What are you reading now?

[Iamabibliophile]

I just finished Water for Elephants and am starting 2 new cozy mysteries for a group read. What are you reading now?

[Baqash]

Bless me, Ultima by Rudilfo Anaya

[AngryGreyCat]

I just finished The Last Policeman Excellent read. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Jaedlyn]

I am reading:



I am almost done, it's the last book of its' series. Until Tahereh publishes the next one.

[Connie N.]

How many of you read more than one book at a time? I can't ever seem to decide, so I usually read 3 at once, generally different genres. Right now I'm reading:

(young adult dystopia) (cozy mystery) (romance).

[Jaedlyn]

I try to juggle more than one book but I get confused sometimes when I go back to the other book.

[Baqash]

I'm typo concrete sequential to read more than one at a time

[Iamabibliophile]

I too have several going at once. Car book (traffic and parking lots only...not while driving, lol), bathroom book, book by the recliner, bedside book.

[Baqash]

I am now reading code name verity. good read. IMA, I kept a spare book in the car out my current read was always with me when in Tucson due to trains.

[Jorie]

Sometimes. I especially do this when I am reading a long dense book that takes a lot of time. I tend to read fluffy/easy books at the same time. Les Mis takes a lot of time. If I didn't read more than one, I'd read only that all year!

[Baqash]

code name verity was awesome. thou love it or hate it. if you don't appreciate stream of thought writing this book may drive you nuts. WWII historical fiction with twists that will have you back tracking to reread sections.

[Myra]

Currently reading (almost done) The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Liking it more than the first book which I thought was decent but a bit dull at times. My next read will probably be Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (since it has holds on it and I'll need to finish it soon).

[AngryGreyCat]

I read the first one and liked it so now I'm trying some more by her

[Jaedlyn]

I just finished Unravel Me. Great book and series! Highly recommend. Going to start Summer Rental, and continue Lost Code.

[AngryGreyCat]

Just finished Now for a change of pace I am reading

[Iamabibliophile]

I just picked up . I am making my way through Hollywood one memoir at a time.

[Connie N.]

I just finished . I had been resisting the hype, but I ended up really liking it--couldn't put it down.

[Adrienne]

I just finished The Time Keeper. It really made me think about how much I think about time and how the world revolves around how much or little time we have.

[Adrienne]

Connie N. wrote: "I just finished . I had been resisting the hype, but I ended up really liking it--couldn't put it down."

I really want to read this book, but there is a long wait on the library list.

[AngryGreyCat]

I am reading enjoying the character of Max so far.

[Connie N.]

Adrienne wrote: I really want to read this book, but there is a long wait on the library list.

That's what happened to me too. I think when I signed up there were 70+ people on the list. But they must be reading it fast (like I did), because before I knew it, I got a notice that it was ready. And I read it over the long weekend!

[Connie N.]

Fanficfan44 wrote: I am reading Death on Demand, enjoying the character of Max so far.

I read this a while ago and was torn about my reaction. I did love Max, though. He really was what kept me reading when the mystery (and all of the references to authors and books I didn't know) got me a little bogged down.

[AngryGreyCat]

Connie N. wrote: "Fanficfan44 wrote: I am reading Death on Demand, enjoying the character of Max so far.

I read this a while ago and was torn about my reaction. I did love Max, though. He really was what kept m..."

It is funny you say that because I am wondering what the rest of the series is like. All the references to authors and books pull me out of the story, if I don't recognize them or don't remember them it bugs me and I want to google them to find out about them. Once or twice this would be fine but constantly it is difficult to stay immersed in the storyline. She actually referred to Mary Rinehart a few times and I have that on my kindle so it made me want to go read that. Erika Chase also used this same device in and I found it just as distracting there.

[AngryGreyCat]

Reading I really like this author

[Connie N.]

Fanficfan44 wrote: Reading Awakening. I really like this author

I haven't read her before. What do you recommend that you liked?

[Connie N.]

I finished the other books I was reading and have now moved on to:
(nice feel-good romance series) and (YA, picked in the Pick3 thread) and (erotica, just released, finally received from the library). All relaxing and enjoyable reads.

[AngryGreyCat]

Connie N. wrote: "Fanficfan44 wrote: Reading Awakening. I really like this author

I haven't read her before. What do you recommend that you liked?"

I have really liked all of S.J. Bolton books - thriller/mystery books

I also liked Elly Griffiths series which was also a mystery.

For cozy mysteries I am currently reading Dean James' - Simon Kirby-Jones mysteries. I am on book 2 and really liking this series.

For erotica I read The Submissive by Tara Sue Me and really liked that.

I read across a lot of genres, the only thing I don't really read is historical fiction.

[Iamabibliophile]

Read a few pages of to see if I could keep it as my choice for our Bingo challenge. I didn't really care for the style. Anyone read it? Does it get better? Nevada Barr seems to be popular so surely it does.

[Baqash]

I've read much of Barr but i've not read the prequel. however, i have read series of books by other authors. one of my favorites is Laurie R. King. First book in the series years ago was the beekeepers apprentice. Her most recently released book i thought was awful. So, i say that to say, no guarantees

[Iamabibliophile]

Good point!

[Myra]

Much like Baqash said, I have also read many of the Nevada Barr books and enjoyed them all (did she do the one about the National Park island up in the great lakes? Wolves?). But I didn't read this one yet. I have to think that going back to write a prequel for a well-established series would be hard since she'd have to make sure that everything she says will work with everything we already know about the character. And just about every series I have ever read has at least one dud.

[Baqash]

odn.. I have to read an entire book tonight before midnight so I can return a series. to the library

[Rebecca]

Currently reading The Casual Vacancy

[Connie N.]

I've had a hard time getting into the Nevada Barr series as well, although I keep trying since it's so popular.

Right now I'm reading a chick-lit book, Very funny so far.

[Baqash]

i went to the library today and got one of each subgenre to mystery. the library aid had to enlist the help of the librarian to put together a pile as there was disagreement over the categories. they even had to go online to read the definitions. interesting to watch. end result, i have a new pile of books to read.

[Iamabibliophile]

Sweet! Ya gotta tell us whatcha got.

[Iamabibliophile]

Can't wait to see how you like them. Let's see Cozy, Soft Boiled, Hard Boiled, Locked room...what else?

[Baqash]

cozy: daheim, the alpine quilt, but then realized i already had a cozy in the pile. crocodile on a sandbank by elizabeth peters.

soft boiled: evanovich, plum spooky
hard boiled: walters, the sculptress
locked room: an older book, collins, the moonstone
forensic thriller: cornwell, the body farm.

I've read a couple by havill that cover police procedure.

then for a change of pace a western by mcmurtry, anything for billy.

scifi: hambly, children of the jedi. tho I'm tempted to reread ender's game by orson scott card with the movie coming out this fall.

[Baqash]

as a side note, because of the subgenring (my word) of mystery, I brought up the issue of women's lit vs chic lit. both librarians agreed that there is a difference.

[Myra]

Great subject! I was actually going to bring up the topic of genres. I have 'bought' a lot of free Kindle books in the last two years, and I'm trying to make myself a little catalog of what I have by genre. Which has made me think about the different genres. The one getting me is thriller vs. suspense. Are they different? Are they the same? What makes a mystery different from a suspense? And where does one draw the line?

Is there a good website that defines the different genres?

I do agree that women's lit and chick lit are different. I think more Jodi Picoult for women's lit vs. Sophie Kinsella for chick-lit.

[Iamabibliophile]

Suspense is the state of waiting for something to happen. It is a subtle, slow build up and anticipation of an event or multiple events.

Thrillers have suspense but they have lots of action. They are scary and more like a roller coaster with ups and downs, twists and turns.

[Baqash]

I just finished Elizabeth Peters first Amelia Peabody book and enjoyed. it reminded me of Laurie r king's Mary Russell series. much is conveyed without graphic detail. suspense carries you to the end. and, while you may suspect what's going on, only at the end are the full details revealed.

[Iamabibliophile]

I really enjoyed that one. I read that for my cozy mystery club here on GR. It was a meaty read.

[Baqash]

agree. I think that is why I also liked Laurie r. king. or at least until the last one.

[Jane]

And it's great so far!

[Iamabibliophile]

Interesting. I wonder if he's an author you either love or hate. I read a couple of his and just didn't get it. I think The Law of Similars was one.

[Jane]

I've only read one before this and I think he's a great story teller. I'm just not interested in the subject matter of a lot of his books. In this one he certainly grabs your attention right at the outset!

[Iamabibliophile]

Oh good! I'll check it out...after the 7 books on my August tbr list. :)

[Jane]

Including Cranford!

[Jane]

I had better tell you that what happened at the beginning was a rather gruesome murder. The crime(s) we know about just not the motive. Sort of in the Arias category.