What are you reading and why? 2015 version Showing 501-550 of 1,711

[Travis]

I rarely give less than 3 stars for a book. I give a lot of 3&4 stars and am generous with yhe 5 stars. We all rate a little different

[Peggy]

I usually give 1 star to books I don't finish, and 2 stars to books I did finish but just as well could have abandoned. I gave quite a lot of 5 stars in 2014, but I save them for books I find really amazing. None of the 10 books I read this year got 5 stars. 4 is for books I really enjoyed and 3 for books I enjoyed but didn't leave a big impression.

But there's no right or wrong in rating or ways to use the stars :)

[Tejas Janet]

Me too, Travis. I can't be bothered to read something that isn't up to about 3 stars. I set things aside or just don't go there if I think it's not for me.

[Tejas Janet]

Berit wrote: "I just started The Other Typist, I am reading this for my in person but chat..."

butt chat - is that like when 2 people accidentally butt call each other on their cell phones??

[Travis]

I gave my very first 1 star rating the other day. Normally it would have been a 2 but for some reason I felt it was going to get better and it was a toppler book so I trudged on. Wasnt worth it, should have abandoned

[Berit]

Yes that is what it is ;-) I caught that after I posted it, but that is how it goes :-)

[Tejas Janet]

Travis of NNY wrote: "I gave my very first 1 star rating the other day. Normally it would have been a 2 but for some reason I felt it was going to get better and it was a toppler book so I trudged on. Wasnt worth it, s..."

I just checked and saw that I've never given a 1 star rating. I don't rule it out. Just hasn't happened. The most disappointing read I had recently was The Luminaries. Won all kinds of awards, but it was a cold and lonely work of art. The kind of book that turns reading into a chore instead of a joy. But still gave 2 stars because it was'nt drivel. And becuz I'm too nice.

[Janice, Moderator]

I find that I give mostly 4 stars. I do give the occasional 1 star. That would be for a book that I didn't finish because it was horrific. I know there is a lot of discussion about whether or not you should rate a book you didn't finish. I think that at times it is warranted, and I explain why I gave it a one star.

[Lisa]

I haven't given any 1 star ratings yet either, although a couple of books have come close. I give 2 stars to books that I did not enjoy but were not completely horrific, 3 stars to books that were ok but pretty forgettable, 4 stars to books that I enjoyed and 5 stars to books that I really loved or that had a big impact on me emotionally. If I come across a book that I would rate higher than 5 stars if I could, it goes onto my favourites shelf.

[Cherie]

I finished my third book in The Tillerman Series by Cynthia Voigt this afternoon. I read the first two books in the series over thirty years ago and the next two were re-reads. The one I finished this afternoon was new to me and I am looking forward to reading the last two. She is a wonderful writer and her stories are timeless and beautifully written.

[Tejas Janet]

The Tillerman series looks really good but painful, too. I'd probably judge myself why I wasn't more like the wonderful child who overcame child abuse with such beauty and grace. So this is one for me that I probably won't read.

[Debra]

I just finished up the Chet and Bernie series. Can't wait for another. Somehow I managed to read a book out of order and that got me confused with continuity issues. Ah well, it wasn't that big of a deal. Chet and Bernie still found themselves in the midst of trouble with Chet knowing more than he can tell Bernie. But all's well that ends well!

Now I'm reading darker stuff. If you haven't checked out Mo Hayder and her Jack Caffery series, you are missing some excellent, thrilling writing. I'm reading Wolf now.

[Stephanie]

I love Chet and Bernie too :) I'm glad to hear the series is good :) I can't wait to start the 3rd book :) The book thief may take me some time..it is the biggest book I have read yet..over 500 pages :)

[Travis]

Started Bleak House which so far looks to be a Dickens which I'll have to work at a bit. I believe I know what is going on to the point of knowing what I've read so far. Need to start tying it and the characters together.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm bailing on Caribbean. I started it way before the toppler and was slogging my way through. The toppler had me set it aside and now I have no desire to pick it back up again.

Tonight, I will start Dreaming the Eagle which I've had on my shelf collecting dust for more than 3 years. It's a first in a series, so I will kill it for the series killer challenge.

[KimeyDiann]

I finished The Handmaid's Tale on Saturday, just in time to include it in the toppler. I've been wanting to read it for several years because it kept popping up on book lists of "must read before you die" and "best books of the century" and because it sounded fascinating. It really was great read. I listened to and read the book and this was one of those that I enjoyed the audio better than the text. It was narrated by Clare Danes and she did a really great job. I found myself getting bogged down in the stream-of-consciousness style of writing while I was reading and it caused me to stop and re-read some sentences multiple times to figure out what they heck was being talked about. I didn't have that problem in the audio version as much. I think because it is written as Offred telling the story aloud or in her head it translates better hearing it read aloud. For me anyway. :)

[Pragya]

I have to read that one Kimey. I should go grab the audio.

I finished reading Paper Towns and My Grandma's a Ninja and will now be reading Shattered Dreams for review.

[Mariab]

@Debra. It is something with were-creatures?

[Mariab]

@Boudica is a great figure, some dark and blurred in the nebula of time, and therefore a perfect target for many storytellers

[Janice, Moderator]

KimeyDiann wrote: "I finished The Handmaid's Tale on Saturday, just in time to include it in the toppler. I've been wanting to read it for several years because it kept popping up on book lists of "must ..."

Claire Danes did a great job of narrating the book.

[Mariab]

How do you like Paper Towns, Pragya?

[Chahed]

hello , am new here :D
umm currently am reading " le petit chose " by Alphonse Daudet , its actually a beautiful story full of emotions and feelings and its really fun to read , otherwise I wanted to read in french after a while ^^

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Welcome Chahed!

[Chahed]

Thank you!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Welcome Chahed. Le petit chose sounds good. I added it to my TBR pile, but not in french... my french is TOO basic.

[KimeyDiann]

Pragya wrote: "I have to read that one Kimey. I should go grab the audio.

I finished reading Paper Towns and My Grandma's a Ninja and will now be reading [book:Shattered Dreams|243..."

It is a kindle unlimited book with free narration if you subscribe to that program.

How did you like Paper Towns? It is one I've debated on reading several times over the years.

[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome Chabed! I'd love to be able to read in French but my smattering of phrases isn't enough.

[Dem]

Just finished A Man Called Ove This is my review.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1175601057

[Tejas Janet]

Making quick progress thru A Swiftly Tilting Planet. It's book 3 in the L'Engle Wrinkle in Time Quintet. I plan to concentrate on finishing the quintet to get my "first kill" in the series year-long challenge.

I'm also picking back up Country Girl and How Proust Can Change Your Life, both which I set aside during the Mystery Date toppler.

[Bella]

Dem wrote: "Just finished A Man Called Ove This is my review.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/1175601057"

I think I'll pick up this book- looks cute and charming. I can't believe I've never heard of it before now.

[Jessica]

Calling all animal lovers!

Just finished Unsaid. I'm really no good at writing reviews, but I can tell you I cried through the first 40 and last 30 pages of this novel. I actually left wrinkled spots on some pages from tears :( Hopefully the librarians will forgive me. Even though parts were sad it is a wonderful story about human animal bonds and sometimes the lack thereof. If you're going to read it, just keep the Kleenex within arms reach.

[Stephanie]

I had that book checked out from the library but didn't get it read before it was due :( it is still on my TBR though. Glad to hear it is a good book :)

[Berit]

Just finished, The Other Typist,it was way better than I had anticipated. I love it when that happens :-) it has a definite 20s vibe to it.now I'm going to read Eleanor and Park, for the monthly challenge, I have no idea how many points I'll get it, but I want to read this book

[Cherie]

Berit wrote: "Just finished, The Other Typist,it was way better than I had anticipated. I love it when that happens :-) it has a definite 20s vibe to it.now I'm going to read Eleanor and Park, for the monthly ch..."

My 12 year old granddaughter tried to get me to buy Eleanor & Park for her the last time we were at the book store. I thought she was too young. I will be interested to see what you think of it.

[Berit]

I'll let you know, I have a 12-year-old son, so I know the age.my daughter who is 17 has already read it, but as you know there is a huge difference between 12 and 17 ;-)

[Cherie]

I just finished reading the fifth volume of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman graphic novels series. Comic books are still alive and well, just more expensive than they used to be. I told a friend on GR that I would read through the first five before I decided to quit with them. Unlike the first four, this one actually had a story that I could follow and I'm pretty sure I understood. Guess I will keep on reading them as long as I can check them out from my library. I think that makes it 10 more to go before the series becomes a kill on my series challenge.

Now I can start Life After Life.

[Camilla]

I'm currently listening to the audiobook Decline and Fall. OMG, how fast the narrator (Michael Maloney) speaks! It's like he's not reading it, more like speaking it, if you know what I mean. And for some characters he's using a Welsh (?) dialect, which makes it even harder to understand. Luckily it's only a little less than 5 hours. It's a bit of a shame, since I think the story would be quite funny, if I could understand more than half of what is said, LOL!

[Cherie]

Can you slow the speed down? I looked and my library does not have this on Overdrive. I may look and see if they have it on CD.

[Camilla]

Cherie wrote: "Can you slow the speed down? I looked and my library does not have this on Overdrive. I may look and see if they have it on CD."

No, unfortunately I can't, it's a CD that I'm listening to (I listen only during my commute to work, so I rely on my car's CD player).

[Kazen]

Berit wrote: "I'll let you know, I have a 12-year-old son, so I know the age.my daughter who is 17 has already read it, but as you know there is a huge difference between 12 and 17 ;-)"

I don't have any teens in my life, but Common Sense Media says it's good for "mature teens" 14 and up. ^^

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book...

[Cherie]

Thanks, Kazen! I will tell her that I can be right some of the time.

[Maddie]

I'm about a third of the way through Paper Towns by John Green. I've read three of Green's other books and he's one of my favourite author's so this one's been on my TBR for a while now. So far I'm really loving it.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "I just finished reading the fifth volume of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman graphic novels series. Comic books are still alive and well, just more expensive than they used to be. I told a friend on GR ..."

Jeez. How did I forget Sandman for my challenge!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I'm a big fan of letting kids read what they want to read. I know, I don't have my own or own of my own. But I remember reading a book at 12 that BLEW MY MIND (it was a YA)! And if I had left it to my Mum, she would have never let me read that book until I was 18. Probably 30.

But it opened my world to what reading was about. But at the same time, I started reading "grown up" books after that and I totally self moderated. Too boring, put aside. Too graphic, aside (mainly coz I didn't get it). Too scary, definitely aside.

My boss' daughter is 12 nearly 13 at the moment and I'm watching her do the same thing. She self moderates so much better than the choices her parents make. Including putting aside so YA reads I thought she'd like, as she just doesn't get them, or too full on yet.

Anyway. Just my two cents :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I totally remember reading my first sex scene in a book at 14 though. The Horse Whisperer

[Camilla]

Rusalka wrote: "I'm a big fan of letting kids read what they want to read. I know, I don't have my own or own of my own."

Well, I have two daughters (16 and 18 now) and I've never felt the need to moderate their reading (don't know whether this is a US vs. Europe thing or just something personal). They have been allowed to choose any book from the library that they have wanted. I can't remember them ever being interested in much else than children's respectively YA books. My 16-year-old seems to have bought Fifty Shades of Grey as a paperback (saw it recently on her bedroom floor) but I don't know how much she has actually read of it. The previous book she asked to be bought was something by Rick Riordan, and I know her taste still mainly focuses on children/YA fantasy.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Camilla wrote: " My 16-year-old seems to have bought Fifty Shades of Grey as a paperback (saw it recently on her bedroom floor)... "

Thinking back to 16 year old me, I probably would have done that just to get a rise out of my Mum. lol She would have *freaked* out! Oh that slight childish edge never really completely dies, does it?

[Camilla]

Rusalka wrote: "Thinking back to 16 year old me, I probably would have done that just to get a rise out of my Mum. lol She would have *freaked* out! Oh that slight childish edge never really completely dies, does it?"

Well, she didn't get any reaction from me, don't know if it was a disappointment to her or not. If she wants to read it, she may do so, I won't interfere. Anyway, compared to what is easily available on the internet these days, I feel a few books - even with some racy content - don't have such a "power" that they used to have.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Camilla wrote: "Well, she didn't get any reaction from me, don't know if it was a disappointment to her or not."

Teehee cool Mum! I agree re: internet. It's not the sex I have problems with in that book anyway, and I'm not sure that at 16 I would have worked out the subtleties. I would have been looking at the sex ;)

[Tasha]

I don't put restrictions on my kids for what they read or watch on tv. I have an 8yo and a 13 yo. I am aware of what they are reading or watching bc we talk about it all and often watch it with them. My kids have had this freedom all along and we find that it opens the door for lots of talking and self-regulating on their part. They read/watch what is comfortable for them and it's fine with us. It's life. :)