What Are You Reading Showing 1,701-1,750 of 6,935

[[deleted user]]

If you enjoy it, Sara, I might have to read it myself.

[Sara]

Declan wrote: "If you enjoy it, Sara, I might have to read it myself."

If it's really good, I might suggest it as a future group read. It might be something that generated a fair bit of discussion.

[[deleted user]]

I think it will. It's also been ages since a non-fiction book was read by the group.

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "I don't know anything beyond what the Goodreads description says, but it sounds like it Declan. I didn't even know he was gay until you brought it up, and I looked at the book description more care..."

This is on my shelves as I picked up the hardcover as a remainder last summer. My to-read list is now officially past enormous!

[Barbara]

Declan wrote: "I think it will. It's also been ages since a non-fiction book was read by the group."

Hmmm - we should remember this for nominations.

[Sara]

It's actually a work of fiction based on a real person...similar in some ways I guess to Transatlantic by Colum McCann.

[[deleted user]]

Sounds like the kind of book the group might really love.

Maybe I should have guessed it was fiction, but maybe I'm just too used to seeing bios and textbooks about Irish historical figures.

[Tara]

Wow, you get to some amazing talks Susan and imagine chatting to Isabelle Allende. I think I would be too shy to say anything! I've read all of Hosseini's books. "And the Mountains Echoed" was a bit different to his other two books as there were a number of stories linked throughout generations. I liked this book a lot but maybe not as much as the others, more real possibly but a bit disjointed.

Oops - I think I might have posted this in the wrong thread as I can't find your post anymore, sorry.

[Paul]

One of my Anthropology lecturers , Dr Seamas Coleman would be recognised as one of the experts on Roger Casement. In my degree year I did a module on him. His work in The Belgian Congo is fascinating.He was on of the original hardcore human rights activists before his republican days and journeys to Germany

[Allan]

Sara, I'm intrigued myself by that Casement novel-so much so that I've just bought it second hand off Amazon. As Emma says, there's a Casement Park in Belfast, where Antrim play GAA, because Casement had family connections through his father in Ballymena, Co Antrim. I look forward to reading this one.

Re the Steinbeck short novels, of the 6 that I'm assuming are in your volume, I'd definitely start with Cannery Row. Tortilla Flat was his earliest success, and is similar in content to Cannery Row, without being anywhere near as good. As for the others in the book, Of Mice and Men is the most famous, and a book that I really enjoyed (probably because I never had to study it!), and I know that LMM just finished reading 'The Pearl' and was very positive about it.

I'm actually about to start a novel by one of Steinbeck's contemporaries-'Young Lonigan' by James T Farrell, which comes well recommended by the likes of Pete Hamill, the Irish American / NY writer, and portrays life in working class Chicago in the early part of the 20th century. It'll be interesting for me to compare the styles of the two writers.

[Barbara]

Tara - I also sometimes forgot which thread I read something in, but no worries. I didn't realize lucky Susan had met Isabel Allende. I've never seen her. I will add that the writer Julia Alvarez is absolutely delightful and especially with young people, charming and attentive. She wrote in my copy of one of her books "Ay que Barbara" when I said I didn't like my friends saying it to me all the time. It's a Dominicanismo (Dominican expression) - and to call a woman Barbara is to complement her.

About Roger Casement, I have a vague memory of controversies over his diaries or his alleged diaries.

Allan - in addition to reading Steinbeck this summer, I do want to read some Pete Hamill. I have a couple of his books on my shelves. As I've said before "too many books, too little time".

[[deleted user]]

@Barbara. It's generally agreed that the diaries are real. Part of the conspiracy theory's longevity is down to the British government's secrecy after the execution.

[Trelawn]

That's great Jamie Lynn. I agree that both men are flawed but as you say they act as a good contrast for one another.

[Trelawn]

Now you'll have to move onto Anne :-)

[Sara]

This weekend I managed to finish two books and come close to finishing another.

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson was a thoroughly enjoyable reread. In fact I may have liked it better this time around.

More Tales of the City by Armistead Maquin: From my review:

"I wound up, surprisingly given that I got off to a slow start with it, even more than the last one. I liked how Maupin ties together all the various plot lines and loose ends. This was also a lovely book to finish on Mother's Day as it talks a lot about the relationships between parents and children and what makes a family. Michael's coming out letter to his Mom and Dad was particularly touching."

As I've discussed with Allan, I probably won't read another one of these for a few months. Despite liking the characters, author, and exploration of 70s/80s gay culture, the writing style gets a tiresome after a bit.

I'm also am now only 60 pages from the end of my re-read of Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin which has also been quite enjoyable. I had forgotten some plot elements. I also find having read the book definitely enhances my enjoyment of the show...despite being annoyed at some of the changes in plot made by the show.

I did some work work this morning, and now I'm heading to the gym. While there I will listen to "The Martian" and then head home to shower and finish Storm of Swords. After that I'll dive into either more of the poetry anthology or back in "The People's History of the United States."

[Allan]

Sara, I'll be interested to see what you think of the Maupin series if you continue reading it in a few months, because I never got further than this one. If you enjoy the next one, it'll encourage me to take my copy off the shelf and give it a go myself!

[Sara]

Among the 200 books that got donated to the yard sale my family had last weekend were a bunch of books by the E.F. Benson, including all of the ones in his Mapp and Lucia. Has anyone read any of his stuff? I read a few good reviews of the Mapp and Lucia books awhile back on a book blog I follow. They're supposed to be humorous and in a similar style to "P.G. Wodehouse's stuff. I'm going to give the first one a go.

[Neil]

Not read in an age. Keep starting books but then after a chapter or two lose focus in them and need to start a new one.

Anyone got any tips for a easily find, easily read book to get me back my momentum? My Goodreads challenge is in the crapper due to work...knew I shouldn't have bothered to take the job.

[Sara]

Niall I see that you like fantasy and science fiction. Our current group read is Martian. I'm about halfway through it on audiobook right now and quite enjoying it. I can also I'm at home (on the phone app right now). Are there other genres you like? I think between us the frequent contributers to this group can reccomend books in almost any catagory.

[Paul]

If your having difficulty finishing books Niall why not try a few Novellas or short story collections. Some great sci-fi or fantasy ones out there.

[Trelawn]

@ Niall Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series is a brilliant read. It is very easy to enjoy, well written, great characters and funny too. Check it out :-)

[Neil]

These are all great suggestions! I'd do audiobooks but to be honest I cannot be bothered to even look for my ipod it has been so long. I assume it is dead and it's the only form of mp3 playing device I have. R.i.pod :P

Novellas might work. I cannot abide short stories though, you just get interested and it's over. Where's the fun in that? :/

I'll have a look at The Martian Sara! If I can see it around maybe I'll pick it up.

[[deleted user]]

What if she's really a Twighlight fan, Jamielynn?

[[deleted user]]

@Niall. You really should go for The Martian.

[[deleted user]]

I've just started Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. I'm not very far into it but I'm already loving the characters and the hard science (or maybe I should say maths) edge.

Thank you, Barbara...
and Sara. :)

[Paul]

I've only read Snow Crash by Steohenson. Good book but dated now.

[Sara]

My favorite Stephenson has always been Diamond Age followed by Cryptonomicon followed by Zodiac. I find all three have aged much better than Snow Crash (which I also like). I've also read In the Beginning Was the Command Line and The Big U. I plan to read/listen to Anathem by the end of the year. Stephenson is one of few authors with whom I will make sure to eventually read all of their work. @Declan I'm glad I did not steer Barbara amiss when helping her select a book for you.

[[deleted user]]

@Gerry. It must be a huge relief to get all that out of the way. Do you have the whole summer free. And don't forget to tell us how that book goes. I love the title.

@Sara. If this continues like this I'll definitely read his work again. I might put Snow Crash on the long finger and try Diamond Age.

@Paul. I have a feeling you'll like this but it'll probably be around a week and a half until I can give my final opinion, but from Sara's evaluation and my first impression I'd say go ahead, especially as you liked Snow Crash.

[Allan]

I've just finished another Steinbeck, a collection of journalism and his last published book, America and Americans, collected in one volume. I thought that the Steinbeck fans among us might enjoy this article from the book, 'I Go Back to Ireland', which recounts his journey back to Sam Hamilton's Ballykelly home.

http://www.unz.org/Pub/Colliers-1953j...

Jamielynn, Ballykelly isn't very far from Limavady, which I think I remember you saying is where your dad hailed from?

[[deleted user]]

Ooh! There's a little too much going on, but I'll be reading that before tonight.

[[deleted user]]

Well, I am a bit of a Steinbeck fiend! :)

[[deleted user]]

It won't open in my phone. There's just a big, blank space where the article's text should be. I emailed it to myself to read on my laptop tomorrow.

[Allan]

It's a PDF file from the original magazine, Declan, and I know for a fact that you'll enjoy it!

[Susan]

Allan, I tried to open it and all I got was a picture of a church. Am I doing something wrong?

[Allan]

It's a PDF file that's been scanned from the original. When you open it, you'll need to zoom in to read then switch the page. Apologies for the unconventional method, but it will work-it certainly does on my iPhone, and the scanned pages are fine to read as well.

[Barbara]

Declan wrote: "I've just started Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. I'm not very far into it but I'm already loving the characters and the hard science (or maybe I should say maths) edge.

Thank you, Barbara...
and..."

As I recall it's a big book:) I have never seen such a thick paperback. We call the smaller paperback books "mass market paperbacks" here in the US and the larger sized paperbacks "trade paperbacks". I have learned in Ireland it is not common to issue new books in hardcover. Emma Donoghue said as much when she was in Washington to talk about Frog Music, and has a paperback. Here in the US almost all new books come out in hardcover and then we have to wait for about a year for the paperback. But I see the paperbacks coming out sooner. Often they come out as trade paperbacks which sell for about $15. The price has been creeping up over the past few years. But with ebooks competing with the sale of hardcovers this may be changing. I buy kindle daily special ebooks but the only ebooks I buy at "full price" (about $12.95) are new books for some reason I have to read - book club, long waiting lists at the library or I really want to read it.

[Barbara]

Ok peeps - I find you all guilty of sending me on a book acquision spree. Two more books arrived yesterday and I have more on the way. Soon I will write up a list of all the books I've acquired in the past month.
I just finished a mystery and am debating whether to read Unspoken by Gerald Stembridge next or Emma Donoghue's new book Frog Music. I am leaning towards Unspoken. In the meantime I should be attending to evaluating a student portfolio and writing the syllabus for the class I start teaching on Tuesday. I slept late this morning and finished the book I was reading.

[[deleted user]]

@Theresa. Is there a reason you're reading so many short stories or is it just a coincidence?

@ Barbara. Some writers still bring out hardbacks or a mixture of HB and trade. And as far as I'm aware we use the same terms over here.

I'm really enjoying Cryptonomicon. It's pretty huge, alright. It's 1100+ and the font isn't biggest but so far it's very, VERY good. It might be 5* read.

[Paul]

not a huge fan of the large format paperbacks they release instead of or alongside the first release hardbacks. they tend to get ragged and dig eared quicker than other paperbacks

[Paul]

ive slowed down so much in the last teo years Jamie Lynn. I'd say I read at a quarter my old pace since we had the kid.

[Trelawn]

I've always been a reader and books have been my refuge but sometimes life gets in the way. I have beeb way of my game for a while with it taking me weeks to finish a book that used to take days. It's only in the last few months that i've picked up my stride. GR has actually helped with beinh able to track my readin progress, plus i've gotten some good recommendations.

[Trelawn]

That's allowed :-) A true TBR pile never really gets any smaller it just changes.

[Seraphina]

I sometimes look at my tbr list going ' how in the name of Jesus did I get that on my list?", and it always cones backto GRI

[Sara]

As an illustration of how bad my TBR problem is...

I was going through boxes of old papers and came across a receipt dated 12/31/2010. I spent $18.99 on 6 books at a used bookstore in Albuquerque, NM...which means I was visiting friends and carted all those books home in my luggage. I have read none of the book listed on the receipt yet. I do think I managed to give away 4/6.

[Barbara]

I thought Limevady sounded familiar. What a sad story!

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "As an illustration of how bad my TBR problem is...

I was going through boxes of old papers and came across a receipt dated 12/31/2010. I spent $18.99 on 6 books at a used bookstore in Albuquerque,..."

Those were the days we were actually allowed to check a bag, right?

[Barbara]

With all this talk of destashing books, I just had to make a list of the books I've brought into my house in the past couple months. I added the e-books but not audiobooks, nor the books I bought in Ireland.
May
1. Answering Back: Living Poets Reply to the Poetry of the Past - Carol Ann Duffy
2. The Virtues of Poetry - James Longenbach,
3. A Secret History of the IRA by Ed Moloney
4. Doctor's Wife - Brian Moore
5. The International - Glenn Patterson
6. Man of War, Man of Peace: The Unauthorised Biography of Gerry Adams - David Sharrock,
8. Across the Barricades
9. The Island That Dared:Journeys in Cuba -Dervla Murphy
10. Lean on Pete – Willy Vlautin

April

11.Alternative Ulsters: Conversations on Identity - Mark Carruthers
12.Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine -Sami Adwan
13. Flowers in the Sky - Lynn Joseph
14. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business -Charles Duhigg
15. Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland – Anne Cadwallader
16. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Irish Culture – Joe Cleary
17.Cien Años de Soledad – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Paperback Swap
18. The Scribner Book of New Irish Writing
19. Living to Tell the Tale - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
20. Memories of My Melancholy Whores- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
21. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
22. In Dubious Battle - John Steinbeck
23. Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir - Doris Kearns Goodwin
24. Telex from Cuba - Rachel Kushner
25. The Plum Tree - Ellen Marie Wiseman
26. Open Secrets : Stories - Alice Munro
27. Red Poppies : A Novel of Tibet Alai
28. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
29. In the Country of Men - Hisham Matar
30. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage : Stories -Alice Munro
31. The Midwife of Hope River- Patricia Harman

Ebooks
32. Fifty Grand By Adrian McKinty
33. My Lady of the Chimney Corner - Alexander Irvine

Kindle daily deals
34. The Painted Word: A Treasure Chest of Remarkable Words and Their Origins - Phil Cousineau,
35. Havana Lost - Libby Fischer Hellmann
36. Mornings in Jenin - Susan Abulhawa,
37. The Death of Artemio Cruz: A Novel - Carlos Fuentes,
38. Reconstructing Amelia: A Novel - Kimberly McCreight
39. Under the Volcano: A Novel - Malcolm Lowry
40. Guernica - Dave Boling

[Allan]

Barbara / Sara - the next time I am charged with bringing too many books into the house, posts like these will be main items for the defence! :)

Barbara, some great familiar titles on your list, and quite a few unfamiliar ones that I'll be looking into myself in the morning! It'll be quite a challenge for you to get through these this summer!

[Sara]

@Barbara I don't remember, but there was a good chance I was flying Southwest which still gives you two free bags (as long as they're under 50 pounds each).

[Susan]

Oh, Allan, I must be the world's biggest dunce. I give up. I can't get it to open other than the church picture. Could you send me one of your bright 10 year old students to help me out?