Feb 2013 - What are you reading & why

[Chrissie]

I hope it is OK I started this thread, since February has begun!

I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to be known about this man than you think! It is not just for those interested in the founding fathers of America!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Thank you, Laura, for telling me I simply had to read this book!

I will take a little detour and read The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy, because I want to read something by Stewart O'Nan! Then I will return to the founding fathers topic and read John Adams by the great author David McCullough. When you read a really good book, your reading lists don't decrease; they grow exponentially.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thank you for starting this thread, Chrissie! I will close the January thread and mark this as a sticky. :)

[Dem]

Just finished HHhH
This is my review. www.goodreads.com/review/show/508547930

[Janice, Moderator]

I've started Anna Dressed in Blood just for fun, and State of Wonder for the February challenge and a buddy read with Roz.

[Chrissie]

I just went and bought Night Train to Lisbon.... I absolutely cannot continue with Stewart O'Nan's The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy. I thought I had a strong stomach, but it is just too gruesome. I have been listening to several hours of the description of the people burned in the fire. It goes on and on. No, I cannot take it any more.

[Pragya]

I am reading The Night My Husband Killed Me for review.

[Travis]

I am almost done with The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowlstarted a bit here and there and hard to follow but after the initial background info became a lot more stable and with all its intersting stories quite an enjoyable read really.

[Kimberly]

I'm reading Zoo

[Cherie]

Chrissie wrote: "I hope it is OK I started this thread, since February has begun!

I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to be known about this man than you think! It is no..."

Great review, Chrissie. I have the BF book on my list to read someday. I will be interested to read your review of JA too. I bought Abigail Adams by Woody Holton last week. Not sure when I will get to it though.

[Chrissie]

Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I hope it is OK I started this thread, since February has begun!

I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to be known about this man than yo..."

Cherie, that is nice you appreciated my review. I had to also mention what bothered ME, even though my disquiet was not enough to remove a star. I still go my gut feeling - I thought the book was amazing!!!

Have you read anything by David McCullough? I cannot recommend him more highly. I have not read Woody Holton....

[Lisa]

I finished The Song of Achilles yesterday and I really loved it! I have absolutely nothing negative to say about it at all and it's easily one of the best books I have ever read.

Next I will be reading my C selection for the Alphabet challenge which is Cinder which I am hoping will be an enjoyable read.

[Janice, Moderator]

Judy wrote: "I finished and gave it 4.5 snurly stars. Here is my review.

Now I'm off to the South with as well as [bookcover:Monaco|4040..."

And a snurly star would be..... ?

[Pragya]

Reading What a Mother Knows for February Fruitcake.

[Sharon75uk]

Just read The Blasphemer and really enjoyed it. This was for my alphabet challenge.

About to start Hide and Seek for the February Fruitcake.

[Kimberly]

Amber wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm reading Zoo "

I read that one recently and thought it was one of his better ones. I didn't like that every time I'd put the book down I was convinced ..."

Im just finding it to be an okay read, but it's a quick one which I like.

[Cherie]

Chrissie wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I hope it is OK I started this thread, since February has begun!

I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to be known about t..."

No, I have not read any of his books, but I have 6 of his books on my TBR list.

[Chrissie]

Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I hope it is OK I started this thread, since February has begun!

I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to..."

My first by David McCullough was Mornings on Horseback. Excellent writer. As soon as I finish Night Train to Lisbon I will move on to John Adams. Then I might try the one you suggested by Woody Holton, to get the female perspective.

[Travis]

Thoroughly enjoying No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt enough in this book for ten books to have been written

[Kimberly]

I'm reading

[Chrissie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Thoroughly enjoying No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt enough in this book for ten books to have been written"

YAY, isn't it marvelous?!!!!

[Janice, Moderator]

Kimberly wrote: "I'm reading "

That looks very interesting! Are you enjoying it?

[Kimberly]

Janice wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm reading "

That looks very interesting! Are you enjoying it?"

I just finished it! It was really good, and reminded me of Relic in a lot of ways.

[Janice, Moderator]

I enjoyed Relic and I've put Amazonia on my ever growing wishlist. :)

[Shannon]

Have just finished The Marriage Plot which was OK. Haven't written my review yet but better before I forget the book (that says something right there!).

Have started and so far its pretty good. Even for someone who does not generally read this genre.

Have added because who can resist an adventure story in the jungle with an archaeologist? Certainly not me!

[Denise]

Chrissie wrote: "I very highly recommend Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. There is much more to be known about this man than you think! It is no..."

That's a brilliant book. I'd recommend it for anyone feeling helpless and needing a kick in the pants. I found it really inspiring.

I've started reading The Grapes of Wrath because my mom tried getting me to read it a few years ago, saying how much she admired John Steinbeck's writing. I wasn't really interested, but felt obliged because of her and the fact that I'm an Okie. Makes it compulsory, I imagine. Anyway, it turns out that it's a really good book. I understand now why she likes it.

[Chrissie]

I just finished Night Train to Lisbon which I DO recommend, but only if you enjoy books with philosophical content.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The setting is primarily Lisbon but you also visit Finisterre in Galicia, Spain, and Bern, Switzerland.

**************

And now I will startJohn Adams. I thought I should take a mini-break after reading and loving Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, but actually I have only been thinking about returning to the founding fathers since I closed that book!

[Kimberly]

I'm now reading and

[Dem]

Just finished A Street Cat Named Bob How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets
This is such a Cute Cat and an inspiring story. This is my review;
www.goodreads.com/review/show/523715720

[Kimberly]

Shannon wrote: "Have just finished The Marriage Plot which was OK. Haven't written my review yet but better before I forget the book (that says something right there!).

Have started [bookcover:Long Lankin|9206583..."

I hope you like it when you get around to reading it!

[Kimberly]

Janice wrote: "I enjoyed Relic and I've put Amazonia on my ever growing wishlist. :)"

Yay! I hope you like it. You might also enjoy Subterranean by him also. It's like a more action packed Journey to the Center of the Earth. I'm loving it! Once you get into it it's very addictive.

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "Janice wrote: "I enjoyed Relic and I've put Amazonia on my ever growing wishlist. :)"

Yay! I hope you like it. You might also enjoy Subterranean by him also. It's like a more action packed Journey..."

I 5 starred Amazonia but Subterranean is my least favorite of all his books and I've read all but 2 he has written. All his books are of a archaeological or historical thriller adventure type.

[Kimberly]

How come you didn't like Subterranean as much Travis?

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "How come you didn't like Subterranean as much Travis?"

I don't know why but I seem to have something against stories taking place underground in caverns. Maybe its just my slight clostraphobia which prevents me from enjoying these as well. Looking back now after just finishing Beneath the Dark Ice by Greig Beck, which has some very similar ideas I think Subterranean would probably appeal to me more because I really hated Beneath the Dark Ice. I still gave Subterranean 3 stars though, it wasn't a total washout.

[Kimberly]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "How come you didn't like Subterranean as much Travis?"

I don't know why but I seem to have something against stories taking place underground in caverns. Maybe its just my slight ..."

Ahh I see, I was just looking at Beneath the Dark Ice today and trying to see if my library had a copy (it doesn't) so I might avoid that one. My only issue with the book is Ashley...she's rather "outspoken".

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Anna Dressed in Blood earlier today and then was in a bit of a dilemna. What audiobook can I start and hopefully finish before the Toppler starts on Saturday? I decided thatThe Delilah Complex might fill the bill even though I had earmarked it for the toppler. But I already have 2 other audiobooks scheduled for the toppler and it's not likely I'll finish 3, so Delilah it is. Nothing like a little steamy, kinky sex to get one's engine revving for the the toppler!

[Kimberly]

I finished Subterranean and really enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars.

Now I'm starting

[Travis]

Finished No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and loved it. The best non fiction I have ever read so far in life.

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "How come you didn't like Subterranean as much Travis?"

I don't know why but I seem to have something against stories taking place underground in caverns. May..."

As for Greig Beck I may try the second book in the series or try a different series by him just because I didn't care for this first book doesn't mean I won't give him another try.

[Chrissie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Finished No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and loved it. The best non fiction I have ever read so far in life."

I loved it too!! People should not be scared of non-fiction. It can be written just as engagingly and movingly as fiction.

[Travis]

Diving head first into Les Miserables

[Kimberly]

I seem to be on a James Rollins kick the last couple days so even though I have a ton of books that should be read before this one I'm still going to start

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "I seem to be on a James Rollins kick the last couple days so even though I have a ton of books that should be read before this one I'm still going to start "

I think that is on my kindle but I haven't been able to read it yet

[Kimberly]

Its very good I've read a quarter of it so far and am really enjoying how different it is from his other standalones.

[Kimberly]

I finished and loved it. I gave it 5 stars, very different from his other novels I've read and I liked that a lot. Can't wait to get my hands on another one of his books.

[Chrissie]

Phew, its over: The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Have started Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. This is a YA book, and although I rarely read them, I was told that it is for adults too. The little I have read makes me agree totally. This is a book that looks at what REALLY happened at the Salem Witch Trials at the end of the 1600s. What is known, and why did this happen? I am impressed by the author's clear reasoning and ability to place readers in the mindset of another place and time, enabling us to understand their behavior.

I am reading it because I want to understand the times BEFORE the American fight for independence covered in both Benjamin Franklin: An American Life and John Adams. I am loving JA as much as BF!

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "I finished and loved it. I gave it 5 stars, very different from his other novels I've read and I liked that a lot. Can't wait to get my hands on another one of his..."

So glad to hear that. I got addicted to his books and read them in marathon form also.

[Kimberly]

I'm starting and

[Nicole]

finished Love, Charleston 3 stars and started a young adult which I usually don't read
On the Jellicoe Road

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "I'm starting "


Still haven't yet read any cussler. Hes good?

[Kimberly]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm starting "


Still haven't yet read any cussler. Hes good?"

I think he's fantastic. I've been reading his books since I was 14.