What non-mystery books are you reading? (2021-2022) Showing 401-450 of 1,030

[Tara]

Listening to an audiobook version of The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books by Edward Wilson-Lee. Its the story of the library collection built by Hernando Colon, an illegitimate son of Christopher Columbus.

[Carolien]

I've just completed two very different books, both of which I enjoyed very much - the Newbery winner The Hero and the Crown and A Family Affair: A Novel.

[Sue]

Jill wrote: "I have started Stop Bloody Bossing Me About: How We Need To Stop Being Told What To Do by Quentin Letts It has had my laughing in a couple of places, so far."

This sounds brilliant Jill! I haven't read anything by Quentin Letts, but I fancy trying this one.

[Jill]

Sue wrote: "Jill wrote: "I have started Stop Bloody Bossing Me About: How We Need To Stop Being Told What To Do by Quentin Letts It has had my laughing in a couple of places, s..."

I got it for 99p in the daily deals but see it is £8.99 now. I wouldn't have paid that for it.

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons with the Retro Reads Group.

[Tania]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons with the Retro Reads Group."

I plan on reading that one soon, last week I read The Snow-Woman by her and loved it. I'm enjoying discovering more of her non CCF books.

Yesterdai I finished O, the Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith, which was really good; nice for a bit of armchair travelling as it had a very strong sense of place, (Yorkshire moors).

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m reading Nightingale Wood by Stella Gibbons with the Retro Reads Group."

I plan on reading that one soon, l..."

Thanks for that new-to-me author, the Retro Reads group always votes on titles, good to have another potential nomination!

[Tania]

Great. I'm loving all these publishers re-publishing older 'lost' novels.

[Marwan]

Started reading If on a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino

[Jill]

Now reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Finding it a bit repetitive.

[Sandy]

Jill wrote: "Now reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Finding it a bit repetitive."

My first job during school was in a book store and I remember piles and piles of that book. Couldn't keep it in stock. I never read it.

[Thom]

Now reading The Feud: Vladimir Nabokov, Edmund Wilson, and the End of a Beautiful Friendship

Enjoying it very much.

[Sandy]

I'm reading An Atlas of Extinct Countries, a quick history of 48 countries that are no more. Emphasis on the humor but true (so the blurb says). Each country gets a map, a cause of death, and a couple of pages of its history, so I can polish off a country or two between other reading.

[Kirsten]

I've been reading the latest Ravenel book by Lisa Kleypas - Devil in Disguise

[Joanne]

I've been reading the Inspector Troy books by John Lawton. I'm classifying them as non-mystery because they are more like smart, realistic thrillers. So good. I recommend reading them in publication order, even though that is not chronological, and the first one is Black Out. Highly recommended.

[Kirsten]

Joanne wrote: "I've been reading the Inspector Troy books by John Lawton. I'm classifying them as non-mystery because they are more like smart, realistic thrillers. So good. I recommend reading them in publicatio..."

Good to know. I have the 1st one but haven't started yet.

[Thom]

Not sure if this will be of interest and I only just ordered off Amazon, but this seems interesting to me:

Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction

The comments about it and ratings vary wildly on GR and Amazon. Most complaints seem to be about it having too much info. Hmmm.

Anyway, just thought I would share.

[Thom]

Reading Mr. Doyle and Dr. Bell and will next read The Passenger

The Doyle/Bell book is interesting. I already knew a lot about how Holmes was created but still learned some new things.

The Passenger I am sure will prove a somewhat upsetting read but I've head good things about it from those friends whose opinions I value.

[Laurence]

Just finished The Ancien Regime and the Revolution, Alexis de Tocqueville . An accessible read about a complex time. Trading a monarchy for a tyranny of unelected bureaucrats is a risk. However, that's the chance you take when you look to writers and philosophers for political and practical solutions to national problems. A shame all of France did not look to the Independent Province of Languedoc for instruction on efficient and fair government administration. But then all the fun of murder and arson would have been missed by a population determined to erase the past and begin anew, without the slightest idea of where they were heading.

[Jan C]

Started Dead Man Inside, the 2nd Walter Ghost story, by Vincent Starrett. Takes place in Chicago (the first story took place on a ship). Starts pretty good. Guy goes to work and there is a sign on the door says there is a dead man inside and it further says the owner will not be opening because he is the dead man and won't be able to open. Guy thinks it is a joke. Discovers it isn't. Sounds intriguing.

[Tara]

Jan C wrote: "Started Dead Man Inside, the 2nd Walter Ghost story, by Vincent Starrett. Takes place in Chicago (the first story took place on a ship). Starts pretty good. Guy goes ..."

That sounds really interesting Jan. I would have thought that was a gag too. I read another mystery by Starrett, The Great Hotel Murder which was good if not great.

[Jan C]

Tara wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Started Dead Man Inside, the 2nd Walter Ghost story, by Vincent Starrett. Takes place in Chicago (the first story took place on a ship). Starts pretty g..."

I have that one waiting for me. Since he wrote the Walter Ghost stories first I thought I would start with them.

[Thom]

Just added to my to read list so not sure when I will get to this, but it sounds like fun.

Balloonomania Belles: Daredevil Divas Who First Took to the Sky

[Gary]

Currently reading/listening to The Year of the Pitcher: Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, and the End of Baseball’s Golden Age by Sridhar Pappu

I am biased. I am a long suffering Detroit Tiger fan. I was 14 in 1968 and cheered on McClain and the Tiger pitching staff.

[Thom]

Just finished these:

Take Courage: Anne Bronte and the Art of Life

The Woman on the Orient Express

Note that the Orient Express book is not a mystery but a romance more or less.

About to read this:

Those Wild Wyndhams: Three Sisters at the Heart of Power

[Tania]

I really liked the first two Thom, and I've been meaning to get round to Those Wild Wyndhams: Three Sisters at the Heart of Power for a long time. One of these days I'll get there,

I'm reading Mrs England by Stacey Halls which is good so far, and Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford, which finally came through from my library.

[Thom]

Tania wrote: "I really liked the first two Thom, and I've been meaning to get round to Those Wild Wyndhams: Three Sisters at the Heart of Power for a long time. One of these days I'll get there,
..."

I liked them as well but not quite as much as I thought I would for the reasons I stated in my reviews. But they are both great reads.

I've been sitting on the Wyndham book for years...I feel in love with their portrait John Singer Sargent. I love his work. There was something about how the sisters related to each other that drew me to them. So, years after when the book came out, I bought it at once.

I just added the two you are reading to my ever growing list. I am SO far behind with books I own, let alone those I don't. Oy! LOL

[Tania]

I have long come to terms with the fact that my personal library exceeds life expectancy, P.L.E.L.E. Card carrying member, me. 😄

[Jill]

Tania wrote: "I have long come to terms with the fact that my personal library exceeds life expectancy, P.L.E.L.E. Card carrying member, me. 😄"

Me too. Maybe we should get them printed

[Thom]

Jill wrote: "Tania wrote: "I have long come to terms with the fact that my personal library exceeds life expectancy, P.L.E.L.E. Card carrying member, me. 😄"

Me too. Maybe we should get them printed"

Me third!

[Thom]

Tania wrote: "I have long come to terms with the fact that my personal library exceeds life expectancy, P.L.E.L.E. Card carrying member, me. 😄"

I refuse to give in!! LOL. I am determined that, despite what others may prefer (God knows how many...) I will live as long as I need to in order to read every one of them. Even if that makes the world miserable...ROFL.

[Tania]

At least I never feel like I don't have anything that I want to read.

[Thom]

Tania wrote: "At least I never feel like I don't have anything that I want to read."

Likewise. There's always so many. Especially when you consider past books as well as current ones.

[Abigail]

Just finished reading A Town Like Alice in another group, one of those books I’ve been hearing about forever but would never have gotten around to reading if it weren’t for a Goodreads group. This site is certainly good for expanding my reading horizons, even if it has made my PLELE status permanent!

[Thom]

Abigail wrote: "Just finished reading A Town Like Alice in another group, one of those books I’ve been hearing about forever but would never have gotten around to reading if it weren’t for a Goodread..."

Yet another fabulous book.

[Carolien]

I've just finished Disoriental. Fascinating look at Iran pre the Revolution.

[Abigail]

I liked it a lot, Thom! Though of course, considering its era and authorship, full of cringeworthy bits. Nevertheless, it was gripping and inspiring.

This group is going to keep me busy for the rest of this month; both Pietr the Latvian and An Instance of the Fingerpost are books I’ve been wanting to read.

And I need to get cracking on She Stoops to Conquer for my nonvirtual Jane Austen reading group.

[Tania]

I've been meaning to read, (or possibly listen to) She Stoops to Conquer for ages. I think there is a dramatised version on Librivox that I keep meaning to try out, though I do have it on kindle. I hope you let us know what you think of it when you're done.

[Thom]

Abigail wrote: "I liked it a lot, Thom! Though of course, considering its era and authorship, full of cringeworthy bits. Nevertheless, it was gripping and inspiring.

This group is going to keep me busy for the re..."

I know some feel that his characters ways of referring to some was racist but I never took it that way. It seemed to me (not only in the book but in real life) mostly a sign of those times more than anything else. Especially considering what was going on.

Funny you should mention those two books. I've been meaning to add them to my list. Thanks to you I have!

As to She Stoops... I read that years ago and it was very funny. I can still remember lots of it. It's a play we almost did in High School for the drama club.

[Abigail]

I saw She Stoops to Conquer in London when I was fourteen, on my first trip there, and loved it! So I’m looking forward to actually reading it. I’ve always thought the key to understanding Jane Austen (especially the earlier books) was to read late eighteenth-century plays.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I'm reading An Atlas of Extinct Countries, a quick history of 48 countries that are no more. Emphasis on the humor but true (so the blurb says). Each country gets a map, a cause of ..."

Oh, this one is on my nonfiction TBR list - very interesting premise.

[Jackie]

I am reading Girl Waits with Gun and can't wait to find out what happens next. I would like to find whoever recommended it to me and thank them!

does this fit into the "non-mystery" thread? it's a novel based on a real woman. I assume I heard about it somewhere on goodreads.

[Abigail]

I’d say it was a mystery, Jackie, but glad to hear you’re enjoying it! I believe the author has now published at least two more in the series.

[Sandy]

Abigail wrote: "I’d say it was a mystery, Jackie, but glad to hear you’re enjoying it! I believe the author has now published at least two more in the series."

Actually book 7 is due out very soon and I'm on my library's wait list. I really like the series. From what I remember the author had to deviate from actual history as the books progress and less is known about our hero (or her life got dull). I believe the author tells you at the end what is true and what she invented.

It is barely a mystery though I believe at least the first one is filed as such.

[Thom]

Abigail wrote: "I saw She Stoops to Conquer in London when I was fourteen, on my first trip there, and loved it! So I’m looking forward to actually reading it. I’ve always thought the key to understanding Jane Aus..."

I've always felt that the acquiring of self-knowledge was one of the keys to getting onboard with Austin.

[Susan in NC]

I’m finally trying to finish (listening to) Bleak House by Dickens. I’ve started the audiobook several times over the last several years, usually during hospital stays, and it worked wonderfully as a soporific! Problem was, I never knew where I dozed off! So I am currently listening while knitting, which I enjoy very much - helps me tackle a project and be entertained - the humor and quirky characters come through so well! Plus, my used copy is an annotated edition, very helpful but tiny print, so this works better all round - although certain scenes, like the description of a little old lady who shows the three young Jarndyce wards her home above a shop, turns out not to be a bizarre anesthesia-induced fever dream, but real, and I found, rather heartbreaking! Im glad to be finally listening to it, beginning to end - a personal reading project to be completed this year, finally!

[Sandy]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’m finally trying to finish (listening to) Bleak House by Dickens. I’ve started the audiobook several times over the last several years, usually during hospital stays, and it worked w..."

I started Bleak House on audio at the beginning of the summer and was enjoying it but other stuff got in the way. I hope to return sometime, but would have to revisit much of what I've read. Early congrats on completing.

[Abigail]

Good point, Thom; if we’re talking themes in Austen I’d highlight embracing one’s duty to others. In my comment about theater I was thinking more about technique—how to set a scene, how to get characters moving and talking, how to get out of a scene.

[Thom]

Abigail wrote: "Good point, Thom; if we’re talking themes in Austen I’d highlight embracing one’s duty to others. In my comment about theater I was thinking more about technique—how to set a scene, how to get char..."

That as well. There are numerous themes to be absorbed within her novels.

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I’m finally trying to finish (listening to) Bleak House by Dickens. I’ve started the audiobook several times over the last several years, usually during hospital st..."

You’re an optimist, I thank you for having faith in me! I’m currently finishing Pietr the Latvian, then I’ll get back to Bleak House - as you say, things get in the way! But luckily the characters are so memorable, I feel I can concentrate on other books for a day or so and go back to it without forgetting anything important.