What Are You Reading Showing 4,401-4,450 of 6,935

[Frank]

I finished last week A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East. It details the reversal of British policy between 1914 and 1922 in regard to the Ottoman Empire. I thought it was fascinating to discover the extent to which the roots of the current Middle East crisis lay in the bungling machinations of a group of politicians, especially Lloyd George, who had no first hand knowledge of the area or of its inhabitants.

[Barbara]

I just started The China Factory by Mary Costello. Gorgeous!

[[deleted user]]

I am making my way through :-)A History of LonelinessBy John Boyneinteresting read not sure how I feel about it yet.

[[deleted user]]

Emma wrote: "Kazzy be sure to post your thoughts in the discussion thread for it. There's both a spoiler and non spoiler thread you can post in. It would be great to hear your thoughts on it even at this early ..."

Thank you Emma I will do

[[deleted user]]

Off I went to collect the engineer from the station this evening (an hour's journey) and almost there he managed get through on the phone to say they'd been delayed by 90mins. And I didn't have a book with me or E-reader. Luckily the nearest supermarket was still open and I picked up a copy of The Children Act by Ian McEwan, which I'd been planning to read for ages. It's short and so far very good.

[[deleted user]]

Even better when the shop only has about 20 books and there's only one you would consider buying. Lucky day:)

[Cathleen]

I've been reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and it's fascinating, unsettling read so far. Either today or tomorrow I'll start A History of Loneliness, and I'll have to be speedy with that since it's due back at the library next week.

[Susan]

Cathleen, I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It was so interesting.

I can't wait to hear what you think about A History of Loneliness. That book really has had an immense impact on me.

Are you out for summer now?

[Seraphina]

Henrietta lacks is one of my favourites, hope you enjoy it :)

[Cathleen]

Susan wrote: "Cathleen, I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It was so interesting.

I can't wait to hear what you think about A History of Loneliness. That book really ha..."

Hi Susan, I'm really interested in the Henrietta Lacks book, but it's very unsettling. I'm very glad I'm reading it, but it's not an "easy" read if that makes any sense.
The spring classes are over and commencement's passed, but I work in the summer. The campus has a different feel to it, though, since no one but summer school students are around. I'm able to work from home a few days a week, so that's great--it saves me a two-hour commute.

[Cathleen]

Seraphina wrote: "Henrietta lacks is one of my favourites, hope you enjoy it :)"

I am, Seraphina :)

[Paul]

I'm currently reading Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Its part of a Gollancz Masterworks month for my other book club.
Its quite the interesting scifi. Written in the 70's it moves away from the pulp scifi standard space operas.
Its an obvious commentary on theh Vietnam war but also looks at post tramautic stress and discrimination over sexual orientation alongside cuture shock.Definitely an interestin work

[[deleted user]]

I am starting The Goldfinchby Donna Tartt and also going to read The Perks of Being a WallflowerbyStephen Chbosky

Might take a break an read something ligh after these books

[[deleted user]]

Good luck with The Goldfinch, Kazzy. It's been on my TBR shelf for more than a year.....

[[deleted user]]

After having had a couple of audio books that I couldn't get into I am listening to Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It didn't keep my attention at first but after restarting it and paying more attention I am loving it. The pitch perfect narration helps.

[Paul]

I don't do audio books but does it happen often that its hard to get into it.

[[deleted user]]

Theresa wrote: "Good luck with The Goldfinch, Kazzy. It's been on my TBR shelf for more than a year....."

Thank You its a bit daunting.

[Colleen]

I just finished Room yesterday and I know I'm the odd man out but I loath it and felt only relief when I finished.The only character I liked was Ma.I don't have to like the characters in a novel to love the novel or at least enjoy.An example would be Gone Girl didn't like the characters but loved the novel anyway. Maybe because it was based on real cases or having it told from a five year old point on view it didn't make for an enjoyable read.I plan on reading Slammerkin at some point. I am now readingThe Girl on the Train to see what all the hype is about and so far I like it.

[Colleen]

Emma wrote: "I'm impressed you stuck with it Colleen. If I dislike a book as much as you seemed to dislike Room I normally just pack it in. There's too many other books I want to read to waste time on books I d..."

I think I stuck with it because of all the 5 star reviews.lol.

[Barbara]

I just started The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo (for some reason the book is not in the GR database).

[Barbara]

Theresa wrote: "After having had a couple of audio books that I couldn't get into I am listening to Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It didn't keep my attention at first but after restartin..."

I find some books better to read than as a listening experience. Of course, this is personal taste. Listening takes more time than reading and sometimes I like to use whispersync - and go back and forth between the kindle version and audio.

I forgot to add I am listening to The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. I read the book when it came out - 6 or more years back. The audiobook was a daily deal and I am finding it a terrific listening experience.

[Trelawn]

So after finishing The Perks of Being a Wallflower this week I decided to pick up something a little lighter. I have returned to Alexander McCall Smith's version of 44 Scotland Street. I am on number 6 and really enjoying them. I love the whole cast of characters and am ridiculously invested in their lives. I really want Domenica and Angus to get together. I 'd love a happy ever after for Big Lou. I love to slap the Italian speaking, Melanie Klein reading puss off Bertie's mam. Poor Bertie, that boy really needs some fun and maybe a hug. Like I said, really great characters :-)

[Cathleen]

Trelawn wrote: "So after finishing The Perks of Being a Wallflower this week I decided to pick up something a little lighter. I have returned to Alexander McCall Smith's version of 44 Scotland Street. I am on numb..."

I have to read that series at some point, Trelawn. It always sounds so good whenever I read about it.

[Trelawn]

Ah it's brilliant Cathleen, and great when you just want to switch off and enjoy a good story.

[[deleted user]]

Paul wrote: "I don't do audio books but does it happen often that its hard to get into it."

Some of my earliest memories are of Listen With Mother which was a daily BBC radio programme for children and the radio has been important to me ever since. The biggest surprise is that it took so long for me to discover audiobooks and I savour the performance of them so cannot bring myself to speed them up.

Having finished Gilead (loved it, review follows) my current 'listen' is C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton.

[Paul]

Thanks Theresa

[Susan]

Theresa, I love the Sue Grafton series and have been reading them for years. Please let me know how the audio is. I'm so curious.

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Theresa, I love the Sue Grafton series and have been reading them for years. Please let me know how the audio is. I'm so curious."

Susan, I listened to B is for Burglar earlier this year, which is worked well as an audio book. I reviewed and it liked it.

[Kevin]

I'm on a bit of a John Connolly binge reading Every Dead Thing and Nocturnes, with the latter proving to be one of the better short story collections I have read. I'm enjoying and learning a lot from Connolly's writing style as he seems to make reading an effortless act for the reader. My one warning is that his material is dark and many may find it too heavy. I love the darker reads though, deduce what you may from that! :)

[Susan]

Good review, Theresa. BTW, they're known as air heads here too. I think the author was just being flowery.

[Barbara]

Theresa wrote: "Paul wrote: "I don't do audio books but does it happen often that its hard to get into it."

Some of my earliest memories are of Listen With Mother which was a daily BBC radio programme for childre..."

Theresa- radio drama listening may explain my like for audiobooks. When my military father was stationed in Germany, the American radio shows which were old shows from probably the 1940's and 1950's were our entertainment. Television was all in German and I don't even remember if we had a tv. The more recent 'rage' for audiobooks among knitters is explained by knitters finding it easier to listen and knit than watch tv and knit. I, however, like to watch tv and knit. I listen to audiobooks during my 2 hours of commuting daily. I learned from Allan that audiobooks are also great when doing chores, and I often listen when I am grocery shopping which takes me a good hour or so.

I am currently listening to The Killer Next Door.

[Susan]

When you're grocery shopping, Barbara, do you listen on your phone with ear buds? I'm curious it sounds like a good idea.

[Donna]

I have just finished The Green Road and have started The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Good review, Theresa. BTW, they're known as air heads here too. I think the author was just being flowery."

Thanks, Susan. I never know which terms translate to your side of the pond. My sister-in-law worked in the cosmetic industry, which as you can imagine was full of air heads and they drove her up the wall. LOL.

[[deleted user]]

Barbara wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Paul wrote: "I don't do audio books but does it happen often that its hard to get into it."

Some of my earliest memories are of Listen With Mother which was a daily BBC radio progr..."

Yes, they are brilliant for making time spent on chores pass quickly. I discovered them from this group and so far all my listening has been done free courtesy of my local library service and I don't even have to leave the sofa! Such a fantastic service. Feel very fortunate. I've made a lot of use of them this year as I'm still advised to put my feet up for another month or two, which is a good excuse to continue working my way through the catalogue :)

[Barbara]

Susan wrote: "When you're grocery shopping, Barbara, do you listen on your phone with ear buds? I'm curious it sounds like a good idea."

Yes. My audible books download to my iPhone and I try to remember to carry my ear buds - I have several, one bright pink and one bright green, so they are easy to find.

Theresa is reminding me I have to try to get audiobooks from the library. I earlier attempts were unsuccessful and not even the librarians were familiar with the service. It's time to give it another go as the technology has improved.

[Thomas, Moderator]

Two O'clock, Eastern Wartime by John Dunning

I enjoyed reading this book and give it 4 out 5 stars. I borrowed it from a friend. Jack Dulaney is a man with an extraordinary talent for writing radio drama shows in 1942, the golden age of radio drama. He also is looking for the missing father of his girlfriend, Holly Carnahan.
The two threads converge in a story a of a Nazi spy murdering people who might expose him.

The spy is based on a real life Nazi spy, whose biography is Counterfeit Hero: Fritz Duquesne, Adventurer and Spy by Art Ronnie which I read 15 years ago and gave it 4 stars.
The author is an expert on old time radio drama and has a personal archive of 40,000 radio drama recordings.

Two quotes that I liked from the book:
"Fifty years from now it(radio) could be just a medium for hucksters and fools, a whorehouse in the sky."
"How something so big and vital could have been reduced to a theater of babbling deejays and bloated, self important talk show hosts."

Yikes!! Could he be talking about Rush Limbaugh?

[Susan]

Theresa wrote: "Good luck with The Goldfinch, Kazzy. It's been on my TBR shelf for more than a year....."

Thanks for the laugh, Theresa. It's been growing dust on my shelf too. My guilty secret.

[Cathleen]

Thomas wrote: "Two O'clock, Eastern Wartime by John Dunning

I enjoyed reading this book and give it 4 out 5 stars. I borrowed it from a friend. Jack Dulaney is a man with an extr..."

I enjoyed your review, Thomas--and funny quip at the end.

[Thomas, Moderator]

Thanks, Cathleen

[Cathleen]

I'm continuing with A History of Loneliness, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and both are excellent, as everyone here has said. I've already added John Boyne to my list of authors I want to follow. The Henrietta Lacks book is, at times, difficult for me to read, although I'm glad I'm reading it. Like so many people, we've had multiple instances of cancer in my family. My mother, father, and one of my brothers all had cancer. My brother had an especially aggressive form of it and didn't survive six months beyond his diagnosis. He left his wife and three very young sons. I read as much as I could find about cancer while he was sick, and so now, even years later, I don't usually seek that topic out. The Lacks book, though, is structured differently than I expected. I'm finding it engrossing.

[Barbara]

Cathleen wrote: "I'm continuing with A History of Loneliness, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and both are excellent, as everyone here has said. I've already added John Boy..."

It is scary to read about cancer especially when you have a family history. I know this is the 'what are you reading?' thread, but this weekend someone was telling me about new very revolutionary cancer research and treatment. I don't, however, remember the details but it did make me feel good that I am living in this time and place. At the time of Henrietta Lacks, things were so different in terms of available treatments. I have an eye condition and on my last visit to the opthomologist he assumed I had read up everything on it, and was surprised I hadn't. A day at NIH (National Institute of Health) Eye Institute was enough reassurance for me. I am the opposite of a hypochondriac.

[[deleted user]]

Cathleen wrote: "I'm continuing with A History of Loneliness, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and both are excellent, as everyone here has said. I've already added John Boy..."

While I was working with people with cancer I rather foolishly started reading Cancer Ward by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It was too much so I never finished it and have never been tempted to pick it up again.

[Paul]

As Kevin would kick me if I left it any longer I started Brandon Sandersons The Way of Kings today. It comes in at an intimidating 1000+ pages and is just the first in a series so a long read ahead.

[Kevin]

You've plenty of time before the third comes out next summer. You'll love it, I have no doubts at all.

[Paul]

Not the easiest start to a book. He packs quite a bit into the first 50 pages to set the scene

[Kevin]

Ya I found the first half tough going at times. You just need to wait to be sucked in

[Paul]

I was prepeared as a few friends told me they gave up early on. I'm prepared to give it a proper go.

[Paul]

In Sanderson we trust. I've read enough of his other works to know what he is capable of so I'll definitely stick it out. It takes a lot of working up to start in on such a massive book so I won't give up too lightly

[Allan]

Anyone reading anything exciting this weekend?

Having finished the excellent Revolutionary Road, I have started Sam Hanna Bell's December Bride, which, early days, I'm finding a little heavy going, but I'll stick with it. If I get through my weekend podcasts, I'll also be listening to more of Alan Cumming's fascinating memoir, Not My Father's Son: A Memoir, which I know a few people in the group have also enjoyed.