What Else Are You Reading? - Archive

[LaLaLa Laura]

iS anybody going to read The First Phone Call from Heaven?

I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven and it was very good. but I cried so much reading it!
juts wondering what everyone thought.

[Anil]

I should be reading either Ronald Firbank's or Iris Murdoch's novels for the essays I'll be writing for my modules, but I'm reading Christmas stories of Charles Dickens instead.

[LaLaLa Laura]

what essays, Anil? for school?

[Anil]

Yes, Laura. I'm doing a Master's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Birkbeck, University of London. I will attempt to locate Ronald Firbank in Modernism; and I will attempt to show being a man is not a given, but an ongoing effort by analysing two of Iris Murdoch's narrators.

[LaLaLa Laura]

huh. sounds fascinating!

that is true Anil. I hope I understand you right but it does seem a man always has to prove he actually "is" a man. he can't just "be" a man without doing something. does that make sense?

[Anil]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "huh. sounds fascinating!

that is true Anil. I hope I understand you right but it does seem a man always has to prove he actually "is" a man. he can't just "be" a man without doing something. does that make sense?"

You are absolutely right, Laura. Man/manhood is a notion that needs to be proven over and over, because it is a notion that is built on negativity: it is not woman and it is not homosexual. That is one of the main reasons behind violence, especially towards women, we witness daily. I will discuss this argument on Murdoch's two narrators and how they attempt to prove their masculinity and whether they are successful, what their shortcomings are if any. It will be fun.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Reading The Art Forger by Shapiro, well paced, interesting facts on art forgery, & I love art; a win win :)

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Trisha wrote: "Jen, since you're enjoying The Art Forger, you might want to also try Paul Watkins novel, "The Forger." It is a novel based during the Nazi occupation of Paris with a young American artist forging ..."

Thank you Trisha! I also want to read Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures

[LaLaLa Laura]

really Trisha? I love scary stories. it's just tough finding a good yet not disturbing one.

[Alyssa]

I am reading by Lizzy Ford. I am loving what I am reading so far.

[LaLaLa Laura]

Alyssa wrote: "I am reading by Lizzy Ford. I am loving what I am reading so far."

nice! that's always a great feeling to love your "at the moment" book! :)

[Julia]

I'm reading Peter Pan for the "Reading the Classics" group, and I'm stunned at how MEAN Peter and Tink are, plus how horrible Mr. Darling is! I'd never actually read the book, and Disney certainly did "sugar coat" the story (as they are wont to do).

[LaLaLa Laura]

Julia wrote: "I'm reading Peter Pan for the "Reading the Classics" group, and I'm stunned at how MEAN Peter and Tink are, plus how horrible Mr. Darling is! I'd never actually read the book, and Disn..."

True, Julia! I just read
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales late last year/early this year, and the stories were much different from what Disney conjured up! :)

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Julia wrote: "I'm reading Peter Pan for the "Reading the Classics" group, and I'm stunned at how MEAN Peter and Tink are, plus how horrible Mr. Darling is! I'd never actually read the book, and Disn..."

I like OUAT's spin on Peter Pan, clever!

[Julia]

I dropped cable, so haven't watch OUAT since the first season, but I just read the recap. Oh my stars and garters, as my Granny would say--that show has more twists than a Twizler!

[Melanti]

Julia wrote: "I'm reading Peter Pan for the "Reading the Classics" group, and I'm stunned at how MEAN Peter and Tink are, plus how horrible Mr. Darling is! I'd never actually read the book, and Disn..."

We talked about this in the Into the Forest group earlier this year.

I don't think it's deliberate malice on Peter's part - just forgetfulness and uncaring mostly. He's an eternal child, of course, who doesn't understand the concept of consequences. He definitely gave me the creeps, whether he meant any of it or not! Tink, on the other hand - definitely malicious. (At least towards Wendy.)

That scene where he's taking the kids off to Neverland, and then disappears for awhile, and they have to wonder if he's stranded them in the middle of the ocean -- horrible!

I just finished reading Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories, which includes a story called "Lost Girls" where the pirates are actually something like social workers -- working to rescue the "Wendys" of the story (he has quite a collection of girls by this point) from a life of never-ending housework. I love Jane Yolen.

[Jessica]

I finished Deathnote Black edition Vol 1 & 2 (manga). I didn't really care for it. I started reading Fever 1793

I needed a break from classic literature for a bit. I love the genre but I discovered that after reading a lot of it...I need a change of pace. So I am reading juvenile fiction and some bestsellers for a bit.

[Julia]

Daniel, congrats on nearing completion of Infinite Jest; that is quite the undertaking.

I'm wondering if your thesis has something to do with Dostoyevsky--glad you have the new translation waiting for you.

Safe travels :-)

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Just starting The Ocean at the End of the Lane

[D]

I am reading The House on Mango Street and Umbrella Summer!

[Julia]

I just got my copy of Sagarmatha Insight Guide from Amazon (no library around me had it). "Sagarmatha" is the Nepali name for Mt. Everest, and this is a wonderful large book of photographs, with an introduction by Edmund Hillary.

His determination to help the Sherpa community is really inspiring--and the photographs take my breath away.

This is more of a picture book, so I'm "seeing" rather than doing much reading--but oh, what sights.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Julia wrote: "I just got my copy of Sagarmatha Insight Guide from Amazon (no library around me had it). "Sagarmatha" is the Nepali name for Mt. Everest, and this is a wonderful large book of photo..."

I think I'd like that read, I've read a bit on expeditions to Everest.

[LaLaLa Laura]

Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "Just starting The Ocean at the End of the Lane"

How are you liking it?

[LaLaLa Laura]

I just started reading Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. I don't remember reading any of her books that most of us read in school, but I did read Wifey, and it was good. I felt her writing was true to what women are thinking and feeling.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "Just starting The Ocean at the End of the Lane"

How are you liking it?"

Loving it thus far, you?

[LaLaLa Laura]

I finished it. I did love it too. I got a little confused at one point but you have to remember it is a fantasy book :)

[Julia]

I plan to start my second read of Gaiman now, but just finished the second book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books trilogy by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I have to say that I couldn't read The Angel's Game at night, it was that frightening to me!

Zafon himself has said, "if The Shadow of the Wind is the nice, good girl in the family, The Angel's Game would be the wicked gothic stepsister." He is so right!

My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diana S]

During this time of year, I love to read Amish fiction.
I finished these 3 recently.


out of the 3 - Naomi's Christmas was my favorite! :D

[LaLaLa Laura]

I just started reading Jaws for my 20/20 challenge. Its good so far. It even has the point of view of the shark which I find pretty cool.

[♦Ashley♦]

That's cool Laura. I didn't know that. Jaws has been on my to read list for a while now. I have it saved in my Kindle to read for the 20/20 challenge:)

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Working on 4 books, Under the Dome ( book club read), A Year with Rumi (keeping a blog on my thoughts), Orphan Train ( partner read challenge), & The War Gods Own ( challenge trade from husband)

[Julia]

I just finished Cutting for Stone for our library book group. Next I'll be reading The Goldfinch and The Luminaries.

[LaLaLa Laura]

Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "Working on 4 books, Under the Dome ( book club read), A Year with Rumi (keeping a blog on my thoughts), Orphan Train ( partner read challenge), & The War Gods Own ( challenge trade from husband)"

you have a lot of challenges going on! nice!

[LaLaLa Laura]

Julia wrote: "I just finished Cutting for Stone for our library book group. Next I'll be reading The Goldfinch and The Luminaries."

I don't meet with a real life group. I was thinking of joining my library's group one day, but I never seem to like the selections.

[Julia]

Good point, Laura--our library group is very small (six of us), and each of us gets to choose one book for the year, so we've come to respect each other's choices. I haven't LOVED every selection, but I've learned a great deal by reading outside my comfort zone. And I really enjoy our summer "potluck", where each of us reads whatever we like and reports back to the group :-)

I like goodreads, but nothing beats seeing familiar faces once a month to share ideas! :-)

[LaLaLa Laura]

that is true Julia. I read "The Age of Innocence" with a classics group last year on goodreads. If I started it on my own I would've given up since I did not like it at first. But I perservered because it was a group read and it turned out to be one of my favorites from 2013.

One of the things I like about GR is you can participate at your own pace. As much as you want or as little as you want.

I think it's a matter of just making time for a real life group. I may try it and see how I like it.

[♦Ashley♦]

Just finished Vestige for the ABC Titles challenge. Starting The Black Dahlia for my B book and will be the first book for my 20/20 challenge. Great idea Laura; I love this challenge! I'm also stuck reading Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most for my english class...too bad I already read a D book.

[LaLaLa Laura]

LOL Alicia. over 1,000 pages! that is a long one

[Julia]

I'm still sick after 3 weeks, so I've put aside any book that would challenge my brain too much! I'm enjoying What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire, and will stick with YA books until the old noggin can concentrate again!

[LaLaLa Laura]

I hope you feel better Julia! my family has been ill this whole week. I think it's time to feel better

[Julia]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "I hope you feel better Julia! my family has been ill this whole week. I think it's time to feel better"

Thanks, Laura--I'm trying! When I feel like this, I'm drawn to YA literature, which is my "escapist" reading :-) I just finished What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy by Gregory Maguire, and it was a delight. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have always enjoyed Maguire's novels, especially Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Mirror Mirror, and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. He brings that same fey quality to this story--and as a retired English teacher, I love all the literary allusions in the book!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Under the Dome, Orphan Train, A Year with Rumi: Daily Readings, & The War God's Own are my current reads.

[LaLaLa Laura]

how is Under the Dome, Jen?

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

I'm definitely curious about the dome, but so far, I don't find the story very original, reminds me a lot of The Stand

[Brenda]

That is not the first time I heard that about Under the Dome. I have read the Dome but not the Stand so I cannot compare.

[♦Ashley♦]

I was disappointed with the ending of Under the Dome

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

I'll have to ask you why when I finish the story, Ashley.

[♦Ashley♦]

Yeah. .. Didn't want to ruin the ending for u.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Thank you, Ashley :)

[Jessica]

Almost done with the audiobook, Rebecca. It's a great book especially if one is a fan of Jane Eyre/ gothic romances.

I am getting ready to push through Allegiant only because closure would be nice. Due to the not so great reviews I have heard and read, my expectations are low. Here's hoping something g enjoyable comes from it though.