What are you reading? Showing 151-200 of 1,151

[[deleted user]]

I know what you mean Emma... sometimes I really want to read the books (certain books) but then I just cant hit my stride... it anoys me way to much and I give up.

[Emma]

There are those books also that have been highly recommended or highly anticipated and then when you read them, you think "why?" I have had that with many books.There re also those books that you really want to love, necause they are so interesting nd because everybody loves them and you wonder if its just you that doesnt like them, but I think its good to have some sort of cut off point if a book doesnt interest you, because if you dont you will end up wasting so much of your time. It is a little sadistic to keep going. :-)

[[deleted user]]

I know what you mean! :)
I wanted so much to read The Green Dwarf by Charlotte Bronte (as she's such a great writer and stuff) but it bored me to bits! I couldnt get going, and I just couldnt do it to myself to continue... I feel really bad because of it, but I just cant read it.

I also get what your saying about people recommending books and then they just plainly suck... then I also feel kind of bad, but I just dont see why these books are so "wonderful" :)

[Lerize]

Niecole wrote: "Hi Lerize...
Ooh so I finished Nervous Conditions, and it was really good you know, I didnt think it would be, but it was, and it turned out I really liked it.

I just finished Island of lost ..."

Lol, truth be told, I stopped reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I'm starting on Cold Mountain now but I want to see if I can finish The Green Mile before the holidays are over. Hehehe I'll get back to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sometime this year =D

[Emma]

Lerize wrote: "Niecole wrote: "Hi Lerize...
Ooh so I finished Nervous Conditions, and it was really good you know, I didnt think it would be, but it was, and it turned out I really liked it.

I just finished..."

I also struggled with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Lerize, there are just pages and pages of history of how certain family members met, that you think are going to be relevant later on in the story, but it isnt. It was so unnecessary and alot of the dialogue was confusing for me, in most books it wouuld say and John said this and then Peter replied...in this book if kind of leaves you wondering who is saying what. I dont know if you had that same experience Lerize? I have never read Cold Mountain but I didnt like the movie, found it a bit boring, but The Green Mile is one of my favourite books. I am not a fan of Stephen King but this is one of the best books I have ever read. Where the Green Mile truly shines is its plot;it is engaging, well-crafted, intriguing, thought-provoking, riveting, you name it, this plot has it.Truly fantastic!!

I recommend it to anyone.

[Lerize]

I have to say that it was the complicated structure of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo that set me off (I was looking for something relaxing to read at the time so obviously that didn't work) but I believe that is why it is so good and I most definitely will finish it one day =D

I rather liked the movie because it was crass; it didn't soften or romanticise things about how things really were. I've found that the writing is very poetic and symbolic which I really like.

Hehehe I'm not a fan of horrors but my boyfriend is a huge Stephen King fan. So I've decided to read his books like the Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption and maybe later The Dark Tower series. But definitely not Carry or The Mist!

[Lauren]

Emma wrote: "There are those books also that have been highly recommended or highly anticipated and then when you read them, you think "why?" I have had that with many books.There re also those books that you r..."

I've actually come to distrust recommendations, not to mention bestseller lists, because I'm usually disappointed with the results. I only take recommendations from others if I know we have very similar tastes, and that they don't love a lot of books that I consider to be crap. Also, there are two occasions when I read a book after someone said it had changed their life, and in both cases I was disappointed.

I also find that I seldom enjoy bestsellers (Pillars of the Earth, Twilight, Magician, for example). Even if I find the story somewhat entertaining, the books tend to lack the qualities that make a novel really great for me, or at least worth more than a 2-star rating. I don't avoid bestsellers, but I'll only read them if the story sounds interesting, not just because they're popular.

I don't usually abandon books though. I choose most of my reads carefully, so I know there's something in a novel that's worth my time (good writing, inventive story, thought-provoking ideas, etc). And if I'm bored, I blame myself rather than the book. Sometimes you're just in the wrong mood, you're impatient, you're the wrong age, or you don't know enough to enjoy the book. Sometimes you need to read it more than once. When that happens, I put the book aside and try again later. Which is a pretty good policy, I've found - there are lots of books I really enjoyed, even though I couldn't get past page 10 the first time I tried to read it. On the other hand, if I can tell the book is just crap I finish it anyway so at least I can say I gave it a try. And then I get my revenge for wasted time with a scathing review... :)

[Lauren]

Emma and Lerize: The second book in the series - The Girl Who Played with Fire - is much more dramatic than the first. You might enjoy it a lot more, even if you thought The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was slow and over-detailed.

I don't read a lot of horror myself, but I thought Stephen King's Carrie was pretty cool. However, for some really good Stephen King that isn't horror, get Different Seasons. It has 4 novellas including The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, and The Body (which was made into a film called Stand By Me). They're all brilliant stories.

[Lerize]

Cool, will definitely look into that =D

[[deleted user]]

I saw Stand by me, its a great story, and truth be told, I didnt know Stephen King wrote it. :)

Shawshank Redemption, what a good movie, but I havent read it... yet (should put it on my list) And Apt Pupil, thats the one about the Nazi and the boy next door? If it is, it was a good movie to...

Lauren, I'm so glad you feel the same way about not trusting recommendations. You see, I'm lucky in that way that our Library in Paarl is very small and limited, so there arent really these recommended books there :). So I end up reading everything else...

One recommendation that was really good, The Lovely Bones...

[Emma]

Lauren wrote: "Emma wrote: "There are those books also that have been highly recommended or highly anticipated and then when you read them, you think "why?" I have had that with many books.There re also those boo..."

I totally agree with you Lauren, a recommendation is only as good as the person who is giving it. If that peson has a love for sci-fi and you dont then the recommendation is hardly worth listening to. If you know you have similar tastes or like a specific genre then reading recommendations might be a good idea. I find that any book that is from Oprah's book club I tend to dislike. i.e. The Pillars of the earth, Middlesex, Edgar Sawtelle, it is obvious that we have different tastes in books and therefore I tend to stay away from any book she endorses now.

I also agree that sometimes its just the wrong time to read that particular book, or you are just in the wrong mood, what you might find appealing one day will have you bored to tears the next. I go through different stages where I like history, then it might be urban fantasy, then on some days I want something lighthearted, it all depends.

[Lauren]

Ooh, I'm a bit of a snob about Oprah's Bookclub. I've never read anything because she recommended it (mostly because she's recommended some absolute rubbish), but even if I want to read the book I'll avoid those copies that say 'Oprah's bookclub' like the plague. I find that a lot of readers who follow her bookclub are just sheep. When I was working at a bookstore, Oprah fans would come in and ask for our 'Oprah shelf' and then buy anything that was on it (most popular first). They were seldom interested in reading other books and you got the impression that if Oprah's name wasn't on it they wouldn't look at it twice.

That being said, I have Middlesex on my shelf, and the only thing about it that tends to put me off is the length. I LOVED The Virgin Suicides.

[Emma]

Lauren wrote: "Ooh, I'm a bit of a snob about Oprah's Bookclub. I've never read anything because she recommended it (mostly because she's recommended some absolute rubbish), but even if I want to read the book I'..."

Although I do watch Oprah, I wouldnt say I am a fan. I find that at times she comes off as fake. Sometimes when I watch it it irrtiates me how these americans are all "oohh and ahh" over everything she says . Im thinking "get a brain people" !!

[Lu]

Finished and . Started and starting

[Emma]

Lu wrote: "Finished and . Started and starting "

Let me know how Morganville Vampires goes Lu, been on my TBR list for awhile.

[Lu]

So far its really good, very different, and I can't wait to see what happens, also a bit creepy!

[Sonette]

Finished , still reading and and starting .

[Lauren]

Finished the The James Tiptree Award Anthology 3: Subversive Stories about Sex and Gender. Some great stories, and some very weird ones, but overall a good collection :)

Will probably start Dark Lover during my lunch break. I hope no one spots the title on my computer screen... :)

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading the following:


slowly reading
Reading at work
and slowly reading at work

[Lu]

Finished (4/5). Started and starting

[Emma]

Currently reading:

1. Angus thongs & Full frontal snogging Bu Louise Rennison

2. Helen of Troy - Margaret George

[[deleted user]]

Completed
Reading and the rest also.
Started

[Sonette]

Still reading Jock and the Bushveld, and and Blue Bloods.

[[deleted user]]

How is Blue bloods?
I've got the ebooks

[Lauren]

I just started , and giving a chance to get more interesting.

[Sonette]

Just finished and Jock, still reading , and just starting .

Niecole, I just really getting into Blue Bloods and so far so good. I haven't gotten to a plot yet, but this book might be just the introductory book. I don't want to make an early judgment though, so I will tell you tonight what I thought of the first in the series! I loved Uglies though! It is very symbolic and I loved the undertones. Easy reading with an interesting story.

[[deleted user]]

Cool, they are both on my to read list!
Cant wait

[Emma]

Lauren wrote: "I just started , and giving a chance to get more interesting."

Hi Lauren, The Blind Assassin is one of the books I borrowed from the library so its on my TBR soon list. I hope you like it, it has some good reviews. It doesnt seem the kind of book that I would like though, but I thought why not give it a go.We will see.

[Lauren]

Hey Emma, I'm a big Atwood fan, and since this one won the Booker I've been wanting to read it for a while. There are some books of hers that I don't like much, but either way her writing is beautiful, although her female characters tend to feel very passive. I'll let you know how it goes :)

[Emma]

Niecole wrote: "Cool, they are both on my to read list!
Cant wait"

Hey Niecole,
I read the first book in the Blue Bloods series and I wasnt that impressed, it felt like I had read it somewhere before, which means I probably had. Since I've read so many books about vampires, one of the downfalls for me in a new read is finding that it's uninspired. If it's been done before and better I'm hardly able to find much to enjoy. Although I love YA books, this is just too teen for me. Unlike Vampire Academy which had depth adventure and romance,Blue Bloods didnt and I wasnt interested in reading the second book.

But I would give the first book a shot Niecole and see what you think. :-)

[Lu]

Finished (4/5). Started and starting

[[deleted user]]

Reading Vampire Diaries #5

and

[Lauren]

The Virgin Suicides is one of my favourite books, I loved the writing from beginning to end. What do you think of it so far Niecole?

[[deleted user]]

I really like it, I have always loved books that give good discriptions, and this one is doing it so well! I feel like I can see all the girls infront of me.
I'm still rather at the beginning, but its in an easy reading style, I'm enjoying it.

I can see the girls before me, their clothes, their faces, its weird!

[Lauren]

I agree Niecole - one thing I love about The Virgin Suicides is that the writing is brilliant, so evocative, but it flows so smoothly that it's incredibly easy to read. I finished that book in about a day.

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading it at work, an ebook, and its going well... but I should really work as well hehe.

The writing is very very brilliant. Any other books you'd recommend? I did put this one on my list because you said it was good. :)

[Sonette]

Finished , and starting and , still slowly reading , . seriously on hold at the moment.

Niecole, ultimately I liked Blue Bloods. I am enjoying the plot and the whole vampire existence thing. I don't want to say to much and spoil the story for you, suffice to state that it was easy reading and enjoyable. Not too complicated. It is true that it is a young adult read through and through. Anyway, I am starting Masquerade and will keep you updated.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Sonnette! I really want to read the Blue Bloods series, and Uglies are on my to read list as well. I love the book cover for the second Blue bloods!

[Lauren]

Niecole wrote: "Any other books you'd recommend? did put this one on my list because you said it was good. :)
"

Oh, cool :) Well, there's nothing quite like The Virgin Suicides (I started Eugenides's other book, Middlesex, but didn't find it as instantly intriguing), but here are some books I think you might really like:
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (great storyteller)
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, starting with The Golden Compass or The Northern Lights (title depends on where the edition came from)
I think you might also like some of Margaret Atwood's books her writing is very good. Try The Handmaid's Tale or The Robber Bride.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Lauren! :)

[Emma]

I finished Helen of Troy By Margaret George and I did enjoy it, I just found that it was a really long book, and maybe due to the fact that I knew what was going to happen at the end I got a bit bored towards the ending of the book. I much prefered the beginning of the story from Helens childhood and her consequent marriage to Menelaus and her voyage to Troy, I found it very interesting.

I am currently reading: The historian - By Elizabeth Kostova

[Sonette]

Soooooo, finished Masquerade, Revelations and The Van Alen Legacy today and really enjoyed it. Now have to wait all the way to October to know what happens next. Torture! Still getting a thumbs up from me. Not spectacular, but good reads! Getting around to Pretties now.

[[deleted user]]

Now I really do want to read Blue Bloods :)
Thanks Sonette

I started reading Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

[Sonette]

Hehehe! I love being on holiday! Finished , and . Now reading .

[Lu]

nice!

[Lauren]

Got some books from the library, so I put down The Blind Assassin for the moment, and started .

Dogsbody and Women as Demons: The Male Perception of Women Through Space & Time to follow.

[[deleted user]]

The Uglies series looks pretty good... whats it about exactly?

Ok so previously I said I was reading BDB #5 but it was #4, so now I'm reading 5...
Loving the series... nothing intelectual about it, its just fun, and to me, thats what reading is about.

Also still reading The Woman in White and its getting better! I'm liking where its going, but its a slow read.

[Sonette]

Niecole, Uglies series about the future basically, after the human race all but destroys itself by technology and now a near perfect world has been created with a near perfect system. There is a metaphorical comparison to so many things in this series, but I'm not gonna tell you right now, lest I spoil everything for you. Tell me if you want more info!

[[deleted user]]

Ooh sounds very interesting!!! Tell me more, or send me a message :)

[Lauren]

Uglies was also on the 'long list' for the James Tiptree Award, which is about 'exploring and expanding gender'. I just read an anthology of stories that won or were shortlisted for the award, and they were all fairly good, so hopefully Uglies is too :)