What Are You Reading? pt. II

[tesni]

My reading's slowed down massively since the term started again, but also I keep starting books and then instead of finishing them just starting more books! My currently-reading shelf was vaguely in control but I can sense myself losing my grasp on it.

Just finished re-reading , one of my favourite plays, for a class. I also studied it for A-Level and I like it just as much now as then; it's one of those books that feels like it was written just for me, about changing times and resistance to the new and with lots of family angst. I even have a whole shelf dedicated to such books because I am a loser. We had a really interesting discussion in class about how, for much of the 20th century, British stagings of Chekhov plays were done in such a way as to convey basically the opposite of what he himself would have wanted. 'Our' emphasis on the past and nostalgia, and the grief of the loss of the past and the 'old ways', turns his works (which are supposed to be forward-looking comedies that call for a break with the past!) into regressive tragedies. It rang so true! That's so me! I realise now that that's why I like the play and it appeals to my sensibilities, but Chekhov himself would not be too pleased with my very British reading of it and my weakness for riches-to-rags stories.

Gave up on because it was terrible. Finally sat down and ploughed through the last half of . It was so rewarding and I hate that it had to end! No more of the Western Shore, ever!

I've been dipping in and out of for a course and I'm really enjoying it, also, for similar reasons to the Cherry Orchard - it's nonfiction, but it's all about the tension between past and present and the debates surrounding it in 19thc Russia.

I've got really into Stefan Zweig lately - reading and . Some of the early stories he wrote when he was my age, which is a depressing thought. Also just started , , , , but I'm not far enough into any to have an opinion yet.

[Isaac]

Tesni wrote: "My reading's slowed down massively since the term started again, but also I keep starting books and then instead of finishing them just starting more books! My currently-reading shelf was vaguely i..."

I've read like 2 books this year and you just brought up 10 and said your reading is slowing down. What

[tesni]

Hayden wrote: "Tesni wrote: "My reading's slowed down massively since the term started again, but also I keep starting books and then instead of finishing them just starting more books! My currently-reading shelf..."

It's slowed down for me, I suppose! Over the holidays I must have read like fifty or sixty (which was bliss) and I was hoping to keep on at such a rate but this new academic year obviously has other plans. And I should say all those it will take me a while to finish because I'm always juggling so many and I really wish I didn't! but I like to be reading a book for every occasion and can never seem to get out of the habit.

[Isaac]

Tesni wrote: "Hayden wrote: "Tesni wrote: "My reading's slowed down massively since the term started again, but also I keep starting books and then instead of finishing them just starting more books! My currentl..."

This is so wild to me honest to god I have such a hard time reading nowadays.

However, I am now reading which I am very excited about.

[Isaac]

Finished two days ago now and currently reading

[Sam~~ we cannot see the moon, and yet the waves still rise~~]

@hayden, love that book!! You're going to really enjoy it(:

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Hayden wrote: "Finished two days ago now and currently reading "

I love both those books so much. :')

[Megan]

Hayden I feel like you might possibly be interested in this one, I'm not sure if you're interested in Africa at all but it's all about linguistics and gender/sexual minorities so I thought of you.

[Isaac]

Megan [I'm okay, I'm alright] wrote: "

Hayden I feel like you might possibly be interested in this one, I'm not sure if you're interested in Africa at all but it's all about linguistics and gender/sex..."

I AM INTERESTED IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS THANKS

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Haha I haven't read anything in like a month, but I just started:



Really enjoying it so far!

[Megan]

My first post-finals book. Hopefully I will be able to catch up on a lot of reading over the break. :D

[Megan]

Oh and I also read and finished for school since I last posted.

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Megan [I'm okay, I'm alright] wrote: "

My first post-finals book. Hopefully I will be able to catch up on a lot of reading over the break. :D"

Ooh I forgot that book had come out!! I need to read it. :O

[Stephanie]

I finished which was pretty good.
And I also read and . I really enjoyed that series. The whole series is based on the idea that the main character gets a letter from herself 10 years in the future telling her to make different choices and avoid the regrets her future self has. It didn't overdo the whole time travel thing and was super touching. I highly suggest giving it a try.

[Stephanie]

@The Mighty Katara not sure. I didn't have a huge issue with pacing here, but I also haven't watched the anime yet so I couldn't tell you which was better.

[Megan]

Over Christmas I read which was the least seasonal thing ever, and unfortunately not that great either.

But now I just finally started which I'm so excited about.

[Sum]

I'm about 1/5 done with and I'm SO SHOOK it's amazing. Not only is it an eye opening account of revolution during the Dominican republic dictatorship, but as someone with multiple sisters I really appreciate how the sisters' relationships are so realistic and relatable.

[Sam~~ we cannot see the moon, and yet the waves still rise~~]

@megan yeah, that's one of the few of hers that I really didn't like. :(

@maya I need to read that!! I'm glad you like it so far.

[Colby]

So I've been taking a Greek and Roman mythology course online over winter break, and since it's only four weeks long the reading is pretty brutal, so for that this week I've read:

So that's about all the Greek tragedy I want to read for the rest of my life.
For fun, I recently read which I really loved. From what I've seen on here it's a book that you either love or hate, but I thought the writing was gorgeous and sensually appealing and wow, and there was also a supernatural aspect that I loved. I'd highly recommend checking it out. Content warning: (view spoiler)[ rape, racism, racial violence (this novel is written by a black author and focuses on a black community in Texas) (hide spoiler)]
Now, I'm about to start for fun, it's a sequel to Things Fall Apart :)

[Colby]

The Mighty Katara wrote: "Colby wrote: "So I've been taking a Greek and Roman mythology course online over winter break, and since it's only four weeks long the reading is pretty brutal, so for that this week I've read:
[bo..."

It's not that I mind it, I actually found them to be very entertaining. It's mainly that I had to read one every single day :P

[Naomi]

I just finished over the weekend and it was really really sweet. I read it in one day.
I'm also trying to re-read all of A Series of Unfortunate Events because of the new show, though I've only gotten as far as .

[Samantha]

Colby wrote: "So I've been taking a Greek and Roman mythology course online over winter break, and since it's only four weeks long the reading is pretty brutal, so for that this week I've read:
[bookcover:Electr..."

I enjoyed Medea quite a bit when I read it in my final semester (Spring 2016). It wasn't my first foray into Greek tragedy or drama, but I should pry check out a couple of those others you listed, just for kicks. The reading load for some courses can be KILLER, so I understand your reluctance to read anymore of the subject for a little while at least.

The Mighty Katara wrote: "Colby wrote: "The Mighty Katara wrote: "Colby wrote: "So I've been taking a Greek and Roman mythology course online over winter break, and since it's only four weeks long the reading is pretty brut..."

Titus is insane! I read that play twice for two different Shakespeare courses. I couldn't believe how dark it was, and we watched the Julie Taymor film adaptation of it. Couldn't eat pie or cake for MONTHS.

[Samantha]

I recently finished Bird Sense by Tim Birkhead, Aliens: Genocide, Metro 2033, and The Portrait of Dorian Gray.

I'm currently re-reading some of George Bernard Shaw's plays, in the middle of Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare, and also super close to finishing Aliens: Alien Harvest. My reading list tends to be all over the place genre and page length wise.

[Isaac]

I recently got really into Derren Brown and ordered two of his books. In that case, I'm currently reading and I've found it very, very interesting. Not to mention quite funny; he has a fantastic sense of humor.

[Megan]

School reading has once again taken over my life, so right now I'm in the middle of:

[Sam~~ we cannot see the moon, and yet the waves still rise~~]

Megan, you'll have to tell me how "deaf like me" is!

[Megan]

Sam~~ we cannot see the moon, and yet the waves still rise~~ wrote: "Megan, you'll have to tell me how "deaf like me" is!"

I'm still at the frustrating beginning part where everyone is telling them "omg don't you dare communicate with your deaf child using signs/gestures!" which is driving me crazy (like I knew it would) but it's really interesting at the same time (and I assume they're going to get less offensive advice as they go along ahahaha)

[Isaac]

Currently reading can't stop won't stop

[Megan]

Since I last posted I also read , and now I'm starting:

[Megan]

last book of the term :) :) :)

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Sorry I've been so absent lately, y'all. I...haven't finished reading a single book this year because I'm trash––I keep starting things and not finishing them, whoops. But anyway, right now I'm in the middle of:



And loving it so far! Book 2 was a bit of a letdown for me, but so far book 3 is making up for it.

[Isaac]

I suppose I should probably state that I'm reading because I finally watched the movie about a month and a half ago and it's become my second favorite movie (after Psycho of course) and I had a lot of people tell me to read the book. I'm almost done with it now but I absolutely adore it. Chuck Palahniuk's writing style is incredible (although it makes me all kinds of insecure as a writer because I so desperately would love to write like that, ha ha).

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Oooh yeah I like that book/movie a lot, Hayden! And they're very close to each other actually, from what I remember.

[Isaac]

Yeah, the movie remains pretty loyal to the book. The biggest change is really just the order of events at the end, but I think that switch in the narrative's chronology (and who was involved in the events, e.g. Tyler was written into two scenes he wasn't in in the book) benefited the movie more than it would have if it was kept the same.

[Yashwanth]

I started out with Jeffrey Archer with 'As the Crow Flies' and I shall be damned to say it a huge book

[Megan]

I'm finally on spring break and have a bunch of books planned, starting with re-reading before the Netflix series come out.

[Colby]

Ahh yes! I'm very excited for that series, Megan. I think it might make for better TV than a book, but I guess we'll find out!

I'm reading for a fun break from , which I just cannot get into. Sad, because I've liked his other novels.

Also, for an English class, I just read . I highly recommend it if you have any interest in Whitman. I really found it helpful, and it's pretty light while also being thought provoking.

Finally, about to start for my lit theory class, which I'm pretty excited about!

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Ohh yeah I've been seeing things lately about this Netflix series of 13 Reasons Why ... I thought at some point there was gonna be like a movie adaptation of it starring Selena Gomez, lol?? But I guess that didn't happen. Anyway ... I remember having really mixed feelings about that book, but I'm kinda curious what the Netflix series will be like.

So anyway I finished:



AAAHHH!!! Whoa it was so intense, I really enjoyed it and it was definitely my favorite of the trilogy. My only complaint is that the ending felt kinda rushed to me, but otherwise it was really good.

Next I'll be reading:

[Megan]

@ Colby and Brigid -

I'm pretty excited for it too! I definitely didn't like the book as much this time around as when I was a teenager, but I do think the show should be pretty good (hopefully). I know the plans for it have kind of changed over the years, now as far as I know Selena Gomez isn't in it but she is a producer? I think. And also the the writer of the adaptation is one of the writers of my favorite musical so that's a good sign in my opinion too. We'll see!

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Oooh that's interesting!! What writer/musical?

[Megan]

Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* wrote: "Oooh that's interesting!! What writer/musical?"

Brian Yorkey (whose composing partner is Tom Kitt) and Next to Normal. :)
Also Brian d'Arcy James from Next to Normal (and Hamilton) is going to be in Thirteen Reasons Why so that's cool too.

[Megan]

The Mighty Katara wrote: "I'm currently reading Coriolanus, which is surprisingly still really relevant, considering the current political climate. I'm really liking it so far."

I read that last year and it was really interesting! I can imagine it'd be even more relevant today... if you get a chance, you should watch the version with Tom Hiddleston as Coriolanus! He's SO good and the whole production is done really well.

[Brigid ✩, No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.]

Megan [I'm okay, I'm alright] wrote: "Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* wrote: "Oooh that's interesting!! What writer/musical?"

Brian Yorkey (whose composing partner is Tom Kitt) and Next to Normal. :)
Also Brian d'Arcy James from Next to ..."

Ohh okay! I don't know much about that musical but I remember my sisters were super into it a few years ago. :D

[Megan]

I've been meaning to read this for so long and am so glad I finally am, it's already so good. I love Margaret Atwood.

[Colby]

Megan [I'm okay, I'm alright] wrote: "

I've been meaning to read this for so long and am so glad I finally am, it's already so good. I love Margaret Atwood."

AHHH I LOVE THAT BOOK. What other Atwood have you read? I got to see her speak recently and it was wonderful

also, I've been reading and oh my god is it blowing me away.

[Megan]

Colby wrote: "Megan [I'm okay, I'm alright] wrote: "

I've been meaning to read this for so long and am so glad I finally am, it's already so good. I love Margaret Atwood."

..."

IT WAS SO GOOD. Unfortunately the only other thing I've been able to read by her so far is a short story that I can't currently remember the name of, I'll have to look it up.

Ah and I want to read Beloved so bad as well! We talked about it a bunch in one of my classes last term and I was hoping to read it over spring break but ran out of time. :/

[Megan]

I started reading the paper version of this but have decided to try the audiobook so I can listen to it on my daily commute and not feel guilty for reading fun stuff instead of homework (and also because I hear Trevor's voice in my head when I read it anyway so I figured I might as well listen to him narrate it).

[Naomi]

I'm reading , which is pretty good so far. It's not normally what I read, but I really liked so I figured I'd give it a try.

[Colby]

I finished yesterday. I thought it was amazing but wow, it was difficult as well.

[Megan]

this book is a wild ride