What are you reading? - 2020 Showing 751-800 of 1,457

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "I'm reading The Book of Lost Names and The Girls with No Names. I seem to have a bit of a theme going on here, but I don't think I'll be using either for our "What's..."

Funny! Too bad you couldn't fit one of them into the challenge.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I'm still reading East of Eden (buddy read still going on, if anyone is interested) and really loving it. I'm around 75% done and already hating the idea of finishing it. I can clearly see this is the kind of book that leaves me with I-won't-find-anything-like-this-again type of reading slump...

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I'm reading The Book of Lost Names and The Girls with No Names. I seem to have a bit of a theme going on here, but I don't think I'll be using either...

Funny! Too bad you couldn't fit one of them into the challenge."

I probably could, but it'd be a weaker link than I'd like. I still thought it was funny that I happen to be reading two books with "names" in the title and that is coincidentally what our challenge is about this month though. It wasn't planned at all.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'll be interested in your impression of The Girls With No Names.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I forgot to say that while doing chores I have been listening to some short stories: The Unknown Masterpiece by Honoré de Balzac (excellent), and a few by Alexander Pushkin, a new author to me but I am enjoying: The Queen of Spades, The Blizzard and The Coffin Maker.

[Cherie]

I am currently listening to Robinson Crusoe and Interview with the Vampire, both narrated by Simon Vance. (What a contrast in voices!)
Of course, I have seen the movies of both, and I thought that I had read Robinson Crusoe once, but the actual stories are so different than what I remembered. Both books will fit onto my TT yearly challenge.

I am half of the book behind Sandra in East of Eden but I agree - I am totally enjoying it too.

I finally have my group read book and monthly challenge book available from my library, but I have not started them yet. I want to finish EoE first. Oh, and I found a place for it on my TT challenge too.

[Roz]

I'm reading The Dressmaker's Gift and I'll start listening to The Yellow Bird Sings tomorrow when I do some ironing.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "Oh, and I found a place for it on my TT challenge too."

I just realized a couple of days ago that I can fit EoE in Card 16 - Geography Nay Task - There is a direction (North, East, West, or South) in the title. I had another book chosen for this task, but whatever. It was a nice surprise.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I'll be interested in your impression of The Girls With No Names."

I'm 36% in and really enjoying it, but dreading what's to come. (view spoiler)[ Effie just got herself placed in the House of Mercy and we just found out what really happened to Luella. So far, it has been a series of bad decisions and misunderstandings often with good intentions.

I like that we hear the story from the Effie's POV and the mother's. It's so interesting to be able to see why people thought and did what they did. I think it makes the story more well-rounded.

I didn't realize that Effie had a heart condition when starting the book. That makes her situation even more dire. I haven't met Mable yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Sandra wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Oh, and I found a place for it on my TT challenge too."

I just realized a couple of days ago that I can fit EoE in Card 16 - Geography Nay Task - There is a direction (North, East, ..."

Yes, that is where it will go for me too. I thought I had already completed that task.

[Cherie]

Happy ironing, Roz. ;o)

[Sandra, Moderator]

Has anyone here read Eight Perfect Murders? I was about to start it today, but I just reread the blurb and saw that the murders are took from different actual mysteries. Are there spoilers in the book for those mysteries? I haven't read many of them.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Janice wrote: "I'll be interested in your impression of The Girls With No Names."

I'm 36% in and really enjoying it, but dreading what's to come. Effie just got herself placed in the House of Mer..."

I just stumbled across a book called Mercy House and did a double take. I wondered if it was similar to Girls, but Mercy House is set in Brooklyn, run by 3 nuns, and is more a haven than a detention facility.

[Janice, Moderator]

While in Edmonton, I finished The Beekeeper's Apprentice on audiobook while my son went for a long walk. I also finished Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

I will start The Dragon Keeper today on audiobook for our buddy read, and will start The Red Garden on ebook for the trival challenge.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I just stumbled across a book called Mercy House and did a double take. I wondered if it was similar to Girls, but Mercy House is set in Brooklyn, run by 3 nuns, and is more a haven than a detention facility."

Yes, I just picked that one up in the Audible 2:1 sale.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm debating about getting it. There wasn't much I was interested in that sale. I'll go back for a second look.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I haven't gotten many from the sale because there haven't been many I've been interested in either. I just picked up Mercy House and The Kommandant's Girl this time.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I finally finished The Sympathizer, which was a chore and I rated it only 2 stars. I finished it only because it was a RL book club book.

I also finished East of Eden and, not surprisingly, gave it 5 stars. I'm still thinking about it.

I'll try now Eight Perfect Murders. I googled around and it seems it is a little spoiling of some mysteries, but since it is not too much and I don't have a good memory, probably it will be ok if I wait long enough to read them.

[Roz]

I'm reading A Morbid Taste for Bones and The King at the Edge of the World. It was too hot to iron so I've put The Yellow Bird Sings to the side for a day or so. I'm having trouble staying focused on A Morbid Taste for Bones. Maybe it's the writing style/language. But it's short so I'll finish it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just realized that my recent reads make a chain: The Book of Lost Friends -> The Book of Lost Names -> The Girls with No Names. I really should plan a read with "girls" in the title next. lol

[Dem]

Finished Where the Lost Wander
By Amy Harmon

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417566166

[PattyMacDotComma]

What a great way to introduce kids to some of the classics by the much-loved Charles Dickens! I think A World Full of Dickens Stories by Angela McAllister would make an excellent gift.
5★ Link to my Dickens review with several illustrations

[PattyMacDotComma]

I knew I'd enjoy a visit to C.J. Sansom's 16th century London, but by golly it was terrifying in Revelation!
4.5★ Link to my Revelation review

[Dem]

FinishedThe Swap byRobyn Harding

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3409911213

[Sarah]

I finished reading Tricked for the monthly challenge. It has been ages since I read the previous book in the series. It was really nice being back with Atticus and Oberon. I won't leave it ao long this time before reading the next book. I've moved on to another series read with Silver Borne for twisted trivia.

[Cherie]

Mercy Thompson has been getting a workout from us during this year's TT challenge, Sarah. Enjoy!

[Sarah]

Cherie wrote: "Mercy Thompson has been getting a workout from us during this year's TT challenge, Sarah. Enjoy!"

Haha, yes she has indeed.

[Dem]

Finished The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row Anthony Ray Hinton

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3426519321

[Sandra, Moderator]

I finished Eight Perfect Murders and rated it 4 stars. It was a fun page tuner, ideal for after a heavy read as East of Eden was.

While I wait for the buddy read of The Awakening I decided to go with some short stories (so I can stop at any point) and started Things We Lost in the Fire. The first story was powerfully raw.

I should also start soon Gone with the Wind. It is my RL book club pick for August, but being such a long book...

[Cherie]

I finished East of Eden. There are some books that 5 stars are just not enough to say how good it was.

I am half way through Bitterblue, which I am reading for the monthly challenge.

I just finished downloading The Vampire Lestat, which will be my audiobook to listen to while I do chores. I was listening to 1421: The Year China Discovered America as a filler, but it will move to the backburner. It is hard to believe, but the author has very carefully crafted an interesting story.

I am barely started with one of the group read books, The Architect's Apprentice but I have been participating in the The Beekeeper's Apprentice, which I already reread earlier this year.

I am supposed to be participating in the buddy read for Who Fears Death, but I have not started yet. It may have to go back to the library unread unless I take a week of vacation or more hours get added to the day.

[Renee]

I have who Fears Death, I may look into the buddy read. I have become disillusioned with the group reads selections. I am not really sure about time. Life has become very busy again

[Cherie]

I had a long reading evening and into the wee hours and finished Bitterblue. I think this series was originally planned as a trilogy, but the author has left the ending of this long third book open and is working on a forth book, due out in 2021. I will look forward to it. This is a YA series and it was pretty emotional (lots of sad AND happy tears). I almost had a headache from rolling my eyes at times but the author does make me smile a lot too.

[Cherie]

Renee wrote: "I have who Fears Death, I may look into the buddy read. I have become disillusioned with the group reads selections. I am not really sure about time. Life has become very busy again"

Who Fears Death is back on my plate, so please join us Renee. I know that Krista finished it already, but she finishes everything in the blink of an eye.

I started The Awakening, along with Sandra.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "I had a long reading evening and into the wee hours and finished Bitterblue. I think this series was originally planned as a trilogy, but the author has left the ending of this long..."

Thank you for mentioning that there is a new book coming out. I did n't know about that one and I really enjoyed this series. It's been a while since I read them, so I think I may even do a re-read before the new release.

[PattyMacDotComma]

My new favourite book! Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir is funny, poignant, witty, unique. The anonymous author shares her real, broken life and the wise tweets of her 81-year-old Twitter alter-ego.

"People often come to me seeking the true meaning of life, but I find they’re usually satisfied with half a sandwich." DG
5★ Link to my Duchess Goldblatt review with some of her many observations on life

[Dem]

Finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3435533650

[Janice, Moderator]

It's been a long week! That's how long it took me to read The Red Garden. At least I can cross it off my list of books to read and it fit a slot in the trivia challenge.

Next up is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I hope it doesn't take so long to read. The month is ticking away.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm hoping to make some progress on The Book of Lost Names today. I barely started it before putting it aside for a library book.

I'm also starting The Whisper Man.

[Esther]

I just finished Network Effect, the latest installment of the Murderbot diaries series. I actually name this series my discovery of 2020. I had so much fun reading them. No I have to wait for 2021 for the next one. Argh.

[Sarah]

I finished reading Silver Borne for twisted trivia. Now moving on to The Dark Monk for group theme read and twisted trivia . It has been so long since I read the first book in the series. I really liked it though and I own the whole series so thought I should crack on with it.

[Margo]

I've just finished Blood of Elves. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped but the narration by Peter Kenny was excellent.

[uncomfytomato]

I just started reading Dig. It seems interesting so far

[Cherie]

I finished both Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat and have started listening to The Queen of the Damned. Poor Simon Vance had way too many characters to give voice to in this one. I cannot think of anyone else who could have done it better though, except for a full voice cast.

I also finished The Awakening that I was reading with Sandra, Katrisa, and Lilisa. It was really will done.

I am continuing with The Architect's Apprentice, the group read book. If I finish this, I will go back and start Who Fears Death for the buddy read. Maybe I can get it back, if it expires.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I am still reading The Book of Lost Names and The Whisper Man, but I have also started The Orphan Collector and I'm reading Believe with my grandson.

The Book of Lost Names I've only just begun, but I immediately like the writing style.

The Whisper Man is very creepy and foreboding.

The Orphan Collector is sad and atmospheric. I'm having some difficulty connecting with the adult MC, which I suppose is intentional. I can understand her loss and the grief she is going through, but her prejudice is still hard to handle.

Believe is my least favorite at the moment. The blurb said it was "full of humor and wonder," but it is not. I'm at 27% and the focus is really more grief and loneliness. I was hoping there would be some humor to lighten the mood, but so far the author has not delivered in that area.

[Dem]

Finished and loved The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3439406915

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Pardoner's Crime: A historical crime thriller featuring Robin Hood is the first in a new series by Keith Moray, who writes under a couple of other names. Light, easy read.
3★ Link to my Pardoner's Crime review

[PattyMacDotComma]

There Will Come Soft Rains is the phrase Ray Bradbury pinched from a poem for the title of this 1950 short story about California in 2026.
5★ Link to my Soft Rains review which has a link to the small PDF online

[Cherie]

I finished The Queen of the Damned and I just discovered a library text book that I had picked up and was due today. I need to see if I can renew it. If I can, I will be starting The True Story of Hansel and Gretel

[Renee]

A Study in Scarlet The group read made e want to revisit my old friend Sherlock Holmes.

I wish someone would write a book where he meets Hercule Poirot.

Could you imagine the high jinx? LOL

[Margo]

Renee wrote: "A Study in Scarlet The group read made e want to revisit my old friend Sherlock Holmes.

I wish someone would write a book where he meets Hercule Poirot.

Could you imagine the high ..."

LOL A time travel cross-over story 😂 I like it!