You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What Are You Reading? 2016.1
I don't seem to be having much luck with fantasy books lately. I have just abandoned Mage's Blood because I was really struggling with it. I don't know whether I am in a bit of a reading slump again or whether I'm just not in the mood for fantasy right now, even though I thought I was.I am now going to start Time and Chance for a buddy read with Sarah.
It could be that you're just not in the mood for it right now, Lisa. My tastes tend to switch back and forth. I was looking at the audiobooks that are next on my list and was turning my nose up at them, thinking, "Why did I buy these?" But a year ago when I bought them (yes that's how far behind I am), that was all I wanted to read.
Gavin wrote: "I'm reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea"I will be interested to see how you like it, Gavin. I loved it, but I know many, many others who did not. Jules Verne books seem to be love 'em or hate 'em.
I finished the Hercule Poirot group read book, Death on the Nile and am on to discovering Miss Marple in The Murder at the Vicarage. I have a couple of audio books on the go for "just because" The Man Who Would Be King and Other Stories is a book of short stories, including the novella in the title. It is narrated by Fred Williams. His voice is good, but his accents for some of the characters is hard to understand at times. Some of the stories are more easier to understand than others too. All of them are stories from India in the 1800s. The other audio book, Narrow Road to the Interior & Hojoki has two different Japanese narrators. The first, Togo Igwa, I enjoyed, but the second one, Takahasi Sudo, reading the title story, I have a hard time understanding. It is like a travel log and talks about places the author stopped and what he saw. I am reading The Distant Hours for a buddy read, but I think I am all alone now. I am still working my way through A Constellation of Vital Phenomena for my Geo challenge. And, I started the 3rd series book in the Stoker and Holmes series, The Chess Queen Enigma so I can kill the series before another book comes out!
I finished Murder at the Vicarage for the group read, which was just okay. I gave it 2 stars.I've been reading a lot of ebooks lately and I'm in the mood for a paper book. I'm also in the mood for fantasy, so that leaves only one option: The Way of Kings, Part 1
Enjoy Peggy. I have the full book on my wishlist. I wonder if it would be easier if a person read it in parts, like this book. Huge chunksters can be a little off putting. The full volume of The Way of Kings is 1500 pages.
I didn't even realize until just now that I bought only part of it. I got it in the bookstore some months ago, and I think they had part 2 too and they were right next to each other, but their spines are very much the same. It was just as likely I had taken part 2 home! But I do think it's easier to start this one (almost 600 pages) compared to the whole thing at 1500! This seems much more manageable and you know it's not going to take weeks or even a month to finish. If I was reading the 1500-page book I theoretically could stop halfway through, but that would never actually happen. And I wouldn't start 1500 pages now, too many other things to read.
You don't want to read it in parts, Janice?
Generally I don't read in parts. But, I'm wondering if that's easier, less daunting. With the second book in the Song of Ice and Fire, A Clash of Kings, I put the book down about midpoint and then picked it up a month later. My worry is that I might not pick it back up. I put Space down a couple months ago and went I went back to it, I couldn't stir up enough interest to do so. I'm doing an audiobook challenge and I need one that's 35-39 hours long and another that's 40+ hours (or a trilogy).
The Way of Kings is 45 hrs, 37 minutes so it could fit the 40+, but I had been thinking of reading The Cycle of Arawn: The Complete Trilogy which is 66 hours for that category. I could listen to Tim Gerard Reynolds for 66 hours. I don't think I could listen to Kate Reading for her share of the narration of The Way of Kings. Since Cycle of Arawn is the complete trilogy, I could set it aside after each book. So, reading in parts? Maybe I'll read WoK in print format, broken into volumes.
See how I've convinced myself?
Cherie wrote: "Gavin wrote: "I'm reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea"I will be interested to see how you like it, Gavin. I loved it, but I know many, many others who did not. Jules Verne books see..."
I have loved it. Most of Jules
I finished Something Strange and Deadly and A Darkness Strange and Lovely both of them for the Geo CHNow I'm reading the 3rd. on the series Strange and Ever After
I have the combined way of Kings. it is daunting but it's sanderson so it's generally an easy read.
I'm about a quarter of the way through The Cuckoo's Calling and enjoying it so far. I know many adults enjoy Harry Potter as much as kids do but it has never appealed to me & have always avoided it, so this is the first time I've read any work by JK Rowling.
I finished Under the Dome for a buddy read. Once I got closer to the end, I couldn't stop until I was done. Next up is Throne of Jade for the geocache challenge. It's time to concentrate on that. I'm falling behind in my planned schedule.
I'm reading Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life now.Cherie wrote: "Gavin wrote: "I'm reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea"
I will be interested to see how you like it, Gavin. I loved it, but I know many, many others who did not. Jules Verne books see..."
I quite liked it. Jules Verne had such a great feel on how to communicate the wonder of discovery.
His writing was so formal and technical that I guess some people find it a bit dry, but I always enjoy his detailed descriptions of everything.
I felt the same, Gavin. I'm glad you liked it!
I'm loving The Way of Kings, Part 1 so far. I can't stop reading and while at work I'm only thinking about what's happening and that I can pick it up again on the way home. These kinds of fantasy novels always have me a bit confused in the beginning, with unusual names, places, and concepts, but much of it becomes clear while reading. I'm really excited about it!! I wish I was in a buddy read for it, I now only have myself to talk to about it ;-)
Change of plans. Instead of Throne of Jade, I started Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had the audiobook on hold at the library and received notification yesterday morning that it was ready for download.
Peggy wrote: "I wish I was in a buddy read for it, I now only have myself to talk to about it ;-) ..."I know that feeling, Peggy. We've been doing a buddy read on Stephen King's Under the Dome. Now I'm reading his The Dead Zone and I keep wanting to highlight sections so I can discuss them, and then realize I'm reading this one on my own.
Starting "The 4:50 From Paddington" by Agatha Christie. It was written when riding the train was an adventure and train stations had tea parlors how refined...no Rachels with gin-and-tonics-in-a-can in this one.
Hey, Joan, I have this one too. I was thinking about reading it. I will start and we can discuss it in the Agatha Christie books thread. ------------
I finished A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: A Novel by Anthony Marra. gray/black cover for Geo Challenge. An amazing story, and you will laugh and cry so keep the Kleenex box handy. The war in Chechnya - in our own time, in a debut novel that will knock your socks off. Read it slowly. Seriously. - not to to be missed.
I'm reading The Lake House, about 1/2 finished. I had it on hold with my library and if finally came through but way too late doe the Buddy Read. I've read Kate Morton's other books an enjoyed them all. I'm not going to look at the Buddy thread ( so tempting) because I may click on one of the spoilers and see something I don't want to know.
Lisa wrote: "I started Tell the Wolves I'm Home for a buddy read. I'm very impressed with it so far."Starting that one for the buddy read today too. :)
Kristie wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I started Tell the Wolves I'm Home for a buddy read. I'm very impressed with it so far."Starting that one for the buddy read today too. :)"
I'm looking forward to discussing it with you and the others, Kristie :)
Dem wrote: "Finished Redemption Road
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1573323406"
another great review Dem, thanks
Cherie wrote: "I finished the Hercule Poirot group read book, Death on the Nile and am on to discovering Miss Marple in The Murder at the Vicarage. I have a couple of audio books on ..."Cherie, have you seen "The Man Who Would Be King" movie with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer - it is fun.
Joan wrote: "Dem wrote: "Finished Redemption Road My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1573323406"
another great review Dem, thanks"
Thanks Joan.
Book club re-readThat They May Face The Rising Sun
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/266145678
Joan wrote: "Cherie, have you seen "The Man Who Would Be King" movie with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer - it is fun..."I have never seen the movie, Joan, but I will see if my library has a copy. I watched the trailer on You Tube. I started listening to this novella, but did not get too far. I really need to listen to figure out what is going on. I fell asleep during a couple of the stories and had to go back several times. One - I listened to three times and never did understand it.
I finally finished reading The Distant Hours. I liked it better than The Lake House, I think, although I gave them both 5 stars. I still need to write up a review. I am currently reading Tell the Wolves I'm Home and The Redbreast - both Buddy reads. I am listening to my 25th Nero Wolfe book, which is a collection of 4 different stories, And Four to Go.
I finished the group read, Death on the Nile and will start Magic Stars next.All my library requests came in at the same time!
Phew! Magic Stars was a short story. It's not that I dislike short stories, but I don't want to skew my stats by counting them as a book. I started and finished it last night.Tonight, I'll start The Poison Artist which is the group read for the SAI King Recommends group.
Finished up Tricky Twenty-Two the other day. This one wasn't as good as the others. I gave it 3 stars. There were funny parts. I've been in a reading slump so that may have effected the way I felt about the book.
Finished reading A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. Really enjoyed it & look forward to reading more of her work.I'm going to start City of Women by David Gillham today.
I gave 3 stars to A Spool of Blue Thread, Jackie. I enjoyed her writing, but the plot was kind of lacking IMO. I'm willing to try more by her too, though.
Jackie, I enjoyed The Spool of Blue Thread too, very soothing.
Joan wrote: "Jackie, I enjoyed The Spool of Blue Thread too, very soothing."I am going to get to it some day...!
I finished Tell the Wolves I'm Home which I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought it was a really touching, poignant read. I gave it 5 stars.I am now starting A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent for the geocaching challenge. I really love books about dragons and I have been hearing lots of good things about this recently.
I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire this evening. Next , I'll be soaring in the skies with Temeraire in Throne of Jade. This is a geocache read.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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I started my challenge read last night - The Dead Zone. That's two Stephen King books I've got on the go. I've got about 13 hours left in Under the Dome