Your Reads - currently reading or finished (2021)

[Lynn, Moderator]

Guidelines for posting in this thread

We like to see a bit of discussion about the books we are reading, rather than just posting the book link (and the occasional link to a review). The comments should include:

- Books you just started or are currently reading. You might want to add a few words about the book to let other members know whether you like it or not so far.
- Books you just finished, Please include your rating (1-5 stars) and a few words about the book (even if it's something as short as "I loved it / hated it.") If you wrote a full review, you can share the link to it but please include a short summary of your thoughts alongside it.

[Surya]

Book name - One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market
I have started reading this as this was prescribed reading for a Finance class that I am part of. I have finished around 15% of the book and I have to say that it gives a certain type of confidence to invest in various markets.

So far, I liked the book. It is one of the non-fiction books I am going to read. My next read if "Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R Tolkein. Looking forward!

[Bridget]

Surya wrote: "Book name - One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market
I have started reading this as this was prescribed reading for a Finance class that I a..."

I read the whole LOTR trilogy last year and they're amazing. Personally, I did find the first half of the Fellowship of the Ring to be a little slow and hard to get into. It really picked up for me when they got to Moria and the action started.

[Bridget]

I just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which is pretty weird but I'm enjoying it. I'm about halfway through House of Earth and Blood and I'm absolutely loving it. It's pretty long, but I find it really hard to put down so I'm flying through it. I can already tell I'm going to love this series.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm currently reading Prodigal Son, which is the newest in the Orphan X series. I've only just begun, but it takes us back to his childhood in the beginning. I'm really curious to see where the story goes.

I'm also reading The Wife Upstairs. So far, I don't like the MC. I'm hoping she grows on me as the story progresses.

[Maria]

I just finished (binged it!) Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Oh my word... She makes me care and speaks about things that are in my head as well. I don't know how she packs so much into just 336 pages.
It takes me a bit longer to read her books, maybe because of the storytelling. The events and characters' thoughts and feelings never seem to just stop for a minute. There's always some new info, not a lot of dialogue.

Not much has changed in 20 years... But I loved this story. And now I'm excited to see the tv- show. After episode 1 I can tell it's not gonna be exactly like the book (Mia for example). But I trust the actors.

[Maria]

Bridget wrote: "I just started Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which is pretty weird but I'm enjoying it. I'm about halfway through House of Earth and Blood and I'm absolutely loving i..."

'Perfume' is on my night stand, waiting!

[Surya]

I'm currently reading What I Didn't Learn in Business School: How Strategy Works in the Real World and it is going so interesting that I am staying up late just to finish the book. It is about a consulting engagement and being an MBA student myself, I can find myself relating to everything that's being said in the book.

My next read is The Fellowship of the Ring. Heard so many amazing reviews of it. I intend to see them myself now!

[Shuva]

I am reading Les Miserables and I am absolutely in love with this book. The classics in general and this book in particular have always intimidated me mostly because of their size and the commitment it would require from me but I find myself racing through this book reading it in sips and swallows. I am about half way through but I am sure it will get a five star rating from me

[Makeda]

I just finished James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time on audiobook. Whew! The opening which was a letter to his nephew was powerful and so moving. It was a quick listen but the topics were so layered and complex. It’s a must listen/read.

I’m currently reading Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. I just recently got into YA fiction last year and I’ve been pleasantly surprised time and time again.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished The Wife Upstairs. I thought it was really good.

My Wife Upstairs review

I am continuing with Prodigal Son and starting If It Bleeds for the group read tomorrow.

[Mona]

I'm reading a few books at the moment as I like to keep a few genres on the reading list at all times I find it makes me go through more books and have alternatives if I'm not feeling like reading one or another at any point in time. I'm listening to dark matter a science fiction story about a man who is uprooted from his life suddenly into another alternate reality. loving it so far very engaging .
i just finished Beartown a great fiction story of a little town and their dealing with a rape happening in the town , brought up important issues of consent stigma and the macho social aspects of sports ...

[Surya]

Surya wrote: "I'm currently reading What I Didn't Learn in Business School: How Strategy Works in the Real World and it is going so interesting that I am staying up late just to finish the book. I..."

Just an update - finished this and another book - The Fellowship of the Ring. Got the second book currently but I'm reading something else.

Soon, I'll put up an upate.

[Vicki Willis]

Mona wrote: "I'm reading a few books at the moment as I like to keep a few genres on the reading list at all times I find it makes me go through more books and have alternatives if I'm not feeling like reading ..."

Oh I loved Dark Matter! One of my favorite books from Crouch.
I also loved Beartown. I listened on audible and the narrator was EXCELLENT.

[Vicki Willis]

I just started the oldest book on my TBR Evil Cries. So far I can see why it was never read. It is a strange one so far.

[Bridget]

Just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. It was really, really weird. I did like it, but the ending didn't do it for me. In the last few chapters, I was just like "WTF is going on right now."

I just started The Grapes of Wrath. Not really sure if I'm going to like it or not.

[thegoddessofliterature]

So far, I read 10 books. None of them were 5 stars. The most disappointing one was From Blood and Ash. It was a book on my highly anticipated list and it failed to impress me.

Kingdom of the Wicked was an okay read. The rest were contemporary books.

[thegoddessofliterature]

I gave both of those books 3 stars.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I ended up really liking The Wife Upstairs. It was the first book I read by Rachel Hawkins and I thought the writing was good. I haven't read Jane Eyre, but my understanding is that The Wife Upstairs is a reimagining of that story.

I'm reading The Good Sister right now. I'm really enjoying the story. I expect there will be a few twists coming, but so far the story has been good without them.

[Vicki Willis]

Kristie wrote: "I ended up really liking The Wife Upstairs. It was the first book I read by Rachel Hawkins and I thought the writing was good. I haven't read Jane Eyre, but my unde..."

I have the Good Sister on my list to read as well. I haven't read that author, but I also want to read one by her called The Mother-in-Law.

I am reading a mind twist called The Memory Police. It has a dark feel to it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki Willis wrote: "I have the Good Sister on my list to read as well. I haven't read that author, but I also want to read one by her called The Mother-in-Law."

I read The Mother-in-Law and really enjoyed that one too. I like her writing style.

[Surya]

Finally finished the entire LOTR trilogy. The book is amazing but I felt there was little info on Sauron. The entire book was focused on the fellowship of the ring and a lot was focused on it, like it should be. But very little was shown on Sauron. Wanted to read on Sauron to be honest.

[Bridget]

Surya wrote: "Finally finished the entire LOTR trilogy. The book is amazing but I felt there was little info on Sauron. The entire book was focused on the fellowship of the ring and a lot was focused on it, like..."

I haven't read them yet but the books that were published posthumously like Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth have more lore about everything.

[Bridget]

Just finished The Grapes of Wrath. I liked it more than I thought I would. It mostly made me angry and sad and the subject matter is depressing, but I liked it. I liked this a lot better than Of Mice and Men, which felt a bit more boring to me.

Next book on my list is Austerlitz. Not really sure what the full plot is, but hopefully I'll enjoy it.

[Vicki Willis]

I just finished Storm Season

A trio of novellas by 3 excellent authors who write strong female law enforcements characters.
It was all tied together with a huge storm.
LOVED it!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished We Begin at the End . If you haven't read this one and you like realistic, gritty characters, this is definitely worth a read.

my We Begin at the End review

Starting The Rose Code now. I really like Kate Quinn's writing.

[Savanes]

Kristie wrote: "I just finished We Begin at the End . If you haven't read this one and you like realistic, gritty characters, this is definitely worth a read..."

Me too! Rose Code is a must read on my TBR. Let us know what you think.

[Renn]

I finished , I haven’t written a review yet, but when I do, I’ll give it 4 stars.

If you loved or , this book is in that vein. Even if you haven’t read those, it’s great for getting you out of a reading slump because it’s fast and the writing is addictive

[Kristie, Moderator]

Savanes wrote: "Me too! Rose Code is a must read on my TBR. Let us know what you think."

I definitely will! My reading has been a little slower lately. We have a new puppy and she doesn't leave much time for reading. But I'll be sure to come back as soon as I finish.

[Savanes]

OOoooh What kind of dog? :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

She is a German Shepard / Lab mix. She's super cute and sweet, but gets into the typical puppy troubles. She is also still really young, so almost sleeping through the night but not quite.

[Vicki Willis]

Oh my!
Kristie, sometimes I think we are living parallel lives. We literally just got 2 Shepherd/Lab mix puppies on Tuesday! Ours are 14 weeks old and not sleeping through the night either!
I will think of you tonight when I get up at 2am!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Too funny, Vicki! We only got one, but we also have two other dogs and a cat at home already. Ours is 12 weeks and we've had her for 3 weeks. She has grown so much and I'm exhausted. lol Congrats on your new pups!!

[Savanes]

That's funny! I'll think of the 2 of you when my daughter wakes me up at night. I feel less lonely! ;)

[Glenn]

Ruth Ware's 'The Turn of the Key'. Liking It so far. About half way through. Hoping to read some of your books as I look through these posts. Happy Reading Y'all. :)

[Vicki Willis]

Glenn wrote: "Ruth Ware's 'The Turn of the Key'. Liking It so far. About half way through. Hoping to read some of your books as I look through these posts. Happy Reading Y'all. :)"

I really loved that book too. I got the chills a couple times while reading it, it was so suspenseful.

[Kirsten]

I just finished reading Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella yesterday and hoping to finish Bridgerton Collection, Volume One by Julia Quinn today.

[Elsa]

Finished Too Good to Be True over the weekend and started The Four Winds.

[Savanes]

Elsa wrote: "Finished Too Good to Be True over the weekend and started The Four Winds."

What did you think?

[Elsa]

They were both great reads.

Too Good to Be True, I kept thinking it's to good to be true, but was surprised at who I disliked the most at the end.

The Four Winds, man that was am awesome read. How far would a mother go to keep her children safe, fed and sheltered.

[amanda ☽]

i just finished heartless! and i’m starting the scythe trilogy

[Kristine]

FREE BOOK TO DOWNLOAD~PAM JENOFF
I did notice if you have an Amazon Prime Account (for shipping/movies/you also get up to 10 Prime books to take out Free for as long as you want). So, noticed is available both if you have Kindle Unlimited, but also if you hit Amazon should see it says $0.00 for PRIME and when clicked goes straight to your Kindle or Kindle App. I have an iPad and it worked right away. She also has a novella, just 21 Pages, called , that’s Free to Everyone. Just thought I’d mention.

[[deleted user]]

I just finished The Beast Warrior by Nahoko Uehashi. It's a sequel to The Beast Player. I liked the Best Player better because I enjoyed seeing the protagonist move through the setbacks she encounters in her life. I'd give The Beast Player five stars.

The Beast Warrior continues the story as the protagonist is now an adult and works to find her true path through continued conflicts. The ending was a huge surprise. I did not find this book as compelling a story as the first. I would give The Beastg Warrior 3.5 stars.

[Wade]

Wading through Wolf Hall - I am in the middle of listening to the original Wolf Hall narrated by Simon Slater after a recommendation in the NYTimes for books to settle down with for a long read. The book is about 25 hours long and I think I've had to rewind so many times to pick the a missing thread I might be in for 50 hours before I'm finished. Those minor frustrations aside, I am enjoying being in the head of Thomas Cromwell, though I am having a bit of trouble sorting out some of the sub intrigues and minor characters. I'm loving that there is attention to what makes the world go round in Tudor England - the detail, the logistics, the strategy, the wit, the passionate arguments, and especially the nuanced and morally ambiguous, and very human characters.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just read Clean Eating Kitchen: The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook: Quick and Easy High-Protein, Low-Sugar, Healthy-Fat Recipes for Lifelong Health

I thought this cookbook was really good. I need to be on a low-carb and low-sugar diet, but I'm always trying to find ways to increase my nutrition (and my fiber). This was a good blend of low-carb (not Keto low, just lower than average) and Mediterranean. It looks to have some good recipes.

my Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook review

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just finished The Perfect Daughter . I thought it was really good, except the ending seemed a little rushed and convenient. Still an interesting story and 4★ book for me.

Perfect Daughter review

I am currently reading The Things We Leave Unfinished and am about to start Mrs. Everything for my real life book club.

[sophia]

I started reading The Kiss Quotient because I was browsing and then found it. I realized that there was a lot of hype surrounding it, and it is a contemporary romance. I decided to read it, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Check out my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Priyanka]

I am currently reading The Midnight Library, so far it hasn't disappointing me so hoping for the same till the end of the story.

[Kathleen]

Late making this comment but I also really liked “Dark Matter”!!

[Kathleen]

I’m interested as to your final thoughts on it, Pryanka. I had listened to it on audible.