What Are You Reading?

[Max]

There's no rule that says you can only read one book at a time! If you're reading something that isn't on our club list and you still want to discuss it, this is the place. Tell us about what you're reading, we want to know! :)

[Dylan]

I just read the little prince as it was referenced in a great book I also read recently "what if? serious scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions. it's a short children's book buts it's equal parts heartfelt and heartbreaking. I also needed something short after finishing Stephen kings 11/22/63. that was long and wasn't my favorite

[Chloe]

I'm currently reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy collection with the first 5 books and I'm currently in the third book and it's amazing and funny! On the side I'm reading the Serafina trilogy that my younger sister recommended to me. It's meant for a younger age but it's not a bad story at all.

[Adriana (Mea)]

Ahhh The Little Prince! I first read The Little Prince years ago when I was studying French in high school.

I have both English and French copies on my bookshelf. It's printed in 157 (?) languages so it's perfect if you're trying to learn another language. Same reason I have Candide by Voltaire on my bookshelf!

I have been wanting to read a Stephen King novel for years- have you read others?

[Adriana (Mea)]

Chloe- Yes, it was a bit of a relief finally reading the first book. I felt I had heard so many positive things/spoilers that it just had to be done! I'm also *very* curious about the sequels.

Max and I have a whole fantasy movie cast list we created after reading the 1st book and we'll be reviewing that when the time comes. (;

[Chloe]

I just finished reading Everything Everything and it's an amazing book and it totally had an epic plot twist that I wasn't expecting and I totally think you guys should read it if you have the chance.

[Dylan]

yes I've read hitchhikers guide too it's very witty and funny. I will try get my hands on everything everything so based on your suggestions.

I have read two other Stephen King books, the gun slinger and cell. They both had their pros and cons but nothing I would highly recommend.

[Mel]

I'm reading a series by A. American titled Surviving home. The first book, Going Home, follows the main character and his struggle to get home when the power goes out in the US. It really makes you think about what will happen in an emergency situation when you know the police, hospitals, or even government aren't going to respond for at least a couple of weeks. I'll admit it has sparked a "prepper" mindset in me. I'm using Audible to listen to this series and I can say that the narrator is 98% of why I've continued this series.

[Max]

I'm glad we created this particular discussion thread, it's been a great way to find books we probably would never have learned about otherwise! I'll definitely be checking the library for a copy of Everything Everything, it sounds like a strong, emotional story.

Dylan, are the Gun Slinger and Cell books part of the Dark Tower series? I just saw a preview for a new Dark Tower movie and they showcase a character called "The Gun Slinger" very prominently. I know it's all based on Stephen King novels, and but I've only read about 6 or 7 of his books.

Mel, I am definitely interested in this Surviving Home series. Have you learned real survivalist tips and skills by reading it? I also have an Audible account (which I love), and yes, the narrator can make or break a story. A favorite of mine on Audible has been "Shantaram," which has some of the best narration I've heard in an audiobook.

[Dylan]

the gun slinger is indeed the first in the dark tower series. cell is a stand alone kind of horror where everyone who was near cell phone at a particular time begin turning into a band of zombies

[Dylan]

I do like the idea of that surviving home series

[Michelle]

Dylan: Did you go see the Dark Tower movie? I read the book and have mixed feelings about the movie.

everyone: I just finished a really interesting book called Gork: The Teenage Dragon which, if you like Hitchhiker's Guide, is a great read. The author puts a lot of effort into creating his world and bridging the genres of science fiction and fantasy. My only issue with the book is that parts of if felt rushed. Has anyone else read the book yet? What did you think?

[Dylan]

I did watch the film it was an over edited car crash. so rushed and confusing

[Max]

Michelle: I haven't read "Gork," but it sounds like something I would like! Any comparison to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a plus.

Dylan: Once we read "The Gunslinger," I think we're going to start a new thread specifically for book-to-movie comparisons. Movie adaptations of books seem to be coming out almost every week nowadays, so I think we'd have plenty to talk about.

[Dylan]

Max wrote: "Michelle: I haven't read "Gork," but it sounds like something I would like! Any comparison to "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a plus.

Dylan: Once we read "The Gunslinger," I think we're goin..."

sounds good just seen it there

[Atif]

I am on a break for the week but have planned to start Yuval Noah's Sapiens. Will see how it turns out.

[Imogen]

I'm reading Tunnels of Blood at the moment. I think the plot is alright, it's not as good as The Vampire's Assistant but that just my personal opinion.

[Dylan]

sapiens is a great book loved it's information an opinions on how far we have come as a species

[Heather]

I just started Emma by Jane Austen. I've recently been getting into the classics!

[Dylan]

just read Jonathan strange and Mr norrell it was the best

[Max]

Imogen - I haven't read the "Cirque du Freak" books, but I've heard that it's a good series for people who didn't like the sparkly vampires of Twilight and want more "badass" vampire characters. Is that true?

Heather - "Emma" is a great book, you'll have to let us know what you think of it when you finish reading! We'll definitely be reading our fair share of classics here :)

Dylan - I've heard good things about Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell! I've also heard that the writing style is not so different from Jane Austen, actually... What did you like about it in particular?

[Dylan]

I am actually reading a bit of pride and prejudice at the moment and I concur with the similarities in writing style. What did I like? To be specific the building and mixing of worlds, not knowing what was just fairy tale, legend or actual history and piece by piece the stakes rise for it all to come to a great conclusion. Or as some book reviewers have categorized it as Hogwarts for Grown-Ups.

[Max]

Dylan wrote: "I am actually reading a bit of pride and prejudice at the moment and I concur with the similarities in writing style. What did I like? To be specific the building and mixing of worlds, not knowing ..."

It sounds like something I would enjoy! The page count is certainly intimidating, but I've always liked slow-burn stories.

[Dylan]

it is a great slow burn but also has great little history's and story's inbetween the chapters to really build up the belief in this world.

[Adriana (Mea)]

"Hogwarts for Grown ups"? Now you've piqued my interest! Adding "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" to my To Read list. I've been wanting to read a good fantasy/magic filled book for a while.

[Dylan]

it is a very good magical book and I just read it's also been made into a highly rated TV show

[Adriana (Mea)]

Would anyone like to share any good books they are currently reading? Perhaps give a few lines on why you like it? We are looking into picking the next batch of books and would love some of your input!

[Julie]

Rabbit Cake
Annie Hartnett
4/5 stars
Elvis, a young girl and her sister Lizzie live an unusual life with weird but wonderful parents. However, one night when her father drinks too much, he is unaware that his wife, who walks in her sleep, got up and left the house only to drown while trying to swim in the lake. The house is thrown in chaos as they deal with her death. To make matters worse, Lizzie starts to sleep walk. But there are some bright spots with Elvis, who starts volunteering at the zoo and Lizzie, who is trying to make a world record by making the most rabbit cakes ever made. Fast read. I enjoyed this and I could see this as a film.

[Max]

On the Road
Jack Kerouac

This is one of those American classic novels that always gets recommended on "Best Books of All Time" lists and the like. Now that I've finally started reading it, I am underwhelmed. It reminds me of reading The Great Gatsby, where the experience did not live up to the massive amount of hype.

"On the Road" is meandering, written almost like stream-of-consciousness, and full of pointless details. The characters so far are pretty unlikeable, and there are some moments that reeeaaally haven't aged well (i.e. racist, homophobic). The book examines the beatnik subculture and provides some fascinating insight on the attitudes of Americans in the 40s and 50s, but that's all the positives I can think of. I don't really recommend it.

[Tracy]

I want to know if anyone else has read the Grisha trilogy. I just finished the first one and LOVED it! On to the second!

[Julie]

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamela Smith Hill
2.5/5 stars
This is the annotated version of Laura Wilder's autobiography. I was excited to read it and I love it when there is extra material to flesh out a book but this book just dragged for me. The annotations were excessive, pulled you away from the story and were sometimes much longer than the actual written selection. I do think this book is historically valuable and if you are Wilder fanatic or scholar, you will probably love it but for the average reader you might just want to skip it.

[Dylan]

read b.o.b. we are legion we are bob. sci-fi , loads of fun reminds me of ready player one and the martian

[Max]

Dylan wrote: "read b.o.b. we are legion we are bob. sci-fi , loads of fun reminds me of ready player one and the martian"

What a quirky title. If it reminds you of Ready Player One then I would probably be interested, I'm reading that book now and I'm really enjoying it.

[Max]

Julie wrote: "
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamela Smith Hill
2.5/5 stars
T..."

I am actually trying to get into reading some biographies! I started one about Jim Henson from the Muppets a few years back, but never made it past the 50 page mark. I'm planning to start one about John and Jackie Kennedy, which will hopefully hold my interest better.

I don't know much about Laura Wilder, but it sounds like that one probably isn't worth reading. Are you a fan of her books? Also if you've read any other biographies you've liked, feel free to share here!

[Julie]

Max wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamela Smith Hill..."

I like Laura Ingalls Wilder but this was not the book to read about her life but I have not read any other biography on her though I am sure there are better ones out there.
I love bios, here are some I read and can recommend -
Even This I Get to Experience by Norman Lear
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
John Adams by David McCullough
BossyPants by Tina Fey
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

[Max]

Julie wrote: "Max wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder Edited by Pamel..."

I'm very interested in some of these! I have the John Adams book at home, it's been waiting for me for years. I've always liked Tina Fey, so Bossypants sounds like fun, and I'd love to read the one about Maya Angelou. And the Glass Castle is probably going to be a upcoming group read! It's come highly recommended by many people.

The Professor and the Madman sounds crazy! Who is it about exactly? Also I'm happy that you put Angela's Ashes on that list- it was our second ever group read on this page! (Did you know there was a movie adaptation of it?) I loved it a lot, and I want to read the 2nd one by Frank McCourt as well, called 'Tis A Memoir.

[Julie]

Max wrote: "Julie wrote: "Max wrote: "Julie wrote: "
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography
Laura Ingalls Wilder E..."

The Professor and the Madman was very interesting even though you wouldn't think a book about the making of a dictionary very fascinating but one of the contributors Dr. Minor was a Civil War surgeon and considered criminally insane.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...

[Julie]

The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer
Kate Summerscale
5/5 stars
This is the true crime story of Robert Coombes, who at the age of 13 in 1895 killed his mother in England while his father who was a sailor at sea. Robert and his brother Nattie (12) then went about their lives and eventually Robert convinces John Fox, a friend of the family to come and live with them. Fox does not suspect anything while in the house. When the boy’s Aunt finds out they are alone, she comes to the house and finds the mother dead. The two boys and Fox are arrested for the murder. As the trial proceeds, Fox and Nattie are found not guilty of the crime and Robert goes to an asylum instead of jail for the crime eventually being released to live an eventful and exemplary life. So why did he kill his mother? I had a hard time putting this down. Summerscale does a great job discussing the time period, facts of the crime, the lives of the boys and the aftermath of the trial.

[Julie]

Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
3.5/5 stars
This is the story about Dr. Frankenstein, who as a young man is intrigued with science and the origin of life. He goes away from home to study and has devoted his time in creating a new life. However, when he sees what he has created, he is shocked and repelled by his creation. In turn his creation is mortified by Dr. Frankenstein's reaction to him and thus plans to seek revenge on the doctor.

I have never read this before but have seen several film adaptations and a TV mini-series based on the book so I was curious to read it. Mary Shelley's book is still very readable to this day and is an interesting horror story about the results of scientific experimentation. While movies and TV portray the creature as a horrible monster, Shelley brings out the human in the monster while emphasizing caution in scientific experimentation.

[Kevon]

I'm currently reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and watching the video, animated version.

Kevon

[Adriana (Mea)]

Kevon wrote: "I'm currently reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and watching the video, animated version.

Kevon"

Nice! What are you thinking about The Prophet so far? Is the animated version a good adaptation?

[Alex]

I am currently reading the Letters of Abelard and Heloise, I love reading classics as well as the new books.The last book I read was the history of the franks by Gregory of tours.

[Acacia]

I am reading a book called Blindness by Virginia Woolf. This is a great book. I had to read it a few times to get it, though!

[Scott]

I'm finishing The Woman in the Window as I type (I'm listening to the audiobook), plus I am reading Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

[Alex]

Scott wrote: "I'm finishing The Woman in the Window as I type (I'm listening to the audiobook), plus I am reading Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand."

stephen king has interesting books as well

[Saira]

Reading the origin by Dan Brown.

[Jenni]

I have an advanced copy of Noir, by Christopher Moore. So far it's a riot.

[David]

El 12 de marzo compre It por Stephen King, aun no le he empezado porque estaba leyendo Harry Potter y las reliquias de la muerte, pero hoy termino harry potter y empezare ir que emocion.

[Adriana (Mea)]

David wrote: "El 12 de marzo compre It por Stephen King, aun no le he empezado porque estaba leyendo Harry Potter y las reliquias de la muerte, pero hoy termino harry potter y empezare ir que emocion."

Es tu primera vez leyendo Harry Potter? Que es tu opinion del libro?

Termine de leer IT en febrero! King escribe con munchos detalles- es muy emocionante.

[Adriana (Mea)]

Scott wrote: "I'm finishing The Woman in the Window as I type (I'm listening to the audiobook), plus I am reading Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand."

How is the Fountainhead? I’ve heard both positive/negative comments about Rand’s works, but I’ve always been very curious about The Fountainhead. I actually own a copy, but I’ve yet to read it.