What Are You Reading Now? Showing 951-1,000 of 2,435

[Dave]

I finished Swann's Way, the first volume of Remembrance of Things Past by Proust and started the second volume Within A Budding Grove(Annotated).

I started [book:Desolation Island by Patrick O’Brian.

[[deleted user]]

I finished my June plan and I'm starting Jane Eyre.

[Dave]

I started The Tenant bt Katerine Egberg.

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "I finished my June plan and I'm starting Jane Eyre."

Is this your first read of Jane Eyre , Fed ? It's a lovely book .

[[deleted user]]

Savita wrote: "Is this your first read of Jane Eyre , Fed ? It's a lovely book ."

It is, Savita; what did you like about it in particular? I read Wuthering Heights last month and, after Jane Eyre, I plan reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "Savita wrote: "Is this your first read of Jane Eyre , Fed ? It's a lovely book ."

It is, Savita; what did you like about it in particular? I read Wuthering Heights last month and, afte..."

I loved the character of the female protagonist , Jane Eyre . She's strong , positive and so pure and romantic at heart . ( The story is in first person ) . Edward Rochester is the lovable, unconventional hero . In fact all the characters are interesting , realistic and stir up the reader's emotions one way or the other . Charlotte Bronte was so young when she wrote Jane Eyre , yet her ideas are so fair and mature . The story is powerful , flowing and beautiful . The author drew the characters from her own life largely . There's a message about real love and a hint about Divine intervention for those who are deserving . I loved it all . I hope you do too . 🤔

[[deleted user]]

Savita wrote: "...I loved it all . I hope you do too."

Thank you, Savita. I think the same about young age and maturity holds true for her sister Emily and Wuthering Heights. After the novels, I might read something about the life of the Brontë sisters.

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "Savita wrote: "...I loved it all . I hope you do too."

Thank you, Savita. I think the same about young age and maturity holds true for her sister Emily and Wuthering Heights. After the novels, I m..."

Oh , yes ! Wuthering Heights is a masterpiece ! I can't imagine such a young author writing such a powerful novel .
One recommendation about the life of the Bronte sisters is The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell . The book begins slowly with the description of the locality in which they stayed . Then it goes on to tell you about the Bronte family . The trials those young , superbly talented sisters faced were fearful . But they faced them with exemplary courage and fortitude . And what masterpieces came out of these fearful trials !!! See their achievements. Don't get put off by their trials . We've much to learn from their lives 🤔 .
Helen Burns ( in Jane Eyre ) was taken from her elder sister 's life . Also , Lowood was taken from a school that Charlotte and Emily attended . There are other examples , but they are not mentioned in this book .

[[deleted user]]

Savita wrote: "...One recommendation about the life of the Bronte sisters is The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell..."

Thank you, Savita! I just checked; it's available at my library, together with Gaskell's novels.

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "Savita wrote: "...One recommendation about the life of the Bronte sisters is The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell..."

Thank you, Savita! I just checked; it's available at my library, ..."

Welcome, Fed ! Gaskell was a contemporary of the Brontes and a friend of Charlotte . Glad you found the book in your library . Happy reading , Fed !

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Reading my backlog of Goodreads Giveaway books that I've won. So far so good, but then I will be back to classics.

[[deleted user]]

They were both more accomplished and better read than I was: but with eagerness I followed in the path of knowledge they had trodden before me. I devoured the books they lent me: then it was full satisfaction to discuss with them in the evening what I had perused during the day.– Jane Eyre

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "They were both more accomplished and better read than I was: but with eagerness I followed in the path of knowledge they had trodden before me. I devoured the books they lent me: then it was full s..."

Fed , I am not exactly able to place the reference to context 🤔 . It couldn't be in the Lowood section , so it must refer to Jane's ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ cousin sisters Diana and Elizabeth ( have I got the names right ? ) . Very nice cousin sisters , but I didn't like St . John too much . He was so cold and mechanical . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆
Have you already reached the end ? Have you finished the book ? You're a fast reader . Did you like the book ? Do you agree that there was ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Divine intervention - the telepathy ? (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Karen]

Shuggie Bain (Douglas Stuart) - almost halfway (on Kindle) but feel there have been better Man Booker winners (A Fine Balance always springs to mind!)

Insomnia (Stephen King) - a re-read; i am re-reading all my SK novels in order of publication date and am up to 1994. Still a long way to go, but LOVING IT.

Gulliver's Travels (Jonathon Swift) - chosen from Boxall's list and something i've always wanted to read as an adult.

[[deleted user]]

Savita wrote: "Fed , I am not exactly able to place the reference to context [...] Have you already reached the end ? [...]"

Fifty pages left. You remember well, Savita: (view spoiler)[The quote is from when Jane recovers and is now able to spend some time with Diana and Mary, discovering and enjoying their profound kinship. I particularly enjoyed all parts dealing with 'spiritual' matters, for instance Helen Burns' attitude towards hardships, and Jane's upholding of her moral principles in times of despair. I think I can relate to St. John's struggle: I haven't finished the book yet, so I still don't know what his response will be, but his quest and its challenges are familiar to me (hide spoiler)].
Thank you for sharing your impressions!

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "Savita wrote: "Fed , I am not exactly able to place the reference to context [...] Have you already reached the end ? [...]"

Fifty pages left. You remember well, Savita: [spoilers removed].
Thank ..."

Most welcome , Fed ! ☆☆ Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ I , too , admired Helen Burns' attitude towards life , and , of course, Jane's ! About St.John - well , I will wait till you finish the book to have your final opinion . I wonder how you will compare St.John with Mr Rochester ? I think St.John is a good man , very well intentioned . But , can he connect emotionally with the parishioners ? He's a rather distant and aloof person. 🤔 . It'll be interesting to have your opinion at the end of the story .

Oh , yes , Diana and Mary , not Elizabeth
! (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Pharmacdon]

I am reading The Fixer by Bernard Malamud

[[deleted user]]

Reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and loving it.

Savita wrote: "...It'll be interesting to have your opinion at the end of the story."

On Jane Eyre: continues here.

[Amyjzed]

Just finished Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.. Spent the last day or so reading some related articles about him and the context, looking at discussions on Goodreads (there aren't many that I could find) and reading through the Sparknotes site about it. I ordered Understanding "Things Fall Apart": Selected Essays and Criticisms. I think for now I am about ready to move on.

I have the options of adding Frankenstein, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Othello, or Hamlet to my grade 12 curriculum in upcoming year, so I'll probably read Song of Solomon next.

[LiLi]

Can you comment on _Song of Solomon_ as a high school assignment? I didn't finish reading it when it was assigned in 11th grade, but finally listened to it this year as an audiobook. The themes and psychological issues seemed very mature. Are there actually high school students who get this book? I know I was not ready for it back then.

[Savita]

Fed wrote: "Reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and loving it.

Savita wrote: "...It'll be interesting to have your opinion at the end of the story."

On Jane Eyre: continues here."

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a sweet story , just like its author ! It is without the fiery and powerful passions witnessed in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre . Anne Bronte had a mild and peaceful temperament .
Happy reading , Fed !

[Janice]

Fed wrote: "I finished my June plan and I'm starting Jane Eyre."

I read it for the first time last year and loved it!!

[Luffy Sempai]

I have completed the reading of Singing To The Dead by Caro Ramsay :-

This is my review.

[Richard]

I'm about a third of the way through The Golden Bowl, and got a CuoC reminder this morning that it's on the group reading list for next month. Oh serendipity!

[Amyjzed]

LiLi wrote: "Can you comment on _Song of Solomon_ as a high school assignment? I didn't finish reading it when it was assigned in 11th grade, but finally listened to it this year as an audiobook. The themes and..."

I will probably have to come back to this question after I read it! It's listed as a curriculum option from the local school district for the 12th grade level, but I teach at a school for students who are often on a different (delayed) social and emotional development timeline than their same-aged peers... Sometimes I think it's good to expose them to things through books that they might not have heard about or talked about otherwise, but I'll have to weigh it with some of the other choices. We are already planning to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which has a lot of heavy subject matter (science/bioethics plus some darker sexual/abuse scenes); in the city's official unit curriculum they skip a few of the darker chapters.
(I work in Baltimore City and use curriculum from that city and the surrounding county... Song of Solomon is the only option listed for Gr. 12 that is by a Black female writer.)
Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts... I often question when literature should push certain boundaries for young people and when it's just disturbing or confusing without a good outcome for them.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished FIVE books since my last post - it's not that I've been reading more, but I just haven't had time to post reviews.

I finished one of Agatha Christie's most well-known books (I had the odd feeling I had already read this one a long time ago):


And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also finished an excellent roman dur (noir):


The Snow Was Dirty by Georges Simenon
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished a classic Sci-Fi novel from the Pulp Era:


Wasp by Eric Frank Russell
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished an excellent memoir of WWII in the Pacific:


With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene B. Sledge
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and finally I finished James Joyce's somewhat autobiographical first novel:


A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading these books:


Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver


The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton


They Call Me Coach by John Wooden as told to Jack Tobin

[Leona]

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne

[Reed]

International Velvet Bryan Forbes

[CindySR]

Reed wrote: "International Velvet Bryan Forbes"

Did you like it? I read the book but really liked the movie.

[Pharmacdon]

I am reading The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1919.

[Greg]

Pharmacdon wrote: "I am reading The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers."

I liked that one a lot Pharmacdon!

[Terry]

I just started reading The Trees by Conrad Richter, a CUwtC Buddy Read for July, which is open for joining and lively discussions. It is one of a trilogy which we will tackle as the months progress. Please feel free to join us!

[Richard]

I'm 200 pages into The Golden Bowl by Henry James. It needs to be read very slowly and carefully to appreciate all its nuances. I especially savoured Mr Verver's evasion across the green baize of Mrs Rance's advances.

[Richard]

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I finished FIVE books since my last post - it's not that I've been reading more, but I just haven't had time to post reviews.

I finished one of Agatha Christie's most well-known books (I had the ..."

I very much enjoyed Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence when I read it three or four years ago. It's part of what I would call the Novel of Manners genre, of which Jane Austen and Henry James are perhaps the leading exponents. I haven't got around to reading any more of Wharton's works yet, which is a shameful omission and shall be remedied.

[Graham]

I recently finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. This is my second to last Jane Austen book to read as I have read every other one now except for Sense and Sensibility. For the most part, I loved it! It was a little more complex in terms of narrative than other Jane Austen books but I personally liked that. Gave it a little "Jane Eyre before Jane Eyre" flare to it with us seeing Fanny's upbringing in Mansfield Park. What I did not like was the ending. Without spoilers, it was an ending that made me question what made me like this book so much. But even with the weird and weak ending, I still loved the book. It was exactly the kind of thing I needed in my life at this point.

[Graham]

Terry wrote: "I just started reading The Trees by Conrad Richter, a CUwtC Buddy Read for July, which is open for joining and lively discussions. It is one of a trilogy which we will tackle as the months progress..."

I've tried to read The Trees before but I STRUGGLED to get into it. Anything I should know ahead of giving it another shot or is another shot not even worth it?

[Halima]

I am reading Earthsea - the first four books by Ursula K. Le Guin, previously published as The Earthsea Quartet and so far very much enjoying it. It seems to be a done deal for me to read anything that Stephen Fry endorses! Wonderful.

[Terry]

Graham, your first attempt may not have had the best timing for your reading of it, for whatever reason.

I would go to the Buddy Read thread for The Trees, read through the posts, and also post your question there. Others may have some suggestions. There is some historical information I posted which may interest you in the story’s background. I look at the geography and photos of the area I am reading about to get my own picture and sense of what life might have been like. It becomes more interesting when I can relate an historical novel to what I know about my own family history in the US. Reading about the author’s life is also something that can enrich a reading experience.

So far, I have found it pretty easy reading, as compared to, say, Sometimes a Great Notion, a great but a difficult long book which was a recent buddy read. The Trees is a short book. I would just try again.

In the end, it might not be a book for you. We all have those. I couldn’t stand Lincoln in the Bardo, whereas almost every review I read was glowing. I tried to read it, I tried to listen to it, I went back to reading it, and finally decided that life is too short to waste my time on something clearly not meant for me.

[Graham]

Terry wrote: "Graham, your first attempt may not have had the best timing for your reading of it, for whatever reason.

I would go to the Buddy Read thread for The Trees, read through the posts, and also post y..."

Thanks for the response, Terry!

As for the book, I will definitely give it another shot and really give it some focus and gain some background info on it. Though you might also be right that it might not be for me. Though I won't find out until I give it another shot. Some of my favorite books came on a second read, after all.

Happy reading!

[Gavin]

Reading The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town

[Greg]

Halima wrote: "I am reading Earthsea - the first four books by Ursula K. Le Guin, previously published as The Earthsea Quartet and so far very much enjoying it. It seems to be a done deal for me to read anything ..."

Those are fun reads! I love the myth-like flavor. I've read them a few times over the years.

[Graham]

Hello, Hi, Howdy,

I have finally pushed myself to finish the bibliography of the incredible Jane Austen. Specifically, before last month, I had only read four of her six books. I finished Mansfield Park a few days ago and, after failing to get myself REALLY interested in anything else, I thought I'd finally put an end to me having any unread Austen novels.

Strangely enough, I am FINISHING with Sense and Sensibility.

So far, I am enjoying it but not to the extent as I did with Mansfield Park, Emma, or Pride and Prejudice. But it is also a really solid book so far. If I am not mistaken, S&S is her first book. If this is true, then I definitely see it. It feels like a first novel. But still solid nonetheless.

[Dave]

I finished Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne and started The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Halima wrote: "I am reading Earthsea - the first four books by Ursula K. Le Guin, previously published as The Earthsea Quartet and so far very much enjoying it. It seems to be a done deal for me to read anything ..."

Amazing books. I am reading the third one right now. This is easily one of my favorite Fantasy series of all time.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Richard wrote: "I very much enjoyed Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence when I read it three or four years ago. It's part of what I would call the Novel of Manners genre, of which Jane Austen and Henry James are perhaps the leading exponents. I haven't got around to reading any more of Wharton's works yet, which is a shameful omission and shall be remedied.
"

Thanks Richard. I haven't read any Austen or James yet but plan to get to them in due time. I'm very pleased with Age of Innocence so far, especially Wharton's writing, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize. I usually enjoy the Pulitzer winners.

[Dave]

I finished The Picture of Dorian Grey by Wilde and started No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.

[Reed]

Reading Secrets of the Deep then starting Flipping the Scales

[Dave]

Finished Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Began The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles.

[M]

I am re-reading Walking by Thoreau. I read it earlier this summer, and then wrote a reflective book on it. However, re-reading it now is giving me new insights. I want to find a biography about him, especially as Walking somewhat reminds me of a biography I read, A Stranger in the Woods.

[Reed]

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay