What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD) Showing 1,101-1,150 of 7,588

[Maude]

I think you are right about the covers. The Abyssinian has those same beautiful colors and rextures which really draw me into the story. Do you do a lot of reviews?

[Mona]

Maude, I try to review when I finish a book. But I'm a really slow reader. I have lots to read, and a toddler running around that doesn't always make it easy for me to take my "quiet time." If I'm reading, she'll ask to "read" one of my magazines too but she's not quiet about it. She'll keep trying to talk to me,show me stuff, or ask me to smell the perfume inserts(she loves these). Eventually I give up. Sighhhhh

My reading time is also hampered by household chores that need to get done, a DVR that needs to be emptied,library DVD's that need to be watched.

[Maude]

Oh, but you have a darling little girl! I so miss when my grandkids were little and would read with me. They are boys, 11 and 15, and they still read but not cuddled up to me on the sofa! What is your daughter's name? I only have one female cousin who lives in Indiana. All the rest of my cousins, brother = BOYS!

[Mary]

reminds me of this beautiful cover .

[Chrissie]

Maude, could you tell me more about The Abyssinian. I have been considering this book for quite a while! It is suppose to portray Ethiopia, Cairo and France during the Sun King' reign very well AND be funny. Why did you like it?

I sent a friend request to you b/c I think we might like similar books.......

[Mona]

Maude, my daughter's name is Sanskriti(aka "Sani"). It means CULTURE.

When I read to her, she's still at the age where she's cuddled up and her hair tickles my nose. She also has a strange preoccupation with putting her head in my armpit. :/. She won't do it with hubby because she says his armpit smells "yucky." :)

Anyway, my parents are in Wisconsin and my brother and sis-in-law live in Philly.

[Mona]

Maude, the rest of the family lives in India.

[Maude]

Chrissie, How nice - I would love to have you as a friend. I am still reading The Abyssinian - about 1/3 into it. It has a lot of humor which I like in a book. Our hero practices medicine without a license but is registered as an apothecary. He is enticed to go from Cairo to Abyssinia to treat the ruler for a skin disease. As yet, he is not quite there. Too much other stuff to go into here but very enjoyable so far. The Sun King has been mentioned so there is a lot to come.

[Maude]

Mona, I really love the name Sanskriti especially when you say it out loud, but Sani is also lovely. Were you born in India?

[Mona]

Yes, Maude, I was born in India. My family and I emigrated here when I was 4. I lived in Wisconsin for many years before moving to Florida with hubby and daughter back in Feb '09. We moved because he got a job offer here.

[Laura]

The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand

[Chrissie]

Maude, is the prose style good? I can't test read any snippet anywhere. Does it feel translated? Yeah I like humor, but not the blatant ha ha jokey kind. I prefer a text that makes you smile or chuckle as you go along.

[Maude]

Chrissie, Just came back from visiting a friend. I didn't even realize it was translated until you asked. It's translated from the French. I would classify it as literate - there is a slight something that I might use the word stylized but I can't even explain to myself what that means and wouldn't even have thought about if you hadn't asked. Following is a sample:

"The Sun King was disfigured. A slow leprosy that in the Orient commonly corrupts oils had introduced itself under the varnish, where it was spreading day by day. On Louis XIV's left cheek, the one extended in majesty toward the viewer, sat a large blackish stain, a hideous star projecting its rusty brown filaments out to the king's ear. A closer inspection revealed dark haloes on the body as well, but, except for those spotting his hose, these were less unsettling." This is the first paragraph and refers to a painting. Hope this gives you an idea. There is a lot of history, humor, one unsettling experience so far, and I am quite engrossed with the story.

The humor is understated and makes you smile/chuckle. I am on page 151 of a 422 pages and I cannot promise the remaining pages won't have any horrible events - but I hope not.

[[deleted user]]

Christine wrote: "I'm going to make another attempt at A Suitable Boy, which is 1475 pages. I got to the 600 page mark last year, but set it aside. Now I have to start ..."

I'm quitting again. I made it to page 400-and-something. I. Have. Failed.

[Mona]

Christine, it's not you, it's the book that failed. You gave it 2 chances. I would have never gotten so far into it. I stopped the first time after only 100-some pages.

[Chrissie]

Maude, thanks for adding a quote! That was kind of you. Up I must move The Abyssinian up! Yeah, I could read it in French, but I am too lazy!!! I am really a bad person - I should be stretching my brain.

Concerning The Suitable Boy - I gave that up too, but many years ago. Just to many boring details .....

[[deleted user]]

Thanks, Mona. :)
I think I would have enjoyed it if the focus had been on a few of the characters, and maybe if 900 or so pages had been cut out by an editor. It still would have been a huge book that way, sheesh!

[Mona]

Christine, I think that my problem with the book was the detail as Chrissie said. There was just too much to keep track of. If this was the edited version, I don't even want to know what the original was like.

I think my brother read the whole thing. Maybe he skimmed over part of it. I just can't do that. I read word-for-word.

[[deleted user]]

Mona wrote: "Christine, I think that my problem with the book was the detail as Chrissie said. There was just too much to keep track of. If this was the edited version, I don't even want to know what the origin..."

There was one character that I wanted to read about the most, which was Lata, but her story seemed to be swallowed up by a zillion pages about the shoe makers strike, that prostitute, and a ton of other stuff. If you talk to your brother, ask him what ended up happening to Lata for me. ;)

[Mona]

Christine, As it turns out, I don't have to ask my brother. Just look up the book here on GR and go down to the reviews. There is a review by Simika Kabir that has a spoiler alert. In the 3rd paragraph, you will find your answer.

I guess you could try this in the future whenever there's a book you can't finish but still want to know what happens. :)

[Maude]

Hello Everyone, My grandson stayed all night and he gets to use the computer - he didn't go home until 1230 when my son and other grandson came and helped me do hefty yardwork and then I had a yummy ice cream cone. Chrissie, I am still enjoying The Abyssinian but feel like it's taking me so long to read it. I am on Page 239 and still have a little less than half to go. One reason may be that many of the sentences are quite long and densely packed into a page - so what in another book might be only 2 or 2-1/2 pages is, or feels like 4 pages. Do you think it would be different in the original French?

[[deleted user]]

Mona wrote: "Christine, As it turns out, I don't have to ask my brother. Just look up the book here on GR and go down to the reviews. There is a review by Simika Kabir that has a spoiler alert. In the 3rd parag..."

Thanks!!!!

[Darkpool]

Finally started Soulless, which I mooched off Lee some months ago now - thank you again :-) I'm finding it very enjoyable. It is certainly throwing my other current read - Marie Antoinette: The Journey- into sharp relief!

[Lee, Mod Mama]

Your welcome!

[Mona]

You're welcome Christine :)

[Kathy]

I picked up Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan, a book I've had for a while, and I'm reading it. It's about a missing 18-yr-old girl who is about to leave for college.

[Lisa]

Kathy wrote: "I picked up Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan, a book I've had for a while, and I'm reading it. It's about a missing 18-yr-old girl who is about to leave for college."

Now # 4116 on my infamous to-read shelf. Thanks, Kathy. I think.
;-)

[Mona]

Kathy & Lisa: premise of Songs... looked interesting so I looked it up here. Alas another addition to my TBR list.

[Kathy]

You're welcome. LOL! I will get back to you on what I think of it. Right now, about 80 pages in, it's pretty good, but I wouldn't say great. Still a lot of pages to go, though.

[[deleted user]]

Kathy wrote: "I picked up Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan, a book I've had for a while, and I'm reading it. It's about a missing 18-yr-old girl who is about to leave for college."

I read that one last year, and I liked it. I'm not sure what I rated it...I'll have to look that up.

[[deleted user]]

I'm starting The Prayer Room

[Maude]

Just finished The Abyssinian this morning and am going to start on either Cloudstreet or Antony and Cleopatra.

[Mona]

Sighhh, another one to add to the list.

There was a book that I thought I added to my list which sounded fascinating about 2 Indian girls caught up in a human trafficking ring. For the life of me, I can't remember neither the title nor the author. It's sooo frustrating.

[Dawn]

I just finished a re-read of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil -- I wanted to read it again since I was just in Savannah for vacation last month. Started reading The Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur, Touch the Dark by Karen Chance and finishing up The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques.

[[deleted user]]

I am finishing a re-read, probably tonight if I don't fall asleep, House of Sand and Fog. It came up in the course of conversation not long ago and I picked it up--definitely worth the re-read for me. Certainly not a comfort book, though.

Now, eek! I don't know what to read next! I don't have anything unread in my house that I WANT to read and I'm going out of town in a few days. I need to be finding new shoes to wear to a wedding during my lunch break tomorrow...but more than that I think need to hit the library or bookstore! Shoes, books, shoes, books...

[Mona]

Summer, I've seen the movie The House of Sand and Fog and enjoyed it.

Not having anything unread in the house is a problem I never have. My problem is just the opposite. Is that even a problem? Yes, when the reading pile is higher than the lamp switch and I have to get out of bed to turn off the light.

[[deleted user]]

Lol, Mona. I had a wonderful stack going after Christmas, but I let myself get to the bottom! I think GR is too overwhelming for me! I don't know what to pick up next! Not a bad problem to have...

[Mona]

Summer, I love being this kind of overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by housework--not so much :)

I'll be heading to the library later today and will most likely add to the pile.

[Maude]

I just came back from the bookstore where I bought The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott - another one with a pretty cover, Mona. I just finished The Abyssinian and am waiting for Chrissie to show up so I can discuss it with her. I am still reading Cloudstreet by Tim Winton (an Australian novel) for the Challenge - halfway through. Very good. Have a lovely day everyone.

[Mona]

I think I'll have to get off. Laptop's battery is dying.

[Chrissie]

Maude, I am here!!! Pls tell me about The Abyssinian!

All this talk about which book to read next. Yes , I guess I like what I am reading but it is not superlative.It is The Physician. Yes it is interesting and good and FULL of learning material BUT until now it really hasn't grabbed me. I am on page 394 of 712! It teaches, but it doesn't make you brain go off on tnagents. Now the main character is in Persia at a school that teaches medicine. He has to pretend to be a Jew! Anyhow, when this is done I must read Chef.....

[Beth]

Right now I'm reading Eating Chinese Food Naked: A Novel by Mei Ng

[Manybooks]

Chrissie wrote: "Maude, I am here!!! Pls tell me about The Abyssinian!

All this talk about which book to read next. Yes , I guess I like what I am reading but it is not superlative.It is The P..."</i>

I could also never make much headway with [book:The Physician. This should have been a total fit for me, but it never grabbed me at all (and I also was/am not crazy about the writing style).

[Mona]

Beth, the title of your book sounded interesting so I looked it up here and added it to my list. I enjoy world fiction -- especially those relating to families.

[Lisa]

I just posted in the Feedback group in the bugs folder. In this group, I can't get the add book/author link to work. Clicking on it just spits me up to the top of the page/thread.

Anyway, I'm very happy I just finished my history of food book and I'm just starting a reread for the July book selection over at my A Thrilling Term at Goodreads: The Girls' School-Story Group group:

(copying and pasting here in lieu of using the link):

Dang, the "share" link at the book isn't working either:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20...#

The Secret Language by Ursula Nordstrum.

A children's book I first read when I was 7.

[Maude]

Hi Chrissie, I just finished reading Cloudstreet by Tim Winton and it's taken me all day - still a few pages to go. When I began the Abyssinian I thought it was going to be somewhat violent given the times, and on his way to the King, there was a horrible part that the group saw. After his arrival in Abyssinian, The King told our hero, Jean-Baptistie, that he could not go back to Cairo but remain forever in Abyssinian. But within a paragraph, J-B had come up with a solution which allowed him to return. This is just one of many examples where J-P talked himself out of trouble which totally defused any tension that a reader might have and really no edge-of-your seat worries. What I finally realized after reading over half the book was that this a was a romance with elements of farce! And a very clever man he is and I very much enjoyed it. He, however, is not in a position to ask for her hand, and he must juggle a number of various political parties until true love prevails. His chosen bride is no slouch and the way she schemes to be sent to a convent (to avoid a marriage to another man) is quite original. It is very witty at times and definitely worth reading. What I didn't know until the Epilogue is that Alix (his chosen bride) and Jean-Baptiste, were real people and had four daughters. It is so full of various people and schemes, I don't want to give anything more away.

[Beth]

Mona wrote: "Beth, the title of your book sounded interesting so I looked it up here and added it to my list. I enjoy world fiction -- especially those relating to families."

I hope you like it Mona! I'm a big fan of family fiction, too!

[Chrissie]

Maude, I like memoirs and biographies! Nice that the story is based on real people. I have another question..... Would you say one reads the book for the story / the plot or for immersing oneself into a different culture, to learn about that culture. Hopefully the reader gets both! What would you say?

Gundula - what?! Have you read The Physician? It says you have it as "to-read"! Sounds like you HAVE read it........ Yes, the writing style is not terribly engaging, much more educative than engaging! I don't think I wrote a half-way review, but I did leave a comment which explains how the book is hitting me. My biggest problem is that every argument against the book can be opposed. There is nothing wrong with the book, but for me it just doesn't sparkle.

[Manybooks]

Chrissie wrote: "Maude, I like memoirs and biographies! Nice that the story is based on real people. I have another question..... Would you say one reads the book for the story / the plot or for immersing oneself i..."

I did try to read it years ago, but did not get very far at all; that's why I put it as "to-read" (I was hoping that it might have just been the mood I was in, I do want to maybe revisit it someday). I wish GR had a default shelf for books which you started and were unable to finish. I wish the book did sparkle, I need a read right now that is sparkling, fun, engaging and informative. But, I doubt that starting a new book would be a good idea today or tomorrow. Ever since I ate some cold German potato salad yesterday, I have been visiting the porcelain God every thirty minutes (sounds like a nice bout of food poisoning, even water sounds yucky, sorry, too much info, I know).

[Darkpool]

I've made "Abandoned" and "On Hiatus" shelves as alternatives to the 3 standard ones. If you click the 'make exclusive' option under the bookshelf editor then they become either-or options along with read/to read/currently reading, if that makes sense. Apologies if I'm teaching anyone to suck eggs!

Hope your nasty bug passes from your system soon, Gundula!