What are you currently reading? Showing 1,301-1,350 of 1,649

[Ann]

Vanessa wrote: " Ann has finally gotten to me and I read an Ian MacEwan book--The Comfort of Strangers. Which was extremely well-written but really strange and off-putting at the end.

Oh dear ... did I not make it clear enough just how bizarre and creepy this book is? Apologies!

[Vanessa]

Ann wrote: Oh dear ... did I not make it clear enough just how bizarre and creepy this book is? Apologies!

Haha! It's ok. I'm not bitter. I do recall you said that but I didn't pay enough attention. What I did latch onto was how short you said it was and since I'm in the middle of reading an enormous pile, that was the deciding factor. I'll have to try Atonement.

[Vanessa]

Toni wrote: Vanessa - for a real headtrip, maybe you should try reading Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier?

Thanks Toni. I never read the book but I saw the movie with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie years ago and that was creepy in a good way. I did think about it when I was reading Strangers.

[[deleted user]]

I loved Atonement and Amsterdam, Saturday was a dud for my and I loved On Chesil Beach. I think I will try Solar.

[Kat]

"Saturday" was better for me than "Atonement."

[Joel]

Kat wrote: "Interested to know your take on "The Solitude of Prime Numbers." Please report back here if you think of it."

Just finished it. I am going to try to write a full review tomorrow, but I quite liked it. It's both an easy, brief read and somewhat dense, poetic and melancholy. The two protagonists are distant and difficult but very relatable. It's also beautifully written, and certainly doesn't read like something that has been translated.

[Linda]

Started The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Finished Pope Joan - a favorite.

[Kat]

Thanks, Joel, for your post on The Solitude of Prime Numbers; consider me enticed.

[Libby]

I'm reading "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver, about Harrison Shepherd, a young man with a Mexican mother and American father. Most of the book so far takes place in Mexico. Harrison works for Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Lev Trotsky is granted asylum in Mexico to escape from Stalin. Harrison becomes Trotsky's secretary.

Could someone tell me how to make a link with the title? Thanks.

[Peg]

Above the comment box is a "add book/author" tab. Click on that and it will give you a search box to find the book. You can add the link or cover.

[Andrea]

I don't know about the link part, but this is one Kingsolver I haven't read yet. What do you think so far? My daughter is really into art and loves Frieda Kahlo. Does she play much of a part in the book?

[Kat]

I can't answer for "The Lacuna" but this wonderful novel by Meaghan Delahunt does feature Kahlo prominently:

[[deleted user]]

Peg wrote: "Above the comment box is a "add book/author" tab. Click on that and it will give you a search box to find the book. You can add the link or cover."

If the book I'm reading has multiple editions, I cannot identify the edition I'm reading from the Comments menu. Many times multiple editions can have the same or like covers. Will my goodreads friends' comments appear near the top regardless of edition?

[Dottie]

Just started The Immortal Life of Henrietta lacks by Rebecca Skloot (non-fiction) which looks fascinating.

[Melissa]

I just finished . I know The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is coming out next month, but it is going to seem like forever.

I started [image error] . I love Flavia. The experience of reading Bradley's books reminds me of reading Nancy Drew when I was a child.

I am also listening to . I listened to the first book in the series, , and I loved it so much that I immediately purchased Fool Moon. The books are narrated by James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is excellent. I actually prefer listening to him read than reading the books myself.

I love my job, but I also love spring break when I have time to read!

[Ann]

Dottie wrote: "Just started The Immortal Life of Henrietta lacks by Rebecca Skloot (non-fiction) which looks fascinating."

Dottie, it is! My book group read this and discussed last week -- it was a great discussion! Enjoy!

[Libby]

Andrea wrote: "I don't know about the link part, but this is one Kingsolver I haven't read yet. What do you think so far? My daughter is really into art and loves Frieda Kahlo. Does she play much of a part in ..."

Yes, for part of the book Kahlo plays a major role since Harrison is her confidante. He mentions her paintings but not in great detail, although some of the descriptions remind me of her paintings, like when he talks about her pet monkey.

Peg, thanks for showing me how to link the book.

The Lacuna

[Peg]

Lacuna is on my short list but my library reserves came in and a few other ones were on the shelf. So I'm starting The Imperfectionists The Imperfectionists: A Novelbut will be busy this weekend to keep me from much reading time.

Libby, you are welcome.

[Andrea]

Andrea wrote: "I don't know about the link part, but this is one Kingsolver I haven't read yet. What do you think so far? My daughter is really into art and loves Frieda Kahlo. Does she play much of a part in ..."

Looks good . . . I ordered it for my daughter. Thanks for the recommendation!

[[deleted user]]

Dottie wrote: "Just started The Immortal Life of Henrietta lacks by Rebecca Skloot (non-fiction) which looks fascinating."

It is a wonderful book. Shocking, heartbreaking, yet uplifting in a way.

[[deleted user]]

I finished THE BLACK TOWER (by Louis Bayard; narrated by Simon Vance.) The first three-quarters of the book were rather slow paced, but the last fourth of the book contained enough interesting action and plot developments for me to bounce my overall rating for this book from a "C/C+" to a "B-" Overall, I was not convinced in the author's attempts to persuade me that, perhaps, Charles was NOT the Dauphin. My husband read this in print and he was more susceptible to the idea, to which I countered that the audio may have revealed some of the writing's flaws. It's arguable either way (proven by our dinner-time discussions!) I would recommend this to people who like historical fiction or classic French literature.

I've just started listening to THE MOONLIT EARTH (by Christopher Rice; narrated by Cassandra Campbell.) This story features a 30-year-old woman who returns home after failing at her non-profit job. At her welcome home party, she is briefly reunited with her brother, a flight attendant, who soon becomes identified as a Person of Interest/Suspect in a Hong King hotel bombing. Years ago, I read The Density of Souls, CR's debut novel, and it is interesting to compare his first book with this, his most recent. Both feature themes of wealth and family bonds (something stronger that what could be merely defined as "relationships,") strong female characters and, thriller elements. Comparisons to his mother, Ann Rice, are inevitable (cf The Mayfair novels) but he is not as evocative or seductive in his descriptive prose. Nonetheless, it is holding my attention so far and it should be interesting to see if it all holds together through to the end.

[Deb]

I just finished Cutting for Stone, which was highly recommended to me not just by Books on the Nightstand, but also by my sister, who is a nurse practitioner. As with many big, sprawling books such as this, I ended up liking it after having "lived" with the characters for such a long period. I learned a lot about both Ethiopia and medicine while feeling a part of these characters lives. My book group will discuss tomorrow night--I am looking forward to hearing what others thought of this rich novel.
I am listening to Bloodroot, also on the advice of Ann and the recommendation of a friend whose book taste I share. This is a great listen so far (I'm about halfway through)--totally different type of book than I usually read/listen to, but I am finding myself looking for opportunities to listen. It is a great tale so far and the narration of the audiobook, by a group of people each representing a character, is fabulous.

[[deleted user]]

Melissa wrote: "I am also listening to [Full Moon.:] I listened to the first book in the series, [Storm Front,:] and I loved it so much that I immediately purchased Fool Moon. The books are narrated by James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is excellent. I actually prefer listening to him read than reading the books myself. "

I totally agree! I re-listened to Storm Front this year for a group discussion and then went and got Full Moon, Grave Peril and Summer Knight. I can't wait to get to them! I was also really happy to see that the "Missing" Dresden Files audiobooks, Blood Rites and Dead Beat (#6 & #7 in the series) were finally released as well as the latest, Changes (#12.)

[Kat]

Yay, Deb, glad you enjoyed the Verghese; I liked it very well.

[Vanessa]

I just finished Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom and loved it so much that I will certainly end up buying the paperback so I can keep it close to me (which sounds weird but if you've read a book like that, you know.)

I'm now reading Still Midnight which has been getting lots of good press. It's a Scottish mystery in a genre some are calling Tartan Noir, which may be the greatest genre name ever. I don't care much for the English Cozy type of mysteries-unless we're talking the Grande Dame of the form, Agatha Christie-so this book isn't like that. It's about a sharp-tongued Scottish detective who is bitter about the sexism and favoritism in her Glasgow squad. She gets involved with the investigation of a kidnapping of a Pakistani from her old neighborhood andd finds it may have ties to her criminal half-brother. Not a lot has happened so far but I love the main character and the setting.

BTW, I've read the first 3 Harry Dresden books and liked them well enough. I'm not normally an audiobook consumer but I loved Buffy so I may have to try one out just to hear James Marsden reading.

[Jenn]

I, too, just finished Cutting for Stone yesterday. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that book. It was so good it kept me up late into the night...wait, it was in the a.m. for two nights this weekend that I finally had to force myself to put it down. I also found myself thinking during my work days about what had happened or was going to happen next. The characters were great, the sweeping story, the history and all the medical details, oh so good. In my opinion, one of the best books I've ever read. Did I mention that I am in love with this book? So thankful to BOTNS & my fellow readers for the recommendations that lead to me reading this book!!!

[Kat]

Jenn, Cutting for Stone was a big hit with me, too. My husband loved it, too (he's not a reader of fiction so that's some accolade). I've found some readers are put off by the medical detail which is something I relish; also, the very sweep of the story isn't everyone's cuppa tea. But all that surely was mine!

[Linda]

Finished (I think) The Turn of the Screw. I think a second read is in order - now that I understand what was going on. Started a book for a book discussion which I have already missed, but several of my friends have read it, so…Full Dark House. It's a British mystery which bounces between now and 1939. So far, so good.

And Jenn and Kat - so glad you enjoyed Cutting for Stone which has become my urge-others-to-read-it book.

Linda

[[deleted user]]

Hi everyone, wow its been a while since I was on here.

I'm currently reading also reading slowly and the last Vampire Diaries book...

Also just finished Dark Lover, Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened. O and also Step on a Crack.

I love James Patterson, and yet again there is a wonderful twist at the end! I also like the way he brings reality into his crime novels...

[[deleted user]]

Just finished Motherless Brooklyn

This is a book I admired rather than loved. The main character, Lionel Essrog (I can't shake the feeling that his name is an anagram) is an erudite stooge of a small-time hood. Lionel must solve the mystery of the murder of his boss/father figure. Yeah, it's a murder mystery/crime story, but it's also a comedy, because Lionel has Tourette's Syndrome. Not only does he shout out rude words at inopportune times, but his utterances contain advanced wordplay, as he takes in what he hears and throws back funhouse versions thereof. A lot of hilarious stuff happens along the way, that had me laughing out loud. For example, put a tourettic protagonist in a zen meditation session: instant hijinks! And Lionel can't tell a joke without blurting out the punchline way too soon. Really, the only problem I have with the book is I wanted a little more closure. This is a book with genre trappings, so I expected more resolutions. Who is Bailey? Who were Lionel's birth parents? But maybe lack of resolution is the point. Everybody gets his or her moment to shine and the ending indicates this story was Lionel's moment, and that afterward he must sink back into the the role of the stooge, the freaky sidekick. Still, if Lionel Essrog were the star of a series of detective novels, I'd be pleased as hell. I'd snap up every one. This book came out in 1999, way before the TV series Monk. If they adapted Lionel into other media at this point, people would think it's a ripoff of Monk, but it'd be the other way around.

[Peg]

Eric wrote: "Just finished Motherless Brooklyn

This is a book I admired rather than loved. The main character, Lionel Essrog (I can't shake the feeling that his name is an anagram) is an erudite ..."

Eric, I read this one when it came out and still wish there was a sequel. I've never been able to read another of his stories, though.

[Kat]

I must admit I both admired and loved "Motherless Brooklyn." All these years later it remains in my head. A personal favorite.

[[deleted user]]

Tanya wrote: "I've just started listening to THE MOONLIT EARTH (by Christopher Rice; narrated by Cassandra Campbell.) This story features a 30-year-old woman who returns home after failing at her non-profit job. At her welcome home party, she is briefly reunited with her brother, a flight attendant, who soon becomes identified as a Person of Interest/Suspect in a Hong King hotel bombing. Years ago, I read The Density of Souls, CR's debut novel, and it is interesting to compare his first book with this, his most recent. Both feature themes of wealth and family bonds (something stronger that what could be merely defined as "relationships,") strong female characters and, thriller elements. Comparisons to his mother, Ann Rice, are inevitable (cf The Mayfair novels) but he is not as evocative or seductive in his descriptive prose. Nonetheless, it is holding my attention so far and it should be interesting to see if it all holds together through to the end. "

I finished listening to THE MOONLIT EARTH last night and was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't disappoint me in the end. Christopher Rice's characters are a veritable parade of interior exposition: a glance analyzed, choices agonized over, things not said and; often these things threaten to overwhelm the action of the story. That said, the action wills out in the end. CR's writing has clearly matured over the course of eight years and I have every reason to think that he will improve even more in novels to come.

This morning I've started listening to Tobias Wolff's OUR STORY BEGINS (narrated by Anthony Heald.) IT's a short story collection and I just finished the first short, "In the Garden of the North American Martyrs," which is about the opportunity a teacher seizes at a job interview. Love it.

[Paul]

I've just started The Girl Who Played with Fire. I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and am looking forward to Lisbeth's next adventure. Just finished The Gargoyle about which I had mixed feelings though the majority of the reviews were quite good.

[Kat]

I had mixed feelings about "Gargoyle," too. It needed to be tighter, shorter. An editor should have helped prune it.

[Paul]

Kat wrote: "I had mixed feelings about "Gargoyle," too. It needed to be tighter, shorter. An editor should have helped prune it."

I agree with your thoughts on pruning. But there were a few stylistic elements that I found irritating - notably the constant use of Marianne Engel's complete name rather than pronouns, terms of endearment, or even only first name. Any take on what the author was trying to convey?

[Kat]

No, I don't really. It was readable enough for me but only just.

[Linda]

Add my name to Motherless Brooklyn admirer list. I read it shortly after it came out. Haven't read anything else by Lethem since then, but I see he has something new out recently.

Linda

[Vanessa]

Add me to the admirer and liker lists for Motherless Brooklyn. I have to go to a noontime meeting at work sometimes and I bring a book to read until it's my turn on the agenda. I brought Motherless Brooklyn to read one day and almost laughed at loud at "Garden State Brickface and Stucco." But the book never has fun at its protagonist's expense (the main character has Tourette's.) I thought it was very original and empathetic. I definitely want to read more Lethem. I think the next book of his for me will likely be As She Climbed Across the Table

I just finished Still Midnight and liked it. The mystery is involving but the Glasgow atmosphere and characters are what really kept me reading. I hope this is the start of another series for the author, Denise Mina. I just started Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit after hearing a BBC interview recently with Jeannette Winterson and remembering how much I liked the movie.

[Kat]

As for more Lethem, Girl in Landscape, one of his earlier novels, is a treat of a different sort. Of his more recent work, I appreciated but didn't adore The Fortress of Solitude.

[Kat]

I'm another devoted fan of "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" although, truth to tell, I've not been over-the-moon with regard to most of her other books.

[Joel]

About 100 pages into Angelology and enjoying it so far. I'm a bit surprised at all the negative reviews on Goodreads, especially since it got a lot of positive press.

Also haven't seen much discussion. Are people reading this, as its presence on the bestseller lists would indicate?

[Karen]

I just started Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

[Vanessa]

Joel wrote: Also haven't seen much discussion. Are people reading this, as its presence on the bestseller lists would indicate?

According to the Guardian, angels are going to be the next big thing in fiction, replacing vampires. I'm not really into angels per se (although I did love the movie "Prophecy" with Christopher Walken) but the NYT gave the book a good review so I caved in and put Angelology on reserve at the library. It looks like it'll be many weeks before I get it so someone is reading it.

[Kat]

I'm an old vampire reader which means I haven't read any of the new stuff, nor want to. (If you want my list of best vampire novels, speak). Not into angels, in fact that word in a book title sends me straight to the liquor cabinet forthwith and with speed.

[Joel]

Kat wrote: "I'm an old vampire reader which means I haven't read any of the new stuff, nor want to. (If you want my list of best vampire novels, speak). Not into angels, in fact that word in a book title sen..."

Angelology isn't about benevolent angels helping people -- they are ancient and without morality and feel themselves superior to humanity. Not really all that different from vampires in my mind.

[Kat]

But I'm tired of vampires!

[Kim]

Well I had to try Velocity since it was recommended, and of course I'm loving it. Ann and Micheal your recommendations rarely miss for me.

[Linda]

I don't understand the fascination with vampires. I even avoided Anne Rice books when she was writing about LeStat. I'm not even sure I would make that a category for one of my 101010 reading.

Linda

[Kat]

I have enjoyed vampire lit in my time, and there are titles that are sterling of themselves (see below). This recent sunami of same, however, is regretable.

This from one who read with relish the first of the Sookie books years and years ago. That series deteriorated as almost all series do, sad to say.

Finest-Kind Vampire Lit

Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Vampire Tapestry: A Novel by Suzy McKee Charnas
Anno Dracula by Anna Newman
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
The Hunger by Whitley Strieber
Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
Cowboy and The Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance by Clark Hays et alia
Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon [variation on the theme:]