Just finished/Just started (what book are you reading now?) 2015

[Cassandra]

I am finishing up Moving Forward by Dave Pelzer (for my book discussion group) and also reading Wuthering Heights and The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.

[Emma]

I just finished The Giver and am debating what to read - it's between The Decameron and The Republic...

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Trying to read Two Guys Detective Agency but so far it reads more like single-mom chicklit. Waaaay too much setup detail. Don't know if I'll lose interest.

[Linda]

Just finished .
I found this book quite confusing in parts due to lots of sub plots and so many characters. Even with this, it kept me hooked until the end.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

I lost interest in Two Guys and bailed on it. That would have been unthinkeable a few years ago but life is too short to waste time on books that don't interest, inform or entertain at all.

[Michael]

I've just finished reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman and it was even better the second time than the first:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto Trolls on Ice by Rosen Trevithick, I enjoyed the first two books and I'm sure this will be as much fun.

[Michael]

I've posted my review for 'Trolls on Ice', the third book in Rosen Trevithick's excellent 'Smelly Trolls' series:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

And I'm now onto:

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Reading an odd little book from Gutenberg, called Little Sister Snow about a Japanese girl growing up. Why she felt it necessary to make Yuki-chan speak pidgin English when supposedly speaking or thinking in her native language of Japanese, I will never know. Illustrations are pretty, but I'm not sure where this is going. I'm afraid I know, though.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Also reading Yes I Can by Sammy Davis Jr. He speaks of being totally unaware of racial problems until he joined the Army. Part of this is because as a small child his grandmother raised him and kept him totally isolated from other children. She didn't allow him to go to school or play with kids. They played "hide from the truant officer" as if it were a fun game, and when she took him to the park no one was allowed to touch him, play with him, or even get near him. The other grandmas apparently referred to them as "Rosa and her Jesus." I'm just wondering about the amazing passivity of Mr Davis, who never speaks of even wanting to play with the other kids. I know a lot of toddlers, and they already want to do their own thing. Then of course his dad comes back (his mom ditched him shortly after birth, I guess) and takes him off to dance onstage in vaudeville. He would never have learned to read and write if it hadn't been for outside pressure threatening to take him into care. He never went to school a day in his life until he joined the Army. OK, yeah, he was born in like 1922, but certainly not in the backwoods. I know that kids tend to accept their own lives as "normal" until they learn different, but 18 or even 17 seems very late to learn different.

[Gavin]

I'm currently reading A Dead Man in Deptford, it seems to be taking me ages to get through but I am enjoying it, it's a pretty interesting view of the city and south-east London in the 1500's..

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Just finished The Quilt. Boy have Yearling YA books changed. Discussing the process of childbirth etc in such detail would have been unheard of back in the seventies.

[T4bsF (Call me Flo)]

Reading A Bride for Connor: The Berwyn Island Trilogy Book One by Olivia Teese

and can only think that she wrote it for a bet. The characters have such names as Mr Handsumm and Miss Loveleigh (the main characters), Mrs Nosee (a neighbour), Mrs Clerk (a secretary)etc, etc. Not sure if I'll make it to the end, but curiosity will probably win the fight.

[Gavin]

Mrs Clerk the secretary is actually pretty funny :)

[Philip]

I am reading The Night I Danced With Rommel by Elisabeth Marrion.

[Suze]

A bride for Connor looks like a funny read Flo, so I've downloaded it.

[Suze]

I'm currently reading The Paper Moon by Andrea Camilleri. It's one of the Montalbano series. I normally like reading these, but this one is really boring so I've started to skim through it then I can finish it quickly. Hopefully, it will be the only one like this in the series.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Moon-In...

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Suze, I have to say I prefer Montalbano in Spanish, since I don't read Italian. A lot of the humour could be lost in translation. The Spanish language is very close to Italian, and the mindset is, as well. I've been reading them to DH (who has sight issues) and we laugh like mad, because it's like something he would have written with his best friend. I can see that it might not work as well in English.

You are also right that some of Camilleri's work is sketchy. When you have to have a character sit there and explain in so many words what happened, then it's a good sign your plot is not well woven. Even in the TV series (which the Beeb showed in Italian with Engish subtitles, so it's not just me) they have the "talking heads" scenes--instead of showing the viewer.

I was more than a bit annoyed with The Smell of the Night. Lifting another author's ideas wholesale like that--uncool. And yes, he told us, references and all, just in case we missed it--thereby spoiling the other author's story, as well.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

T4bsF wrote: "Reading A Bride for Connor: The Berwyn Island Trilogy Book One by Olivia Teese

and can ..."


Olivia Teese--as in tease? Sounds like that could be a joke as well.

[Suze]

Ori, I don't speak any language but English, so that is what I read. Normally I enjoy the books, it's just this particular one, so rather than skimming through it, I've decided to leave it for a while then try it again, as it might just be my mood at the moment. It does feel like he's struggled to write this one, and when I've checked the reviews I'm not the only reader to think this, and a couple of people have said it's not to his usual standard.

I didn't mind the Scent of the Night, but it's a while since I read it. I do wish they'd number the books when they are part of a series.

[Michael]

I've just finished reading Horror Stories by Alan Toner and it was a decent collection of horror stories:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto Abra-Cadaver by Matt Drabble and it's off to a good start.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Just Finished: The Thin Woman
Started The Woman in the Dunes

[mrbooks]

Just finish emperor of thorns, and just started Red badge of courage.

[Suze]

T4bsF wrote: "Reading A Bride for Connor: The Berwyn Island Trilogy Book One by Olivia Teese

and can ..."

Started reading Bride for Conner last night. Only read 2 pages so far, but I can already see what you mean about writing it for a bet. I'll read more today, but I hope it gets better, or it's going 'in the bin'.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Frenchie wrote: "Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) wrote: "Just Finished: The Thin Woman
Started The Woman in the Dunes"

Was it good, The Thin Woman?"

I enjoyed it (check my review). It was fun and light and in no sense "literature." Kind of Agatha Christie meets fantasy-wish-fulfillment. I mean, who wouldn't want an unlimited budget to redo an old mansion, and a live-in chef to help you lose weight?

[Linda]

Just finished.

I really enjoyed this book until I got to the last part about the third sister. It did not tie in with the first two sisters stories at all. It also ended very abruptly. Very disappointed :-(

[Michael]

I've posted my review for Matt Drabble's horror novel 'Abra-Cadaver', it's a fun read but the execution quite live up to the promise of the start:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto

[Rebecca]

Hello! I'm halfway through a great book. Shame by Allen Russell. Great murder mystery.
About to start The Poisonwood Bible. Monthly read from another book group.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Rebecca wrote: "Hello! I'm halfway through a great book. Shame by Allen Russell. Great murder mystery.
About to start The Poisonwood Bible. Monthly read from another book group."

I read The Poisonwood Bible some years ago, liked a lot of it but found it tried to cover too much. Let me know what you think.

[Linda]

I have finished. . The Grapes of Wrath.
What an absolutely fantastic book! I am really sorry that it is finished and would have loved the story to have continued on. There was so much more that I wanted to know about the family!

[Michael]

I've posted my review for Mike Freeman's excellent science-fiction novel 'Remission Praxis':

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto

[Stephanie]

Great crime novel. First Night of Summer by Landon Parham
Only 99 cents on kindle, ibook, nook this month!
Very impressive debut novel--much better than some other seasoned authors that I am currently reading. It was heart-wrenching, yet strangely uplifting. As a parent, I was almost afraid to read it, but quite glad I did. Once I got over the darkness of the topic, the death of a young girls, I found this story to be compelling and absolutely breath-taking. Each and every word carries with it dramatic twists and turns that leave you on the edge of your seat. I felt such a strong emotional bond to all the characters. I cried, laughed, contemplated, and screamed when I read this. It really woke me up--I didn't realize I had gotten so routine in my reading choices. I just loved it. Even though it was sad, this book had something that made you find happiness through the dark cruelty of our world and understand life in a way I never did. My heart goes out to all the families that must endure these horrific tragedies. Truly amazing and wonderful--leaving me gasping for air.

[T4bsF (Call me Flo)]

Linda wrote: "I have finished. . The Grapes of Wrath.
What an absolutely fantastic book! I am really sorry that it is finished and would have loved the story to have continue..."

I read this very many years ago - good book. I might read it again now.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Dipped into this today: A Woman's Nails but he starts by talking about being desperate for a poo, like this is amusing. Um. Not sure about this. Toilet humour is not usually where I want to start. I checked the GR page and no one has posted a review. I think I can see why.

[Michael]

I've posted my review for Edward Parker's fantastic horror novel 'Clown Friday', check it out here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Definitely one for Coulrophobics! :-)

I'm now onto

[Michael]

I've posted my review for 'The Martian' by Andy Weir and it's a fantastic read:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto 'The Wilds' by Kit Tinsley:

[T4bsF (Call me Flo)]

The following is a small excerpt from the book I am reading at the moment.....

Within a few moments the poor man was down on the path, battered, bruised and begging for mercy. The well-dressed man took all his money, fob watch and rings. Then he nodded to the man with grey hair, who produced a razor sharp knife, and with a smile he cut the poor man's face to ribbons. Slicing at his body in a frenzied blood-lust, he drew his knife slowly across the gentleman's throat.

I met the author of this book about a week ago whilst waiting for a bus - she told me she had been married for 57 years to her husband, when he died in 2002. If she was 20 when she married this would have made her 77 in 2002 so + 12 years since then would make her 89 now....... and she looked such a sweet lady!! :0))

P.S. This book is called Merlys and her name is Barbara Pontin. I can't find her book on here - I downloaded it from Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merlys-Barbar...

[Linda]

Sounds good Flo. Going to have a look.

[Suze]

Me too, but I've already got it on my list I think, ready for when I start to buy again.

[Linda]

I got it Flo! And also couldn't resist Jonathan's book and got that too.

[Linda]

Just finished . Watch Your Back by Karen Rose. As usual a great story by this author.

Just started . Imperfect Strangers by David Staniforth which is off to a good start.

[Philip]

I have just started reading Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary by J.R.R. Tolkien. I have read the translation of Beowulf by Michael Alexander and the one by Seamus Heaney. Now I am reading Tolkien's prose translation, which I am finding enjoyable to read. It is a wonderful book, just to look at, complete with a water colour illustration of a coiled dragon, painted by Tolkien in 1928.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

That does sound good, Phillip.

[Michael]

Looks interesting, the Kindle price is crazy though.

[Philip]

In Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary by J.R.R. Tolkien, apart from Tolkien's wonderful prose translation of Beowulf and his lecture notes on the poem, there is a short story he wrote, called Sellic Spell, which is written in the form of an Anglo-Saxon folk tale. I have only just started reading the book, but already it is one of my favourites in my book collection. I only bought a Kindle when my own book, Angel War, came out as an E-book in March, 2014, so I could lodge my own book on it, but I know I will never stop buying real books, hardbacks and paperbacks. Having Beowulf in my house convinces me that there is nothing better than a real book.

[Philip]

When I finish reading Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary by J.R.R. Tolkien, I plan to post my review of it here on Goodreads, so you can read that, Frenchie. All I will say now is I think you ought to treat yourself and buy a hardback copy of the book. Remember, you will then have it with you for the rest of your life. It is a beautifully designed book, I think, wonderful to look at, complete with the water colour illustration of a coiled dragon on its front cover and a drawing of the mere where lives the monster Grendel on the back cover, both done by Tolkien in 1928. I have read the translation of Beowulf by Michael Alexander and the one by Seamus Heaney, now I am reading Tolkien's prose translation, which reads like an Anglo-Saxon novel. At the moment Grendel's mother has left the mere, seeking revenge on Beowulf for slaying her son. Beowulf is a wonderful, often moving tale, climaxing with the combat between Beowulf and the dragon, the guardian of the hoard, the origin of Smaug in The Hobbit. After I have finished Tolkien's translation of Beowulf, I am looking forward to reading his lecture note on the poem, his story Sellic Spell, and his poem, The Lay of Beowulf. Reading Beowulf inspired me to join the Tolkien Society on Facebook, which might interest you as well, as may the Pre-Raphaelite Society, which I have also joined on Facebook.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Just finished Chaplin's autobiography. Started the Ross Macdonald novel, "Harper". Saw the film many years ago, twice--hoping the novel makes a bit more sense.

[Michael]

I've posted my review for Kit Tinsley's 'The Wilds' and it's a very good creature horror read:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

I'm now onto Olaf Stapldon's 'First and Last Men', it's been on my TBR list for too long!

[Linda]

Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) wrote: "Just finished Chaplin's autobiography. Started the Ross Macdonald novel, "Harper". Saw the film many years ago, twice--hoping the novel makes a bit more sense."

Was Chaplin's book good Ori?

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Linda wrote: "Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) wrote: "Just finished Chaplin's autobiography. Started the Ross Macdonald novel, "Harper". Saw the film many years ago, twice--hoping the novel makes a bit more se..."

I posted a review here: My Autobiography it's very good up to the last quarter or so. The first half is the best, and then it bogs down a bit...and the end feels like a lot of external validation.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

BTW Linda, is that your tatoo in your avatar, or just a photo of one you like?