Week 9: What are you reading?

[Liz]

I can't believe this is the last week in February! Has everyone managed to pick up a fantasy novel yet? I'm almost done with mine, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, and I'm really enjoying it. I also starting listening to the audiobook version of The Golden Compass, which is phenomenal. There is an actual cast who reads the book so it's pretty fun to listen to.

Saturday begins a new mini-challenge so stay tuned for that! Hint: you'll be asked to get to know someone better in the form of a biography or autobiography.

Now for the true purpose of this thread: what are you reading this week?

[Ann]

I'm currently (re)reading Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. Over the weekend I read Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones and The Princess, the Dragon, and the Frog Prince by Elisabeth Waters- a series of linked short stories. Both books were very good.

[Julie]

I finished listening to Life of Pi and am still working through my other books. I am excited to hear what the challenge is because the next audiobook I was looking at is a biography! :)

[Janet]

I hope it qualifies but I read "A Wrinkle in Time" earlier this month

[Angela]

I did finish Splintered and Unhinged as my Fantasy challenge for the month. Both great books, giving that little twist on Alice and Wonderland. I am today reading The Shade of the Moon by Susan Pfeffer, and will start this week; Fledgling by Octavia Butler, Dust by Patricia Cornwell and I pick up the Returned tomorrow. Will have to see what else I can pick up for later in the week.

[Liz]

Janet wrote: "I hope it qualifies but I read "A Wrinkle in Time" earlier this month"

Absolutely that counts, Janet!

[Kyra]

I read The Golden Compass this month and really enjoyed it, I wish I would have known about the audio book though! That sounds entertaining. I'm currently trying to finish the second book after The Golden Compass!

[Liz]

Kyra, the audiobook is amazing. I'm totally hooked! I don't want to get out of my car when I get to work or back home. The narrators are wonderful. How do you like the second novel?

[Pattie]

I am about to start a historical romance called The Bride Wore Scarlet (can't remember author). My four year old likes to pick a random book for me from the paperback twirly shelves every now and then, and he chose this one because he liked the heart sticker on the spine. Last time he picked me a political thriller, so I am much more excited about this read. We all need some good smut every now and again! :)

[Traci]

I listened to the entire His Dark Materials on audio several years back, and of all the audiobooks I've listened to that series ranks as the best by far. I didn't care as much for the second and third books as for Golden Compass, but they were all fantastic.

[Ingrid]

I am 3/4 finished wDeeply Odd. Not sure if I like this one as much as the other Odd Thomas books. Usually I plow through them in 48 hours, but this is taking me forever. Not sure if it's the book or me.
After 5 discs (out of 10), some good stuff is happening in Pride & Prejudice. I don't know the story line at all so I was surprised by the latest.
I have tried to read the Outlander series, but never make it through the first book. I want to like it so i requested it on CD & will see if I can finish book one.

[Ingrid]

Pattie wrote: "I am about to start a historical romance called The Bride Wore Scarlet (can't remember author). My four year old likes to pick a random book for me from the paperback twirly shelves every now and ..."

That's cute! What a way to get you reading outside the box of your usual genre. Lol.

[Donna]

I finished The Snow Child last week which was really quite good! It's a historical fiction novel/fairy tale set in 1920s Alaska. Wonderful read. Really folksy and sweet. I just went and picked up American Gods (Gaiman). I'm really looking forward to reading it since I enjoyed The Graveyard Book so much!

[Donna]

Also started The Little Book Store of Big Stone Gap which is about a couple who opens a small used bookstore in an Appalachian Virginia town. So far its very entertaining.

[Katie]

I just finished the audiobook Dollbones by Holly Black. It was creepy and haunting and made me nostalgic for those days of make believe.

[Liz]

Ingrid said, "I have tried to read the Outlander series, but never make it through the first book. I want to like it so i requested it on CD & will see if I can finish book one."

I have one of the two copies at the moment. I haven't even begun listening to it so I'll check it in today or tomorrow so you can have it. Be sure to let me know how it is, and then I'll grab it when you're all done!

[Cami]

Ingrid wrote: "Pattie wrote: "I am about to start a historical romance called The Bride Wore Scarlet (can't remember author). My four year old likes to pick a random book for me from the paperback twirly shelves..."

I love that! Such a cute story & such random selections by a child... So cute! Glad they've worked out for you.

[Vivian]

I finished "Fixing to Die" yesterday & am still reading "The Heist. In honor of Game of Thrones starting back in April, I'm going to start "Clash of Kings."

[Lanette]

I just finished "Lost Lake" which is as 'fantasy' as I get. It involves an alligator interacting with a little girl (all I can say without ruining it). All of Sarah Addison Allen's books have a little magic to them, and this was another great read by one of my favorite authors. Am now reading "Alice's Turnips" by Sandra Dallas which I am not liking nearly as much.

[Chama]

I'm finishing up Ghostlight by Marion Zimmer Bradley. :) It's really good, so far!

[Traci]

I just finished The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, which is as fun as all of his other books. I'm now reading Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch, which is sort of like a British Dresden Files (the cover says it's Harry Potter meets CSI, though I'm not sure I quite agree with that).

[LindaD]

This is the group I'm working on for this week: variety!

[Ingrid]

Liz, thanks for returning Outlander! I picked it up yesterday.

[Ingrid]

I finished theOdd Thomas book & picked up Fifty Shades Freed. I wasn't so into this trilogy & finished the other two books over a year ago. In the car, I have about 20 minutes left of Pride & Prejudice & then on to Outlander!

[Kyra]

I'm reading "Where She Went" by Gayle Forman but I'm almost done with it! I'm not really sure what I should pick up for March yet! Anyone have any suggestions?

[Liz]

Kyra wrote: "I'm reading "Where She Went" by Gayle Forman but I'm almost done with it! I'm not really sure what I should pick up for March yet! Anyone have any suggestions?"

What sorts of things do you like to read about when it comes to people? Do you prefer memoir or more factual biographies? Do you like to read about people involved in current events or historical figures? Funny or serious? If you like funny, contemporary stuff, I'd recommend Jane Lynch's Happy Accidents or Tina Fey's Bossypants. Let me know if those hold no interest to you, and I'll think of something else!

[Kyra]

Those are great suggestions, I think both of those would be really funny, entertaining reads! Thanks!

[Donna]

Yes, I second Bossypants....so funny!

[Vivian]

My memoir book is "Don't Fill Up On the Antipasto by Tony & Marc Danza. I'm about 250 pages into " Clash of Kings" so still a long way to go on that. I also picked up "The Strain" by Guillermo Del Toro the first of a trilogy. Could use a few more snow days!

[Liz]

Vivian, I loved The Strain trilogy up until the very end when I wasn't thrilled with some of the themes. Nonetheless, it was a great series. I hope you enjoy!

[Vivian]

Thanks! I almost finished the first one. I'm planning on getting the followups as well.

[Ingrid]

Whew! I finished the Pride & Prejudice CD. It was okay, but all that civility was just irritating to me. It was a nice love story, but it won't be on my retread list. I love a lot of classics, but this one wasn't my cup of tea. Now I have started to listen to Outlander on CD & it is much better for me than reading it. Love the narrator's voice & accent.