What are you reading and why? 2015 version Showing 1,651-1,700 of 1,711

[Roz]

I finished Divergent last night. Can certainly understand the appeal of the series. It was a fun read and kept my interest so it went quickly. It reminded me of Hunger Games with its societies divided and something else that I can't quite put my finger on. But now I'm hooked a bit and I've started Insurgent. Just what I need, another series.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

DON'T DO IT!

Sorry. Listening to Insurgent now. I wish I had left it as a single book, and not picked up the series.

[Amanda (Mandy)]

Don't give up on it Rusalka. Insurgent is a little slow and my least favorite of the series. However, the last book Allegient is better. I questioned finishing the series, but in the end was really glad that I did.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Does she stop whining? I hate whiners.

[Berit☀️✨]

I agree with Amanda I love the entire series, although I didn't find her as whiny as some other characters.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Fair enough. Different strokes for different folks.

[Cherie]

Peggy wrote: "I started Hexed for the series challenge."

Ah, I need to get back to this series. I think I am on book 4. Enjoy!

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "DON'T DO IT!

Sorry. Listening to Insurgent now. I wish I had left it as a single book, and not picked up the series."

I agree, Rusalka, but you might as well finish now.

[KimeyDiann]

I just participated in an online survey about short stories that lead me to read two very interesting short stories.

First was The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The synopsis said it was about a town-wide lottery that wasn't exactly what it seemed. I recognized Shirley Jackson's name but couldn't remember what she had written and the plot sounded interesting so I decided to choose it first. It started slow, but by the end of the tale, my heart was racing and I all I could think was "why?". (BTW, she also wrote We Have Always Lived in the Castle)

My other option was The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde. At the end of the survey it allowed me to read my second choice as well, so of course I did. I've never read anything by Wilde before. The prose was beautiful, I loved it. The story brought tears to my eyes.

I'm not usually a short story fan, but both of these had big impacts on me. I don't think I'll forget either of them.

[Roz]

Ugh, I hate whiners too. They're annoying like throat clearers, knuckle crackers, tooth suckers, loud breathers, and those people that stare at you for no reason and and when you stare back at them, they ask "what are you staring at?" Somehow they all work in my office so the rest of you have nothing to fear.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Oh, Roz, you made me laugh!

[Travis]

I hate when I stare at someone for no reason without knowing I'm staring at anyone. Sonetimes I just zone out

[Tammy]

Rose too funny, but I know they are not all at your work.

I'm reading Insanity ( Madness in Wonderland). Anyone else read it?

[Cherie]

I am rolling on the floor too, Roz! They can't all work in your office, because I am sure some of the same people must be in my office too.

My new cubicle is right at the end of an isle next to the main walkway. I see everyone that passes. Sitting at my desk, my head comes just to the top of the wall. There is a 5 inch frosted pannel at the top of the wall next to the hall way, but I see everyone's head.

[Roz]

Yes, I suppose to the outsider the characters I work with are a comic group, but I only described 3 of them. I left out the one who whistles and hums all day, the guy who comes in every day of the year and shouts "Happy New Year" and walks like John Travolta in Saturday Night Live" (we've nicknamed him John), and the auditors on the other side of the building who share the lunch room include an Ernie (from My Three Sons) look-alike, one who used to use a rope for a belt, and 2 who wear a belt and suspenders. I'm curious about a man who wears both a belt and suspenders. Either he's a person who likes to have total control over every situation or he's terribly insecure. And this, dear friends, is what it's like working in the Department of Labor. And they're employed. Scary.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Roz wrote: "Ugh, I hate whiners too. They're annoying like throat clearers, knuckle crackers, tooth suckers, loud breathers, and those people that stare at you for no reason and and when you stare back at them..."

lol Thank you for all doing us a service then by keeping them in the one place.

[Canadian Dragon]

Lol

[Mariab]

Tammy wrote: "I'm reading Insanity ( Madness in Wonderland). Anyone else read it?"

Have in my TBR

[Mariab]

KimeyDiann wrote: "I just participated in an online survey about short stories ... other option was The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde."

I love Oscar Wilde's short stories. They are all wonderful (some melancholic, some sad and some are funny too). Worth reading them all

[Sandra, Moderator]

That's definitively a zoo, Roz! lol!

[Janice, Moderator]

Sounds like an entertaining place to work Roz!

[Camilla]

KimeyDiann wrote: "First was The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The sy..."

I picked up her collection of short stories from the library on Monday, The Lottery and Other Stories, so I will be reading it shortly.

[Sarah]

@Rusalka, In my opinion, Divergent was the best of the series. I liked the story in Insurgent but I agree there was more annoying parts. Allegient finished the series off nicely but I could easily have left it as I liked it less than Insurgent. I still rated them highly because they were fun and easy to read and overall I enjoyed them.

I've just finished The Daylight War which was amazing. I'm not sure what to read now. Really, I'd like to go straight on to the next book The Skull Throne but I will try to wait a little. So do I start The Three for the SAI King group read (which I'll have to set aside on 28th for the Finders Keepers buddy read), or do I start Finders Keepers early (MWAAA HA HA HA) or chose a shorter book which I'll be able to finish before 28th. I hate not being able to decide.

[Sarah]

OK, so I've decided to read a shortish, series book for my challenge which will tide me over to the buddy read start date. I'm reading Blood Bound

[Camilla]

Sarah wrote: "OK, so I've decided to read a shortish, series book for my challenge which will tide me over to the buddy read start date. I'm reading Blood Bound"

Ah, I should be continuing with that series as well... *sigh*

[Debra]

Rusalka wrote: "DON'T DO IT!

Sorry. Listening to Insurgent now. I wish I had left it as a single book, and not picked up the series."

LOL Rus! I didn't continue with the series. I didn't take to Divergent like a lot of people did. It was entertaining enough, but I didn't feel compelled to read more.

[Debra]

Hehe, Sarah, guess The Three will have to wait, huh? I've got Finder Keepers and just reread Mr. Mercedes to refresh my memory before continuing with that series.

You got me started on a new series. I just ordered The Warded Man from the library. Sounds really good!

Everyone talking about annoying people and coworkers, I can totally related. Had a good laugh. There is this really sweet girl at work who has a habit of saying "I'm sorry" for EVERYTHING! Just passing her in the hall will invoke this along with just about any other activity. I keep telling her she has nothing to be sorry about, but she keeps doing it. And she's a social worker and works with mentally ill cllients!

[Debra]

KimeyDiann, anything by Shirley Jackson is a real treat. Try The Haunting of Hill House. It's a classic.

That Oscar Wilde short story sounds tempting, but I don't want to cry! I read The Picture of Dorian Gray and it was very good. I managed to get hold of the uncensored version.

[Lisa]

I am working my way through The Narrow Road to the Deep North for the group read. It's quite good so far but I wouldn't say it has really blown me away yet.

Later on today I will be starting a reread of Cross Stitch (aka Outlander, why does the UK have a different title?!). I read it for the first time a couple of years ago but haven't read any further in the series yet. I was going to move straight on to the second book but after seeing the TV show, I have decided that I am really in the mood for a reread.

[Lisa]

Debra wrote: "KimeyDiann, anything by Shirley Jackson is a real treat. Try The Haunting of Hill House. It's a classic.

That Oscar Wilde short story sounds tempting, but I don't want to cry! I rea..."

I love The Picture of Dorian Gray too. It's one of my favourite classics. My copy is also the uncensored version.

[Sarah]

I do want to read it Debra and I bought it especially for the group read but I'm struggling to pick it up. I just don't feel in the mood right now.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "OK, so I've decided to read a shortish, series book for my challenge which will tide me over to the buddy read start date. I'm reading Blood Bound"

I really enjoyed that series. I'm planning to read Frost Burned and Night Broken in July.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I really enjoyed Divergent, but someone blabbed the ending to Allegiant (in a 'what are you reading thread' no less!) just as I was preparing to read Insurgent. I haven't had the desire to return to the series since.

I'm currently reading Seed and Hello From the Gillespies and listening to Lock In.

[Tammy]

Finished Insanity, great read about Alice

[Debra]

Sarah wrote: "I do want to read it Debra and I bought it especially for the group read but I'm struggling to pick it up. I just don't feel in the mood right now."

I get like that. Didn't want to read The Miniaturist, but have to because it's due back and I want my badge! And I'm enjoying it. Go figure. You'll get to The Three sometime.

[KimeyDiann]

@Mariab: I will definitely be looking into more of Wilde's short stories.

@Camilla: I look forward to hearing what you think of The Lottery. If the other stories in the collection are good too I may have to pick it up as well.

@Debra: I didn't know there are censored and uncensored version of Dorian Gray. How do you know which one is which? I bought a hardback copy of it earlier this year at a discount store for $1 and I also have it on my Kindle (free). I haven't gotten the desire up to read it yet because I just don't have a lot of luck with classics. If it is as moving as Nightingale was, I think I'll have to start it sooner than later.

Was The Haunting of Hill House made into a movie? I think I remember watching a movie by that same name.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Ah Dorian is a classic without being a "classic". So easy to read, and very funny.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I have the kindle copy of Dorian Gray too, but if this is the censored one, I'll have to get another one.

[Tasha]

I really enjoyed Dorian Gray as well.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Right, so it looks like your edition was published before 2011 it was likely to be censored. So mine is, as is Lexx's. But we both loved it any way.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011...

So up to you. But it was censored for 130 years, so the story we all know is that one. How strange.

[KimeyDiann]

Thanks for the article, Rusalka. I didn't realize the censoring was done before the books initial publication. You are correct, the censored version is the one everyone knows.

[Janice, Moderator]

Debra wrote: "
I get like that. Didn't want to read The Miniaturist, but have to because it's due back and I want my badge! And I'm enjoying it. Go figure. You'll get to The Three sometime. "

That tickles my funny bone. The things we do for a badge!

[Debra]

The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition is the uncensored edition I read. There are annotations showing what was removed. To me the stuff didn't seem like such a big deal, but I guess back in day... especially the hinting of gay love.

Janice, I just HAVE to get my badges. I tell myself it's no big deal, but then I think about how I've missed getting one only once or twice since I joined. And I missed getting the peacock! I love peacocks!

Yes, Kimey, The Haunting of Hill House was made into a movie... in fact I think there are 2 versions. Go with the original version, if you want to rent it.

[Debra]

So, ok, I'm a masochist and deserve what I got. I read The Nightingale and the Rose online (see link for sites) and now I feel sad... and angry! I just knew this would happen! lol

[Sarah]

@Debra - I think you'll really like The Warded Man/The Painted Man.

[KimeyDiann]

Aww, I'm sorry Debra. :(

[Mariab]

Debra wrote: "Yes, Kimey, The Haunting of Hill House was made into a movie... in fact I think there are 2 versions. Go with the original version, if you want to rent it. ..."
Do you mean an english film from 1960 or so?

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Trapped for my series killer challenge. I could start the next book in the series, but we start the buddy read for Finders Keepers on Saturday. I decided that I'm going to take a couple of days break from audiobooks and just keep on with my paperback. Can't quit reading altogether.

[Sarah]

Janice wrote: "I finished Trapped for my series killer challenge. I could start the next book in the series, but we start the buddy read for Finders Keepers on Saturday. I decide..."

I have 100 pages left of my current book. I think I'm going to start Finders Keepers after that. I probably won't get much reading done over the weekend anyway.

[Tammy]

Finished Insanity by Cameron Jace, was a free download. Liked it so much I purchased the next in the series Fragment, which I'm reading now. Guess I'm going to need a series page.