What are you reading in 2015?

[Lisa]

I clearly need speed reading tips from you. Malcolm X is 500pp plus intros and I am wondering if I will finish it by Christmas at the rate I am reading it. :(

[Paul]

The Speed Reading Book is quite helpful. I have always been a fast reader, at the age of 8 I could read a book in an evening

[Alison]

I've got a speed reading book. Haven't finished it yet. I kid you not!

[Pat]

Anna Karenina sped by. Some short books are painfully slow. It depends! Haha re book

[Alison]

My daughter is a very fast reader. Buy a book in the city and she's half finished it in the 1.5hr drive home :-o

[Lisa]

Jo wrote: "I've read worse, so it isn't a one star."

Damned with faint praise! I've often read books with stunning first chapters but often unsustainable through the whole book, alas. I guess a lot of effort is put into first chapters to get the publishers interested!

[Jennifer]

When I was a kid and we used to go to the library I would have a list of the books I wanted and quite often finished one by the time my sisters had chosen their books!! I remember being very annoyed that I couldn't return it and choose another in the same day!! Haha

[Jennifer]

When I was a kid and we used to go to the library I would have a list of the books I wanted and quite often finished one by the time my sisters had chosen their books!! I remember being very annoyed that I couldn't return it and choose another in the same day!! Haha

[Jo]

Ana wrote: "Jo wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Jo I've put that on to read list because of what you wrote!! Love a good thriller!"

Jennifer, it started on a high and unfortunately it turns out that there is only way..."

It got me interested too!! It was so far fetched, it bordered on comedy despite it's rather gruesome subject matter.

[Debbie]

I've started my trilogy for the full deck challenge this week. I chose the Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer. A gripping and incredibly disturbing tale of a catastrophic event resulting in an isolated location called Area X. Southern Reach are the Authority in charge of containing/researching what it it is and what happened. Racing through it, and can't bear to stop reading.
I'm more than halfway through the 2nd book and haven't a Scooby what the hell is going on. Spellbound and creeped out in equal measure.

[Paul]

Sounds perfect Debbie!

[Paul]

Just started At Hawthorn Time. Lovely so far

[Jon]

Just started Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor. A sci-fi/fantasy book set in a far future, post-apocalypse Africa.

[Paul]

Just starting Man Who Made Things Out Of Trees. Looking forward to this as his book on bicycles, It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels was really good

[Jackie]

I'm starting The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell tonight.

[Paul]

Aiming to read 84, Charing Cross Road, Fingersmith and Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World this week

[Marina]

Paul, I'm intrigued by Fingersmith. Do let us know how you like it, if you manage to read it soon.

[Tytti]

I actually own Fingersmith, as an old library book. Not planning to read it this year, though.

I did borrow book from the library about old criminal cases, some of which happened in this town, I think between the world wars. I was listening to the author this fall and a member of one victim's family was there, too. But it's quite long and has to be returned on Thursday, so... It's also about life and police work in general, so it sounds interesting.

[Paul]

Marina wrote: "Paul, I'm intrigued by Fingersmith. Do let us know how you like it, if you manage to read it soon."

Will do Marina

[Pat]

Wish I liked Fingersmith but hated it. As I also wish I liked Dickens and also hate that. Indeed it reminded me of Dickins

[Jackie]

I liked Charing Cross Road but thought Fingersmith was all a bit "meh" and far too long.

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "Aiming to read 84, Charing Cross Road, Fingersmith and Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World this week"

Hello, Paul. I've been indisposed of late. I'm curious as to what you thought of "And The Mountains Echoed". Did you write a review?

[Paul]

I haven't got to it yet Jan. Hoping to this month, but have a bit (ok a lot) of a backlog. Have you finished it yet?

[Sandy]

I'm at a conference for my husband's job. I will be alone during the day. Does anyone have a good vacation book recommendations! I should have brought my own work but I didn't.

[Paul]

Can't beat a good travel book Sandy. How about In Patagonia or one byPaul Theroux?

[Sandy]

I will try it thanks

[Jackie]

I've just started A Quiet Belief in Angels by R.J. Ellory.

[Paul]

Have heard good things about that Jackie

[Jackie]

Yes, a friend told me it was pretty good. I've read Candlemoth by the same author and gave it 5 stars..fingers x'd for more of the same.

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "I haven't got to it yet Jan. Hoping to this month, but have a bit (ok a lot) of a backlog. Have you finished it yet?"

Yes, a while ago. I'd have to say he's my favorite contemporary writer (although my horizons on that front are a bit narrow). But his insight into human nature and his incredible story lines are things to cherish. Don't want to say anymore that might spoil it for you.

[Jennifer]

I finished A Treasured Island and liked the second half of the book much better than the first, I don't think I would be in too much of a hurry to read any of his other books though. Almost halfway through The Pelican Brief which is a typical Grisham but a good read none the less!

[Paul]

Ok Jan. Hope to get to it soon.

I have that to read by the end of the month Jennifer. I like travel, so I'm looking forward to it

[Joy]

I'm about 100 pages into The Crow Road but finding it a bit hard-going. The focus keeps shifting from one character to another and to different times in their lives too. Has anyone read it and would you encourage me to keep going?

[Paul]

Read it a while ago Joy. I really liked it, and would say stick with it.

[Joy]

Thanks Paul - I'll keep going!

[Jennifer]

I just finished the Pelican Brief by John Grisham, I haven't read a book of his for years but really enjoyed the fast pace and easiness of the read. Am now starting Cows which I am a bit scared about but will see how I go!

[Paul]

Half way through The Wisdom of Trees so far. It is quite interesting, but not exceptional

[Jacqueline]

I am reading Cutting for Stone and I'm enjoying it. I like stories set in other parts of the world, and I love medical settings.

[Bella]

Jacqueline wrote: "I am reading Cutting for Stone and I'm enjoying it. I like stories set in other parts of the world, and I love medical settings."

I read another of the author's books, My Own Country: A Doctor's Story. It's excellent, too.

[Jacqueline]

Thanks, Bella. I will put that on my list!

[Pat]

I had forgotten cutting for stone. Excellent book.

[Paul]

Am about 1/4 of the way through Anthony Blunt so far, and now have The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories to read by next weekend before it has to be wrapped and given to a friend as a present!

[Jackie]

I hope you never give anybody underwear as a pressie, Paul :D

[Tytti]

Those Cambridge spies were an interesting bunch, serving a country where they probably wouldn't have lived long if they had actually lived there.

[Paul]

Jackie wrote: "I hope you never give anybody underwear as a pressie, Paul :D"

Ha ha ha! Er. No.

Tytti wrote: "Those Cambridge spies were an interesting bunch, serving a country where they probably wouldn't have lived long if they had actually lived there."

I think Philly & Co hated it when they were there.

[Tytti]

Paul wrote: "I think Philly & Co hated it when they were there."

Probably, but luckily for them it was after the show trials of the 1930's.

[Bella]

I'm reading The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster by Jonathan M. Katz. Well written, interesting, informative. Years ago, I was going to donate money to the Red Cross because a hurricane hit my home state. I was talking to my mother and she told me not to bother, that the Red Cross was already funneling money to another state hit by a hurricane. And people to this day, 20+ years later, are still living in homes with tarps on the roofs in the poorer areas. She told me to send her the money and she would find a charity that was really going to help rebuild. It's sad that the same problems remain in these charities after decades.

[Paul]

That is horrendous Bella.

[Paul]

Just started The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes From a Small Island. Very funny so far.

[Gail]

That is good to know Paul. I have the audio edition waiting for me at the library.