What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed* Showing 7,151-7,200 of 13,523

[Johanna]

Pender wrote: "I just bought this western. (It's been called cowboy noir). It's got good reviews and a Governor General award, but it was the cover that caught my interest.
"

That cover IS wonderful!!! No wonder you had to buy it! :)

[Pender]

Johanna wrote: "That cover IS wonderful!!! No wonder you had to buy it! :)"

I know! It's brilliant.

[Sara]

Pender wrote: "I just bought this western. (It's been called cowboy noir). It's got good reviews and a Governor General award, but it was the cover that caught my interest.
"

I can see why. It's fantastic!

I've read and I'm just finishing seeing as it was recommended to me. A fabulous read, and why can't I find Hell Cop 3? *g*

[Cleon Lee]

Hambel wrote: "Pender wrote: "I just bought this western. (It's been called cowboy noir). It's got good reviews and a Governor General award, but it was the cover that caught my interest.
[bookcover:The Sisters ..."

You need to bug Nicole, Ginn, and Astrid for Hell Cop 3. :)

[Sara]

Cleon wrote: "You need to bug Nicole, Ginn, and Astrid for Hell Cop 3. :)"

Maybe I will! Do you think they'd do it if I asked nicely? :D

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

I'm still reading the Charioteer. It's not a book that I am able to read at my usual fast pace for many reasons: the language is a bit more complicated that what I'm used to and I have to research a few things for reference; there are paragraphs, lines, that I find myself literally contemplating, I read and re-read them because I think Renault is the master of the unsaid and they're just beautiful, or so effective that I keep feeling that pang of something even if it's the 10th time I'm re-reading it; there's something I don't know and I can't grasp and it almost makes me dizzy with worry and ... and longing maybe? And also I like something of all the characters, but at the same time I don't want to get too close to any of them. I know it's crazy to be so worked up about a book, but it's what I'm feeling.

Well, I think I stared at these two lines of dialog between Ralph and Laurie for ten minutes on Saturday and for ten minutes again today before resuming my read:

"What do you know?"
"I know about myself."

I spin them around and around in my head, I can't even explain why I'm so impressed.

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Doing 2 years of taxes? Are you kidding? Other peoples' maybe? Are you--or were you an accountant? Okay. At this moment I feel stupid coming over me. It's a feeling I'm fairly familiar with so, I'm pretty sure...What are you doing again?
..."

No. Stupid is what came over me. I had an extension for 2010 and up until 2010 it's never really been an issue if I lingered until the following year because we always got refunds. Plus the paperwork just wasn't that complicated. But now with all these different publishers and self-publishing and the fact that my life in general is a disorganized mess...UGH.

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Nevermind; I have something else. Japanese internment--Have you seen King Rat? The book was one thing, but the author seemed to maintain a careful distance. The movie, was terrific. There is an unmistakable plutonic but powerful love marriage that occurs between the two main characters, Pete and the King. I still love that movie. If you haven't seen, be sure to.
..."

I will definitely check that out. In thhis sequel it's internment of the Japanese. It's such a daunting subject.

[Josh]

Candice wrote: "Am almost finished w/The Irregulars. Was that worth the price or what? I haven't enjoyed a collection that good since I don't know when.
..."

I'm so glad you said that! I'm so happy there are still people buying and loving print -- it's such a big fat beautiful book.

And I think bundling the ebook and print was such a great idea!

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "I read it in college and for me it really was a life changing book"

I believe the books we read when young are the ones with the greatest impact. I am not sure if I can pinpoint boo..."

I don't think it's possible to go far off topic in a general reading thread.

[Josh]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Please tell me when I've completely bored you, thank you :D ..."

I don't see that happening any time soon.

Which edition are you reading? Renault went back and editing the book later -- edited out some of the Ralph and Laurie bits too (little things but still some of my favorites).

[Josh]

Reggie wrote: "SOS-- I need some help!
I'm taking a warm&Cozy home birthing class this weekend (I know {shudder shudder}), but I'm supposed to bring some "inspirational poetry" to the class for sharing on Sunday..."

Go for Sara Teasdale. "Barter" is lovely.

[Josh]

Barter



Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up,
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like the curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.


Sara Teasdale

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Josh wrote: "Which edition are you reading? Renault went back and editing the book later -- edited out some of the Ralph and Laurie bits too (little things but still some of my favorites)."

First Vintage Books Edition, May 2003 - copyright 1959.

When authors edit out, I get crazy, lol

[Antonella]

This made me cry. But I forgive you: I cried because it is so beautiful and deep.

[Antonella]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "First Vintage Books Edition, May 2003 - copyright 1959."

I've got the same.

[Anne]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I'm still reading the Charioteer. It's not a book that I am able to read at my usual fast pace for many reasons: the language is a bit more complicated that what I'm used to and I have to research ..."

You describe my thoughts so well, Manu, I also had this feeling I had to read very carefully so not to lose anything if I went too fast or didn't pay attention, and I had to stop and think and read again.

I read the Vintage edition May 2003 as well.

[Christopher]

In a complete shift from m/m I'm re-reading S.M. Stirling's 'Domination of the Draka' series.

It's rather disturbing, but utterly engrossing, dystopian sci-fi/alternate history.

The background to the world he writes in is basically alternate history. Basically, a small change in colonial history in the 1700s results in a snowball effect, starting small but ending in a completely different history of the world.

By the 1990s the world is divided into the 'Alliance for Democracy' (consisting of North and South America, the UK, Australia, Japan) and the Domination of the Draka (all the rest of the world).

The Alliance is recognisable as a culture and society similar to our own, although far more militarily focused (think the Cold War times ten).

The Domination is in many ways similar to what Nazi Germany hoped to create (a master race ruling over serfs and slaves).

Both societies are significantly more technologically advanced than our world owing to an earlier industrialisaion in the 19th century.

It's a scary read. It starts in the 1940s as the Domination invades and subjugates Europe and continues through to the 1990s as the Final War erupts. There's also sequel set in our own timeline.

It's one of the most compelling and most disturbing series I've ever read. It really makes you think about what underpins Western civilisation. Since the 'Enlightenment' we could have gone in a number of different directions based on what our political philosophers theorised - liberal democracy and individual liberty is what we've ended up with of course, but we've also flirted with other ideologies...facsism and communism for example. S.M. Stirling creates a world in which the offshoots of Western political philosophy fell on much more fertile soil than Germany or Russia.

[John]

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I'm still reading the Charioteer. ... there are paragraphs, lines, that I find myself literally contemplating, I read and re-read them because I think Renault is the master of the unsaid and they're just beautiful ..."

This is why The Charioteer is a perennial re-read for me. I'm like a dog with a bone about it; one of those books that's better read as slowly as I can manage. Even after twenty years there are still new things to discover. The 1953 (UK Version) was quite a revelation when I first came across it - not as tight as the American edition - but a wealth of fresh little details there.

[Candice]

Anne wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Anne wrote: "Sorry, this is probably major off topic."

No no no, it's probably closer to "What have you read?" but it inspires book reading as the rest of the thr..."

Ah! So, did I. It's been so long since I read Charioteer and her Alexander books, that I forgot that she does that. You have to stop and re-read and think, but it's all there to plum out. I think she was wonderful.

[Candice]

Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "Doing 2 years of taxes? Are you kidding? Other peoples' maybe? Are you--or were you an accountant? Okay. At this moment I feel stupid coming over me. It's a feeling I'm fairly famil..."

Oh, my gosh, that must be AWFUL. I never even thought of what that must involve. I swear by the one job and getting to do the EZ every year. Every April, that's my idea of success.

[Candice]

Josh wrote: "So I was pleasantly surprised reading Marshall Thornton's He's got a nice little Hansen vibe going on. Not in his style, though his style is very readable -- clean,..."

Thank you! for the rec. I'm just finishing Desert Run and can't wait to read the detective series. It's such a charge when you start a book and you've only read maybe 20 pages before you know you're going to love it. That's what this was like. THis is my kind of writer. Thanks again.

[Johanna]

I'm having a spring break and I'm planning to treat myself at least with these: Irregulars, Storm Front and The Starving Years. :)

[Johanna]

Oh, I forgot to include the cover of The Starving Years. I think it's pretty cool:

[Anne]

In addition to buying and reading some of my favorite not m/m authors (I have Rob Thurman, Patricia Briggs and Jack Kerley on autobuy) I have fallen under the spell of Andrea Speed and read all her Infected books. Very dark, a interesting twist to the shifter tropes, and as snarky as you could only wish for :)Interesting comments on contemporary America as well, which makes it even better in my eyes.

And of course, I bought the last Kaje Harper too, another autobuy.

Seems like I have to put on my list as well :)

[Sarah]

I'm a fan of the Infected series too - I think your description sums them up beautifully :)

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: " I have fallen under the spell of Andrea Speed and read all her Infected books. Very dark, a interesting twist to the shifter tropes, and as snarky as you could only wish for :)Interesting comments on contemporary America as well, which makes it even better in my eyes."

Well, that's another series that has been in my TBR list for ages. I've only heard good things about it, too. Thanks, Anne, for reminding me about it! :)

[Anne]

Johanna wrote: "Anne wrote: " I have fallen under the spell of Andrea Speed and read all her Infected books. Very dark, a interesting twist to the shifter tropes, and as snarky as you could only w..."

At least with this group it seems we will never run out of good books :)

[Antonella]

Johanna wrote: "Oh, I forgot to include the cover of The Starving Years. I think it's pretty cool:

"

I suspect here goes one of my good resolutions for Lent: not buying anymore new books till I reduced the TBR mountain...

In fact I had already seen yesterday another tempting book, this one:
average 4,39 stars, with a glowing review by Val Kovalin.

[Jordan]

Anne wrote: "I just finished Annabel which is not a romance or m/m but a wonderful and beautifully written book about gender and identity. Absolutely recommended."

OMG, I just saw that book for the first time the other day. It looked fabulous. Love the cover.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Antonella wrote: "I suspect here goes one of my good resolutions for Lent: not buying anymore new books till I reduced the TBR mountain..."

I bet you can hear me laugh in Switzerland!

[Antonella]

Come on, you live in Northern Italy, of course I can hear you! ;-)

[Sara]

Antonella wrote: "I suspect here goes one of my good resolutions for Lent: not buying anymore new books till I reduced the TBR mountain..."

I don't see how that could be considered a good resolution. Unless you were reading more in an effort to get the mountain reduced quickly. :D

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Hambel wrote: "Antonella wrote: "I suspect here goes one of my good resolutions for Lent: not buying anymore new books till I reduced the TBR mountain..."

I don't see how that could be considered a good resolution..."

You're right! It's bad for the economy :D

[Antonella]

Hambel wrote: "I don't see how that could be considered a good resolution..."

Well, if you've got the house full of quality books on paper and quite a few ebooks on your computer, at some time it would be rational to keep reading what you already got than to behave like a child in a candy shop ;-).

[Sara]

Emanuela said: "You're right! It's bad for the economy :D"

Absolutely! We must all do our bit.

[Sara]

Antonella wrote: "Hambel wrote: "I don't see how that could be considered a good resolution..."

Well, if you've got the house full of quality books on paper and quite a few ebooks on your computer, at some time it ..."

Oh, you and your logic ;)

[Antonella]

Hambel wrote: "Oh, you and your logic ;) "

Apparently my logic doesn't work even with myself!

[Sara]

Antonella wrote: "Hambel wrote: "Oh, you and your logic ;) "

Apparently my logic doesn't work even with myself!"

:D

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I'm still reading the Charioteer. It's not a book that I am able to read at my usual fast pace for many reasons: the language is a bit more complicated that what I'm..."

I believe the unedited edition is the British Pantheon 195...something. I can't get to mine right now because my library is literally impenetrable with books and boxes.

[Anne]

Peyrac wrote: "Currently , and "

Looks like some very thought provoking non-fiction you have here.

[K.Z.]

I'm just finishing up . This, combined with a "Hoarders" episode I saw on TV last night, prompted me to write a blog post on over-zealous book collecting (something I could easily, at one time, have fallen prey to!) Here's the post: http://kzsnow.blogspot.com/2012/03/bo...

[Ginn]

Hambel wrote: "Cleon wrote: "You need to bug Nicole, Ginn, and Astrid for Hell Cop 3. :)"

Maybe I will! Do you think they'd do it if I asked nicely? :D"

They might.
Astrid is the one you want to hound--er-- I mean ask nicely. Once she's on a project it tends to get done!

[Anne]

K.Z. wrote: "I'm just finishing up . This, combined with a "Hoarders" episode I..."

I thank my Kindle for saving me from such a fate :)

[Jordan]

Yup, the Kindle (and othe ereaders too) will help with that. Otherwise, eventually, I would be a hoarder. But not to the nth degree like some people. If there's a book I'm not going to ever read or I don't like, I won't keep it. I'm doing my best to get rid of such print books sitting on my coffee table. It makes me feel good to clean house every now and then.

[Sara]

Ginn wrote: "They might.
Astrid is the one you want to hound--er-- I mean ask nicely. Once she's on a project it tends to get done!"

Ah, does that mean you have some ideas already? I wouldn't hound anyone about writing, but I'm not above begging if it's a deal-clincher.

I'll be off to hunt down find Astrid. Thank you :)

[Anne]

Jordan wrote: "Yup, the Kindle (and othe ereaders too) will help with that. Otherwise, eventually, I would be a hoarder. But not to the nth degree like some people. If there's a book I'm not going to ever read or..."

I have difficulties getting rid of books. I have thrown out a couple that was so bad I got sick looking at them (it's true), all the others I still have, exept for those that have been lent out and not returned.. Obviously my flat isn't big enough to hold 40 years worth of book hoarding, so a lot of them are in boxes in the basement where they will stay until next time I move. Then I will throw them out, probably, maybe.

I sometimes believe I have dragon blood and books are my Hoard. :)

[Antonella]

Anne wrote: "I have difficulties getting rid of books."

I strongly suspect you are not alone, my dear! ;-)

[K.Z.]

One of the most painful episodes of my life came when I was moving from one part of the state to another and knew I couldn't take all my books with me. I couldn't find anybody who wanted them, including the local library (many were "undesirable" texts, like literary criticism and philosophy), so I had little choice but to burn them.

It was a horror to me, right out of Fahrenheit 451. I cried and cried.

[Jordan]

It's not easy. Not easy at all. I sit on books for years with good intentions of reading them. And even when I donate them, I'm still thinking about how much I would still like to read them someday. But I have to face reality and know that day will never come.