What are you Reading and Why Showing 251-300 of 1,308

[Nancy from NJ]

Just finished reading Is This Tomorrow an about to begin reading The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett. I really enjoy reading books about books, libraries, etc.

[Nancy from NJ]

Peggy wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion Nancy! Another book to go on my TBR :)

This is my first Jonathan Safran Foer book, I heard so much about him and I was curious. I think I'm about 25% through now, and it'..."

Your sentiments are exactly why I could never read this author. Did you know he is married to the author Nicole Krauss. Both are considered real star authors. They are among an elite group according to critics if not this reader. LOL

[Peggy]

Ah yes, I read about that a few hours ago. Then I looked up one of her books (I think the most famous one but I don't remember the title) and it sounded interesting from the description. Then I read some more, and several people wrote they had to read the book 2 or 3 times to understand it. Well, that puts me off! I'm not even going to try.

[Cherie]

Nancy wrote: "Just finished reading Is This Tomorrow an about to begin reading The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett. I really enjoy reading books about books, libraries, etc."

I had finally gotten a copy of The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession that I had reserved from my library, and I had to take it back last week - without being read because I was not allowed to renew it because there was a hold on it. I wanted to cry!

[Nancy from NJ]

I feel for you Cherie. I had to choose today between reading this book After Her by Joyce Maynard andThe Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession . Both books were due next week but I knew I couldn't read both in time so I returned the Maynard book and immediately reserved it again.

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "Janice, compare The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story Of Survival During The War In The Far East with Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I bet you will ..."

I purchased The Forgotten Highlander last year for my Burma read, and for that fact alone, it will be my choice. It is also 100 pages shorter than Unbroken. Because I'm woefully behind in all my challenges, shorter is better. :) Maybe some day down the road, I'll get to Unbroken.

[Dem]

Just finished The Ice Cream Girls This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/596576143

[Roz]

Sarah wrote: "Roz wrote: "I finished Practical Magic and I'm waiting for my "Q" book (Quattrocento) to arrive at my library, so I started a book that's been sitting in my Kindle for a little while. Sort of a Jus..."

Sounded good, didn't it? Time travel? Historical fiction? How could you go wrong? I decided to give it a try even thought the overall rating isn't that good.

[Chrissie]

I finished The Old Capital. This is one of the three books for which Kawabata received a Nobel, not that that I see this as an adequate reason to pick up a book. This is my favorite so far by this author.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now reading The Big Sky. I might be mistaken, but I think he got a Pulitzer for this. It takes place in the 1830s and is about the first pioneers that traveled West, the Oregon Trail and the settlement of Montana. It is like one of the very first Westerns. Other of his books continue where this ends in 1846. Published about 60 years ago it is early historical fiction! The introduction discusses the authors view on what historical fiction can achieve that non-fiction cannot.

The Way West is the second book, and Fair Land, Fair Land the third.

[Sarah]

Roz wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Roz wrote: "I finished Practical Magic and I'm waiting for my "Q" book (Quattrocento) to arrive at my library, so I started a book that's been sitting in my Kindle for a little while...."

Definitely! Let me know what you think. It looks like it might be hard for me to get hold of it - not stocked at library, not available on kindle either.

[Janice, Moderator]

I gave up on Last Night in Twisted River at the 250 page mark, or there abouts. That's a whole book! Grrrr! I just couldn't force myself to keep reading.

I've started Pirate Latitudes. Sarah and I are going to do a buddy read if anyone wants to join us.

[Nancy from NJ]

I quickly decided that I wasn't in the mood for The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession although I have no doubts it would be a good read.

So now I have begun reading The Burgess Boys on my I PAD for a challenge and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library in book form from the library. Just now I added the audio of Me Before You. While I recently read this book, also for a challenge, it was available at the library while little else was and I thought it might be interesting to have another experience with this book.

[Peggy]

I don't know what to do with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I keep on reading because I wonder if something more exciting will happen, and I feel like I should finish it because I bought it (as opposed to a free ebook which I wouldn't mind just deleting from my ereader). But I don't have a 'oh! I really want to know what happens next' or 'I'm completely into the story' feeling, and I read it more because I have to (so I can start a new book) than because I want to.

Hmpf. I'll read some more pages until dinner is ready.

[Esther]

Janice wrote: "I gave up on Last Night in Twisted River at the 250 page mark, or there abouts. That's a whole book! Grrrr! I just couldn't force myself to keep reading.

I've started Pirate Latitudes. Sarah..."

My library has it. I might join later this week.

[Pragya]

Peggy wrote: "I don't know what to do with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I keep on reading because I wonder if something more exciting will happen, and I feel like I should finish it because I bought it (..."
Yeah I felt the same and abandoned it quite sometime back.

[Roz]

I'm about half way through Shadow of Oz. Not very good but I'll finish it anyway. I've also started Quattrocento hoping it'll be good.

[Roz]

Sarah wrote: "Roz wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Roz wrote: "I finished Practical Magic and I'm waiting for my "Q" book (Quattrocento) to arrive at my library, so I started a book that's been sitting in my Kindle for a l..."

You may want to read Household Gods. That's another one where the character goes back in time, this time to the Roman era. I liked it a lot.

[Chrissie]

Ooooh, I just started Burial Rites on my Ipod and it is marvelous.

Finished listening to Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival. Atka Reid & Hana Schofield and it was creepy b/c it felt so close both in place and time, but the writing felt very ordinary.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "I don't know what to do with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I keep on reading because I wonder if something more exciting will happen, and I feel like I should finish it because I bought it (..."

Peggy, I pretty much felt the same way about this story as you do. I knew that there was a lot of hype and I read it for that. I thought about stopping too, but did not and continued on to the end. It did not resolve anything for me to have done so.

[thewanderingjew]

Nancy wrote: "I quickly decided that I wasn't in the mood for The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession although I have no doubts it would be a good read.

So now I have begun reading The Burgess Boys on my I P..."

Me Before You, I loved:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The Burgess Boys, I thought was ok:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[thewanderingjew]

Cherie wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I don't know what to do with Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I keep on reading because I wonder if something more exciting will happen, and I feel like I should finish it because..."

I couldn't read it because memories of 9/11 were too hard to deal with, but when the movie came out, I did go and see it. It was a very odd movie, with a plot that didn't make that much sense to me, but it was very poignant.

[Peggy]

I'm glad to hear it's not just me. I have to say I don't get the whole hype.

I also started Chickens, Mules And Two Old Fools: Tuck Into A Slice Of Andalucían Life which I put on my TBR because someone here wrote about it. I like travel and food stories, and this one's set in Andalucia, Spain, where I'll be going in 4 weeks time. I thought now would be a good time to read it :)

[Diane]

Good to hear other people's opinions about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I read Everything is Illuminated and did not enjoy Jonathan Safran Foer's writing style. Yet, part of me was intrigued by the subject matter of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I will now skip over ever trying to read it and not feel like I am missing something. Thanks!

[Sarah]

I started reading Pirate Latitudes for the sea faring group read/buddy read. I'm really enjoying it and I'm looking forward to discussing it.

I put Fevre Dream on hold while I read this one. When I got Fevre Dream I was quite surprised that it was under 400 pages long - with Game of Thrones everything was 1000 pages or more so I thought Fevre Dream would be a quicker read but it's not - the writing is tiny on the page - I reckon if the font size was the same as the average book, it would be closer to 800 pages than 400! It is good though!

[Almeta]

Finished Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke for a Connection Challenge.

Read The Art of Racing in the Rain and Dogsbody for the Happy Ending Toppler.
Almeta's Art of Racing Review and Almeta's Dogsbody Review

Finished One Hundred Years of Solitude for a Buddy Read and Monthly Group Read alternate selection. Almeta's One Hundred Years Review

We are in the "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" weather here. So I loved this quote from 100 Years: "The air was so damp that fish could have come in through the doors and swum out the windows, floating through the atmosphere in the rooms."

Starting Stardust.

[Nancy from NJ]

thewanderingjew wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I quickly decided that I wasn't in the mood for The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession although I have no doubts it would be a good read.

So now I have begun reading The Burgess ..."

Interesting that as much as I enjoyed the book,Me Before You I am almost enjoying the audio even more.

Thanks or your reviews.

[Nancy from NJ]

The Burgess Boys, I thought was ok:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I chose this book for a challenge and although I had two other alternates, thought I might enjoy this book more. I thought that because of how much I loved Olive Kitteridge but I do see some very mixed reviews. I may have to rethink about my alternates.

[Nancy from NJ]

Diane wrote: "Good to hear other people's opinions about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I read Everything is Illuminated and did not enjoy Jonathan Safran Foer's writing style. Yet, part of me was intrig..."

Skipping is good. I often wonder how some of these authors become so popular among the intelligentsia. Maybe they write for a different reader than me who is very mainstream and to the point.

[Lisa]

I have finished Ivanhoe . I really enjoyed it and gave it a 5 star rating. Here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I am now starting to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane which is my 'O' selection for the alphabet challenge.

[Chrissie]

Listening to Burial Rites was a fantastic experience. You are transported to another time and place. Fantastic writing and fantastic narration of the audiobook narrated by Morven Christie.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
From Iceland to......

Sri Lanka! Now I have begun:
Anil's Ghost. I so like Michael Ondaatje's writing.

[Kat]

thewanderingjew wrote: "Me Before You, I loved:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Oh that book! I cried like a baby and yet the ending was so uplifting!

I'm going to try another Jojo Moyes book soon, but there's no way it can live up to Me Before You.

[Peggy]

That one's very high on my TBR!

I just spent over 2 hours reading to finish Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and I'm so tired now. I read pretty fast just to get it finished, although I liked the final one-third of the book better than the rest. Still though, not my cup of tea, and I don't think I'll be reading his other books. Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

That's my second 2-star book in a row. It's time to find something I really like again.

[Chrissie]

BTW, I gave up on The Big Sky. It just plain bored me. I switched to Forever. I am not good with pure fantasy, but through this book you learn about the history of NY. An Irish immigrant saves the life of a magician and for this he is allowed to live forever as long as he stays in New York.

[Travis]

Finished my u book Battle Cry. And Pirate Latitudes I have started v with Journey to the Center of the Earth and w with Doomsday Book

[Nancy from NJ]

Yesterday we spent at home in between the teeming rain and my husband watching the US Open I had a marathon reading day. I began The Burgess Boys which I finished very early this morning. And just now I finished listening to the last disk of Me Before You. I thought the first book was ok - expected a bit more from this author. I did enjoy the second book I finished listening to. The narrators were excellent and the story really came alive.

[Nancy from NJ]

Chrissie wrote: "BTW, I gave up on The Big Sky. It just plain bored me. I switched to Forever. I am not good with pure fantasy, but through this book you learn about the history of NY. An Irish immigrant saves the..."

I have Forever on my bookshelf for forever. LOL. I tried reading it once but couldn't get into it so I put it away for another day. I have read several of Pete Hamill's other titles which I loved. They were Snow in August and Why Sinatra Matters. Two very worthwhile reads.

[Nancy from NJ]

Kat wrote: "thewanderingjew wrote: "Me Before You, I loved:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Oh that book! I cried like a baby and yet the ending was so uplifting!

I'm going to try another Jojo Moy..."

Jojo Moyes has a new book out now

The Girl You Left Behind. I have it reserved at the library but may download it since there are so many reserves ahead of me for it now.

[Sarah]

I have just finished Pirate Latitudes and now I'm on to The Rose Garden which I have chosen for my Royal read. Fingers crossed it will satisfy the criteria otherwise I'll have to read my backup book as well! I'm looking forward to The Rose Garden as I really enjoyed the last Susanna Kearsley book I read.

[Chrissie]

Nancy, well we will see how far I get with Forever. The beginning did not pull me in, but it is getting better....maybe. You have to wade through a lot of words. Still in Ireland. I checked out your suggestions, but one is fantasy and the other on Sinatra, so I am unsure particularly if I am not enthused with his style of writing. GET to the point, mister! Another boring one?

[Nancy from NJ]

Chrissie wrote: "Nancy, well we will see how far I get with Forever. The beginning did not pull me in, but it is getting better....maybe. You have to wade through a lot of words. Still in Ireland. I checked out you..."

Chrissie - make no mistake about it, I don't do fantasy but

Snow in August is so much more or at least to me. It speaks of an unusual friendship and growing up different in a neighborhood and the great snowstorm of 1947. It is somewhat biographical about Pete Hamill's youth. Please try to read it and let me know if you don't enjoy it on some level.

BTW - Forever didn't pull me in either but now I am waiting for the mood to move me to read this book.

[Chrissie]

Nancy, I will keep that in mind. That is the problem - any genre is enjoyable if the writing is good. This means I have to check out everything!

[Dem]

Just finished Night Film This is my review
www.goodreads.com/review/show/690075596

[Nancy from NJ]

Currently I am reading The Husband's Secret for another grrodreads book group and listening to Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.

I haven't read too much romance in the last few years but borrowing an audiotape from the library by Lisa Kleypas and enjoying it, I decided to borrow another book in this series. Some of these heavy reads are a bit too much and a little comfort is good for one too.

[Peggy]

I finished Chickens, Mules And Two Old Fools: Tuck Into A Slice Of Andalucían Life and really liked it! Such sweet people, it made me laugh several times and put a smile on my face throughout the whole book. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'll start reading The Light Between Oceans tomorrow for the monthly read.

[Cherie]

I am finally back to Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. I have to put One Hundred Years of Solitude onto my 'started but not finished shelf'. I read about 3/4 of the story and stopped. I just cannot get back into the magic land of Macondo. :(

[Kimberly]

I started and I'm really liking it. I'm a big fan of the show and I like that it's set here in Toronto in the late 1890's.

[thewanderingjew]

I am listening to Meachem's book about Jefferson. (Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power) I have to say it is boring. I listen with my husband (tethered together with two sets of ear phones and an adapter.) we walk about 4-5 miles in the mornings and listen to a book. This is a trial, because although the reader is good, this is a dry book and it tends to be boring which makes me drift off!
I am also reading The Hive (because my daughter asked me to read it so we can talk about it.
Then I am listening to Kafka on the Shore while I cook for my holiday this week.
I won Wilson on Goodreads, but it is 800 pages and I haven't turned page 1 yet, my husband started it.
I also have to start My Promised Land, which my husband asked me to read. I think I might have bitten off too much!

[Chrissie]

thewanderingjew wrote: "I am listening to Meachem's book about Jefferson. (Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power) I have to say it is boring. I listen with my husband (tethered together with two sets of ear phones and an ada..."

Here are some good books that are not boring. You will through them lean about all the founding fathers.


John Adams and
Washington: A Life
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

You will also learn about Jefferson. These books give not only the events but focus on the personalties of the people. I think McCullough is easiest to read.

[Nancy from NJ]

Finished reading Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor last night and now added The Power of One to my current reads.

[thewanderingjew]

Chrissie wrote: "thewanderingjew wrote: "I am listening to Meachem's book about Jefferson. (Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power) I have to say it is boring. I listen with my husband (tethered together with two sets ..."

Thanks for you suggestions. I read John Adams and I own Washington, which is on my TBR shelf which, btw, is getting large enough to threaten me with toppling, since it has moved from the overstuffed bookshelves to a closet, and some are even on my nightstand in what now looks like a tower. People used to joke about having to buy a new car when the ash trays were full (before anyone knew about the dangers of cigarettes), now I think I may have to buy another house to gain more book shelves. Just kidding!