[Closed] What are you currently reading....

[Marcin]

Almost finished Micro by Michael Crichton and I really enjoy it.

[Colleen]

Susan wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Last night I started The Casual Vacancy by J.K.Rowling.I'm enjoying it so far."

Colleen,
Let me know how you like it. It has a big price tag-$35 although you can get it cheaper on..."
I am enjoying it alot but then again I have not read Harry Potter yet so I'm not comparing.I did get it on Amazon and so far I'm not sorry.

[Aoibhínn]

Earlier, I finished reading by Shirley Jackson. I was disappointed by this book to be honest. I felt the novel did not live up to the reputation it has gotten. I just felt like it was missing something. Plus I disliked all the characters and the strange dialogue between them really annoyed me. This is one novel where the movie, or in this case movies, are better than the book. My full review is here.

Next I'm going to read by Anne Rice.

[Richard]

Re: The Haunting... I agree. Especially the first film. It was the scariest, creepiest thing I'd ever seen I was a kid), then the remake, full of S-Fx seemed like a carnival in comparison. Really cheesy.

[Niamh]

Hi
I am reading The Paris Wife currently. I am enjoying it so far but it is a bit slow

[Laura]

I have recently read Wolf Hall. It is a fascinating read about the Tudors and Thomas Cromwell. It really changed my perspective on both Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Moore. Mantel is an amazing writer and was able to hold my interest through over 600 pages. I am looking forward to the second book on the Tudors.

[Aoibhínn]

Earlier today, I finished reading by Anne Rice. The Witching Hour is an extremely long novel, 1207 pages, but don't let that put you off reading as once you open the first page you soon find yourself completely absorbed in the chilling tale of the Mayfair Witches. This novel has a spellbinding, engrossing, well-written tale with complex and mysterious characters. There are plenty of compelling twists and turns in the plot to keep you interested and the suspense is drawn out to perfection. The novel is completely unpredictable, I found the ending to be quite a shock! My full review can be found here.

Now, I'm about to start by Washington Irving and by Mary Shelley.

[DJ =^^=]

by Laura Levine

[Laura]

Just finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I was very impressed and have nominated it as a monthly read.

[DJ =^^=]

just finished now I am reading

[Tara]

I'm reading House of the Mosque, a loan from a friend that I'm enjoying much more than I thought I would.

[Paul]

I've just finished The Siege of Krishnapur - J.G. Farrell.
Brilliant.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...

[Barbara]

Paul wrote: "I've just finished The Siege of Krishnapur - J.G. Farrell.
Brilliant.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25..."

I have serveral J.G. Farrell books on my Goodreads Wish List. I may have to break down and buy one.

[Paul]

Hi Barbara I also read Troubles by Farrell but found SOK more colourful, more action and humour a better read I think.

Barbara wrote: "Paul wrote: "I've just finished The Siege of Krishnapur - J.G. Farrell.
Brilliant.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25..."

I have serveral J.G. Farrell books on my Goo..."

[J.S.]

On a list of interesting ( esp. for a geek) & new nonfiction titles from Irish publishers/authors,
The Boyne Currach ( http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/product... ) by Claidhbh O Gibne.

Claidhbh lives in a renovated cottage along the Boyne and in addition to sculpting wood he constructs currachs using the same materials and methods as used thousands of years ago. From the Four Courts Press website, " ...It is a pioneering piece of work that throws new light on an ancient Irish craft. An overview of the history of the Boyne currach and related skin boats is followed by a how-to guide with instructions on how to build your own currach, including the materials needed, where to source them and how to master the age-old techniques of weaving and binding. "

btw, Claidhbh welcomes visitors if you call ahead to schedule an appointment, and his workshop ( and he) are great craic.

[Aoibhínn]

Earlier I finished reading by Mary Shelley. This novel turned out to be nothing like what I was expecting. I was expecting a generic horror story about a monster but what I got was so much more complex, it's actually quite a philosophical story really. I was extremely surprised and impressed by the actual story itself. I really enjoyed this book and I'm happy I finally got around to reading this classic. My full review is here.

I'm planning to read by Janet Evanovich next.

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides and 'Brideshead Revisited' by Evelyn Waugh. There's something there for every mood.

[DJ =^^=]

Currently reading , I am anxiously waiting for .. It's released on Nov 20th so that will be my next read :)

[Laura]

I just finished Yeats Is Dead!: A Mystery by 15 Irish Writers It is a hysterical farce. It is a very free flowing irreverent mystery of sorts about the underbelly of Dublin's criminal world, except I have never read about so many doofus criminals. Interesting to read each writer in the 15 chapters.

[Barbara]

Paul wrote: "Hi Barbara I also read Troubles by Farrell but found SOK more colourful, more action and humour a better read I think.

Barbara wrote: "Paul wrote: "I've just finished The Siege of Krishnapur - J...."
I will definitely start with this title. My library's online catalog has been up and down all day, but I may just order a copy from Alibris.

[Barbara]

J.S. wrote: "On a list of interesting ( esp. for a geek) & new nonfiction titles from Irish publishers/authors,
The Boyne Currach ( http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/product... ) by Claidhbh O ..."

This looks like a fascinating book.

[I-like-to-read]

I'm re-reading Wolf Hall I tried to read it a few years back with no luck, abandonded at about page 60, but as the next book has won a booker, as did this one, I thought I would give it another try.

[Linda]

almost finished and will definatley be reading the next 2 books in the trilogy.... 11th century drama, gotta love it

[Linda]

Roberta wrote: "Do any of the Dubliners here know The Absolutist by a local writer John Boyne. It's really well written and engaging."
Hadn't heard of it but i love John Boyne and will definatley be reading it now :)

[Susan]

Laura wrote: "I have recently read Wolf Hall. It is a fascinating read about the Tudors and Thomas Cromwell. It really changed my perspective on both Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Moore. Mantel is an amazing writer..."

I loved the second one. It just won the Man Booker prize too.

[Susan]

Deb wrote: "Currently reading , I am anxiously waiting for .. It's released on Nov 20th so that will be my next read :)"

Deb,
I used to love Stephanie Plum but I am worn out with her writing baxically the same book. I take it that you don't feel that way.

[Tony]

reading the long earth by Terry Pratchett &Stephen Baxter very well put together book then what do you expect from to of the best writers. so far it one of the book you read 2 or 3 pages ,then 2-3 chapters loving it glad i got it rather than going for the 3 for 2 offer and a book that i only got to fill up the 3 books . This is Not a alien book its just a good read
and it finishes with a what comes next

[Paul]

Currently reading The Black Arrow - Robert Louis Stevenson.

Free on the Kindle,the language takes a bit of getting used to but a rollicking read.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/2...

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Janet Evanovich this morning. Stephanie's adventures still make me laugh after 11 novels. There are so many hilarious and witty scenes in this book. But I have to admit I was a bit annoyed by Stephanie in this book. I just wish she'd finally choose between Joe Morelli and Ranger! http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I'm reading by Kate Morton.

[Linda]

Just started late yesterday and so far i like the story but i'm not keen on the journalistic (not sure if thats a real word) style of writing haha seriously though, i disliked the girl with the dragon tattoo and its a very similar style of writing, both authors are Journalists and i ain't a fan.... that being said, so far the story is great, very quirky!

[[deleted user]]

Linda wrote: "Just started late yesterday and so far i like the story but i'm not keen on the journalistic (not sure if thats ..."

Why not jump into the group discussion, Linda? Kate has already started and seems to be enjoying it, so far.

[Richard]

Hi all -- just back from the storm here on LI, NY. I just finished reading Irish writer Ruby Barnes new one, The Crucible. Really enjoyed it. It's near-future fantasy/thriller with a lot of thoughtful digging into the effects of post-colonial colonialism in Central Africa. Really thought-provoking. Ruby never fails.

[Barbara]

If you are a fan of dystopian science fiction, you might enjoy Kevin Barry's 2011 book City of BohaneCity of Bohane. I normally don't read this type of book but loved it.

[Aoibhínn]

I've finished reading by Kate Morton today. I thought it was beautifully written with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. It was obviously very well researched - I loved the WW2 bits. Those scenes were so vivid that I felt I was actually there! I found the pace of the novel, especially in the first half, to be rather slow. I thought the author spent too much time describing the various settings in the novel. It got really tiresome in places but the pace does pick up again in the second half. I loved the ending! The twist at the end completely surprised me. I wasn't expecting that! I'm usually quite good at predicting what's going to happen next in novels but that twist was a huge surprise!
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


Now I'm a couple of chapters into by Karen Kingsbury.

[Laura]

I just finished The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny. Terrific mystery set in the deep forests of Quebec in a 400 year old abbey with 24 cloistered monks.. One of the themes revolve around the mystery and power of the Gregorian Chants. More than a simple murder mystery, it is an exploration of personal emotions and passions. I enjoy the character of Chief Insp. Armand Gamache of the Quebec Sûreté.

[Laura]

So I didn't know where to put this question so I am putting it here. The bulk of my other book club members hold that all literary novelist have lead mostly unhappy, miserable lives. I would hate to think that and I am certain it can't be true. I just couldn't come up with any names. Any suggestions?

[Aoibhínn]

Laura wrote: "So I didn't know where to put this question so I am putting it here. The bulk of my other book club members hold that all literary novelist have lead mostly unhappy, miserable lives. I would hate..."

Well, I have read about a lot of Writer's having unhappy, depressing lives. Off the top of my head the biggest names I can think of are Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, David Foster Wallace, John O'Brien, John Kennedy Toole - all those author's suffered with depression or some other type of mental problems and they all committed suicide. And all the Bronte Sisters lead unhappy lives, they had a lot of tragedies in that family and all of them died very young.

[Susan]

Laura wrote: "So I didn't know where to put this question so I am putting it here. The bulk of my other book club members hold that all literary novelist have lead mostly unhappy, miserable lives. I would hate..."
What about Mark Twain or is he not literary enough? He's the only that pops to mind. It's a good question and now I'LL think about it. How about Jane Austen or Louisa May Alcott?

[Susan]

Has anyone read Stuart Neville? How did you like him?

[J.S.]

Barbara wrote: "If you are a fan of dystopian science fiction, you might enjoy Kevin Barry's 2011 book City of BohaneCity of Bohane. I normally don't read this type of book but loved it."

Sat down on the floor at a local chain bookseller awhile ago & read it through. Liked the linguistic effects, but couldn't follow the plot. He picked up on something dark there about certain urban areas surrounded by countryside; I couldn't identify it in the same way but recognized what he was saying.

[Richard]

Sounds like Lovecraft...

But, B&N finally released a nook copy of The Year of the French, so I can finally read it -- almost. A friend recommended a scifi read for me. I didn't look it up first and just bought it, downloaded it to my reader, then discovered it was 1498 pages long! I'm only halfway through it. Good read, but LOOOONNNGG!

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Karen Kingsbury last night and I really disappointed with it. The plot was very predictable, irritatingly repetitive, contrived and not very well-written. The concept of the story was interesting but the author is not a good enough writer to pull it off. This novel was simply too formulaic, too sweet, too predictable, too simplistic, too everything I don't like. The entire novel had that 'la-la-land' feel to it.
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


Today I've started reading by Stef Penney.

[DJ =^^=]

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by Stef Penney this evening. Overall, I thought the novel was an interesting and mostly enjoyable read. There were some problems with it (not surprising in a debut novel), the plot became slow and tedious at times, there were too many characters - it was very hard to keep track of them all - and the author wrote all of her characters in the first person so sometimes it wasn't clear which character was doing the talking! I had to go back and re-read multiple chapters to figure out what was happening in the story, which was very annoying! The ending was very sudden. It came out of nowhere and it left too many storylines unresolved. I was left wondering WHERE is the rest of the story???
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Next I'm going to start by S.E. Hinton.

[Aoibhínn]

I finished reading by S.E. Hinton last night. This was my first time reading The Outsiders. I never managed to get around to reading it as a teenager but I've heard so many people say it is one of their favourite books so I thought it was about time that I read it finally. And now that I've finished the book I can't believe I waited so long! The Outsiders is a gripping and compelling read which is full of suspense. It was also extremely heart-breaking and touching at times. The novel is very well-written, considering S.E. Hinton was just seventeen years old when she wrote it. I was amazed with the amount of depth and layers in this book. It really is wonderful. Five stars!
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Today I've started reading by Charlotte Rogan.

[John]

Reading People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman. Fascinating true crime book about a young woman who went missing in Japan 10 years ago. Really well told. It's my best read in a while and only halfway through.

[Tony]

just finished the long earth 5* very good can say to much if you like good S/F you will dive in

[Tony]

Ellie wrote: "I just finished by Stephen King earlier today and I absolutely loved it. I'm a huge fan of Stephen King and The Green Mile has got to be one of the best novels he h..."

i read this book when it came out in 6 parts one booklet every month and loved it

[aprilla]

I just finished A Perfect Evil and thought the story was good but it had too much romance for my liking in crime thrillers so am dithering about continuing the series...

[Aoibhínn]

I've finished reading by Charlotte Rogan yesterday. The Lifeboat is the debut novel of author Charlotte Rogan. It is a compelling, gripping and extremely thought-provoking tale. This novel tells the story of survival at its most basic level. It explores human nature and morality. It shows what happens to people while they are fighting to stay alive. The novel is a psychological thriller really. The book is very well-written. I really loved the author's writing style. I was completely engrossed in this novel from the very first page. The way in which Charlotte Rogan describes the moral decisions the characters have to make is quiet chilling.
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I'm halfway through by Sophie Kinsella.