What Are You Reading and Why? July 2013

[Kimberly]

Almeta wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: " listen to the lotta hype book Hounded although urban fantasy is not my favorite genre so we'll see ..."

I enjoyed Hounded because (for me)it was very unique. I remember gra..."

I'm loving the third book. Jesus making an appearance is hilarious.

[Travis]

I am finding that as I go along I keep gaining interest in urban fantasy and losing interest in sci-fi. Although my UF reading is quite limited I still (I've probably said this before) highly recommend Monster Hunter International it is both funny and all around action packed fun

[Almeta]

Kimberly wrote: "I'm loving the third book. Jesus making an appearance is hilarious. ..."

Yeah, having a shot and a beer with the man would be priceless!

[Kimberly]

Travis of NNY wrote: "I am finding that as I go along I keep gaining interest in urban fantasy and losing interest in sci-fi. Although my UF reading is quite limited I still (I've probably said this before) highly reco..."

I borrowed that one recently but accidentally returned it (actually it wasn't me it was the Significant Other also name He Who Cannot Be Trusted To Return the Library Books In the Library Bag With the Sticky Note Saying : RETURN ME) So I have to put it on hold again.

[Kimberly]

Almeta wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm loving the third book. Jesus making an appearance is hilarious. ..."

Yeah, having a shot and a beer with the man would be priceless!"

I'm really liking the way the author has fun with his writing. You can just tell by the way he writes that he loves to make people laugh.

[Chrissie]

Cherie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Chrissie - LOL. You really did not mean to say that the sinking of the Titanic is what caused the Irish Rebellion did you?"

Absolutely not! The book starts there. ..."

Cherie, I really had a hard time thinking you thought I meant that, but I tried to explain clearly. Good to know you were just kidding.

If you really want to learn about Irish history, but also in an entertaining fashion, I recommend the series I am reading now. The book by Llywelyn. The history is so clear and well explained and it is marvelous how a few fictional characters are woven into the lives of many historical figures. I am really impressed with 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion. I have only read 114 pages though. Tons of footnotes and maps but still it reads like fiction. It is good historical fictional!

Thanks for the name of the book you are currently reading.

[Almeta]

Finished World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. Now we can go see the movie. Almeta's Review

One more story to go in Smoke and Mirrors for the Group read.

Next up The Sunday Philosophy Club for a Connections Challenge.

[Travis]

Finished Hounded quite entertaining. Started A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II so far very good. Also plowed through half of The Defector yesterday this book just keeps me going as u still can't figure out where its all leading to

[Janice, Moderator]

Kimberly wrote: "I borrowed that one recently but accidentally returned it (actually it wasn't me it was the Significant Other also name He Who Cannot Be Trusted To Return the Library Books In the Library Bag With the Sticky Note Saying : RETURN ME) So I have to put it on hold again..."

Too funny! Thanks for the chuckle. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Mrs. Mike for my Cross Canada Tour. For some reason, I mistakenly thought it was set in the Northwest Territories, when in fact it was set in Alberta. As far as fiction, it was an enjoyable read. But I couldn't call it historical fiction because it was so inaccurate.

I started The Keeper of Lost Causes. I decided to swap it out for my K book in the YLTO Alphabet Challenge. I can also swap out my Denmark book for the Around the World Challenge.

[Roz]

I'm almost finished The Mongoliad: Book One. I didn't know much about the history of writing of the book so I Googled it. I bought it because a. it was cheap (I bought all three books for my Kindle), and b. it fell under historical fiction. Since I don't know much about the Mongols and that period of history, I'm sure what part would be considered fantasy, but maybe those issues will be made clearer when I read the other 2 books.
I'm enjoying it so far. The characters are well established for the most part, the action scenes are almost blow by blow. So far I'd give it 4 stars. Worth it if you like sweeping epics, strong women characters (there are only 2), bloody battles, righteous causes, manly men.

[Jennifer]

Just finished The Dilemma and Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV , and started The Last Queen and Damage . Trying to finish I Heart Paris, a bit of fluff I started in April and have yet to finish. I keep getting caught up in these 700-page Vincenzi tomes, and as a result I'm about 17 books behind on my goal for the year.....

[Samantha A]

I just finished Desperation - Stephen King .

Now trying to decide on what to read next. It is between , , - or .

Opinions greatly appreciated!

(I also have if the general consensus is that I should read it right after Desperation)

[Almeta]

gets my recommendation! A five star read for me.☺

[Jennifer]

Samantha wrote: "I just finished Desperation - Stephen King .

Now trying to decide on what to read next. It is between , , [..."

I belong to two groups that have "pick it for me" challenges, where you post your next five and the next poster picks for you and then posts his/her next five, and so on. Sounds like something you might like? I love it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Samantha wrote: "I just finished Desperation - Stephen King .

Now trying to decide on what to read next. It is between , , [..."

Or, you could use the fruit machine: http://www.classtools.net/education-g...

[Roz]

My Kindle ran out to juice just when I had about 50 pages left in The Mongoliad: Book One so I picked up
I won it in a Goodreads giveaway. Like it so far.

[Almeta]

Almeta's Review of The Sunday Philosophy Club which I finished reaading.

Also finished Smoke and Mirrors.

Starting Death of a Red Heroine for my alphabet "Q" read.

[Pragya]

Reading because a GR friend loved it and the author very kindly mailed it for review. What a coincidence! :)

[Travis]

About 2/3 done and I can't say enough how good A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II is. So far it is just as the title suggests incredible.

[Kimberly]

I finished which I loved and now I've started . I'm really addicted to this series.

[Sarah]

I'm currently reading the new release Playing With Fire which I'm really enjoying - I've enjoyed all the books in the series so far.

[Betsy]

I need to finish The Sacred and the Profane for my free reads Giveaway. Summer's end is catching up with me, but the book is good.

[Kimberly]

I couldn't help myself so I started and

[Chrissie]

Finished Einstein: His Life and Universe, and I highly recommend it. Why? To meet the man, not necessarily to better understand physics. Sure, I did learn a bit about physics, but it is the man that is the most remarkable ingredient.

Starting Townie: A Memoir now.

[Travis]

Kimberly wrote: "I couldn't help myself so I started and "

Map of bones is a good one and although I 5 starred it storm of swords is the first book GRRM really starts to get side tracked and adds a lot of extra stories which continue through the rest of the series

[Chrissie]

Ooops, I forgot my review of Einstein: His Life and Universe. Here it is: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Cherie]

Roz wrote: "I'm almost finished The Mongoliad: Book One. I didn't know much about the history of writing of the book so I Googled it. I bought it because a. it was cheap (I bought all three books for my Kindle..."

Added this to my list, Dem, based on your last sentence. ")

[Travis]

Finished A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II. Amazing book. Started listening to Hexed I just really enjoy the narration to this series it is so fun and the dog voice is perfect which is important

[Almeta]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Amazing book. Started listening to Hexed I just really enjoy the narration to this series it is so fun and the dog voice is perfect which is important ..."

I like books in which the dog steals the show! Oberon Khan is a hoot howl☻

[Kimberly]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Finished A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II. Amazing book. Started listening to Hexed I just really enjoy the narration to this se..."

Oberon is a great character!

[Roz]

Finished . It was intriguing, for the most part. The thing I didn't like is the ending. Quite abrupt. I realize there are 2 more books that carry on with the whole story but this doesn't end with a cliff hanger or anything. It just ends. Like they ran out of paper or something. Still worth the read.

Here's my review:

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

[Travis]

Yes I was so glad I had neither food nor drink in my mouth when Oberon says "what did I hear somebody say something about bitches." Caught me right off guard so funny

[Rusalka, Moderator]

For Travis and those who enjoyed my last video re: Game of Thrones, here's George R R Martin's and Neil Gaiman's reaction at the San Diego Comic Con on the weekend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqcqap...

[Anna]

Reading Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse for pleasure. I should read one book to finish my ABC challenge but I'm not in mood :(

[Travis]

I have been trying to start my u book Battle Cry but I have lost my power of only taking me 15 minutes to get my now 6 week old daughter to sleep and just can't read with a continual waaah waaah waaah in my ear but that's my shift and once she's asleep its for all night and my wife handles the rest so I can't complain but it is really putting a cramp on the abc completion

[Travis]

Rusalka wrote: "For Travis and those who enjoyed my last video re: Game of Thrones, here's George R R Martin's and Neil Gaiman's reaction at the San Diego Comic Con on the weekend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq..."

And because I'm reading hammered I must say Neil f@#$ing Gaiman!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Travis of NNY wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "For Travis and those who enjoyed my last video re: Game of Thrones, here's George R R Martin's and Neil Gaiman's reaction at the San Diego Comic Con on the weekend http://www.youtub..."

hehe

[Roz]

I finished . Oh dear.

Here's my review.

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

[Janice, Moderator]

That's too bad, Roz. I thought the title was intriguing, but then, I love almonds so maybe that was the attraction for me. :)

I just finished Jack of Diamonds and thought it was quite boring.

I'll be starting 14 next.

[[deleted user]]

I've finished both my car book and my bed book.
Car book was Continental Drifter, which did slip into childishness occasionally, but managed to be both informative and amusing.
Bed book was this month's challenge book, The Hunger Angel, which was haunting and hypnotic but I can't say I "enjoyed" it as such.

Next up are The End of Mr. Y and Fame Fatale on CD. E and F in the alphabet.

[Sarah]

I've finished my group read Full Dark, No Stars and now I have just started Rivers of London which I'm really enjoying. It's been on my kindle for ages.

[Chrissie]

OK, I never thought I could possibly enjoy this book: Townie: A Memoir, but I am game to try. Guess what? I really thought it was good.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I move on to When The Stars Fall To Earth. Because I like reading about different places and cultures AND because the book description enticed me!

[Dem]

Just finished The Book of Secrets: A Novel This is my review. www.goodreads.com/review/show/655974650

[Roz]

I'm starting

[Marnie]

I am startingQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. I don't normally read these types of books but a good friend recommended I read this- and it works for my alphabet challenge.

[Shannon]

I just finished "Changing My Wardrobe". Very good. Compelling read. Now, I'm looking for another book.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Welcome Bien! good luck on your hunt.

I finished Solaris. I need to think about my grumbling a bit more before I review it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Bien wrote: "I just finished "Changing My Wardrobe". Very good. Compelling read. Now, I'm looking for another book."

Hi Bien! Welcome to YLTO. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "Welcome Bien! good luck on your hunt.

I finished Solaris. I need to think about my grumbling a bit more before I review it."

I found Solaris to be quite dry with all the technical detail.