What are you reading? Showing 20,301-20,350 of 28,885

[Cait]

Just finished Beatrice and Virgil and am now reading Madame Bovary. I just finished my last two classes of the quarter yesterday and am excited to finally be reading for pleasure again.

[Sasha]

Oh, Madame Bovary is so awesome. How'd you like Beatrice and Virgil? I've been a staunch defender of Life of Pi, but B&V has gotten some fiercely bad reviews.

[F1Wild]

Devin wrote: "Yes, it's his voice. And since it's autobiographical it's almost like listening to an interview. He is such an inspiring person!

I read Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life awhile ago, but I didn't think his written voice was nearly as compelling as MJF."
I think so many of us grew up with MJF on TV and in movies and are as familiar with his voice as we are our friends.

[F1Wild]

Donna wrote: "Finally I started Honolulu by Alan Brennert. It was my bookclub's May book."
Let me know what you think - I loved it and his other book, Moloka'i!

[F1Wild]

Maria wrote: "i picked up The Calligrapher's Daughter and though i'm only a small handful of pages in to it, it's interesting so far."
Ooh, that one'son TBR list and would love to hear what you think when you're further into it.

[El]

I really liked The Calligrapher's Daughter when I read it. I'm waiting for Kim to put out another book.

[Bridgit]

Alex wrote: "Long Way Gone is staggering, especially if you like things that are depressing.

I'm suspicious of Helen of Troy 'cause we know absolutely nothing about her, so it's all gonna be speculation, right..."

I read Helen of Troy a few weeks ago and I thought it was great. I don't think you can really say everything about Helen of Troy is speculation. I mean, she is a myth, right? So how do you you stay factual to a myth?

That said, while we have very little details about Helen of Troy, we do know a lot about Greek mythology in general and we have Homer. George did a great job weaving in all of the legends and mythology from various gods and mythical humans as well as keeping pretty true to Homer's tale.

I view it very much like the whole "March" v "Little Women" story - Geraldine Brooks took a character that you know little about from a well known story and expanded and hypothesized about them. Gave them their own back story. Its the same thing with Helen here.

Anyway, just my two-cents. I'd recommend reading it Lisa. :)

[Sasha]

Good point Bridgit, it's a little weird to demand historical accuracy about someone who's quite likely made up anyway. I bow to your more informed opinion.

[Darcia]

I'm reading Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen and so far it's one of those books that I hate to put down.

[Lisa]

Bridgit wrote: "Alex wrote: "Long Way Gone is staggering, especially if you like things that are depressing.

I'm suspicious of Helen of Troy 'cause we know absolutely nothing about her, so it's all gonna be spe..."

I started Helen of Troy and like it so far.

I did find the arguments in The Wisdom of Crowds compelling. The argument isn't that a group will always make the best decision. The idea is that a group, especially if properly constructed, will often make better decisions that an individual.

And given the alternative to Bush in '04, I'm not convinced the crowd didn't make the better choice. Democracy can be messy, but as the say, it's better than the next best alternative.

[Sasha]

Just because John Kerry is a slowly rotting zombie doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings too, y'know.

[Lisa]

Right...sorry I forgot that for a moment.

[Lisa]

I think it was an awesome booked as much for all the totally geeky statistics as anything else. Accessing diffuse group knowledge using statistics allows for some amazing results.

[Dani]

I just finished reading The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer, and I'm currently reading Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely, What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should): Timeless Secrets to Get Everything you Want in Love, Life, and Work by Ronda Rich, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Needless to say, they're keeping me busy.

[F1Wild]

El wrote: "I really liked The Calligrapher's Daughter when I read it. I'm waiting for Kim to put out another book."
Cheers!

[F1Wild]

Darcia wrote: "I'm reading Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen and so far it's one of those books that I hate to put down."
It doesn't come out here in the US until the end of the month - great author!

[Petra]

I finished Come, Thou Tortoise and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The eccentric, loving and accepting upbringing of Audrey (Oddly) Flowers is wonderful. It's told mostly through Audrey's eyes and a little bit through her tortoise's eyes. Both are characters that warm your heart.
There is humour and wordplay throughout and yet the story that unfolds is sad at times. There's true grief in these pages. It's the grief of losing a Loved One and coming to terms with Life afterwards. (not a spoiler)
A thoroughly lovely story of Life and Love.

[Mary]

I finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon and am now reading Hannah's Dream.

[Jeffrey]

Teeth,The Epic Novel with Bite

[Sydney]

Just finished Cheat the Grave now I am about to start The Pleasure Palace along with the others that I am slowly reading - which I hope I finish soon! :)

[Joel]

Jo wrote: "I'm reading The Gunslinger and Last Light"

Have you read the Dark Tower books before? I'm not a huge fan of the first one, and lots of people feel they drop off after book 4, but I like the whole messy saga. Book 3, The Waste Lands, is my favorite.

[Kelly]

I am reading Little Woman, the book I suppose to read long time ago :D

[Bridgit]

Jo wrote: "Joel wrote: "Jo wrote: "I'm reading The Gunslinger and Last Light"

Have you read the Dark Tower books before? I'm not a huge fan of the first one, and lots of people ..."

I read the first one and hated it. then gave up on it... i didnt realize there were others out there who didnt like the first book but liked the rest of the series...

i wonder if it is worth the effort to try number 2 ?

[Joel]

The first one is SO different from what follows. I got interested with book 2. You can go back later to read Gunslinger but the important parts are spelled out in flashbacks, though book 3 might be a little confusing at times.

[El]

I actually really liked The Gunslinger. I'm one of those who thought the story dropped off after book 4, and to be honest I still haven't even finished the last book. Which is ridiculous considering I still count the series as one of my faves.

[Petra]

I started Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest. It's written in a very friendly way and feels like I'm listening to a friend tell a story.
Despite the romancy looking cover, it's a historical novel with a mystery interwoven into it.

[Rachel]

Bridgit wrote: "Jo wrote: "Joel wrote: "Jo wrote: "I'm reading The Gunslinger and Last Light"

Have you read the Dark Tower books before? I'm not a huge fan of the first one, and lots..."

The Gunslinger is not my favorite, in my opinion it gets a little better further on in the story. The rest of the books, I really enjoyed. One of those series that takes so long to get through but when it's done it leaves you wanting more.

[Joel]

By the way, if you want more there are about 10 more King books that tie into the "saga," some more than others. In particular, the first part of Hearts in Atlantis and the latter half of Black House are practically essential side stories. Insomnia too, from what I've heard, though I haven't read that one.

[El]

Insomnia does tie in, and it's an okay book. Not spectacular. Don't forget Salem's Lot also comes up too.

[Rosabelle]

I just finished reading The Gargoyle. I stayed up last night until 1.10 am reading it. I just loved the book... It's one of the best that I've read so far this year. After that I'm looking for something easier to read, so I chose A Babe in Ghostland by Lisa Cach which was borrowed from one of my friend.

[Sydney]

Rosabelle wrote: "I just finished reading The Gargoyle. I stayed up last night until 1.10 am reading it. I just loved the book... It's one of the best that I've read so far this year. After that I'm looking for some..."

Rosabelle, I thought The Gargoyle was an amazing book as well!! I have been recommending it like crazy to people! Glad you loved it!!

[Mona]

About, THE GARGOYLE, I used to get teased about my last name in school. My last name is "Garg." and they used to call me and my brother Gargoyle all the time. Kids are so mean :(

[Linda]

Mary wrote: "I finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon and am now reading Hannah's Dream."

Mary: Hannah's Dream is a delight and very touching. Keep some kleenix nearby. Enjoy!

[GracieKat]

I just finished Shadows in the Asylum: The Case Files of Dr. Charles Marsh by D.A. Stern which is a pretty cool book. Short but set up in a unique way so it looks like an actual case file.
Right now I'm working on The Mammoth Book of Modern Ghost Stories: Great Supernatural Tales of the Twentieth Century by Peter Haining and Saving Fish from Drowning: A Novel by Amy Tan. I like her other books much better but this one isn't too bad.

[Marti]

Mona wrote: "About, THE GARGOYLE, I used to get teased about my last name in school. My last name is "Garg." and they used to call me and my brother Gargoyle all the time. Kids are so mean :("

I am sorry to hear you were teased like that. I was also teased badly at school by a couple of people. My mom used to tell me they were jealous and mean and used the teasing to feel better about themselves. I didn't believe her then but I do now

[Mary]

Darcia wrote: "I'm reading Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen and so far it's one of those books that I hate to put down."

Wrong link, Darcia!

Ice Cold is the correct one. I am really looking forward to this book and am envious that you are getting to read it now.

[Catamorandi]

I am going to try reading by tape and see if it works. I am going to listen to The Time Traveller's Wife.

[Mona]

Marti, your mom is right but, when you're a kid, that doesn't make you feel better. You just want it to stop. It's so much worse these days with the cyber-bullying.

[Maria]

F1Wild wrote: "Maria wrote: "i picked up The Calligrapher's Daughter and though i'm only a small handful of pages in to it, it's interesting so far."
Ooh, that one'son TBR list and would love to hear what you thi..."

i'm liking it, but it's not moving very quickly. however, the few reads before this were very fast, so that may be affecting my view on that. the story is very interesting, and i am hoping to learn something about a country and a people that i admittedly know very little about.

[F1Wild]

Thank Maria - I thought this would be a good one for me since I loved the Korean background of Honolulu (I just read before my current book). As I'm reading the hards to put down, The Girl Who Played with Fire at the moment I might find it a bit slow, too - but I think I'll go for it!

[Kimberly]

I'm reading The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith

[Lori, Super Mod]

Ive started Agaat, which is a review copy. Read alot of great things about it, but I am finding it hard to get myself into it. Not that the writing or the book is bad, because it is not...

What I mean is that, for some weird reason, life seems determined to keep me away from it. I can't get more than 5 minutes with it before I have to put it down for something.....

It's one of those weeks!

[Cait]

Alex wrote: "Oh, Madame Bovary is so awesome. How'd you like Beatrice and Virgil? I've been a staunch defender of Life of Pi, but B&V has gotten some fiercely bad reviews."

I gave it 4 stars. Enjoyable is not the right word to describe it (maybe given the subject matter), but it kept me turning the pages and made me cry. Not nearly as good as Life of Pi though, which was a 5 star book for me.

I've never read Diderot, Beckett, Scliar, or any of the other authors Martel is accused of imitating (or plagiarizing, as some would say), so I can't weigh in on that aspect of the book. I do think it's bullshit that people criticize him about the subject matter. If they don't think he handled it well that's one thing, but to say that he has no business writing about it in the first place because he's Canadian? Weak. This is all from GR though, I haven't checked out any of the professional reviews yet. I don't want to screw with my 4 star feelings. :o)

[Marti]

Mona wrote: "Marti, your mom is right but, when you're a kid, that doesn't make you feel better. You just want it to stop. It's so much worse these days with the cyber-bullying."

I knew she was right - I just was too stubborn to admit it.... She is/was a psychologist. I think bullying has become an intrinsic part of our society... We don't explain how things are different - we use those difference to highlight how wrong the other person is

I am reading Married By Morning lovely brain candy

[Marsha]

I read Helen of Troy a while back and I did really enjoy it. I noticed I only gave it three stars and I'm not sure why now. I recall reading quickly in the beginning. This may have been a book that started out great for me for the first half then kind of petered out. I know I'm loving a book when I'm staying up late to read when I know I should go to bed. I'm pretty sure I did that some for Helen of Troy. I would certainly read other books by the author.

[Sherrie]

Finally finished Wuthering Heights woohoo!!
I'm listening to Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office because I needed something light after listening to Push.

Today I'm starting The Lady in the Tower. I'm way behind on watching "The Tudors" miniseries and just finished watching the episode where Anne Boelyn loses her head. The era fascinates me, so I'm hoping the book will provide a deeper insight into their lives than the tv show (although I do love the show!)

[Sasha]

We just re-subscribed to Showtime, Sherrie, so we're looking forward to catching up on Season 4 of Tudors. It's totally trashy, of course, but whatever, we love it.

Alison Weir's very well liked. I'm sure you'll get that insight from her. :)

[Mary]

Linda wrote: "Mary wrote: "I finished The Girl Who Chased the Moon and am now reading Hannah's Dream."

Mary: Hannah's Dream is a delight and very touching. Keep some kleenix ne..."

Thanks, Linda! I'm not too far in but I am really enjoying it so far.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Started Vanity Fair last night.

[Ralph]

I'm reading (a little more than half way through) Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann. I picked it up as a thriller with Navy SEALs and FBI agents, but it has turned out to be more about relationships both gay and straight. The book is dedicated to Brockmann's gay son. I was surprised by how intriguing the story has become.