What are you currently reading?

[Melissa]

Jen wrote: "I agree. Working in a bookshop would be worse than working in a cat's refuge.... I'd want to bring them all home! "

Omg same! My fiance wouldn't mind but I don't think our landlord would be too impressed... Our goal is to have a farm one day and have ALL the rescue cats haha.

Charlotte wrote: "It's a discount book shop so at the moment the books are mostly £1....that £25 budget wouldn't help me limit my TBR at all XD "

Hahaha yep, that definitely wouldn't help. Oh what a problem to have ;)

[Charlotte]

Mel wrote: "Omg same! My fiance wouldn't mind but I don't think our landlord wou..."

I am slowly getting through my TBR but with all these university books it's difficult to find time to read for fun...Romeo and Juliet isn't taking too long but I have to read a lot of the novels, one a week. The Time Machine is on my list (I have to finish it by Wednesday) so I'll probably read that for the club =)

[Melissa]

I loved The Time Machine, although it's been a while since I read it! It's definitely on my re-read list :) After I read more H.G Wells though.

[Lacey]

I'm now reading "Winter's Tale". It's a large one with over 700 pages so I might be reading it forever!

[Jen]

I've just finished"The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder. I thought it would take a while to read as it has over 460 pages and a tiny font but it was such a fast paced story that it was difficult to put down. The humour was brilliant yet again and the storyline and alternative "Victorian" era built by the writer was pure genius. I have already placed the next book in the series on my to buy list.
I'm also still working my way slowly through The Ladies of Grace Adieu which (apart from the second short story) is quite an enjoyable read.
My next book will be Varjak Paw by SF Said and illustrated by Dave McKean.....I received more books today as Valentine's Day gifts :)

[Sarah. B]

I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey.

[Charlotte]

Sarah wrote: "I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey."

I really want to read more Jane Austen after reading P&P so I'll probably be trying Emma next I think...
At the moment I'm reading The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson and The Odyssey by Homer =)

[Jen]

Charlotte wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey."

I really want to read more Jane Austen after reading P&P so I'll probably be tr..."

I really need to read more classics!

[Charlotte]

Jen wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey."

I really want to read more Jane Austen after reading P&P so I..."

Yes you do!

[Jen]

Charlotte wrote: "Jen wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey."

I really want to read more Jane Austen after read..."

Lol!

[Charlotte]

Jen wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Jen wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I`m reading The Fog at the moment and trying to get into Northanger Abbey."

I really want to read more Jane..."

You should try Pride and Prejudice =P

[Charlotte]

By the way, me and Liz (who is on Youtube and somewhere on goodreads too) are going to do a buddy read of Emma by Jane Austen in June....anyone want to join in? I'll be making a goodreads group at some point nearer to the time but it'd be fun to read it all together =)

[Jen]

Charlotte wrote: "By the way, me and Liz (who is on Youtube and somewhere on goodreads too) are going to do a buddy read of Emma by Jane Austen in June....anyone want to join in? I'll be making a goodreads group at ..."

I might join in. I have enough time to find a nice edition :)

[Jen]

I've just finished The Compleat Ankh-Morpork by Terry Pratchett. It was a very disappointing read! The layout and graphics were very good but the subject matter was extremely repetitive. I was so glad that I had borrowed this one from the library!
I've just started the first book in the Agatha Raisin series "Quiche of Death" by MC Beaton. I feel a bit ashamed (am I weird? lol) of reading these books (which I picked up as a bargain) because they are so light but they are also very readable and a good choice when you're not sure what to read next :)

[Charlotte]

Jen wrote: "I've just finished The Compleat Ankh-Morpork by Terry Pratchett. It was a very disappointing read! The layout and graphics were very good but the subject matter was extremely repetitive. I was s..."

Sometimes you need something quick and light...palette cleansers! =)
I'm reading The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham at the moment and I really like it so far! I got 144 pages through it in one sitting and love the way the stories going...it's one of those where you really don't like the characters so it's almost like watching a car crash...it has funny bits, and it's set in China which I didn't expect!

[Gill's]

Just finished The Machine by James Smythe which was a great read. Modern day Frankenstein tale; which was such a good read. The type of book that leaves you with thinking about it afterwards.

Just started Hild, by Nicola Griffiths (from NetGalley) so far so good. Set in seventh century its a tale of Hild (who becomes St Hild. I love historical novels especially if the writing can transport me to the time. Hope I can work through the confusion of the names and words to enjoy it!

[Sarah. B]

I`m reading A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of Stringat the moment. I havent read any short stories this year so thought I`d give this collection a go. Plan to start The Good Earth soon too

[Charlotte]

Sarah wrote: "I`m reading A Cat, a Hat, and a Piece of Stringat the moment. I havent read any short stories this year so thought I`d give this collection a go. Plan to start [book:The Good Earth|..."

I've seen that around and would love to know what you think about it! I've only read Chocolat by Joanne Harris and I loved it =)

[Jen]

I'm reading The 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom by Alexander McCall Smith. It's actually three of his shorter books combined. I've just finished the first part and whilst it wasn't exactly a bad read, I couldn't really recommend it. Maybe the second and third parts will be more memorable.

My previous book I would definitely recommend. ..The Machine Stops by EM Forster. It was a very short story but absolutely brilliant, I think I will reread it many times. I can't stop thinking about it!

[Charlotte]

Lora wrote: "I've been reading but having trouble getting into it as it's written in present tense and I don't get on well with that.

About to start and for a kids/YA book it so creepy!

[Anna]

I'm currently reading and . Really liking both.=)

[Adam]

I am currently reading Maus by Art Spiegelman. Not normally my genre (graphic novels) but I was hooked from the beginning. Deeply moving.

[Melissa]

I've heard some great things about Maus, and it's definitely on my to- read list!
I just started Wool today, by Hugh Howey. Really really enjoying it so far.

[[deleted user]]

Wool has interested me for a while now. I'm perhaps just burnt out with the dystopian genre. I'm currently reading The Hound of the Baskersville by Arthur Conan Doyle. This is my first Sherlock (book) and I'm pleasantly surprised by the ease and quickness with which I'm reading. I was worried it would be dull and archaic in writing.

[Charlotte]

I recently took Wool out from the library and am looking forward to starting that really soon....I'm reading Divergent at the moment though in time for the film so I don't want to burn out on the dystopian genre xD

[Jen]

I've just finished Jane Eyre. I'm currently reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland which I found at the weekend whilst browsing through my local Waterstones. They tend to stock a few different editions of this book as the story was written in the small seaside town where I live and everyone is obsessed with it lol! I was waiting for the right edition to jump out at me, which it did on Sunday. It's a small hardback which has the original illustrations coloured by Barbara Frith... it's really beautiful.
I've also just picked up a copy of Maus by Art Spiegelman and although I've only just started it, I can't put it down.

[Charlotte]

I'm currently reading Half Bad by Sally Green and I really like it so far! It's not what I expected but I'm really enjoying it. I read several books at the same time but I finished 2 today which were the graphic novel version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz illustrated by Skottie Young which I would definitely recommend if you want to read the original story but found it a little slow like I did. I've also just finished Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith with is a strangely written modern retelling of a Greek myth =)

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading Notes From My Travels by Angelina Jolie. It's her travel journal to Ecuador, Pakistan and Africa in 2001 to 2002. I believe this book includes the trip to Cambodia where she adopts her first child. It is sadly graphic and I've had to take it in about 40 page increments. It's emotionally powerful.

[Jenna]

Just finished the Divergent trilogy and about to start Geek Girl by Holly Smale.

[Charlotte]

Jenna wrote: "Just finished the Divergent trilogy and about to start Geek Girl by Holly Smale."

I've only read the first in the trilogy and I read Geek Girl last year, I hope you enjoy it!

[[deleted user]]

I am still hesitant about reading the Divergent series. It's still very hyped and hyped books scare me. Even though I was 14 when Harry Potter was first being published (yes, I grew up in a small rural farm community that had a large religious base and some of the churches were burning the books), I didn't read them until I was 25. That's how fearful I am of hyped books. I wait 11 years to read them.

I'm trying to decide what to read next. I've got my eye on THE BAD GIRL by Mario Vargas Llosa or THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls.

[Charlotte]

Liz wrote: "I am still hesitant about reading the Divergent series. It's still very hyped and hyped books scare me. Even though I was 14 when Harry Potter was first being published (yes, I grew up in a small r..."

I think you need to go into Divergent with not lowered expectations but if you don't expect too much it'll surprise you! I really enjoyed the first one - not the best book I've ever read but I'm interested to see where the world is going to go further in the series

[Charlotte]

Lora wrote: "On the home stretch of The Time Traveler's Wife now and decided it was worth persevering. Really an interesting story, although I still hate present tense writing."

I've had that on my shelf for so long. I tried to pick it up the other day but just couldn't get into it =/

[Jen]

Adam wrote: "I am currently reading Maus by Art Spiegelman. Not normally my genre (graphic novels) but I was hooked from the beginning. Deeply moving."
I finished The Complete Maus today and I found it totally compelling. I appreciated the way the author/artist wrote this, it must have been difficult for him. I especially liked his idea of doing this story as a graphic novel in order to appeal to more readers who might not usually approach this subject.

[Charlotte]

I counted all the books I'm currently in the middle of and wow! 12....I need to finish some of them soon. Half Bad by Sally Green and Tempest by Julie Cross will probably be the first I'll finish =)

[Jen]

Charlotte wrote: "I counted all the books I'm currently in the middle of and wow! 12....I need to finish some of them soon. Half Bad by Sally Green and Tempest by Julie Cross will probably be the first I'll finish =)"

Ooh I'd love to hear what you think of Half Bad as it sounds good. I'm currently reading Divergent, I like it but so far can't see how they could possibly get a full film out of this story!

[Jen]

I've finished Divergent and was pleasantly surprised by it, I'm glad that I bought the box set :)
I'm currently reading Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss. this book just jumped out at me in the bookshop and I'm very impressed with it so far even though it's not my usual genre.

[Charlotte]

I finished Half Bad and absolutely loved it! Can't wait for the next in the series so I would highly recommend it =)

I'm reading Pretties which is book 2 in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld...it's good so far but it was difficult to get back into the series so hopefully I'll finish that soon...it's a really quick YA dystopian read.
I'm also reading How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read which is becoming increasingly more annoying but I'm determined to get through it =)

[Melissa]

I was pleasantly surprised by Wool, but would maybe wait awhile if you’re sick of dystopian novels! It would say it’s more adult than YA though, yet still easy to read, so I found it refreshing after a myriad of YA dystopias!

I have heard GREAT things about Half Bad- it’s on my TBR but towards the bottom of the list at the moment!

Oh Divergent- how I wish I had liked it! I was so excited to read it (I had bought the second book at the same time as the first) but for me, it just fell flat. Plummeted from the top of a skyscraper more like- I don’t remember the last time I read a book that I disliked so intensely that it made me angry haha. I hated the characters, the writing, the world, just everything about it. I do acknowledge that I’m seemingly one of the only people in the world who didn’t like this book though, so I’m just seeing it as a ‘personality clash’ between Divergent and myself :)


I’m currently reading Fortunes Pawn, which is a sci fi novel my fiancé picked out for me in a bookshop one day- I’m enjoying it so far! It’s a space opera (whatever that means), and one I never would have picked up for myself. It’s got a pretty awesome heroine so far though, and feels like a cross between Pacific Rim, Halo, and Firefly, so it’s quite fun.

I’m also delving into the New 52 Wonder Woman comics on the side :)

[Charlotte]

Mel wrote: "I was pleasantly surprised by Wool, but would maybe wait awhile if you’re sick of dystopian novels! It would say it’s more adult than YA though, yet still easy to read, so I found it refreshing aft..."

I can understand why someone wouldn't like Divergent. I liked it but I think the series is going to improve as it goes along.
I will get around to Wool soon as I still have it out from the library but I don't know when that will be because I'm trying to work my way through some of the books I actually own!

[Jen]

Mel wrote: "I was pleasantly surprised by Wool, but would maybe wait awhile if you’re sick of dystopian novels! I would say it’s more adult than YA though, yet still easy to read, so I found it refreshing aft..."

I found myself getting a little bored with Divergent around the middle but it recovered well and redeemed itself by the end.
I plan to read Wool too but have to agree on having a dystopian break lol.
I finished Cat Out of Hell yesterday and thoroughly recommend it. It was a really compelling story with humour thrown in when you least expected it!
I'm currently reading Piccadilly Jim by PG Wodehouse just to mix up my genres a bit :)

[Charlotte]

I'm taking a break from How to Talk About Book You Haven't Read - it's just getting really annoying xD

So I'm reading Pretties and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Hugo Cabret is a really fast read despite the 533 pages because it is half illustrations. I just really want to watch the film and the book is so nice looking! Interesting story so far too! =)

[Lacey]

Mel wrote: "I was pleasantly surprised by Wool, but would maybe wait awhile if you’re sick of dystopian novels! It would say it’s more adult than YA though, yet still easy to read, so I found it refreshing aft..."

I really enjoyed Divergent and Insurgent (book 2), but HATED Allegient (book 3). I mean HATED it! I read it within 2 days of the release and had no one to talk to since most of my friends hadn't started the book. So I went off on my husband. I think once the word of how it ends got out there, people seemed to be ok with the ending. But it was poorly written with too much "new" information that didn't really go well with the first two books. I will still watch the movie because I'm pretty sure they took a few liberties with the story line.

[Jenna]

I've read them all now and I agree Lacey. The first two were good but I really didn't like the third.

[Lacey]

I just saw that the digital download Wool is available today through Amazon (US) for free. http://www.amazon.com/Wool-Part-One-H...
And the Books 1-5 Collection are on sale $5.99 http://www.amazon.com/Wool-Omnibus-Si...

[Jen]

Lacey wrote: "I just saw that the digital download Wool is available today through Amazon (US) for free. http://www.amazon.com/Wool-Part-One-H......"

That's good value! I paid £4.89 for my copy from Waterstones using their reserve and collect service.

[Stephen]

Yeah, same here. When I viewed it anonymously it was free - when I logged in with my UK credentials the price vanished [into a dystopian hole in the ground!] Most probably some contractual issue - free to some, not to all.

[Lacey]

It might only be available to US accounts. I tried to buy a stuffed animal through the UK Amazon last year and it wouldn't let me. I had it shipped to a friend who then shipped it to me for my son's birthday.

[Lacey]

So I just read The first book of Wool which is a mini book. Kind of a teaser. I just downloaded the others. Looks like its going to be an interesting series.

[[deleted user]]

Because of my current marathon of the 1999 hit TV show, Roswell, I wanted to read a book about aliens but didn't want to commit to The Host, so I'm reading Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout because I heard it was about aliens. So far, three chapters in, it's a pretty stereotypical YA paranormal romance: the guy is a hot jerk and the girl is oddly drawn to him. I'm sure it will be predictable but I wanted something I didn't really have to think about this week with my other reads.