What Are You Reading Showing 3,951-4,000 of 6,935

[Paul]

Amsterdam just looks like a beautiful city to visit. The canal idea sounds great Emma

[Trelawn]

@ Seraphina I love Van Gogh too and would love to visit the museum. We have a print of the bedroom in our room and I used to have Cafe Terrace at Night in our guest room. I love the blues and yellows he uses, so relaxing. And the swirls ....
@ Allan I also think you'd like The Miniaturist. It's probably not what you'd normally read but is ideal in the run up to a trip to Amsterdam. When I was there eons ago they had a miniature version of the city you could visit and walk around (maduradam???) which was cool.

[Allan]

Thanks for the recommendations, folks! This will actually be my fourth visit to the city, but I've only ever stayed over 1 night, nearly 20 years ago, in a dodgy hostel in the red light district while inter railing. The other times, we just passed through for the day then got the overnight to Paris. My mates were always keen to stock up on 'supplies', so you can imagine that my experiences of the city haven't exactly been positive in a cultural sense. I intend to make up for that this time though!

[Barbara]

Emma wrote: "Pre book your tickets for Anne Frank. Probably won't be as bad now but we had to que for over an hour. The flower market was nice and I'd say will be fabulous at the moment. The Rijksmuseum was int..."

I'm only about 75 pages into The Miniaturist but the descriptions of Amsterdam of the time are quite interesting. And as Emma says, it is a quick read. I was in Amsterdam for several days 10 years ago and did several museums - Anne Frank, Van Gogh and the Rikjsmuseum. Also visited the Portuguese synagogue because the off the path tourist sites appeal to me the most. I was there prior to a conference and one colleague said she always tries to get to a concert when traveling internationally so we went to see a group of Cuban musicians in a big concert hall which was a blast. It looks like it will be colder there than NI.

[Sara]

So I had a very successful reading weekend, finishing up three books (the ones mentioned above). I then started to really get into the monthly read before leaving it at a restaurant about 20-25 minutes from home tonight. *Sigh*

[Paul]

That's painful.

[Allan]

Barbara, thanks for the info. The weather is to be similar there this week to what we had last week, so I'm happy enough-dry is good and sun will be a bonus! I think that I will pick up 'The Minaturist' on the way home today, particularly given its reduced price and its setting.

Sara, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the book will be handed in for you at the restaurant-wasn't it a library book as well? :-s

[Colleen]

Sara wrote: "So I had a very successful reading weekend, finishing up three books (the ones mentioned above). I then started to really get into the monthly read before leaving it at a restaurant about 20-25 min..."

Sara I hope you get it back.

[Colleen]

I just finished a short story collection called Einstein's Beach House: Stories and even tho I don't usually read short stories I love this one.They are dark ,quirky ,funny ,tragic and I would like to read a novel because if he can pack much into a short story what he could do with a novel.
I will be starting The Hand That First Held Mine my secret Santa gift from Emma.;)
I want to finish Great Expectations and The Lies We Told before I start Nora Webster,The Hand That First Held Mine and The Chronicles of Narnia

[Sara]

I am very happy to report that the restaurant still had my book. My kind kind father has gone to pick it up (since I'm at work) and is on his way home with it. I will be reading more Steinbeck tonight. In the meantime, I'm startingCharlie Chan is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Fiction while in the midst of a very slow work day.

[Cathleen]

Sara wrote: "I am very happy to report that the restaurant still had my book. My kind kind father has gone to pick it up (since I'm at work) and is on his way home with it. I will be reading more Steinbeck ton..."

That's so nice to read that the restaurant kept your book. That must have been a relief.

[Allan]

Good to hear that the restaurant kept the book for you, Sara!

[Barbara]

Phew Sara, that's s relief.

[Barbara]

Phew Sara, that's s relief.

[Colleen]

I'm glad you got your book back Sara.

[Sara]

I know that we try to stay away from religion and politics in this group, but I thought some folks might find Forty for 40: A Literary Reader for Lent interesting/useful. I plan to dip in and out and read some of the shorter stuff that's available online. I'm also restarting Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written.

I'm also starting Dracula (not for Lent :o)) as an audiobook (the version with Tim Curry and Alan Cummings) for commutes and at the gym...and possibly during the work day if things get slow.

[Mara]

DEFENDING ANGELS by Mary Stanton.

[Paul]

Trucking along with Dracula, nearly two thirds through not including the additional text.
Also reading The Puppet Boy of Warsaw which is simply stunning so far. It actually feels like two seperate books one of which runs into the other . A powerful book so far.

[Barbara]

I started The Feast Of Lupercal by Brian Moore today. Already it's a Moore masterpiece of an individual who survives at the margins of "polite society". I'll be taking this on my weekend knitting retreat.

[Allan]

Barbara, 'Lupercal' is a great book, one of my favourites of last year. It captures 1950s Belfast Catholic society, with all its complexity so well. If you're like me, you'll love how things end up as well.

You may be interested to know that off the Cavehill Road, where Moore's main character lives, is also where the main character of Ciaran Carson's 'Pen Friend' also lives, albeit a number of years later. Another theme to explore...

[Sara]

I've been listening to Dracula when I commute the last couple days. The Audible version really is excellent. I had also planned to listen at the gym, but my plans were foiled due to a broken headphone jack. The gym was very boring without the distraction of an audiobook or podcast. With a bit of extra effort and a slow work day, I should finish Travels with Charley: In Search of AmericaTravels with Charley: In Search of America today and be able to return it on time (without renewals!) tomorrow. I didn't realize Steinbeck could be so funny.

Other that I'll try to finish one other book off my "currently reading shelf" and also read more of my Lenten Read. Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written is proving to be fascinating and much less dense than I had anticipated. There's a lot of historical context given.

[Allan]

There's nothing worse than the gym without headphones, Sara-you have my sympathies! I hope you continue to enjoy both group reads-I may well end up getting the Audible Dracula myself, but with the new McKinty coming to Audible US in March, I may be tempted to keep my credit for it... Enjoy your day's reading and here's hoping for a quiet work day for you! :)

We're having a relaxing end to our trip away, which gave me the chance to finish Amsterdam, the collection edited by Heather Reyes, which was as enjoyable and informative as all the other books in the series that I have read. While I did bring The Miniaturist with me, I can't hold back any longer, and have decided to start my reread of The International. I doubt it'll take me long to get through, given how much I've enjoyed it in the past.

[Barbara]

Allan wrote: "Barbara, 'Lupercal' is a great book, one of my favourites of last year. It captures 1950s Belfast Catholic society, with all its complexity so well. If you're like me, you'll love how things end up..."

My "Belfast" pile is growing! The Pen Friend, Number 5, The Anatomy School, Call My Brother Back....

[pauline_nlp]

I'm currently reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

[Trelawn]

That's a great book Pauline, I hope you enjoy it :-)

[Seraphina]

Loved that book Pauline

[Paul]

Just finished Puppet Boy of Warsaw by Eva Weaver . Powerful book.
Now I'm going to start The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin.
This is based on a recommendation from Sara thats taken a while to get to.

[Sara]

Well I certainly hope you enjoy it Paul. It's a bit different than many fantasy novels, but I think I made a good recommendation for you.

[Paul]

I'm enjoying the style so far anyway Sara. Thats always a good start.☺

[Barbara]

Emma - after too many encounters with out-of-control foreign teens in Dublin in the summer, I swore I wouldn't go back during the summer. Well I have but I now know to give them a wide swath. I thought the economic woes in Spain and Italy would have cut down on their numbers though.

I started the audiobook of Loving Frank today.

[Neil]

Reading Stephen Kings It, I think this was written during Stephens cocaine and booze phase, its wacky without being that scary. He does characters very well though and that's the main reason Ive stuck with it

[Paul]

I found Pennywise pretty scary ☺

[Neil]

Paul wrote: "I found Pennywise pretty scary ☺"
yeah it has its moments I suppose, the thoughts of a child killing clown living in the sewers is scary in itself

[Paul]

I have a clown phobia which probably helped

[Neil]

clowns that pull the arms off their victims would give anyone a phobia lol, I think the mini series ruined the book for me though, it was a poor adaption, the clown was good though

[Paul]

Tim Curry was brilliant as Pennywise but the other actors weren't up to much

[Sara]

Well I've been getting back into Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia. It's nice to take a journey elsewhere on this snowy D.C. day. The book briefly mentions the geological connection between Scotland and the Appalachian mountains. Apparently there's now an international "extension" of the U.S. Appalachian trail.

[Phantom]

reading animal farm right now, it's way shorter than i expected!

[Patt]

I am reading 'Dracula' now and imagine what a thrill it would be to hear it read to me. I must look for the audiobook...

[Thomas, Moderator]

I have just finished Skin Deep by Timothy Hallinan

My review

Seamy underside of Hollywood

I gave this ebook four out of five stars. Simeon Grist is a private eye hired to keep a sick film star out of trouble. Toby Vane likes to beat up women. But then a woman is brutally murdered and Simeon must find out if Toby did it. This is a funny/sad book. Funny parts include Simeon's housekeeping and computer skills.
I purchased this book during a 24 hour sale at Amazon for free in May 2012

[Paul]

I'm really enjoying The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin. She has a really good style and the story is brilliant so far. Such an interesting fantasy premise .
Thanks for the recommendation Sara

[Sara]

I'm so glad you like it Paul. Nothing brings more joy to me than recommending a book and hearing that they really enjoys it.

[Paul]

Its just really interesting Sara. Its a nice mystery being put together within a really weird shamanistic based religion. Such a different approach to fantasy its actually refreshing .

[Neil]

I'm reading Lisey's Story, so far so good. Its reading like a romance novel at the moment. I'm about 100 pages in, its quite touching so far.

[Trelawn]

I started reading An Officer and a Spy a few days ago. I have had a manic few days so haven't spent as much time reading as I would like. It is extremely well told. As usual, Harris is pitch perfect in setting the scene of Paris in the aftermath of the conviction of Dreyfus for passing military secrets to tge Germans. While everyone is convinced of Dreyfus' guilt and relieved to see and end to the affair, Colonel Picquart, the new head of intelligence starts to hear whispers that all may not be as clear cut as it seems. A brilliant piece of history told with embellishments but giving a real feel for the atmosphere of mistrust that pervaded France in the 1890s.

[Eoin]

I'm reading Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty. Great novel about young mothers set around a kindergarten class in Sydney.

It's smart and funny. It's a big hit and I can see why.

[Trelawn]

Sounds interesting Eoin, I'll check it out. @ Emma it really is that good, I can see why people have been praising it. But i expect nothing less from Harris at this stage.

[Barbara]

I'm reading John Boyne's new one A History of Loneliness: A Novel and it's quite good so far.

[Kevin]

Well I'm giving Plath's The Bell Jar a belt and it's turning out to be quite good. I'm fairly fond of Plath's poetry so I was interested to experience her writing in a different style. It isn't an burdened as I was expecting and I'm looking forward to the story that Plath felt was worth telling.

[Seraphina]

I really enjoyed the bell jar and really connected with Plath so I don't know what that says about me lol but I highly recommend it