Week 3: What are you reading?

[Liz]

Welcome to week three! The weeks are starting to go by quickly! I finally finished some books last week so I feel like I'm more on track. Previously, I was worried because I was working through a very long novel, and it felt like I wasn't making much progress.

Last week I finished The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. It won the 2013 Man Booker prize, and for good reason. It was a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and suspense. Be warned, though, it is some 800 pages long, so it will be a bit of an investment in time.

I also finished H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. I listened to the audio recording, which definitely made more of an impact, I think, than if I had been reading it. War of the Worlds is essential reading for anyone who likes science fiction. And to think it was first published in 1897.

Finally, I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was a reread, but it was as good as the first four times I read it.

This week, I've started Sherman Alexie's Flight. I'm already about half-way through the short novel, and I'm trying to decide how I feel about it. I can't help but feel sorry for the narrator, who is a 15-year-old half Indian/half Irish foster child drawn to incredible violence. Incorporating time travel, the novel takes the reader on a journey through Native American history.

Now onto the good part... What are you reading this week?

[Ingrid]

I am 1/2 way through Divergent. I will probably finish it tomorrow.

[Liz]

I'm probably going to pick up that series soon. Everyone is talking about it, and I remember reading the first one awhile back. I always have trouble discerning one YA dystopian fiction from the next, though, so I'll have to start from the beginning of the series.

[Donna]

So I finished The Happiness Project last night. I liked it and took away some insight into how I can make small improvements to make an overall big difference in my level of happiness, but Rubin kind of irritated me in a "can't quite put my finger on it" kind of way. Overall though the book was solid. I'm moving this week so things will be hectic for me. I'm looking for something light, fiction, fun...thinking of getting on the Divergent train rather than start Lowland which may require a bit more of my attention. I'm also re reading Pride and Prejudice for the classic a month...

[Janet]

Starting Louise Penny's The Brutal Telling

[Kyra]

Still working on finishing Pride and Prejudice!

[Janet]

Actually need to amend my comment. I'm reading Louise Penny's "A Rule Against Murder" on my Kindle. I got one ahead of myself in the series

[J]

I gave up on American Gods.... it was boring for the first 30 pages in my opinion.... I'm now reading Engine of the Broken World.... so far it is fairly creepy.....

[Traci]

Jennifer wrote: "I gave up on American Gods.... it was boring for the first 30 pages in my opinion.... I'm now reading Engine of the Broken World.... so far it is fairly creepy....."

I stopped reading American Gods about 50 pages in as well. Glad to hear it wasn't just me.

At the moment I'm reading Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich. I love the series because it's always funny and a quick easy read when I just want to read some fluff, but I could really do without the love triangle bits.

[Scott]

Just finished Outliers, next up is East of Eden

[Ann]

I'm reading The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry. So far it's very interesting. This is the 3rd book in the series, and I'm enjoying the mysteries.

[Ann]

Liz wrote: "I'm probably going to pick up that series soon. Everyone is talking about it, and I remember reading the first one awhile back. I always have trouble discerning one YA dystopian fiction from the ne..."
I want to read at least the first book before the movie comes out (or I get to see it).

[Liz]

Jennifer wrote: "I gave up on American Gods.... it was boring for the first 30 pages in my opinion.... I'm now reading Engine of the Broken World.... so far it is fairly creepy....."

I really enjoyed American Gods, but I listened to it on audio so maybe that helped. The beginning is a bit slow, but there is so much that happens throughout the novel. If you ever decide to give it another try, I recommend the audiobook version.

[Vivian]

Reading Allegiant. Hopefully will finish in a couple of days. I don't think this one is nearly as good as the other two were.

My next book will be 2nd book in Game of Thrones series. I'm sure that will take forever to read!

[Julie]

Vivian wrote: "Reading Allegiant. Hopefully will finish in a couple of days. I don't think this one is nearly as good as the other two were.

My next book will be 2nd book in Game of Thrones series. I'm sure t..."

I'm reading "A Feast for Crows" right now. What a great series, but yes, they do take a bit longer to get through.

[Ingrid]

Started Private on CD in the car today. I read it, but can't remember it to keep reading the next ones.

[Pattie]

I am reading my book candy right now...Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich. I really want her to end this series! It scares me that numbers are infinite. At least Sue Grafton will have to end at Z! I still like the books, but they just don't have the same laugh out loud silliness that they used to when I first read the series.

[J]

Liz wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I gave up on American Gods.... it was boring for the first 30 pages in my opinion.... I'm now reading Engine of the Broken World.... so far it is fairly creepy....."

I really enjo..."

I might have to try the audio.... it sounded like such a good book.... thanks

[Ingrid]

Just finished Divergent so on to Insurgent. Yesterday, I checked out lots of fun books from the library, but I decided to read this entire trilogy first now.

[Lanette]

Tonight WILL BE the night I finish "The Scarlett Letter". It has been a CHORE. One of the few books I wish I had read in high school, with a teacher there to tell me what made the book so great, because I'm just not feeling it! I'm also reading "The Shaker Herb and Garden Book" which is much more enjoyable, although making me yearn for warm enough weather to get my hands dirty in the garden.

[Jennifer McGee]

I just finished "The Yellow House" It was a great historical fiction. Today I am starting "Fangirl". I loved "Eleanor and Park" so I have high hopes for this one!

[Katie]

I just finished Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I think it might be a new classic. Technically it isn't published yet, but I got a sneak peek with an e-ARC. Scott Siglier the author of The Infected compared the main character to Katniss Everdeen and Ender Wiggin making it a must read.

I'm not sure if Darrow will really join those two, I'm reserving judgment until the next book in the series comes out. I guess the fact that I haven't completely dismissed Scott's thoughts as hogwash is kind of a good sign.

The story addresses some pretty relevant stuff- the kind of stuff that translates well to some of the political stuff that's been happening in the world recently. It isn't preachy though, not in a painful way at least. :D

[Traci]

I started reading World Without End yesterday. It's pretty good so far (I'm about 350 pages into the 1100+ page book), though I'm not loving it as much as Pillars of the Earth.