What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022) Showing 651-700 of 1,030

[Sandy]

Abigail wrote: "Just finished Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym, which I found dreary, and moving on to a bit of escapism, [book:The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondence between Mr Collins & Mr Benne..."

The letters between Mr Collins and Mr Bennet intrigues me. I've added it to my TBR.

[Abigail]

So far I’m finding it amusing but the writing is a bit clumsy—I keep revising it in my head to make it more Regency.

[Jackie]

I'm finally reading Hester Roon and at chapter 5 "can't put it down".

[Susan in NC]

Starting a reread (relisten, doing Audible) of The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer.

[Sid]

Tara wrote: "Adding a few more books to my groaning currently reading pile:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. "

I loved that, Tara. Never bothered with the film, but I found the book a delight. My (non-spoiler) review if you'd like to know why:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Rosina]

I have just started a re-read of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, having acquired the Kindle as one of the day's offers.

[Wayne]

Currently I am having a go at River God, Mr. Mercedes, Anne of Avonlea and Casino Royale

[Sandy]

I am reading my 'blind date' book, a book that the library wraps in brown paper with a short description, so you don't know what you've got. (Tempted to sing the Joni Mitchell song). The book is The Lost Book of the Grail and, while I'm enjoying it, I am only half way in and feel it should be wrapping up. I may need to put it aside for a couple of books I can't renew and our upcoming reads.

The book is set in current day but each chapter starts with a few pages giving a bit more of the manuscript's history moving forward from 560 AD.

[Jess]

I'm currently still making my way through Our Mutual Friend as a group long read.

[Abigail]

Rosina: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of those rare times I enjoyed the TV series more than the book!

Susan: Stealing a march on the May group read in the Georgette Heyer group?

I’m starting to read Village School by Miss Read.

[Rosina]

Abigail wrote: "Rosina: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of those rare times I enjoyed the TV series more than the book!"

There were some 'changes' in the TV series that I didn't like as much as the original - but it was well done. But I love the book, particularly the audio version.

[Jill]

Abigail wrote: "Rosina: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of those rare times I enjoyed the TV series more than the book!

Susan: Stealing a march on the May group read in the Georgette Heyer group?

I’m start..."
I read Village School in January and really liked it. I intend to read on as I want to know what will happen to various characters. Hope you enjoy it.

[Abigail]

I should try the audio version, Rosina! Though I don’t absorb content as well that way.

Thanks for the encouragement, Jill!

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "Rosina: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of those rare times I enjoyed the TV series more than the book!

Susan: Stealing a march on the May group read in the Georgette Heyer group?

I’m start..."
No, just fun to listen to while knitting yesterday! I try to keep track of all the books I’m starting for groups so I don’t forget. And I wanted something to listen to, and had this one on Audible.

[Tara]

Sid wrote: "Tara wrote: "Adding a few more books to my groaning currently reading pile:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. "

I loved that, Tara. Never bothered with the film, ..."

So far, so good Sid! I love letters so; that aspect of the novel is the primary charm for me.

[Abigail]

Finished Village School, which I mostly liked but the portrayal of the many working-class characters made me a bit uncomfortable. Now reading How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith.

[Karen M]

I'm a fan of Rick Bragg and I've read All Over But the Shoutin' because I saw him interviewed on CSPAN book club. That lead me to reading The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People and now I'm listening to The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table. I admit I'm skipping the recipes but the stories he weaves around the recipes are priceless.

[Jackie]

Jackie wrote: "I'm finally reading Hester Roon and at chapter 5 "can't put it down"."

is it wrong to quote myself? ;-)

I finished Hester Roon and was glad I did, as it's extremely well written, memorable, and vivid characters. (view spoiler)[ while not at all a "happily ever after" the ending was not one of the many tragedies I'd feared! (hide spoiler)]

Next I'm reading Listening Valley by an author I love.

[Abigail]

Now reading The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John LeCarré.

[Tara]

Randomly decided to start watching the old 90s series Sharpe, starring the underrated Sean Bean. When traipsing through used bookstores this weekend, I came across one of the Bernard Cornwell books the show is based on, Sharpe's Fortress, and decided to grab it. I am going down many rabbit holes researching all of the military terms I am not familiar with, but he's a likeable character already within the first chapter.

[Abigail]

Love that kind of rabbit hole! I’m starting down one myself, reading the expanded, book version of The 1619 Project.

[Sid]

Tara wrote: "When traipsing through used bookstores this weekend, I came across one of the Bernard Cornwell books the show is based on, Sharpe's Fortress, and decided to grab it. I am going down many rabbit holes researching all of the military terms I am not familiar with..."

I love that, too. It's one of the joys of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series which I love (and which Russel Crowe desecrated, IMO). One thing O'Brian does is to quietly use words and phrases in their original context which are now in common usage in British English, and it's amazing how many are of naval origin: at loggerheads, in the offing, by and large, toe the line spring to mind and there are dozens of others.

It's a wholly wonderful series which I've read from end to end at least three times and am tempted to start again!

[Sandy]

I've recently read two excellent non-fiction books. Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy is a pleasant way to absorb a bit of American history laced with memoir, travel adventures and dog stories. Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds makes paleobiology interesting and relevant. There was a lot of time before "us" and the earth was a very different place.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I've recently read two excellent non-fiction books. Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy is a pleasant way to absorb a bit of American history laced with memo..."

Oh, these sound very interesting, Sandy! Love well written nonfiction that makes science understandable for an armchair science nerd like me… ;) yeah, my library has both books - George is even in large print, wahoo for my aging eyes…Currently both checked out, but I’m next in line.

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've recently read two excellent non-fiction books. Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy is a pleasant way to absorb a bit of American history l..."

Hope you enjoy them.

[Susan]

I just finished, and loved, No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy

[Jackie]

I just started The Kaiju Preservation Society and I can tell it's going to be fun.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I've recently read two excellent non-fiction books. Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy is a pleasant way to absorb a bit o..."

Thank you!

[Gary]

Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by Erin and Ben Napier. Read by the authors, I love watching their show on HGTV

[Carolien]

Susan wrote: "I just finished, and loved, No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy "

This looks interesting. Definitely adding it to the list.

[Jan C]

Gary wrote: "Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by Erin and Ben Napier. Read by the authors, I love watching thei..."

Why is that show on different times and days? No idea they were on this afternoon. My sister got me watching it on her last visit.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by Erin and Ben Napier. Read by the authors, I love ..."

It’s on Sunday nights where I live, but it’s on other times, too - I think it’s a hit, so they run episodes a lot! Like they used to do with Chip and Joanna Gaines’ show before they went off and started their own network.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by Erin and Ben Napier. Read by the au..."

I think they do it with Love It or List It too.

[Susan in NC]

Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by Erin and Ben Na..."

Yes! And those two brothers seemed to be on a lot over the last few years.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Gary wrote: "Currently listening to Make Something Good Today: A Memoir by E..."

I've started watching them, too. It is a break from my seemingly non-stop watching of the FOOD channel.

[Jackie]

I just finished The Kaiju Preservation Society, my first read by that author. reviews rave about it so my expectations were too high, but I did enjoy the book and might try more of his science fiction.
One of my reservations was it was such a light, fast read but the author explains that in his note at the end.

[Jackie]

Susan in NC wrote: "I started Vittoria Cottage by D.E. Stevenson for an August read with the Retro Reads group."

oh, I love D.E. Stevenson, I'm sure I found her via the Retro Reads group.

I am currently reading and loving Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering, who writes similar books, and a friend of D.E. Stevenson!

a charming book!

ETA I think I accidentally responded to an old post somehow

[Abigail]

I’m reading Dear Hugo as well right now and loving it. The Retro Reads book pool is proving to be a wonderful thing! I turned to it after finding that my main read, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, is not really suitable for sitting down and reading straight through. So now I do a chapter a day of that and turn with relief to Molly Clavering!

[Sandy]

I'm working my way through a few library requests that became available. One I finished, The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, is labelled a mystery but I'm not sure I agree. There are missing books but little investigation. Its main theme is a woman's life in male-controlled academia. A good enough read with characters that I loved or hated. The university president was particularly obnoxious.

Now I'm reading The Old Woman With a Knife, a Korean book whose lead is an assassin nearing retirement. Interesting so far.

[Jackie]

I just finished The Summer Getaway in two gulps and found it to be pretty much what you might want for a beach read.

[Susan in NC]

Started one of my Retro Reads group book pool selections, Apricot Sky . Jury still out, may be a bit too fey, we’ll see - give it the 50-page test!

[Susan in NC]

Abigail wrote: "I’m reading Dear Hugo as well right now and loving it. The Retro Reads book pool is proving to be a wonderful thing! I turned to it after finding that my main read, [book:The 1619 P..."

I find that a good approach to nonfiction books, also!

[Susan in NC]

Also got a nonfiction library book today, The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe that I hope to start today.

[Tania]

Susan in NC wrote: "Started one of my Retro Reads group book pool selections, Apricot Sky. Jury still out, may be a bit too fey, we’ll see - give it the 50-page test!"

I have this one lurking on kindle. I absolutely love Lady Rose and Mrs. Memmary by her. Look forward to your thoughts on this.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Started one of my Retro Reads group book pool selections, Apricot Sky. Jury still out, may be a bit too fey, we’ll see - give it ..."

So far, so good - it survived the 50 page test! A little difficult keeping track of all the household, guests, siblings, grandchildren and cousins keep appearing. But the heart of the household seems to be the delightful matriarch, and I like her!

[Judy]

Good to hear you are enjoying Apricot Sky, Susan. I am hoping to catch up with more Furrowed Middlebrow and similar books. I feel for you keeping track of all those characters, as I always find that a struggle.

At the moment I'm reading The English Air by D.E. Stevenson - I always find her very readable but am not sure yet how I feel about this one. It was published in 1940 but so far has been set just before the war, and has a sympathetic half-German/half-English character with split loyalties.

[Carolien]

I've just finished Dear Hugo which I loved. Glad to see Apricot Sky is worth it as well. And DE Stevenson is always good for the soul!

[Abigail]

Judy wrote, “It was published in 1940 but so far has been set just before the war . . .”

Aaack, Judy, that would be challenging to read! I hope the loyalty question gets satisfactorily resolved. That said, I know how hard it can be for people to change their minds as events reveal what was deliberately concealed. I’m still horror-struck by the fact that in 1940 or 1941, the undergrads at my alma mater voted Adolf Hitler number 2 on the list of greatest men in history.

[Judy]

Abigail wrote: "Judy wrote, “It was published in 1940 but so far has been set just before the war . . .”

Aaack, Judy, that would be challenging to read! I hope the loyalty question gets satisfactorily resolved..."

Abigail, I'm now about halfway through - I think it was a daring choice of subject at the time, especially for a writer who is sometimes seen as a bit cosy, and was quite surprised. But it is certainly showing the evil of Nazism and the way the young lead character struggles to break free of his upbringing.

I've also read another Stevenson book with an anti-Nazi German young man as the romantic hero, but I think that one was published post-war. (Can't think what the title was.)

Your shocking anecdote about your alma mater and Hitler reminds me that I have read actor James Cagney chose Stalin as a personal hero in a studio questionnaire in the 1930s. He changed his mind later, of course.

[Rosina]

I find it interesting to read books set before WW2, unfiltered through later revelations. One that I read when I was much younger was A Toast To Tomorrow, a spy story, published in 1940, in which the hero, a British agent suffering from amnesia since 1918, is a trusted member of the Nazi Party, although becoming more unimpressed as time goes on. Until he recovers his memory on the night of the Reichstag fire. The picture of Germany in the aftermath of the Great War is sympathetic, although not rose-coloured.