Where is your bookmark?

[Andrew✌️]

I finished a couple of day ago Dr. Futurity, by Philip Dick and now I'm reading The Master and Margarita. These are two totally different genres, but both books are good.

[Francie]

I just finished reading The Black Dahlia by James Elroy. I'm currently reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin and The October Horse by Colleen McCullough.

[Travis]

finished almost done with a bit of swashbuckling in

[Anil]

Finished Of Mice and Men, The Beggar's Opera and The Virgin Suicides. I'm still reading Persuasion and Under the Net.

[Vismay]

Read 'The Casual Vacancy' by J.K. Rowling....Here is the review......


That’s the truth. Maybe we don’t like it, maybe we brush it under the carpet to delude ourselves that the world is full of good people and good always triumphs over evil. But the world has its fare share of Dursleys. Maybe not everyone is bad. But J.K. Rowling have focused her lens on the ‘riff-raffs’ of the society, the snobbish and selfish upper class, few good people trying to improve the situation (which even they know in their heart would never be remedied) and all their dirt in sharp detail in ‘The Casual Vacancy’. It’s of course not a happy book to read, but it does keep a person engaged.
But before I review the book further, I would like to state a point that, though I have just read a couple of book written by British authors about Britain, I feel that J.K. had overstated the malice and the dirt a wee bit. Maybe I feel that is because practically every family mentioned here is sick in some or the other manner (except Kay’s family or the Jawanda’s, with Barry Fairbrother cutting across as a figurative saint (though dead)), but yet I refuse to believe everyone to be that bad in the real world. I know I am being incorrect here; the book confuses me as the personalities of the characters cannot be sharply divided into black and white. It’s fucking grey, with some characters a darker shade of it. And the end is uncertain, it is maybe and hopefully a somewhat happily ever after kind of thing, but you couldn’t be too sure.
The story as such is simple. Barry Fairbrother is dead. And he has left a gaping hole in the hearts of those who adored him and a casual vacancy in the Councilor’s seat. There is a fierce competition to get that seat. Opinions are divided. A perennial knife hangs on the fate of the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic and the people who are categorized as the ‘riff-raffs’ (the people from the Fields) may/can be pushed outside the (jurisdiction of) precinct of Pagford, a stupid little proud town with its neat houses and charming surroundings.
People say it’s different from Harry Potter, yet I choose to believe differently. Maybe Harry died in the first 4 pages, but we have Dursleys in Mollisons, a sort of good Wormtail in Colin Walls, Stuart or Fat Walls trying to be a Voldemort but of course he fails in his ambition. We have a Neville Longbottom in Sukhvinder, Hermione in Kay (Elves’ rights or a social worker), Madam Maxime in Maureen (both trying to dress out of their age and height, but at least Madam Maxime was good and respectable), a Molly in Tessa Wall and a Ron (minus the kind-hearted father) in Andrew.
I indeed liked this book. And one of the major reasons has to be that she projected the Indians as good Samaritans. No, here they aren’t exactly geeks, nor are they supremely spiritual. They aren’t as narrow-minded as stereotypically portrayed in Hollywood films and some books on “India” written by foreign authors, nor are they lascivious ruthless businessmen lusting the ‘gori madam’. Nor are there any major goof-ups in Indian names (I sometimes am still amused by Padma Patil and Parvati Patil!!!) and Vikram looks like a Bollywood hero! In short, they are projected as normal people, with religion as a part of their life, but just a part.
From time to time, people like being projected normal. Anyone listening in the West, we are normal!
I must say, J.K. Rowling might have received a Booker Prize (or been a major contender) for ‘The Casual Vacancy’ had she not written Harry Potter prior to it. I liked this book, but it would be too much if I said that, I loved it…

[Pam]

The Absent One - Jussi Adler-Olsen and
King Peggy - Peggielene Bartels

[Shannon]

The Phantom of the Opera-about 85% through.

[HeatherIlene]

After watching the second season of Game of Thrones, I decided to check out A Clash of Kings. A little backward, I know.

[Karena]

HeatherIlene wrote: "After watching the second season of Game of Thrones, I decided to check out A Clash of Kings. A little backward, I know."

Actually I saw the show then read the books. I had to stop though because I didn't like knowing more about what was to come in future seasons since Jared doesn't read them, but watches the show and I can't keep a secret.

[Tee]

Les Miserables.
200+ pages in.

[HeatherIlene]

Karena wrote:

Actually I saw the show then read the books. I had to..."

Ha! I'm kind of terrible at keeping secrets, too. Plus, I end up anticipating how closely a show or movie will stay to the original story.

[Rose]

I'm reading Divergent by Veronica Roth. I'm a little over half way through and it's pretty good so far. It has a Hunger Games/Giver feel.

[Andrew✌️]

I started and . I'm not used to read two books at time, this is a unique case. For the book of Dumas, I saw the last two mini-series (one with Gerard Depardieu and the other with Jim Caviezel), but is the first time that I read book.

[LaLaLa Laura]

Just started The Night Circus. I heard it mentioned in our group's podcast today and so far it is strange and intriguing.

[Karena]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "Just started The Night Circus. I heard it mentioned in our group's podcast today and so far it is strange and intriguing."

But so good. What is The Game? What is the circus about? So many good questions. Now I don't want to talk about it because I'll want to re-read and I don't have time for that mess. ;)

[LaLaLa Laura]

Karena wrote: "LaLaLa Laura wrote: "Just started The Night Circus. I heard it mentioned in our group's podcast today and so far it is strange and intriguing."

But so good. What is The Game? What is the circus a..."

I can't wait to find out!

[Jess :)]

I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo with the Chunksters group. Our schedule is only ~100 pages per week, so I'll have this one going for quite awhile! I just started The Master and Margarita---so far very interesting!

[Danaë]

I'm working on some sewing projects so I've been doing a lot of listening the last few days. I just finished The Android's Dream. It was the first John Scalzi I've read and I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the fabulously bizarre and funny tale I got. I'm a couple hours into The Picture of Dorian Gray. I suppose I'm enjoying it so far, aside from the annoyingly petulant Dorian.

[Dani]

I'm currently reading The Kill Order then I hope to have time to read both the Time Machine and Heart of Darkness by the time spring break is over.

[Anil]

I finished Under the Net by Iris Murdoch. It is an excellent book, and I must say it has challenged my view on the notion of truth. I need to read books on philosophy. Iris Murdoch has become one of my favourite authors along with Alan Hollinghurst, Charles Dickens, and Paul Monette.

[MiA]

I'm reading The Phantom of the Opera and I'm just starting Anna Karenina for the May group read. I also started "The Druze of Belgrade/دروز بلغراد حكاية حنا يعقوب". It's the Arabic Booker Prize winner for 2012. Hopefully, I'll be able to read The Picture of Dorian Gray before the end of the month.

[Swati]

I am stuck with Sherlock Holmes , i don't know why but not able to finish it :-/ :(

[Jessica]

Just started The Great Gatsby today! Hoping it is better for me the second time around.

[Andrew✌️]

Jessica wrote: "Just started The Great Gatsby today! Hoping it is better for me the second time around."

I haven't time enough to read it now, but I'll start as soon as possible

[Rachel Anne]

I've started Northanger Abbey yesterday! So far it's been really enjoyable.

[Jurgen]

I've started reading The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.
Anyone who has read this book before?

[D]

I'm reading Fevre Dream by George RR Martin for myself and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte for a gothic literature group read.

[Jessica]

Dawn wrote: "I'm reading Fevre Dream by George RR Martin for myself and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte for a gothic literature group read."

I have heard so many great things about The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . I wish I had more time to read. There is a burning to desire for me to pick up, as soon as Anna is finished. Please, share with us what you think afterwards.

[Natalie]

I'm currently reading It as well as A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

[Carina]

Just finished The Language of Flowers, which I loved, and am now starting The Orchardist.

[Karena]

Carina wrote: "Just finished The Language of Flowers, which I loved, and am now starting The Orchardist."

Oh The Language of Flowers is on my very long TBR pile. Your recommendation might move it up a few spots though! :)

[Andrew✌️]

I've started a couple of way ago Brave New World. Despite of what I say before, read two books at the same time is becoming a habit.

[MiA]

I'm reading a collection of short stories called I Sweep the Sun Off Rooftops. I started nibbling my way through Anna Karenina along with My Name is Red for our author's challenge.

[Karena]

As I'm constantly reading more than one book at a time, right now I'm reading Blood & Beauty: The Borgias (an ARC for the blog and my historical fiction pick), meandering through Anna Karenina, jazzing it up with Tender Is the Night (first of my buddy reads with Angie), and trying to decide between A Conspiracy of Alchemists or Gameboard of the Gods as my book of the hour. Life After Life I'm also excited to get started on.

[Anil]

I finished A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood a couple of days ago. I felt as if someone punched at my throat at the end of the novella. I am reading Emma and No Thoroughfare by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens. By the way, will there be a similar thread for April?

[Karena]

Anil wrote: "I finished A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood a couple of days ago. I felt as if someone punched at my throat at the end of the novella. I am reading Emma and No Thoroughfare by Wilkie Collins a..."

A similar thread for what we're reading? Since this one is only 2 pages I think we'll keep it open. I will take the March date off so no one gets confused.

[Margaret]

Carina wrote: "Just finished The Language of Flowers, which I loved, and am now starting The Orchardist."

Author of The Language of Flowers please? I found 3 books with the same title!

[Karena]

Margaret wrote: "Carina wrote: "Just finished The Language of Flowers, which I loved, and am now starting The Orchardist."

Author of The Language of Flowers please? I found 3 books with the same title!"

The Language of Flowers is the one I was talking about. I don't know if was the same as Carina's.

[Tee]

I'm on Part 3 of Les Miserables so I took a break to read Brave New World with the group. I'm on chapter 7.
After that, I'll be tackling A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin.

[Anil]

Karena, there used to be a thread for each month, and I thought there would also be one dedicated to April. We might use this one as the main thread on where our bookmarks instead of opening a new one in May.

[Karena]

Anil wrote: "Karena, there used to be a thread for each month, and I thought there would also be one dedicated to April. We might use this one as the main thread on where our bookmarks instead of opening a new ..."

Yes, I thought about opening one this month, but since this one wasn't very full, I decided against it. I just wanted to make sure that is what you were referring to since I wasn't sure in your original post. Until this one starts getting overly long, we'll just use this one. Same as the introduction thread. I had been opening new ones each month due to the constant activity, but it looks like we've slowed down a lot.

Thanks for the help.

[Diamond]

Hi guys!
I'm currently reading The Woman in white, among others but that is the classic I'm reading! I started a classics challenge with my friend trish on our blogs! It's helping read these wonderful books :) http://diamondlovestoread.blogspot.com

[Carina]

I don't know how to reply to a post, but Karena, that's exactly the Language of Flowers book/author I was talking about! A wonderfully amazing read :)

[Danaë]

I love these threads, I always find new books to add to my to-read list. I'm still chipping away at all the Sherlock Holmes stories. I've been reading chronologically and I find I like the later stories (Baskervilles and after) much more than the early ones. I felt the need for something light and cheery while getting through the end of Brave New World and just listened to a nice librivox recording of The Girl on the Boat. P. G. Wodehouse always lifts my mood. I'm re-reading Trader and once done with that will probably start on Anna Karenina. I'm guessing I should lay aside some more Wodehouse to break that humongous read up. :)

[Karena]

Carina wrote: "I don't know how to reply to a post, but Karena, that's exactly the Language of Flowers book/author I was talking about! A wonderfully amazing read :)"

I just bought it on our SF bookstore tour! I can't wait to start it. I just finished Life After Life and loved it. So many ways to live a life and this is just one person. Intriguing.

[Lohengrin]

Jurgen wrote: "I've started reading The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.
Anyone who has read this book before?"

I did. I wasn't that impressed with it, some parts are good, but overall I felt it was hugely overrated.

[Pink]

I'm about to start reading Manga is a real departure for me, as I usually stick to classics, fiction, or non-fiction books. I'm really enjoying this series though and luckily have my daughters library to work through

[Andrew✌️]

Pink wrote: "I'm about to start reading Manga is a real departure for me, as I usually stick to classics, fiction, or non-fiction books. I'm really enjoying this s..."

I've watched the anime on TV a couple of years ago and I liked. Do you know if the manga follow the same plot or is different?

[Pink]

I think it's the same plot but haven't seen the anime so not too sure. I've only read the first 2 books out of 13 so far

[Andrew✌️]

Pink wrote: "I think it's the same plot but haven't seen the anime so not too sure. I've only read the first 2 books out of 13 so far"

Ok, Thanks. I'll try to look on the internet.