WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 9,001-9,050 of 10,669

[Barbara]

I finished Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman. Ethan Ford - a handyman, kids' baseball coach, and volunteer fireman - is a town hero. After 13 years of marriage he's still deeply in love with his wife Jorie and a good dad to his son Collie. Then one morning Ethan is arrested for the rape and murder of a young girl fifteen years ago. Collie is devastated and Jorie torments herself trying to figure out how Ethan could have done such a thing. In flashbacks we learn that Ethan was a despicable youth who - after the murder - instantly transformed himself into a good man. The heart of the story involves how Jorie comes to terms with her husband's crime and the actions she decides to take. To me Ethan's sudden transformation into a 'good guy' after the murder is completely unbelievable and the story's finale also rings false. However, the characters are interesting and the book does a good job illustrating the heartbreak and devastation that can occur when a gigantic lie is exposed.

[Cyn]

I just finished INTP by Dr. Drenth. Very personal and revealing book. I am working on "Life at the Bottom" by Dalrymple. It shows how the results of policies that strip away personal responsibility from people. Since it is written by a UK doctor, this shows the classes in that system although some of these problems could apply to the US if certain "theories" are accepted as gospel truth.

[KOMET]

A couple of days ago, began reading "A Splendid Little War" by the British writer Derek Robinson. I've read a number of Robinson's novels through the years, and this one has its absurdist elements set amid the horrors of war. (In this case, the setting is Russia 1919, where the 'Reds' [Bolsheviks] and 'Whites' are vying for control of the country .)

[Jan]

I am currently reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This is an amazing story, worth reading especially if you have ever considered the science of genetics.
Cells from Henrietta were harvested many years ago, and while we may have lost Henrietta; her cells are still contributing to science today. Reading the story will amaze you.

[Barbara]

Jan wrote: "I am currently reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This is an amazing story, worth reading especially if you have ever considered the science of genetics.
Cells from ..."

I read this book awhile back for a book club. I agree it's very good.

[Barbara]

I finished Black Skies : an Inspector Erlendur Novel by Arnaldur Indriðason. Though nominally an Inspector Erlendur novel the detective in this book is his team member, Sigurdur Óli. In Reykjavík Sigurdur Óli is approached for a favor by his friend Patrekur. Patrekur's relatives have been wife swapping and are being blackmailed by a swinger couple, Lina and Ebbi. Patrekur asks Sigurdar Óli to have a word with the blackmailers . Sigurdur Óli goes to the couple's house at the exact moment Lina is being attacked and fatally injured. It turns out Lina and Ebbi owe a lot of money and often engage in extramarital trysts. So the detectives look for suspects among Reykjavík's debt collectors as well as men who have had sex with Lina. Meanwhile Sigurdur Óli is contacted by an elderly alcoholic tramp, Andrés, who has has taken an old man hostage and tied him up in a basement. Andrés is incoherent, however, and can't make Sigurdur Óli understand his situation. Sigurdur Óli digs through layers of intrigue to discover who attacked Lina and why. He also looks into Andrés difficulties and uncovers some shocking secrets. Good mystery

[Leanne]

I have eight books on the go at the minute but my favourite is Gone girl by Gillian Flynn. I find it's not to far emotionally from what I'm writing but not at all the same. It's nice to read it after I write to take my head out of my own story but doesn't interfere with the way my mind needs to be to carry on writing. It's also a very good story that keeps making me want to pick it up so can be used to prompt me to write so that I can read.

[Shelley]

I just heard about a Victorian book, I think, called Diana at the Crossroads by George Meredith, an author I've never read.

I'm fascinated by periods of history like the Victorian Age (and the 1950's) when it was even more difficult to be a fully human woman than it is now.

Shelley, http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

[Rod]

I generally read a few books at a time. I've just finished three. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson is tops. Lovely writing, powerful, slow story. There's wisdom there. Then there's Sarah's Key. Very good. Add to that Never Change by Berg. I strongly recommend all three.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Since I last posted on here I have read (got 25% into it and gave up as it was getting so many twists and turns).

Then read (which I absolutely loved)

Then I've been reading & (which I am finding rather intriguing with the way the characters are a mess in their heads and stuff), I'm reading at the moment.

[Peter]

I'm currently reading Die Again by Alan Converse. I read Boston Boogie by Converse last month and liked it. It was written in the first person and I'm currently finishing writing my first novel with first person perspective. Both Converse novels develop action, feelings, and life experiences in a way that generates a feeling of participation albeit in a crime drama setting. My own novel is a memoir fiction of the good, the bad and never the ugly of things I remember during Vietnam service as a Navy medical officer-US Naval Hospital.

[Barbara]

I finished Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith. Guy Haines is on a train to Texas to see his estranged wife Miriam to discuss their divorce when Charles Bruno sits down opposite him. Haines talks about Miriam and Bruno talks about his hatred for his father. Before long Bruno suggests that the two men should "exchange murders": Bruno should kill Miriam and Haines should kill Bruno's dad. Haines refuses to participate but Bruno tracks Miriam down and murders her. He then proceeds to stalk Haines - pressuring him to 'carry out his part of the plan'. To say any more would be a spoiler. I enjoyed the book and Alfred Hitchcock made it into an excellent film as well.

[KOMET]

For the past couple of days, I have been UTTERLY DELIGHTED with reading All Change by the superb writer Elizabeth Jane Howard. Sadly, it's the fifth - and final, for Miss Howard passed away 4 months ago --- novel in The Cazalet Chronicles Series.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Barbara wrote: "Rick wrote: "I am reading by Robin Cook It is actually very good. I was worried as his last book was horrific with no ending and a despicable..."

actually..if you read ..realize that you will be left with a cliffhanger ending..just like the dreadful ..Cook apparently is writing a trilogy..and not bothering to let his readers know that the first two book do not have an ending..you have to wait for the third..or forth..to find out what happens to the main characters..rather unethical of the writer to hide this fact from readers and promote the books as self contained thrillers which they are not.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

KOMET wrote: "A couple of days ago, began reading "A Splendid Little War" by the British writer Derek Robinson. I've read a number of Robinson's novels through the years, and ..."

another new writer for me to check out..thanks KOMET!!!

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Almost done with ..a great read..lead character is complex and engaging..plot is quite well done...fine thriller..not perfect like Vince Flynn thrillers(RIP) who is so very missed

[Barbara]

I finished Journal 64 (The Purity of Vengeance) by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Farm girl Nete Hermansen lost her mother at a young age, and growing up among her father and brothers, learned to curse and exhibit her body - which shocked teachers and townsfolk. After two early pregnancies Nete was sent to Sprogo Island by evil Dr. Curt Wad, a eugenicist determined to rid Denmark of 'inferior people'. Sprogo Island housed girls considered to be mentally defective or sexually promiscuous, and the girls were often sterilized. Years later - after Nete was happily married - a chance meeting with Dr. Wad upturned her life once again. Meanwhile, in the present, Copenhagen police Department Q is looking into a series of decades-old disappearances. The investigations reveal that the disappearances have ties both to Dr. Curt Wad, who now heads a political party poised to institute eugenics in Denmark, and to Nete Hermansen, now an elderly lady living alone. The story switches back and forth between past and present and engages the reader in every scene. The characters are well written and varied: some funny, some earnest, some evil creeps you'd gladly throttle. Not too many twists and surprises but a very good book. Highly recommended.

[Lora]

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
I started reading this to preview before my daughter read it(she's fourteen) but am thoroughly enjoying it for myself.

The Virginian
This is a book i've always meant to read, and this spring it has become my first summer read. I'm reading along with an old friend who lives in another state. I don't usually do westerns, but/and/so I'm looking forward to it.

[Lydia]

I am just about finished the second edition of Maurice Druon's "The Accursed Kings" series. I'm reading the series because of the George R.R. Martin plug and I have not read his"Game of Thrones" books or seen the series. In all sincerity, Philppa Gregory, whose books I have read, certainly could have made this recommendation for "The Accursed Kings" as there is so much . . .

[Barbara]

I finished Lexicon by Max Barry. Emily, a 16-year-old con artist, is working her card tricks in San Francisco when she meets 'T.S. Elliot'. The 'poet' carts her off to a special school in Virginia where she'll learn to use words to control people. Graduates of the school take the names of well-known poets before they're sent to fulfill the school's agenda - which seems to be to control the world. Unfortunately Emily breaks some school rules and is banished to Broken Hill, Australia. There she falls in love and comes across one of the most dangerous words in the world, a 'bareword.' Using the bareword Emily causes the death of every single person in Broken Hill except for herself and a blue collar worker named Wil Parke. Wil soon becomes the target of an evil cadre of poets who are determined to dig through his brain to discover how he lived through the carnage. Most of the book's characters are intersting but hard to root for because they're too selfish and ruthless to be likable people. Wil is an exception as he appears to be a helpless victim of circumstance caught in a situation he doesn't comprehend. The book kept my interest and I was intrigued with the explanations/demonstrations of how people are controlled with words. All in all I liked the book and would recommend it.

[Barbara]

I finished He, She and It by Marge Piercy. It's the near future and the Earth has been decimated by war and pollution. The world is run by huge corporations that have rigid rules for their employees. Most people, however, are unemployed and live in poverty-ridden slums. A few towns that create and sell original technology to the corporations remain free. People around the world have access to a computer network into which they can project themselves to work and play, but the users of the network can be cyber-attacked and even killed so defensive computer technology is in high demand. As the story opens, Shira, an employee of the Y-S corporation has divorced and lost custody of her son. Devastated, Shira returns to her original home in Tikva, a free Jewish town. There she lives with her grandmother Malkah - a brilliant computer programmer, and takes a job with Avram - a scientist who has created a humanoid cyborg called Yod, designed to protect the town from corporate raiders. Much of the story revolves around Yod, who develops desires and emotions - becoming more of a person - as he works with humans. The Y-S corporation desperately tries to steal Yod, even using Shira's child as bait. Meanwhile, in alternate chapters, Malkah relates a story to Yod about a medieval Jewish ghetto in Prague where the rabbi created a Golem (a powerful clay being) to protect the ghetto from raids. Like Yod, the Golem developed the characteristics of a human. The book examines the question of what it means to be a 'real person' and whether an artificially created being has rights. I thought the characters in the story were interesting and I enjoyed the book and recommend it, especially to fans of sci-fi cyberpunk.

[Peggy]

As an indie author, I try to support other indies, but have just completed a disappointing three-book stretch where each work not only needed an editor but a proof reader. (For pity's sake, it's means it is. Yikes!) To reward myself, I plan to dive into Craig Johnson's latest Walt Longmire mystery.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I am almost done with Saucer: Savage Planet
At first I was quite disappointed as I found it far more simplistic that Coonts splendid Jake Grafton books. And then about 100 pages in.. I got it! Coonts was spoofing not only his earlier books, but the 24hr news networks, DC politics and the general tendency of the public to react first and think second. A very funny novel indeed.

[Barbara]

I finished Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, the sequel to The Shining. As the story opens Dan Torrance (psychically gifted Danny Torrance from "The Shining") has grown up to be a violent alcoholic. After Dan has a disturbing one night stand he hops a train and ends up in New Hampshire. There he gets a job in a hospice and joins AA. Meanwhile Abra, a little girl with massive psychic abilities, develops a mental connection with Dan. In time Abra's psychic gifts bring her to the attention of horrific vampire-like beings called the True Knot who torture and murder psychic children to absorb their "steam" (psychic essence). The True Knot wants to get their hands on Abra who - coming to realize the danger she's in - asks Dan to help her. This leads to the thriller part of the story, with the True Knot scheming to kidnap Abra, and Dan and his cohorts scheming to save her. The book has great characters and gruesome events - in true Stephen King style. Highly recommended, especially to King fans and aficionados of horror stories.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I've finished Embers & Ice - Isabella Modra. I'm reading The Billion Dollar Bachelor - Jackie Ashenden.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I've finished The Billion Dollar Bachelor - Jackie Ashenden. Now I am about to read The Billion Dollar Bad Boy - Jackie Ashenden.

[KOMET]

In what for me is a rare departure, I'm reading the novel "Chasing Men" by Edwina Currie, which is set in the UK during the late 1990s.

[Fiona (Titch)]

This morning I finished and reviewed The Billion Dollar Bad Boy - Jackie Ashenden. I am now going to read The Billionaire Biker - Jackie Ashenden.

[Fiona (Titch)]

This morning I have finished and reviewed The Billionaire Biker - Jackie Ashenden. Now I am going to read Where the Bodies Are Buried - Christopher Brookmyre.

[Barbara]

I finished Broken Harbour by Tana French. Patrick and Jenny Spain and their two children - living in an unfinished, decaying housing development in Brianstown (formerly Broken Harbor) Ireland - are attacked. Patrick and the children are dead and Jenny is barely live. "Scorcher" Kennedy and his rookie partner Richie Curran are assigned the case. As usual with Tana French's books a detective - in this case Scorcher - has an unfortunate history with the murder locale. Scorcher's family spent summer vacations at Broken Harbor and it was there that his mother committed suicide. When Scorcher and Richie begin to investigate the Spain calamity Patrick emerges as an early suspect. The recession has led to the loss of his job and the formerly happy family has been experiencing severe money problems. Maybe Patrick wanted to end all the suffering? However, further investigation reveals that the Spains seem to have attracted a couple of stalkers: one human and one elusive animal that ostensibly crawls through their house at will. Scorcher and Richie don't agree about who the prime suspect should be which leads to some friction between them. However the two detectives work well together and their joint questioning of the Spains' relatives and neighbors, plus poorly erased files on the family computer, provide important clues to the crimes. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say that this well-written story has compelling characters and interesting twists, all of which lead to a satisfying, believable conclusion. A great addition to Tana French's mystery series.

[Mickey]

On a Pale Horse was recommended to me and I tried to read it. I gave up half way through. I'd been skimming pages before that. Repetitious scenes of Death going about his job and very thin descriptive language. Behind the action some intrigue was implied, but I didn't have the patience to find out the details. If you're looking for a Heaven vs. Hell story that is a thousand times better in both writing and concept, go for Tad Williams's series. And no, I am not in any way related to TW.

[Barbara]

I finished The Second Chair by John Lescroart. High school student Laura Wright and her drama teacher Mr. Mooney are rehearsing for the school play in his apartment when both are shot dead. The prime suspect is Laura's boyfriend, 17-year-old Andy. Defense attorney Amy Wu, an associate in Dismas Hardy's firm, gets the case. Without Andy's agreement Amy makes a deal for the boy to "admit" to the crimes so that he'll be incarcerated in the juvenile system for 8 years rather than being tried as an adult and risking life without parole. Andy refuses to "admit" leading to big trouble for Amy. Thus Hardy says he'll be second chair during Andy's subsequent hearings and launches his own investigation into the case. Meanwhile, Hardy's cop friend Abe Glitsky is dealing with a bizarre string of serial murders. The early part of the book - dealing with Andy's admitting or not admitting - was too slow. Past that part, though, the action picked up, the story got more intricate, and the intermingling of Hardy's and Glitsky's cases was deftly handled. Good book.

[KOMET]

Yesterday, I finished reading "Chasing Men" by Edwina Currie. It offered an interesting view of how a middle-aged person faced with divorce in late 1990s London went about creating a new, independent life for herself. (This was a departure from my usual reading fare.)

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have read and reviewed Where the Bodies Are Buried - Christopher Brookmyre. Now I am reading A Million Dirty Secrets - C.L. Parker and then I will read A Million Guilty Pleasures - C.L. Parker.

[Ruby]

I am currently reading Dragon Seed, an old book that I found at a book sale. I had seen a movie which was also wonderful but now I am amazed at the positive portrayal of the Chinese Great March to freedom and the victory of a new world over the old one filled with ignorance and superstition.

[Taffey]

Hi, all! I just wanted to let everyone know that my Action Adventure/Futuristic Fantasy E-Book entitled, "THE MYSTERY ALLIANCE: EVIAN'S SAGA" is now available online for Free at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/.... This is my very own special Giveaway for a limited time only. Just go to the link and download! Thanks for reading!

[Barbara]

I finished We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. Rosemary Cooke talked non-stop as a child but grew up to be a quiet university student. She's been in college too long, unable to pick a major and troubled by the long ago disappearance of her sister and brother. We learn that Rosemary's father was a psychologist and - when Rosemary was born - the Cooke family took in an infant chimp, Fern, to raise as a 'sibling' to Rosemary and her brother Lowell. Fern 'disappeared' when Rosemary was five years old and Fowler does a masterful job of slowly revealing how this profoundly affected each member of the Cooke household. Some light relief is provided by Rosemary's interactions with college acquaintances, which also gives us insight into her behavior and personality. This is a deeply moving, though somewhat disturbing, story with lessons to teach about how humans treat our fellow animals. Good book, highly recommended.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have read and reviewed A Million Dirty Secrets - C.L. Parker and A Million Guilty Pleasures - C.L. Parker. Now I am about to pick up Solace in Scandal - Kimberly Dean.

[Barbara]

I finished The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly. Attorney Mickey Haller has problems. He regularly represents criminal lowlifes and his embarrassed teenage daughter has rejected him. He is also low on cash and drinking too much. Things start to look up when Andre La Cosse, a 'cyberpimp' who runs websites for prostitutes, is accused of murdering a client. Turns out the client is Gloria Dayton, a woman Mickey represented years before. At the time Mickey got Gloria off by arranging for her to give up a member of a Mexican drug cartel. As Mickey prepares his case he finds that Gloria may have set up the cartel member at the behest of a DEA agent and that Gloria's death may be related to this incident. When the La Cosse murder case gets to court Connelly presents a lot of courtroom activity which is interesting but goes on and on at times. This was a good mystery, well-written with interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion.

[KOMET]

I'm now reading The People's Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited by Louisa Lim. Already I'm learning so much more about the events surrounding the Tianamen Square Massacre (June 4th, 1989) that I didn't know about. Plus, so many memories of what I saw in China (via TV) during those heady days of May and June 1989 are afresh again.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have finished Solace in Scandal - Kimberly Dean, was a enticing read. Now I think I will read Black Swan Rising - Lee Carroll.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I am reading by Lee Child. A very well written and suspenseful book. Written in 1999, the many scenes that take place in the World Trade Center are a bit unnerving

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Barbara wrote: "I finished The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly. Attorney Mickey Haller has problems. He regularly represents criminal lowlifes and his embarrassed teenage daughter ..."

I loved and what a great title!!

[Jerry]

Rick wrote: "I am reading by Lee Child. A very well written and suspenseful book. Written in 1999, the many scenes that take place in the World Trade Center are a bit unnerving"
I understand. I recently read The Lion's Game by DeMille. Written in 2000 it deals with terrorism and mentions the first bombing of the Trade Center.

[Barbara]

I finished A Mercy by Toni Morrison. This story occurs in the late 1600s, during early days of slavery in America. Several slaves work on a small farm run by Jacob and Rebekka Vaark: Native American Lina - whose tribe was decimated by disease, black child Florens - who was given away by her mother, and jinxed Sorrow - who seems to bring bad luck wherever she goes. As Jacob and Rebekka fall victim to smallpox Lina, Florens, Sorrow, and Rebekka each tells her tale in her own voice. Though the Vaarks are relatively kind masters the book touches on the evils of slavery and demonstrates the soul-deep damage caused by this practice. A well-written book with compelling and interesting characters.

[Lance]

I finished Swag , by Elmore Leonard. This 1976 chronicle of the exploits of a couple of low-life stickup men is the third of Leonard's Detroit-based crime novels, and while some parts of the trademark Leonard style appear here, memorable characters and plotting unfortunately aren't among them. Two stars.

Read the full review here.



Now reading Indigo Slam .

[Steve]

Reading The Gallery by John Horne Burns, which was a huge novel when it came out in 1947 and pretty much unknown since recently when it was re-released. It's not a novel so much as a series of character studies of different soldiers and locals in North Africa and near Naples, behind the lines. The author served there and knew his story. For a writer like me, it gives great insight into the mindset of the WWII era. Needless to say, the points-of-view of the rear-liner vs a local civilian vs a Joe on leave from the front line were vastly different. Great language and writing.

[KOMET]

I'm now deep into reading "The People's Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited" by Louisa Lim, whose work as a journalist (first with the BBC and now with National Public Radio) I have followed for several years. With this book, she looks back at the pro-democracy demonstrations that took place in China during the spring of 1989 and culminated with the crackdown at Tianamen Square on June 4th of that year.

But Lim also --- which is equally important, through interviews she carried out with former student leaders currently living in China (and also some living in exile) --- shows how Beijing actively suppresses all memory of the events which led up to June 4th, 1989. It's a fantastic book. I look forward to attending Miss Lim's book reading later this week and having her autograph my copy of her book.

[[deleted user]]

About to start Mr. Mercedes

[Barbara]

I finished Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews. The town of Caerphilly, Virginia is hosting a fair and Meg Langslow - blacksmith, wife, mother of toddler twins, and hobbyist farmer - is assistant director. Amidst preparations for opening day a vandal targets the fair and valuable chickens are stolen, a prize-worthy pumpkin is smashed, and a beautiful quilt is sullied. Soon afterward a straying husband is shot dead. The Caerphilly cops reluctantly team up with neighboring Clay cops to solve the crime and, of course, Meg helps investigate as well. I enjoyed this humorous, cozy mystery and learned something about heirloom species of animals as well. A good light read.