What Are You Reading Showing 3,351-3,400 of 6,935

[Kevin]

I've started listening to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy narrated by Stephen Fry. I could listen to Stephen Fry recite pi so I think I'll probably be spending all my audible credits on the rest of the series :)

[Sara]

So I had a hellish commute today (don't worry I'm getting to the reading part). The trip to work took the normal 35-40 minutes. It was along a gorgeous stretch of road, there was no traffic, and I listened to Not My Father's Son: A Memoir which manages to be poignant and hilarious at the same time. While at work I managed to lose my car keys. The trip home via public transit took a little under an hour and half. There was the silver lining though of getting to read more of The Snapper finally. I plan to read the last 20 pages before heading to bed and will comment in the spoiler thread tomorrow. Suffice to say I'm finding it absolutely brilliant.

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "So I had a hellish commute today (don't worry I'm getting to the reading part). The trip to work took the normal 35-40 minutes. It was along a gorgeous stretch of road, there was no traffic, and I..."

Sara -I assume you mean you lost them walking somewhere which you job entails. Bummer.

I just finished Nora Webster and will be going out for my walk and finish listening to The Third Policeman. I plan to start The Orphanmaster's Son now.

[Sara]

Barbara there's a small chance I managed to lock them in the car, but yeah I'm pretty sure they fell out of my jacket pocket when I was walking around talking to people yesterday. Luckily I have a duplicate key, so after catching a ride to work, I'll be able to look in the car for the other one.

On the reading front: After finishing up The Snapper last night in bed, I couldn't sleep, so I read the first story in Belfast Noir. It was by Brian McGilloway and was quite the page turner. Still unable to sleep, I read some more short stories from Kabu Kabu on my e-reader.

[Barbara]

Hope they're in the car. What I love about my keys is I can't lock the car if they're inside.

[Paul]

Theres gangs here that snatch womens bags when they get into their cars so I wouldnt be too happy about a car that cant lock when your in it . Sounds a bit risky

[Barbara]

Paul wrote: "Theres gangs here that snatch womens bags when they get into their cars so I wouldnt be too happy about a car that cant lock when your in it . Sounds a bit risky"

We have lots of purse snatching at gas (petrol) stations. Also just driving along, there are window smashers who get you at traffic lights. I always lock my doors since the time I was sitting on a quiet street near my home waiting for my son, and a guy got into my car and sat in the back seat. He wouldn't get out til my son and his friends came and chased him away. My other option was to drive up the street to the police station.

[Paul]

Scary stuff

[[deleted user]]

Frightening, Barbara. I always lock the car doors in cities where I might stop at lights etc
Sara, I hope your job becomes less eventful even if you managed some reading.

Somehow, I have 3 books on the go. I downloaded from the library The Cold Cold Ground, which is the first book I've read by Adrian McKinty and I'm loving it as he captures the complexities of policing during the Troubles so well. Last night there was a problem with the download (fixed) so rather than fiddle around I started The Dancers Dancing by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, which unexpectedly is set only a few years earlier than the McKinty but it isn't a crime novel. Lastly, overcome with the triumph of setting up my phone for audio books I overstretched myself and downloaded Stoner by John Edward Williams, and all I know about it is that it was a BTM for GI a while back. Hope it's good :)

[Allan]

Sara, good to see that you are enjoying Belfast Noir so far-there are some stories stronger than others, but hopefully you'll continue to find it worthwhile. Sorry to hear about the car keys-but every cloud I suppose, given the reading time you had!

Barbara, there are stories of hijackings, in the same manner as you describe, on the news at least once a week here. The most bizarre story I have, which is similar to your experience, was when my mate's wife was sitting at the lights at the top of Tate's Avenue and Lisburn Road, minding her own business, when the passenger door opened and former snooker world champion, Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins, got in and demanded a lift to Shaftesbury Square. Sad more than anything-he had such an awful end to his life.

Theresa, I know I've said this loads of times on the site, but please take McKinty with a HUGE pinch of salt-life on Coronation Road was positively idyllic in comparison to what he portrays-I was there!

I started The Feast Of Lupercal by Brian Moore last night, and am really enjoying it so far, particularly given that the book is set mainly in the Antrim Road suburbs, from which I'm not too far removed. As I posted on the Recently Bought Books thread, I know I'll be buying even more of his back catalogue in town as a result.

I'm also really enjoying The Orphan Master's Son on audio, and am about 50% done. The story really is bizarre, but given what we know about the state, it's perfectly believable. I'm looking forward to reading a little about the research undertaken for the novel once I finish it-it must have taken a lot of work!

[[deleted user]]

Allan, don't worry. Oxford isn't nearly as dangerous as Morse or Lewis would lead you to believe either :)

[Barbara]

Theresa wrote: "Allan, don't worry. Oxford isn't nearly as dangerous as Morse or Lewis would lead you to believe either :)"

I can't imagine that Oxford could possibly have so many murders particularly of professors. I hope you love Stoner as much as many of us in this group did. Wow, suppose you don't.
Allan - I won't warn my group about Swallowing the Sun. I know we plan to put more Northern Irish writers on our list as it helps get the organization some financial support from the NI Cultural Affairs people here in DC.

I said I would start reading The Orphanmaster's Son and will though Monday Eimear McBride is in town and though it's in a place where parking is impossible, I will go and bite the bullet and pay if I must for a garage.

[Cathleen]

I have tried several times to listen to audiobooks and it hadn't worked for me, but I've recently borrowed Man's Search for Meaning from our library--and I've been listening to it the past few days. It's one of those books I've had on my TBR shelf for a very long time; it's a powerful book, as I suspected it would be.

[Barbara]

Looks fascinating.

[Donna]

Paul, I have a car that won't lock the keys inside, IF I'm outside the vehicle. It locks just fine when I'm in it.

[Sara]

@Susan You simply must read Not My Father's Son: A Memoir. I had no idea that Alan Cummings had such an interesting life and his narration is lovely.

Also, like Barbara and Allan I'm reading Belfast Noir before it officially comes out. I've been treating myself to a story or two each night before bed. So far out of the first three, the opening story by Brian McGilloway is my favorite. It's full of taut tension. The introduction by Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville is also top notch, placing the book in it's proper historical/cultural context.

I should also finish up Kabu Kabu tonight or tomorrow.

Finally, I plan to start The Van in the next couple days.

[Sara]

@Cphe Have you read any other Italo Calvino? Invisible Cities is not his easiest work. I think Numbers in the Dark and Other Stories was the first I read by him, and its short stories have a more typical narrative structure.

[Susan]

Sarah,
I usually don't like celebrity memoirs but if you recommend it, I'll give it a go. I really like Alan
Cummings. I missed him on the Goodwife tonight.

I'm reading Belfast Noir too. I really like Steve Cavanaugh's story and really disliked Glen Patterson's.
Over all, it's been a quite enjoying read.

[Allan]

After a weekend of two 5 star outstanding Belfast based reads for me-Brian Moore's The Feast Of Lupercal and Malachi O'Doherty's The Telling Year: Belfast 1972-I'm changing it up a bit today, on the first day of my half term break, by reading JG Farrell's Booker winner, The Siege of Krishnapur, which I'm hoping is as enjoyable a read as our Quarterly Read from last year, Troubles.

[Trelawn]

I'm nearing the end of The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey. If you read you Harold Fry you have to read this. It tells Queenie's story of why she contacted Harold in the first place. As Harold walks the length of the country to see Queenie she begins to write him a letter. It is the story of their relationship and a confession of something that has burdened Queenie for 20 years. It is beautifully written and so bittersweet.

[[deleted user]]

Trelawn wrote: "I'm nearing the end of The Love Song of Miss..."

I'd noticed reviews of The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy: A Novel and after your comment will put it one side as a holiday read.

[Barbara]

Theresa wrote: "Trelawn wrote: "I'm nearing the end of The Love Song of Miss..."

I'd noticed reviews of The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy: A Novel and after your comment will put it one side..."

Me too!

Emma - I've got to get a copy of Dubliners 100 myself.

Allan - you're definitely on a tear with Irish writers - North and South.

[Donna]

I just finished The Deportees and Other Stories and in honour of the season, am beginning The Raven.

[Seraphina]

Let me know what u think of the raven Donna, sounds like one I'd enjoy

[Donna]

Well, Seraphina, I will let you know that it's long for a poem but short for a novel, that's for sure! It's been so long since I read it that I totally forgot that it's a poem, unlike his other works. I'm done and onto American Ghost Stories!

[Sara]

I think I'm also going to have to order Dubliners 100, probably from Kennys after I get paid Friday. You all are a bad influence.

I stayed up for a couple hours reading last night because I couldn't put down The Van. Emma told me that "The Van is a bit of a slow burner," and she's right. When I finish it (hopefully by the end of the month!) I'll have read 8 books by Irish authors (both from The Republic and Northern Ireland) this year. I think I will endeavor to read at least 5 more by the end of the year for a bakers dozen.

On tap are:
The Thing About December (December selection for an in person Irish book group)
The Book of Lost Things (QIR)
I Hear the Sirens in the Street: A Detective Sean Duffy Novel
In the Morning I'll Be Gone: A Detective Sean Duffy Novel
I'll probably round things out with one or two issues of the Stinging Fly literary magazine.

[Sara]

I finished my 100th book of the year, making my yearly reading goal. My 100th book was Not My Father's Son: A Memoir. My review on my profile is as follows:

"This was a fabulous memoir full of moving moments and humorous bits. Everything comes to a crescendo at the right moment. Of course, Cumming's narration made it even more excellent as audiobook."

I should also point out that it has much more gravitas and less self indulgence than many celebrity memoirs.

[Paul]

Congrats Sara . Quite the target to hit early . I'm on the 60th book of the year of my target of 60 ☺

[[deleted user]]

Round of applause for Sara.

[Allan]

Congratulations on reaching your target, Sara! I noticed recently that you were close...

We've all still a fair bit to go to emulate Barbara's 125+ for the year so far though-the things you can achieve when you read at red traffic lights! :-D

[Seraphina]

That's some serious reading Sara

[Cathleen]

Trelawn wrote: "I'm nearing the end of The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey. If you read you Harold Fry you have to read this. It tells Queenie's story of why she contacted Harold in the first place. As Harold ..."

I loved Harold Fry, so I'll have to put this on my list. It sounds like it would be a good vacation/Christmas break read.

[Cathleen]

Theresa wrote: "Round of applause for Sara."

Yes, indeed. And I saw that Allan and Barbara have either met or exceeded their goals.d

[pauline_nlp]

I'm reading "La Sirène" by Camilla Läckberg. She is a Swedish writer, and she write police novels. I never read that kind of book, but I like it. Do you know her ?

And Sara, congratulations !!

[Sara]

Thanks everyone! In October I'm set to have read 9 books (even with the new job) as opposed to 6 in September. It's particularly good given that there was a two week stretch between September 26th and October 10th when I didn't read anything. That was of course when I was very sick.

@Pauline Camilla Läckberg is quite popular (at least in the U.S.). She became more popular falling the success of Stieg Larsson's Girl With A Dragon Tattoo etc. books. People were eager to read more Scandinavian crime fiction. Henning Mankellis another popular author. I haven't read any Läckberg, but I believe Barbara has.

[Allan]

Glad to hear that you're still managing to get the reading time in, Sara!

While doing household chores / walking the dog today, I managed to finish The Orphan Master's Son, which I found very entertaining, if a little far fetched, and have started Nora Webster, which I am hooked on and can definitely see what the fuss is about. I wish that I was similarly hooked on The Siege of Krishnapur, which I'm not finding as engaging as Troubles, but it's growing on me, and all being well, I'll be engaged enough to make a bit more progress with it for an hour or two this afternoon.

I've surpassed myself this month, due to a combination of reading kids' books for work, audiobooks and NI based books, which I tend to fly through, and have so far read 16 titles-hopefully that'll be 18 by the weekend! :)

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "I think I'm also going to have to order Dubliners 100, probably from Kennys after I get paid Friday. You all are a bad influence.

I stayed up for a couple hours reading last night because I couldn..."

I want to also get Dubliners 100 and Kennys has the best price. and my copy of The Stinging Fly (a literary journal from Dublin) arrived in yesterday's post.
I am sure you would have beaten me if you hadn't had so many days you couldn't read.

I am listening to Last Wool and Testament which is a cozy mystery with a subplot about yarn and a wool shop. It's been hard to do a lot of reading the past few days but I should finish The Orphan Master's Son by the weekend. I have to get back to Under the Volcano also. And pick out one or two books for my trip to Arizona next week for a conference.

[Susan]

I am so happy that I would roller skate if I could. My copy of Lamentation by C.J. Sansom just arrived from Ireland. I checked and there was no corned beef and cabbage inside but 638 pages ready for my hungry eyes. I have to finish We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. This one was short listed by the Bookers and set in my own back yard.

[Allan]

Susan-hooray! I'd say that you'll not be too long in getting through the book! Here's the first review of the book that I've seen to tide you over until you start reading.

Lamentation review – CJ Sansom’s new Tudor mystery

http://gu.com/p/42nmm

Cphe, I agree that the story quality in Belfast Noir varies, but I felt that every author was able to evoke a real sense of place, which, as a city resident, made up for this in my eyes...

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "I am so happy that I would roller skate if I could. My copy of Lamentation by C.J. Sansom just arrived from Ireland. I checked and there was no corned beef and cabbag..."

Susan, I enjoyed We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and nominated it recently as a BOTM, so will be interested to hear what you think of it.

[Susan]

Good review, Allan. Thanks for sharing it with me.

Theresa, it's gotten off to a slow start with me but the revelation has kicked it up a bit. Karen Joy Fowler actually attended UC Davis and one of my classmates (graduation class of 98 students) was her professor there. I was actually amazed that this classmate finished college let alone taught there.

[[deleted user]]

Susan, I didn't see the revelation coming but some reviews give it away....

The story of your classmate made me laugh.

[Barbara]

Susan and Cathleen - I have been thinking about getting the audiobook of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves but am also tempted by The Final Silence by Stuart Nevill that just came out on audiobook.
And look at you Susan - getting more books from Ireland.

[Susan]

The Stuart Neville is fine although I didn't like Lennon. I don't like people who put children in unsafe situation. The Fowler book is one of the unusual ones who don't come along very often.

[Allan]

I finished Nora Webster on audio this afternoon, and found it excellent-I'd definitely recommend it.

I'm now listening to The Final Silence, thanks to Barbara's 'heads up' above-it is narrated by Gerard Brennan, the same narrator as on all Adrian McKinty's books, and I'm enjoying all the local reference points in the setting of the narrative.

I'm also reading Shadows on Our Skin by Jennifer Johnston, which I know Barbara enjoyed recently-it was shortlisted for the 1977 Booker, and shouldn't take too long to complete.

[Donna]

I am reading Before I Go To Sleep. I saw the film on Wednesday evening. I enjoyed it but have a feeling I will like the book better. Nicole Kidman must have a portrait in her attic like Dorian Grey - she looks beautiful!

[Allan]

My mistake, Cphe-Gerard Doyle is the narrator. :)

[Barbara]

Donna wrote: "I am reading Before I Go To Sleep. I saw the film on Wednesday evening. I enjoyed it but have a feeling I will like the book better. Nicole Kidman must have a portrait in her attic l..."

As you know I gave the book 5 stars. I might see the film because I always like Colin Firth.

[Susan]

I had forgotten I read this book and liked it. I will have to see the movie. Nicole Kidman looks great. That's what good plastic surgery looks like, Barry Manilow.

[Cathleen]

Donna wrote: "I am reading Before I Go To Sleep. I saw the film on Wednesday evening. I enjoyed it but have a feeling I will like the book better. Nicole Kidman must have a portrait in her attic l..."

I saw a commercial for that, Donna. Is Colin Firth in it? I've heard/read a lot of good things about the book (haven't read it), but it looked like something I'd like--both the movie and the book.