What are you reading February 2014

[Dawn]

Reading and loving it! Thanks for recommending it Ann!

[Mary]

I just finished Stoner. Loved, loved, loved it!!

[Kate]

Just finished which I won from Firstreads here on Goodreads and really enjoyed it. Now I am reading . So glad you liked Stoner, Mary!

[[deleted user]]

Catching up a bit and just started Americanah .

[Victoria]

I just finished and I loved it. A 5 star rating from me. I was entirely engaged in the story and the historical setting.

[Karen]

Just began A Suitable Boy...hope to finish by summer vacation.

[Elizabeth☮]

I finished Navigating Early and found it to be a great coming of age story about two friends dealing with loss. They go on a quest in search of Pi, but find many other things about themselves. A really honest look at kids dealing with grief and loss.

I am currently reading The Firebird.

[Julie]

Victoria wrote: "I just finished and I loved it. A 5 star rating from me. I was entirely engaged in the story and the historical setting."

I agree, Victoria. I loved the book, too - one of my top 5 from 2013. I'll be looking for more by Chris B.

[[deleted user]]

This memoir is about the author's loss, in the tsunami of 2004 in Sri Lanka, her husband, two sons, and parents. Her grief is mighty. It's a rage. An anguish. She doesn't grieve with grace, as most do, but with a long lasting bitterness and passion, the intensity of which only diminishes after the passage of seven years bring a sort of acceptance and recognition.

This is not an easy book to read. Oh, stylistically, it's easy. But emotionally, it's hard going.

As to what I liked about the book, I preferred the distractions from the torment. The descriptions of Sri Lankan cuisine. The cultural difference between the author's wealthy Sri Lankan upbringing and her husband's working class English background. And how the boys proudly straddled the two cultures. The descriptions of the wildlife that the author's son Vik took such delight in. The use of the author's extensive world travel as backdrop to her working through her pain.

[Melissa]

I'm listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and I love it! And I am reading Margot. I must say I am feeling very good about 2014 in terms of books...despite it barely being the middle of February I feel like I have read some pretty wonderful books so far...can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings.

[Patti]

Just starting to read My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop ...getting in the mood for my two Booktopia's this year with a nod to the importance of local bookstores:-) So excited!

[Denise]

Mary, I looooooved Stoner, too!

[Me Read Books]

So far in Feb, I read The Goldfinch, May We Be Forgiven and Before I Burn. Of the three, the Norwegian novel was my fave. I am probably the only person on the planet who did not love The Goldfinch. This afternoon, I am getting three books that are on hold at the bookstore, two of which are being released today and I am beyond excited: The Martian, The Winter People and The Year of Billy Miller. Which do I read first?!? (What a wonderful conundrum. Life is good.)

[Victoria]

Me Read Books wrote: "So far in Feb, I read The Goldfinch, May We Be Forgiven and Before I Burn. Of the three, the Norwegian novel was my fave. I am probably the only person on the planet who did not love The Goldfinch...."

I thought The Goldfinch was very good, but still not one of my favorites. Did you hear Michael on the podcast say he put it down at page 300? So you're not the only one.

[Victoria]

Julie wrote: "Victoria wrote: "I just finished and I loved it. A 5 star rating from me. I was entirely engaged in the story and the historical setting."

I agree, Victor..."

I read by him years ago and liked it. Others I have read were which I enjoyed a lot, which seems to be love/hate for many (it's a scary story) and most recently which I was a little disappointed in. He has written 14 books I believe, so you should find something that sounds interesting.

[Sue]

I loved both The Goldfinch and May We Be Forgiven. A.M. Homes is one of my favorite authors. Before I Burn sounds like a very different book from the other two. As for what to read next, I've only heard of The Winter People - sounds super creepy. Might be perfect with all the winter weather we're having - at least here on the east coast.

Me Read Books wrote: "So far in Feb, I read The Goldfinch, May We Be Forgiven and Before I Burn. Of the three, the Norwegian novel was my fave. I am probably the only person on the planet who did not love The Goldfinch...."

[Me Read Books]

I definitely liked May We Be Forgiven. Perhaps my preference for Before I Burn is related to the bleak weather we've been having in the Northeast. I would like to read more Homes. What do you recommend is her best book?

[Sue]

I listened to The Thing Around Your Neck narrated by the amazing Adjoa Andoh and was blown away. I was completely transported by Adichie's exquisite prose to places, cultures and personalities I'd never given much thought to. I've been somewhat wary of Americanah as I'd heard it was a bit more of the same (not that that's a bad thing, but the stories were somewhat intense and I needed a break) - please let us know how you like it!

Shannon wrote: "Catching up a bit and just started Americanah."

[Sue]

I think Music for Torching is my second favorite after May We Be Forgiven, followed by The Safety of Objects (I'm a sucker for modern suburban dystopia) and then This Book Will Save Your Life .

Me Read Books wrote: "I definitely liked May We Be Forgiven. Perhaps my preference for Before I Burn is related to the bleak weather we've been having in the Northeast. I would like to read more Homes. What do you recom..."

[Julie]

Victoria wrote: "Julie wrote: "Victoria wrote: "I just finished and I loved it. A 5 star rating from me. I was entirely engaged in the story and the historical setting."

I..."
Thanks! I've only read Midwives and the Law of Similars (besides The Sandcastle Girls). Night Strangers might be the next one for me.

[Chanda2426]

I just finished The Swan Gondola and WOW! what a pleasant surprise! This is not a book I would normally select, but I am so glad I gave it a go. It was a absolute gem and satisfying read!
What next?
The Kept or The Casual Vacancy or A Highly Unlikely Scenario??
Decisions, decisions...

[[deleted user]]

A well executed fantasy tale.

The problem with using magic as a story element is, it's often a cheat. A deus ex machina device.

Sanderson, in this Mistborn series, creates a couple of systems of magic that follow rules. The uses of magic have limitations and costs.

Otherwise, nothing life-changing here. Just a solid, entertaining read.

[Gerald]

Finished listening to

[Linda]

Gerald wrote: "Finished listening to"

Yes?

[Gerald]

That 's what happens when u realize you can not place book covers using the iphone

[Gerald]

OK finished listening to . Good historical fiction about the disappearance of Judge Joseph Crater in 1930 New York City.Follows three women all connected to Crater in some way. The author gives what she believes is her idea of what happened to Crater. Its a good retelling with a few little surprises and one big surprise in the end. Very sad indeed but you will not put this book down if you have any interest in crooked politics in early 20th century NYC.

[Aimee]

Working on Tournament of the Books picks. Just listened to Goldfinch and Tale for the Time Being and reading Signature of All Things. Really enjoying Signature of All Things. Goldfinch was up and down. Tale for the Time Being was mostly good--but I always am interested in Japanese culture and related books.

[Laura]

I'm reading A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, which I started listening to as an audio book. Then I realized how gorgeous the language was and couldn't bear not to read it on the page. I'm also reading The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand. She is a recent "find" of mine. All of her books take place on Nantucket and it's nice to think of the beach in February. :) That being said, they're not fluff. There is depth to her work (some titles more than others, probably.)

[Laura]

Pam wrote: "In the middle of Beautiful Ruins and The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope, but put those aside in favor of Night Film from the library, which I am enjoying!"

I've got Beautiful Ruins waiting for me to pick it up at the library tonight!

[Chanda2426]

I started The Casual Vacancy this morning. I'm still on the fence with it, but am finding it difficult to put down at the same time.
Happy Reading all!

[Gail]

I finished Life After Life by Jill McCorkle which is a series of stories about the lives of dying people cared for by a volunteer hospice caregiver.
I hopelessly got all the people mixed up and only found the Cast of Characters on the last page of the book. One of the downfalls of reading on a Kindle is not leafing through as you would with a paper book.

[Gerald]

I am now listening to a shorty,only six hours.Reading others that I have mentioned here before.

[[deleted user]]

I'm 100 pages into Jane Eyre and I'm 332 pages into This Star Won't Go Out, a beautiful book partly by, partly about the wonderful Esther Earl. After Jane Eyre I will read The Odyssey.

[Elizabeth☮]

I started Elmer Gantry.

[Becky]

Finished The Good Lord Bird still trying to review it & I am starting Lost Lake

[Maureen]

Just finished The Golem and the Jinni - fantastic! And recently started Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - interesting so far.

[Shona]

Finished . What a fun entertaining read. There is definitely a lot of science in the book which was way over my head, but I just couldn't put it done. I will be recommending this one to everyone I know.

Also read and I'm still disturbed and wondering if there was some point to this story that I just didn't get.

[Victoria]

Maureen wrote: "Just finished The Golem and the Jinni - fantastic! And recently started Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - interesting so far."

I am just a bit into Going Clear. I had some knowledge previously, but so far the book is amazing, or maybe revealing is a better word regarding Hubbard. From what I read so far, it seems stunning that so many people believed in him.

[Denise]

I'm reading Benediction and can't understand why I waited so long. Are his other books as good as this one?

Maureen, I see you're a neighbor. I live in Fairview Heights.

[Linda]

Denise wrote: "I'm reading Benediction and can't understand why I waited so long. Are his other books as good as this one?

Maureen, I see you're a neighbor. I live in Fairview Heights."

Kent Haruf was one of my early literary fiction authors. I've waited a long time for him to write another book.

[[deleted user]]

Sue wrote: "I've been somewhat wary of Americanah as I'd heard it was a bit more of the same (not that that's a bad thing, but the stories were somewhat intense and I needed a break) - please let us know how you like it!"

This was my first of her novels, so I'm not sure how it compares to her other work, but I was really blown away. If I had read it last year, it would have been in my top 10 without a doubt.

[Tracey]

Dawn wrote: "I'm really enjoying THE RACE UNDERGROUND by Doug Most ... engaging (and retainable, which is always the struggle for me!) narrative nonfiction.

The subtitle says it all - "Boston, New York and the..."

I want to read this!!!

[[deleted user]]

Dawn, what do you mean by "retainable"?

[Sue]

I just got an early birthday present of a box of books from my sister-in-law - Super Sad True Love Story , William Trevor's After Rain and The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick. So exciting! Could this be my excuse to give up on The Luminaries at page 150-something?

[Victoria]

Sue wrote: "I just got an early birthday present of a box of books from my sister-in-law - Super Sad True Love Story, William Trevor's [book:After Ra..."

I think any excuse could be valid! (I also slogged about that far through The Luminaries before quitting. At least for now.)

[Sue]

Thanks, Victoria! I like how you say 'at least for now.' I feel that way, too - I may pick it up again, but I'll have to be in the right mind-frame and willing to give up a lot of other worthy titles. After reading the Goldfinch last month, I feel like plowing through some books!

Victoria wrote: "Sue wrote: "I just got an early birthday present of a box of books from my sister-in-law - Super Sad True Love Story, William Trevor's [b..."

[Melissa]

Reading Mister Pip. Found it at a used bookstore for a great deal!

[Joe]

im reading the martian a wonderful book
also reading black friday

[Gina]

Joe wrote: "im reading the martian a wonderful book
also reading black friday"

Can't wait to read this! Next I think!

[Gina]

The Good Luck of Right Now and Night Film.