What Are You Reading and Why? 2015 second half Showing 1,101-1,150 of 1,268

[Lynda]

Ah, sorry, I must have missed that.

[Sarah]

No worries. I'll set up a thread later. Even if it's just us two it will be fun.

[Sandra, Moderator]

It had 6 votes, so probably more people would be interested.

[Stephanie]

Thanks, Janice :) I couldn't get past that part of the book way back when.

[Joan]

I just finished The Traitor's Emblem I wish I could recommend it. Clearly the author wanted to build a story around a surprising true event and he had a love story he wanted to write - so he crammed the two together not very convincingly.
The true kernal: The Masons (international men's organization) strongly and effectively opposed Hitler (who knew!) until they were betrayed by one of their members who gave Hitler a detailed list of members. Hitler reportedly rewarded the rat with a gold model of the Mason insignia - this has since disappeared.

The love story involves a missing father, dark family secrets, oppressed childhood, bastard son, psychopathic uncle and cousin, diamonds in Africa, a dramatic but silly escape from a prison camp and adventures on the high seas-- really it doesn't work and there are too many coincidences. Not much character development either.

I hope someone writes a good book about The Masons and Hitler.

[Lynda]

The Hitler/Masons intrigue sounds like it would be enough of a story to be the sole focus.

[Lisa]

I finished my reread of The Little White Horse. This was a childhood favourite of mine and it was lovely revisiting it again after a number of years. It's a charming, magical story and one that I would recommend for both adults and children alike. I gave it 5 stars.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Winter People for the group read. Up next is Winter for my serial killer challenge. I want to wrap up one more level.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm reading Winter for my serial killer now, Janice. It is really good so far.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm reading The Woman Who Died a Lot. I'm enjoying it more than the last couple. I do kinda wish this is the last book though. The man is clever and funny, but I feel some of the in jokes are a bit laboured after 7 books.

But I just got a joke I've been reading for *years* and had no idea, a character called Millon de Floss (The Mill on the Floss). I feel like I should reread the first 4 again... just when I have almost killed it!

[Lisa]

I am reading The Winter People for the group read. I am finding it really creepy so far! :)

[Jackie]

I've just started A Quiet Belief in Angels by R.J. Ellory. The rating's pretty good, hope the book lives up to it.

[Sharon]

I just finished The Winter People for the group read. So next I'm going for the monthly challenge and read Grey

[Janice, Moderator]

After 5 days and only 40 pages in, I closed the cover on my challenge read, A God in Ruins. Good grief! Why did I think I would like that book?

I scoured the awards categories and discovered I had Rebel Queen on my Kindle app and it qualifies, so I started reading that last night.

[Stephanie]

I finished Thankless in Death, by JD Robb, the 37th book in her In Death series! Fast and easy read. I love the futuristic stuff in her books (the good, not the bad). :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sorry to hear that, Janice. Guess I'll keep that one off my TBR.

[Mary Beth]

I am reading Broken I have the last four books in this series and I'm going to finish this series this month.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Sorry to hear that, Janice. Guess I'll keep that one off my TBR."

I see you gave Life After Life 1 star, so you may want to forego A God in Ruins.

[Cherie]

Janice wrote: "I finished The Winter People for the group read. Up next is Winter for my serial killer challenge. I want to wrap up one more level."

I just finished Reached to kill off a level, and am going to start Winter next too.

[Cherie]

Janice wrote: "After 5 days and only 40 pages in, I closed the cover on my challenge read, A God in Ruins. Good grief! Why did I think I would like that book..."

I am going to use it for the red cover book on the 2016 challenge. I enjoyed Life after Life and am looking forward to hear about Teddy.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm enjoying Winter so far, Cherie, but I'm kind of anxious to finish the series and be done with the story.

If you liked Life After Life, then you will probably enjoy A God In Ruins. I'm really happy with the book reading in its stead (Rebel Queen).

[Lisa]

I finished The Winter People for this month's group read. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars, although my actual rating is closer to 4.5 stars. It was creepy, atmospheric, unsettling and unpredictable and a book that I highly recommend.

Next up will be my monthly challenge read. I haven't quite made up my mind which book I am going to read yet but it will be either Uprooted or The Buried Giant.

[Stephanie]

I started City of Lost Souls (5th book in the Mortal Instruments series). I'm already half way through! I am really enjoying this series. Very easy to read :)

[Sarah]

I finished The Girl in the Spider's Web for the monthly challenge. I liked it. Author had some pretty big boots to fill. I thought he did a good job. But he's no Steig Larsson.

I've also nearly finished Second Grave on the Left just for fun and then I can concentrate on The Winter People and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World for the group reads.

[Sandra, Moderator]

That's what most of the reviewers say, Sarah. He is good but he is not Larsson. I plan to read it anyway. I'm really curious about it.

I finished The Shadow of the Wind, a total 5 stars. I have the second in the trilogy to read, but I think I'm gonna wait a couple of weeks, since he is kind of intense.

I started Trail of Broken Wings for this month challenge. I'm only 30 pages into it, but I'm enjoying it, and I can see it's gonna be really emotional.

I'm also reading The Marvels. The illustrations are fantastic. Actually so far I only "read" the first 400 pages of illustrations. The book counts with this a first part of sequential art, then around 200 pages of text, and again 50 or something pages of illustrations, plus an afterword.

Interiores was such a great short stories collection, that as soon as I finished listening to it I started La insolación by the same author (but different narrator). This is a short novel.

[Travis]

Currently my reading selections have been a bit of a boner. Not loving A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court so I thought I'd mix in Welcome to Night Vale to mix things up. I guess with night vale you either get it and love it or you don't. I don't get whu the hype and hoopla so I'm in the don't get it not really enjoying group. Meanwhile my slow journey through The Bazaar of Bad Dreams has been wonderful so far. Only one story, a poem, that hasn't been great for me. About half way

[Sarah]

I've just put in a request for Bazaar of bad dreams at the library. I don't think it will be too long before it comes through.

[KimeyDiann]

I finished listening to Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman this morning. 4 Stars.

I started The Story of a Marriage on audio and Eden I on Kindle. Unless Eden starts really improving, it is going to be abandoned. It was one of the shortest books I already had downloaded on my Kindle which is the entire reason I decided to start it... filler for before the toppler this weekend... but so far I'm thinking it is a waste of time.

[Lynda]

I finished the 4th in the Southern Witch series, which was my least favorite so far. They are all a bit of fluff, but fun; however, I feel like the larger world logic started to fall a part, and the book felt rushed to me.

I also finished Cat's Cradle, which was excellent. I gave it 5 stars. Razor sharp wit, and a perfect "Atom Bomb/Cold War Paranoia" story. I'm looking forward to reading more Vonnegut.

I'm starting both Farewell Summer and Arrows of the Queen tonight. I'm still plugging away on Middlesex, too. I'll finish that this week.

[Roz]

Finished Winter and completed the Lunar Chronicles. I enjoyed the whole series, even the ending. So often I read a series that has a definite end and get the feeling the author has lost interest in his/her own writing and rushes to just get it over with. I didn't feel that way about this one. I think she enjoyed the story she was telling all the way through.

[Janice, Moderator]

I also finished Winter and really enjoyed it. I'll start Halfway to the Grave when I hit the highway on Sunday.

I also finished Rebel Queen and started The Beggar King.

[Lynda]

I sat down to read 50 pages of Farewell Summer last night, and ended up finishing to book. It was a fun story, gave it four stars. Would have been five except I felt the appearance of actual ghosts in a small moment was out of place. While a lot of things can be chalked up to the imagination of youth, that read literal to me. Also, Appomattox got weird, I think that was only something a man could dream up. I was actually thinking this would be a book my mom would like until that last bit!

[Stephanie]

Finished City of Lost Souls for the serial killer challenge. I have City of Heavenly Fire which is the last book in the mortal Instruments series, on hold at the library! I should be able to kill one last level with that book! Woohoo!! Oh and this series is awesome! The love story is a bit cheesy but I really like that the story catches my attention and keeps it :)

[Joan]

Just starting Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring
This is about a spy ring in New England during the American Revolution.
I am married to an Englishman and I grew up in Connecticut where we revere Nathan Hale - "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" =freedom fighter or fanatic depends on your POV.

[Dem]

Just finished and LOVED Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva this is my review. www.goodreads.com/review/show/1455024098

[Lynda]

Stephanie wrote: "Finished City of Lost Souls for the serial killer challenge. I have City of Heavenly Fire which is the last book in the mortal Instruments series, on hold at the libra..."

I really liked the first three books of the series, but the last three were disappointing to me. Glad you're enjoying them. I hope the series ends well for you. I remember hearing a rumor they might make a TV series.

[Travis]

Joan wrote: "Just starting Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring
This is about a spy ring in New England during the American Revolution.
I am married to an Englishman and I ..."

I can't remember the title of the book I read a few mobths ago but it was about the spy ring. Washongtons Secret Six I think. I don't recommend that one. Or probably antmything by the author. Whoever he was. George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution. I think this is it

[Stephanie]

I have hard that too, Lynda. It is supposed to air in January 2016 on ABC Family, which is changing its name to Freeform. Hope the show is as good :)

[Lilisa]

Dem wrote: "Just finished and LOVED Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva [bookcover:Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetla..."

Wow Dem, 5 stars and - (edited to) Favorite of the Year - immediately went on my TBR list - just my kind of book.

[Sharon]

I just finished De wraak van Vondel which is a historical fiction. I was pleasantly supprised by this book, well written and made me remember what I love about the Dutch language :)
Ofcourse there's your typical secret society, ancient complot theories and some murders.
I can see why it's on the bestsellers list right now over here. I wanted to give it 3.5 stars, but ofcourse GR wouldn't let me, so I rounded it down to 3 stars.

So next up is the Toppler! :D The Hound of the Baskervilles
And after that I'll start on Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

[Lynda]

That's right, today is the Toppler. Good luck to everyone. Sadly with my niece's husband stroke, our plans for today were cancelled. I could of done, after all. Well, I'll be reading along in spirit! Want to finish Arrows of the Queen today, so I too can get back to Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.

[Lisa]

I read Book Collector for the toppler and rated it 3 stars. It's not the best book I have read this year but it's certainly not the worst either. If you like dark, gothic tales with some mystery and madness thrown in then you might want to check it out.

[Lisa]

I just finished Fox 8: A Story SINGLE and rated it 5 stars. Here is my short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lynda]

Finished Middlesex with just hours to spare. It was so so good. A wonderful epic family tale, and also a poignant, though atypical, coming of age story. Thank you for the audio recommendation, Cherie, because the narration was fantastic, and really added to such a well written book. I think I'm going to pick up The Virgin Suicides next.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Beggar King. I'm really enjoying this series! I think I'll dive into the next book soon. I started Halfway to the Grave on audiobook today for my drive home. When I was reading the suggested reading order, I decided to download the novella Reckoning which is book 0.5 in the series and will read it tonight.

[Cherie]

I just finished Winter. What a great series! I am reading Thief of Time and listening to Born with Teeth. I still have An Object of Beauty to go.

[Janice, Moderator]

I really enjoyed that series as well, Cherie. It was a great retelling and combination of the fairy tales.

I'm looking forward to your comments on Born With Teeth as I have the audiobook as well.

[Cherie]

I am about half way through. I really had no idea about who she was before Star Trek Voyager came along. Listening to someone tell about their private lives is so strange. I am in awe for the most part.

Do you remember Ryan's Hope? She was doing this on daytime TV and acting in a play at night at the same time - for her first two jobs!

[Lilisa]

I'm half-way through Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol: A Mystery, which will help me complete Level 5 of this year's Series Chalkenge.

[Janice, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "Do you remember Ryan's Hope? She was doing this on daytime TV and acting in a play at night at the same time - for her first two jobs! ."

I remember the title but I never watched it.