What else are you currently reading? Showing 501-550 of 1,050

[Kathryn]

Thanks, Marion! :-)

[[deleted user]]

I've got that book on my to read list, Hannah.
Cool that you are going to Cambodia : )
What are you going to do there? Are you doing a study abroad semester? Tons exciting!!

Just recently started Job The Story of a Simple Man because we are reading it in my German Lit class. My German teacher called Joseph Roth today "a forgotten author" because his works are hardly ever studied in high school lit classes and even in undergraduate lit classes. I enjoy him a great deal because his language is beautiful and poetic, yet straight-forward and his descriptions of everyday life are just so piercingly accurate.
You can just feel he loves all of his characters, while reading you can identify with everyone of them, no matter how different they really are.

You might have never guessed, but I can only recommend Job! : D And probably also his other novels, a friend told me that his style was pretty similar everywhere.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I'm super excited (as well as nervous) about going to go to Cambodia. I'm going on a nursing study abroad program and will be there for three weeks. We are going to work in the hospitals and make HIV home visits. I'm so pumped about it.

I'm enjoying the book, if you can say such about that kind of book. Basically its about genocide in Cambodia. But the writing is very straight forward (as the author was about 6 when it all happened), and I think I really enjoy that, otherwise I would not be able to finish it. I'm enjoying the look into their culture and what they've been through. Anyway, i would recommend it to anyone interested. Cambodian history is something I had no idea about, and I'm being so enlightened with the book and some research. It's incredible to me that their history is not more well known.

[[deleted user]]

Yes, I guess I know what you mean. I felt that way when I was in China. At least here in Europe, the school curriculum covers American and Western European history pretty much in detail. Over here, the curriculum already stops with Russia, we know nothing more about "their" history than the bits that are important for "our" history. And China and all those other Asian countries have such a rich cultural and historical tradition because their nations are so much older than our own, but we simply never hear about that!

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Kathryn & Marion, I've only read Sophie's World and Bibbi Bokken from all of Gaarder's works. I see an English translation of Bibbi Bokken here in Goodreads, but it seems to be not from a big publisher so maybe that's why it's not more widely available. I'm thinking about reading The Orange Girl or The Solitaire Mystery for my next Gaarder.

[Arctic]

Hannah, that's awesome that you're going to Cambodia for your nursing program! what a great way to get practical experience.

regarding the tone of the book you're reading and its enlightening qualities - same thing happened to me when I had to read several similar books before I went to study abroad. books I might never have picked up otherwise that ended up totally changing my views on life. i love it when that happens. :)

been meaning to read Sophie's World for awhile now...

currently starting: Middlesex (I have to start way early just to keep up!) and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Heather, let me know what you think about Kavalier and Clay. I've heard it mentioned but don't really know what it's about.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Heather, those are two reasonably long books. Good on you!

I've been reading so much lately that I can't keep up when I'm "currently" reading them. But I finished Breakfast at Tiffany's several hours ago and can't believe how much I loved it. Honestly, I thought it'd just be okay. It actually made it to the Top Shelf - my elite book status (on goodreads, not an actual shelf).

As a side note, I finished a longer book on Saturday and then in the last three days I've read five books. It's kinda really cool. And unusual.

I have a mini-stack that I'm selecting from and will finish hopefully in the next week or so (haven't decided which one is next). And yes, there are some reasonably long ones in there. But I'm thinking I might try to get to The Count of Monte Cristo before the end of the month. That is unless I can't stand to wait for the sequels of The Golden Compass once it's read...

Oh, and one of the books I read in the last few days was on Rory's list... hooray!

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

By the way, does anyone else try to conquer other books from our list now and then?

You know before this group I hadn't read a single book from the modern side of the original list. Now I've read ten of them. What's funny is some of them I read before the group thinking they would be chosen, then a few months later they were!

I've also collected 5/6th of the modern side and own more than that on the classic side... so that I'm prepared for when the are selected (or can read ahead at my leisure). Well, really on the classic side I've owned many of them for a long time. But still, I think I have collected 99 of the 118 books on the list over the last year. That's not bad!

P.S. Bookmooch is the BEST for that!

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Not to be a pest with three posts in a row, but Dini I just checked and Bibbi Bokken has either been published in or had the rights sold to be published in a total of twelve other languages... and NOT ONE OF THEM IS ENGLISH. In my opinion, that really sucks because I was literally looking to buy on your recommendation! What language did you read it in, Dini?

Other languages after Norwegian are: Brazilian Portuguese, Catalan, Dutch, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish. I'm thinking this list might not be complete, but I still don't find it anywhere in English. Grrrr!

[[deleted user]]

Michele, you might be right that Bibbi Bokken was not translated into English. I was looking for an English translation, too, because if the book is written in a language I can't read anyway, it doesn't really matter to me what language the translation is and English books are mostly cheaper. Wikipedia actually lists the English translations and it appears that some books (like Bibbi Bokken) have not been translated.

I, too, collect and read Rory books whenever I can. Most of the books on the list are books I wanted to read anyway. My collection doesn't match yours, though.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Yeah, I think I was wrong because a list of Gaarder's works from a link in Wikipedia didn't mention that Bibbi Bokken was translated into English. I myself read the Indonesian translation. In fact, if you check out the page for the book in Goodreads most of the reviews are written by Indonesians, which speaks of his popularity in the country.

Here's a list of translations of Gaarder's works: http://www.aschehougagency.no/authors...

[Kathryn]

I just finished The Little Lady Agency which I will recommend if anyone is in the mood for a novel-version of a British romantic comedy flick just in time for Valentine's Day! ;->

I believe it was one of you dear GG folk that recommended this to me on Dini's feed in seeking good chick-lit, so thanks for the recommendation and I will "pay it forward" and hope someone else enjoys this as much as we did!

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, especially as I've been kind of "off" chick-lit these days. But, I thought it was really great--fabulous* and fresh and frothy while still having backbone and heart. I love how it avoided a lot of the cliches so prevalent in chick-lit (for example, the heavenly Nelson, our leading lady Melissa's flat-mate, is neither gay nor her former lover... he is simply a dear friend who happens to be of the opposite sex!) I also loved that I DIDN'T really know what would happen in the end--yes, it wasn't all spelled out from page one. I found it unbelievably refreshing that Melissa is a GOOD person with the basic tribulations that we all might encounter in the course of being a good person, trying to be kind to our family, trying to have a fulfilling career, and hoping that maybe, just maybe, true love will come along. Also, this book is CLEAN--there is some innuendo, but Melissa prides herself on not being one to jump into casual intimate relationships. (That is not to say there aren't some very pleasant romantic moments, but they are heart-full and sexy in a PG, non-bodice-ripping way!) All this is not meant to as a criticism of the "usual" chick-lit, but if you're looking for an alternative that is still a really light, fun read (and set in LONDON) then this might be a good alternative. Plus, Melissa's business is really fascinating and fun! :-)

I'm looking forward to reading more in the series and hope the quality will continue.

*Note that I am using "fabulous" as a relative term. This is certainly not great literature, but it's a lot of fun and well-written!

[Jessica]

whichwaydidshego? wrote: "By the way, does anyone else try to conquer other books from our list now and then?

You know before this group I hadn't read a single book from the modern side of the original list. "

I admit I have never been much of a modern reader either. The first modern book I read was probably Kite Runener and a Thousand Splendid Suns. I bought Middlesex and Stiff and planned on reading them when I can, even if they are not chosen. I am actually very excited to to try a new genre. I also have on my shelf Fidali's Way which was recomended to me. I am not sure when I will get to it but at least I have it.

[Ann]

Michele, I'm curious for your thoughts on Monte Cristo - and Goldem Compass for that matter. Both are books I'm interested in but haven't read yet. Have you seen the Monte Cristo movie with Richard Harris, et al? I saw it recently and am now even more curious to read the book to see if the ending is the same!!!

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

The Golden Compass was a good read... very similar in tone to the movie, yet the events happen quite differently, especially the second half. I'm interested to keep going, but can't find the third book with the matching cover I have for the first two, so I'm spacing them out a bit! I know, I'm a dork. By the way, I was sort of crushing on the panserbjørne Iorek Byrnison.

I may save The Count for next month, but will be delving into it soon. I really can't wait... yet will because am on a reading frenzy and am knocking out books like crazy. (five books read in the first three days of February, and have added two more in the last couple days - and I don't even read every day!)

Darn! I went to the big used bookstore today and totally forgot to see what they had of Barbara Pym! 'Course, I only had like five minutes (so spent ten).

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Jessica, Middlesex is up!

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Wow, sounds like you're on a roll, Michele!

I'm starting to read another book (and neglecting Huckleberry Finn and The Book of Lost Things in the process), Q & A by Vikas Swarup which is novel from which Slumdog Millionaire is adapted. It's good so far. Am hoping to finish it quickly and head out to see the movie!

[Jessica]

whichwaydidshego? wrote: "Jessica, Middlesex is up!"

Ha! Yeah I just saw! I am excited!!! But first I have to finish the two books I am in. This week has been crazy though and I have not had much time to read. :(

Last night I was feeling down so I went and bought a book....a bad habit of mine....I bought the 40th ediiton of To Kill A Mocking Bird. It's a really nice hardcover. It was more expensive than the paperback but I like hardcover books more than paperback. I feel like they last longer and are easier to open and read. The only thing that is annoying is the sleave that goes on them. :D

[[deleted user]]

I was able to finish today White Nights and I'm a stranger here myself, due to a long train ride. I liked both books.
White Nights has been my favorite Dostoevsky so far, it is very sad, but also so beautiful.
Without wanting to spoiler, I'll just say that much: I was just so impressed with the dreamer's character developement.
I'm a stranger here myself was just funny and socially critical. I as a European (and rather fond of walking myself) enjoyed most the column where he spoke about the Americans' walking habits.
Bryson is always very recommendable.
(And he further fueled my dreams of being admitted to Dartmouth by his descriptions of the beautiful small town Hanover)

[Ann]

Thanks, Michele! I really should read Golden Compass, but for some reason keep putting it off. I haven't even seen the movie yet! Okay, maybe my next Amazon order:)

[Ann]

I've finished Background to Danger, and actually quite enjoyed it! It's a bit different from the mysteries I typically, though I can't quite put my finger on why. It has a sort of B&W movie feel to it. At least, IMO. But I liked the characters and it was an interesting topic - more a political mystery than a murder mystery.
Also, Kathryn and I finished Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country, and I really enjoyed it! Very fun, and a quite a delightful setting and plot:)

[Lori]

I'm completely in between books right now. I don't know what I want to pick up next. I keep having strong urgings towards The Fountainhead, All the King's Men, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle A Novel. All three are really long, especially with trying to balance various books and readings for class. Whatever I decide to read, I want it to be productive for me.

[[deleted user]]

Tomorrow night, after my Chemistry exam, I'll start Franny and Zooey : )
I am so looking forward to it!
In a study break today, I googled Franny and Zooey in anticipation, and that's what I found: http://academicearth.org/lectures/jd-...
It's an English lecture on Franny and Zooey, it's actually a whole course on the American novel after 1945. I thought it sounded very interesting, I am going to check it out further tomorrow night : )
(Ah, so many good things for tomorrow night to look forward to - how I like my free afternoon after I had an exam). It's even got a GG parallel: It's a Yale lecture ; )

[Dottie]

Very interesting link, Marion, thanks for posting it.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

My current problem is I have three books that I could start and finish in a day - one each day, I mean. But I have two books that I've invested a lot of time in this month that I want to finish by tomorrow.

One is so chock full of good stuff, I hate to rush it and the other is so damned terrible that I can hardly stand to continue - but after investing so much time, I'm DETERMINED to finish. Admittedly it's gotten more tolerable, but GEEZ! SO do NOT recommend C'est La Vie. The amazingly fabulous book is Simply Irresistible. Most empowering, funny, informative, interesting, inspiring book I've read in a long time. These women ROCK, ladies! (Don't think the men would appreciate it much...)

Without these two books, and with MANY days of not reading at all, I have already read 10 books in February alone!! And they weren't like tiny books or art books, either!!

Mostly this was possible because of the literary crack of The Women's Murder Club books by James Patterson. If I had my hands on all of them at once, I would have finished all seven in as many days - and there are at least 400 pages each. You know the kind of books I'm talking about. Fast reads with good characters and a plot that moves, but honestly no real substance. Like, the most engrossing chicklit out there might qualify. This is chicklit on steroids, though, because of the mystery side of it!

What I accomplish in the next two days all depends on my date, though! LOL (Sadly, I'm only interested in a friendship...)

I'm rambling.

[Lori]

whichwaydidshego?, That's similar to my problem! I'm reading The Witch of Portobello and it's almost like I'm afraid to finish. It's been a very quick read for me and I could (and probably will) finish tonight. But I'm so afraid of being alone when I finish. We learn almost right off the bat that she's dead, and I guess, the closer I get to the end, the closer I get to reading about how she died. That's probably what we'd call powerful reading, huh?

I also have about a million other books that I want to read *right.now.* but, for various reasons, I can't.

Anyway, long story short, I commiserate.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Lori wrote: "I also have about a million other books that I want to read *right.now.* but, for various reasons, I can't."

Me too. *sigh*

[Dottie]

Um -- Michele, Lori, Dini -- you do realize, don't you that that's why we're on Goodreads? Just checking -- heh.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

LOL Dottie...

[[deleted user]]

I managed to read 2 and a half books over my break which is pretty good considering the fact that I was visiting my bf for that week.
I read Franny and Zooey which I can only recommend for anyone who loves Salinger/The Catcher in the Rye but hasn't read that one yet. The characters are very strong and incredibly well depicted, just Salinger-style.
Next I re-read Dead Poets Society because we are going to deal with it next week in English class. Didn't like it that much, I mean I love the story, but the writing is just sort of weak and I also really don't like that the book came after the movie and is actually just a transcript with the surroundings described.
And then I started Middlesex and just loved it. I am already now really looking forward to discuss it with you guys.

[Lori]

I just finished The Witch of Portobello. It was really good. Some day, perhaps this summer, I'd like to go back and re-read it and underline quotes and really examine the text because when I pleasure-read, I don't like to analyze what I'm reading; I just want to get lost in the story, which I definitely did.

[Kathryn]

I just finished reading The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery and if you think her books are all about little red-haired orphans, think again! This book still has lots of the sweetness, the love of nature, the humor of the Anne books but the heroine is much older (late 20s) and it's more a social commentary and just a tale about one woman's struggle to really LIVE her life without the confines imposed upon her by her family, religion or society. It's fabulous! And a really sweet romance, too.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Classic, Dottie.

Lori, I've read that book! I couldn't resist the stunning cover, truth be told. But it was really fascinating. Though, I don't have a problem underlining when reading for pleasure. It makes it sink in for me.

But then, for sure I wouldn't have done it in Harry Potter the first time through! LOL I savaged them in my first reading... devoured utterly. I ALWAYS take to the details of a book and notice themes and such really early on... but with the later books in the HP series, it's like I wished I wasn't that way so that I could skim those things to JUST FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. But it's not my nature. I'm a little like Sean in Psych when it comes to books! LOL (Okay, & other things too - though not at his level. So annoying at times. And I don't even get to make a living off of it with all the clever pop culture cracks. Shoot!)

Oh. Eh-hem. Currently reading Yoga: The Greater Tradition. Got it at the library today because I can never just do a thing to do it. NO, I have to understand it's roots and what the reasoning behind a thing is and explore what each thing means on all levels - in this case, spiritually. I am so completely, truly a geek.

[Kristi]

I just finished The Book Thief and Time and Again, I'm still working on Emma, and I just started The House in Paris.

[[deleted user]]

Michele, just this morning I had an argument with my brother because he never sees any details, he just views the world binary and I am completely the opposite (I have also been compared to Sean before but I'm far from being as good as him ; )).
Details rock. They make everything a lot more colorful and interesting.

[Lori]

I've started Edgar Sawtelle (to read before bed), Lolita (to read before my first class), and Schlesinger's journals (to read in between classes and at lunch). The three books are so different that it's easy to read all three and not confuse them.

[Jessica]

I have started The Time Traveler's Wife and so far I love it! It is very interesting.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Lori, I love it how you have different books for different occasions -- that's so Rory! I currently have Brideshead Revisited in my bag to read on the bus to and from work and Honeymoon with My Brother to read at home.

[Lori]

Dini, I was thinking about that episode where her backpack is too full and Lorelai is trying to help her weed through things and she has a novel, poetry, letter, biography/autobiography, and something else for different times and instances in the day. It makes me happy that I've emulated Rory-ness in my everyday life unconsciously.

[Ann]

I just finished both Twilight and The Sea of Monsters. I enjoyed both more than I thought I would!:)
I'm now reading Eldest (finally!) and am listening to the audio (Jim Dale) version of Around the World in Eighty Days. It's my first audio book, and I think I'm falling in love with the style!:D

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Okay this has to be said. I sometimes consider taking a book on a date. Okay, actually I have a couple of times.

So you don't have to wonder why I'm still single.

I nearly always have a book with me. Often two or more, depending (and that depending is not on size of the books either, but rather mood and how into one or more of them I am).

Still on that Yoga book (very interesting!), but added Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. I saw the title on the 1001 books list, and HAD to read it but have had a dickens of a time getting my hands on a copy. Finally did, at an antique store of all places. Anyway, it's pretty cute so far. Really glad I found it!

I read another book from a series in there, too.

[Lori]

Don't worry about taking books on dates. I'm in the phase where dating usually consists of meeting guys places (I'm really saving myself for law school) and since I'm usually early, I whip out my book and read until he gets there. Never had started reading during the date though. But I guess there's always a first time for everything...

[Gwynne]

I used to always bring a book on a date. It was just part of what lived in my purse. And I'd whip it out and read when ever a date left me to go to the bathroom or something. I found it made me more comfortable, and lots of guys find it cute or at least gives the two of you something to talk about.

I was in college when my husband and I started dating (he wasn't he was in the army), and I was working on my senior research paper for my degree in history. The paper was about how the Nazis got into power, so I always had a book on me about the Nazis, etc. I think it was actually one of the qualities that first attracted him to me. I was this girl who was perfectly happy wait for his somewhere, because I always had a history book to interest me.

[Ann]

Michele, didn't Rory always take books on dates :> I think you're in good company.

Also, yesterday I started reading Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl. The writing style is different from what I'd expected. But, I think I'll actually enjoy it all the more because of it:)

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)]

I just love Shannan Hale!

[Cecilie]

As I am a pretty fanatic Umberto Eco fan I am now rereading The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, which is so packed with literary references that I feel like I should be reading every book ever written. (So I'm getting started on that, planning to finish in the year of 2050)

Also, I can highly, highly recommend Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy. I found it completely rivetting, stomach-wrenching and unable to put down.

Cecilie

[Kirby]

I'm reading The Beautiful and Damned by Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night is one of my favorite books of all time, so I thought I'd give this one a try. The start was pretty rough, but I am so into it now.

[Lori]

Kirby, Let me know how you like it. I started reading it last year when I was in a rut and would read half of a book and then put it down. I didn't dislike what I'd read, though.

[Kirby]

Definitely! :) I used to get stuck in the half-book rut, too.