What else are you currently reading? Showing 301-350 of 1,050

[Dottie]

Holy Fools

[bridget]

i just started Gatsby's Girl by Caroline Preston

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

I just read three books in a row that got top marks - that's unprecedented for me!!! They were:

The Tale of Despereaux
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
The Big Sleep

Yes, in point of fact, all of them have been made into films. But I can't imagine the film can be near as good as the book when it comes to The Tale of Despereaux. It's so truly outstanding! I can't gush about it enough.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was just sheer, utter delight. I read the bulk of it, oddly enough, in the lines at Disneyland. It was so cool - the PERFECT book for such a place. It is full of wonder and discovery and even a little magic - I'm talking about the book here! It went straight to my über-short list of all-time favorites. Just delicious!

The Bogart film The Big Sleep is one of my top films. After reading the book The Big Sleep, I have to say that while the film is really wonderful and true to the book, it couldn't possibly do the writing justice. It's not just an interesting story of fascinating characters... his descriptions just ooze out, melting goodness everywhere. I took to underlining the really tantellizing bits. Absolutely tops.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Oh, it was too much pressure to follow that up with ANOTHER phenomenal find, so I went back to finish a book I was hating (which I did and it redeemed itself in the last little bit oddly enough) then decided to just indulge in some time with old friends. So I'm on to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I spent some time getting reacquainted with them about a month and a half ago with the first adventure. This seemed a good time to venture out again. It's déjà vu, though, for the sixth time, I think!

[Kathryn]

Michele, I started "Miss Pettigrew" over the summer and only read a few chapters before fizzling out and moving on to something else. I think perhaps it was simply my mood at the time and I do intend to try again as I love the concept. So, I'm glad to hear your glowing review--it will encourage me! The film wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but it was entertaining and pretty.

[Lori]

I'm currently reading Anna Karenina. My goal was to finish that by this Friday (the end of the semester for me), but that's just not going to happen. After that, I plan on reading Swann's Way: In Search of Lost Time, Vol. 1 first over my break. And then I don't know what. Lady Chatterley's Lover is calling me, but so are The Complete Claudine: Claudine at School; Claudine in Paris; Claudine Married; Claudine and Annie, Man's Fate, Leaves of Grass, Lolita, and Revolutionary Road (which I want to read before seeing the movie).

Anyone have any suggestions? I feel like I private school kid when they have a break from wearing their uniforms. There is so much I want to read now that I have a month off from school and I'm having a hard time making up my mind.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Just finished A Left-Hand Turn Around the World: Chasing the Mystery and Meaning of All Things Southpaw. It was really very fascinating. Will have to write a review soon... but dang if it's not almost 5AM & I've yet to sleep! Oh, also topped off Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets tonight. I mean last night. Whatever.

GOOD night. LOL

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Lori, Swann's Way sounds like long, heavy reading after Anna Karenina. You might want to take on something lighter? But then again I find that reading often depends on mood, so you should go with what you feel like reading. Just a suggestion :)

I'm currently reading Into the Wild and it's great so far, it really sucks you in and gives a lot of things to think about.

[Kathy]

I'm reading A Company of Liars--so far, so good. Company of Liars

[Lori]

Dini, The reason I'm reading Swann's Way after Anna Karenina is because I have month off from school. I'm an English major, so I'm doing a bunch of reading for class, which makes it really hard to read for me. I would read some lighter stuff in between, but I don't want to have to wait until summer to be able to focus on it. Although I am planning on bringing several books home for the break, just in case I'm not feeling Swann's Way right away.

[Dini, the master of meaning]

I was an English major too, and I do remember how it feels to have to read a ton of stuff for class. But it turned out that I read very little English lit outside of class reading. Throughout four years of college I've only read around two Shakespeares, no Jane Austens, and no Dickens. Gasp!

[Lori]

I always make a point to try to read something outside of class, no matter how non-literary or serious it is. A lot of the stuff I have to read in class is based on the sex, gender, ethnicity, whatever of the author, rather than the merit of their work. I also haven't been assigned many of the classics. No Dickens, Melville, Steinbeck, Woolf novels, Hemingway novels, Rand. I think the only out and out classics I've been assigned were Huck Finn, Gatsby, and Portrait of a Lady and they were for the same class. I'm really interested in the classics more than the more modern stuff, so it's been frustrating for me during the semester. But I absolutely explode with my reading over the summer and winter breaks.

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

English Major here! I read LOADS of Shakespeare... but a course in strictly him was required at all of my schools (I transferred a few times, LOL). Thing is, I ended up having to take it THREE times... so there wasn't much Shakespeare I missed. However, I never read Austen, Dickens, Woolf, Steinbeck, Rand (though the last two are not REALLY classics comparatively) for course study. But somehow I was still overloaded with reading! Thing is, I know a appreciate them far more because I was reading them for pleasure and not for a deadline.

Oh, and Lori, I'm far more into the classics than the modern to the point that until this group, my modern novel reading was exceedingly limited. I still prefer classics (so great and I have so many yet to get to), but am pleased for Rory's list because I've found it trustworthy for very good modern fiction.

P.S. I thought is was hilarious, Lori, that you listed "sex" and "gender" separately. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

[Jon]

I just finished "Slowness" by Kundera. Not in the same realm as "The Book of Laughing and Forgetting" or "The Unbearable Lightness of Being", but still formidable. Next up, is "City of Glass" by Paul Auster.

[Kristel]

I'm reading some light entertainment: Hogfather by Terry Pratchett Christmas inspired!

[Dini, the master of meaning]

I know a appreciate them far more because I was reading them for pleasure and not for a deadline.

Michele, I agree that reading for pleasure is far more meaningful and enjoyable. But sometimes after reading something I wish I was back in class, having a lively discussion/debate about the book -- especially when there's some points I don't understand. Sometimes I can't find many people to do that... luckily I found Goodreads and this group :)

[Lori]

whichwaydidshego? I took a course on Shakespeare my sophomore year and the professor was amazing. But I really should go back and read the plays for myself. We did some of his lesser known plays. Our book was huge--the hardback version of his complete works. That book is about 4 inches thick and bigger than a piece of normal printing paper. Of course, we had to bring it to class. Major back aches from that one. The interesting thing is that it's not a required course at my school, which is a MAJOR disappointment because everyone should be familiar with Shakespeare.

There's a course you can take where you read 4 Austen novels over the semester. But I think taking a course on it might limit my ability to enjoy them. After taking a course on Mark Twain, I don't think I'll be able to read one of his novels for quite some time. I always toss Steinbeck and Rand in with the classics because they're new classics, in my opinion. I think a lot of people (or maybe just me) have their own standard for what makes a classic. I am ridiculously overloaded. I have to intentionally not study for one of my classes in order to get in much reading time. But it's worth it because it feels like such a forbidden pleasure. I think having to read even my favorite novels for a deadline would suck all of the fun out of them. Most of the time, I read (for class) just to get the book finished because I don't have the time to ponder each and every word.

This group does have some pretty good modern stuff. Right now I'm more concerned with getting through the classics because I own so so many of them. By the time I'm done with the classics, the modern stuff will probably be considered classics (or not).

The whole sex and gender thing was totally an oversight. I think I meant to say sexual orientation. It's finals week--give me a break. :)

[Summer]

Lori, I think it is appropriate to list sex AND gender. Sex is biological and gender is psychological, sociological, or cultural. That's why some one who "cross-dresses" is called transgender, but someone who has had an operation is called transexual. (I'm a nursing student with a heavy interest in psychology and sociology.)

I can't wait until winter break, too. I'm counting down the days. I have one paper and two finals to go. This semester was a killer for me. Eighteen physical/biological science credits was too many. I won't make that mistake again.

[Lori]

Summer, I had never thought about it like that. You raise a very good point. I'm absolutely fascinated by psychology, but I know nothing about it.

I have one final tomorrow over French grammar (my minor) and I'm worried about it, but I'm just too exhausted and spread thin to do much about it. 18 credits is a lot. But I'll bet you're glad you got them out of the way.

[Summer]

If, in fact, I got them out of the way and they did not just run over me. Right now, I am on the border of failure in one of my classes. It is a new and very ugly place for me to be. I'm stressed and full of doubt, but in five short days it will be over for better or worse.

[Lori]

I am so sorry to hear that. I can totally relate though. You've got to keep looking at the positive (it's almost over). And maybe, if need be, you can retake a class (I don't know if they allow that, so ignore it if I'm wrong). Just don't stress too much because you can't change what's happened this semester, but you can change what happens in the future. Best of luck on all of your finals!

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Dini wrote: "Michele, I agree that reading for pleasure is far more meaningful and enjoyable. But sometimes after reading something I wish I was back in class, having a lively discussion/debate about the book -- especially when there's some points I don't understand. Sometimes I can't find many people to do that... luckily I found Goodreads and this group :)"

Dini, I wholeheartedly agree!!!

[whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass]

Lori, I think I said this before, but were it not for this group for the most part I wouldn't read much modern at all except what might strike my fancy as I'm looking for more classics at the bookstores! In fact, until this group I didn't own and had never read a single "modern" book on Rory's list! (The other side was a whole different story!)

I have recently decided to go back to reading whatever book on my list of to-reads I'm in the mood for the moment I finish a tome. I usually hop from one genre to another but generally have a classic every other or every third book. (Interspersing children's lit, histories, biographies/memoirs, sociologically based books, occasionally a chick lit sneaks in there, self-help - especially in regards to my sport, faith-based reading... and then the rare modern novel.)

Right now I'm reading a memoir, but that's because I heard an interview with the author the other day and it struck such a deep chord with what I'm dealing with right now, that it's more like therapy reading it! (So far it's a really interesting story, too.) But I had been reaching for a classic before the interview!

[Kathy]

In talking about reading books for a class or just for pleasure, I just wanted to add a comment. I, too, was an English major and have taught English. While it's true that without the stress of a class assignment over a book, the book is usually more enjoyable, I think that I was exposed to some literature and reading that I might not have been had I not been an English major. Iris Murdoch comes to mind. I doubt that I would have chosen to read A Severed Head outside of class, and the discussions and analysis of it made it more interesting to me. Of course, the downside to being an English major is that there are so many books you want to read that have to wait until after you finish your degree because of lack of time to read on your own.

[Andrea]

I recently finnished Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the shore, brilliant! Now, I've just started on Jane Austen's Mandsfield Park..=)

[[deleted user]]

Currently reading Ubik for my thesis.

[Lori]

whichwaydidshego?, I jump from genre to genre too. I really needed a mental break after the semester, so I've decided to hold Anna K for a while (I didn't finish by Friday). A while ago, I bought all 3 of the princess diaries books in one edition. I started reading it Saturday morning and I finished Sunday right after lunch. Just finishing a book (actually it was 3-in-1) was such an ego boost. I may focus on some shorter, lighter reads for a little while. For instance, I started The Graduate and I'm nearing halfway.

I really do want to finish Anna K and start Swann's Way though by the end of break. I keep starting and stopping and starting at the beginning with Anna K, so I want to see it through this time. And I've wanted to read Swann's Way for quite some time.

I'm generally reading 3 or 4 books at once. I just take days and weeks off.

What thoughts, if any, do you have on Anna K? I don't know anyone that's read and understood it from a literary point of view to discuss it with.

[Lori]

Kathy, I wanted to note that in my college English classes, the professors (at least most of them) don't want my opinion or the opinions of my classmates. They want you to see what they see in the book. I completely disagree with this type of teaching because everyone takes their own experiences, thoughts, perceptions, etc into a book and to limit discussion to one view is boring (because there is no real discussion) and unfair to those who don't see it that way (and whose grades are marked down for various reasons).

I would love having a class that gets loud with the discussing and disagreeing amongst the students and professor. Then again, such a class requires that people do the reading, which I've found rare in my English classes (people majoring in English are included in this group!).

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Luckily most of my professors back in college were quite open-minded, they were willing to listen to our opinions as long as our arguments were sound. I can also remember one occasion where a classmate and I disagreed in interpreting a drama. He was saying "Prove it", and I said "You prove it", and he said back, "Why don't you prove your point first?" And all the while the professor just sat back watching us with amusement, LOL.

[Kathy]

Lori, that's a shame about your professors, but there are many that seem intent on feeding their ego by making it all about what they think. I think I was lucky because I obtained my English degree in college from 1972-1976 when the 60's still had a hippie influence of talking it all out. Oh gee, now I've shown my age. Ha, ha.

[Robbie]

I'm currently reading The Last Chicken in America: A Novel in Stories. One cool thing about it is that it's based in the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, which is where I work and 1-2 miles from where I live. I enjoy reading about people from different backgrounds, and this book contains several stories of Russian Immigrants in Squirrel Hill.

[[deleted user]]

Lori, your English class sounds really bad.. Especially with people not doing any work.
I hope I won't have anything like that in College as my High School is already like that and that annoys me enough.

[Lori]

Like I said, I've had a couple of classes (the were both Honors courses, which may have had something to do with it) where the professors were open to interpretation and didn't care too much as long as you were able to back it up with text. One time, someone said something way out there and couldn't back it up. These professors were taught by the hippies, but... Maybe it would be better if more people did their reading. I don't know.

Marion, In my experience, college has been like high school except there's little busywork out of the freshman level courses. In my class, we had some non-majors and some lazy people. What makes me angry is they got the syllabus the first day and could have (and should have) dropped the course when they saw they weren't doing the work. Because then the professor took it out on those who had done the reading. This professor does have high expectations and is demanding, but that's not an excuse to just give up.

[Kristi]

I am currently reading If Not Now, When?. It takes place towards the end of WWII, and I really like it so far.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

just finished The History of Love and New Moon..now i'm reading Eclipse.

[Lori]

I've decided to try a little experiment with my reading since there are so many books I want to read. I'm reading a different book each day.

Mondays-Pride and Prejudice
Tuesdays-Lolita
Wednesdays and Sundays-Anna Karenina
Thursdays-Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House
Fridays-Swann's Way: In Search of Lost Time, Vol. 1
Saturdays-His Dark Materials Trilogy

I thought this seemed like a good idea because I have a bunch of books I want to read and some days, I just don't want to read whatever book I'm reading. So if I trade off each day, then (theoretically) I'll get more done because I can tell myself, "OK, just get through today and then you won't pick it up for a week." It helps build anticipation. And it's similar to the way a lot of old books were published, which was serially, so people would have to wait a week or a month before getting to read the next installment.

[[deleted user]]

That's a pretty cool idea, Lori : )
I guess I'll try that out, too.
I have got so many books I want to read next to the ones I have to read for my paper, so that sound's like a really good idea.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

just finished Eclipse..starting Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.

[El]

Lori, that's quite an endeavor! I think I would feel frustrated, like I just wasn't reading at my normal pace. Good luck with your project!



In response to the point of this thread, I just started Omensetter's Luck by William H. Gass.

[Lori]

Marion, I found that when I'd finish a book, I'd spend 4 days figuring out what to read next and I would start a few books before settling on one (but I'd really want to read X, Y, and Z too). So far trading off has gone nicely for me. I hope it goes well for you too.

[[deleted user]]

This morning, I read 2 more chapters of A people's history of the United States. I find it very interesting, but I really have to be "there" when reading, otherwise I'll start missing things, so it's really a slow read.

I just started The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch after I finished my re-read of Ubik. It's the second source I am writing my thesis on.

[Ann]

I recently finished two delightful books!

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, by Brandon Sanderson. I found it to be a fast-paced, easy-to-read, book. It's the first person account of Alcatraz Smedry, a foster kid who has a knack for breaking things. But we soon learn that this "knack" is really a Talent - a Smedry Talent - and a powerful one at that!
Alcatraz's world is turned upside down (or maybe right-side up) when he learns that the world we live in (the world of the Hushlanders) is actually run by evil librarians from the Free Kingdoms (where they know the truth...). Alcatraz must help retrieve his stolen inheritance, the Sands of Rashid, from the evil Dark Oculator. And yet, there's so much more to this book! It's full of witty narrative and clever plot twists (yup, still trying to wrap my head around the last few!). The author pokes fun at numerous things, (jobs, etc.), and while this could offend some people, I don't think it's meant to, as he even pokes fun at authors! More so, I took it as pretty insightful commentary on society (but in a fun, non-snobby way). Also, some readers might find the author's constant "interruptions" annoying - but I found them hilarious and delightful! Moreover, (despite his efforts ;> ), you find yourself caring about the characters and pulling for them.
This is a very different style, and a very unique take on a classic plot. I highly recommend it!!

The other book I finished was Mothstorm by Philip Reeve. I agree with Kathryn's post - they are some of the most enjoyable books I've come across, and do help to fill the HP void. Really, if you can get your hands on a few pages (either from the library or Amazon) check out Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space, the first book in the series. Too wonderful!

[[deleted user]]

I know that a couple of you - most of you, actually - have already read the sisterhood of the traveling pants. Accidentally I have stumbled across the DVD on Amazon when looking for Real Women have Curves (America Ferrara plays in both movies) and clicked on it because it had Alexis Bledel in it. I then realized that it was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie and after some cross-reading on wikipedia, I became really interested in the books.
I had the impression that you liked them overall - could someone tell me a bit more about them?

[Dini, the master of meaning]

Marion, the Traveling Pants series are young adult books about four teenage girls who are best friends. Each have to deal with her own coming-of-age problems: boys, parents, college. There are four books in the series. I think the author does a good job in describing the thoughts and emotions of the girls although they have different personalities. I don't read much YA but I think these books are unusual in that they always have a hint of sadness. Bittersweet, that's how I'd describe it.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks, Dini : )
I read the synopsis on wikipedia and thought it sounded pretty interesting. Anyway, I moved it up on my amazon wishlist... Maybe someone wants to get me a last minute Christmas present ; )

[Lori]

Marion, I'd get the 4 books boxed set because they're a very quick read and you'll want instant gratification. I read the whole series in 5 days this summer. I agree with Dini's description. One thing I'd add is that the girls are so realistic that I saw parts of myself in all of them (or maybe it was parts of all of them in myself). Anyway, I'd recommend.

[Frankie]

I'm reading Diana Wynne Jones's Fire and Hemlock and I'm really enjoying it! I'd heard good things about that book on some bookforum and stumbled on that book by accident and bought it. I might try other books by Jones.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

recently finished Cat's Eye, What They Always Tell Us, and Holidays on Ice

[Deborah]

I got Annie Leibovitz at Work for Christmas. Although it contains photographs, she writes about her process and how certain photos and shoots came into being. Her writing is very direct and you really get a sense of how she developed as both an artist and artisan over the course of her career.

[Erin]

The break from work has given me a wonderful chance to make a dent in my to-read-mountain! One has made it firmly onto my list of favorites: 84 Charing Cross Road. I thought this was a Rory book, but I didn't see it during a quick scan of our lists. Now I see that this book made its way onto my list after Dottie and Deborah discussed it and its movie last summer - thanks you two!

It's a beautiful series of letters between Helene - a NY scriptwriter whose hunger for obscure used books connects her with Frank, the chief buyer for a London book shop that frequently comes in to possession of libraries from old British estates. Yes, the epistolary format leaves a lot out (in fact, I got the sense that some letters are actually missing from the series), but I think it's just leaving a lot to your imagination!

Their correspondence begins in the late 1950s when post-war England is on severe rations. The letters give a sense of what that scarcity might have been like, as well as what a thrill could be found in a care package of eggs, biscuits and meat, sent courtesy of Helene. But mostly, the series of letters tells the story of a beautiful friendship that gets its start from a shared love of books.

I adored the language and Helene's turns of phrase, as well as the idea of the familiarity and comaraderie that could be found between pen pals who never meet face-to-face.

I was startled at the end of this short book to realize that Helene and Frank were real as was their 20-year friendship! The cover teaser talks about a love affair between Helene and Frank, but I think her real affair is with the books he sends. Her loving, sensual descriptions of the books make me want my own copy of Pride and Prejudice to arrive in my mailbox, sent from overseas looking exactly as Jane ought to look, soft leather, slim and impeccable. (p. 58)

Has anyone else read this lovely little book?