What are you reading January 2015

[Anita]

I am reading Hope to Die It has been a while since I picked up a book by James Patterson. I do love Alex Cross!

[Margie (Bookzombie)]

I finished The Last Kind Words Saloon, which was disappointing. I just started NOS4A2, which has been on my TBR list for a while.

[Miggsy]

Got around to finishing tove Janssen's "The Summer Book" . Afterwards dove into Tim Powers's "Last Call" . Am now starting Theophile Gautier's "Mademoiselle de Maupin" .

[Kelli]

Just finished a beautifully written, 4-star coming-of-age memoir: The Bird Market of Paris: A Memoir

Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also finished Shatter Me - another 3 star dystopian novel.

Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Loretta]

Reading , which I am tearing through surprisingly quickly for it being a short story collection.

I am listening to , which I am really enjoying. I had started it some months ago, only gotten about 40 pages in, and put it aside. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood then, because now I find myself wishing my commute were longer so I could keep listening.

[Jillian]

and loving it!

[Becky]

Jillian wrote: " and loving it!"

I read it not so long ago & I loved reading it also

[Lianne]

I finished , I am currently reading , and the next book on the list is .

So, a mystery, a weird science fiction (weird as genre, not commentary) and a Canadian native author

[Amy]

Just reached section 3 in War and Peace and continue to chug along. Also just started Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

[Susanne]

I'm reading Ready Player One on my kinde and listening to The Children Act through Overdrive from my library. I've also checked out I Am Pilgrim.

[Mary]

Mariana. I've been intending to read something by Susanna Kearsley for some time. Mariana is an engaging quick read but well-written too. Looking forward to reading more by the author.

[Sue]

I am nearing the final, dramatic conclusion (or so I'm told!) of Defending Jacob on audio, and should finish on my way home from work tonight.

I'm about a third of the way through The Book of Strange New Things and really enjoying it. I just saw a picture of the UK cover and it is stunning, but the US first edition hardcover does have a great feel to it, and I love the gilt-edged pages.

I'm also dipping in and out of Ali Smith's The Whole Story and Other Stories and, damn, can that woman write!

[Becky]

Just finished The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry which I loved....still reading A Sudden Light & starting either Before You Know Kindness or Leaving Time

[Pam]

Jack Reacher fans help! Spoiler alert!

I just finished reading One Shot by Lee Child.

I think this is the third Jack reacher novel I've read and, while I enjoyed it, I'm not a fanatic like many people. I do have some questions about it so here is a SPOILER ALERT.

I thought it was a good story but could not understand how Jack Reacher did not check to see that Charlie was dead at the end. He even double checked the people he killed inside the house. He was so thorough in every other area. This did not make sense at all. My other question is how did these people find out about Barr's history before deciding to frame him. I listened on audiobook so perhaps I missed this explanation. I'd love to hear others comments about this.

[Gerald]

Pam wrote: "Jack Reacher fans help! Spoiler alert!

I just finished reading One Shot by Lee Child.

I think this is the third Jack reacher novel I've read and, while I enjoyed it, I'm not a fanatic like many p..."
o
Omg are you in trouble! Just kidding.

[Kathleen]

I have started The Goldfinch finally.I am loving it.

[Kathleen]

Chris wrote: "I am currently reading In the Woods by Tana French and By the Book by Pamela Paul [bookcover:By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New Yo..."

I loved In the Woods and want to read more of her series.

[Kelli]

Finished Garden Spells - an enchanting and magical 4 stars for me. Look forward to reading more by Sarah Addison Allen. I know she has First Frost coming out this month - just realized it was another story about the Waverley family. I'm stoked! It doesn't surprise me that this author wants to revisit these wonderful characters.

[Andreas_55]

Greetings from Japan, I am new to this group and a non native english speaker who likes to read books in english.
Just finished "The Martian"by Andy Weir and now read two books simultaneously. "The Sixth Extinction" and "On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, Author of Silent Spring"

[Linda]

Andreas_55 wrote: "Greetings from Japan, I am new to this group and a non native english speaker who likes to read books in english.
Just finished "The Martian"by Andy Weir and now read two books simultaneously. "Th..."

Welcome, Andreas!

[Janet]

Reading The Bone Clocks but not loving it and listening to Geek Love on audio which has to be one of the most unique books I've read in a long time.
Yesterday I gave away my copy of Brown Girl Dreaming and I hugged it before I let it go. As time goes by I realize more how very much I loved it.

[Susanne]

Janet wrote: "Reading The Bone Clocks but not loving it"

The Bone Clocks received so much love, but like you, that love did not come from my direction. I finished it, but it was such a st.ru.gg.le.

[Mamie]

I'm currently reading "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good" by Jan Karon. I also just picked up "Unbroken" at the library.

[Gerald]

Andreas_55 wrote: "Greetings from Japan, I am new to this group and a non native english speaker who likes to read books in english.
Just finished "The Martian"by Andy Weir and now read two books simultaneously. "Th..."

Just want to let you know that Andy Weir is active on Facebook!

[Bill]

I am halfway through The Girl on the Train. I am enjoying it and still trying to figure out who did what. I have just finished Gone Girl and the two books are good works to read back to back.

[Robin]

Bill wrote: "I am halfway through The Girl on the Train. I am enjoying it and still trying to figure out who did what. I have just finished Gone Girl and the two books are good works to read back to back."

I agree the two books are pretty complimentary! I really enjoyed The Girl on the Train, hope you do too.

I read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and just finished listening to "You" by Kepnes. Ann Kingman recommended it as an audiobook a while ago and it didn't disappoint! Now I'm on to Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage...

[Becky]

I won Still Life with Bread Crumbs a few weeks ago & I am reading that(enjoying it) & still reading

[Kalen]

I just finished HAUSFRAU this morning. Add this one to your TBR!!! It will appeal to fans (and haters?) of GONE GIRL, plus it reminded me a little bit of THE COLD SONG.

[Sue]

I'm really looking forward to Hausfrau!

Kalen wrote: "I just finished HAUSFRAU this morning. Add this one to your TBR!!! It will appeal to fans (and haters?) of GONE GIRL, plus it reminded me a little bit of THE COLD SONG."

[Linda]

Finished listening to Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. ****

Now going back to The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap

[Vanessa]

I just finished Meg Wolitzer's Belzhar today. I can't recommend it - I had high hopes but was so disappointed by it. I don't read a ton of young adult books, but I've read much, much better ones than this. The writing was just flat, the characters weren't well drawn... I really didn't like anything about it. I'd read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar just before this, hoping they would be a good pairing - all I can say is that at least Belzhar gave me the push to reread The Bell Jar (hadn't read it since high school, and I liked it much better now as an adult).

This afternoon, I started The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley at the suggestion of some of my online book group friends - I just want something entertaining and fun while I'm sick, so I'm hoping this fits the bill. Just a little way in, but I already like the writing and the story.

[Kate]

I finished , Any Human Heart and loved it! Sped through , West of Sunset which was a wonderful novelization of the last years of F.Scott Fitzgerald's life. I am now reading , My Brilliant Friend. Next up, which I picked up for National Readathon Day on Saturday based on Ann's recommendation!

[Linda]

Kate wrote: "I finished , Any Human Heart and loved it! Sped through , West of Sunset which was a wonderful novelization of the last years of..."

Kate, you're making me jealous getting so many good books under your belt.

[Becky]

I finished A Sudden Light, it was good, not great, but enjoyable & I finished & I enjoyed it very much....I started &

[Andreas_55]

Finished "On a farther shore" the Rachel Carson Biography and I really liked it. It was quite long though and some parts were more difficult to read, especially if you are a non native english speaker like me, but overall it is a very well written book.
Now started with "Red Rising" . Just finished the first two chapters and it looks promising so far.
I always switch between non fiction and fiction

[Sue]

Just finished The Book of Strange New Things. I haven't rated or reviewed it yet, but I thought it was fantastic. Lots and lots to ponder.

And, now, I get to start fresh tomorrow for National Readathon Day, but am not sure what to read! I ordered a stack of books from Powell's recently, but they have not arrived. Maybe my first Muriel Spark, The Comforters, which is on the night stand. Or, more of Ali Smith's The Whole Story and Other Stories, which I've been enjoying in fits and starts for a few weeks.

Does anyone have special Readathon plans?

[Kate]

Sue wrote: "Just finished The Book of Strange New Things. I haven't rated or reviewed it yet, but I thought it was fantastic. Lots and lots to ponder.

And, now, I get to start fresh tomorrow ..."

My reaction plan was The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins as I wrote yesterday, but a work emergency means no Readthon day for me. Instead, I will read it from 12-4 on Sunday and have my own personal Readathon!

[Sue]

I recommended The Girl on the Train to a friend who just got it yesterday and plans to read it tomorrow. I may have to steal it from her.

Kate wrote: "Sue wrote: "Just finished The Book of Strange New Things. I haven't rated or reviewed it yet, but I thought it was fantastic. Lots and lots to ponder.

And, now, I get to start fre..."

[Nancy]

So far this month I've listened to three audiobooks: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik (part of a series about dragons in the Napoleonic War era); The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott (historical novel); and Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. My print reading has included If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino, The Love Bomb by Lisa Zeidner, Moonlight Palace by Liz Rosenberg, and my current book, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. Bone Clocks is 600 pages and has to be finished for a book club meeting in a few days. I think the Readathon will help me go a long ways toward completion.

[Melissa]

I finished the audio version of The Girl on the Train
This is an excellent thriller with fully drawn characters. The audio version has three narrators, and they were all superb. I am reading The Book of Strange New Things in hardcover, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? in paperback (reread), War of the Whales: A True Story on my phone, and Alan Turing: The Enigma on my Kindle. Enjoying all of them. Now I need to choose a new audio book.

[Susanne]

I just finished listening to Americanah from Overdrive. The narrator Adjoa Andoh was fantastic, even if the book was just a little too long for my taste.

I'm reading Ready Player One on my kindle/phone -- I don't know why it's taking me so long to finish. It's an interesting story, but I don't feel inclined to go back to it once I've put it down. I may read a little at lunch or I may switch to Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die. I've been reading this one for a long time because I tend to only pick it up once a week, and then I only read one story.

At home I'm reading The Girl on the Train. I just checked it out from the library last night, and it only has a seven day check out period because of high demand, so it will be consuming my nights. I'm a slow reader, but I read just over 100 pages last night - yay me (even if it took me 3 hours)! I think I'll get this one done before it's time to turn it back in.

[Sue]

Yes, Adjoa Andoh is an incredible narrator. I could listen to her all day.

I have Ready Player One in paperback. I got it for my husband, who loved it, but...I keep resisting it. I've heard the audio is great, but I don't want to buy the audio if I already have the book.

Looking forward to your thoughts on The Girl on the Train!

Susanne wrote: "I just finished listening to Americanah from Overdrive. The narrator was fantastic, even if the book was just a little too long.

I'm reading Ready Player One on my k..."

[Becky]

Just finished , I really enjoyed it & I am in the early stages of

[Sue]

Lucky you to have an early copy of Hausfrau. I will be deep into Booktopia reading in March, when it comes out, but might have to set that aside to sneak Hausfrau in. I hear it's great.

Becky wrote: "Just finished , I really enjoyed it & I am in the early stages of "

[Susanne]

I'm looking for specific book recommendations. I love Pride and Prejudice and I read/listen to it once a year. In years I don't read it, I read books set in the P&P world, such as Longbourn, Death Comes to Pemberley, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As you can tell, I'm not a P&P purist. Does anyone have any books like this they can recommend that they've enjoyed?

[Adore]

I just finished: O Pioneers! and absolutely loved it. Her characters will stay with me for a long time (especially the Land, a character in its own right.)
Up next:
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches and Everything I Never Told You

[Louise]

I took Ann's recomendation and am now listening to on audio - intense!
I'm reading

[Robin]

Louise wrote: "I took Ann's recomendation and am now listening to on audio - intense!"

Super intense, I agree Louise - I listened to it earlier this month. Fontana did a great job of capturing the obsessive craziness of the character, don't you think? A sequel is coming out later this year, called "Love"... I think I'll check it out!

[Shannon]

I am listening to , which is creepily addictive. My house will get very clean while listening this weekend!

My paperback reading has been WWII focused. I finished last week, and am currently reading . I will follow this with .

After that, I may move on to something a little lighter. I love my winter reading hibernation mode!

[Karin]

Tomissa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Yesterday I finished reading The Miniaturist. I am starting on The Rosie Effect tonight."

I really disliked The Rosie Effect. Let me know what you think of it -- just took a differ..."

I abandoned it after not very many pages. Just didn't like anything about it.