<closed thread>What are you currently reading? Showing 3,951-4,000 of 6,642

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "The House On Mango Street" and started "Hush Puppy" by Laurien Berenson

[Bea]

Will finish today: - 4* and - 3*

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina (Kindle edition) - reading on sleepless nights
2. Wanting
3. Wintergirls
4. Loving and Leaving the Good Life
5. 100 Selected Poems - short book owned
6. Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac - short book owned
7. The Stranger - short book library

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

More of a memoir than a how-to-do-it book. Good in its own right, but not as applicable to my own time of life as I had hoped.

[Bea]

Finished: - 3* and - 4*

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished Hush Puppy and starting "Unleashed" by Laurien Berenson

[Book Concierge]

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng – 4****
“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Ng explores the nuances of family dynamics – how a parent’s own disappointments may translate into dreams for a child’s future, how a child may feel burdened by those dreams, how siblings may compete for or retreat from parental attention. Cassandra Campbell does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, and I felt connected to the characters by her performance.
Full Review HERE

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

This was an interesting piece of history that I did not know, but definitely a children's book. Middle grades, I would guess.

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina (Kindle edition) - reading on sleepless nights: 46% done
2. Wintergirls
3. 100 Selected Poems - short book owned
4. A Deadly Grind
5. The War of the Saints
6. Wife of the Gods
7. A Brief History of Montmaray
8. The Broken Window
9. The Collector

Short books to be considered this week:
O Pioneers! - from library
The Final Solution - from library
The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America - from husband

[Bea]

Finished: - 5*

This was a hard book to read due to the pain of Lia. I could only take a few pages at a time. I rated it 5* due to the superb writing of a difficult subject.

[Robin (Saturndoo)]

Bea wrote: "Finished: - 5*

This was a hard book to read due to the pain of Lia. I could only take a few pages at a time. I rated it 5* due to the superb writing of a difficult ..."

I struggled with this book. I didn't care for the writing style and all the strike outs. Although I did enjoy other books written by this one was my least favorite and I rated 2 stars. Glad you made it through it Bea :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "Unleashed" by Laurien Berenson and starting "Once Bitten" by the same author.

[Book Concierge]

Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook – 4****
In August 1966 Charles Whitman shot and killed or wounded dozens of students, faculty and first responders from the clock tower on the University of Texas campus in Austin. This novel explores the effects of that event on the lives of three fictitious characters. What a wonderfully complex character-driven story. As the story follows them through the decades we come to know their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears.
Full Review HERE

[Book Concierge]

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman – 4****
It's book number two in Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn series ... need I say more? This is a good mystery with a little Native American cultural information in the mix. I love the way Leaphorn thinks things through before acting. George Guidall does a good job on the audio. He has good pacing and I really like the way he voices Leaphorn.
Full Review HERE

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*, - 4*, - 3*, - 5*

[Robin (Saturndoo)]

Oh my.......I haven't got to stop in and see the books you all have finished for a few days so I am catching up :) You all are such enablers of adding more books to my ever growing TBR. That's ok though, I admit it, I am a bookaholic and truly enjoy this thread!!!!!

[Bea]

Finished: - 4* and - 4*

Both were excellent books!

I am becoming more of a Nora Roberts fan, even though I am not fond of romance. She has a way of writing a thoroughly interesting story of which the romance is just an added feature of the character development that sucks me right in.

Jeffery Deaver also writes very well with good character development, but his stories are scary realities of what could be. This one is about computer data mining. Too possible and very scary idea.

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina - reading on sleepless nights: 51% done (slowly making headway)
2. Bootlegger's Daughter
3. 100 Selected Poems - short book owned
4. Over Easy
5. Esau
6. The Law of the Dead
7. Billiards at Half-Past Nine
8. The Saturday Morning Murder
9. One Step Behind

Short books to be considered this week:
O Pioneers! - from library
The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America - from husband
Cooking With Memories: Recipes And Recollections - own
George - from library

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "Once Bitten" and starting "Hot Dog" both by Laurien Berenson

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "Hot Dog" by Laurien Berenson and starting "Uprooted" by Naomi Novik

[Bea]

Finished: - 3* and - 3*

[Bea]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I finished "Hot Dog" by Laurien Berenson and starting "Uprooted" by Naomi Novik"

I like Naomi Novik's Temeraire series about the dragons.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

@Bea I got the first book in that series from the library today.

I picked up Best in Showby Laurien Berenson

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*, - 3*, and - 4*

[Megs]

Just finished Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner which was really great. I definitely recommend if you like anything to do with forensics.

Starting And Then There Were None which is one of my favorite Agatha Christie stories ever that I've never actually read (or read so long ago that I don't remember if I've read it or not).

Both of these books will combine to complete task 30.5

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

Enjoyable graphic novel of a European trip. I particularly liked the colored graphic pages.

Started George.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "Best in Show" by Laurien Berenson

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina - reading on sleepless nights: 54% done (slowly making headway), owned
2. One Step Behind - from library
3. 100 Selected Poems - short book, owned
4. The Law of the Dead - owned
5. Esau - owned
6. George - from library
7. The Little Paris Bookshop - from library
8. In the Bleak Midwinter - from library
9. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler - from library

Short books to be considered this week:
The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America - from husband, owned
Cooking With Memories: Recipes And Recollections - owned

Library books will get preference this week as they are due next week.

[Book Concierge]

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious – 3***
While I can certainly see that the inclusion of domestic abuse, incest, abortion, teen sex, etc would be shocking and titillating to a mid-1950s readership, I kept wondering “What’s all the fuss about?”. Metalious was trying to show the strength and growing independence of three women in a culture that tried to restrict them. I’m not sure she was entirely successful, though the story line did continue to pull me along, and overall I was entertained.
Full Review HERE

[SweatyNerdie]

Hi! I just completed Epilogue. Here's the review. :)

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*, - 4*, - 4*, - 4*, and - 3*

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina - reading on sleepless nights: 57% done (slowly making headway), owned
2. Esau - owned
3. 100 Selected Poems - short book, owned
4. The Law of the Dead - owned
5. Classics: A Very Short Introduction - short book, library
6. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax - short book, library
7. Humboldt's Gift - owned
8. The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America - from husband, short book, owned
9. The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam - library
10. A Novel Bookstore - library

Short books to be considered this week:
Cooking With Memories: Recipes And Recollections
Thunder Rides a Black Horse: Mescalero Apaches & the Mythic Present
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

[Book Concierge]

How come this thread never has the little red new marker on it?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Finished "Wedding Cake Murder" and going back to "Uprooted"

[SweatyNerdie]

Hi! I've just completed . Here's my review.

[Book Concierge]

Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley – 4****
Haley’s blockbuster history of his ancestors begins with the birth of a baby boy – Kunta Kinte – in a small African village in the Spring of 1750, and ends two centuries later in Arkansas. It’s a gripping tale and Haley is a great story teller. I was engaged from page one and found myself very interested in all aspects of the book. Haley’s narrative focuses on three of his male ancestors: Kunta Kinte, Chicken George, and Tom (Haley’s great-grandfather). Avery Brooks does a magnificent job narrating the audio book. He is an accomplished actor and really brings the characters to life. (5***** for his audio performance)
Full Review HERE

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I finished "Uprooted" and starting "Chopping Spree" by Diane Mott Davidson

[Bea]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I finished "Uprooted" and starting "Chopping Spree" by Diane Mott Davidson"

Jayme, how did you like Uprooted? I have it on one of my plans to read.

[Bea]

Book Concierge wrote: "How come this thread never has the little red new marker on it?"

Hmm. I thought it was something I did. Although it is frustrating to me, it is nice to know I am not the only one experiencing it.

[Bea]

Finished: and

I gave both 3* but for different reasons.

Classics: A Very Short Introduction was about early Greece and to some extent Roman culture. Since my background in this type of classical thinking/exploration is shallow, I found some of the discussion hard to follow. Overall, I learned something new, but it was not an easy read for me.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was a nice cozy read, even if a bit far-fetched. However, it was a fun read.

[SweatyNerdie]

Hi! I finished last night. I wrote a review, too. It's here, if anybody's interested. :)

[Bea]

Finished: - 3* and - 3*

The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America was very thoughtful reading. At times I did not fully agree with Mr. O'Reilly, but he did make some good arguments for his position.

Girl Genius Omnibus Volume One: Agatha Awakens - I originally gave this one 4* but, as I slept on that rating, I decided it was not quite there and reduced it to 3*.

[Bea]

Finished: - 3*

I am doing a Panels challenge that involves 18 comic/graphic novel tasks. I chose to do this to expand my reading genres. So far, the majority have earned 3* from me with the notable exception of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. I think the reason for that is only partly the storyline. Perhaps this genre just is not fully my cup of tea; but, since I am halfway through the tasks, I will continue.

[Book Concierge]

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch – 1*
A mother’s love knows no bounds. As she rocks her infant son, cradled in her arms, she sings of her eternal love. It’s a lovely sentiment and certainly one that every child deserves to feel – safe and secure, knowing his mother will love him no matter what, and throughout his lifetime. But … There’s something vaguely disturbing about a mother who will crawl into her adult son’s bedroom to rock him as he sleeps…. I think other authors have dealt with this theme more successfully.
Full Review HERE

[Nickisha]

Just done reading this. moving on to book 2 now.

I'm not personally a fan of love triangles/ cheating but when I start a book, I can't simply put it down. However, I did enjoy this one. Why? Completely tugged at my emotions, never knew that I could've hated a fictional character so much.

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*

The story and drawings fit together well to bring to life this graphic novel. Interesting...characters defined...action fit characters...and story was fun. Although I used to like the Batman character, in this book he comes across as a bit uncaring and judgemental.

[Bea]

Finishing today: - 3* and - 4*

The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam tells of the personal aftermath of a Vietnamese soldier post the war in Vietnam in the 60s. It is an important book which is written in such a way that any veteran with PTSD would understand easily. My library copy was obviously read by a veteran who underlined sentences noting the commonality of PTSD thoughts and feeling. At first I was upset that someone would underline a library book, but ultimately it helped make the book more real.

Esau was a book I had started several years ago but just could not get into it. I am glad that I gave it another try.

[Bea]

Currently reading:
1. Anna Karenina - reading on sleepless nights: 64% done (slowly making headway), owned
2. Cooking With Memories: Recipes And Recollections - owned
3. 100 Selected Poems - short book, owned
4. The Law of the Dead - owned
5. Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory - library
6. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey - library
7. Humboldt's Gift - owned
8. The Skull of Charlotte Corday and other stories - owned
9. A Novel Bookstore - library
10. The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives - library

Short books to be considered this week: (all library books)
The Sandman, Vol. 8: Worlds' End
The Prince
The Violin of Auschwitz
Our Souls at Night

[Book Concierge]

The Country Under My Skin by Giaconda Belli – 3***
Subtitled: A Memoir of Love and War, this is Belli’s account of her decades as a high-level member of the Sandinistas fighting for reform in Nicaragua, and of the passionate love affairs she had during this time. Belli is a good writer and her story-telling is top notch. I was fascinated and I learned something about the revolution in Nicaragua. But … In the end I couldn’t reconcile my admiration for her as a writer with my dislike of her as a person. So I’m conflicted, and am taking the middle road with 3 stars.
Full Review HERE

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*

[SweatyNerdie]

Hi! I finished yesterday. I wrote a review just now. It's here, if anybody's interested. :)

[Book Concierge]

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter – 4****
What a delightful story! Moving back and forth in time, and with multiple styles and points of view, Walter has crafted a love story with wide appeal. I was engaged and entertained from page one, and was so sorry to see it end. Edoardo Ballerini was simply marvelous performing the audio version. I loved the way he voiced Pasquale, Dee, Michael Deane and the many supporting cast members.
Full Review HERE

[Bea]

Finished: - 4*, - 2*, - 4*, and - 4*