What are you reading and why? May 2013.

[Chrissie]

My to read shelf also got monstrous.I split it up into wish-list shelves( fiction, biographies and non-fiction), a to-read shelf, a maybe shelf and even a not-to-read shelf. This way you can sort your books into groups of how important they are to read. I also have shelves for those I have purchased and are waiting to be read. I buy from my wish-list shelves.

[Kimberly]

I'm starting for another groups BOTM I'm really excited about it since I haven't read too much historical fiction set in South Africa.

[Cherie]

I am starting Terry Pratchett's book The Long Earth. I have had it on my shelf for some time. I want to read it before the next one comes out in June.

[Cherie]

@ shelves. I hate having to re-sort everything. The giant list is too hard to go through now. I just need to stop adding to it, but I cannot figure out how to do that either. :)

[Chrissie]

Cherie, you could consider your to-read shelf as unsorted rather than spending time sorting it. Just add new books onto your new shelves, and as you reconsider previous books you can switch them to other shelves.

[Dem]

Just finished Night Road This is my review;
www.goodreads.com/review/show/450208594

[Cherie]

Chrissie wrote: "Cherie, you could consider your to-read shelf as unsorted rather than spending time sorting it. Just add new books onto your new shelves, and as you reconsider previous books you can switch them to..."

Chrissie, this is pretty much what I do to really avoid "having" to re-sort. When we had the Forgotten Classics challenge, I liked the idea of keeping track of the books on my (then much smaller TBR list) by when they were published. I consider this one 1940 and before. I also created one for books published in 2000 and up (called y-2-k). I think I got up to page 17 on my list before I got tired of looking at the dates for this, and now I define them as they are added. I do not have any shelves defined by genre really, except for children books. I noticed that my To-Read list is now greater than my READ shelf by 15 books. LOL! If it took me 50+ years to Read everything listed, it is pretty sure I am not going to make it through the To-Read list even if I stop adding them today. :) I am sure I have not listed all of the books I have ever read, but it is fun when I come across one I can add. It is just something to do for fun. I know that there are books on my TBR list that I am sure I have read at least once, but I keep them there because I want to read them again, or am not 100 per cent sure.

[Chrissie]

Cherie, I tried to help by explaining what I do. I think we all have the same problem if we have been here a while!

[Chrissie]

I am also reading Red Azalea, simply b/c I am determined to read the books sitting here on my wooden shelves. I think I got it from my Mom. Neither I nor her knew that it has a central lgtb theme in addition to it being a memoir of the life of the author during the Cultural Revolution in China. The writing is extremely simplistic with short straight-forward sentences relating what happens, particularly in the beginning of the book. Little introspection. Maybe this will come later. Do you understand what I am saying? The text reads like: she did that and then he did that. I don't really think this is a result of English not being the author's native language.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Five Quarters of the Orange for the group read and my ABC challenge. I have started Starship Troopers for the Monthly Challenge.

[Chrissie]

I finished Red Azalea. :0)
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have started Under Fishbone Clouds, also set in China. I like the folktale that it begins with. An innkeeper is kind to a passing old traveler and in payment he draws cranes on the inn wall. When music is played the cranes come alive. The description of those flapping cranes is beautiful and fanciful all at the same time.

I am listening to The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat Hitler and sometimes it annoys me. Statements are made and conclusions drawn that seem unvalidated.

[Kat]

I finished Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War on Monday - I can see why so many YLTOers enjoyed it.

I then went on to The Night Circus again after YLTO recommendations ;)

[Lisa]

Kat wrote: "I finished Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War on Monday - I can see why so many YLTOers enjoyed it.

I then went on to The Night Circus again after YLTO recommendations ;)"

I absolutely adored The Night Circus! It is one of my top 5 favourite books of all time. The writing is just beautiful! I hope you enjoy it too Kat :)

[Sharon75uk]

Lisa wrote: "Kat wrote: "I finished Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War on Monday - I can see why so many YLTOers enjoyed it.

I then went on to The Night Circus again after YLTO recommendations ;)"

I absol..."

Loved the Night Circus too :)

[Esther]

I am reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and I am really loving it. I love stories about families and, boy, does this family have a story to tell!

[Marnie]

I just finished Genesis- loved it 5 stars and am halfway through Defending Jacob- which I am also enjoying.

[Kimberly]

I finished and loved it. It was a very realistic piece of historical fiction and I enjoyed the setting. Highly recommend it.

Now I'm starting which Darren read last week and loved so I'm reading it for him. Here's hoping I enjoy it as much as he did.

[Esther]

Sharon75uk wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kat wrote: "I finished Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War on Monday - I can see why so many YLTOers enjoyed it.

I then went on to The Night Circus again after YLTO recommendations..."

Glad to see Night Circus is appreciated. It's a group read for June for me. Now I am really looking forward reading it.

[Chrissie]

Kat, I didn't love "Matterhorn" immediately, but the further you go you realize that you care very much for the men and what happens to them.

Esta, "Middlesex" is really good. I particularly loved the parts about the Greek culture, the grandmother and her experiences.

[Almeta]

Esther wrote: "Glad to see Night Circus is appreciated. It's a group read for June for me. Now I am really looking forward reading it. ..."

The Night Circus is a wonderful group discussion book!☺

[Sarah]

I have the Night circus on my TBR so I might have to move it up a bit now I've heard everyone's good reviews on it.

[Pragya]

and - one from library because I love the author (way overdue) and other I have heard so many good things about.

[Kimberly]

Pragya let me know what you think of those two! :)

[Ava Catherine]

I have just finished The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré which I really enjoyed. It is a classic spy novel but the antithesis of a James Bond novel.

I have also just read The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon which I found very difficult to finish. I figured out who the murderer was at the beginning of the book, but I often do that in a mystery; therefore, that doesn't make the book less exciting for me. However, other readers might find it disconcerting to figure out who the killer is so early in the book. It really is easy to figure out. I had difficulty relating to any of the characters in the book or getting involved in the "investigation." This was what made the book flat to me. I could not maintain an interest in the plot or characters because the book did not develop deeply enough for me.

[Almeta]

Finished Starting Dead Sleep for Connections Challenge, and YLTO!! ABC Challenge.

Still reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home for May Group Read.

[Lisa]

Finished The Great Gatsby which I loved! It is one of the best books I have ever read and I am now really excited to see the film. 5 stars all around from me :)

I will be making a start tomorrow on Instruments of Darkness which I am reading for my I read in the Alphabet challenge.

[Cherie]

Chrissie wrote: "Cherie, I tried to help by explaining what I do. I think we all have the same problem if we have been here a while!"

yep!!!

[Cherie]

Esta wrote: "I am reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and I am really loving it. I love stories about families and, boy, does this family have a story to tell!"

I just got this book and am thinking of swapping it into my ABC Challenge as my M book, just because of all of the comments.

[Kimberly]

Lisa wrote: "Finished The Great Gatsby which I loved! It is one of the best books I have ever read and I am now really excited to see the film. 5 stars all around from me :)..."

I really want to read Instruments of Darkness Lisa, can you let me know what you think of it?

[Lisa]

Kimberly wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Finished The Great Gatsby which I loved! It is one of the best books I have ever read and I am now really excited to see the film. 5 stars all arou..."

Of course I can Kimberly! No problem at all :)

[Dem]

Just finished The Pianist This is my review.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/603797724

[Janice, Moderator]

Just added The Pianist, Dem.

[Dem]

Janice wrote: "Just added The Pianist, Dem."

Will be interested in your thoughts Janice.

[Almeta]

Finished reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home for May Group Read. Which I very much liked.

Starting Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary for a yearly Countdown Challenge.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Finished From the Mouth of the Whale for the alphabet and for Iceland. Beautifully written but I don't get the point of it.

On to Midnight Robber for May's challenge and for Jamaica. Will this be my elusive 5 star read? Only time will tell...

(See what I did there?)

[Pragya]

Kimberly wrote: "Pragya let me know what you think of those two! :)"

Sure, Kimberly. :)

[Kimberly]

Pragya wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Pragya let me know what you think of those two! :)"

Sure, Kimberly. :)"

Thanks Pragya :)

[Chrissie]

I can take just so much of gross, crude writing. First I read Red Azalea, and stuck it through to the end. Then I picked up Under Fishbone Clouds, which I have dumped after 91 pages. Just my opinion of course!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I am enjoying The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat Hitler, but reading about war strategies is hard. There is humor and it is terribly interesting, but I need some lightness, at least relatively. I will start Some Sing, Some Cry. The audiobook is narrated by Robin Miles and she sings some of the songs. She did a fantastic job with The Book of Night Women.

[Pragya]

Under Fishbone Clouds does sound gross, Chrissie.

[Chrissie]

Pragya wrote: "Under Fishbone Clouds does sound gross, Chrissie."

It certainly was.

[Chrissie]

I have finished The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat Hitler, and I am totally amazed at how much I enjoyed it!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

So now I can really begin Some Sing, Some Cry,narrated by the talented Robin Miles. I simply had to finish the other first.

[Jennifer]

Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel Of Isabella Of Castile and a good old fashioned trashy Hollywood bio-- Bette and Joan: The Divine Feud . Liked both but loved neither.

[[deleted user]]

I started The White Queen last night, sitting in the back of Church while hubby was at a committee meeting. turns out I was within 3 miles of the setting of the opening chapters? Grafton has since been ennobled and is now Grafton Regis. What a co-incidence!

[Jennifer]

Helen wrote: "I started The White Queen last night, sitting in the back of Church while hubby was at a committee meeting. turns out I was within 3 miles of the setting of the opening chapters? Grafton has since ..."

Wow, talk about an auspicious beginning to your latest read!

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Cleopatra's Moon. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Have now started The Hunt For Atlantis as the next audiobook on my list. I hope I can get past the narrator and his nasally female voices.

[Shannon]

Am currently reading On the Road but so far am not "mad" about it. Am reading it for our in person book club. Last book before we break for summer.

[Cherie]

I started reading Terry Pratchett's book The Long Earth. This is my L for the ABC Challenge. Liking it, so far. :)

[Sarah]

Cherie wrote: "I started reading Terry Pratchett's book The Long Earth. This is my L for the ABC Challenge. Liking it, so far. :)"

I do like Terry Pratchett's books. I've not read any for a little while so perhaps I'll have to dig one out that I've not read and give it a whirl! I hope you enjoy The long Earth

[Anna]

I finished Hide and Seek by Wilkie Collins. And as I expected I liked it very much! My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Almeta]

Finished The Tree of Death a book I picked up because Debra was telling about the TV mystery series Rosemary and Thyme.

Easy read. I will try others in the series, and of course now have to rent the DVDs!

Almeta's Review of Tree of Death

Continuing with Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary