What books are you reading now? (2020) Showing 551-600 of 2,222

[Judy]

I remember The Namesake well, and am surprised to see I must have read it in pre Goodreads days. The part that sticks in my mind most is Gogol/Nikhil's childhood. I agree that Lahiri's short stories are excellent.

[Chrissie]

Short stories are not my cup of tea. Once in a while I will run into a really great one but anthologies, with one story after another, are really hard for me.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Chrissie wrote: "Short stories are not my cup of tea. Once in a while I will run into a really great one but anthologies, with one story after another, are really hard for me."

I think I have posted before that I also am not a fan of reading one story after another by the same author. I choose to read one or two, and then read something else. Then I come back to the collection and read another one or two - back and forth until I've read them all.

[Chrissie]

I've tried that, and it is better than reading one story after another, but STILL short stories rarely impress me. The have to punch me down, knock me over to make an impression on me.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Chrissie wrote: "I've tried that, and it is better than reading one story after another, but STILL short stories rarely impress me. The have to punch me down, knock me over to make an impression on me."

Probably the same way I feel about reading about donkeys.

[Joy D]

This book covers most of the 20th century, and is a family saga on a fictional Italian island:

The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner - 4 stars - My Review

[Chrissie]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Probably the same way I feel about reading about donkeys."

Oh that made me laugh! I agree that I am terribly fixated on them at the moment. I like very much how they behave. I would like to have one, but I know that is ridiculous.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Chrissie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Probably the same way I feel about reading about donkeys."

Oh that made me laugh! I agree that I am terribly fixated on them at the moment. I like very much how they beh..."

Oh, I'm so glad you laughed. You know sometimes I don't see humor in writing - this was one of those statements that could have been taken either way, and I *did* hope you would at least smile.

[Chrissie]

I m in desperate need of laughs at the moment. I enjoyed what you said. People can so easily misinterpret stuff when talking on the net.

[Joy D]

This story is a rite of passage about a journey from Ceylon to England in 1954:

The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje - 4 stars - My Review

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I have started Year of Wonders. I had it on my shelf long before we realized we were in the middle of a pandemic, but I must admit I pushed it up the list of possibles.

[Chrissie]

I have completed Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson.

My review; https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have just begun Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. Why? Because I really liked the author's Cal.

[Judy]

I haven't had time for reading much outside group reads lately, but am intermittently enjoying The Unexpected Professor: An Oxford Life in Books by John Carey. I enjoy his literary criticism and reminiscences. So far I am still reading about his childhood in the Midlands during/straight after WW2 - he was a younger child and his parents were both born in the Victorian era.

[Nigeyb]

Chrissie wrote: "I have completed Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson"


What a fun book that is

I well remember the gullible Mrs Daisy Quantock, who is prone to embrace some of the era's health crazes and as such we get a short but interesting exposition of the tenets of Christian Science, and then an amusing dalliance with yoga - taught by her personal guru; and then onto another splendid infatuation with spiritualism via the services of a Russian medium known as Princess Popoffski.

[Judy]

I love the Mapp and Lucia books too - loads of fun!

[Tania]

I love the Mapp and Lucia books too. If I get time, I've been thinking of trying to fit in a reread of them. Perfect sort of book for the moment

[Chrissie]

Nigeyb wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I have completed Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson"


What a fun book that is

I well remember the gullible Mrs Daisy Quantock, who is prone to embrace some..."

I marveled at the author's funny lines, but the characters weren't my favorites.

[Joy D]

Published in 1959, this is a classic of apocalyptic (and literary) science fiction:

A Canticle for Leibowitz byWalter M. Miller Jr. - 5 stars - My Review

[Nigeyb]

Sounds fab Joy

[Susan]

Judy wrote: "I haven't had time for reading much outside group reads lately, but am intermittently enjoying The Unexpected Professor: An Oxford Life in Books by John Carey. I enjo..."

I LOVED that book, Judy. Among other things, I have started The Disappearance of Stephanie Mailer
I have liked previous novels by Joël Dicker but they are very long, and I have a review copy, which is a big paperback and so this seemed an ideal time to read this now.

[Chrissie]

I have completed Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty. I didn't like it as much as his earlier book Cal.

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

I have begun Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann. What will I think about this brand new contemporary book that so many praise?

[Tania]

I have finished My Husband Simon by Mollie Panter-Downes which is one of the books re-published in the British Library Women Writers series, It came out the day before the lockdown in the UK so I managed to get a copy just before the bookshops closed. I really enjoyed it though I still prefer One Fine Day, such a beautiful novel. I love her short stories too.

[Nigeyb]

I love what I've read by Mollie Panter-Downes - a wonderful writer. That book sounds good Tania - thanks

[Chrissie]

Tania wrote: "I have finished My Husband Simon by Mollie Panter-Downes which is one of the books re-published in the British Library Women Writers series, It came out the day befo..."

Those look good. Thank you for bringing them to my attention.

[Susan]

I was hoping the Mollie Panter-Downes would appear on kindle - it is in my wishlist, so I will give it a while before ordering the paperback.

[Susan]

Ah, having had another look, My Husband Simon is now on kindle. Good to see.

[Joy D]

Completed my second book by Banville. I liked this one, but much prefer The Sea. This one was published in 1997:

The Untouchable by John Banville - 3 stars - My Review

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Joy D wrote: "Completed my second book by Banville. I liked this one, but much prefer The Sea. This one was published in 1997:

The Untouchable by John Banville - 3 stars - My Review"

Hard to go wrong with Banville, if for the writing alone. I have read only the two you mention, but hope to get to several others.

[Tania]

Susan wrote: "Ah, having had another look, My Husband Simon is now on kindle. Good to see."

Yes, available on Kindle Unlimited, as well, so free if you're signed up to that.

[Lynaia]

I just finished I Ordered a Table for Six by Noel Streatfeild. I really enjoyed it a lot. Ended up staying up til 2am last night to finish it. The only issue I had was there really weren't any divisions at all in the kindle version. You would suddenly switch to a different part of the story with no warning. Made things a little difficult but I would still recommend the book.

Was really glad to be able to read again. It's been a tough month. I got a concussion which laid me up for 2 weeks and then I got the coronavirus for 2 weeks. Couldn't read at all with the concussion and was too tired to read much with the virus. I just received a copy of Friends and Relations today so I may start that now.

[Judy]

Hope you are soon feeling completely better, Lynaia - glad to hear that you can read again.

I loved Noel Streatfeild when I was a child, and have been meaning to get on to her adult books - I have one or 2 on my Kindle that I haven't managed to get to yet.

[Lynaia]

Thanks Judy. I am pretty much back to normal now. I’m kind of the opposite of you. Never read Streatfeild as a child. I’ve only read some of her adult books. I’ve definitely enjoyed those. I’m thinking I really missed out as a kid.

[Barbara]

Lynaia wrote: "Thanks Judy. I am pretty much back to normal now. I’m kind of the opposite of you. Never read Streatfeild as a child. I’ve only read some of her adult books. I’ve definitely enjoyed those. I’m thin..."

I hope you are on the mend now and have good health and good books in the future.

[Lynaia]

Thanks Barbara. 👍🏻

[Chrissie]

Joy and Elizabeth, I liked The Blue Guitar even more than The Sea. The three I have left to read are

The Infinities
Mrs Osmond
The Untouchable

If the last listed is not so good, I am at a bit of a loss. None of them grab me.......

[Judy]

Lynaia, I loved Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild as a child - I also read many others by her.

[Chrissie]

I have been hiding in books.

First of all I finished Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann. Yeah, I liked it, It is good in its won way but not exactly what I was looking for.

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

Then I started in on another book about a donkey--Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances by Rachel Anne Ridge. It did not fit me! On listopia it has a high rating. In my very short review I have scribbled down my reaction to it:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

About an hour ago I started The Lost Girl: Cambridge Lawrence Edition by D.H. Lawrence. I am counting on it being a sure bet.

[Joy D]

Fascinating true story of the rescue of a group of 300 horses (including the famous Lipizzaners) during WWII:

The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis byElizabeth Letts - 4 stars - My Review

[Alejandro]

Was reading The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo earlier. Collection of Short Stories. Very good so far. Recommend it especially for those that like Fantasy.

Happy Reading!

[Joy D]

Completed this historical fiction about WWII from 1939-1942 in London and Malta:

Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave - 3 stars - My Review

[Pam]

I’m finally reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I’ve heard so many good things about it! I’m focusing on reading books I own, while the libraries are closed.

[Joy D]

I read the English translation from the Norwegian of this award-winning book. It begins in 1999 with flashbacks to 1948 and WWII:

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson - 4 stars - My Review

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Joy D wrote: "I read the English translation from the Norwegian of this award-winning book. It begins in 1999 with flashbacks to 1948 and WWII:

Out Stealing Horses by [author:Per Petterson|225944..."

I thought that was excellent.

[Alejandro]

Reading a bit of "The Antidote" by Jesse Lee Peterson. Non-fiction.
Very interesting and eye opening. Highly recommend it. Started recently and it is amazing.

[Susan]

I am really engrossed by Inge's War: A German Woman's Story of Family, Secrets, and Survival Under Hitler
Really like the writing style, as well as finding the unfolding story interesting.

[Chrissie]

The Lost Girl by D.H. Lawrence is absolutely wonderful. It is not Lawrence's most famous books that do much for me; this isn't one of those and I loved it!

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

I have begun Lamb by Bernard MacLaverty. It grabs you right from the start. It is short so I guess it has to.

[Chrissie]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Joy D wrote: "I read the English translation from the Norwegian of this award-winning book. It begins in 1999 with flashbacks to 1948 and WWII:

Out Stealing Horses by [author:Per Pe..."

Me too!!!!

[Chrissie]

Another I have liked a lot--Lamb by Bernard MacLaverty. It is short, but it packs a real punch.

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

I have begun and am liking Wilfred Thesiger's The Marsh Arabs.

[Alejandro]

Reading "The Law of Success" by Napoleon Hill.
non-fiction , oldie but goodie.

[Susan]

For a bit of comfort reading (and as I watched the first episode of "Hill Street Blues," today), I have started, Cop Hater by Ed McBain. I loved the 87th Precinct books when I was young and collected them avidly. Anybody else read/liked them?