What are you reading? Showing 1,001-1,050 of 1,885

[Leslie]

I love Pride and Prejudice!

[Diane]

Leslie, I'm embarrassed to admit it's my first time reading a Jane Austen. So far I think I'm going to love it too!

[Leslie]

Let me know how it's going! My mom has read Pride and Prejudice ten times and I have read it at least twice. I think it's one of those novels that has a timeless appeal. (Even though women these days are no longer fixated purely on finding Mr. Right, we are still looking for happiness, whether through career, love, worthy cause, etc. Jane Austen illuminates that sense of quest).

[[deleted user]]

I recently started Stephenie Meyer's new novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella. So far so good.

[Jason]

Just started yesterday Catastrophes and Lesser Calamities: The Causes of Mass Extinctions and I am already half way through it. Some of it is hard geology and technical paleontology and thats a little difficult to follow. For the most part though the rest is easy to understand and get to grips with. If you were dissatisfied with the pat causes of the five great extinctions then I recommend this book to you.

[DJ]

Harriet wrote: "I haven't posted on here in forever, but I promise I've done a lot of reading since then :)
Currently reading Philippa Gregory's 'The White Queen' and absolutely loving it. She's one of my favour..."

Hi Harriet..
I had recently read in the last 2 weeks ON CHESIL BEACH which I loved!I read it as I have previously had problems getting into. ATONEMENT.Due to ON CHESIL BEACH I watched an interview with IanMcEwan a THE Hay Festival which left me rather intrigued bu SOLAR.Husband brought me it in 3 days later as a gift since it had been 12 years since our first date....I really enjoyed parts of it and enjyed parts of it.I think he wrote Michael Beards character so well,how else is it possible to have sympathy for such a man .You should have a look at my review for ON CHESIL BEACH,I haven't done one for SOLAR. Yet as computer playing up again!
Wouls you recommend AMSTERDAM? I will need to look it up ...I got ENDURING LOVE on Tuesday .....What's your opinion on it?
Sorry haven't messaged its because of computer...

[Diane]

DJ, If I can put in my two cents about Amsterdam. It was my first Ian McEwan book. It's short, I liked it, would give it 3 stars on the GR systems, but my husband couldn't stand it. I did love Atonement, one of my all time favorites. I think if you are used to McEwan's style and 'twists' you'll like Amsterdam. I found it an interesting read.

[DJ]

Diane D. wrote: "DJ, If I can put in my two cents about Amsterdam. It was my first Ian McEwan book. It's short, I liked it, would give it 3 stars on the GR systems, but my husband couldn't stand it. I did love Ato..."

Thanks for the input Diane,I will add AMSTERDAM to my wish list as I really seem to be enjoying his style...By the way did you know he is working on he screenplay of ON CHESIL BEACH?
Thanks again...

[Jason]

Our Final Century?: Will the Human Race Survive the Twenty-first Century? is the latest book that I am reading.
Its interesting if a little one sided in the opinions of the author. For one thing he thinks that a asteroid impact killed of the Dinosaurs and that the global warming is a real deal ! So far I would give it a seven out of ten !

[Harriet]

DJ wrote: "Harriet wrote: "I haven't posted on here in forever, but I promise I've done a lot of reading since then :)
Currently reading Philippa Gregory's 'The White Queen' and absolutely loving it. She's o..."

I really liked 'On Chesil Beach' too. I haven't read all of his, but 'Atonement' was my least favourite. I saw and loved the film and then it was the first of his books that I read and from what I've read since, I personally think it's quite different to his usual style. He came to my uni (he's an alumnus there) and spoke about 'Solar' which made me want to read it. I agree, I think it's so clever, because you sort of start to understand Beard's mindset and personality... but then you step back and ask yourself why the hell are you starting to sympathize with this man? Genius writing! And a lot funnier than others I've read. 'Amsterdam' is my favourite so far, I don't know why, it just had something about it that I thought was brilliant. I have a friend who adores McEwan and has read all his novels, and apart from 'Amsterdam', her favourite is 'Enduring Love'. I haven't read it yet, but I've promised her I will do this summer. I'll let you know what I think when I do :) There's a film version of that too. Another one I read and adored of his was 'The Child in Time' - would definitely recommend that.
Ooh, and exciting news about the 'On Chesil Beach' screenplay - I hope it does the book justice though.

[Shelli]

I just startedThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest! It's good already!

[DJ]

Harriet wrote: "DJ wrote: "Harriet wrote: "I haven't posted on here in forever, but I promise I've done a lot of reading since then :)
Currently reading Philippa Gregory's 'The White Queen' and absolutely loving..."

Yes,ON CHESIL BEACH will need very sensitive handling....I will look out for the other works you Rio.Glad to know you also had problems with ATONEMENT..it was the fist one I tried to read unfortunately and trays why I'm only really getting into his work now.I did love ATONEMENT the film....I will let you no how it goes tracking dwn the others....

[Diane]

Shelli wrote: "I just startedThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest! It's good already!"

Can't wait to discuss with you Shelli!!!

[Diane]

DJ and Harriett -Thanks for all in input on Ian McEwan. I did not know he was working on the screenplay for On Chesil Beach; I have to read that and Saturday. As far as Atonement, I have found that folks either love it or hate it, nothing in between. The movie-- I LOVED it as well as the book.

Harriett, you're so lucky you got to hear him give a talk!

[Jason]

Its me again ! Finished final century and when I start reading again I will read Our Final Hour: A Scientist's warning - How Terror, Error, and Environmental Disaster Threaten Humankind's Future in This Century — On Earth and Beyond Boy I am reading some pretty gloomy books just lately !

[DJ]

Thanks Harriet and Diane I really njoyed this too!

[Jason]

Final hour is just final century reprinted !! So instead I have started Big Brain: The Future of Human Intelligence Glad I did as so far upto chapter four its proving a very lively and interesting read. Never heard of the Boskops for one ! They had much larger brains than us and yet they died out and Homo sapiens sapiens succeeded them.

[Harriet]

I think my main problem with 'Atonement' was that it was too drawn out - maybe that's why I thought the film worked so well as in this case, cutting parts of the book out actually made the film better!
And Diane, it was great hearing him speak. He read an extract from 'Solar' and then did a Q&A. I hadn't read the book at this point though, and most of the discussion was climate-based so it mainly went over my head unfortunately! But I did get him to sign my book after :) Apparently, for 'Solar' he spent 2 years just reading scientific journals etc doing research on climate change - that's sheer dedication! I'm not sure I could spend that much time reading science-y stuff!

[DJ]

Hi Harriet what an experience.I actually got interested in SOLAR after hearing him reading at The Hay Festival on Sky..It kinda blew me away.That's what got me back interested on his work...
I do plan on re tackling ATONEMENT at a later date...

[Jason]

Harriet wrote: "I think my main problem with 'Atonement' was that it was too drawn out - maybe that's why I thought the film worked so well as in this case, cutting parts of the book out actually made the film bet..."
It can be strangely compelling to read a wide variety of popular science. It depends on the type of books you read. I break it up with a novel every so many science books and then a history book and then a novel and so on.

[Diane]

Harriet wrote: "I think my main problem with 'Atonement' was that it was too drawn out - maybe that's why I thought the film worked so well as in this case, cutting parts of the book out actually made the film bet..."

Harriet - I do agree that Part 2 (when Robbie was off to war) was overwritten. That is so cool that you got you book signed. I love getting authors to sign my books!

[Jason]

Just started today The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood and its very good so far. Its put me of ever wanting to go to the US though, if this is what their cities are like !! To all my American friends that was just intended as a joke !! I am sure inner city America doesn't represent mainstream America at all !! Well I hope not !! OOoops done it again !!

[Diane]

Hi Jason. It sounds like a pretty tough (but honest) perspective. Sadly, many of the U.S. inner cities are, I'm afraid, as the book implies.

[DJ]

Jo wrote: "Maybe we should set up a thread for Ian McEwan. Unless you guys have burnt out?

I'm reading The Blindfold: A Novel"

I think a McLean thread would be a great idea as I plan to work through them :-)

[DJ]

Er make that MCEWAN my overly helpful spell check again...sorry.

[Donna]

Shelli wrote: "I just startedThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest! It's good already!"

I pre-ordered it and now I won't start it for some time!

[Donna]

I am reading Beautiful Creatures and I am pretty sure I am not going to enjoy it but I am gonna try it to the best of my ability.

[DJ]

Literally just about to pick up THE WIZARD OF OZ.

[Jason]

DJ wrote: "Literally just about to pick up THE WIZARD OF OZ."
Hi DJ going to read Solar after reading the praise you gave it. Won't follow you in reading OZ book though. Sat through the film far too many times when I was a kid to ever want to read it.
Hats of to you though for having a eclectic taste in books !!

[DJ]

Hi Jason
Ha Ha..look forward to your opinion on SOLAR.
RE WIZARD OF OZ I only saw ot for the first time last year(can you guess why?....Think carefully dear friend)and I am only reading it now after a discussion where someone said that it was a hidden pro of socialism....I got intrigued and so I'm reading it.....
I am planning on gathering up the rest of McEwans work.....

[Stephanie]

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

[Sarah]

Hi all. I've been a member here for a while but this is my first post. I finally bought into the hype and bought Larsson's Millennium Series. I started reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo today, but not far enough into it yet to decide whether I like it or not!

[DJ]

Hi Sarah
Good to meet you...
I loved the film and plan on starting TGWTDT in a few weeks on holiday....
Hope you enjoy it.
Did you see the film?

[Matthew]

Just started Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and loving it so far.

[Sarah]

Thanks for the welcome, DJ. I haven't seen TGwtDT film yet, as I always prefer to read the book first. With a few exceptions, I always find film adaptations of novels a disappointment somehow, especially when they change the story so it's nothing like the original!

[DJ]

Hi Sarah...I think once you have read the book it would be safe to watch but I would probably to watch the Swedish version rather than the upcoming American remake as they are never as good...
Let me know what you think?

Mathew glad you are enjoying Never let me Go ad I only just bought it and will be interested in what you think....

[Stephanie]

Jo - I'm halfway through Perks of being a Wallflower and really enjoying it so far. I just love the main character and the narration.

Sarah - I finished the complete Millennium series not too long ago. I found The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo a bit heavy in the beginning but after the first couple of chapters, I couldn't put it down. The series just gets better and better. I hope you'll enjoy the Millennium books as much as I did! :)

[Harriet]

I'm reading Dead Until Dark - Considering I'm a Twilight and Vampire Diaries fan, I figured I'd probably love this too... even though, as a literature student, I know I probably shouldn't...

[Jim]

Harriet wrote: "I'm reading Dead Until Dark - Considering I'm a Twilight and Vampire Diaries fan, I figured I'd probably love this too... even though, as a literature student, I know I probably shou..."

Oh, sure you should. 'Good' literature is what you enjoy, not what others think you should like. Of course, if you're into 'Twilight', I don't think you've set your sights very high, but that's just my opinion. I don't think Meyers is that good of a writer. Still, whatever floats your boat - that's what counts.

I thoroughly enjoy Harris' writing. The Sookie books - well, all of her books that I've read & I've read most - are candy reads. I have trouble remembering exactly what was in which one, but they're lots of fun.

[Stephanie]

Finished Perks of Being A Wallflower and you're so right, Jo. That book will stick with me, too. Usually I just swap my books after reading them once but I'll definitely be holding on to this one! :)

I'm now reading Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop (book #1 in the Black Jewels Trilogy).

[Jason]

Started A Week in December its not as good as Birdsong but its a good enough read for a lazy summer afternoon.

[Jason]

Just finished A Week in December for the most part it was very good. Why was there the constant mention in it of a cyclist riding on the pavement
though ? didn't understand that at all.
The pastiche of big brother didn't work for me either as it seemed far too crude. The rest of the book worked for me though and I was a little disappointed to get to the ending. I wanted it to go on for longer than it did. Oh well its Solar tomorrow will let you all know how I go on with that. I am a big McEwan fan so I have high expectations of it.

[DJ]

Looking forward to what you think of SOLAR...
:-)

[Gitte]

Jo wrote: "Maybe we should set up a thread for Ian McEwan. Unless you guys have burnt out?

I'm reading The Blindfold: A Novel"

Jo, what did you think of The Blindfold: A Novel? I remeber it as really special and it's on my to re-read list. But I remembet that one of the 4 stories didn't really work for me...

[Gitte]

Harriet wrote: "I'm reading Dead Until Dark - Considering I'm a Twilight and Vampire Diaries fan, I figured I'd probably love this too... even though, as a literature student, I know I probably shou..."

I'm reading Dead Until Dark too, and I'm really enjoying it - and I've also studied lit :-) Once you get a paper that says you're smart, you don't have to prove it anymore ;-) No, I think it's a good idea to mix your more 'literary' and perhaps more difficult and/or serious books with some fun!

[Shane]

Just finished Mr Stimpson & Mr Gorse, about to start Unknown Assailant.

S

[Jason]

Hi I have only just started Solar but it has a very promising start. The hero Beard is very well drawn and I am rooting for him already.

[DJ]

Hi Jason,
That's how I felt exactly.I hope you enjoy the rest as much as I did.Looking forward to your opinion.
Will send a message later..off to rescue a pigeon!

[Jason]

I have read the first part of Solar and thought the polar expedition section was the funniest piece of writing that I have read in a long time. Bit concerned at the sudden change in tone though at the end of part one. Still I am sure that Mr McEwan knows what he is doing and hopefully there will be plenty more comic scenes in part two.

[DJ]

Hi Jason,he seems to change to e quite a lot throughout all his books!