The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Wow, I am always so amazed by all of you who read multiple books at once! I used to be a bit more of a book polygamist when I was growing up, but now I can only do one at a time. My husband-to-be is like that, though, he always has at least 3 or 4 books in progress lying around the house.Like Sue, I'm reading The Girl Who Played with Fire. I'm about halfway through it and enjoying it so far.
Laura wrote: "I read too many books at a time. I'll get back to reading nothing eventually, but it will take me a while.So right now I'm reading-
Gravity's Rainbow, The Hunt for Red October, Invisible Man, Th..."
Laura that is quite the list. The most I can read at once is 2 or 3 books. I'm still reading Mansfield Park on my work computer. I'm not really enjoying it. I'm also reading Schooled, which I am liking.
I finished The Girl who Played with Fire - didn't want to put it down. I've moved on to Sweet Revenge by Fern Michaels for 15.8, followed bySweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson for the same task.
I am currently reading
by Stephenie Meyer and
by Freddy Balle.The Gold Mine I don't really want to read I just have to for work. So I am making it fit into the challenges somewhere. So these are both for the 25.9 for the Bikini (New Moon published 2006 and The Gold Mine published 2005)
Asho--book poygamist! Ha-Ha! Good one!
ohh, i might have to steal that one...I need a new nickname, i'm had book slut for while now!
I finished Looking For Alaska and started "One For The Money"
In addition to The Arctic Event for 25.1, I'm reading Shadow of the Moon for 15.7 and Midnight Sun for 5.1.
I finished three. I did start another one, but it's progress.Currently Reading-
Gravity's Rainbow, The Hunt for Red October, Invisible Man, The Gulag Archipelago, All the King's Men, The Thorn Birds, Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Organic Chemistry (Daley), 2666, The Blue Fairy Book, The Joy of Cooking, Pawn of Prophecy, Stone of Tears, The Valley of Horses, and Organic Chemistry (Carey).
I read Getting Rid Of Bradley at the airport and on the plane for the Reading-in-Public task. Now reading Saving Grace for Part A of the Numerology task.
i'm reading Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson for the non-fiction by a fiction author; The River In Winter for the lesser known awards; Zero at the Bone for the also reading at the same time...i finished up Broken (Karin Slaughter) this morning on watch for the two books with the same title, also read broken by megan hart
Yay!!! Finished
now starting something I want to read
just finished
. Since my other TBR's are on my kindle, I have a couple of other books I started
and
for a couple of other challenges
I'm reading 2666 for the Swimsuit task, Stardust for when I need a break from 2666 and listening to Shanghai Girls on my commutes to/from work.
Finally finished In the Presence of Mine Enemies and started Haunted Ground: A Novel. I am also listening to The Hunger Games.
Petra wrote: "I'm reading 2666 for the Swimsuit task, Stardust for when I need a break from 2666 and listening to Shanghai Girls on my commutes to/from work."Petra, how was 2666? I've had that on my tbr list since I heard of it and was going to use it for the swimsuit task as well but I have been in the middle of Anna Karenina for some time and just recently picked it up again so might just use that.
Terri, I've only just finished Part 2 (of 5) of 2666. I'm not sure I can answer your question yet.
Its written in a very lyrical prose that keeps the reader an arm's length from the characters.
Bolano isn't laying it out for the reader, though. It's beautiful writing but it's dense. After reading Part 1, I put it down and read something lighter.
After finishing Part 2, I tried to figure out how the two parts fit together. It's not obvious. The two stories are seperate from each other. But I think I see a "plan" for the book. Now I'm hyped to continue to see if I'm right (I may be way out in left field..it's really not obvious). And, if I'm anywhere near being correct in my assumptions, the Crime section will be brutal to read. If that's true, at that point, I'll be glad for the arm's length distance between the reader and the characters. Bolano is very descriptive in his writing.
At the moment, I can't say more. I think this is a love it or hate it type of book and I'm still on the fence about it. Don't take that as a discouragement. It's an intriguing book. I'd love a Reading Buddy for this book; someone to discuss ideas/thoughts with.
Petra wrote: "Terri, I've only just finished Part 2 (of 5) of 2666. I'm not sure I can answer your question yet.
Its written in a very lyrical prose that keeps the reader an arm's length from th..."
Cool, thanks! I'll let you know if I pick it up. I know I will read it sometime, just not sure when.
I'm currently reading Ghost Light: A Memoir by Frank Rich for Ms. Anderson's task: musical theater. I've had this book on my shelf for 10+ years and while it's been entertaining, it's a big disappointment. Instead of how musicals have impacted his life, it's more like here's his life and oh, by the way, at the end of each chapter I went to a musical. I am, however, learning quite a bit about Washington, DC in the '50s and he grew up right near the apartment I lived in in college, so that has at least been interesting. I have 100 pages left, then I'm on to The Girl Who Played with Fire and I can't wait.
I am behind on this thread. I finished "One For The Money" "By The Shores of Silver Lake" and "Peach Cobbler Murder" . I am reading through "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" and I am starting "Songs of The Humpback Whale"
I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Skloot. I just joined today. I don't know if this fits any of the challenge requirements yet. I keep a journal of when I finish my books, so I am hoping som of the books I read since June 1 will count! :)
Melissa wrote: "I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Skloot. I just joined today. I don't know if this fits any of the challenge requirements yet. I keep a journal of when I finish my books, so ..."Welcome, Melissa! I'm sure Henrietta Lacks fits into a few Tasks. I have it slated for Task 5.3, if that helps.
Looking forward to reading your reviews.
I'm still working on Midnight Sun (5.1), Shadow of the Moon (15.7) and I'm getting ready to start Vanish to finish off 25.1.
I have had no time to read lately, so I am WAY behind on things. I have four books going so far, and am desperately trying to keep up: To Hold the Crown: The Story of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York by Jean Plaidy. I think I am liking this book better than some of the people in the group I am reading it for. I like the story, but am surprised at the characterization of the main focus since it is not represented the way I remember it. Interestingly, I either read this book in the not too distant future (I don't think so though) or a read a book that went through the exact same parts of Henry VIII's young life, because that part of the book, and the chapter about Perkin Warbeck in Scotland, I am finding VERY FAMILIAR, like almost word for word.
Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser. I am slowly slogging through this one. I have to say, I am enjoying the information, but it is a very slow read. Small type and lots of info to digest. Additionally, everyone is telling me how heavy the end is, so I am almost afraid to get there.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. I am only about 20 pages into this one, but I have wanted to read it for a long time. So far I like her writing and portrayals, but I am still at the stage where she is introducing all of the characters.
The Overton Window by Glenn Beck. This book is a real departure for Beck who usually writes either non-fiction political books or really sweet, sentimental fiction. It is a political thriller (the politics part is not a departure) and is a lot better than the reviews it is getting. I think the bad reviews are due to the fact that Beck does not positively portray government and the media in the book. He is equally critical of both the liberal and the conservative side, and even disses his own statipn, Fox News. I think a lot of people will be surprised by this book as they will probably be expecting it to be a liberal bashing treatise.
I finished "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" and "Songs of the Humpback Whale"
Just finished
now will be reading
don't know where I would fit this in yet though
I am reading "The Outcast" and listening to "Sarah's Key"
I finished both "The Outcast" and "sarah's Key" and I started "The Outcast" (different book) by Sadie Jones and "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult
i'm reading Kansas Heat - my book with a state title in its name (I finished my one last night that was set in an original colony)
Zero at the Bone - which is my same time, same place book (which worked out well since it was already on my TBR pile)
While My Sister Sleeps - for the all ends with family challenge
I'm reading Great Expectations for the Classics challenge.Silent Lies for the SUMMER challenge,
Hidden Riches for the re-reading challenge.
I'm still reading 2666 & am on Part 4 now. I began to really like it part way through Part 3. It's still a book that I take a break from every once in awhile.For that purpose (a break from 2666), I'm currently reading The Castle of Otranto.
I'm reading Great Expectations by Dickensand Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln by John Stauffer.
I noticed that no one has picked this one for their "Lincoln Task." It's really a great read. It's not like a boring textbook at all. I'm about halfway through it.
I'm reading Great Expectations by Dickens, too. Also reading Bloodroot by Susan Wittig Albert.Thanks for the "Lincoln Task" recommendation. I'm still looking for something for part A.
Finished Haunted Ground and started The Little Stranger. I am also listening to Skeletons at the Feast.
I gave up on my "The Outcast" book. I switched to Wicca for Beginners
Reading Every Man Dies Alone for 25.3 Virtual Foreign Vacation and listening to Nine Dragons for 15.5 Author's were Great Readers
Reading Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain for #10.7 and If Books Could Kill for #10.9 - I'd like to learn more about repairing/restoring old or damaged books, and the main character's occupation is book restoration.
I'm still reading 2666. It's really good now and I hate to put it down.However, I have to get The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing: From the Files of Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator back to the Library soon and cannot renew it, so I started that yesterday. It's really humorous.
I'm also listening to The Day of the Triffids during my commute. This is a reread and I'm being reminded of the fact that I really enjoy John Wyndham books.
I finished Wicca For Beginners" and moved on to "A Bone To Pick" and still working on "Nineteen Minutes".
I just picked Voyager off my bookshelf after borrowing it from a friend 8 months ago! I'm finally getting to it; she'll be thrilled! At 1059 pages, it may take me a couple months to finish, but I'll try my best to speed things up. ;)
have you read the other two books that come before it? Because it is def one that you need the background on to understand...i'm reading The Cat Who Could Read Backwards for a book with Who in the title for Coralies Q&A task (I've read one with a name in the title already); also have The Mulberry Tree (for learn your numbers); and The War That Came Early: West and East for the alternate history in the birth month and days
Yes, I've read the first two and I LOVED them! I'm hoping that this series doesn't really slow down, because I'm really excited to get back to Jamie and Claire!
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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So right now I'm reading-
Gravity's Rainbow, The Hunt for Red October, Invisible Man, The Gulag Archipelago, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, All the King's Men, The Thorn Birds, Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Organic Chemistry, 2666, The Blue Fairy Book, The Joy of Cooking, Washington Square, Pawn of Prophecy, Stone of Tears, The Valley of Horses, and Moving Pictures.