What are you Reading and Why Showing 151-200 of 1,308

[Kimberly]

I finished which was very enjoyable. Now I'm reading which is very good so far.

[Janice, Moderator]

Shannon wrote: "Janice wrote: "I started my "just because" challenge read, Three to Get Lei'd this morning. I think it's going to be a great read while I'm here in Hawaii. So far, it's good.

We were sitting out ..."

I read Moloka'i for our group read way back when. Honolulu is sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust. I need to move it up higher on the priority shelf.

Which island are you going to in December? Will this be your first trip to Hawaii?

[Chrissie]

Mark and Shannon,

My this(Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival) has been scary. I mean I had to stop listening I was so petrified. A movie must be even worse, since you cannot get up and leave when things get too terrible. But WHY didn't Simon get help? I think that is inexcusable. I don't care if he thought he was dead, check for heavens sake! I am almost done. Joe, is something else........ You know where we meet him again! I have never mountaineered and I don't intend to, except through a book. I more enjoy both he words and the narration for Joe, rather than Simon. Simon's narrator just doesn't have the vitality I would expect of a mountaineer. Joe's is perfect. I think it is Daniel Weyman who narrates Joe, while it is Andrew Wincott for Simon. Almost done.

[Peggy]

I'm about halfway through The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I like it so far, although I prefer some more dialogue in my books instead of just letters. And sometimes I'm confused, how can they send 3 letters a day to each other? It's not like there was e-mail back in 1946.

[[deleted user]]

Peggy - there would have been multiple postal deliveries a day at the time. We have a letter from his grandfather saying he's sorry, but he won't be able to make it for tea later that day, which he posted and was delivered before tea time. OK, it didn't work across long distances, but within the same postal region, you could expect to recieve a letter and send a reply that would be recieved the same day.

[Peggy]

Wow, really? I never knew that. I always thought things got more efficient the further you go in time, so I figured that back in the 40s mail would take at least a day or maybe even 2, even if it was only a short distance. Haha, I'm so impressed by this now :D

[Sarah]

Pragya wrote: "Debra wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I've just finished reading Joyland which I loved and now I'm reading a book for my alphabet - O for Oryx and Crake."

Sarah, I'm thinking of reading Joyland for the topp..."

Does it have a happy ending? It's not a traditional happy ending no and some not so nice things happen but equally there are some things that were stopped from happening and there are a variety of closures and new experiences happening which could be classed as being good/happy ending - it's all about interpretation!

[Chrissie]

Completed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Started Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West

[Kimberly]

Peggy wrote: "I'm about halfway through The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I like it so far, although I prefer some more dialogue in my books instead of just letters. And sometimes I'm confused, ..."

I've been wanting to read that one for some time.

[Shannon]

Janice wrote: "I read Moloka'i for our group read way back when. Honolulu is sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust. I need to move it up higher on the priority shelf.

Which island are you going to in December? Will this be your first trip to Hawaii? "

We are going to Kauai. This will be the first family trip and my first to that island. I guess I should have downloaded Jurassic Park since I believe that is where they filmed that movie. lol My son has set Hawaii 5-0 as his ring tone and I am calling the trip Hawaii 5-0 in honor of my fiftieth birthday, however we will be there two months late.

[Almeta]

While waiting for Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke for a Connection Challenge to arrive,

finished The Child Thief, Just Because.

Starting One Hundred Years of Solitude for a Buddy Read and Monthly Group Read alternate selection.

[Janice, Moderator]

Shannon, parts of Jurassic Park were filmed in Kauai. Other parts were filmed here on Oahu. We drove by the location today. I'd love to go to Kauai some day.

[Kimberly]

I just finished 4 stars and now I'm starting

[Peggy]

I'm impressed by the amount of books you read Kimberly!

[Peggy]

I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It's the longest review I've writte so far (well, I only wrote 8 or so, and this one still isn't very long), and I even made notes while reading (I have never done that before!) to make sure I remembered the things I wanted to say.

[Sarah]

Peggy wrote: "I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It's the longest review I've writte so far (well, I only wrote 8 or ..."

Great review Peggy! I never used to write reviews but since joining Goodreads I do for every book I read as it helps to collect my thoughts on the book and it gives me something to look back at to help remind me what the book was about. I recently started writing notes as I read, not for every book just the longer ones and ones for group/buddy reads. I think it has made me notice more of what's going on and remember it better afterwards too.

[Kimberly]

Peggy wrote: "I'm impressed by the amount of books you read Kimberly!"

Thanks Peggy :) I've been in a reading rut since early July so I'm finally coming out of it thankfully. I've missed my reading a lot.

[Pam]

I've also been in a reading rut. The only book I read over the summer is Reconstructing Amelia. I read it because I read such good reviews on Goodreads. I'm now reading Out of the Easy because I loved her first book, Between Shades of Gray. I'm back in my library at middle school so I better step my reading up.

[Peggy]

Sarah wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It's the longest review I've writte so far (well, I on..."

Exactly the same for me! The reviews help me to remember what I thought of a book and why. I have so many books that I read but of which I'm not sure anymore how much I liked them. Since I started reading more I also feel more of a need to write down what I thought. And the notes keep me focused while reading a book. I was just thinking 'oh, but this is strange and this is interesting and I need to remember this' and then that's all I could think about all the time. Writing it down made my mind slow down because there was no need to keep trying to remember those things ;)

[Kimberly]

I finished which I thourghly enjoyed. 4 stars.

[Travis]

finished V for Vendetta 3 stars I found the story hard to follow at times. finished A Dance With Dragons 5 stars and GRRM hurry the eff up and release book 6. started The Art Of War because I don't know why I just did and tomorrow probably will start War and Peace which I probably won't read without some intermissions here and there for other books I mean its what 1500 pages.

[Susan]

I am reading TransAtlantic by Colum McCann and enjoy it very much.

[Cherie]

Travis of NNY wrote: "finished V for Vendetta 3 stars I found the story hard to follow at times. finished A Dance With Dragons 5 stars and GRRM hurry the eff up and release book 6. started The Art Of War because I don't..."

I am with you about GRRM, Travis. Finished long ago and w.a.i.t.i.n.g! Might re-think VforV now. Oh-I picked up Notes from the Underground, The Double and Other Stories from the library yesterday. I had forgotten I requested it.

[Kimberly]

I started which the author sent me to review.

[Peggy]

I just read the first few chapters of Mudbound in the train to work. Oh, how I hate that I have to work for 8 hours now before I can continue reading!

[Sarah]

Cherie wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "finished V for Vendetta 3 stars I found the story hard to follow at times. finished A Dance With Dragons 5 stars and GRRM hurry the eff up and release book 6. started The Art ..."

I agree with the need of the 6th book!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Damn you all

*wanders off singing
"Winter is coming, I’m growing impatient
And you’ve still got two more damn books left to go..."*

[Esther]

Just finished King of Thorns. Loved it.

I rereading 1984 for the alphabet and i have a buddy read with a colleague at work lined up.

[Nancy from NJ]

Just finished readingThe Lavender Garden for a challenge and don't know what I will read next.

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "Damn you all

*wanders off singing
"Winter is coming, I’m growing impatient
And you’ve still got two more damn books left to go..."*"

ROFL and I almost spit out my coffee when I read this, Rusalka.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

lol Happy to have helped!

[Chrissie]

Phew, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West was not easy, due to its difficult subject matter. Excellently written. Excellent narration, just difficult to stomach. You think you know what has been done to Native Americans. I thought I knew, but this book really clarifies. Very glad I read this. Everybody thinks it is obligatory to know of the horrors of the Holocaust. Well this is obligatory reading too. My very short review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have moved on to a survival story, which in comparison offers pure relief: We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance. The setting is northern Norway.

[Kimberly]

I finished I really liked this mystery and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as giving the author's other historical mystery series a try as well. 4 stars.

[Nancy from NJ]

Who am I kidding - a dystopian society, a clairvoyant, a proposed 7 book series and I didn't like The Hunger Games, Twilight or the author Neil Gaiman? In other words the book of the Fall or even year,

The Bone Season



just wasn't for me. With all due respects I did read 100 pages or should I say plodded through them and made an executive decision to close the book.

So, now I am going to begin listening to

The Witches by Roald Dahl and



Reconstructing Amelia

Or at least that's what I think. But who am I fooling. I don't know what I'm reading till I'm about to finish a book. LOL

[Almeta]

Finished Graverobbers Wanted: No Experience Necessary another Just Because book that won't count because it is too short by a few pages. Just think a hundred more adjectives or adverbs could have put it over the top!☻


Started One Hundred Years of Solitude for a Buddy Read and Monthly Group Read alternate selection, but set it aside. Will wait until after the Toppler.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke for a Connection Challenge has finally arrived. Will read it for a Connections Challenge.

Tomorrow I start The Art of Racing in the Rain for the Toppler, although I have a feeling it may not actually have a Happy Ending! Then Dogsbody (do you detect a theme?) and my obligatory Donald E. Westlake Humans, which better have Happy Endings.

[Chrissie]

Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must read it......immediately.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

So now I am on a binge of epic survival stories. How will Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster compare? Could it possible be as good as that I just finished?

[thewanderingjew]

Chrissie wrote: "Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must read it......immediately.
My review: http..."

"Into Thin Air" was good. Have you already read "Into The Wild". I thought that might have been a little better. Have you read "Unbroken"? That was great.

[Chrissie]

thewanderingjew wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must read it......immediately...."

thewanderingjew wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must read it......immediately...."

Nope, I really, did NOT like Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I am sorry, there are parts that are just too unbelievable. The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story Of Survival During The War In The Far East is much better.

Into the Wild I will add only if I am really impressed with Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, but thanks for the tip.

[Peggy]

Just finished Mudbound. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Wow. That was a gripping book that I won't easily forget and will stay in my mind for some time.

My next book is going to be something light and fluffy though..

[thewanderingjew]

Just out of curiosity, what did you find unbelievable? When it was written, Louis Zamperini was still alive so I thought it must have been vetted. Was it not?

[Nancy from NJ]

To tell you the truth I marveled at Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption and never thought it was unbelievable.

Our doctor was telling us the other day that his mother survived 7 concentration camps. Unbelievable? Perhaps but I would never think anybody made up stories for a book.

[Shannon]

Chrissie wrote: "thewanderingjew wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must r..."

If you read Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster then I recommend as a companion piece The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest which will give a bit of balance and perspective on just how differently people see the same events especially when everyone is compromised by altitude (including BOTH authors).

I thought both were good but not quite as good as Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival

[Shannon]

Just finished Cannery Row for RL bookclub and Ice because it was available for immediate download from audiobooks at my library and I wanted something to listen to while running. Cannery Row was as sad as I remember and Ice was OK - the narrators voice was smooth and delectable.

I am now onto some YA steampunk, just because. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar Its pretty easy reading and is like bubble gum for the brain - enjoyable without being difficult.

[Travis]

Started War and Peace its like if a book has over 1000 pages I have to read it

[Chrissie]

thewanderingjew wrote: "Just out of curiosity, what did you find unbelievable? When it was written, Louis Zamperini was still alive so I thought it must have been vetted. Was it not?"

Re: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

(view spoiler)[The numerous Japanese bullets missed Allan Phillips and Max on the raft and fixing the bullet holes in the raft while they remained in it is implausible. (hide spoiler)] I believe the book needs editing, and the author should have looked at what she was being told with a more critical eye. I could go on and on.

[Chrissie]

Shanon, so today I will start Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster! Then I can continue with The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest, as you recommended. I think you would really like We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance.

[Kimberly]

I read and finished these yesterday/today:


I'd give 'em all 2 stars. I had no idea that Harlequin had a line of mangas until I saw them on my library website in the e-book section.

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie wrote: "Well, once I started listening to We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance, I could do nothing but listen. Do you need to be cheered up? You must read it......immediately.
My review: http..."

Not exactly a survival story, but Touching My Father's Soul: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest was a really good outdoorsy read. It's by the son of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first 2 men to scale Everest. And he explores the myth of that first ascent, and how he didn't really know his father, he new the persona the climb created. Very moving.

[Chrissie]

Thank you for the link, Helen. The first to reach the summit of Everest in 1953, Tenzig Norgay and Edmund Hillary,is touched upon in Krakauer's Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. So far, the content concerns the history of mountaineering feats world-wide and the commercialization of Everest. The biographical details of most everyone mentioned is thorough. Or excessive? Not really the book I was expecting. The book clearly does away with the foolish notion that mountaineering is enjoyable, but I guess if you are hooked you think differently regardless of what your body is telling you.

[Nancy from NJ]

At the moment I am reading nothing. I had high hopes to read Reconstructing Amelia but after I read reviews comparing this dark tale of a young woman committing suicide at a boarding school to Gone Girl I said no thank you. Now I am at a crossroad and am afraid nothing at the moment appeals to me. This sometimes happens to me but it sure is frustrating when the book blahs hit.