Books you are reading or recommend?

[Jamie]

Both sound good.

[Elizabeth]

Teresa wrote: "I would recommend reading books by Mary Jane Holmes. I discovered her while looking for free books on my Kindle. As soon as I start one of her books I cannot put it down."

Thanks so much for this recommendation!! I'm really looking forward to reading her work.

[Elizabeth]

I just finished Louisa May Alcott's The Inheritance, reread Jane Eyre, and have a list as long as my arm of books I'd like to finish by the end of the year. They are mostly "classics" that I've neglected, like George Eliot's Middlemarch, for example.

[Pam]

Theresa--which Holmes book to you recommend starting first?

[Elizabeth]

Pam wrote: "Theresa--which Holmes book to you recommend starting first?"

I've not read any of hers yet, but her three most well known are Tempest and Sunshine, The English Orphans, and Dora Deane. I'd check out the plots of those and see which suits you best.

[Irene]

At the moment I'm reading "The Watsons and Emma Watson" by Joan Aiken. It's a sequel of the unfinished novel by Jane Austen: The Watsons. Maybe it's not perfectly suitable for this group, but I think the sequels phenomenon is somehow related to our discussions topics.

[Gitte]

Irene Aprile wrote: "At the moment I'm reading "The Watsons and Emma Watson" by Joan Aiken. It's a sequel of the unfinished novel by Jane Austen: The Watsons. Maybe it's not perfectly suitable for this group, but I thi..."

Let us know what you think of it! I really liked The Watsons and was sad that it wasn't finished.

[Irene]

Gitte wrote: "Irene Aprile wrote: "At the moment I'm reading "The Watsons and Emma Watson" by Joan Aiken. It's a sequel of the unfinished novel by Jane Austen: The Watsons. Maybe it's not perfectly suitable for ..."

I've finished the book and I'm quite disappointed... maybe I should write about it in "books I don't recommend"...

[Gitte]

good idea! Sorry the book wasn't any good...

[Anne]

Really want to start Les Miserables, but its thickness scares me as always.

[Gaijinmama]

Hi, I haven't posted here for awhile, but I'm finally reading something that fits the time period of this group, Rip Van Winkle and Other Storiesby Washington Irving, and am really enjoying it. Irving was from New York state and his descriptions of the countryside are very similar to Connecticut, where I am from. I really wish I could be there to see the glorious fall foliage.
I definitely recommend this as a great example of American literature and a fun read.
Oh and Anne, Les Miserables is brilliant. I guarantee you won't get tired of it once you start reading.

[Listra]

Anne wrote: "Really want to start Les Miserables, but its thickness scares me as always."

It's worth the effort, I must say. It's a nice book, that has the power to make people like me a little bit more humane.

And also I will always recommend The Count of Monte Cristo. It's one of my favourites, plus Ivanhoe.

[Gaijinmama]

I agree with you about The Count of Monte Cristo. It's long, but a really good read. Never got bored for an instant reading it.

Now you've got me wanting to re-read Ivanhoe!

[Janis]

I am reading several books right now but the one that stands out above the rest is The Carlyles At Home... Amazingly entertaining, I almost did not purchase this fantastic book..just the thought of my narrow escape makes me shiver..I highly recommend it...

[Listra]

Gaijinmama wrote: "I agree with you about The Count of Monte Cristo. It's long, but a really good read. Never got bored for an instant reading it.

Now you've got me wanting to re-read Ivanhoe!"

Ivanhoe is good. I've just finished Les Mis too. Now am going to finish Two Gentlemen of Verona.

[Holly]

I'm currently reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

[[deleted user]]

I am currently readingA Room with a View I am almost finished with it, very good book. I will then start Madame Bovary which I can't wait to start. Has anyone read this any thoughts?

[Jamie]

Rebecca wrote: "I am currently readingA Room with a View I am almost finished with it, very good book. I will then start Madame Bovary which I can't wait to start. Has anyone read this any thoughts?"

I also enjoyed reading A Room with a View. I gave it fours stars along with Howard's End which is also by Forster. I also gave Madame Bovary four stars and although I didn't like any of the character I enjoyed the book. We read Madame Bovary as a side read (it is under the past side reads folder) so if you would like to share your thoughts and read the few comments we have that would be great!

[[deleted user]]

I finished A Room with a View it was good but took me so long to get through it that I couldn't give it more than 2 stars. The writing was hard for me to follow, I literally had to have a dictionary with me while reading, especially in the beginning. That has never happened to me before...I guess I learned some new words but it really slowed me down and kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about the whole book.
I just started Madame BovaryI'm only 23 pages in but so far it seems like a faster read to me...we will see.

[Nazire]

Holly wrote: "I'm currently reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens."

Holly, were you able to finish it, yet? If so, how did you like it? "A Tale of Two Cities" is my second favorite book by Dickens, next to "Bleak House". I didn't like Lucie Manette much, and Sydney Carton symbolized everything about the patriarchy and their view of women in a negative light at the time. It was a great story though. As always, characters introduced that seems irrelevant, and plot lines that seems to have nothing to do with the main, come merging in the last quarter of the novel.

[Daisy]

Just finished reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. One word: Amazing!

[Anna P.]

I am currently reading Lady Audley's Secret. It's really good! I can't believe I have never come across this author before:Mary Elizabeth Braddon . It would be fun if we could group-read another one of her books some time!

[Gitte]

Anna P. wrote: "I am currently reading Lady Audley's Secret. It's really good! I can't believe I have never come across this author before:Mary Elizabeth Braddon . It would be fun if we could group-read another on..."

I've never heard of it! It looks really good - I just added it :-)

[Joanne]

This summer, my favorite book was The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It is supposed to be one of the first mysteries! What I liked about the book was its surprises and twists and turns. It is very suspenseful and fun! It is written using several characters points of view which is another thing that makes it unique.

Joanne

[Gitte]

Joanne wrote: "This summer, my favorite book was The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It is supposed to be one of the first mysteries! What I liked about the book was its surprises and twists and turns. It is..."

Joanne, I loved this one!

[Jamie]

Gitte wrote: "Anna P. wrote: "I am currently reading Lady Audley's Secret. It's really good! I can't believe I have never come across this author before:Mary Elizabeth Braddon . It would be fun if we could group..."

This is one of my five star books so I highly suggest it!

[Jamie]

Joanne wrote: "This summer, my favorite book was The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It is supposed to be one of the first mysteries! What I liked about the book was its surprises and twists and turns. It is..."

I love reading Collins and have been wanting to read more for awhile :)

[Holly]

The Woman in White was fantastic. I can't wait to read The Moonstone!

[Jamie]

Anna P. wrote: "I am currently reading Lady Audley's Secret. It's really good! I can't believe I have never come across this author before:Mary Elizabeth Braddon . It would be fun if we could group-read another on..."

You should nominate a book of hers for a side read :) Its is always open and you only need one other person to join you. She falls under the Victorian category so we couldn't read her as a group read.

[Gitte]

Holly wrote: "The Woman in White was fantastic. I can't wait to read The Moonstone!"

I really liked the Moonstone as well!

[Livvy]

Definitely anything by Victor Hugo. I would recommend "the last day of a condemned man" or "Claude gueux" to start with, because they're a bit like a precursor to Les Mis.

[Andrew]

Just bought a copy of Treasure Island and a copy of History of a crime by Victor Hugo. Very excited read both.
Can anybody give a review of either?

[Jamie]

If you are in the mood for a children's fantasy I highly recommend The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit. I am reading this now and really enjoying this enchanting tale. The book I have also has Five Children and It which was ok but doesn't match up to The Enchanted Castle (they have something's things in common that you will notice if you read both :)).

If you want another good "story" do a little research on Edith Nesbit's real life. I'll leave you hanging there :)

[Jamie]

I finished reading The Enchanted Castle. Here is a link to my new blog:

http://lealoulife.blogspot.com/2014/1...

If you notice any errors (I need to brush up on some thing's) let me know!

[Jamie]

I just started East Lynne by Mrs. Henry Wood (Ellen Wood) which was one of the popular sensation novels in its time. I know this is our side read but I didn't know that East Lynne is compared to the likes of Wilkie Collins' The Moon Stone and Woman in White and Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret! The Woman in White and Lady Audley's Secret are two of my all time favorite books. I hope this gets added to my favorites list!

[Gitte]

Jamie wrote: "I finished reading The Enchanted Castle. Here is a link to my new blog:

http://lealoulife.blogspot.com/2014/1...

If you notice any errors (I need to brush ..."

It's so cool that you've started a blog, Jamie!

[Feliks]

my rec's

Black Mischief - Waugh
A Handful of Dust - Waugh
Ashenden - Maugham
How Green Was My Valley - Lewellyn
The Rescue - Conrad
The Sea and the Jungle - Tomlinson
Imaginary Conversations - Landor
Eminent Victorians - Strachey

[Benja]

I'm reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. I only recommend the first few stories though, say 4 or 5/10. The remainder are a drag.

[Diane]

I'm reading The Book of Lost Things and so far, I recommend it. It's fantasy which I normally don't care for, but this is very good. It has serious moments, sad moments, and lots of fun times.

[Jamie]

Gitte wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I finished reading The Enchanted Castle. Here is a link to my new blog:

http://lealoulife.blogspot.com/2014/1...

If you notice any errors (I..."

Thank you! It will be a mix of stuff: books, fashion (new and vintage), natural beauty and health and the occasional events around my city.

[Jamie]

Feliks wrote: "my rec's

Black Mischief - Waugh
A Handful of Dust - Waugh
Ashenden - Maugham
How Green Was My Valley - Lewellyn
The Rescue - Conr..."

Thanks for the recommendations! I will have to check these out. Most are new to me so that is good!

[Jamie]

Diane wrote: "I'm reading The Book of Lost Things and so far, I recommend it. It's fantasy which I normally don't care for, but this is very good. It has serious moments, sad moments, and lots of fu..."

Thanks for recommending this because I love fantasy books as well!

[Feliks]

'Magic Toyshop' then, for you

as well as 'Gormenghast'

[Jamie]

Benja wrote: "I'm reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. I only recommend the first few stories though, say 4 or 5/10. The remainder are a drag."

I've never heard of this before so I will check it out :)

[Benja]

Jamie wrote: "Benja wrote: "I'm reading The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers. I only recommend the first few stories though, say 4 or 5/10. The remainder are a drag."

I've never heard of this before so I wi..."

It's somewhere between Poe and Lovecraft, both chronologically and thematically.

[Kaycie]

Jamie wrote: "Books I have read qualifying for this group and the number of stars I gave them:

..."

The Awakening is one of my favorite books. I must admit, I am southern and went to a boarding school where young girls were in charge on cooking, cleaning, watching the children, and had no privacy, even in letter writing, while the boys...I don't think they really did much more than mow the lawn and play soccer. But hey, I can hold a traditional tea party properly! Perhaps, it's that part of my life that makes me love this book so much, but it's still a great, short book.

[Andrew]

H.P. Lovecraft. He may be more appropriate for another kind of group, but falls safely within our time period. Writes 'weird fiction,' mistakenly labeled horror, and creates a whole mythology throughout his works that is elaborate and plausible.

[Andrea]

My recommendations for y'all:
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave It's a quick read, but most importantly, it discusses a sensative subject even to this day.
Madame Bovary Not a huge fan, but I know people who are. The plot isn't interesting to me (sorry to those who love it!), but I would still recommend it if you are interested in the lives of the French middle class during the late nineteenth century.
Les Misérables I would die if we read this book! It's simply (or rather not, because the book is almost 1200 pages) amazing. What more can I say? Most people who say they hate it only hate it because the movie and musical are so popular. Finishing the book was such a feat, you'll feel proud of yourself when you complete it.
Brave New World Published in 1932, this book isn't like the rest of this list, but I would still recommend it. Many people say its similar to George Orwell's 1984, but whereas Nineteen Eighty-four is more political, Brave New World is more scientific. It discusses a world that thrives on the new sciences of the 20th century – including psychology – as well as new technology Huxley fears (and many of which are now used today). Loved, loved, loved.
Walden I've got nothing to say, except essential for understanding the new American literary tradition that we know today. It isn't a real page-turner, and a lot of what Thoreau says are paradoxes, but still vital nonetheless.
Anna Karenina Always, always, always. One of those books you just have to read in your lifetime, and one of those books you have to read because, believe it or not, a lot of others have read it, and some people might make a reference to the ill-fated heroine. Plus, Kitty and Levin are adorable (See Part 4, Chapter XIII).

[Feliks]

I'm just finishing Lytton Strachey's 'Eminent Victorians' and very much enjoyed it. Turned out to be a fun treat. I still don't see where he punctured the reputations of these four individuals though. They still seem to shine after his 'attacks' on them.

[Isabel]

I just finished Jane Eyre, and absolutely adored it :)