What I'm Reading - March

[Sherry, Doyenne]

I'm still reading Doctor Zhivago and I'm also reading our own Peggy Ramsey's Legerdemain.

[Sheila]

I've just started listening to Secret Son by Laila Lalami I've been wanting to read it ever since it got longlisted for the Orange

[Aloha]

Finished The Painted Bird. I'd say it's a book that's a definition of existentialism, of continuing to live and exist, of trying to find meaning even amidst seemingly meaningless and chaotic events and tragedies. I'll write a review of it as soon a I process it. There's a lot to talk about in this book. Pretty intense.

I'm starting The Blade Itself. Fantasy Aficionado's March epic fantasy read. This should be a nice, fun contrast to the last book.

[John]

Rebecca -- I just finished listening the first Bridget Jones for the second time, finding it as funny as ever. The sequel I found too far-fetched (Thai prison and all).

[Flora]

I'm just over 2/3 of the way thru The Oracle of Stamboul and half way thru Clockwork Angel and am really enjoying both of these.

[Karen M]

Started Under the Tuscan Sun today and have read about 1/4 of it. Also still reading Murder at the Falls.

[Ruth]

I loved Tuscan Sun. And it almost made Sherry and me run off to Italy.

[Karen M]

Ruth wrote: "I loved Tuscan Sun. And it almost made Sherry and me run off to Italy."

The book is quite different from the movie, which certainly made me want to see Tuscany, but is still very good. I'm enjoying it.

[Ruth]

I haven't seen the movie.

[Ruthbie]

Three books on the go right now:

The Hammer of Eden
The Passage
Different Seasons

[Marialyce]

Going to start Life today.

[Marjorie]

John wrote, "I came home with Long Way Home and Whisky, Kilts, and the Loch Ness Monster: Traveling through Scotland with Boswell and Johnson. They really must stop publishing interesting-seeming books until I've caught up somewhat!"

Now you've done it, John! -- added two more to my already bloated TBR list. I really enjoyed a few years ago reading BOSWELL'S PRESUMPTUOUS TASK; THE MAKING OF THE LIFE OF DR. JOHNSON by Adam Sisman. And I loved my re-read last year of Steinbeck's TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY.

Marge

[Brian]

I'm readingLet the Great World Spin and Terrible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s.

Marialyce, I saw your comment about "Let the Great World Spin" being a book that you almost set aside, but were glad that you kept reading. I'm having the same reaction.

[Marialyce]

I do hope you will think the same, Brain, as you continue.

[John]

Marge:

I couldn't pass them up as "historical footsteps" (re-tracing routes and such) is one of my favorite genres!

[Ruth]

Marialyce wrote: "Going to start Life today."

Hee. Well, it's never too late.

[Marialyce]

Oh true! :) I guess it is about time right?

[[deleted user]]

Going to read The Three Musketeers once I find it at the library (or just sit in Borders and read it like a little sneak). I've seen all the Disney movies and then some, but I've never actually read the story.

[Flora]

I just finished The Oracle of Stamboul and thought that it was a wonderful story. I hated to see it end.

I'm over 2/3 done with Clockwork Angel and still really liking this one too.

[Ruth]

I just finished the audiobook Imperfect Birds Not stellar writing, but the depiction of an out-of-control teenage girl, who's into sex and drugs seemed pretty spot on to me. The girl's dialogue was perfect. I did have a little trouble though with self-congratulatory Marin County airyfairy tone of the book.

[Renee]

Currently reading The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

I read The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli. Parts were terrific, and other parts were just so-so. The ending felt rushed and written to please. Overall, I gave it three stars.

Terrific hat, Ruth! :)

[Marjorie]

I'm reading THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN by John Fowles, and liking it so far. I had read his THE MAGUS and hated it, a DNF for me.

Marge

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

What is a DNF, Marjorie? I have The Magus but haven't read it. I did read The French Lieutenant's Woman and found it rather difficult to get into.

I meant to ask, has anyone else read The Lotus Eaters? If so, I'd love to know what you thought. I checked the reviews here, but I know some people don't review every book they read.

[Marialyce]

Gabrielle wrote: "I read The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli. Parts were terrific, and other parts were just so-so. The ending felt rushed and written to please. Overall, I gave it three stars.

Terrific hat, Ruth! :)"

I really want to read that book, Gabrielle. I am starting The Name of the Rose with a group here on goodreads. I am also reading The Space Between Us for a f2f library group.

I picked up a playaway for walking with entitled The Enchantress of Florence so if the weather ever gets beyond 40 degrees, I will go out with it.

[Flora]

Just finished Clockwork Angel and really liked it.

Getting ready to start The Secret of Lost Things

[Jim]

Starting WIRED FOR WAR by Peter Singer - Singer has written about corporate warriors and other aspects of modern warfare and its culture - always insightful and comprehensive.

Started THE LOCK ARTIST by Steven Hamilton - good start about a "mute" safe cracker - dialogue and characters colorful and fun.

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Marialyce wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "I read The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli. Parts were terrific, and other parts were just so-so. The ending felt rushed and written to please. Overall, I gave it three stars.

Te..."

I have The Enchantress of Florence, Marialyce, but I haven't read it yet. I was intrigued by the time period in which it's set.

I'm anxious to see what you think of The Lotus Eaters once you read it.

[Carol]

I am really enjoying "Dom Casmurro" I will be finished and will read the discussion.

[John]

I started At Home: A Short History of Private Life earlier today - not bad so far.

[Ruth]

I've been planning on reading that. I usually like Bill Bryson's books.

[Theresa]

I just started The City & The City by China Mieville . So far, confusing but in a good, intriguing way. Has anyone read this?

Theresa

[Marjorie]

Gabrielle asked, " What is a DNF?"

Short for "Did Not Finish." I'm in Chapter 6 of French Lieutenant's Woman, and now liking it. It does have humor, although I had to read one of the first chapters twice to understand it. Someone in another group named it as one of the better romantic novels they'd read. That's not my favorite genre.

Marge

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Thank you, Marge! :) I was really interested because I keep planning on reading The Magus.

I know I didn't consider The French Lieutenant's Woman to be a genre romance. Not at all.

[Ruth]

I was so impressed by the audiobook of Neverwhere, that I'm now reading (in print) Anansi Boys Not at all what I expected, I almost dropped out a few chapters in. But I persevered and now it's beginning to grow on me.

I think.

[Sue]

Still reading Dr Z -- about 2/3rds through.

Read Still Life With Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy by Mark Doty over the past 2 days and loved it. What wonderful writing and insights. Thanks again Ruth for piquing my interest in poetry again (though this is not a book of poetry, it has such a poetic sense).

Instead of planned reading, 2 books came in at the library. So I've started Hawksmoor and will then read The Quickening Maze. Then I'll get back to my shelves where so many good books await me.

[Ruth]

Glad you liked Oysters, Susan. I love it, it's one of those books you can read again and again.

[Sue]

Ruth wrote: "Glad you liked Oysters, Susan. I love it, it's one of those books you can read again and again."

I know I'll read it again Ruth. I have a feeling I'll get something more/different each time.

[Aloha]

I started it, but got sidetracked by monthly reads from my forums that I was interested in. It was really good so far. I do plan to pick it up again as soon I'm done with the March monthly reads. But I'll be reading Mieville's Perdido Street Station (Goodreads won't let me add book) first, since it is Fantasy Aficionado's March urban fantasy read.

Theresa wrote: "I just started The City & The City by China Mieville . So far, confusing but in a good, intriguing way. Has anyone read this?

Theresa"

[Sheila]

Just finish a thoroughly enjoyable and very quick listen to Secret Son by Laila Lalami. Told from the human angle, this provides an interesting look at the impact made on a boys life by the socio-political and economic issues that divide a country.

I think the next read will be Attica Locke's Black Water Rising

[TheGirlBytheSeaofCortez]

Susan wrote: "Still reading Dr Z -- about 2/3rds through.

Read Still Life With Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy by Mark Doty over the past 2 days and loved it. What wonderful writing and..."

I loved The Quickening Maze. There's not a lot of story there, though. The writing is exquisite and very poetic.

Shelia, I have The Cairo Trilogy now. Can't wait to read it, but it will be a while before I can start it. I want to read all three books with no break in between. I have the hardcover volume containing all three book - 1,500 pages, or something like that. And such small print! I hope my eyes survive and I don't need a magnifying glass.

[Sue]

Small print is the bane of my existence. I was going through some old books on my porch, books from college, and amazed I could read them. There are books I won't buy or take from the library because of the print. This is one of the pluses of ereaders from my perspective. Too bad I still love holding books.

[Hazel]

Theresa wrote: "I just started The City & The City by China Mieville . So far, confusing but in a good, intriguing way. Has anyone read this?

Theresa"

I liked it a good deal, Theresa. I think Mieville is very inventive and I shall probably read it a second time.

Ruth, I enjoyed Anansi Boys too. I thought Gaiman got the Caribbean voice just right, which seems to be difficult.

I've just started Walter Mosley's The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey for the Literary Fiction by People of Colour group.

[Bernadette]

I highly recommend the story that award winning and bestselling Dutch author Herman Koch has written for our magazine. Why do you write? is available in English and Dutch.

It is a wonderful almost surreal reflection on the perils of being a bestselling author.

‘There are two kinds of writers,’ the author had replied. ‘One attempts a new approach with each book. The other keeps rewriting the same novel.’

You can read the full story from http://hollandparkpress.co.uk/magazin...

I love to hear your comments.

[Badly Drawn Girl]

I just finished Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, and New England White by Stephen L. Carter. Olive Kitteridge was very good and I've seen from previous posts that a lot of you have read (and enjoyed) it as well. New England White was a fun read that desperately needed someone with a firmer hand editing. It was way too detailed, involved, and complicated. About 3/4 of the way through it, I realized I didn't care anymore who was guilty of what. But it is very well written, and if you like page turning mysteries (and don't mind a lot of details) you will probably like this book.

I'm currently reading A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell and Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri, which is a collection of short stories. I loved both The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies bu Jhumpa Lahiri so I have a good feeling about this collection.

[Sue]

Interesting about the Carter. I have that on my shelf; found a used copy very inexpensive so worth the price. Someday I'll get to it.

I will have to read Olive Kitteridge at some point.

[Melissa]

Susan, I loved The Quickening Maze, very atmospheric as Gabrielle says, and also the interrelated stories in Olive Kitteridge. I read both books for my in-person discussion group.

[Lisa]

I just started My Reading Life by Pat Conroy. I always like his books. I finished Dear John by Nicholas Sparsks yesterday - a moving book. I am also reading The Invisible Bridge which is very good historical novel by Julie Orringer.

[Sue]

Philip wrote: "Susan, I loved The Quickening Maze, very atmospheric as Gabrielle says, and also the interrelated stories in Olive Kitteridge. I read both books for my in-person disc..."

I will be reading
The Quickening Maze very soon and I'm looking forward to it. I added Olive Kitteridge to my TBR list too.

[Barb H]

Susan wrote: "Interesting about the Carter. I have that on my shelf; found a used copy very inexpensive so worth the price. Someday I'll get to it.

I will have to read Olive Kitteridge at some po..."

Absolutely try to read Olive Kitteridge as soon as you are able! It was amazing to me! Olive is an interesting, complex character, who appears in all of these interconnected tales.


I also agree about the annoyances of small print. That's one of the reasons I don't read paperbacks.