Currently reading & Last read books

[Julia]

Oooh, I'll play. I just read Some Kind of Fairy Tale, by Graham Joyce, which I found very well written and enjoyable. Also Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, which I loved. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty was better than Rules of Civility by a hundred fold or more, but wasn't in the same class as the other books I read. I just tried to start Swamplandia but it wasn't holding my interest, so I've started Beautiful Ruin(s?) for a local book club.

[Sara]

I just finished The Thorn Bird. The first half was really good, the second half was unbearable and felt like a waste.
I am reading two awesome books right now and .
I'm reading Anna Karenina on and off. I probably will not finish until later this year. I was trying to read Count of Monte Cristo ( my physical copy is abrighed did not know that when I bought it) on my ereader. For some reason my ereader is acting like I stole the ebook. I actually have East of Eden but I'm reading so many big books that I decided to save it for later.

[Sara]

Lolo wrote: "I can't read two books at the same time. I can focus on each for sure, but it does not feel right. Like having two girlfriends at the same time ^_^ . I didn't like A Game of Thrones since I found i..."

I actually have that problem also with the fantasy I have read so far. I like Game of Thrones because I knew what to expect from watching the show. I'll probably focus on Anna Karenina, it makes more sense to just read that instead of doing all this extra work for Count of Monte Cristo. I can admit to having a obsession with reading more books than one. It is for times like these double the enjoyment. :)

[Kat]

I'm currently reading all the Scarlet Pimpernel books, and it's taking me awhile because there are 19 of them!

[Trisha]

I am working my way through The Count of Monte Cristo, but supplementing with some YA fantasy

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I just finished The Alchemist and also reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz since it is February’s contemporary classic poll winner.

[Jenny]

I'm reading Soulless. It's like Jane Austen mixed with urban fantasy. Very good.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Just finished With Wings Like Eagles: A History of the Battle of Britain and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, need to select a new book to start tonight.

[Jenny]

Yesterday I finished The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and I really loved it. I look forward to the discussion board. Now I'm reading A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail.

[Sara]

past the fifty percent mark.
good so far.

[Jenny]

Currently reading The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes, Dead and Gone, and Caliban's War.

[Lynne]

Sara wrote: "I just finished The Thorn Bird. The first half was really good, the second half was unbearable and felt like a waste.
I am reading two awesome books right now a..."

Sara wrote: "I just finished The Thorn Bird. The first half was really good, the second half was unbearable and felt like a waste.
I am reading two awesome books right now a..."

East of Eden is an amazing book. It's in my lifetime top 10 for sure!

[Sara]

I have not posted since February!
I finished Roots(good read,so much drama around the author and this book),Anna Karenina(awesome),Valley of the Dolls(don't know what to say about this book,it was not bad and trashy as people put it out to be),

just finished (I have to thank Isobelle Carmody because I have not liked a young adult book in so long)

I was sitting here trying to figure out what to read next with my other books. I might start reading East of Eden eventhough I am reading fifty million other books. I probably should wait and see what our group is reading next.
I'm reading
was supposed to finish it before Victor Hugo's birthday February 26,yeah that ended up not happening.It is Anna Karenina's fault.
not as bad I had heard but can see it could get there
reading to read The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge. So far this does make a good fantasy story.
I will start Villette for Charlotte Bronte's birthday which is on April 21.
I think I am in a classics mood.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I should finish Major Pettigrew's Last Stand this evening. A nice story, I am looking forward to seeing how it ends.

[Katy, New School Classics]

I just finished Mornings in Jenin. Not a classic, but an excellent read.

by Susan Abulhawa

[Jenny]

I'm finishing up The Giver for my spring class. I've also started The Shadowed Sun.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Jenny wrote: "I'm finishing up The Giver for my spring class. I've also started The Shadowed Sun."

I've been wanting to read the Dreamblood series for a while. Let me know what you think. Did you like the first book?

and by N.K. Jemisin

[Sara]

I finished A Huncbhack of Notre Dame it was really good. I just finished it was nothing special. I did not finish Villette because it felt like a not that interesting rehashing of governess main character that the Brontes all seem to write about. Jane Eyre was the best one.

I am in between books so I am deciding what I want to read next.
My top picks are

[Kat]

I'm currently reading The Making of Jordan: Tribes, Colonialism and the Modern State which is absolutely fascinating, surprisingly accessible to non-academics, and is impressively well-researched. In June of course I'll be reading One Hundred Years of Solitude and David Copperfield as well as some of the exciting reads my Middle-Eastern group is doing. Happy summer reading, everyone!

[Kat]

Kathy wrote: "I just finished Mornings in Jenin. Not a classic, but an excellent read.

by Susan Abulhawa"

I have this book and I'm going to read it soon. What did you think of it?

[Katy, New School Classics]

Kat wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I just finished Mornings in Jenin. Not a classic, but an excellent read.

by Susan Abulhawa"

I have this book and I'..."

Loved this book

[Jenny]

Kathy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'm finishing up The Giver for my spring class. I've also started The Shadowed Sun."

I've been wanting to read the Dreamblood series for a while. Let me know what you think. Did you ..."

Yes I really liked The Killing Moon! It was great to read a fantasy book that doesn't have the usual European-inspired setting. I thought the religion/mythology around dreaming was interesting. I'm only a couple of chapters into The Shadowed Sun, but I'll let you know how it is.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Thanks Jenny. I am really intrigued now by the books. I think I will see if they are at the library -- or let myself wander into the book store.

[Janet]

The Tenent of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte) and The Outlander (Gil Adamson). I will be reading Out Stealing Horses next to get out of the abusive husband theme I am on...

[Katy, New School Classics]

Janet wrote: "The Tenent of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte) and The Outlander (Gil Adamson). I will be reading Out Stealing Horses next to get out of the abusive husband theme I am on..."

Sometimes I wonder why I get on some reading themes.

Just started by Helen Bryan

Nice easy read so far.

[Annina]

I'm still reading The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. I'm almost finished it.

[Jenny]

Kathy wrote: "Thanks Jenny. I am really intrigued now by the books. I think I will see if they are at the library -- or let myself wander into the book store."

Just a warning in case it's a trigger, there is incest/sexual assault in The Shadowed Sun. I decided not to continue it for now but I'll probably read it in the future. Since I'm not continuing the book right now I don't know if it's mentioned more than once. I deal with sexual assault at my job and I'm not always up for reading about it at home. Now is one of those times.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Thanks, Jenny. Good to know

[Diana S]

I just finished:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. What A Read! Excellent!

Currently I'm Reading:
The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen by Susan Bordo
It's so interesting! The Author makes some really good points on false statements that have been tied to Anne Boelyn throughout history.
Outside the Lines by Amy Hatvany
A Father-Daughter relationship and how mental illness affected that relationship. Good Story.
Chihuahua of the Baskervilles by Esri Allbritten
A cozy mystery! ;)

[Miriam]

I am currently reading , so I'm basically catching up on last months reading since there wasn't any book I really wanted to read this month. Has anyone else read 1984?

[Katy, New School Classics]

Miriam wrote: "I am currently reading , so I'm basically catching up on last months reading since there wasn't any book I really wanted to read this month. Has anyone else read 1984?"

It's been years since I've read 1984. Would make a good discussion I'd think, but like you I didn't get around to it last month. Unlike you, I didn't get around to it this month either. Maybe September?

[Kat]

Miriam wrote: "I am currently reading , so I'm basically catching up on last months reading since there wasn't any book I really wanted to read this month. Has anyone else read 1984?"

I am also still reading 1984. I finished David Copperfield, Jamaica Inn, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Journey to the Center of the Earth but I didn't want to read Tess of the d'Urbervilles because I wasn't in the mood for a tragedy. After I finish 1984 I'll start Robinson Crusoe. I kind of wish we'd read that before David Copperfield because there are lots of references to Robinson Crusoe-the main character really liked that book.

[Katy, New School Classics]

That's good to know, Kat. I didn't get David Copperfield read. So that will be nice to have Robinson Crusoe read first and then I will tackle David Copperfield.

[Miriam]

Kat wrote: "Miriam wrote: "I am currently reading , so I'm basically catching up on last months reading since there wasn't any book I really wanted to read this month. Has anyone else read..." Kathy and Kat! I am loving 1984. It's been such a though provokng book.I am glad that I joined this group for I had never heard of it before then. I would love to discuss it with you both over on the boards when you finish or feel like your ready to discuss. I'm still personally trying to form my thoughts on it, for there is so much that could be said about it.

[Kat]

Miriam wrote: "Kat wrote: "Miriam wrote: "I am currently reading , so I'm basically catching up on last months reading since there wasn't any book I really wanted to read this month. Has anyo..."

I am also glad I joined this group. If I hadn't, I never would have read some of the books (like The Name of the Rose and Rebecca) which have become favorites of mine. Also, I've been meaning to read books like 1984 for awhile now and who knows how long it would have taken me to get around to it if this group didn't have monthly reads!

[Sara]

The last book I finished was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, eh.
I'm currently reading I do not think I have ever seen a Native American in classic literature.

[Maddie]

I just finished Of Mice and Men, mostly because I couldn't get my hands on East of Eden. I am currently reading Rebecca, 1984 and Lone Wolf.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Sara wrote: "The last book I finished was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, eh.
I'm currently reading I do not think I have ever seen a Native American in classic literature."

What about (don't know if all these would be considered classics though.)
by James Fenimore Cooper
by James Alexander Thom
by George Catlin
by James Welch
by Leslie Marmon Silko

[Sara]

Thank you. I really am feeling the need to diversify my reading.

[Sara]

So did not work. I finished and while I was away, both good by the way. I am reading right now.Contemplating, if I should continue with

[Maddie]

I had a bit of a classics binge in September. I read Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier, fantastic book!), Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck), The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) and just finished Slaughterhouse 5 (Kurt Vonnegut) last night.

I am continuing on the streak with Frankenstein and The Grapes of Wrath, after which I am tackling One Hundred Years of Solitude.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Finishing up The Metaphysical Club and Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency.

by Louis Menand

by Logan Beirne

Then starting one of these:

by Oscar Wilde
by Vladimir Nabokov
by B.F. Skinner
by Mary Roach

[Gari]

I'm finishing up Despair by Vladimir Nabokov.

[Julia]

Maggie wrote: "I had a bit of a classics binge in September. I read Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier, fantastic book!), Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck), The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) and just finished Slaughterhou..."

Love love love Frankenstein. Am looking forwarding to hearing what you think!

[Julia]

Just finished Night Film by Marisha Pessl. Wow! If you like Carlos Ruiz Zafon, give it a try. I want to read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, so that may be next. I loved her book Half of a Yellow Sun. I'm also reading The Three Musketeers, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

[Holly]

Just finished Crime and Punishment. Found it very, very rewarding.

See my review here

[Vincent]

I am working through Frances Burney's Camilla at the moment.

[Kat]

Vincent wrote: "I am working through Frances Burney's Camilla at the moment."

If you like Carmilla I also recommend The Vampyre: A Tale by John William Polidori.

[Maddie]

I just finished East of Eden. Great book, but I am ready for something lighter. When I am done with that I am moving on to Northanger Abbey.

[MK]

I want to read that one next, Maggie :-) (East of Eden). Currently reading The Yellow House, The Turn of the Screw, and A Christmas Carol.

Last read was The Uncertainty Principle, trading off with The Turn of the Screw, for a break. Reading The Uncertainty Principle and The Turn of the Screw simultaneously was quite trippy :-p.

In the one, the main character is losing his mind, and knows it, and frequently sees things and people, who aren't there .... in the other, the main character is possibly losing her mind, and is either seeing ghosts, or seeing things that aren't there (but if it's the case that she's losing her mind, she definitely doesn't know it!).

Adding to the sense of oddness, they're both set in England. The first in the current century, in the city, and the main character is male. The second in the nineteenth century (or eighteenth?), in the country, and the main character is female.

From one world of madness, to another :-p. So similar ... and so different. Quite trippy ... heh.