Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Let's Talk About: Your Books
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What are you reading AND what do you think?
Mod
This book was more than I expected as the story spans a few different storylines and time periods. At times I would've preferred to stay in one time period a bit longer, but it was quite clever how the writer was able to tie the different storylines together. It is a very enjoyable story of love, friendship and duty.
The last chapter is a bit of a "where are they now" kind of wrap-up which actually spoiled the book a bit for me. I prefer books that let you use your imagination to consider the character's future. However, I'm sure there are many people that disagree and like that it was all tied up in a bow
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Packer and Jack are friends brought together by shared loneliness and tragic pasts while living on the street. Despite being a debut novel, this does not read like an "amateur" author as the writing is well developed, the book character driven, and the subject matter quite serious. It is a book that makes you think about homelessness, despair, mental illness and (more positively) friendship and compassion.
I found the book quite hard to put down for the first half as I was so moved by the character's tragic pasts and hoping for something positive in their future. As the novel moves on it becomes clear there will be no fairytale ending, and that is life isn't it? We don't need a "happy ever after", we just need to be satisfied in our lives and share them with people who mean something to us.
This is what I consider a "thinking" novel and not a "just for entertainment/escape" book and I would recommend to people that enjoy slow paced, character driven novels such as Floundering
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Currently reading
for our BR. It is a good sequel so far!
This is pretty good, but the main character is very unlikeable. I am hoping he redeems himself somehow. It is a new twist on the whole "orphan saved from the orphanage" story
This is a very dense book. I am enjoying it, but I am only 50% through and (according to my kindle) still have 6 hours of reading to go. Unfortunately other books for BRs and BOMs take prescedence, so it is taking me a while to get through it.
I'm reading Guys Named Jack
I won it in the Goodreads giveaway. It's really good so far. Cool plot, funny too. Hope the ending is as good as the rest of the book.
I just finished Beautiful Ruins today, which was a lovely story. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. 4*Then, I started The Ocean at the End of the Lane today and so far, so good. It is my first Neil Gaiman book! Though, I also picked up Coraline from the library and it is currently waiting to be read.
Karen and Kristie - glad u two liked
. I enjoyed it. I thought the plastic surgery stuff was hilarious. Karen - people have different preferences. I read one lady's review recently where she complained of all the ambiguous endings and how she loved that the book she read wrapped the ending up on all the characters. I told her than she would like the ending to this book.
I'm currently halfway through
.I've read a few of these out of order (it's not really that detrimental if you don't read these books in order I think) and I have to say that they just crack me up.
I was in great need of a light read that didn't require too much thinking and these books certainly satisfy that requirement.
Mod
for our BR. It is a much better book than the first one and I am now very keen for the final book in the series, although the writer hasn't even finished it yet! :oAlso mostly through
for our BR and it is a very quick, easy read. Really fast pased and lots of action. No world building though which is unusual for dystopian and leaves you feeling a bit 'lost', but it is very enjoyable
Finally finished
which was certainly worth the time and effort. Great book.
I am still working on Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. A very dense book that is giving my brain quite the work out. It takes me awhile just to get through ten pages. The Book is multilayered and very well written. And I am enjoying the story. This is an exceptional book that I simply am unable to plow through.
Mod
I'll be interested in your thoughts at the end Lara!
@Sarah - I understand, some books take special concentration so you just have to be in the right time and place to read them! Glad you are enjoying it so far
Mod
based on a review in the newspaper a few months back. I am loving this book. It totally quirky, unique and enjoyable. It kind of reminds me in style of quirky french films like Amelie and MicMacs
Also reading
which was given to me for free in exchange for a review. I am totally surprised by this book as it is so much more than the synopsis (or the, frankly, boring title and cover) give it credit for. Based at the end of the 1800s it has the Tennessee secession as it's background and so is in parts interesting historical fiction, and in parts a funny story of a young woman who has just married and is learning to be a "good wife" while also wanting her father's murder investigated eventhough it was ruled as a suicide. Lots of layers to the story!
I am currently reading
by Julia Crane.
Mod
I am reading
tonight. I am really falling in love with the book the more I read - I think it has to do with the character development in the context of the political/economic/religious struggles in India. The story unfolds into the complex human relationships as they struggle and live and suffer and love. It is really sad and beautiful and endearing and devastating and triumphant. I am also feeling very rewarded to learn and understand some of India's history.
Mod
I am also reading
by Salman Rushdie. Both of these are exceptional books on India, historical fiction. And India has produced some amazing writers. Next I am reading
, another book partly set in India that will be dealing with sex trafficking.
Mod
I don't think I could read one on sex trafficking. I just don't cope we'll with those kinds of books
I will let you know on A Fine Balance, because I haven't finished. This one also deals with a lot of harsh realities but it comes highly recommended but people say it is sad, the writing is not intimidating, and I think it is rich with history.
I'm currently reading
and am also listening to
.I'm enjoying both so far!
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which I can understand why it is so popular. Compelling reading!
Also just started
which is a BR starting on the 9th, but I'm getting in early as I have the audio so it wil take me longer to "read"
Mod
You think I would've learnt my lesson by now. I don't care for romance novels. And I *really* don't like YA romance novels. So why oh why did I ever think I should read this? *face palm*
Well it is because, like Cinder, I get caught in the hype of everyone saying it is worth reading, and I think, "oh, sure" and give it a shot.
Well, unlike Cinder, I couldn't suffer through any more of this. 16% and I am done. When the storyline seems to be completely predictable, the characters bland, and then the main male lead is busy complaining that he is not the "provider" and she is apologising for him - urgh - I had to put that one on the "gave up" shelf.
I did really enjoy
and I have the next omnibus on reserve at the library.
I have also fallen in love with Harry Dresden after recently reading
I am now listening to the sultry tones of James Marsters narrate
Last night I started
which is my fifth, and last, John Green book for the year. I will just have to wait for him to write more now! He does geeky, smart, funny teen so well. I recommend his books to anyone that enjoys character driven YA fiction
So! A shout out to my good friend Melissa (ladybug) for picking The Butcher's Boy
for me to read in one of our TCF challenges! It's turning out to be an excellent choice!
Mod
Adult Anything Goes
and
Young Adult
Am currently reading
and it's ok i guess..and hopefully i'll soon start
.. Can someone plz tell me how it'll be?
its alright, I think Adam loves Mia a lil more than she deserves.
Currently reading Club Dead. This will be the third time I've read it...so that says something about how I feel about it.Can't wait to start reading Divergent again. I completely forget what happened in the first two books...can't read the third if I don't have a clue.
I just finished reading
. I love Duck Dynasty and I ended up really enjoying it. I don't hold the same religious convictions as the author so the last couple of chapters felt a little preachy to me but overall it was really enjoyable.
I just finished reading
. I thought it was good, but not amazing. I'll probably still read the next in the series.
Mod
I enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling - it reminded me of an Agatha Christie type mystery novel
Now I am busily trying to catch up on
for our BOM
and finish these two for our BRs
I am enjoying them all, but they are very different books!
I finished Reconstructing Amelia. I wanted to like it so much but I didn't (I almost didn't finish it and that NEVER happens). I found the writing style utterly boring, the characters felt fake, I didn't even feel for Kate (the mom) and the plot line was BAD. I'm not even sure it deserves 2 stars but I'm sure it didn't deserve that much time!
Kristie wrote: "I just finished reading . I thought it was good, but not amazing. I'll probably still read the next in the series."I feel the same way.
About half way through
. It is totally awesome!
Karen wrote: "Can you tell me the end to Under the Dome when you get there Michelle? I gave up on the TV series and the book is too big to get my interest... haha"Karen, have you ever found out how Under the Dome (tv show) ended? I'm pretty sure Stephen King said the writers of the show changed the ending. I Googled the book ending because I was curious and now I have no intentions of reading it because the ending would have made me really mad. I'll give you the gist of the book ending in spoilers:
(view spoiler)
Sarah wrote: "About half way through . It is totally awesome!"I'm reading that as soon as I finish Doctor Sleep. I've been looking forward to it for a while and need a lighter book.
Mod
For those that enjoy The Rosie Project I would also recommend An Abundance of Katherines
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Karen wrote: "For those that enjoy The Rosie Project I would also recommend An Abundance of Katherines"I'm planning to read that one next year some time. :)
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Vanessa wrote: "I finished Reconstructing Amelia. I wanted to like it so much but I didn't (I almost didn't finish it and that NEVER happens). I found the writing style utterly boring, the characters felt fake, I ..."You are not alone. I started Reconstructing Amelia a while ago and ended up putting it down after a while. The story line was interesting enough, I just think that it could have been executed in a better way. I hope that I have the urge to pick up this book again sometime in the near future, but as for now..it's on rest.
Mod
Joi - I have heard a lot about both of those books. I will be interested in your thoughts!
@Karen: it is!!!@Joi: If you ever do, please let me know your thoughts
I'm reading
,
and
.I love The Graveyard book. Pretty much everything by Gaiman is wonderful and whimsical.
Honour And The Sword is amazing. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Oliver.
I am reading The Elite. I like it so far, but America is making me mad. I feel like she is just complicated and needs to realize how dumb she is acting.
Karen & Amanda, I LOVED Beautiful Disaster, it was amazing and I enjoyed every last bit of it. Shatter Me, on the other hand, was not one of my favorites. It was a great concept, but I think I needed more action. To me, it came off as more of a romance, I want ACTION.!!!!
Mod
Joi - I couldn't even finish The Selection! Thanks for the heads up with the other ones. I will put Beautiful Disaster on my list. :)
I have picked up
a while ago from the library to help me over fall and remind me of summer, but yesterday it snowed for the first time and now I am really in the mood to read something with snow in it, on the cover or holiday themed, whatever, just snow. do you know the feeling when you pick up a book at a time and think, "goodness, this will be a great reading experience!" and then, some time later you think "goodness, i am really late on this one, i should get over with this quickly" which is not really fair to the book ... I am half through now and I have a hard time getting into it (with all the nice descriptions of how the rose bushes have little buds and burst with color, children bathing in the sea etc.). I really want it to snow, but it won't because it's a summer book. I just realized: I am a mood reader. *duh*
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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So it must be amother lode day today cause I am bringing home the following titles:
Sisterlandby Curtis Sittenfeld
The Summer Houseby Marcia Willett
The Fall of Alice K.: A Novel by Jim Heynen
The Sunshine When She's Gone by Thea Goodman
I'm hoping one of these books will have some staying power for me.