What Are You Reading and Why? 2015 second half Showing 1,251-1,268 of 1,268

[Cherie]

It has been pretty slow here at work. I am the only one in my small group here and after I finish reading my email in my in-box, not much to do but clean up "stuff". I ran a disk defrag on my lap top and today and got 3 1/2 hours "free" to read. I should have finished my alternate group read book, but instead, I started listening to The Fiery Cross. My audio copy seems to be messed up on the 3rd section, but I have it as an ebook too, so I got to read while I waited for my hard drive to be available. Happy day!

[Roz]

I finished The Girl on the Train. 3 stars. I don't think there was a single character in this one that I can say I liked. All were flawed ( some more than others), others just morally wrong. I would have preferred a better ending. I found it flat.

[Janice, Moderator]

Roz wrote: "Janice, The Lost Wife was very good. I needed tissues."

Yes, I think I'll likely need to keep them close by.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "I'm also reading "Hubert the dragon" by John Calder Liechty...."

What a great opportunity. One doesn't often get to be in the grass roots of a book like that.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm trying to finish my last series book for the year. I was going soooo well until I got sick. So I have put down Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World which I couldn't deal with when exhausted and picked up Mike and Psmith.

It's only 130pp but so incredibly slow going. There is so so so so so much cricket. I can see why my grandfather loved it. I really want to knock it over today but I think I may be bribing myself to do it.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "What a great opportunity. One doesn't often get to be in the grass roots of a book like that."

It really is! We are all really excited. So far I've read 10% of it.

[Stephanie]

I completed my personal goal of reading 75 books this year :) yay! I was shooting for 100 but school is taking up a lot of my time ;)

I'm reading The Remnant and The Kindness of Strangers to finish off the year!

[Lisa]

I have finished my reread of The Miniaturist. I loved it the first time I read it and I loved it just as much this time. It was a great way to finish 2015! :)

[Lisa]

Stephanie wrote: "I completed my personal goal of reading 75 books this year :) yay! I was shooting for 100 but school is taking up a lot of my time ;)

Woohoo! Congratulations Stephanie! :)

[Stephanie]

Thanks, Lisa :) it helped to have a few short books ;)

[Cherie]

Congratulations, Stephanie!

[Joan]

Sarah wrote: "I'm trying desperately to finish The Bazaar of Bad Dreams as it has to go back to the library sometime soon and there's no chance of renewing it because it has holds on it. I've had..."

I can imagine that commuting with Marukami would be hard. Is it difficult to concentrate on the book and pay attention to the commute simultaneously?

[Joan]

I really enjoyed Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring; I gave it 3 stars; it was a very good follow-on for Lafayette in the Somewhat United States which I read for the winners challenge
I like reading actual letters and diaries from historic figures - the thoughts, observations, mundane concerns and tensions really draw me in. This book is engaging and informative the author uses a lot of quotes from the letters and diaries of the spies so they really come alive as people.

Travis of NNY had commented that a book he read on the topic was watered down. This one had enough information/detail to satisfy me but maybe not enough for someone better informed about The American Revolution.

It was also fun because I live in the area where the spies were active - Setauket and Old Man's New York.
information for tourists about the spy ring
My review

[Sarah]

Joan wrote: "I can imagine that commuting with Marukami would be hard. Is it difficult to concentrate on the book and pay attention to the commute simultaneously?"

I don't really need to pay too much attention to the commute as such. Just find a seat on train, sit/stand and get off at the right stop. However, the train is always crammed so it can be noisy. Annoyingly if someone is speaking loudly my attention falls to their conversation. I can listen to that and read if I am reading just a fluff book (just like I can listen to the radio/music at the same time) but when a book needs a bit more attention to understand what's going on then the noise/radio/conversations tend to win out and I read the words on the page but they make no sense and so I have to go back and reread.

[Janice, Moderator]

I did it! I finished The Werewolf of Bamberg! I was hoping to get it done before the bells ring in the new year.

Next up is A Sudden Light for my real life book club.

[Roz]

After finishing The Girl on the Train a couple of days ago I've started The Job (a quick read and 3rd in the series) and The Winter People. I know I wont finish it by the ball dropping but it looked good. I'll have to visit the Book Group thread and see what everyone said.

[Janice, Moderator]

Do drop in on the thread, Roz. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book.

[Lynda]

I finished Anne of Windy Poplars as my final serial killer read; finishing off level 12! I gave it 2 stars, but it's really 2.5.

Now I'm picking up The Golden Compass, a series I never got around to starting and The Left Hand of Darkness for a Sci Fi group.

I ended up renewing but not buying A Darker Shade of Magic, so I won't get it read for the December Winners Challenge, but I look forward to finishing it.