What Are You Currently Reading?

[Shea]

I haven't heard of it either. What is it about. I feel that way about "Love in the Time of Cholera." It is on my to read list but it seems that everyone else has already read it.

[Santina]

I haven't read that one either, but that is on my to read list.

I am more cautious now about books "everyone" has read. I hated Atonement so much I want to burn it. I also hate Pride and Prejudice and that's hard to admit, so I try not to get my hopes too high on books everyone loves.

[Sherry]

Vanessa,I've picked up Bel Canto a couple of times and perusde the book but never bought though I was tempted.I'd be very interestd in knowing your thoughts when you're done.

[Stacie]

I have to say that I have read it and really liked it. I thought it was very well-written.

[Santina]

I'm so distracted lately I'm finding it really hard to read. TV has gotten more of my attention this past week.

I did just start my friend's book Sporadic Memories. Only read 30 pages or so, but it's very different from anything I've ever read. It switches from poetry to fiction style, but in a way that you don't really notice it. She doesn't distinguish between the sex of the character and her/her lost love, so you don't know who is talking. The character talks about their lost love and explains how their energy and spirits were connected. It's cool, because it's about love, but not the way I'm used to reading about it, there is no lust, just pure love.

It's definitely different, and easy to read. I can't wait to finish it to tell you what I think about it as a whole.

At rate I'm reading that might take a while...lol.

[Sherry]

I finished Girl Interrupted this morning and will continue on book four of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King,though I may take a detour and read Orwell's Animal Farm first.I found it on my son's bookcase yesterday and it's been calling to me since then.

[Santina]

Sherry was the movie close to it? I haven't read the book, but I did like the movie.

[Sherry]

Not at all!In the book there really isn't a sequence of events or a plot.The characters are barely recognizeable other than their names.

But the author gives an explanation of mental illness that I found both fascinating and instructive.

It was a good book and really nothing at all like the movie.It's interesting to read the reviews on GRs because it's obvious when someone has lifted the "plot"for the book from the movie. *LOl*

[Carrie]

Animal Farm is a great book. Though book 4 of the Gunslinger series was the best one.... Tough call.

[Sherry]

I think I'll go with Animal Farm.It'll give me a sense of accomplishment to read a book in a day even if it's such a short one.

So the 4th book is better?I've been finding it kind of challenging to sustain my interest.

[Santina]

LOL..Thanks Sherry...Another book to add to my to read list. I haven't read anything though in days, it's just a struggle, I don't know what's come over me. I am on vacation next week, so I'm hoping to relax in the evenings and read a little.

[Shea]

Santina,
It is pregnancy brain. All the blood is going to your uterus and not leaving enough for your brain. I could never concentrate when I was pregnant and this was always my excuse.

[Santina]

I was thinking that...LOL. It must be true I've been forgetting a lot too.

[Sherry]

I remember being so tired all the time!Come to think of it that feeling of being tired never quite went away!

[Mona]

Shea, I will be sure to let you know what I think of The Time Traveler's Wife... I just started it and it's good so far. I love the whole theme... I am sure to like it. I look forward to talking about it with you! :)

[Sera]

Recently, I couldn't read for weeks because of preganancy brain confusion. However, I am back on track. I usually only read one book at a time, but I am trying to see if I can raise it to two - one fiction and one non-fiction. My current fiction books is Age of Innocence and my non-fiction book is The Flight of the Romanovs. So far both are very good. I haven't read Edith Wharton since college, and I am enjoying her description of old NY society and its inhabitants. I am also an avid reader of anything related to the Romanvos, in particular, Nicholas II and his family. This book goes back to Alexander II and starts the Romanov family history from there.

[Sera]

I really enjoyed many of the books that you are all currently reading. Intensity by Koontz is excellent if you haven't read it. I loved The Time Traveler's Wife, which really surprised me, because the subject matter is not really my cup of tea, and I can't wait to start reading the Outlander series. It because of GR that I will now give this book a chance.

[Sherry]

I hope you enjoy The Outlander.It's one of my faves.

[Shea]

I finally finished "A Winter Marriage." I had read several light books in the meantime (Christina Dodd and Suzanne Brockmann). I did not enjoy it. I never did like the characters. I didn't find them to have many redeeming qualities or show any personality growth. In the end I was disappointed that I had spent all this time with these people. I enjoyed the author's descriptions of the nature and weather of Ireland but that was about it. Now I am going to start "The Fourth Hand." It is another book I have picked up at the hospital gift shop...we'll see where this one leads me.

[Suzanne]

I finished The Time Traveler's Wife a couple weeks ago and I loved it! I would recommend it to anyone! It's not something I would have normally picked up but GR has definitely given me some new insights. My next book is the Boleyn Inheritance. I haven't read any of the Outlander series but now I eager to start those as well!

[Shea]

The boys and I finished the Chronicles of Narnia and we really enjoyed them all. We read Charlotte's Web and the boys liked that. We just finished Stuart Little and the boys were very disappointed because they did not like the way it just ended. My oldest said "What? That's it?" and my youngest said "How will we ever know if he finds Margalo?" Now we have started the Trumpet of the Swan and we will see. I think after that we will start Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

I am now reading "The Fourth Hand" by John Irving. Has anyone read it? So far it is pretty entertaining, if a little on the strange side. I have not read anything by him before but I had seen the movie "The Cider House Rules" which is based on a book that he wrote.

[Sera]

Shea, I am in the minority of people who cannot for the life of me get into John Irving. I absolutely hated A Prayer for Owen Meany. I know, I know, people want to shoot me for that, but I just found the whole storyline to be horrible. I might try another down the road, but likely not for awhile.

Please tell me that the pregnancy brain and fatigue will dissipate my 4th month. I can't get anything done!

[Sera]

Oh, one more thing - I absolutely loved Trumpet of the Swan as a child. It was one of my favorites. I hope that your kids like it, too, Shea.

[Shea]

I didn't find that the pregnancy brain ever got any better. Then after birth it was sleep deprivation. I don't want to scare you but I have only felt "back to normal" in the last couple of years (which means once my youngest hit 3). For me, the physical fatigue was definitely much less after I got out of the first trimester. Then I felt really good until the last couple of weeks before delivery. After the kids were born it was always more mental fatigue than physical-still is (-:

[Sera]

Believe it or not, Shea, you have made me feel better. I'm much better with the mental than the physical aspects, except for my hormonal swings, which I can't control. I know that my husband is trying very hard not to call me crazy, as I go from depression to giddiness and back again.

[Mona]

I finished The Friday Night Knitting Club and am into The Time Traveler's Wife. I liked The Friday Night Knitting Club... it was a great story of a group of friends who really need each other. It was a quick read too. Now, I am really enjoying Time Traveler's Wife... what a fun story! I haven't finished it yet, but when I do, I can't wait to talk about it with those who have read it! :)

[Santina]

I have that sitting on my shelf Mona. I can't finish the 2 I started. I might not be able to read again until April...lol.

[Sherry]

Mona,I believe you have your knitting retreat coming up next month,right?Did you read the book in anticipation of that?

I'm still slogging through book 4 of the Gunslinger trilogy.I think that this has been to much of Stephen King for me and it feels like it's taking FOREVER!!!I received my QPC books in the mail yesterday and I'm just itching to read one of the Irene Nimirovsky books I ordered.I think I need to read something from a woman next.

I still have 300 pages in the King novel to go though and I haven't had to roll my eyes at all so it dooesn't fit the criteria for not finishing a book. :(

[Santina]

LOL...I love that Sherry, you haven't rolled your eyes at all.

[Sherry]

Hey,I realized I only have 200 pages to go. Yippee!!He sure likes to go on though!

[Mandy]

I am reading The Tao of Pooh. Then I am off to a chick-lit book. LOL I have to mix it up.

[Santina]

How are you doing Sherry, have you managed those late 200 pages?

How is the Tao of Pooh Mandy, I've always thought about reading that, but I always find something else I want instead.

[Mandy]

This is my second attempt to read it. So far it's cutesy. It's like teaching Taoism to a child. Or that's what I am getting out of it. Last time I put it down and forgot about it. This time...I refuse. I will let you know what I think.

[Sherry]

Well I pretty much stayed off of GRs all of Thursday so I could finish book 4 and finish it I did!Woohoo!I was so glad to have finally been done though I will say that for those last couple of hundred pages it's pace and storyline greatly improved.I'm not sorry I read it but I need a break just the same.I think I read to much King at one time.
I started A Fire In The Blood by Irene Nemirovsky yesterday and finished it this morning.A beautiful little book that artfully and without judgement examines the idea of age,young and old and the differences with both.
The author was inspired in the writing of this book by reading Proust's Within A Budding Grove and a visit to a village in france that she later moved to.Beautiful prose and an interesting plot as well as an interesting view into village life in France during the period of time before the 2 world war.

I haven't decided whether to read Suite Francaise by the same author,Tom Sawyer,which I had already started or one of the group reads for TNBBC.Decisions,decisions!!!

[Sera]

I just finished Age of Innocence, which I loved. I'm going to start Love Walked In this weekend.

Happy reading!

[Shea]

Hi Sera, I read "Loved Walked In" and enjoyed it. Let me know what you think.

[Sera]

Will do, Shea. Have you also read the sequel Belong to Me?

[Mandy]

Did not like The Tao of Pooh at all. I am now going to read Swapping Lives by Jane Green.

[Sherry]

Santina don't hate me but I stared Atonement today and so far I'm loving it.I think it helped that I watched the movie first.

[Santina]

LOL...Sherry the fact that I hate Pride and Prejudice would make an aweful lot of people hate me...so I can't say anything about anyone liking Atonement...I'm glad you are getting more joy out of it than I did.

[Shea]

Sera,
I haven't read the sequel. I will add it to me "to read" list. Thanks.

[Sera]

Shea, I'm over halfway through LWI, and I am absolutely loving it.

[Mona]

Hi everyone!

No, Sherry, I didn't have a knitting retreat. But, you know, that sure sounds nice right now! :) Friday Night Knitting Club is good! If you have a chance to read it, it's a quick one.

I also just finished reading Time Traveler's Wife. WOW! It was great! Can't wait to talk to anyone who has read it! :)

I am now reading The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine for my book club. I am going to pick it up at the library today.

I have been reading Love Walked In too. I also got the sequel. It's a good book so far!

[Sera]

I finished LWI and thought that it was pretty good. The sequel is supposed to be better so I am looking forward to it.

[Shea]

Mona,
I am up for Time Traveler's Wife discussions (although it has been a while since I read it so I may need to refresh my memory.)

Mona and Sera,
I got an email while I was on vacation that my copy of the LWI sequel (Belong to Me) has arrived. I will pick it up on Tuesday and will hopefully start it soon after.

[Suzanne]

I would love to be in on the discussion of the Time Traveller's Wife!

[Mona]

Did you guys like the book? What did you think of Henry and Clare's relationship? I kept thinking about Clare and how her whole life was about waiting and waiting for those she loved. Oh, so much to say! :)

I look forward to talking about it with you guys and seeing what you think about the book.

Should we talk about the book here in this thread or should we make another? Not sure what would be easier? What do you think?

It's a good book for those who have yet to read it!

[Shea]

Mona,
I am not exactly sure how things work but it seems like maybe it should be another thread. Maybe Santina or Sherry can let us know how it should be done. I will wait 'til we hear before I post more about the book.

[Santina]

Hi guys,

Yes I think we can start a topic group of books we've read and discuss them there. That way if anyone hasn't read the book they don't have to read any spoilers.

[Sera]

Yay! TTTW - I loved that book so much, and I can't wait to discuss it here.

I'm about halfway through Blindness, a recommendation from another club. It is horrifying, but completely gripping. I'm off to read it now :)