What are you reading? Showing 19,101-19,150 of 28,885

[Bridgit]

currently on the docket:

The Swiss Family Robinson - audio book
and
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

Am enjoying ULB much more than I thought, though I wish there were more Prague references! Love hearing about it and remembering specific places.

[El]

Bridgit, I haven't been to Prague yet, but it's one of my life goals! I'm working on learning Czech now, and we're talking about going to Prague this fall... *hope, hope*

It's been years since I read ULB. I should re-read it now that I have an appreciation for Czech lit.

[Bridgit]

El wrote: "Bridgit, I haven't been to Prague yet, but it's one of my life goals! I'm working on learning Czech now, and we're talking about going to Prague this fall... *hope, hope*

It's been years since ..."

Prague is WONDERFUL. I have been 2x. Once in college and once about 3 years ago. Its amazing how much history you can just feel oozing out of every building and statue, and the beauty you see around every corner. And OH Charles Bridge! I have a painting that i bought there of the bridge at sunset. One of my favorite things...

and i'd be remiss if I didnt mention the BEER. Such great brews at unbelievable prices. I would go back in a heartbeat.

And I am very impressed that you are learning the language. I have taken classes in (and am/was decently proficient in) German, Italian and Spanish, but Czech is just beyond me...too many consonants strung together...

[Sherry]

Just finished Cloud Atlas (phenomenal book) and will start Eat Pray Love tonight. Looking forward to it, then it's on to the newest jasper fforde books. he's one of my favorites.

[JSou]

Whoo-hoo for Cloud Atlas, Sherry!

El, you're learning Czech? That is awesome!

[El]

Bridgit, you just made my heart explode with your descriptions of Prague! We're saving our pennies... (Literally! - filling our change jar is one of the most exciting moments of our day. Sad, but true.)


Thanks Jessica, I'm trying. :) I've almost got the alphabet down, so I have a long way to go. But I just have to keep plugging away at it. It's amazing how much of my German and French come back to me as I'm trying to learn another language. Pooey!



So, back on topic - I'm sort of rotting my brain on a couple sci-fi/fantasy books, which isn't normally my thing; occasionally I just feel the urge. So I'm finally reading Brian Herbert's prequel to his daddy's books, starting with House Atreides (better than I expected), and also reading According To Crow which I stumbled upon while raiding other people's bookshelves, and I saw the main character has my oldest brother's name which isn't very common (unless you're reading a book about the American Civil War, that is), so it seemed appropriate to check it out. It's actually not too bad either.

April is usually a pretty crummy month for me, so my reading tends to slow down and/or my choice in books are way different than normal.

[Katie]

Bridgit, thank you for sharing your experiences of Prague.

I just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire (loved it!), and I have so many books that are next up. I've decided to go with Wench, as I just challenged my mom to read it, so I want to for once read and finish something before she does. Additionally, it looks like a short read. After that, I'm planning on reading Moloka'i. Where I go from there, who knows.

I love this group...although I often just lurk, I get so many great recs about the next best book to read.

[Marti]

Carol (akittykat) wrote: "Paula wrote: "Carol (akittykat) wrote: "I finished The Moonstone, now I am reading A Reliable Wife. I am finding it absorbing. I can really feel Truitt's Homeless Heart. I am also starting Every Ma..."

I really like A Reliable Wife... Found myself sucked into the story!

I am about 100 Pages into Winter Garden. I am liking it so far...

[Lil]

I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale. Its one of those books that you can't put down.

[M.]

Jayme wrote: "Taking a break from reality with Wizard's First Rule. I'm giving it the prize for most typos in the first 50 pages ever. Other than that, it's pretty entertaining so far."

I read this quite a while ago, and thought it was really good. After a few books in the series though, the excitement died down for me. I think I stopped reading the series by the 4th book...

[Joseph]

I started World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War after finishing Flowers for Algernon. Definitly a nice change of pace heh

[Flávia Carvalho]

I am reading thons of books all at once these days:
THe Believer Book of Writers talking to writers, Shakespeare wrote for money, and just starting "THe passion according to G.H.", by Brazilian author Clarice Lispector.

Do you also keep a pile of books by your bedside table?

[chucklesthescot]

I just finished Please, Daddy, Noand have moved on to Don't Tell Mummy The books were well written...but the child abuse subject matter is really putting me on a downer so I might need a change of pace this weekend to perk me up a bit.

[Katie]

I'm reading The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Cute, fluffy, fun read!

[Katie]

Lil wrote: "I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale. Its one of those books that you can't put down."

I loved that one and agree 100%. I hated to walk away from it, even to work, eat or sleep. :)

[Donna]

Sherry wrote: "Just finished Cloud Atlas (phenomenal book) and will start Eat Pray Love tonight. Looking forward to it, then it's on to the newest jasper fforde books. he's one of my favorites."

I tried to look up Cloud Atlas but there are a lot of the same title with different authors. Which one were you refering to? If it is such a great book I wanna read it too!!!

[Linda]

Just finished Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. While I really liked it (4.5), there were times when I think he pushed my limits of belief with his characters' abilities to best their enemies in a battle of a hundred to one and good just about always triumphing over evil. However, he did a good job of keeping me engaged in a book I was not inclined to like as much as I did.

[El]

Donna - they're probably talking about this one: Cloud Atlas.

[Donna]

THX El

[Shary]

Claire wrote: "Lori Ann wrote: "I ended up giving The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time three stars, I liked it but it definitely wasn't love...the concept was great but the plot left me w..."

East of Eden is my all time favorite!

[Shary]

Lil wrote: "I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale. Its one of those books that you can't put down."

I loved The Thirteenth Tale!

[Shary]

Currently I'm reading Let the Great World Spin and Real Murders.

Let the Great World Spin is wonderful. Beautifully written.
Real Murders is a good, light read.
Enjoying both very much.

[Donna]

Shary wrote: "Currently I'm reading Let the Great World Spin and Real Murders.

Let the Great World Spin is wonderful. Beautifully written.
Real Murders is a good, light read.
Enjoy..."

Let the Great World Spin is sitting at the library waiting patiently for me to get it!

[Mary]

Ooh Shary and Donna, I loved Let the Great World Spin.

[Brenda]

I am finding that I really enjoy a well written YA book.

[Brenda]

I am reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan with my son. We are enjoying it.

[Paula]

These are fun books Brenda. I'm listening to "The Battle in the Labrynth" now. I'll need to put the last one on hold as it takes forever for me to get it from the library. LOL

[Shary]

Donna wrote: "Shary wrote: "Currently I'm reading Let the Great World Spin and Real Murders.

Let the Great World Spin is wonderful. Beautifully written.
Real Murders is a good, l..."

Donna, I'm loving it. Let me know how you like it!

[Shary]

Mary wrote: "Ooh Shary and Donna, I loved Let the Great World Spin."

I am really enjoying it!

[Dawn Mateo]

I'm currently reading "The Other End of the Leash" and listening to "Red Badge of Courage" on audiobook.

[Claire]

chucklesthescot wrote: "I just finished Please, Daddy, Noand have moved on to Don't Tell Mummy The books were well written...but the child abuse subject matter is really putting me on a downer ..."

Hey chucklesthescot - aren't you over at bookcrossing too? I recognized the cute name......I'm over there as Thistle8. This is a great book site.
I'm still working on In The Woods and just want to sit down and finish it to see what happens.

[Alisha Marie]

I just finished The Tribes of Palos Verdes: A Novel by Joy Nicholson and thought it was an amazingly dark and gritty YA novel. I highly recommend it. Now I'm going to pick up the ARC copy I won of The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant.

[Shel]

Brenda wrote: "I am finding that I really enjoy a well written YA book."

Brenda -- we make a lot of recommendations for great YA and books your son might enjoy too at http://www.whatchareadingnow.com

[F1Wild]

Shary wrote: "...East of Eden is my all time favorite!"
One of my faves as well - you can never go wrong with a nice epic Steinbeck!!

[Katie]

I'm reading Wench, I'm about a 1/3 through it. It's very good, and a fast read. Additionally, it's a reminder of the fear slaves lived with everyday, even the favored slaves. I just can't imagine...it's appalling that people lived through that during their entire lives.

[Eden]

I'm reading Philadelphia Ghost Stories by Charles J. Adams III.

[F1Wild]

Katie wrote: "I'm reading Wench, I'm about a 1/3 through it. It's very good, and a fast read. Additionally, it's a reminder of the fear slaves lived with everyday, even the favored slaves. I just ..."
I'm a little over halfway though Wench and what has been more apparent to me is that while we all hated the animal cruelty that was present in Water for Elephants these human beings endured even worse.

[Allison]

I loved The Thirteenth Tale- one of my favorite books of all time.

I also really enjoyed Matthew Pearl's The Last Dickens. I have The Dante Club and The Poe Shadow on my bookshelf waiting to be read...

[Jayme]

Alisha wrote: "I just finished The Tribes of Palos Verdes: A Novel by Joy Nicholson and thought it was an amazingly dark and gritty YA novel. I highly recommend it. Now I'm going to pick up the ARC..."

I read this a million years ago and totally forgot about it. Now it's in my books, thanks!

[Lisa]

I'm slogging through The Grapes of Wrath. It's not really holding my attention. I tend to find other things to do rather than read. I loved East of Eden, but this one is just not doing it for me.

[Barbara]

I'm rereading Year of Wonder for my book club. I recommend it.

Also, stay with Grapes of Wrath--it's so wonderful.

[Gorana]

Yesterday I finished Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher now I'll continue reading The Glassblower of Murano..

[Carol]

I am reading Every Man Dies Alone, and I picked up Cutting For Stones today.

[Reza]

Washington Post:David Ignatius reviews 'A Time to Betray,' the memoir of an Iranian double agent

By David Ignatius

Sunday, April 11, 2010

A TIME TO BETRAY

The Astonishing Double Life of a CIA Agent Inside the Revolutionary Guards of Iran

By Reza Kahlili

Threshold. 340 pp. $26

How true does a “true story” have to be? This question immediately confronts a reader of “A Time to Betray,” by the pseudonymous Reza Kahlili.

The book opens with this encompassing disclaimer: “This is the true story of my life as a CIA agent in the Revolutionary Guards of Iran; however, every effort has been made to protect my identity (Reza Kahlili is not my real name), my family, and my associates. To do so, it was necessary to change all the names (except for officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran) and alter certain events, chronology, circumstances, and places.”

If we cannot depend precisely on the who, what, where or when in a nonfiction memoir, then what do we have? You don’t need to be a professional skeptic to wonder if the basic claim of the book — that the author was a CIA mole inside Iran’s fearsome Guard — is accurate.

So I did some checking. And I am happy to report that the author did indeed have a secret relationship with the CIA. That’s a relief, because the story he tells — of the Iranian revolution and how he came to despise it — is genuinely powerful. It offers a vivid first-person narrative of how the zealots of the Islamic republic created what has become a nightmare for the Iranian people. By the author’s account, the cruelty and intolerance didn’t begin with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They have been unfolding for three decades...

Full Review:

http://atimetobetray.com/praise-and-r...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

[Carol]

Reza, I think this is considered self promotion and needs to be removed from this thread and put into the Self promotion thread. You will need to read the rules there for posting a book you wish others to read. Lori has structured rules for this type of post. Please make adjustments, before you are put into the spam corner. I would hate to see that ,as your book might be interesting, but it doesn't belong here.
Thank You

[Ann from S.C.]

My computer died so I have not been on for a while. I have read a few good books since.
HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult, BREATHLESS and DEAD AND ALIVE by Dean Koontz, and WITCH AND WIZARD by James Patterson. Now I am reading THE 19TH WIFE.

[Samantha McNulty]

I've just started The Luxe, after having had it on my bookshelves for a few months.

[Carol]

Ann is Witch and Wizard a new Patterson, I have not seen it before. What is it about?

[Maria]

i finished The Wedding Girl from Madliene Wickham the other night, it was a very quick read.

i started Thanks for the Memories by Ceclia Ahern yesterday. i've loved both of her others books that i've read, and so far this one isn't disappointing.

[Jerrysphish]

I am at the halfway mark in American Tabloid by James Ellroy great book will be starting Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes next