The Jolly Good Reading Society discussion
What are you currently reading?
I've finally picked up Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen! It's my third Austen novel and though it's a slow read I'm really enjoying it! Has anyone else read this one? =)
I've read it and loved it. I've enjoyed all of the Austen books I've read so far, but I've yet to read Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. I started watching the BBC adaption this weekend too. Very well done I felt. I'm currently reading Lorna Doone
I'm currently reading The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers. It's so fun and enjoyable - a brilliant light read despite the 700 pages!
I'm taking a break from Hard Time by Charles Dickens and Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett to reread Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern. I loved this book the first time round and since have seen the film. It's such a light, quick and funny read but has the perfect balance of heartfelt moments.
Sriram wrote: "I finished reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I'll start The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury."I really want to read The Martian Chronicles at some point! Have you read any other Bradbury?
I am currently reading The Runaway's Gold by Emilie Burack, The Line by Teri Hall, and I'm about to start Ravencliffe by Carol Goodman as soon as it's delivered!
I finished The Brontës Went to Woolworths last night. A great, quirky story about a family with a whole host of imaginary friends. Hard to work out who was real and was made up, but that was half the fun. I've just started The Golem and the Djinni.
I'm currently reading:
Divergent
The Children of Men
Hiroshima
I'm liking them all.
Divergent
The Children of Men
Hiroshima
I'm liking them all.
I'm reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and I'm loving it so much so far!
I'm currently reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, I'm thoroughly enjoying both books.
Jen wrote: "I'm currently reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, I'm thoroughly enjoying both books."The Old Curiosity Shop was the first full Dickens novel I got through last year and I really enjoyed it!
I finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and absolutely loved it! It will probably be one of my favourite books of 2016, if not one of my favourites of all time.I'm now reading The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. I think I like it so far but there is a strange atmosphere and the protagonist doesn't feel too original to me. Has anyone else read this?
Charlotte wrote: "I finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and absolutely loved it! It will probably be one of my favourite books of 2016, if not one of my favourites of all time.
I'm now re..."
I own The Bone Season but haven't got around to it yet :/
I've just purchased The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (thanks for the recommendation) and intend to start it in my lunch break today.
I'm now re..."
I own The Bone Season but haven't got around to it yet :/
I've just purchased The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (thanks for the recommendation) and intend to start it in my lunch break today.
I'm reading The Bone Season as well Charlotte. I'm getting into it the more I read but I'm still not sure about it either.
Jenna wrote: "I'm reading The Bone Season as well Charlotte. I'm getting into it the more I read but I'm still not sure about it either."I've just decided to DNF it. I never used to do that but this year I've decided not to waste time on books I'm not enjoying so I put it down. Lots of things about it were bothering me. I can understand why other people like it and I enjoyed the idea of the world but it just wasn't for me!
Charlotte wrote: "Jen wrote: "I'm currently reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, I'm thoroughly enjoying both books."The Old Curiosit..."
I'm reading Bleak House, it looks as though this will be the first full Dickens novel I'll have read. I've read some of his short stories and A Christmas Carol, but I've never made it past a couple of chapters of the other books of his I've tried.
Tania wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Jen wrote: "I'm currently reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, I'm thoroughly enjoying both books."..."
My favourite Dickens novel so far is A Tale of Two Cities. I'm not going to judge The Old Curiosity Shop until I've finished but it is so long winded!
My favourite Dickens novel so far is A Tale of Two Cities. I'm not going to judge The Old Curiosity Shop until I've finished but it is so long winded!
I think that's why I've struggled with him in the past, he seems to use pages to say what could be said in a few sentences. I like his stories, though, and would like to make more of an effort with them.
I'm currently reading Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. I've been in an odd reading mood where I don't seem to be able to finish anything so I wanted something fast-paced. Despite this being around 600 pages, I'm flying through it! It's an example of YA literature that I think could be read by adults too and it's quite creepy at points!
This week I've finished Illuminae and All the Light We Cannot See! I really enjoyed both for different reading and I'm back into reading consistently in my spare time now.I started Les Misérables by Victor Hugo but will be reading other things alongside as it's 1232 pages long!
This week I've finished The Secret History, The Shell Collector and The Widow. I've just started Hollow City which is the sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Can you tell that I've had a week off work? :)
I'm reading Thraxas And The Dance Of Death by Martin Scott, (a pen mane of Martin Millar) a Detective Noir set in a fantasy world. One of my favourite series. Also The Mistletoe Bride and Other Haunting Tales a book of short stories by Kate Mosse.
I'm definitely not enjoying Hollow City as much as the first book. In fact, I'm quite annoyed with it now....the part I'm reading is set in 1940 and the author thinks that there's a female monarch on the British throne! He clearly needs to do his homework.
Les Misérables is surprisingly accessible and really enjoyable to read! I haven't been reading much over the past few days but I'm already 168 pages in! Has anyone else read it? It's on the BBC Top 200 list too.
Im currently reading A Gathering of Shadows. Its the second book in the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab. I particularly like these books and this one caught my attention as it was only 99p on kindle :)
I have the first book on my Kindle, I'll get to it one of these days. I've started re-reading The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. It's the perfect book for these long dark nights.
Tania wrote: "I have the first book on my Kindle, I'll get to it one of these days. I've started re-reading The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. It's the perfect book for these long dark nights."
Yes, I agree, Tolkien is perfect for snuggling up in front of the fire :)
I hope you get around to reading the Shades of Magic books, i really like them so far. I particularly like the characters, I dont know why but they don't annoy me like some in this genre usually do.
Yes, I agree, Tolkien is perfect for snuggling up in front of the fire :)
I hope you get around to reading the Shades of Magic books, i really like them so far. I particularly like the characters, I dont know why but they don't annoy me like some in this genre usually do.
Yes. I first had it read to me as a child. Fond memories of Dad in his chair by the fire and us begging for just one more chapter before bed. Looking back, perhaps it was better to draw it out.I'll try and get to Darker Shades this month.
I picked up The Magpie Murders from the library however, I'm reading Ship of Magic at the moment, which is totally absorbing. Like Game of Thrones with it's multiple POV characters and complex plot, but better (in my opinion).
Tania wrote: "I picked up The Magpie Murders from the library however, I'm reading Ship of Magic at the moment, which is totally absorbing. Like Game of Thrones with it's multiple POV characters and..."
I have that book on my kindle but I'm struggling to finish the Farseer trilogy. Ive only read the first book and am unsure whether to carry on with them :/
I have that book on my kindle but I'm struggling to finish the Farseer trilogy. Ive only read the first book and am unsure whether to carry on with them :/
I liked the Farseer Trilogy but I think this one is much better. It takes place in a different place to Farseer with a completely new cast of characters. You could skip ahead to this one and would miss nothing. I read the Rain Wilds books first, this probably helped me get into the Farseer ones quicker as I was more familiar with her writing.
Tania wrote: "I liked the Farseer Trilogy but I think this one is much better. It takes place in a different place to Farseer with a completely new cast of characters. You could skip ahead to this one and would ..."
Thanks! I will take your advice and try Ship of Magic. You never know, I might continue with the Farseer Triology in time. My taste in books is constantly changing.
Thanks! I will take your advice and try Ship of Magic. You never know, I might continue with the Farseer Triology in time. My taste in books is constantly changing.
Yes, I find that too. I'm not sure I'd have finished Farseer if it was the first one I read, and yet people rave about it. Hope you enjoy the Ship of Magic. I've nearly finished the first one.
I've heard to start with Ship of Magic too!I'm currently reading A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. The first book was the first I read in 2016 and this one is very different but I'm really enjoying it so far!
Charlotte wrote: "I've heard to start with Ship of Magic too!
I'm currently reading A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. The first book was the first I read in 2016 and this one is very diff..."
I've just picked up A Closed and Common Orbit from the library! Its unusual for me to use the library but as i wasn't crazy about the first book I didn't want to waste money. I like the perspective so far.
I'm currently reading A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. The first book was the first I read in 2016 and this one is very diff..."
I've just picked up A Closed and Common Orbit from the library! Its unusual for me to use the library but as i wasn't crazy about the first book I didn't want to waste money. I like the perspective so far.
I keep meaning to read more Sci fi, so I might give the first one a go soon (ish). I see my library has it.
I'm reading The Boy on the Bridge A prequel to The Girl with All the Gifts which I really liked. A bit of a slow start but still compelling.
I'm 55 pages into High Fidelity by Nick Hornby, not sure what I think yet but it's an easy read so far
I'm finally reading The Outsider by Albert Camus. I was supposed to read this for university a few years ago but never got to it so I'm glad to be ticking it off now! It's good so far, the writing keeps you at a distance but I think that's the point because the protagonist is so closed off. Has anyone else read this?
I haven't read The Outsider but have a vague plan to get to it one day. I've just finished The Good People set in 1920s Ireland about a boy thought to be a changeling. Really liked it. Also nearly at the end of War and Peace.
Tania wrote: "I haven't read The Outsider but have a vague plan to get to it one day. I've just finished The Good People set in 1920s Ireland about a boy thought to be a changeling. Really liked ..."I really want to read The Good People as I loved Burial Rites. I started reading it a few months ago but couldn't get into it at the time. I'll probably take it out of the library again at some point though!
t is one of those books you need to be in the mood for. Not light-hearted, better in the colder months when the nights start drawing in, I think.
I am reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and really enjoying it so far. I like the fact that it is so character driven, but can understand why this might put some people off.
Tania wrote: "I am reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and really enjoying it so far. I like the fact that it is so character driven, but can understand why this might put some people off."It was my favourite book of last year! I loved that it was character-driven because the characters were so well formed. The companion novel is also worth reading, though very different. I can't wait for Becky Chambers to write more :)
Books mentioned in this topic
Record of a Spaceborn Few (other topics)The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
The Good People (other topics)
The Good People (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Haruki Murakami (other topics)Megan Shepherd (other topics)
Hanya Yanagihara (other topics)
Hanya Yanagihara (other topics)
Toni Morrison (other topics)
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I'm currently reading The Singer's Gun at the moment and loving it! I read Station Eleven and really enjoyed that and although you can tell that this is the same author, it's just such a different book!