WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 5,951-6,000 of 10,669

[Bill]

I'm half way through The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard and after a slow start, it's growing on me and I'm quite enjoying. I've just started my first Jack Frost mystery, after a long time of enjoying the tv series; A Touch Of Frost by R.D. Wingfield.

[[deleted user]]

I've just finished The Blue Suitcase which I can highly recommend to anyone interested in the history of Germany during the rise of the nazis and world war 2. Although this is termed a novel, it is based on the life story of the author's mother. I hadn't realised before how terrible life was for the ordinary german during that time. We all know how dreadfully the Jews were treated as well as other groups - but I hadn't before realised how difficult things were for people in general. The events that they suffered under the russians and some of the poles were truly awful. This book is not written in a mawkish or sentimental manner but is written in the form of a diary - starting when the central character is a young girl of 12. It's interesting to watch her personality change from selfishness to selflessness as the years progress. I found the book so gripping that I read it in 24 hours.

Now I'm sticking with the history of that era and reading Hamburg 1947: A Place for the Heart to Kip which is a memoir written by a british soldier who was in Hamburg at the end of the war.

:0)

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I received this email from James Mason member Alex Robbins- her excellent book is in the finals- several other member's books are in other categories, and I have voted for them as well as I feel strongly about supporting all our members! I am posting this here,as the other books in this category are written by fine writers, yet not James Mason members! I will never favor one member over another, so I feel comfortable in posting this email I recieved from Alex as we have only one member- Alex- in the finals- Should you feel compelled, by all means vote and support a member of our wonderful Community!
Also- if I can be of assistance to any other member- all you need do is let me know!! Always a pleasure!
-------------------------------------------------

Hi again Rick,

Hope you had a nice weekend... One final round, prior votes don't count = one last time I ask for a vote! (/facepalm) The Geeks Shall Inherit made the Top 10 (the finals!) for Goodreads Choice, Best Nonfiction of 2011. Thank you SO much for your help in the semifinals!

Would you consider voting one more time? (The Finals run today through Nov. 30)? I would love to show people that crossover adult-YA nonfiction actually works.

http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice...

Thanks so much and have a terrific Thanksgiving!
Alexandra


http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice...

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Shradhanjali wrote: "I'm reading Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer because I did not have any other book and my friend lent this one to me."

looks like a great book! love the plot

[Guy]

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett because I needed some light reading before finishing Year 501: The Conquest Continues by Noam Chomsky and The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein.

[Susan]

Karen (Kew) wrote: "I've just finished The Blue Suitcase which I can highly recommend to anyone interested in the history of Germany during the rise of the nazis and world war 2. Although this is terme..."

Bill wrote: "I'm half way through The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard and after a slow start, it's growing on me and I'm quite enjoying. I've just started my first Jack Frost mystery..."

Excellent books of that genre: Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusac. I will make note of the ones you read.

[Steven]

I'm getting back into Blake Crouch's Andrew Z Trilogy. Thicker Than Blood - The Complete Andrew Z. Thomas Trilogy

I took a few weeks off from reading to concentrate on my own book launch, and now I'm going crazy.

I got to know Blake's works through a recommendation, and subsequently hired his cover artist to do my covers. The first book of his that I read, was RUN...and this one blew me away. Not for the feint of heart. It's a post-apocalyptic/horror story that spares no details. It will haunt you for days.

Blake recommended the Andrew Z trilogy next, and it rocks, if you're into hardcore psychological thrillers focused on serial killers. This one has me squirming at times, and I am not squeamish. The suspense if brutal at times. I'm looking forward to finishing it.

[Amy]

I'm reading The House of the Scorpion because both my kids read it and said that it was awesome.

[adlin]

Just started Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, because I loved the first two books with these characters and I wanted something Christmas oriented.

[KOMET]

A few days ago, I began reading Broken Promises: A Novel of the Civil War by Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, who is also a Goodreads Author.

Since I first learned about the book A World on Fire: An Epic History of Two Nations Divided by Dr. Amanda Foreman, I have developed an interest in Britain's indirect role in the American Civil War.

Well, Broken Promises: A Novel of the Civil War is largely set in Britain during the Civil War and has a variety of real (e.g. Charles Francis Adama, U.S. Minister to Great Britain, and his son Henry) and fictional characters. Two of these latter characters --- one a Southerner studying medicine in England and the other, a young, wealthy Englishwoman ---- become involved in a complex relationship in which politics and blockade running make for a heady drama.

[Kath]

I am reading and am really enjoying the on-going saga of Jack Taylor. Love Ken Bruen's writing style, and can really identify with the main character. The self-destructive behavior, alcoholism, attempts at sobriety, loneliness, and just the very "Irish-ness" of his writing and of his characters in this series touch me in a way few authors ever have. Maybe it's the Irish blood in me, the heritage, the "legacy" of pain and suffering and alcoholism that allows me to feel Bruen's writing on such a deep level. I'm 9 years sober and I find myself cheering for Jack Taylor each time he dries out, LOL, hoping that THIS time will be the LAST time!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Kath wrote: "I am reading and am really enjoying the on-going saga of Jack Taylor. Love Ken Bruen's writing style, and can really identify with the main character. The self..."

Bruen is a great writer kath- and CONGRATS!! on your 9 years Kath- I have several friends in AA- and they truly are wonderful people who credit AA with saving their life

[Whitebeard]

Currently I'm reading Einstein's Dreams for pleasure as well as the 8th installment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood because I'm hooked on it and the third title in the television related Castle/Rook Nikki Heat series because I'm curious. I have just over 800 titles in my TBR list and I only read about 50 or 60 titles per year so I'm seriously behind!

[Amy]

Whitebeard wrote: "Currently I'm reading Einstein's Dreams for pleasure as well as the 8th installment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood because I'm hooked on it and the third title in the television related Castle/Roo..."

I read Einstein's Dreams a few years ago and really liked it.

[Beth]

I'm reading Harlan Coben's Live Wire and finding it to be very enjoyable. Now I'll have to go back and catch up on the other nine books in the series that preceded it!

[Maggi]

I've begun Accident by Linwood Barclay. Has a stunning prologue.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

The Nostradamus Prophecies
Just finished The Nostradamus Prophecies- very interesting novel/thriller- also quite suprisingly- very witty

[Tim]

Just re-reading . I read it when it first appeared back in the 70s and so it is like reading it for the first time. Still a page-turner.

[Kath]

I am reading Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express and have begun listening to Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman on CD. I enjoy listening to an hour or two of an audiobook before bed, and this one I expect to be especially good. I have read two other books by Robert K. Massie, both on the Romanovs, and enjoy his writing. Russian history fascinates me.

[Midu]

Reading to review it!

[Sadie]

Just started reading The Art of Racing in the Rain

[Libbie Hawker]

I am reading and enjoying A Fire Upon the Deep, because I had a hankering for some high-concept sci-fi that would make my nerdly brain work to earn its entertainment. So far I am having a great time with it, although the use of modern language is occasionally distracting and/or intrusive. I have a feeling this one will be a three-star review for me, but who knows how it will turn out by the end. It's a long book (552 pages on my Nook.) Three stars is not to imply I'm not really getting into it -- I am. But the distracting elements are distracting.

[Varian Rose]

I'm reading and

[Emily]

Amy wrote: "Whitebeard wrote: "Currently I'm reading Einstein's Dreams for pleasure as well as the 8th installment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood because I'm hooked on it and the third title in the television..."

Oh My Goodness! You are the very first person I've encountered who has discovered this amazing little set of essays that detail the resultant social situations of Einstein's theories! Aren't they thought-provoking and clever!? ~*~Emily

[Libbie Hawker]

What!!! I have got to read this. I love Einstein. WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BOOK BEFORE?!

[Judith]

I just finished Kelli Stanley's City of Secrets set in San Francisco in 1940. Her previous book in the series City of Dragons won the Macavity Award for Best Historical Mystery in 2010, so, as you can imagine, she writes a compelling story. Gritty characters that you like even when they aren't always behaving well, so to speak! And she completely puts you in SF in that intriguing period. My review.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Judith wrote: "I just finished Kelli Stanley's City of Secrets set in San Francisco in 1940. Her previous book in the series City of Dragons won the Macavity Award ..."

excellent review Judith!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I am reading Robert Ludlum's(TM) The Ares Decision
mainly because it is written by Kyle Mills - a terrific thriller writer. About 100 pages in, when there were several references to previous events with the lead character, Jon Smith, I check to see if there were previous books. WOW!! There are 7 previous books written by 4 yes 4! other writers. Mills makes the fifth writer in 8 books. I loved his other books, because the lead characters were so well developed. While this is a very well written book, and the villians are excellent (they are unique to this book and therefore created by Mills), Jon Smith feels more like an assembly line cardboard cutout. Which he actually is! How can a writer take up a character that was handled in 7 previous books by 4 other writers and hope to understand and therefore enhance the reader's understanding of the character when it is not even his character to begin with? I am about 300 pages in, so I will finish it- but there is a strangely disconnecting feeling I have when reading it - somewhat upsetting as I truly loved every book Kyle Mills has written before.

[Jim]

I've recently been reading The Early Stories: 1953-1975. This is my first read for anything by John Updike and I am really enjoying it. I usually read a few short stories as a break in between novels (like a cracker between glasses at a wine tasting), but I'm finding that every time I finish one story in this collection I want to start the next right away.

[Sophia]

I have been reading 'The Last Seal' by Richard Denning because I like historical fantasy. I read 'The Legend of the Oceina Dragon', 'The Seduction of Damien', and 'The Gift' to help support Indie Authors by giving them some reviews and because I enjoy trying new authors.
Now I have just started 'One Grave at a Time' to get my Urban Fantasy kick before I delve back into historical.

[adlin]

I've been in a mood to read Christmas themed books, so now I'm reading Anne Perry's Christmas Mysteries: Two Holiday Novels: A Christmas Guest and A Christmas Secret. I read the second one first and am now reading the first one. The second one has made me remember why I really like Anne Perry; I'm thinking about going back and re-reading the one that introduced the two main characters from A Christmas Secret. I wasn't sure about a story featuring the Grandmother (A Christmas Guest) from the Thomas Pitt series, but it's turning out to be quite enjoyable.

[David]

I am reading Goosebumps: The Blob that Ate Everyone, very sophisticated huh? My goal is to get through all the Goosebumps books and after over some 50 books I'm getting bored.

[Marianne]

Hi David, and all, I have a whole heap of goosebumps books here in the house as my daughter loved them and was in some book club where she got so many a month. I used to worry that I used to worry that she had an abnormal interest in spooks - until I read one - ho ho ;o) I've just finished reading Andrea Camilleri's The Potter's Field. It's not his best book but it was okay.

[Marianne]

Karen (Kew) wrote: "I've just finished The Blue Suitcase which I can highly recommend to anyone interested in the history of Germany during the rise of the nazis and world war 2. Although this is terme..."

Hi Karen, just found this here and want to thank you ( again!) for recommending The Blue Suitcase. Also to let you know about Anna Funder's book All That I Am. It starts in 1933 in Berlin and about German people in the German resistance. I'm about to read it and thought you may like it. If you have read it, what did you think of it?
Cheers!

[Jon]

I just started The Way of Kings, because Sanderson is a very cool guy and he does interesting things with fantasy.

[Midu]

[KOMET]

I'm now reading Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, which is a current selection from a Goodreads History Group, to which I belong. I'm enjoying it very much.

[Judith]

KOMET wrote: "I'm now reading Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, which is a current selection from a Goodreads History Group, to which I belong. I'm enjoying it very much.

[..."

It's hard to go wrong with Mark Twain and an excellent place to learn history while laughing.

[Leslie]

I just finished reading Ryu Murakami's In the Miso Soup, a novel about a fascinating, strange cross-cultural encounter between an American killer touring Japan and his Japanese tour guide.... My full review can be read at www.the-reading-list.com

[David]

I am reading The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. I started it because the wife bought the book for me on sale and I like his TV show. IT is a great book, a real old fashioned page turner and the man KNOWS his history. If you like a well crafted tale, pick this one up.

[Manugw]

Brad Meltzer not my cup of tea

[4cats]

Have just finished - decided to give a conspiracy thriller a go and was pleasantly surprised ( I didn't like Da Vinci Code at all), the prose in this was better than Brown and I liked the plotting. Am just about to start - liked the sound of it so am giving it a whirl.

[Mark]

Currently working my way through To Kill a Mockingbird again. I tend to alternate between classic and new books in my reading because it keeps me thinking about writing styles, and I enjoy them of course.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

4cats wrote: "Have just finished - decided to give a conspiracy thriller a go and was pleasantly surprised ( I didn't like Da Vinci Code at all), the prose in this was better than Bro..."

interesting how you switch genres! thats what makes books so great! thrillers to literary novels to non-fiction to historical novels ect!

[Midu]

[MissSusie]

I am re-reading Hide by, Lisa Gardner to refresh my memory before the movie tuesday night on TNT

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Susie wrote: "I am re-reading Hide by, Lisa Gardner to refresh my memory before the movie tuesday night on TNT"

Susie- curious how you find the film after reading the book!

[Cheryl]

I like a good horror story every now and then (Stephen King is a favourite author of mine in that genre) and so I'm currently reading F. Paul Wilson's The Keep. I just started it yesterday afternoon and I'm already halfway through. It is that gripping and chilling.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Cheryl wrote: "I like a good horror story every now and then (Stephen King is a favourite author of mine in that genre) and so I'm currently reading F. Paul Wilson's The Keep. I just started it yest..."

Love Repairman Jack character in Wilson's books!

[Cheryl]

I haven't read any of the Repairman Jack books by Wilson yet. Sounds like a series I'll have to take a look at one of these days.