What are you reading? - 2020 Showing 1,051-1,100 of 1,457

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Candela wrote: "Hey! I just joined the group/goodreads in all, and I feel a bit lonely :(
I've been sneaking up on your comments and I'm really curious about some of the books you talk about here.

I'm a literatur..."

Welcome Candela!!

[Margo]

I finished NW and i was disappointed, Zadie Smith is not me. The book wasn't one story, it flited from one to another, all set in North West London, inn a "slice of life" kind of way. While I appreciated the quality of the writing I am happier with a story that stays wuth one character or story line and explores it more in depth.

I have started Conjure Women

[PattyMacDotComma]

Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch #2 pits Harry against The Black Ice, as treacherous a drug as its namesake on frozen, dark roads. This is LA and Mexico before we had Google in our pockets.
4★ Link to my Black Ice review

[Cherie]

I finished Peril at End House for one of the selected group read books this month. It got my 4 stars and another Hercule Poirot series book checked off of my series list.

I also finished The Dry Grass of August. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karen White. It was quite the story. It was a period piece and a look at southern attitudes towards blacks. That part was sad and still hard to imagine. It really made me feel uncomfortable. The love in the story and the beautiful writing made it through, even if it did seem to jump around at times.

I have started listening to the audiobook for Never Anyone But You. It is narrated by Kate Reading. I recognize a lot of the names of authors, and painters and other famous people in the name dropping, but I did not know the main characters. I almost wish I had the text to follow along.

[[deleted user]]

I finished The Perfect Child yesterday and it was a 5 star read! It was so hard to read in terms of the subject matter and I found myself holding my breath on numerous occasions and being suspicious of so many of the main characters.

I haven't made much progress with Pachinko but plan to pick that up tonight as my kindle book.

For my paperback, I am planing to start The Other People.

[Dem]

Finished and enjoyed Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President Candice Millard

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3512803101

[Roz]

I finished reading The Queen's Secret: A Novel of England's World War II Queen and really didn't like it. Not the writing and not the Queen Mother. I need to read something to get the taste out of my mouth.
I was going to read Remembering the Bones thinking it would work for the Trivia Challenge (Card 10 Yay History - a book with "Francis" either in the title or the author's name), but the Francis in the author's name for the book is spelled Frances so I'll read The Great Gatsby instead once a copy becomes available. In the meantime, I'm reading When I Was You.

[Margo]

I finished Conjure Women. It was a wonderful story full of old slave traditions and sayings. It seemed to be very well researched. Considering the times depicted, it didn't dwell of the cruelties but neither did it gloss them. This debut novel was writen so beautifully that I look forward to more from her. The naration by Adenrele Ojo was very good.

Loving Dragon Haven and starting The Lie Tree by Francis Harding which has been on my shelf for yonks!

[Peggy]

I finished Rode sneeuw in december yesterday. It was a great way to learn a bit more about Dutch history. I added several other Dutch historical fictions to my wishlist.

I'm also reading Dragon Haven for a buddy read.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm still reading The Lake House. It is taking me all month. I'm enjoying it, but have been distracted by other reads and been fighting a migraine the past few days. I'm hoping to finish in the next couple of days.

I've also started Under Pressure. I'm only 6% in, but the writing didn't immediately grab me. I'm hoping it becomes engaging for me quickly.

[Ayacchi]

I have 2 days to finish Lilac Avenue and The Bridge Home. I'm holding The Bridge Home on to save it for the last. Just wanna finish this month with something heartwarming.

[Cherie]

I finished listening to Never Anyone But You and I was lucky and downloaded the ebook too. I was amazed at what the two main characters did during WWII on the Island of Jersey. During the German occupation they carried on a two person resistance campaign right under their noses. They printed flyers and smuggled them into pockets. They helped slave workers when they could, giving them food and clothing. They were not caught until the last year of the war.

[Cherie]

I started listening to A Breath of Snow and Ashes for my yearly challenge. It has been four years since I listened to The Fiery Cross. I was suprised by how much I have missed the characters until I heard Davina Porter's voice in my earbuds. It took me right back to where the last story left off in North Carolina of 1772.

[Peggy]

Lol, sounds like my experience Cherie. I read up to An Echo in the Bone, which I read 4 years ago (August 2016). I've owned the next one since before that, but it's sitting on my bookshelf unread. Part of it is that it's so long and I never feel I have time for it, but I think it's also that I didn't enjoy An Echo in the Bone all that much.

I've been considering reading Written in My Own Heart's Blood this year, as I'll probably finish up the year-long challenge in October, so that should give me time to read something chunky before the next challenge starts ;-)

[Lilisa]

Done with Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire and with A Chemical Prison - series set in Turkey and The Story of China: The Epic History of a World Power from the Middle Kingdom to Mao and the China Dream.

[Renee]

I am readingEvvie Drake Starts Over. I am using it for a bucket list challenge. It is set on an ocean shore. I have lived all my life in the great planes. I am fascinated with oceans. I would love to live on one some day, I

I am not really enjoying the book. Something in the way the story is being told just doesn't resonate with me

[Kristie, Moderator]

Just started Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?: Confessions of a Gay Dad for the monthly challenge.

[Janice, Moderator]

Renee wrote: "I am readingEvvie Drake Starts Over. I am using it for a bucket list challenge. It is set on an ocean shore. I have lived all my life in the great planes. I am fascinated with ocean..."

You know the Bucket Challenge doesn't start until October 1st?

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Dragon Haven fo a buddy read. Tomorrow I will start on the oldest audiobook in my library, The Book of Obeah.

[Peggy]

Oldest in terms of publication year or in terms of how long it's been in your library? If the latter, please tell me I'm not the only one with books in there for over (and not just a little over ;-)) 5 years!

[PattyMacDotComma]

I always enjoy the adventures of Aussie author Sulari Gentill's wealthy artist Rowland Sinclair and his colourful friends in 1930s Australia. In A Dangerous Language, they attempt to warn the government about what the Nazis are really up to. Loved it!
5★ Link to my Dangerous Language review

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Right Side of the Line by Susan Wilkins is a timely novella-length addition to her Detective Megan Thomas series, taking place in England during Covid. How times change!
4★ Link to my Right Side of the Line review

[Kristie, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Oldest in terms of publication year or in terms of how long it's been in your library? If the latter, please tell me I'm not the only one with books in there for over (and not just a little over ;-..."

I still have books on my TBR that I added in 2012 when I joined Goodreads. You're definitely not the only one!

[Peggy]

Lol Kristie, mine goes that far back too ;-)

[Lilisa]

My TBR list goes back to 2014 now and one of my goals at the start of 2020 was to read the two 2013 books left and as many 2014 books as I could, ideally all of them all - not happening. I did finish the two 2013 and nine 2014 books, but have 21 left. And no, I’m not obsessed with numbers and lists!

[Peggy]

Maybe I should challenge myself to do the same next year. Either remove it from my tbr, or read it. I hope Janice's challenge will be flexible so that I can actually fit them in ;-)

[Lilisa]

Peggy wrote: "Maybe I should challenge myself to do the same next year. Either remove it from my tbr, or read it. I hope Janice's challenge will be flexible so that I can actually fit them in ;-)"

I tried paring my list down, and removed a few, but the others all look really good so ended up keeping more than I had planned - oh well. Hmm, wonder what Janice has up her sleeve?!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I have books on my shelf I bought over 15+ years ago that I haven't read yet. You're good ;)

[Sandra, Moderator]

I joined GR in July 2013 and I still have in my TBR 8 books that I shelved that same day!

Right now I'm focused in reading books I own as my personal challenge, but I some point I should also try to focus in the oldest ones in my TBR. I did an important cleaning up of my shelves less than a year ago, though.

[Renee]

Janice wrote: "Renee wrote: "I am readingEvvie Drake Starts Over. I am using it for a bucket list challenge. It is set on an ocean shore. I have lived all my life in the great planes. I am fascina..."

Oooops I think i will never get these challenges right. I am going to chuck the book. I am not really enjoying it. I may pick it up or i may shred it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Oldest in terms of publication year or in terms of how long it's been in your library? If the latter, please tell me I'm not the only one with books in there for over (and not just a little over ;-..."

Oldest as how long it's been in my library. I bought it Apr 10, 2016. So 4-1/2 years.

[Janice, Moderator]

I try to read the oldest audiobook on my tbr and the oldest print book on my tbr each month with the aim of whittling it down. My oldest print is We, the Drowned. I think I bought it when I was doing the Around the World in 52 books challenge (another group). I'm not sure how long ago that was. I'm not doing so well in getting that one read. I keep forwarding it on in my monthly plan since July. It's now on my Oct plan.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I don't even know how long I've owned some of my physical books, quite possibly decades. I wouldn't be able to base my reading on that. I have tried the past three years to read the oldest on my TBR. I have 4 left from 2012. I said this year that I was either going to read them or remove them, but I decided that I really do want to read them, so they are being added to my 2021 personal goals.

I've already started some basic planning for my 2021 planning thread, just a couple of series that I want to finally get around to and those old books. I need to request/accept less books for review so I have time to read other things.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I haven't reported for a while here since I wanted to wait until I was in my computer to be able to link, but since last time I have finished:
The Mercies (wonderful historical fiction!),
The House on Mango Street, and
Circe (what a fantastic storyteller Madelaine Miller is!).

My youngest son and I have finished reading together the Dog Man graphic novel series. I can't wait for #10 in March. :)

I also been reading some poetry in Portuguese, mostly by Casimiro de Abreu.

I'm still reading and enjoying Gone with the Wind, it's just Scarlett is some intense I need breaks away from her from time to time.

In the queue for October are:
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World (for RL bookclub),
The Hunting of Hill House (month theme book),
The Pickwick Papers (which I will try to read in 19 weeks as it was published)

[Roz]

Too funny. After what you guys wrote about reading your oldest books based on the year you shelved them, I decided to check my own books. Mine go back to 2011 when I started. Seems like ages ago (it is). I only have to read 1747 to finish the shelf. It was like going into a room I haven't been in in years and finding stuff I don't even remember ever seeing. I'm going to have to purge some of them.

[Janice, Moderator]

Roz wrote: "Too funny. After what you guys wrote about reading your oldest books based on the year you shelved them, I decided to check my own books. Mine go back to 2011 when I started. Seems like ages ago (i..."

Is your TBR your wishlist, or do you physically own them? I've been purging my wishlist gradually. I added 13 new October releases and purged 20 from my wishlist.

[Roz]

I never made a differentiation between a TBR and a wishlist. I didn't understand the meaning of a wishlist, I guess. Books that I want to read, whether I own them in some format, may purchase them in the future, or borrow them from the library, all appear on my TBR (Want to Read). I also have an "added 2011" shelf. Once I've read a book on that shelf, I'll remove it. I really need to purge. The problem is that everything looked/sounded good at the time. Now I put fewer on.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I use the same method, Roz. I don't have a wishlist, I just add books I want to read. Later comes the issue how I will get it.

[Roz]

A few months ago I started designating where I could get a copy of the books on my tbr. Now I also have shelves for books I own in print or on my kindle, books I can get from my library's digital library or audio library and books I available through the print library. That way I know where to look for the book when I want to read it.
Btw, my grandson loves the Dog Man books.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished One Corpse Too Many last night. I gave it 3 stars.

I'll start The Child Thief tonight for the trivia challenge.

[Roz]

I finished today. It was a quick one. I gave it 3 stars.

I'm starting Meadowlands: A World War I family saga and White Chrysanthemum for the Trivia Challenge now.

Hopefully I'll be able to start my October Challenge book soon.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny took me back to Three Pines, the remote, snowy village in Quebec which seems to have more than its share of murderous events! (No wonder I love it.)
4.5★ Link to my Kingdom of the Blind review

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "Lol, sounds like my experience Cherie. I read up to An Echo in the Bone, which I read 4 years ago (August 2016). I've owned the next one since before that, but it's sitting on my boo..."

Yes, the length of the books has put me off, but I am so glad to get back to the audiobook. I know that my library has the next one in audiobook too. I have a hard copy of Written in My Own Heart's Blood sitting in a pile of books on the floor in my extra room. Everytime I look at the stack and see how thick it is, it makes my arms ache, just to think of holding it to read. Hopefully, my library will have it in audiobook format when I am ready for it. If so, I think I am going to use the hc to learn how to fold the pages and use it as decoration. ;o)

[Cherie]

I have books on my TBR since I started in 2011 too. I am hoping to get the oldest one off before the end of the year. It will take more years than I probably have left to read all of them on my list, but I am okay with leaving them. I delete a few when I am gophering for new challenges, but not many make the cuts. I have become better about not adding everything I see.

I finished several challenge books and I started Bread Alone when I woke up early and could not go back to sleep. I made it through 40 pages before I had to go into my "den" to go to work on my laptop.

[uncomfytomato]

Since Twilight Robbery fits the Trivia challenge I decided to get it off Audible. The first book was disappointing and I hope this one is good.

[Dem]

Finished Wild by Kristin Hannah

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3566530792

[☆]

Finished Girls Made Of Stars.
I am starting Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Book of Obeah which had some interesting information about voodooism. There is a second book to the series, but I think I'll give it a pass.

I will start The Sun Down Motel for the group themed read.

[Janice, Moderator]

ѕєℓмα wrote: "Finished Girls Made Of Stars.
I am starting Great Alone by Kristin Hannah."

I have The Great Alone and hopefully will get to it someday. I have it slated for one of the annual challenge tasks, but time is running out so I'm not sure I'll get to it this year.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I started The Fountains of Silence on audio and put it aside again. I'm going to read the physical copy instead.

I am starting Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption on audio today and am reading Paris Never Leaves You. The are set partly during the same time period so I hope they are ok to read at the same time.