What Are You Reading? - 2018 Showing 1,251-1,300 of 2,032

[Dem]

Finished and enjoyed A Medal for Leroy

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2491787172

[Cherie]

I finished My Family and Other Animals last night. I had just added The House of the Spirits to my currently reading list but before I could crack the book open my neighbor arrived at my door. I couldn't run down the hallway and hide because the door was open and she could see me sitting in my chair. Too late to read by the time she went home.

[Margo]

I have finished The Broken Girls which I found a bit disappointing. I was looking forward to a really scary story and I didn't get it! I wasn't very impressed with the narration and I'm not sure how much that impacted on my enjoyment of the whole experience. It was read by Sarah Borges who is new to me.

I am 42% into Lock In. Great concept :-)

[Sarah]

Shame about Broken Girls Margo. Kristie rated it highly. I guess i'll have to see what i think. Lock In is fab isn't it?

[Cherie]

Just as I got a chance to crack the covers of The House of the Spirits, my library informed me that it was due and I cannot renew it because there are two other holds on it. I have to give it back and check it out another time.
I finished The Ape Who Guards the Balance, and The Falcon at the Portal both in audiobook.

[Margo]

Sarah wrote: "Shame about Broken Girls Margo. Kristie rated it highly. I guess i'll have to see what i think. Lock In is fab isn't it?"

I think me biggest mistake was reading it right after The Outsider. It isn't much of s ghost story. Ignore the blerb. Treat it as a mystery with a bit of a spooky twist!

Re Lock In. I think it is going to pretty :-D

[Kristie, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Shame about Broken Girls Margo. Kristie rated it highly. I guess i'll have to see what i think. Lock In is fab isn't it?"

I think me biggest mistake was reading it right after The Ou..."

Interesting. I had a very different experience with that one. I read a physical copy, so I didn't have any narration issues but I loved it. I thought at it's heart it was absolutely a ghost story. I felt that you needed to be able to suspend your disbelief because of that.

Of course, I also didn't read it right after The Outsider. I'm sure that would have affected my opinion of the book because King is such a great storyteller.

[Kristie, Moderator]

So, I had to go peek to see I was the odd man out on The Broken Girls, which happens sometimes. It has a 4.1 overall rating and my my friends average rating is 4.18. So, for this one I am actually with the majority which is nice for a change. lol

I think that the books you read before and your general mood can definitely effect how you feel about a story. I wonder if you would have enjoyed it more if you had read it at a different time.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished The View on the Way Down. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it as much as I expected to.

I started Playing with Fire. It fits the monthly theme and the zodiac challenge. It seems to be a story that gets right to it without a lot of fill. I'm curious to see where it goes.

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "I have finished The Broken Girls which I found a bit disappointing. I was looking forward to a really scary story and I didn't get it! I wasn't very impressed with the narration and..."

I think it was more a mystery than a horror story or ghost story. If you were expecting ghost and scary, then you would be disappointed.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "So, I had to go peek to see I was the odd man out on The Broken Girls, which happens sometimes. It has a 4.1 overall rating and my my friends average rating is 4.18. So, for this one I am actually ..."

I gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed it and thought some of the flesh and blood characters brought more tension to the story than the ghost did.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Trail of Broken Wings. Family drama isn't one of my go-to genres, but I found myself involved in this story. It had a strong emotional response for me. Yes, I cried copious amounts of tears. I did find that some of the characters were annoying. (view spoiler)[ My reaction was, "FFS, just tell her already!" (hide spoiler)] The other drawback was that the ending was a bit preachy. Just on the strength of my tears, I gave it 4 stars.

Next up is One Kick. More books are getting toppled off the good ol' TBR.

[Peggy]

I'm reading The Thread for the group read. It also fits the ZZ challenge.

[Heather]

I just started Circe. So many people and so many good reviews, I hope I like it as much.

[Peggy]

I loved it Heather. Hope you do too! We buddy read it a few months ago, if you're interested or want to chat about it.

[Heather]

I'd love that! Thanks Peggy!

[Margo]

Kristie wrote: "So, I had to go peek to see I was the odd man out on The Broken Girls, which happens sometimes. It has a 4.1 overall rating and my my friends average rating is 4.18. So, for this one I am actually ..."

Possibly Kristie. I am actually only 0.6 below average with my 3.5 rating. I wish GR would allow 1/2 stars as it is a very fine line between "I liked it" and "I would recommend it".
I don't know why I got it into my head it was horror. I must have been mixing it up with some other book reveiw I'd listened to. As for the mystery, as I said, I found it only okay. I thought some large leaps were taken in deduction. Overall though, above average - 3 being average.

This is the second book in a row that is popular on GR but I have only found to be a bit above average.

I've started Norse Mythology, again this is 4.5 on GR ;-)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I often rate popular books lower than average, Margo. It's all about your personal enjoyment and we all like different things. I've read a couple of books with really high ratings and not enjoyed them at all. 🤷‍♀️

I also wish they would do half stars, but I don't believe they ever will. I think it's a programming issue. It's not as easy for them to do as it would seem.

[Roz]

I finished The Dry today. I had stated it once before but couldn't get into it for some reason. Wrong time I guess. But this time I borrowed the audio version and gave it a second go. After I got used to the Aussie accent (didn't take long) I couldn't put it down. Fantastic. I was so glad I didn't figure out exactly who did it (multiple its really). I had my suspicions but was surprised in the end. I'm always so disappointed when I figure out the end half way through. It was one of those books that doesn't have a neat ending. Some questions are left unanswered but it didn't matter. What was left undone or unsaid was insignificant, to me.
I'm going to start listening to Before We Were Yours tomorrow. I've been waiting for months and months for a copy to become available.

[Margo]

Roz, I'm glad you enjoyed The Dry. I also didn't have a notion who did it and, like you, I much prefer it that way :-) I think I was more taken with the atmosphere than the crimes. I drank a lot of water while I listened to that one lol

[Tricia]

Heather wrote: "I just started Circe. So many people and so many good reviews, I hope I like it as much."

Yep, I just started it, too. I meant to start it at the beginning of the month, but I got a little sidetracked. Looking forward to it and hoping it lives up to expectations.

[Cherie]

I just finished The Siren for my ZZ challenge. I never would have touched it if it had not been for the yearly challenge, but I am not sorry that I read it. Three stars for a target audience of 14-17 year olds. The Ocean, as a character, was interesting, but too many questions. The story was about love.

I am going to start my last Freida Klein series book now. The Day of the Dead.

[Roz]

I’m reading The Charlemagne Pursuit just because it’s the next in the Cotton Malone series. But then I realized all of the action tales place in December! I can use it for my Good Heavens December book! So happy : )

[Margo]

I have just finished listening to Norse Mythology. I see very divided opinin among Gaiman fans for this book. I Loved it. It was an easy to follow retelling of the old stories with a touch of Gaiman humour added. Blood thirsty, earthy and full of God-like bad behavior. Loki was portrayed quite sympathetically. It has reminded my that I must read Joanne Harris, The Testament of Loki.

I am starting Ubik.

[Sarah]

Glad you enjoyed Norse Mythology Margo. Yes I need to read the Harris Loki book too at some point.

[Travis]

I've started The Miniaturist have no idea what it's about but was in my library so we shall see. Or hear

[Sandra, Moderator]

I loved THE MINIATURIST, Travis, and I know Lisa also loved it and read it more than once.

[Travis]

Yeah I thought this group may have influenced that purchase

[Margo]

I loved The Miniaturist aswell Travis. I did find the author narration a bit annoying though. If I am remembering correctly her pacing was really bad. Hope you got the print version.

[Peggy]

Yes, that's definitely a great book!

[Travis]

Margo wrote: "I loved The Miniaturist aswell Travis. I did find the author narration a bit annoying though. If I am remembering correctly her pacing was really bad. Hope you got the print version."

Davina Porter narrates mineit says

[Jenn]

Margo wrote: "It has reminded my that I must read Joanne Harris, The Testament of Loki...."

Oh, yes, I have The Gospel of Loki and The Testament of Loki nearing the top of my TBR list as well.

[Tricia]

Margo wrote: "I have just finished listening to Norse Mythology. I see very divided opinin among Gaiman fans for this book. I Loved it. It was an easy to follow retelling of the old stories with ..."

So glad you enjoyed it, Margo. I did as well. It was different than some of his other books which is why I think it got mixed reviews, but I thought it was well-done. Plus, he had great stories to work with. I wasn't aware of the Joanne Harris books, but I might have to add them to my TBR.

[Cherie]

Sandra wrote: "I loved THE MINIATURIST, Travis, and I know Lisa also loved it and read it more than once."

Me too!

[Margo]

Travis sivarT wrote: "Margo wrote: "I loved The Miniaturist aswell Travis. I did find the author narration a bit annoying though. If I am remembering correctly her pacing was really bad. Hope you got the..."

Oh, Davina is wonderful! Enjoy :-)

[Margo]

I've just started He Said/She Said on audio to occupy my mind while I do some housework.

Continuing to read Ubik on my kindle (plus audio) but I finding it very confusing. Mad plot! Also it is very dated in it's treatment of female characters - typical of the 60's

[Sarah]

Margo wrote: "Continuing to read Ubik on my kindle (plus audio) but I finding it very confus..."

I started listening to a really old audiobook of this but I had to abandon it. It wasn't great quality and the narrator annoyed me. I found I tuned out a lot. That with a confusing storyline was not very helpful in me being able to understand what was going on. I decided I'd pick up the print book instead some time.

[Margo]

Sarah wrote: "Margo wrote: "Continuing to read Ubik on my kindle (plus audio) but I finding it very confus..."

I started listening to a really old audiobook of this but I had to abandon it. It wasn..."

I'm listning to the audible version narrated by Luke Daniels. He makes everything sound fun but the plot is really confusing. I am using it for the "waterbearer" task so I will stick with it for a while longer but I have an alternative lined up just in case.

[Dem]

Finished A Ladder to the Sky
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2497261305

[Cherie]

I finished The Day of the Dead and killed off the Frieda Klein series. It was a disappointing ending for me after all of the excitement and drama of the previous series books. It was hard to know where the authors were going to take it. It ended well for the character, but I wish it were done differently. Hard to explain.

I downloaded The Dogs of Riga in audiobook from my library last night. This is the second book in the Kurt Wallander series. I thought I had read the first book in the series, but it looks like I did not. For some reason this title jumped out for me. I like the narrator's voice all though I do not know his name yet.

[Dem]

Finished Where the Crawdads Sing

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2501209962

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished reading One Kick. I was pleased to discover that it was set in Puget Sound and the heart of the Pacific Northwest, so I was able to use it for the Zodiac Challenge. I'm sad, though, because the second book in the series will not be published.

I'm going to read The Tuscan Child next. It was today's Daily Deal on Audible.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I finished Sing, Unburied, Sing and gave it 3 stars. I would have liked it much better without the "ghosts" aspect, that didn't serve the story this time.

I will try to finish Quincas Borba in the next few days, and then I might go with Lock In, but I am not sure I am in the right mood for it right now. We'll see.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice, I’m glad to see One Kick fits the zodiac challenge. I own that one. Did they decide not to publish the second book at all?

I meant to pick up The Tuscan Child yesterday, but got busy and forgot about it until today. Too late. They have a new sale though and a couple books on my wish list are on it so I might get a couple.

Sandra, I felt the same way about Sing, Unburied, Sing. A lot of my friends loved it and I had high expectations, but I didn’t love it.

[Peggy]

I'm starting Rivers of London for the ZZ challenge. I'm also still reading The Thread but am not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

[Sarah]

I hope you enjoy rivers of london Peggy.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Janice, I’m glad to see One Kick fits the zodiac challenge. I own that one. Did they decide not to publish the second book at all?

I meant to pick up The Tuscan Child yesterday, but got busy and f..."

I read somewhere that expected publication date was 2030. I don't know why she doesn't self publish, unless there's some legality involved.

ETA - just read her blog. Simon and Shuster will not publish it ever. Putnam (her new publisher) wants their own series and not a partial series started with S & S.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh wow. That’s too bad. Sounds like she got herself into a bit of a mess with her publishers.

[Janice, Moderator]

I agree. I wonder if she should have stayed with S & S until book 2 was published and then followed her editor to Putnam. I don't know much about the publishing business and I'm sure there are factors at play of which we're unaware.

[Dem]

Finished The Himmler Brothers: A German Family History

My review: www.goodreads/review/show/2473666278