What are you reading in 2015?

[Jackie]

Starting The Darkening Hour by Penny Hancock today.

[Laurie]

I need something different after two kind of depressing novels, so I have started Breakfast of Champions.

[Bella]

Paul wrote: "Started Mani: Travels in the Southern Peloponnese today. Wonderful book so far"

Paul, if you're interested in Greece or travel books, have you read Pausanias's Guide to Greece: Central Greece and Guide to Greece: Southern Greece? They were written in the 2nd Century, so a lot of the things that Pausanias describes no longer exist. I think it's worth it to get the Penguin Editions- I did.

Interesting side note, it was the Roman Emperor Augustus that sort of sparked the cultural tourism boom of Romans visiting Greece. Early on, the Spartans sided with Augustus and he conveyed on them some sort of favored status. Sparta in particular was the focus of a lot of the cultural tourism.

[Pat]

Thanks Bella. That looks interesting. I know it was for Paul, but I love Greek history too. Augustus is my hero (although he was not very nice when Octavius)

[Bella]

Pat wrote: "Thanks Bella. That looMichael C. Scottks interesting. I know it was for Paul, but I love Greek history too. Augustus is my hero (although he was not very nice when Octavius)"

Pat, have you read Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World by Michael C. Scott? I got it last year. I also picked up Donald Kagan's multi-volume works on the Peloponnesian War. (Not the single volume, although I have that, too.) I think the three volumes are out of print, but they have an ebook only version containing all three volumes. It was cheaper than buying the books separately used. The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War is the first volume in the series. It's supposed to be excellent.

[Pat]

Thanks Bella. Have earmarked them on my LONG list of to read books

[Paul]

Bella wrote: Paul, if you're interested in Greece or travel books, have you read [author:Pausanias|302..."

I was reading this because the author is one that I want to read more of. And I read an awful lot of travel books too.

[Seraphina]

Have just finished Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore which I gave 3 stars to, felt like a homage to google at times.
Have started Ten Thousand Saints which I'm really enjoying at the moment

[Paul]

The next weeks reading will include:

A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Jilid I
The Shipping News
A Foreign Field
Fish of the Seto Inland Sea

[Trine]

Just picked up The Gun Seller ONLY 'cause of Hugh Laurie. O - and it is a spy novel, so it will fit nicely into my full deck aswell;o

[Jackie]

I'm starting Margot by Jillian Cantor.

[Jackie]

I'm starting The Son in Law by Charity Norman today.

[Jon]

Starting GraceLand by Chris Albani. It's about an Elvis impersonator in Lagos, Nigeria. Supposedly a funny and poignant look at life in an African slum

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

I am currently reading "A Spell of Winter," and plan to tackle "City of Bones," "Silence," "The Da Vinci Code," and "10th Anniversary" before the year is up.

[Jackie]

Starting The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey today. Seems quite popular on GR.

[Jo]

Starting The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett.

[Cathy]

Currently reading Wake by Anna Hope. Very good so far.

[Paul]

Aiming to get through these this week:

The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Fish of the Seto Inland Sea
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures
The Broken Road: From the Iron Gates to Mount Athos

And I have these two to review for Newbooks / Nudge:

Rising Ground: A Search for the Spirit of Place
Walking the Woods and the Water: In Patrick Leigh Fermor's footsteps from the Hook of Holland to the Golden Horn

[Bella]

Paul, I added Fish of the Seto Inland Sea. Looks interesting.

I'm reading Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma (Booker Longlist this year). The Fishermen is amazing, author has a great voice. I'm also reading The Origins of AIDS by Jacques Pepin.

If you're interested in the American Civil War, I'm reading Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Shaw commanded a black regiment during the war and the story was made into the movie, Glory.

[Paul]

Bella wrote: "Paul, I added Fish of the Seto Inland Sea. Looks interesting.

The little that I have read so far is ok.

[Jackie]

I'm starting No Safe House by Linwood Barclay today.

[Jackie]

I'm going to start reading The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist today. I think it comes under the dystopian banner which isn't something I usually go for, but I'm going up give it go as I've heard it's pretty good.

[Paul]

Current reading Bel Vino, the second book by Isabella Dusi about her life in a Tuscan village.

[Jackie]

Going to start I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak tonight. I'm not expecting it to be as good as the Book Thief (I loved that!) but I'm still looking forward to reading it.

[Paul]

Have managed to get through five books whilst on holiday over the last week, but now I am reading this:

Between the Sunset and the Sea: A View of 16 British Mountains. Not bad so far.

[Sandy]

I'm hiding in my office during lunch break, reading a sample of H is for Hawk. Everyone seems to really like this book here on GR.

[Paul]

H is for Hawk is well worth reading Sandy

[Marina]

I have just finished reading Wool Omnibus Edition, which I really liked. In the meantime, I'm in the middle of An Angel at my Table and from time to time I read a short story from Achim von Arnim's Erzählungen. I think I might also start reading The Blithedale Romance. Has anyone read it, and if so, did you like it?

[Paul]

I have read the first of the Wool books, but not any of the sequels. Not heard of the other books that you mentioned Marina

[Marina]

Did you like it, Paul? I really enjoyed reading it. I have also bought Shift, the second book in the Silo trilogy, but I don't know when I'll start reading it. Oh my gosh, I have so many books to read!...

[Paul]

Thought it was quite original for a dystopian novel. Have you read Station Eleven yet?

I have hundreds to read!

[Marina]

Paul wrote: "Thought it was quite original for a dystopian novel. Have you read Station Eleven yet?

I have hundreds to read!"

No, I haven't read it, but I might have to check it out, I really love dystopias.

I too have hundreds to read, it will take me more than a lifetime!

[Pamela]

Currently reading My Brilliant Friend: Neapolitan Novels, Book One. As a former student of the language and lover of Italy and Italian literature, I was really excited about it but have been quite disappointed. Just not my cup of tea.

[Jackie]

Starting Two Brothers by Ben Elton today. I haven't read any of his books before, even though he's written a fair few they've just passed me by. I guess I'll find out whether I've been missing out on anything decent or not! I hope it's going to be reasonably good as it's pretty long at 600 odd pages (although the GR one says 400).

[Sneha]

August has been a fruitful month. Finished reading Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Started with The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman.

Happy Reading in 2015!

[Paul]

Jackie wrote: "Starting Two Brothers by Ben Elton today. I haven't read any of his books before, even though he's written a fair few they've just passed me by. I guess I'll find out whether I've been missing ou..."

I read a few of his years ago, they are mildly amusing fiction mostly.

[Pat]

I read one of his years ago. Not impressed. Maybe I was harsh.

[Jackie]

I thought I'd give this one a try because it doesn't come under humour. I don't really go for that in books because Ive found the ones that are supposed to make me laugh don't, and vice versa

[Jackie]

I'm going to start Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See later today.

[Jo]

I am reading The Bones of You by Debbie Howell and now listening to Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye

[Jackie]

I'm going to start reading The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker today. Been looking forward to this, hope it doesn't disappoint!

[Jo]

Jackie. My MIL has given me that one to read.

[Jackie]

I'm not sure what to expect now, Jo, someone in another group has said they were disgusted by it. I guess I'll find out in a while..

[Jo]

Interesting! Will keep tabs on what you think.....

[Paul]

Aiming to read these over the bank holiday weekend:

Signs Preceding the End of the World
Underlands: A Journey Through Britain's Lost Landscape

Then onto Bringer Of Light, the fourth in a science fiction series I am reading

[Debbie]

Paul wrote: "Aiming to read these over the bank holiday weekend:

Signs Preceding the End of the World
Underlands: A Journey Through Britain's Lost Landscape

Then onto [book:Br..."
Good luck!!

[Debbie]

I would like to finish reading The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History which is an incredible book.

And start All the Light We Cannot See
The Martian

[Joy]

I'm 300-odd pages into 2312 but waning a bit. It's sci-fi, and is an incredibly detailed and convincingly real picture of our solar system 300 years in the future, but... but... it is very long and very slow paced, and im not sure its going to be worth the effort.

[Paul]

Joy wrote: "I'm 300-odd pages into 2312 but waning a bit. It's sci-fi, and is an incredibly detailed and convincingly real picture of our solar system 300 years in the future, but... but... it ..."

Thought it was ok when I read it, but was not up to the exceptional quality of his Mars series

[Joy]

Paul wrote: "Joy wrote: "I'm 300-odd pages into 2312 but waning a bit. It's sci-fi, and is an incredibly detailed and convincingly real picture of our solar system 300 years in the future, but....."

That's worth knowing. I might give them a try then - eventually!