What are you currently reading?

[Jen]

I'm currently reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It is quite a big book, set in Germany at the onset of war. The story is slow paced and very sad but the style of writing is absolutely beautiful. It's narracted by Death who unfortunately is overworked at this time in history.
I've almost finished the book and unless it messes up big time at the end, this will be one of my favourite books of all time.

[Charlotte]

I'm reading several books at the moment; 'It's Not Me, It's You' by Jon Richardson which is a non-fiction comedy book, 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making' by Catherynne M. Valente which is a children's novel that has been raved about everywhere, and also 'The Treason of Isengard' by J.R.R.Tolkien, which is book 3 in the Lord of the Rings 7 edition set.

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading the Vinland Sagas, which are the Norse sagas about the Viking discovery of America. I love sagas. They're deceptive - they look really simple/basic, but there is a lot going on.

I'm also working my way through the Harry Potter series for the who-knows-how-many'th time.

Everyone keeps talking about The Book Thief, but I don't know if I can get into a WWII book right now.

[Stephen]

I'm partly working my way through a box of books, given to me by the widow of a guy I used to work with. I didn't need to say that, but it's what goes through my mind when reading them [thanks Richard!]. This one is The Flight of the Phoenix.
Basically a story about a bunch of guys stuck in the desert after a plane crash. Very limited in scope, but it keeps you reading.. I just keep turning those pages!

[Jen]

I'm currently reading.. nothing!!
I finished The Book Thief on Tuesday. I loved it so much and it was brilliant until the very last word. I wanted the book to last forever. I would definitely recommend it :)
I started reading Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde and finished it in two days! A lot of reviewers have not liked the second Thursday Next novel but I preferred it (slightly) to the first. Maybe it was the characters involved, where else would you find Miss Havisham and the Cheshire cat? Pure genius :)
I've decided not to read anything until I start The Shadow of the Wind tomorrow, I can't wait!

[Charlotte]

I'm currently reading Doctor Who and the Cybermen which is a novelisation of 'The Moonbase' episode from a 1967 Patrick Troughton episode. I'm also still dipping in and out of the Jon Richardson book whilst reading Skinny Bitch in Love by Kim Barnouin which I was sent to review, not my usual genre but I'm getting through it quite quickly :)

[Ellie]

I'm currently reading:

- Mary Beard's book on Pompeii, which I am finding fascinating

- The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson, which I can't say I'm enjoying hugely due to not finding the protagonist a very likeable person

- Every Contact Leaves a Trace by Elanor Dymott, which I am just starting as it's the chosen book for a book club

[Jen]

I'm currently reading "The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack" by Mark Hodder. It's a very good read so far.
I've just discovered that I love "steampunk" which combines my interest in Dickens/Victorian England and Sci fi/fantasy. Does anyone else like this genre?

[Charlotte]

Talking of steampunk, I'm currently reading 'Clockwork Angel' by Cassandra Clare....never thought I'd read it to be honest but so many people recommended it to me that I had to try it, and so far (at about 100 pages in) I'm really enjoying it!

[Charlotte]

Gemma wrote: "Charlotte someone has told me to read 'The Mortal Instrument' series before reading The Infernal Devices series. What do you reckon?"

Well I've never read The Mortal Instrument series, but I've heard that it doesn't really matter which you read first. All I know is that The Infernal Devices is a finished trilogy so I'm reading that first and then may read the other series

[[deleted user]]

Just finished Ready Player One - a book club read. Didn't think I'd like it at all as computer games and the 80s (not my favourite decade) feature heavily - but I really enjoyed it - a fun read. I,m about half way through How to Breathe Under Water (J Orringer) - really haunting short stories and am about to start The Dud Advocado ( E Dundy) about a very free spirited young lady in 5os Paris.
Have any of you Steam Punk fans tried Goblin Moon - it's kind of pre-steam punk -an alternative Regency England where humans, half blood fairies, dwarves and goblins live peacefully together, alchemy is practised and flesh eating trolls disguise themselves as humans and mix in high society.

[Chris]

Has anyone read Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series? I have become a little addicted to them, and finished my forth yesterday. I'm really tempted to move on to the fifth, but have quite a few books to finish first. My current book is Sleepwalking, by Julie Myerson. I'm just 45 pages in, but it's compelling so far

[Jen]

I've just finished The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack. It was a very good story and I liked Mark Hodder's writing style but there were at least 4 typo's! I hope his further adventures have been edited better.

I'm currently reading The World of Jeeves which I picked up at whsmith on Monday. It contains three full stories and lots of short ones. I plan to read it and the other Jeeves books in chronological order :)

[Charlotte]

I'm now reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins...I've seen the film and wasn't too pleased with it but everyone says the book's better so I thought I'd try it :)

[Jen]

I'm currently reading The World of Jeeves which is a collection of all the short stories. For some reason they are not in chronological order so I've had to do some research. I intend taking my time with the book seeing as they were written over decades and not meant to be read in one go. I'm also reading The Affinity Bridge which has had a promising start so far.

[[deleted user]]

Just about to start Among Others which sounds fantastic - it's partly a fantasy novel and partly a book about books (mainly sci-fi and fantasy) so I'm hoping to get loads of titles to add to my To Read pile.
I'm about 20 pages in to Sea of Poppies which is very intriguing so far.
Jen, I haven't read much Wodehouse - but I absolutely love Leave It to Psmith - it's set at Blandings and is part adventure, part romance and of course very funny.

[Jen]

Lee wrote: "Just about to start Among Others which sounds fantastic - it's partly a fantasy novel and partly a book about books (mainly sci-fi and fantasy) so I'm hoping to get loads of titles to add to my To ..."

Among Others looks very interesting, I look forward to hearing what you think of it.
I have only just started reading Wodehouse, but I love the style and humour so much, it's addictive. I will probably read the Blandings stories one day :)
 

[Amy]

Hi i'm amy ....i'm new to the group ....at the moment i am reading ....i have just finished different seasons by stephen king :)

[Charlotte]

Amy wrote: "Hi i'm amy ....i'm new to the group ....at the moment i am reading ....i have just finished different seasons by stephen king :)"

I have Life of Pi, how is it? I've heard mixed things.
Welcome to the group! :)

[Jen]

Amy wrote: "Hi i'm amy ....i'm new to the group ....at the moment i am reading ....i have just finished different seasons by stephen king :)"

Hi Amy, welcome to the group :)
I have never read any of Stephen Kings books, would you recommend them?

[Amy]

I've only read a few myself ....love the green mile and the shawshank redemption ......the shining is ok ....they are abit dark but they are classed as horrors lol :) i presume what i haven't read are dark aswell :)

[Amy]

Charlotte wrote: "Amy wrote: "Hi i'm amy ....i'm new to the group ....at the moment i am reading ....i have just finished different seasons by stephen king :)"

I have Life of Pi, how is i..."
Only just started ....was abit worried when i started it ....but i've got into it abit now will keep you posted :)

[[deleted user]]

Charlotte wrote: I have Life of Pi, how is it? I've heard mixed things."
The bulk of Life of Pi is completely fabulous, but it is set in a sort of strange frame, and it gets a little... postmodern... for my taste at the end. I've seen it in a lot of contemporary works of Magical Realism, where it sets up this beautiful thing and then analyzes itself to pieces.

I actually think maybe I have a chip on my shoulder about it, because I think straight fantasy writers have the guts to NOT do that, in a culture where it's increasingly common. But then magical realism fans and writers probably think that fantasy is childish for not examining its motivations and for being escapist.

[Charlotte]

Katherine wrote: "Charlotte wrote: I have Life of Pi, how is it? I've heard mixed things."
The bulk of Life of Pi is completely fabulous, but it is set in a sort of strange frame, and it gets a little... postmodern...."

Thanks! I've heard so many mixed things about that book that I want to read it but don't at the same time. I'm in the same boat about When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman....some people say they're both pretentious but others love them

[Amy]

Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start going to the charity shops before the main book dealers would save me a fortune :)

[Charlotte]

Amy wrote: "Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start going to the charity shops ..."

I own it but haven't read it yet, I've seen the film and it was a good concept :) Charity shops are the only place I ever actually buy books nowadays, they're so cheap and most of the time the books are in great condition! My cpoy of Life of Pi only cost me 10p last year! :D

[Amy]

Makes sense really .....personally i don't think i could ever give any of my books away lol ;)

[Charlotte]

Amy wrote: "Makes sense really .....personally i don't think i could ever give any of my books away lol ;)"

I do sometimes, if I know I'll never reread a book, I think it's best that it goes to someone who will appreciate it more :)

[Jen]

Amy wrote: "Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start going to the charity shops ..."

The charity shops in the town where I live charge a fortune for books! :(
Although I did pick up a bargain at Whsmith yesterday. I bought a hardback copy of The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan for £1 and it's in perfect condition!

[Amy]

Thats the only problem buying second hand can't beat a new fresh book :)

[Charlotte]

Amy wrote: "Thats the only problem buying second hand can't beat a new fresh book :)"

I've found that sometimes books in charity shops are perfect, just luck I guess :)

[Maria]

Amy wrote: "Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start going to the charity shops ..."

Hi Amy,
I read the Time Traveller's Wife, my boss lent it to me. I wasn't sure that I was going to like it, having only seen the trailers for the film and assuming that it was a bit of a chick lit./flick, which would not be my usual choice of reading material. I actually really enjoyed it, the story pulled me in from the beginning and I found it to be quite emotional. It may not be to everybody's taste, but you should definitely give it a go.

[Maria]

Chris wrote: "Has anyone read Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series? I have become a little addicted to them, and finished my forth yesterday. I'm really tempted to move on to the fifth, but have quite a few books ..."

I have read only one of the Dresden series so far, but it has inspired me to read the rest. I don't know whether you saw the series when it was on the tv, it is one of the reasons that I picked it up.

[Amy]

Thanks Maria .....will definitely read it soon :)

[[deleted user]]

Charlotte wrote: "Katherine wrote: "Charlotte wrote: I have Life of Pi, how is it? I've heard mixed things."
The bulk of Life of Pi is completely fabulous, but it is set in a sort of strange frame, and it gets a lit..."

I hated When God was A Rabbit - the fantasy element didn't work for me at all - it felt like the author had just put it in as a gimmick and apart from that it just seemed to be a long list of tragic events.

[[deleted user]]

Maria wrote: "Amy wrote: "Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start going to the ch..."

Hi Maria,
Have you tried Her Fearful Symmetry? I picked it up due to the title and cover, not realising it was by the same author, and really enjoyed it. I didn't get on with The Time Traveller's Wife at all though. Judging by the reviews on Amazon - you either like one or the other but never both!

[[deleted user]]

Amy wrote: "Makes sense really .....personally i don't think i could ever give any of my books away lol ;)"

Amy,
I find it very hard to get rid of books too ( I usually reread a book I've enjoyed)and having a minimalist loving husband and a small house, this can lead to problems. These days I try (not very sucessfully) to buy most of my book on kindle for the sake of marital harmony!

[Amy]

I do read books on kindle but prefer a real book .....already need to invest in another bookcase ....even can't seem to get rid of the children's books I own which my daughters have never probably read have all the Jacqueline Wilson books lol ....dont think I will ever read them :)

[Jen]

Amy wrote: "I do read books on kindle but prefer a real book .....already need to invest in another bookcase ....even can't seem to get rid of the children's books I own which my daughters have never probably ..."

I too prefer a real book. I gave Kindle a go but missed the feel of the paper. I also need yet another bookcase as I only part with a book if I really didn't like it.

[Maria]

Lee wrote: "Maria wrote: "Amy wrote: "Has anyone read the time traveler's wife , heard mixed reviews on it .....I bought it the other week from a charity shop for 50p ( what a bargain )....think i will start g..."

Hi Lee,

No I haven't read it, I didn't even know she had written anything else. I'll have to see if I can pick up a copy and give it a go. Thanks

[Maria]

Jen wrote: "Amy wrote: "I do read books on kindle but prefer a real book .....already need to invest in another bookcase ....even can't seem to get rid of the children's books I own which my daughters have nev..."

I have had to try to stop getting more books because both my husband and myself are madly into books and have filled the house pretty much from floor to ceiling everywhere you go. I have the kindle app on my laptop and have downloaded about a zillion free e-books but nothing beats holding a book and being able to flip through the pages. Also I can't read my laptop in the bath!

[Charlotte]

I'm currently reading 'The Antipope' by Robert Rankin as the first book of my 30 Day Challenge! It's intriguing so far :)

[Amy]

Maria wrote: "Jen wrote: "Amy wrote: "I do read books on kindle but prefer a real book .....already need to invest in another bookcase ....even can't seem to get rid of the children's books I own which my daughter..."
Lol no i don't advise using a laptop in the bath could be dangerous :)my partner doesn't read so its just mine and the children's books clogging the back room up ......but even they don't read now they are teenagers ...hope it changes and start reading so many wonderful stories :)

[Jen]

I've just finished The Affinity Bridge. Apart from the plot not being very complex, it was very well written and a nice easy read.

I'm desperately struggling with Moving Pictures. I've been trying to read it for months. I normally love Terry Pratchett books but this edition has really horrible paper and a very thick typeface which I don't like so I'm not really enjoying it :(

On a happier note. I've just picked up The Ocean at the End of the Lane from Waterstones and was pleasantly surprised to find it was half price! As I'd pre-ordered it and paid a £3 deposit, I only had £5.54 to pay :)

[Maria]

Jen wrote: "Amy wrote: "Hi i'm amy ....i'm new to the group ....at the moment i am reading ....i have just finished different seasons by stephen king :)"

Hi Amy, welcome to the grou..."

Hi Jen,

I have read most of Stephen King's books. Some are definitely better than others and there are several where it feels like he has written the same story and just changed the title. If I were to recommend any it would be:-
The Stand
The Green Mile
The Shawshank Redemption
The Gunslinger series
Salem's Lot
any of his collections of short storeis.
I'm not saying that his other books are bad, or that you will enjoy the ones I have listed but they are definitely worth looking at.

[Maria]

Charlotte wrote: "I'm currently reading 'The Antipope' by Robert Rankin as the first book of my 30 Day Challenge! It's intriguing so far :)"

Robert Rankin is one of my favourite authors. If you want a laugh then you should try The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse and the Toyminator.

[Jen]

I loved The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse too! I have most of his books now and will read them all in time. I can't wait to read his steampunk series :)

[Jen]

Thanks Maria. I might look out for Salems Lot, I remember watching that years ago and enjoyed it.

[Maria]

I am just starting The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl. I read his book The Last Dickens and enjoyed that as it combines two of my favourite themes - writing/books and mysteries. Can't wait to be able to sit down with this one and get stuck in.

[Angel (jurassicreads)]

I'm currently in the process of finishing several books including:
"Micro" by Michael Crichton
"I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson
and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

The one that I'm actively attempting to finish, however, is "The Stolen Child" by Keith Donohue. It's really haunting and eye-opening. It's a book that I got for $1.50 at a consignment shop and I did not expect it to be as good as it is!!