What Are You Reading and Why? 2015 second half Showing 1,051-1,100 of 1,268

[Peggy]

I decided to start A Breath of Snow and Ashes because it's been so long since I read a book from the Outlander series. With over 1400 pages and a busy December anyway, I won't be surprised if this is the last book I can read this year.

[Sandra, Moderator]

You are bold, Peggy. :)

[Travis]

The Drizzt stories are rather formulaic. I read them oeriodically when I don't need to pay much attention. It's probably a solid 3.5 series for me. I don't know. Nothing to write home about but not terrible either

[Lisa]

Peggy wrote: "I decided to start A Breath of Snow and Ashes because it's been so long since I read a book from the Outlander series. With over 1400 pages and a busy December anyway, I won't be surpr..."

That's quite the undertaking Peggy! Even if it is your last book of the year, the chances are it will be a good one :)

[Peggy]

I'm sure it will be good! I'm going to try to fit the group read and challenge in, but we'll see how that works out. I'm also going to need to read my dissertation a couple of times before the defense.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finally finished A Clash of Kings. All 1000 pages of it took me three months, mind you I did put it down for long periods of time in favour of other books. (So Peggy, good luck with your 1400 page book.)

Now, I've got Pope Joan on audiobook because it's "the next on the list", and The Dark Monk on ebook for my serial killer challenge.

[Stephanie]

I started reading The Dog Stars. I am not far into this at all and am not sure it is my cup of tea. Hoping it gets better.

[Brianna]

I just finished The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi...it was very interesting. I don't know what I would've done had I been in her situation.

I'm currently reading 5 books (I have a very short attention span sometimes)

(needed for a monopoly challenge in another group), (group read for this month), (buddy read for another group), , and (needed for a challenge in another group)

[Tasha]

I'm reading , (reading over several months with another group) and (short story theme).

I'm listening to .

I'm enjoying all so far.

[Mariab]

I'm in between right now.
(that means, undecided what to read now...)

[Lynda]

Rusalka wrote: "The new Doctor Who (Capaldi) is the Angel Islington in the series too.

I wish someone sat down with the original footage and just tidied it all up a bit, would make it much more watchable. BBC2's ..."

Yes, I noticed that and thought, "good casting". I do think it was probably some bad SFX that caused me to turn it off initially. This was before I'd become a Gaiman fan.

[Lisa]

I am just over 30% of the way through A Little Life and I think it's really good so far.

I am also starting The Bloody Chamber And Other Stories which is my first book by Angela Carter

[Lynda]

I'm picking up the last of my level 11 books tomorrow from the library, Farewell Summer, and will start reading it, since I'm setting aside Tipping the Velvet. I'm struggling with what I'm going to read for level 12. It looks like Summer Morning, Summer Night is going to be an expensive purchase and I have no idea when The Girl in the Spider's Web will come in from the library. I'm #432 on 143 copies!

[Jackie]

I'm going to start The Son by Philipp Meyer today.

[Sarah]

I finished up The Song of Achilles which I started ages ago but has been on the back burner. I'm pleased I finished it but the gap in the middle didn't help matters. I gave it 4 stars because it was a good book but really I feel it's a 3 star because it made me annoyed and I didn't want to read it. Brain and heart aren't agreeing.

I toyed with the idea of finishing off a couple of other books I started but never finished. I read a couple pages then put them aside again. So until I decide which book to commit to next I am reading the very short story by Gillian Flynn The Grownup which so far is very good. I am curious about what her short stories will be like.

I am also reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms which I am thoroughly enjoying. A must read for those fed up of waiting for the next installment in A Song of Ice and Fire. This book takes place a century before so the Targaryeans are on the throne. It is one big tease though really. It's nice to be back in Westeros but I so want to catch up with the characters I know and love.

[Lisa]

I have just done a reread of my all time favourite poem, The Highwayman, for the first time in several years. I loved it! Unsurprisingly! :)

[Mariab]

Lisa wrote: "I have just done a reread of my all time favourite poem, The Highwayman, for the first time in several years. I loved it! Unsurprisingly! :)"

Must check, right away!

[KimeyDiann]

I'm finishing up Time's Edge, book two of The Chronos Files series by Rysa Walker, today. I plan to start book three, Time's Divide, over the long weekend. I'm a little disappointed the Kindle version of the third book doesn't have narration, but oh well. That gives me an excuse to start on my very first Neil Gaiman book. The audio version of Anansi Boys came in the mail a couple of weeks ago and I'm excited to start it!

[Stephanie]

I put The Dog Stars to the side. It's not catching my attention so I started Thankless in Death for the serial killer challenge. I'm hoping to get to Level 5 before the year is over :)

[Lisa]

I finished The Bloody Chamber for the monthly challenge. It was a mixed bag for me. Some of the stories in this collection were really enjoyable but others were very disappointing. I gave it 3 stars.

[Janice, Moderator]

I started Magic Rises. It will count towards my serial killer challenge.

[Lisa]

Mariab wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I have just done a reread of my all time favourite poem, The Highwayman, for the first time in several years. I loved it! Unsurprisingly! :)"

Must check, right away!"

Let me know how you like it if you do check it out Mariab.

[Cherie]

I just finished listening to Euphoria this morning. I add my comments to the July Group Read thread. It was a 5 star read for me. I am sill working on my Series Challenge and am currently reading Raising Steam - which is a much better and more interesting story than I thought it was going to be and am just starting The Boy Who Lost Fairyland.

[Cherie]

Lisa wrote: "I have just done a reread of my all time favourite poem, The Highwayman, for the first time in several years. I loved it! Unsurprisingly! :)"

This is one of my all time favorites too, Lisa. I re-visit it often. I kept a copy that I typed in highschool for years and years. I do not know what happened to it.

[Lynda]

I've enjoyed all the Fairyland books, Cherie, and The Boy Who Lost Fairyland was really fun. Gotta love trolls!

This month I inadvertently seemed to pickup several books that dealt with gender identity, four in all. The most successful is Middlesex, and taking Cherie's advice I got the audio. It has me in stitches. The narrator is a blast, and seems to really be having fun with the material.

I'm also continuing the Southern Witch series with Halfway Hexed - they're such easy books to read, and don't require too much effort. I'm exhausted, so they're perfect.

Also, now that I'm done with the Short Story Challenge, I'm moving on with Sherlock (view spoiler)[Yay! He's Alive. I had been thinking that the rest of the stories were flashbacks. (hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

@Jackie - let me know how The Son goes. I own a copy and have yet to read.

[Joan]

Lynda, Middlesex is great, it has so many levels not just intersex but between cultures, between generations, between class and between races. I look forward to reading your thoughts (ooh that souns creepy but hearing your thoughts isn't right :)

[Lynda]

Lol, Joan...I didn't infer anything nefarious! I'm still in the story of his grandparents, and they're a hoot. I love a good "coming of age" tale that's set in a story of a family.

[Cherie]

I thought the family introductions in the beginning were a hoot too, Lynda!

[Sandra, Moderator]

In the last week I finished Gone Girl (5 stars), and Children of When (a good middle grade fantasy). I'll probably finish today El Deafo, a highly recommendable middle grade graphic novel based in the author's life, who lost her hearing due to meningitis at the age of 4. Really smart, touching, and funny too.
I'm reading La sombra del viento, and loving Carlos Ruiz Zafón's writing. No wonder why. :)
I'm also listening to Interiores by Emilia Pardo Bazán, a collection of short stories from 1907. I'm incredible surprised at how good they are.

[Tasha]

I'm listening to Fourth of July Creek and it is so well done. I'm really enjoying this one.

I'm reading All Things Wise and Wonderful, the 3rd in the series, and it's just as good as the others before it. i never had an interest in reading thise series but the 1st came up in another group as a theme read and I'm so glad I picked it up.

[Lisa]

I am rereading one of my favourite childhood books, The Little White Horse. It's been quite a few years since I last read it and now seems as good a time as any.

[Joan]

Cherie and Lynda, what we need is a tour of the Michigan sites from Middlesex.

[Lynda]

Agreed, Joan, I've visited many states in the Midwest, but realized listening to it, I've never been to Detroit, or even Michigan.

[Cherie]

My ex-husband was born in Port Huron and that is as much as I know about Michigan besides The Lake and that it is COLD there in the winter.

[Cherie]

Lisa wrote: "I am rereading one of my favourite childhood books, The Little White Horse. It's been quite a few years since I last read it and now seems as good a time as any."

I have seen this book cover before, but never have read the story, Lisa. I have added it to my list.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Magic Rises the other night. I'm not sure what to start next.

[Lisa]

Cherie wrote: "I have seen this book cover before, but never have read the story, Lisa. I have added it to my list."

It's a lovely story Cherie and one that both children and adults can enjoy. There was actually a film adaptation of it released in 2008 called 'The Secret of Moonacre'. It was ok but they changed a lot of things and, as is often the case, the book was way better.

[Jackie]

Finished and gave 5 stars to The Son by Philipp Meyer. I think he's a great storyteller, even if it was quite brutal in places!

Starting The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell tonight.

[Joan]

Lynda wrote: "Agreed, Joan, I've visited many states in the Midwest, but realized listening to it, I've never been to Detroit, or even Michigan."

The northern and western parts of Michigan are worth a visit. Lake Superior is always way too cold but Pictured Rocks National Park is incredible

[Joan]

Lisa Thank you for recommending The Watchmaker of Filigree Street You are right it is a very enjoyable book.

[Janice, Moderator]

I just finished Pope Joan. It certainly makes one consider the possibility of a woman serving as pope back in the 800's. It's a good thing I didn't live during those times when women were considered less than human, unable to think or reason for themselves.

[Cherie]

I finished The Boy Who Lost Fairyland this evening after dozing off two or three times. I was SO loving it and got to the last two chapters and feel like the author jerked a rug out right from under me and I must have hit my head on the way to falling down. I feel dizzy and slightly sick. Going to bed now.

[Sarah]

I finished reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms which was fantastic. I'm still reading Second Grave on the Left which is fun. I'm going to start The Girl in the Spider's Web (Monthly Challenge) today as it's a library book and I need to get it read. This is going to be my commute/work book and I'm also starting The Winter People (Group Read) which will be my boat book.

[Lisa]

Joan wrote: "Lisa Thank you for recommending The Watchmaker of Filigree Street You are right it is a very enjoyable book."

Glad you enjoyed it Joan! :)

[Stephanie]

Janice, are there Vikings in Pope Joan? I think I may have read it at some point, or tried to but couldn't get passed the Viking scene (if it's the same book). It was several years ago for a book club I was in:)

[Lynda]

Finished another Southern Witch book. They're such fluff, but I continue to like the main character, and they're an easy read.

I'm debating what non-serial killer book to start next, as they all seem to be showing up at the same time. I think I'll go with Cat's Cradle, since it's short. This will actually be my first Vonnegut.

Are others out there interested in setting up a Buddy Read for Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World?

[Janice, Moderator]

Stephanie wrote: "Janice, are there Vikings in Pope Joan? I think I may have read it at some point, or tried to but couldn't get passed the Viking scene (if it's the same book). It was several years ago for a book c..."

Joan's mother was Slavic. During a raid on her people by the English, she was converted to Christianity and ferreted away by Joan's father. There was a raid on the village where Joan and her brother were studying. It was a brutal and violent part of the story. It was the worst part of the book. And, it was the last of the Vikings in the book.

Interesting thing is that the Viking helmets did not have horns, unlike the movies would have us believe. I learned that in the author's note.

[Janice, Moderator]

I will be starting The Winter People (group themed read) and A God in Ruins (Dec challenge read) today.

[Sarah]

Yes Lynda. I did put a message asking if anyone was interested in a buddy read in the book announcements thread.