What Are You Reading Showing 6,351-6,400 of 6,935

[Sara]

Cphe, I've just started a chunkster myself, The Count of Monte Cristo, as an audiobook....approximately 47 hours.

[Thomas, Moderator]

Cphe wrote: "I’m reading Every Dead Thing think it was recommended by Declan"

Cphe, this is my no spoiler review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara]

Cphe wrote: "Sara, I had put TCofMC as a read for this year but I think I'm running out of time by now.

I've already committed 2018 to Henry James/Joseph Conrad.

We've just as a group have to come to a decisi..."

Heart of Darkness is absolutely brilliant and a favorite of mine. I haven't read any other Joseph Conrad though or anything by Henry James. Which group is this that you're a part of?

[Susan]

Cphe wrote: "Also my current group read for another group the mighty Crime and Punishment is drawing to a close.

2017, for this reader has been the year of the "clunkster" reads."

We read this for GRI and I had trouble with it. Still I am glad I finished it.

[Susan]

Me too. I wouldn't have made it alone.

[Andy]

enjoyed Heart of Darkness and Crime and Punishment both

trying Henry James - The Portrait of a Lady at the moment, but it's leaving me cold so far.

[Barbara]

Cphe wrote: "Oh I know Susan,

When I read/tackled Ulysses earlier in the year I had three groups, and quite a few readers holding my hand throughout.

But when I finished it I was "chuffed" - gla..."

I believe the only way to read Ulysses is with a group. In fact the way I met Sara was through the Capitol Joyce group that was reading Ulysses at Politics and Prose bookstore. I've read it twice with the group and listened to the audiobook with another group.

I am currently reading Pachinko which is 500 pages. I put it down for a week while I traveled and now don't remember who is who. Audiobooks make it harder to keep track of characters and I am "rubbish" at remembering names when the setting is another country. I do not understand how this was nominated for the National Book Award. It is an epic family story across Korea and Japan. The characters are not deeply developed and the history of Japanese oppression is only briefly sketched except for the prejudice against Koreans in Japan. And the audio is around 16 hours sigh. I do have the kindle version but it doesn't update automatically when I switch back and forth.

[Susan]

Kenneys just put out a list of nominees for The Irish Books of 2017. It was an interesting list including the mystery category. Barbara, have you read Casey, Jane? It looked quite intriguing. Then Book Depository sent out a list of the Most Beautiful Books. There was one on maps. Isn't there someone interested in maps?

[Barbara]

here's the link to the nominees: Irish Books for 2017
https://www.kennys.ie/books-bestselle...

I've read several Jane Casey books. She was born in Dublin - educated at Oxford and Trinity College. Her character Maeve Kerrigan is daughter of Irish parents - I think from Donegal - working in the Met London. Like her books and this character a lot.

[Susan]

Thanks to the librarian for adding the link. I would never have figured it out. It's good to hear about Jane Casey. I am going to have to try her out.

[Barbara]

Susan wrote: "Thanks to the librarian for adding the link. I would never have figured it out. It's good to hear about Jane Casey. I am going to have to try her out."

I think you'll like her!

[Susan]

That's great. I feel better when there are two of you who like her.

[eimear.reads]

Purple Hibiscus by Chiamamanda Ngozi Adichie

[Barbara]

I am still juggling several books :
Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell,
Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother's Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South
The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
The House Where it Happened by Martina Devlin and
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
among others...
I plan to finish Pachinko and Sorry to Disturb the Peace this weekend. I have piles of work and housework to do but need to relax too.

[SueLucie]

Andy wrote: "enjoyed Heart of Darkness and Crime and Punishment both

trying Henry James - The Portrait of a Lady at the moment, but it's leaving me cold so far."

Andy, if you ever get through The Portrait of a Lady you might look out for John Banville's new book Mrs Osmond - a sequel of sorts. I enjoyed it very much, written in something of the same style but I'd say more accessible, certainly for me.

[SueLucie]

I've just finished Sweetland by Michael Crummey, set in Newfoundland. Reminiscent of the story of St Kilda (a tiny community facing eviction from their bleak livelihoods on a remote island) but set in modern times.

[Barbara]

Sue wrote: "I've just finished Sweetland by Michael Crummey, set in Newfoundland. Reminiscent of the story of St Kilda (a tiny community facing eviction from their bleak livelihoods on a remote island) but set..."

Sue- what was the title of the book set on St. Kilda?

[Barbara]

I just went to the library and picked up 2 books on hold and another that caught my eye:
The Blue Guitar
Black Rabbit Hall and
Dark Chapter by Winnie M. Li. The final book's description got my attention:
Vivian is a cosmopolitan Taiwanese-American tourist who often escapes her busy life in London through adventure and travel. Johnny is a 15-year-old Irish teenager, living a neglected life on the margins of society.

[Susan]

Barbara, are you interested in Snugville Street: The Sun Reaps What the Rain Has Sown? I really liked it and I think you would too. I'd be happy to send it to you.

[Susan]

Barbara wrote: "I just went to the library and picked up 2 books on hold and another that caught my eye:
The Blue Guitar
Black Rabbit Hall and
Dark Chapter by [autho..."

Dark Chapter sounds so interesting. I just read some reviews and it's based on a real life story that happened to the author. I can't wait to read your review.

BTW, are you interested in [book:Snugville Street: The Sun Reaps What the Rain Has Sown|27027435]? I think you would like it and I am happy to send it to you.

[SueLucie]

Barbara wrote: "Sue wrote: "I've just finished Sweetland by Michael Crummey, set in Newfoundland. Reminiscent of the story of St Kilda (a tiny community facing eviction from their bleak livelihoods on a remote isl..."

Sorry, Barbara, I meant that this story about people leaving an island off Newfoundland reminded me of the experience of people on St Kilda decades earlier.

[Barbara]

Susan wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I just went to the library and picked up 2 books on hold and another that caught my eye:
The Blue Guitar
Black Rabbit Hall and
Dark Chapter..
I looked at the new books in the library and the description of Dark Chapter looked intriguing.

[Allan]

Barbara, did I mention that my ‘in person’ book club is reading The Blue Guitar this month? I’ve still to make a start with it, but have the lovely hardback first edition, having picked it up for very little in Chapters on a recent Dublin visit.

Having finished the Steinbeck novel and abandoned IT, I’ve made a start with the recently well reviewed The Leavers on audio, and with one of John Boyne’s favourite reads of the year so far, Belfast author Phil Harrison’s debut novel, The First Day. So far, so good in both cases...

[Donna]

I'm also interested, Allan, I just put it on hold at my library.

[SueLucie]

Me too, Allan. I read The First Day this year and enjoyed it very much.

[Hunter]

I am an author living in West Australia and was born and raised in Dublin. I have just read Demelza's All The Birds of the Air, a book of short stories with links throughout. A great read. I want to read Sir Ken Robinson's Out of Our Minds. Love his Tedx Talks on education, diversity and creativity. Love any book by Stuart Wilde...

[Allan]

At 710 pages, that's some buddy read. All the best with it!

[Barbara]

Allan wrote: "Barbara, did I mention that my ‘in person’ book club is reading The Blue Guitar this month? I’ve still to make a start with it, but have the lovely hardback first edition, having pi..."

I've had my eye on the Phil Harrison nivek. I have several "must read ASAP on my pile so am trying to control my book buying for a couple of weeks. I need to get a copy of Blue Guitar as I had to bring it back to the library. I saw John Banville at Politics and Prose this week and he was reading from his new book Mrs Osmond. It is a continuation of Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady. Banville loves Henry James but admits some of his books are very difficult.

I am reading Dark Chapter set In London and Belfast as well as Dublin. But I have a serious trigger warning: this story describes a violent sexual attack and for that reason I hesitate to recommend it. I will finish it but have a feeling my review will be critical. I am listening to John Hart's The Last Child, a thriller.

[Barbara]

Cphe wrote: "Currently reading The Histories as part of a buddy read on another group.

Has anyone read it?"

That's one of the books that pushed me to quit my travel book club.

[Allan]

Barbara wrote: "Allan wrote: "Barbara, did I mention that my ‘in person’ book club is reading The Blue Guitar this month? I’ve still to make a start with it, but have the lovely hardback first edit..."

I’ve heard of that book, Barbara - am I right in thinking that the author was a victim of a similar attack? If not, it’s certainly based on a harrowing case from here.

I still haven’t started the Banville, though it’ll be my next read, so that it’ll be fresh in my mind for my meeting - having read Banville in the past, I’m not expecting it to be easy. I see that McKinty wrote an unflattering review of his new novel in an Australian newspaper, though I’m not sure if I would consider him the best person to review it.

I’m just over half way through Malachi O’Doherty’s Gerry Adams: An Unauthorised Life, which is, as expected, a very interesting read, and have a few hours left on The Leavers audiobook, which is a very interesting portrayal of both the illegal immigrant experience and the life of an overseas adoptee.

[Barbara]

Allan wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Allan wrote: "Barbara, did I mention that my ‘in person’ book club is reading The Blue Guitar this month? I’ve still to make a start with it, but have the lovely har..."

Yes - Dark Chapter the author did experience a sexual assault. I finished it this morning though I thought about abandoning it. I will be reviewing it today.

McKinty reviewing Banville's take on Portrait of a Lady - bizarre. I fear that the Australian newspaper may be guilty of stereotyping Irish writers as all in the same category and equally versed in all genres. I may make The Leavers my next audiobook. I would like to start O'Doherty's book soon but have library books that I must read sooner rather than later.

[Alicia]

Poor Cphe!

[Alicia]

Cphe wrote: "Alicia, I really can't blame anyone but myself unfortunately.

All the novels just look so good and I just can't say no."

We need book version of alcoholics anonymous.

[Andy]

staring a parallel read of Northern Lights Pb Ne Se/Golden Compass with eldest

hoping it will keep reading momentum going from our reading of Harry Potter earlier this year

[H]

Andy wrote: "staring a parallel read of Northern Lights Pb Ne Se/Golden Compass with eldest

hoping it will keep reading momentum going from our reading of Harry Potter earlier this year"


His Dark Materials have been my absolute favourite book(s) since I was about 10 and first stumbled across them, I hope you both enjoy immensely & finish in time to watch the BBC adaptation!

[H]

I'm currently reading The Street Philosopher by Matthew Plampin It's been over a month now but that's more to do with my own personal issues than the book. It's set in the Crimean war and is decent so far though I think being a little more heavy handed with the editing wouldn't have gone amiss.

[Sarah]

I'm currently reading The Text by Claire Douglas :-)

[Barbara]

I have a big pile and cannot make a decision. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow. I picked up The Long Drop by Denise Mina from the library but couldn't get into it.

[Maria Hill]

The Count of Monte Cristo is your only man.

[John]

started The Sound and the Fury. very disoriented but I think it will be great. characters take shape very early.

[Barbara]

Started Reservoir 13 !

[Barbara]

I just finished The Bear and the Nightingale on my Kindle. I am going to try to finish Reservoir 13 this weekend. I have so many books on my pile...

[Quix.]

I'm over half way through 'Ink' by Alice Broadway and I've got a thought. To begin with, I feel I was subconsciously drawn to the book last Friday at the library. I'd been considering a tattoo for some time now and the theme, let alone the title, of this book jumped at me from the shelf. It is as suggests and the story is all about ink -tattoos. It's definitely one of YA's finest moments for me this year. Have you ever found yourself drawn to a book that coincidentally is centred around your mind frame at the time? No coincidence at all.

I'm also working my way through 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' by J.K. Rowling, for the umpteenth time in my life. Is it coincidence that the Potter Puppet Pals is playing in the background while I type this?

Last but not least at all, I'm a palm full of chapters through 'Flowers in the Attic' by V. C. Andrews. I've read this before but it's one of those books that each time I come back to read I find something new. Definitely recommend.

[Susan]

Don't you just hate when work gets in the way of pleasure?

[Bookworm with Kids]

Susan, it's a real pain! I would get far more reading done if I didn't have to go to work....

[Thomas, Moderator]

i am reading My Sister's Bones , a GR giveaway.

[Barbara]

Cphe wrote: "Reading Headlong Hall as part of the Guardian 1000 list. I'm hoping to get to The Holy Thief which was a nomination for Dec. Then there is the small matter of two other..."

I mentioned Herodotus as the reason I quit my travel book group.

[Barbara]

Bookworm with Kids wrote: "Susan, it's a real pain! I would get far more reading done if I didn't have to go to work...."

And I'd have far less $$ for books but there's always the library.

[Andy]

for anyone interested in near future speculative fiction with a philosophical bent, just finished Version Control by Dexter Palmer
highly recommend

[Thomas, Moderator]

I just finished My Sister's Bones
It was a GR giveaway and I gave it 3*, My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...