What are you reading? - 2021 Showing 901-950 of 1,104

[PattyMacDotComma]

Gift for fans, old or young! Rule the music scene like Queen Beyoncé Knowles by Caroline Moss is a colourful, informative, graphic and text bio of a little girl who worked her heart out to become a world-famous entertainer. More than pictures.
5★ Link to my Beyoncé review with many illustrations.

[PattyMacDotComma]

The Way it is Now, by Aussie author Garry Disher, is the latest addition to his popular mysteries. Small, unspoiled beach town, old disappearance (crime?), and old wounds make for good reading.
4★ Link to my review of The Way it is Now

[Jan Mc]

Roz wrote: "I've abandoned For the Wolf, I lost interest quickly. Can't believe it's an opening round Goodreads nominee...."

Roz, now you know why I don't pay much attention to book awards!

[Roz]

I totally agree. I started reading it before I saw it was listed for the awards but for me it was a dud. Then there are those I thought were great like Raft of Stars that are ignored. It’s really a matter of taste and popularity. I’ll stick to my own rewards.

[Cherie]

Oh, I liked Raft of Stars too, Roz.

[Cherie]

I can finally stop saying that I have not read any of Frank Backman's books. I finished Beartown last night. Yes, it got my five stars.

On the classics front, I finished A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court last night too. It was a hoot in many places, but not very interesting (to me) in others. It was very easy to read.

[Sharon]

I loved Beartown! I rarely give five stars, but I did give 5 to it!

[Roz]

Cherie, I'm so glad you finally dipped your toes into the Backman pool. Now you have to read more of his work. He's definitely one of my favorite authors.

[Peggy]

Mine too. I think I read all of his books and they were all 4 or 5 stars. I'm now reading Anxious People which didn't appeal that much to me based on the blurb, but hey, it's Backman, so I'm reading it anyway. Really enjoying it so far, he has such insight in people, so spot-on. Not sure how to describe it.

[Cherie]

One of my work friends talks to me about his books all of the time. I think she has read them all and she was so excited when I told her that I was finally reading Beartown. I will definitely read more, as soon as I get a chance.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Yay, Cherie!

[Margo]

I loved Beartown too, it was by far the best of his books that I've read. A Man Called Ove just didn't appeal for some reason although most people loved it. Maybe it was the narration :-/

[Kristie, Moderator]

Margo, I almost dnf Ove. I ended up liking it, but it was my first book may him and my least favorite, so I am in that minority too.

Cherie - His writing in the Beartown series is much different from his other writing. It almost seems like a different author.

[Peggy]

I started The Midnight Library on audio.

[Lilisa]

Peggy wrote: "I started The Midnight Library on audio."

Hope you enjoy it Peggy! I thought it was well done.

[Peggy]

I listened to the first 45 minutes and it felt a bit depressing. But I just reached the midnight library itself so hopefully that will change :)

[Lilisa]

Peggy wrote: "I listened to the first 45 minutes and it felt a bit depressing. But I just reached the midnight library itself so hopefully that will change :)"

Good things can happen in libraries :-)

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Lost Girl and was able to use it for one of the interactive tasks for my museum challenge.

Today, I will start Cross Bones.

[Jan Mc]

I'm well into the audiobook of Beartown and have mixed feelings. The writing is very clever and includes lots of humor, but the story is a bit sad. I can't relate to a single character and don't like most of them. The main event has happened, and the injustice is really tough to swallow. PLEASE TELL ME: Does it get better? Will I be sorry if I quit now?

[Sandra, Moderator]

Jan, I would not say anything that might spoil it for you, but I would keep reading it. It is a fantastic book, and story.

[Janice, Moderator]

It is hard hitting for sure, but so worth it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners for #NonfictionNovember. It was interesting. I initially found the author's snarky humor amusing, but it started to grate on me a bit by the end. I think it did make the subject matter more entertaining, but it was just a little too much for me. Still a good book and worth the read though.

I'm still reading The Orphan Collector for the monthly challenge and The Maid for review. I am also planning to start Apples Never Fall probably tomorrow or the next day, because it is due back to the library soon and I want to make sure I have time to finish it.

[Lilisa]

Finished Where You Come From my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Listening to How Much of These Hills Is Gold and started Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, which I’m enjoying. Wajahat Ali is hilarious.

[Margo]

Jan wrote: "I'm well into the audiobook of Beartown and have mixed feelings. The writing is very clever and includes lots of humor, but the story is a bit sad. I can't relate to a single charac..."

I think you'd regret it - but then you'd never know :-/

[PattyMacDotComma]

The highly anticipated Devotion, by acclaimed Aussie author Hannah Kent, is not only a tale of devoted religious migrants to Australia in the early 1800s, it is also an unusual, exquisite love story.
4★ Link to my review of Devotion

[Roz]

I'm reading Constance, almost finished. It's really good (but I've liked all the books I've read by this author). If anyone is still looking for a book set in the future, or a thriller with a controversial theme (human cloning), this one is very good.

[Margo]

I started The Reading List last night.

[Cherie]

Jan wrote: "I'm well into the audiobook of Beartown and have mixed feelings. The writing is very clever and includes lots of humor, but the story is a bit sad. I can't relate to a single charac..."

Yes, you will be sorry if you quit now, Jan. I just finished reading this story last week. I felt exactly the same way about the characters and the significant event. KEEP LISTENING!

[Roz]

I read Beartown a couple of years ago, and followed it with the next in the series. I understand and agree that it has an event that is definitely disturbing. Yes, it's sad and there are characters that I wouldn't want to spend any time with. But there are a lot of books out there, really good books, that have sadness, terrible episodes and nasty characters that are well worth reading. I've found that there's often something redeeming, uplifting or just plain good at the end. Sometimes it's the author's writing style that I find so clever and inciteful. I hope you continued reading this book.

[Jan Mc]

Thanks, fellow readers! I finished Beartown, and I’m glad to have done so. It wasn’t the disturbing content that was putting me off as much as disliking the characters. I agree that there are MANY more upsetting things going on in the world, and I’m a realist. But I read for entertainment, and if I’m not being entertained or enlightened, I get grumpy. I don’t read many modern novels, obviously! :-)

[Margo]

Margo wrote: "I started The Reading List last night."

I dumped The Reading List very early in. It started out by giving plot details of another book I had read which really annoyed me - what if it had gone on to spoil a book I hadn't read? I love "books about books" when they make oblique references but this was out and out spoiling *grrrr*

Started We Sold Our Souls. I'm in the mood for some devilry 😈

Edit: damn, what if devil worship comes up in the challenge, I haven't seen that as a task yet?!!!

[Margo]

Jan wrote: "Thanks, fellow readers! I finished Beartown, and I’m glad to have done so. It wasn’t the disturbing content that was putting me off as much as disliking the characters. I agree that there are MANY ..."

I'm with you on that Jan, if I'm getting nothing from a book, I dump it. We all have different tastes and different triggers, that's why we can spend endless hours nattering on to anyone who'll listen ( read) 😉

[PattyMacDotComma]

Jan wrote: "Thanks, fellow readers! I finished Beartown, and I’m glad to have done so. It wasn’t the disturbing content that was putting me off as much as disliking the characters. I agree that there are MANY ..."

I didn't read Beartown but read the second one, Us Against You and didn't really care for it. I like Fredrik Backman, but I agree about the characters. I don't have to like them, but I need to care about the plot and the story.

As I often say, Sherlock Holmes isn't likeable, but his adventures are great! (And Watson maybe makes up for him.)

[PattyMacDotComma]

This Shining Life by Harriet Kline has a very pretty cover showing a young boy, after his dad has died, looking for what makes life worth living.
3.5★ Link to my Shining Life review

[Dem]

4345152928 All Her Fault Andrea Mara 4345152928

My review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/4345152928

[Lilisa]

Finished Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American. I enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Getting ready to start The Lincoln Highway- I’m excited to get into it. I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed. I loved the two other Amor Towles books I’ve read - Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I started These Silent Woods

[Cherie]

Lilisa - The Lincoln Highway was one that immediately came to mind to read for the yearly challenge next year. I hope it is good as AGiM too!

[PattyMacDotComma]

Death at Victoria Dock is #4 in the Phryne Fisher mystery series by Aussie author Kerry Greenwood, and I enjoyed it as much as the previous adventures of this clever siren and amateur detective in 1920s Australia.
4★ Link to my review of Death at Victoria Dock

[Lilisa]

Cherie wrote: "Lilisa - The Lincoln Highway was one that immediately came to mind to read for the yearly challenge next year. I hope it is good as AGiM too!"

I’m about 30 pages into it and still getting into it - very different from A Gentleman in Moscow, which I think is a good thing, but I’m missing the wittiness of AGIM and ROC. However, his writing here definitely complements the storyline and is getting me in the mood for an interesting road trip.

[Peggy]

I finished two books today, both for no reason at all The Midnight Library for no reason, and Anxious People

For the first time in 6 months or so I'm on track again for my GR reading challenge!

Next are Dragon Springs Road on audio (also for no particular reason) and Piranesi on e-paper (final book for the 2021 museum challenge)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I've restarted The Thursday Murder Club. I received a copy of it and The Man Who Died Twice from the publisher for review. The last time I tried to listen to it I was traveling and kept falling asleep, then I had to return it to the library. I don't think it's the book. Maybe the narrator?

[Margo]

I have about an hour left in The Accidental Alchemist. What the plot lacks is more than made up for by the wonderful narration and it's audible plus 😃

I started Passing today - it's an audible plus day all round!

[Peggy]

Peggy wrote: "I finished two books today, both for no reason at all The Midnight Library for no reason, and Anxious People

For the first time in 6 months or so I'm on track again..."

Change of plans. I'm more in the mood for something light, so I'll listen to The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside instead.

[Saar The Book owl]

I'm reading The Cutting Season for this yearly challenge. It's a story about slavery and plantation in the past, but with a murder in the present time and a woman finding her place and her roots. Very interesting!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Just started Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. I have so many books going at the moment, but I got this one for review and didn't have a chance to read it on time. It published today. I got one of the first audio copies from the library, so I'm hoping to listen to the whole thing in 2 days and get the review out quickly. It's very strange to be reading a book about Covid quarantine.

[Sharon]

I am reading this as part of my annual challenge.
Cursed by Furies: A Tale of Vikings, Elves and Gods

That being said, I have a whole list of books I want to read during December, but I still have several books to go to finish a badge? Decisions, Decisions! Looking to start A Christmas Carol tomorrow.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished The Long Ships for the Viking task in the museum challenge. If it wasn't for the fact that we're racing towards the finish line, I would have abandoned the book. I didn't think I had much time to find a replacement. So I persevered with the monumental snooze fest. Sorry, I know I'm the odd man out since the book is rated really high, but I just couldn't get into it.

I should be finished Cross Bones tonight. It's book 31 of 32 for badge 3.

And...

I will start The Lions of Al-Rassan today which is book 32 of 32. Woot!

[Margo]

I started Messenger’s Legacy and I was transported back to the world of the demon cycle. Highly recommended to anyone who's read the series.

[Dem]

Just finished Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty.

My review www.goodreads.com/review/show/4298463926