What are you currently reading?

[Leea]

I heard mixed feelings about the epilogue so I skipped it. I heard the same thing Laura, that Tatia married Edward and honestly my heart could not take that so I made sure to get the ones here in the states. I also had to get Tatiana and Alexander and the Summer Garden from the UK over 1 1/2years ago and it took a whole month to ship here (california) my poor fed ex guy was sick of me running out there with the hopes of getting my hands on those stinking books.

Good luck ladies!

[Laura]

I'm so OCD and obsessed that I don't care if it rips my heart out and tramples it, I'm so curious that I would read it! It would be interesting to explore that What if, a travesty of course, but interesting.

[Hildy]

Laura, in Tatiana's Table, there is a "What if" scene. It's Alexander and Tatiana's 50 (?) wedding anniversary and he asks her 'what if you never found me? What would have happened to you?" She doesn't want to answer him but eventually does. She tells him that she would have married Edward. So, that's not part of the epilogue. Thank goodness. I'll see if I can find it. A friend of mine sent it to me once since I don't have the book yet.

You're Welcome!!!

[Laura]

Hildy wrote: "Laura, in Tatiana's Table, there is a "What if" scene. It's Alexander and Tatiana's 50 (?) wedding anniversary and he asks her 'what if you never found me? What would have happened to you?" She doe..."

Maybe that's what it was! I want to get Tatiana's Table too, might try making some of the recipes!

[Jessica]

I can't remember whether I've written about this book before or not, but Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie is really really good and I highly recommend it!

[Megan]

Well now I've almost finished my re-read of Twilight and am all vamped up, I've just ordered the first of the True Blood books. I have never watched the series (but am very interested considering Joe Manganiello is in it!) but always want to read the book before seeing the screen version... I know its super-popular so who has read it? Any good?

[Leea]

I'm just about finished with book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse Series. for me they are just light, funny, and fun to read. Plus Sookie get's mixed up with so really hot guys :)

The tv series True Blood is a little different than the book series. I think you will enjoy them - very creative.

[Kelly]

Tina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "On vaca in nantucket reading "

Yeah...you started Winter Rose. How do you like it? I mean Sid :)"

I LOVE Sid but am not finished with the book. I just don't love India and wish they were together more. I don't know it just wasn't the best vacation book not light and fluffy for sure. I was really upset with the way Fee was acting and what Joe poor Joe. I don't think I can forgive Fiona for that. I LOVE that they are in this story but I don't like what is happening. I also skimmed over all the Seamie parts. I need to go back and reread. I may put this series aside for a bit. I think overall it is really good but lacks a bit of romance for me because so many things are happening to the h/h. I just want peace for all of them. I HATE Freddie what a psycho!!

[Ashleigh]

I am currently in the middle of Tatiana and Alexander. I just can't put it down! :)

[Kelly]

Ashleigh wrote: "I am currently in the middle of Tatiana and Alexander. I just can't put it down! :)"

Heart ache in the best possible way... enjoy!

[Toni]

Kelly wrote: "Tina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "On vaca in nantucket reading "

Yeah...you started Winter Rose. How do you like it? I mean Sid :)"

I LOVE Sid but am not finished wit..."

Kelly-Did you get into The Winter Rose right away? I am on page 255 and I cannot get into it at all. I feel like I have to push myself through it. I'm not invested in India and, as so far, Sid has done nothing to make me feel invested in him either. I have a feeling that might change in that I have heard from so many people that Sid is amazing, so maybe it is coming, but did you take to Sid immediately or did it take you a while too? I am wondering if it is just me or not. I do intend to finish it but if I knew it was going to get better it might make me try harder. Right now I am thinking about getting a new book and revisiting TWR later. You did pique my interest with your post that Fee does something awful to Joe. That makes me sad to hear (I love Joe, but I seriously began to lose some love for Fiona in the beginning of TWR in that she is very self absorbed. She gives no time, love, or respect to Joe who, in contrast, still seems smitten with her. She was always hard driving and I appreciated her determination and strength of character but its gone way overboard and she's just not that likeable in the first 200 of TWR in my humble opinion. What's your take if you don't mind me asking???

[Kelly]

Toni wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Tina wrote: "Kelly wrote: "On vaca in nantucket reading "

Yeah...you started Winter Rose. How do you like it? I mean Sid :)"

I LOVE Sid but ..."

I think Donnelley did a disservice to Fiona she made her a martyr at the expense of her husband and I for one hated that!

I really really like Sid but I am not in in LOVE with him.

I actually loved the start of the book and felt that it started to drag and India was just not getting me the way I thought she would.

I have set it aside and will come back to it.

I have read to the end but I also skimmed quite a bit.

Even the ending I have problems with.

[Toni]

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I let my expectations get the best of me. I liked The Tea Rose (not loved, but liked quite a bit), so I thought The Winter Rose would be the same. I don't get the India character. She's written in such a way that there is little to no way to form an emotional attachment. Well, onward I suppose. Anyone read any great books lately?????

[Jessica]

Toni I didn't love The Winter Rose as much as some, but I think it's still worth persevering - it definately gets better I think!

[Milena]

I didn't love either The Tea Rose or The Winter Rose very much. I read it straight after reading TBH and I was hoping for another book or series that would impact me in the same way TBH did, of course they didn't. I was very frustrated with the Tea Rose and the fact that Fiona and Joe could not sort their relationship out because of near meetings and near misses. They would almost have chance to see each other but something would interfere and they would miss the opportunity, it happened over and over and over. It became very tedious to read. When I read books, I like to see the development of the characters' relationship, I like them to work on their problems, to fight and to make up. Unfortunately that almost hadn't happened in The Tea Rose. In that respect I liked The Winter Rose a little better, but I still was not in love with the book or the characters.

Toni, like you, I think my expectations were too high and that's why I was ultimately disappointed

[Laura]

I am on page 95 of the Tea Rose... I can't seem to get into it as much as I would like and keep picking up other books. I feel like the bits talking about the union are a bit overwritten, I keep skimming through them. I hope this gets better :(

[Leea]

Lots of people were comparing them to the Bronze Horseman and Outlander and I just did not see it. I say if you are not in love with a book by page 100 and you want to quit. Then go read something else :) Happy 4th of July for those in America!

[Toni]

I too was very excited to read The Tea Rose as I'd heard some remarkably good reviews and there were comparisons to TBH and Outlander. I also did NOT see it. I thought The Tea Rose was okay. Not bad. Not great. Most certainly not even in the same galaxy as TBH and Outlander. The missed opportunities between Fiona and Joe just got redundant. Once is understandable, but it kept happening and that is just a tool of writer's who can't tell a story without such tricks. Not to bash J. Donnelly at all, it just isn't my cup of tea (no pun intended ;)). Like Milena, I also would prefer to see the development of the characters and their relationship as opposed to a long drawn out saga of missed chances. I think, in a small way, that is why of all the TBH trilogy, Tatiana and Alexander is my least favorite (though I did Love the book!!). The greater part of the book is them trying to get to each other and while it absolutely made sense in respects to the story and I see why PS wrote it that way, it did make it not as an exceptional of a read (in regards to the other two in the series)being that I spent a good part of the book reading at break neck pace to get to the point where they were at least in the same scene (country!!) together. If I hadn't had such high expectations of The Tea Rose, to be honest, I don't think I'd have liked it any better, but I wouldn't have been quite as disappointed. I know trying to find another TBH (or Outlander) is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. That is why when people on this site told me about Outlander it was like the most precious gift in the world to me. Characters like those come around very rarely and while I'm sure we all wish we could read many, many more books in that league, part of what makes them so spectacular is their absolute rarity (still I wish wish wish I could find another book that could utterly transport me and make all my senses fall in love with the characters and really 'feel' for them with not just my head, but with every nuance of my heart and soul such as our two aforementioned and esteemed series did). The Winter Rose is Really disappointing. I was trying with all my might to like this book. I cannot even get through it and in this one I really had no to somewhat low expectations. I don't know if at some point I might give it another try to finish it being that many of you have said that it gets better and are fond of (though not nearly in love) with Sid, but for now I have to put it away as I feel it is simply wasting my time.

Anyone have any suggestions for a GREAT read???!!!Any favorites out there? I'm dying to read a great book after the disappointment of the Rose books but I've got no leads. Thanks all, and ditto on Leea's remark: Happy July 4th for the American's out there!!!!

[Megan]

Well I'm one of those who raved about the Rose series - I see everyone's point, and I definitely agree with the flaws that have been mentioned, but I still adore the series, and (ducks head as I'm typing) think its a much better "story" than Outlander, but I've already stated that I've retired Outlander after the 3rd book and respect the level of fanatacism about the series, and Diana Gabaldon is a far superior writer in my opinion. I just didn't feel that desire to continue to read it... I don't know if its because I have English blood and have been to London numerous times so felt more connected than the Highlands of Scotland, or what, but I loved the family saga...

Laura, if you want to abandon it, I agree completely with Leea BUT I think it would be a shame to give up in it right where you are... I don't want to give anything away but it wtarts warming up VERY soon. Just my personal opinion :)

[May]

I have just started reading the The Tea Rose and now looking at the reviews on here, perhaps I should read Outlander first. Should I read one of series before the other, or doesn't it really matter?

[Tina]

I am 3/4 of the way through Drums of Autumn (the 4th book of Outlander) and (view spoiler)[ I have to say I love Brianna meeting Jamie. It brought tears to my eyes. For him I think more than her. It was heartbreaking reading about how he would look at her pictures thinking he would never meet her, and now the unthinkable has comes true for him. (hide spoiler)]

One question though...(view spoiler)[ Lord John and Willie showed up on Fraser Ridge and spent some time with Jamie and Claire, then Lord John and Ian got sick with the measles, Willie left with Jamie to get away from the illness, Jamie found out that his Indian friends contracted the disease and that they burned down their homes, then all of the sudden there was no more word about Lord John and Willie.. There where chapters about Brianna and Roger going through the stones and their voyage over to America and then all of the sudden Jamie and Ian were in Cross Creek getting Fergus out of jail, and that's were Jamie meets Brianna. What the heck happened to Lord John and Willie? Will this come up in the end of the book? (hide spoiler)]

[Leea]

I agree about "their" meeting. It something he thought would never happen. I always wished they could have a house full of bairns.

Keep reading Tina :)

[Tina]

OMG I just read the part where (view spoiler)[ Brianna tells her mother about her pregnancy. Are you kidding me...please let it be Roger's. (hide spoiler)]

[Toni]

Megan--Yes, I remember you are a big Rose lover. You know its all so personal what we like and don't like, and I think that in some crazy way books like TBH spoil us and everything else is compared to it. I wonder if I'd not read TBH and, for me, Outlander (1-4 so far..with a break) I'd like the Rose books more. Books like TBH bring you to the heights of exaltation as a reader and then shine a big ugly flourescent lamp on all the other books that don't live up to it. Well, for me at least. I did like The Tea Rose but I will give the Winter Rose a try another time. I do remember all of your sighing posts on Sid and I'm dying to get to that point where I'm all flustered over him. You've given some darn strong posts pro-Sid over time so I'm quite curious, and after my Rose-break I'll try to dig in on some Sid lovin'.
Laura-In my humble opinion I'd try to go further with the Tea Rose. I wouldn't personally say the same for The Winter Rose, but the Tea Rose was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot and I think others did as well. It's not near as good as Outlander and TBH but it's a worthy read for sure. I'd push thru a little more and see if you get hooked, if not then move on, but if you're asking questions I'd vote for another try.

Chrissy 12- Outlander ALL THE WAY. It's on a whole other level then other books. After TBH I thought I'd never fall in love with another character like Alexander or love another book like TBH but Outlander and Jamie Fraser changed all that. Outlander is an amazing series and if you loved TBH I think you'll love Outlander. Perhaps taking a break after the third Outlander book, Voyager, is the best medicine. I've gathered from my own readings and from other posters that the third book is a good time for a short break whereas you can come back later and be yearning for some more Jamie and Claire (and you will always be yearning for more of them!!!)

Tina-You know I've posted a lot about my not getting the Brianna thing but you are right that is a fantastic scene. I actually even liked Bree in it!!! When he 'turns her down' (soooo sweet that Jamie in his unassuming way) then she responds-I won't *spoil*by giving details-and then it registers with him. WOW!! I do love that scene. You are right in that one short exchange you can just feel all of what he went thru from Faith on--always wanting to be there for his bairns to grow and never getting the chance...and now here she is, alive and in the flesh, something he'd never even dare imagine. I've got the chills. Gotta go look up that passage now that you bring it up. Jamie just gets it right every time, doesn't he? He's just a verra verra bonny lad!!!!
I also would have loved to see Jamie bringing up his own little baby from infancy on. That would have been spectacular. His love and everything who he is..seeing him and Claire bring up a baby together would have been pretty great to read about.

[Leea]

Have faith Tina :) It's a bumpy ride for Roger and Bree

[May]

Thanks Toni but I started reading The Tea Rose last night and I think I may continue.
This way I can read it quickly and then pursue onto reading The Outlander.
I am now excited for both :)

[Laura]

Thanks Toni and Megan! I think I am going to try to push forward a bit more.

And there's nothing like TBH and Outlander. I keep trying to find something that just captures me the same way, and I can't. I've resigned myself to it by this point, its an impossibility.

[Tina]

Almost done Drums of Autumn: And I have to say....

OMG Poor Ian!!! That was one of the saddest parts of the book. (view spoiler)[ Ian... AKA Wolf Brother...is now a Mohawk Indian!!! You can just see Jamie's heart breaking knowing he can't help his nephew and probably won't ever see him again. And now that they have rescued Roger and Ian gave up his life for Roger, he won't even go back and see Bree!!!! What the hell!!!

So my next question is who will kill Bonnett. Roger or Jamie? (Please don't answer, I am just thinking to myself) :) (hide spoiler)]

[Alycia]

I agree Tina... keep reading for Bonnet

[Leea]

Young Ian is one of my favorite characters in the books. I love love him :) Happy things to come. Keep reading Tina!

[Kelly]

I'm starting

[Tina]

Finished Drums of Autumn (view spoiler)[ So Bree and Roger...I do love them. I like their story so far, a few ups and downs but Roger's love for Bree led him back to her. I feel that the baby is his..just a feeling.

My last question about who will kill Bonnet, has not been answered yet..He escaped again!!! ugh!!! Jamie will get him though, I believe he blames himself for all that Bonnet is doing and he will take it upon himself to finish him...just a thought.

Jamie and Claire...I just love how they love each other still. The looks, the touches....love it!!! And now Jamie is a Grand Da. Can you just picture him holding baby Jemmy in his arms..something he has never done..he has 2 children but never was able to hold them as babies..just brings tears to my eyes.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

On to The Fiery Cross!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Alycia]

Kelly wrote: "I'm starting"

Let me know if its good Kelly

[Jessica]

Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, but a nice love story (though it's not a romance) and an interesting read! I didn't think it was amazing or anything, but worth a read if you're looking for something.

[Milena]

I started to read and watching Camelot series on Netflix too

[Hildy]

Jessica wrote: "Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, but a nice love story (though it..."

My husband read it and quite liked it. I haven't tried it yet.

I've just started to read

[Alycia]

Jessica wrote: "Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, but a nice love story (though it..."

I've read it and really liked it! I would love to see a sequel.

[Laura]

Jessica wrote: "Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, but a nice love story (though it..."

I read it as well, I had a very hard time getting into it, about 10 chapters worth of suffering through it if I remember correctly. But it did get better and then was enjoyable. Not my favorite read but good enough!

[Megan]

Hildy wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, but a nice love ..."

I'd be interested to hear what you think of The Book Thief... :)

[Jessica]

Oooh I'm so excited! I highly recommend both those books being read above - Queen of Camelot and The Book Thief! Both really good!

[Laura]

Megan wrote: "Hildy wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Has anyone read The Host by Stephanie Meyer (author of Twilight)? I've just finished reading it for the second time and quite enjoyed it... it's a little different, bu..."

Me too!! I have "The Book Thief" on my to-read.

[Megan]

I enjoyed The Book Thief - I'd like to discuss the ending when everyone's finished it, it was a little ambiguous for me...

[Jessica]

I'd like to discuss too, I loved this book... I didn't think the ending was ambiguous though so interested on your thoughts Megan!

[Megan]

Jessica, maybe I'm dense but (view spoiler)[ was Max Liesel's husband at the end? I know there was a significant age difference when she was a child but considering what they experienced and survived, I couldn't help but wonder that when she was older and they reconnected after the war, if he was her husband? It would've been one hell of a bond they formed?! (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

I started oranges and sunshine by Margaret humphreys. its a true story about child migration schemes post ww2 from England to Australia. it's currently on at the cinema too.

[Toni]

Tina wrote: "Finished Drums of Autumn So Bree and Roger...I do love them. I like their story so far, a few ups and downs but Roger's love for Bree led him back to her. I feel that the baby is his..just a feeli..."
tina-I know, I was sooo shocked about wee Ian. I love him! Such an endearing character, and when he did that...omg...I could just feel Jamie's pain. I am on page 867 of The Fiery Cross. I had a hard time getting into it. It was slooowww! I thought ten times that I would stop. I started The Winter Rose when everyone started reading that but I had to put that away as I could not get into it at all...another time perhaps. So, I went back to TFC. Though it started slowly and I was feeling quite burnt out, I kept going (people said that it got better in the end and it is true, it IS getting more interesting tho not as good as the prior books by a longshot). I have to say that I have always loved Jamie and Claire, of course. Jamie Fraser is one of my all time favorite loves...(sigh). Claire, I always was fond of too, but I find that as time goes on I am loving her more and more. She is such a fantastic character. So three dimensional. She is independant and strong and witty and intelligent, but also fiercly loyal and so loving and gentle and compassionate. I think she is amazing and tho I loved her always and I love Outlander the BEST of the books, I do think Claire gets better with age. Whereas Jamie was perfect from moment one and remains so currently. Tho I am having a hard time imagning him as 50....more so Claire at 54! Living rough and all that...a bit far fetched, but I'll suspend belief b/c I do love them...a great love story! I am eagerly awaiting the return (in some way) of wee Ian as I've heard rumors from the board that he comes back into it. Also, as of page 867 in TFC Bonnet is still alive and kicking (the heathen!!) and I am eagerly awaiting, as you are, to see who is going to be the last face/fist he sees (Jamie or Roger Will end his miserable life...of that I agree with you!)I've got a feeling that whoever off's him is going to want to do it physically, not so easy for Bonnet, but make it painful..and I hope it is so....!!. Things have just ended at the big wedding celebration of(view spoiler)[ Jocasta..I love her too...and Duncan. They are just showing some sweetness with each other and it's...well..sweet. Jocasta's story about Hector and her daughters blew me away--so sad, but is it true?--rhetorical--Jamie says he isn't so sure. What happened with the gold? And Bonnet showing up? wee Phillip Wylie..what does that toff have to do with it all? It is getting interesting. I've waiting 800 pages, but it's finally perking up! You know I was curious about Louis French gold and if it was true so I went online and it is sooo amazing how DG is sooo in depth about her stories/work/historical reality. Whilst there are some differentiating details in the reality. Was some of the gold not from the Spanish or was it all French Louis D'or? Was it sent pre-Cullonden or post for the sake of Louis escape? These are up for questioning, but currently there is a shipwreck being harvested where they have found the seal from Mary Queen of Scots (Bonny Prince Charlie's great-great-grandmother)--and it has been positively Id'd and put in a museum-which they believe was sent, along with the gold (which the divers are still trying to bring up)to prove authenticity so when the agents went to Prince Charlie with the monies he would believe they were on his side and from the French King based on this indisputable piece of evidence. Anyhow...I continued looking and it said in Loch Archieg (this is likely spelled wrong as I forgot the real spelling.oops!) where the gold was brought to, there were 7 crates of Louis d'or gold and it was entrusted to one Archibald Cameron!! The story goes on from there and as so far as I've read about it in the Fiery Cross there are a lot of similarities. Obviously the Cameron connection--the fact that she made it a Cameron (Hector) is remarkable. It's amazing Dg's detail, brilliant! In the past I've looked up other things too (easy things) and she's always dead on. The Fraser clan motto IS je suis prest, same with the Mackenzie clan (luceo non uro) and it goes on...the connection with the Fraser of Lovat's and the strawberries (was that in drums of autumn??). Anyhow, this is a brief list but she's soo dead on(even about the most minute details, it's genius--I started to look little things up out of curiousity and I began to see the true depth and detail into her work) and I LOVE that personally. Looking forward to getting in deeper on the Fiery Cross...a lot going on.. (hide spoiler)] Oh, and one more thing....WHO WAS IT IN THE BEDROOM AT JOCASTA'S meddling with Claire's feet...and other spots??? Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

[Jessica]

Megan, I'll have to have a flick through the end of the book thief - I can't remember!! I've actually just started reading Oranges and Sunshine as well!
Toni, it was Jamie who was playing with Claire's feet - I think this is discussed quite a bit in the Outlander group, and Diana has also confirmed it to readers somewhere.

[Hildy]

Toni! I agree with Jessica, it was Jamie! Diana did confirm it on Compuserve somewhere. I love your thoughts about Claire. I LOVE her and I don't think she gets enough credit for all that she does and the wonderful person that she is. Did you read the part right after the foot-playing? If you did, you know what I'm talkin' about!! One of the best Jamie moments evah!!!!! If not, get reading!!! lol Way more good stuff ahead. I told you it would pick up!

I'm about half way through The Book Thief. I did not enjoy the very beginning. It's much better now but I still find myself putting it down for hours, which is not a good sign for me. I think it's well-written but it's not unforgettable at this point.

[Megan]

Ooh Jessica, we'll have to have a debrief after Oranges and Sunshine. I am really struggling with the abuse, and the fact that this happened in my parents generation IN MY OWN COUNTRY!

Hildy - I had a hard time (view spoiler)[ dealing with the fact that it was narrated by death. I read it a while ago and I do find myself thinking of this book a lot when reading similar stories, there's a scene towards the end relating to Max that really affected me (hide spoiler)]

[Hildy]

Megan, I completely agree with the narration. I feel like I've settled in with it, finally, but I'm not sure if I really have. Due to the narration it flips around in time a lot, and it makes it confusing. I would have much preferred it if the narration was different or if it was told in the first person. I think the story itself is interesting at this point.