follows the exploits of Colonel Mercier, a French army officer stationed in Warsaw and a French agent. This story captures the essence of the times and is historically exact. It seems to be a fairly low key story at the start but the author quickly draws the reader in and I found it an engrossing story as I tried to guess how the various plot lines would play out. Very enjoyable. Highly recommended

Empire of Illusions - The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle by Chris Hedges

Another very interesting book where the author shows how the US is becoming dominated by ‘spectacle’, celebrity culture and is losing the ability to apply critical thinking. He looks to professional wrestling, the pornographic film industry and positive psychology as examples of this.
He also takes aim at corporate America whom he asserts is dumbing down the nation as well as being a major influence on political decision making. It’s a grim look at a possible future of the US.
Stimulating and thought-provoking stuff. (Not for the general shelf as the section on pornographic is fairly graphic, and the language as well).
Highly recommended.