What are you reading and why? June 2013.

[Roz]

I've started as my J book for my alphabet challenge.

A little off topic and no real place to put this, but I just want to wish any of our male members a Happy Father's Day.

I've noticed that most of the active members seem to be women, but on this July 16th I hope all of you are enjoying the day with your fathers and fathers with their children. For me, my husband is spending the day enjoying a family tradition. He's at Belmont Race Track with our younger son. Hope he wins a few races ;D

[Sarah]

I've just started reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone - I've heard lots of good things about it.

[Lisa]

Sarah wrote: "I've just started reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone - I've heard lots of good things about it."

That has been on my TBR for a while now. Looking forward to hearing what you think of it Sarah!

[Esther]

I just started Fishing for Stars. On the thick side, but so are most Courtenay's book.

[Sarah]

Lisa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I've just started reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone - I've heard lots of good things about it."

That has been on my TBR for a while now. Looking forward to hearing what you think of..."

I started it last night and could not put it down - 100 pages in so far and I think it's amazing.

[Janice, Moderator]

Esther wrote: "I just started Fishing for Stars. On the thick side, but so are most Courtenay's book."

It doesn't take long to get through. Enjoy!

[Kimberly]

I started last night.

[Chrissie]

I have completed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. If you have any interests at all in books on Theodore Roosevelt, read this one. History and people can in fact be amusing to read. Some of the stuff this whirlwind of a guy did!!!!!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

And now I will read TransAtlantic by my favorite author Colum McCann!

Then I will go and buy the next of the trilogy about Theodore: Theodore Rex

[Kimberly]

Chrissie wrote: "I have completed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. If you have any interests at all in books on Theodore Roosevelt, read this one. History and people can in fact be amusing to read. Some of the stuff..."

Thank for the tip Chrissie!

[Dem]

I just finished and really enjoyed The Other Typist
This is my review; http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Cherie]

Chrissie wrote: "I have completed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. If you have any interests at all in books on Theodore Roosevelt, read this one. History and people can in fact be amusing to read. Some of the stuff..."

You are a reading/listening machine, Chrissie!!!! Are you retired?

[Chrissie]

Kimberly wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have completed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. If you have any interests at all in books on Theodore Roosevelt, read this one. History and people can in fact be amusing to read. ..."

Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have completed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. If you have any interests at all in books on Theodore Roosevelt, read this one. History and people can in fact be amusing to read. ..."

Yes, I am retired. I am very lucky to be able to read as much as I do, and I am addicted to books.

If you think you might be interested in reading about an extraordinary person, irregardless of the fact that he happened to be a president, do read The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. It is not that he was a president that drew me to this book, but rather his character. Some things about him were great, but he certainly had his faults too! If I were given two words to describe him, one would be a whirlwind and the other would be egotistical. Read this book not to learn about a president but to learn about a person with an exceptional character.

[Cherie]

I have a friend who likes TR very much, for the same reasons. I will definately be reading the books I have marked, from your recommendations, Chrissie. Someday I will retire and have more time for reading too. :D

[Chrissie]

Cherie, I am glad I can help you find good ones. What i like with GR is that there is no one trying to sell books or push them on us. We help each other find those books that fit us.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've started two new books. One is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry for my irl book club. The other is "just because" Doc. It's narrated by Mark Bramhall. I don't know if he uses a western accent just for this book, or if it's his normal voice, but he sounds like Sam Elliott. Yum! :)

[Sarah]

I've just started my N read Never Let Me Go - I've heard mixed things about it so will have to see how it goes.

[Removed]

I've polished off two just recently, The Disciple by Simon Hay, and yesterday I finished The Rebels Of The Kasbah by Joe O'neill, my other project this month is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, I'm liking it...but don't seem to be able to commit to finishing it. At 650 pages approximately, its longer than most I've picked up recently.

[Chrissie]

I completed One Fourteenth Of An Elephant
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A difficult read, but if you want to know about the Burma-Thailand Railway read this. The author was there. He survived.

Now I will begin The Hidden Will of the Dragon, because the first part was fun. I want to finish the story. It is about the infamous Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory. I am not sure at all how much of this story is true.... but there is an author's note at the end that will explain. My review of Dandelions in the Garden explains why I want to follow up with the second: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Dem]

Just finished The Wishing Thread: A Novel This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/623510780

[Kimberly]

Yesterday I finished which I loved. This is my first urban fantasy read written by a male author and he did an excellent job. I loved the humour in this one and it was awesome to see a Druid in a book for a change. I highly recommend this one to fans of the urban fantasy genre who are looking for a fun read with loads going on.

and I started which I'm really liking so far.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kimberly wrote: "Yesterday I finished which I loved. This is my first urban fantasy read written by a male author and he did an excellent job. I loved the humour in this one and it was a..."

I started to listen to it, but the narrator put me to sleep, so I abandoned it. Maybe I should try a print or ebook version.

[Kimberly]

I finished 4 stars. I really like Jen's writing. This was my second book of hers I've read and despite it being a novella the quality of writing didn't go down. Plus Jen is awesome and super friendly. Highly recommend this one!

[Kimberly]

I'm going to start

[Chrissie]

Janice, I too have had audiobook narrators that put me to sleep. One can save those and use them instead of sleeping pills! :0)

[Chrissie]

Just finished TransAtlantic. McCann can do no wrong. I loved it. Predominantly set in Ireland.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Will now continue with Edmund Morris' trilogy on Teddy Roosevelt. I loved The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Will now read the second Theodore Rex, about his presidency. :0)

[Kimberly]

Janice wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Yesterday I finished which I loved. This is my first urban fantasy read written by a male author and he did an excellent job. I loved the humour in this..."

I was going to listen to the e-book, but I saw some not so nice things about it by people who had listened to it.

[Lisa]

I finished Jamaica Inn for my alphabet challenge. I thought it was pretty good and gave it a 4 star rating. Here is my review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I will now start reading Comanche Moon for the June monthly challenge.

[Removed]

The Never List

Got this from a giveaway and started it almost instantly. Its a psychological thriller and reads at a fast pace. Brilliantly written.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I gave it 4 stars but haven't reviewed it. I likely won't until after our irl book club discusses it. Since most of the members are on my friend's list, they would get my review before the meeting.

I'm going to start my Alphabet I book, The Invisible Mountain. This will also count for my Around the World challenge.

[Sarah]

I'm just starting NOS4A2 which I'm really excited about.

[Chrissie]

Finished the second of the trilogy by Edmund Morris on Theodore Roosevelt: Theodore Rex.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now continue on to the third volume: Colonel Roosevelt

Would I do that if I were not impressed? The above are audiobooks.

I gave up on The Hidden Will of the Dragon and moved on to Innocent Traitor. Both paper books.

[Removed]

Finished "The Never List" by Koethi Zan. One of the best books, I've picked this year. It's well worth getting!

[Lisa]

Scott wrote: "Finished "The Never List" by Koethi Zan. One of the best books, I've picked this year. It's well worth getting!"

I have just added this to my TBR Scott. It sounds very good!

[Betsy]

Been off school since the tenth of June, and off line since ??? the 12th maybe. I 'm due to get my computer back today But I've read 5 books since then.

[Travis]

I'm reading Conspiracy of Deception it is the first novel by a guy who lives about a mile from me and was a couple years ahead if me in school. So far not perfect some spelling and punctuation errors but a page turner combining paganism Christianity kidnapping murder assassins secret societies and I'm only halfway so far. A very different type of mystery and if he continues to write I expect some good things to come

[Shannon]

The Bone Cage because I picked it up at a book sale at the library and thought I had heard the title. I actually know nothing about it. Am only in Chapter 2...

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen and gave it 5 stars! I kind of expected that it would be dry and a slog to read, but I was pleasantly surprised at how rich it was.

I'll be starting Full Dark, No Stars later today... so excited! I've had this one collecting dust on my shelf for a while and thanks to the group read for July I can finally crack open the cover.

[Samantha A]

Just finished Heart-Shaped Box a few moments ago. Wow, what a ride.

Not sure what to start next. Either , , or .

[Lisa]

I have started The Knife of Never Letting Go for the alphabet challenge.

I am also continuing with Comanche Moon which I am really enjoying so far.

[Anna]

Finished Special Nobody it was well written coming to age story. My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Cherie]

I started listening to May the Road Rise Up to Meet You last night. It has been a wonderful story so far.

[Travis]

Gonna give an ebook serial a try with Trench Coats, Episode I: The Meeting

[Janice, Moderator]

I started Full Dark, No Stars for our groups reads last night. Today, I finished Doc on audiobook and will start NOS4A2 tomorrow for the SAI King Recommends group read. So excited!

[Sarah]

Janice wrote: "I started Full Dark, No Stars for our groups reads last night. Today, I finished Doc on audiobook and will start NOS4A2 tomorrow for the SAI King Recommends group read. So excited!"

You'll love NOS4R2 - I'm about 75% in. I'm starting Full dark, no stars next!

[Chrissie]

I have finished Innocent Traitor.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Before I forget what I have learned about the Tudor family, I will continue with The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "You'll love NOS4R2 - I'm about 75% in. I'm starting Full dark, no stars next!"

The first story is living up to the title of the collection. It is very dark. I'll have to hold back any comments until we start the discussion threads.

[Esther]

I finished Fishing for Stars, read Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) for the alphabet challenge.
I am now reading The Great Gatsby for this month read and listening to NOS4A2

[Sarah]

I've just finished NOS4A2 and I'm now spoilt for choice as to what to read next. I'm thinking I can read the group read Smoke and Mirrors at the same time as a longer book because the stories are quite short in that; I might make it my coffee table read! I was going to embark on the other group read Full Dark, No Stars but I think I need something less dark straight after reading NOS4R2 so I think I'll read Days of Blood & Starlight first.

[Anna]

Finished 2 freebies

Nostradormouse

my review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

free here: http://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/downl...


and second freebie
Original Strand

my review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

free here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...

[Travis]

thinking of starting Einstein: His Life and Universe