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

[Dermo]

Susan wrote: "I hope you are enjoying LA. They are whining about the cold down there. I think it got down in the 50's. Poor babies"

tell me about it. I had to put on shoes today. what's that about? :-P haha. LA is ok. I wouldn't live here though.

[Susan]

Dermo wrote: "Susan wrote: "I hope you are enjoying LA. They are whining about the cold down there. I think it got down in the 50's. Poor babies"

tell me about it. I had to put on shoes today. what's that about..."

What's the matter? Don't you like seeing the air you breathe? Ha Ha.

[Aoibhínn]

I've just finished by Nicholas Evans and by Janet Evanovich.

The Divide started off so well but the plot did get quite slow halfway through the book. I did wish it would speed up at times but the story did remain strangely engaging. The last 60 or 70 pages of the novel were just as gripping and compelling as the first half of the novel. To tell the truth, I enjoyed the family drama sub-plot a lot more than I liked the murder mystery plot but I think that was probably because I didn't like the character of Abbie all that much so I found it hard to care about what happened to her. I loved all the vivid and wonderful descriptions of the Montana setting and landscape that made me feel like I was actually there. Nicholas Evans has got a great writing style and I love his use of language and imagery. I gave this novel 3½ stars!
My full review can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I love all the regular Stephanie Plum novels but I'm not sure I like these between the numbers novellas. I was very disappointed by Plum Lovin'. Nothing much happened in it and it was extremely dull and boring. It wasn't anywhere near as funny as the regular novels do be and I really hate the supernatural element in the novella. I gave it 1½ stars!
My review can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


Now I'm a few chapters into by Jennifer Donnelly.

[Jim]

I have just finished Tim Pat Coogan's The Famine Plot: England's Role in Ireland's Greatest Tragedy. Like his The IRA and Michael Collins, this book is quite valuable and very much worth reading. It's downright painful in spots, and it finally places the blame squarely and convincingly where it belongs. However, I have always had a problem with the author's convoluted and opaque prose and his tendency to repeat himself with maddening frequency. I gave it four, not five, stars on Amazon for just these reasons. You might want to check out my review: http://amzn.to/159CWRP . It would be much too long to post here.

[[deleted user]]

Jim wrote: "I have just finished Tim Pat Coogan's The Famine Plot: England's Role in Ireland's Greatest Tragedy. Like his The IRA and Michael Collins, this book is quite valuable and very much worth reading. I..."

Added to my reading list.

[Aoibhínn]

Yesterday I finished by Jennifer Donnelly. The Tea Rose is an extremely well-researched and well-written novel which is packed full of unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. I absolutely enjoyed this book! I thought this book was very gripping, intriguing and engrossing tale and I found it very hard to put it down for long. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next! I fell in love with all the main characters. They were all so interesting, compelling and very well-developed, especially Fiona. As soon as I finished this novel I brought the sequel, The Winter Rose, on my Kindle and I'm really looking forward to reading it!
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


I've just started reading by Jojo Moyes.

[Susan]

I'm reading Maeve Binchy's new book A Week in Winter which makes me a little sad. It's her last book and I have been reading her for over 30 years so I will miss her. It's such a nice change from "Crime and Punishment" and it weaves her magic. She was the first Irish author I had read and she made me want to jump on a plane to Ireland. Thanks for the pleasurable reads you have provided me, Maeve.

[Laura]

I have just finished Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle.It was a delightful and funny book about a young boy growing up in a working class area of Dublin in the late 60's. It brought back all those confusing discussion I use to have about Purgatory, Limbo, the unfairness of last minute confessions. Paddy's relationships and feelings were very real.

[Laura]

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha followed the reading of The Bartenders tale by Doig. This was also a story about a young boy growing up but in Montana. Good book but the writer just didn't bring the boy alive in the same way that Doyle did.

[Laura]

Susan wrote: "I'm reading Maeve Binchy's new book A Week in Winter which makes me a little sad. It's her last book and I have been reading her for over 30 years so I will miss her. It's such a nice change from "..."

Yes, I will miss her as well. The first book I read of hers was Circle of Friends and I was trapped. I have read most if not all of her books except the last one which will go on the to read list.

[Susan]

Laura wrote: "Susan wrote: "I'm reading Maeve Binchy's new book A Week in Winter which makes me a little sad. It's her last book and I have been reading her for over 30 years so I will miss her. It's such a nice..."

I was so surprisingly pleased. It was really a lovely read.

[Katherine]

I've just finished Tara road. It's my favourite Maeve Binchy book. I think she is definitely my favourite author.

[Brian]

I loved that book too especially because I grew up in the Raheny area and it took me back to my own mispsent youth when I'd arrive home after being out for hours up to mischief.The relief that no news of my misadventures had followed me home was palpable.

[Susan]

Thanks, Brian, for the laugh. It's right out of a Maeve Binchey book.

[Aoibhínn]

I've finished reading by Jojo Moyes and by Ernest Hemingway.

I loved Me Before You from beginning to the end. It's a very complex novel. It is well-written, heart-breaking, gripping and deeply moving. I cried my eyes out several times while reading this book. I don't think I've ever cried this much while reading a book before! This novel deals with the topic of euthanasia and could have been really depressing but it's a credit to the skill of the author that she makes the book so readable. This is a thought provoking story and, whatever you feel about assisted suicide, it will make you think about how you would cope if suddenly all your choices and decisions were taken away from you and you had to rely on others to do everything for you. I gave this book 4.5 Stars!
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...



Now I'm a couple of chapters into by Janet Evanovich.

[Aoibhínn]

I've recently finished reading by Ernest Hemingway and by Janet Evanovich.


The Old Man and the Sea
I enjoyed this book. At 127 pages, The Old Man and the Sea was a quick read. I managed to read the entire novel in just under an hour. It was a touching and thought-provoking tale. I admired Santiago's determination and his refusal to let his spirit be broken. I loved Ernest Hemingway's writing style. I thought it was very similar to John Steinbeck's style (who is my favourite author by the way). Although it is a very short novel, the story got quite slow and repetitive in places. It is a good novel but I honestly didn't think it was worthy of the Pulitzer Prize it won in 1953.
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


Lean Mean Thirteen
I enjoyed this book but I didn't think it was anywhere near as good as the previous instalment, Twelve Sharp. The plot was predictable and virtually nothing happened in it to develop the characters further. I'm getting tired of the love triangle with Joe Morelli and Ranger and I wish Stephanie would finally choose one of them or else dump them both and date someone new! Janet Evanovich has let this go on for far too long and now there's no sexual tension left between the characters.
My full review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...



Now I'm halfway through by Jane Casey.

[Barbara]

Laura wrote: "I have just finished Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle.It was a delightful and funny book about a young boy growing up in a working class area of Dublin in the late 60's. It brought back all tho..."

I have this book on my shelves and really, really have to read it.

[Barbara]

I am currently reading Ian Rankins's The Impossible Dead which is second Malcolm Fox (The Complaints) book and better than the first. Rankin has a new Rebus book and I saw him recently at our local independent bookstore. I may buy the e-book. I just finished the audiobook My Beloved World which was wonderful and read the 5th Shetland mystery by Ann Cleeves Dead Water which isn't out yet in the US so I ordered it from Kenny's (in Galway) as I couldn't wait.

[J.S.]

Barbara wrote: "Laura wrote: "I have just finished Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle.It was a delightful and funny book about a young boy growing up in a working class area of Dublin in the late 60's. It brough..."

It's a great read if only for the cadence of the boy's language.

Speaking of linguistics choices, just skimmed the Patrick Taylor series ( Irish Country Doctor, etc ) and was oddly annoyed by word/phrase choices given 1. the 1960s setting and brewing Troubles in the North where it is set, which is totally ignored until the third novel in the series for reasons unknown; and 2. overuse of cutesy country phrases like "divil a bit". Might expand on this in a review if it can be expressed without attracting too much flak. [ puts head back down to keep a low profile]

[Barbara]

I believe Taylor addresses both of these in his introductions. The Northern Irish Civil Rights movement began in the mid-60's and didn't have their first march until 1968. Taylor who now lives in Canada grew up with the language used, and though it may come across at time as a bit "twee" I accept it as authentic for rural folk and admire his efforts to record or document it. He was born in 1941 and grew up in Bangor, County Down so he lived in that area in the early 60's that he is writing about. In the later books, the young doctor dates a woman who is involved in the civil rights movement. Taylor wrote 2 books about the Troubles around 2000 Now in the Hour of our Death copies go for around $150 and up and
Pray For Us Sinners . I have Pray For Us Sinners but haven't read it.

[J.S.]

Barbara wrote: "I believe Taylor addresses both of these in his introductions. The Northern Irish Civil Rights movement began in the mid-60's and didn't have their first march until 1968. Taylor who now lives in C..."

Yes, until the third novel in the Irish Country Doctor series the sense of social stratification is palpable but not a word about any issues nor the Troubles. The drama was largely about whether the young doctor or his older mentor would miss their next meal from the housekeeper... Not to be too churlish about it. Hadn't heard of the other 2 titles from him that you mentioned and will look at the descriptions for those.

After reading other fiction, and memoirs from the 20th century participants in most of the counties, it is difficult to read something that takes place in the North inside a cozy vacuum. But then that's why the Troubles began, to upset the cozy status quo. *?* Like reading about a Dublin bankster's life during the past few years who remains unaffected by the economy crashing around his ears and keeps his job and megabonuses, while enjoying regular meals, a Mercedes, a holiday cottage off in Kerry, and trips to the Continent while others are being foreclosed and/or emigrating.

Would have enjoyed that third novel if the young woman with actual political views (gasp) arrived on the scene, to have really turned the young doctor's cozy world upside down but she causes a few ripples and that's it. Back to worrying about what he's having for his next meal.

[Barbara]

J.S. wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I believe Taylor addresses both of these in his introductions. The Northern Irish Civil Rights movement began in the mid-60's and didn't have their first march until 1968. Taylor wh..."

It's true that the young doctor is put off by her politics, claiming to be apolitical. I believe that too many people hide behind that label because they feel politics is messy. But as hard as it is to believe, there were even people in better off sections of Belfast who attempted to ignore what was happening. Of course the most affected were those living in the working class neighborhoods. I recently got my hands on Patricia Craig's (editor) The Belfast Anthology which is on Glenn Patterson's list of the top ten books about Northern Ireland. I tried to get it a few years ago but it is out of print and the available copies were expensive. Another excellent book about Belfast in the period Taylor writes about, is My Mother City by Gerard Dawe. It covers his childhood in the 50's to the early 70's and his time at the University of Ulster when he left for Galway. I couldn't find a copy in Belfast in 2009 but was able to get one in Hodges Figgis in Dublin after prolonged searching. Here is a description which addresses some of what we have been discussing my link text. Both Patterson and Dawes were lecturers at the summer school at Queens in 2009 that I was fortunate to be able to attend.

[J.S.]

Apples to apples: to compare Taylor with another commercially successful author who writes mostly about domestic and "village" life, Maeve Binchy, it seems her characters and settings have a more authentic feel. People have problems, which not always have a pat solution nor a medical fix. ...Taylor's young doctor is one of the most unaware fictional figures one could come across, living in a social vacuum. No doubt there were real-life versions. I've met a few. Anything else I say might be seen as provocative, so will stop with that.

PS Am now slogging through or rather, immersed in the rich detail of The Master of Verona

[Nelleke]

At this moment I am reading about Ali baba and the 40 thieves, a fairy tale from the 1000 and 1 night books.

[[deleted user]]

Nelleke wrote: "At this moment I am reading about Ali baba and the 40 thieves, a fairy tale from the 1000 and 1 night books."

When I was a kid my teacher would read The Arabian Nights stories to us, and I always loved them.

Let me know what you think of them when you've finished.

[Nelleke]

Declan wrote: "Nelleke wrote: "At this moment I am reading about Ali baba and the 40 thieves, a fairy tale from the 1000 and 1 night books."

When I was a kid my teacher would read The Arabian Nights stories to u..."

Totally different from the Walt Disney movies I saw when I was young. Great stories, although the dutch translation I am reading is quite old-fashioned and difficult.

[[deleted user]]

Nelleke wrote: "Totally different from the Walt Disney movies I saw when I was young. Great stories, although the dutch translation I am reading is quite old-fashioned and difficult."

I've found that with other folk stories, but if you find it worthwhile I could always track down a more modern translation on Amazon.

[Laura]

I am currently reading 44 Scotland Street by Alexander Smith. this novel is classified as a" cozy mystery". it is a very light read , a kind of amusing character study but I am not sure it will tempt me to read the rest of the series. I guess I am in search for a new mystery series , not too heavy.

[[deleted user]]

Laura wrote: "I am currently reading 44 Scotland Street by Alexander Smith. this novel is classified as a" cozy mystery". it is a very light read , a kind of amusing character study but I am not sure it will t..."

The only mystery novels I've ever read have all been pretty dark. I can't even begin to imagine what a cosy mystery would be like.

[Barbara]

I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCall Smith which is about a philosopher in Edinburgh and they are mysteries - very "gentle".

[Laura]

Barbara wrote: "I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCall Smith which is about a philosopher in Edinb..."

I agree. I expected 44 to be a mystery based on a category I found it in but it really isn't. I think I have more mystery in my mundane life: why do teens act so strangely, where are my keys, are they with the socks, why doesn't life get more simple? I've had quite a lot of practice now... I found the inclusion of Ian Rankin as a character very clever. so now I

have included Rankin in my to read list and Scotland in my to go to list. I think I will give the
Sunday Philosopher Club a try. I enjoyed Louise Penny's series. It is a crime series based in Quebec. Not too heavy.

[Susan]

Laura wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCall Smith which is about a phil..."
Laura, I belong to a cozy mystery book club on Goodreads. I get so many good recommendations. They go from the old time series like Josephine Tey to modern ones like Deborah Crombie. If you like Alexander McCall Smith have you read the Botswana series? I love the No.1 Detective. Louise Penny is very good.

[Susan]

Declan wrote: "Laura wrote: "I am currently reading 44 Scotland Street by Alexander Smith. this novel is classified as a" cozy mystery". it is a very light read , a kind of amusing character study but I am not ..."

Oh, Declan. You always give me a chuckle. The number one cozy mystery writer is Agatha Christie and the number one star is Miss Marple. The book club I belong to say it should have a non-police mystery solver but that went out the window. Ruth Rendell writes a great series of Inspector Wexford, Colin Dexter writers the Morse series and then there's Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series. There are a lot of books where the sleuth is a chef, a knitter or a little old lady.

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Oh, Declan. You always give me a chuckle. The number one cozy mystery writer is Agatha Christie and the number one star is Miss Marple."

I've never read any of the authors you've mentioned but I'm familiar with most of them through TV and they all seem to be murder mysteries. Christie wouldn't be dark, exactly, but I can't think of it as cosy just because they have cream tea of a morning and sherry in the evening. Someone died after all. I can't think of a story as cosy when there's a homicide to be solved.

[Susan]

Well, there still considered cozy because the murders are never very graphic. Yes, they are murder mysteries
but not graphic so much. I read them all- graphic and non-graphic. I can skip parts too gory to read. But they are usually more about the sleuths and their lives. You get really wrapped up in their lives. I really can't believe you have never read Agatha Christie. I am starting to think you have a woman author phobia. :).

[Laura]

Susan wrote: "Well, there still considered cozy because the murders are never very graphic. Yes, they are murder mysteries
but not graphic so much. I read them all- graphic and non-graphic. I can skip parts too..."

Oh Susan, you are going to get Declan's dander up now. I'm going to take a peak at your mystery book club listings. I enjoyed the Number One Detective series. I like Agatha Christie but she gets a bit repetitive.
Apropos of nothing we are talking about, I am really, really enjoying the BBC series Call the Midwife. Maybe I will look into the books that the series is based on. I wish I read as fast as some of you out there.

[Barbara]

I am not a big cozy mystery fan in general. I think of them as "oh, there's a body in the garden!". I go for the darker mysteries like Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Elizabeth George and Ruth Rendall, to name a few. I do enjoy the No. 1 Ladies Detective series by A McCall Smith. I am reading more of the new Irish mystery writers that tend to be in the darker genre - Adrian McKinty, Brian McGilloway and Ken Bruen, At the risk of incurring the wrath of fans, I have to say I have gone off of Tana French - her last book was rambling and hard to believe.

[Cathleen]

Barbara wrote: "I am not a big cozy mystery fan in general. I think of them as "oh, there's a body in the garden!". I go for the darker mysteries like Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Elizabeth George and Ruth Rendall..."

I read a novel by Brian McGilloway last year, Borderlands, and I thought it was quite good. I'll definitely read more by him. A few weeks ago I read Peter May's The Blackhouseand I couldn't put it down. Both of those writers make the setting practically a key character. For some reasons, those types of mysteries/crime novels appeal the most to me.

[Laura]

Barbara wrote: "I am not a big cozy mystery fan in general. I think of them as "oh, there's a body in the garden!". I go for the darker mysteries like Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Elizabeth George and Ruth Rendall..."
Well, I have some good suggestions now. I have read a number of Ken Gruen's books -very dark and gripping although I feel I should check into an AA meeting after reading his books. I also like Irish novelist Benjamin Black, John Banville's alter ego.

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Well, there still considered cozy because the murders are never very graphic. Yes, they are murder mysteries
but not graphic so much. I read them all- graphic and non-graphic. I can skip parts too..."

Would you believe that my last three reads were all female authors?

Two were group reads and the other was even a sci-fi:
Arslan by M.J. Engh. If I have a phobia I'm getting over it slowly but surely.:) I'm buying an ereader tomorrow and I'm sure I can get Christie's works for free, so I'll read some pretty soon.

Now, there's a lot of novels and authors mentioned in this conversation, so I'd better get off before my to-read list gets even more out of hand. :/

[Susan]

Cathleen wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I am not a big cozy mystery fan in general. I think of them as "oh, there's a body in the garden!". I go for the darker mysteries like Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Elizabeth George ..."
I have added both to my TBR pile. You should nominate one of them for the next month book read. It would be a nice change of pace to read a mystery. One of them is an Isle of Lewis mystery. Anne Cleeves writes a nice mystery series on the Shetland Islands that I love. I love series that take me places that I've never been like Botswana or the Shetland Islands.

[Susan]

Laura wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I am not a big cozy mystery fan in general. I think of them as "oh, there's a body in the garden!". I go for the darker mysteries like Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Elizabeth George ..."
If you think Ruth Rendell is dark, you should read her Barbara Vine ones. Those are really dark. I like Elizabeth George until she wrote the one after Helen was killed. It was awful. She's slowly getting back in stride but she really went off the deep end for awhile.

For a really fantastic book read Kate Atkinson's new one, "Life After Life". It's in my top 10 favorites EVER. I'm going to San Francisco April 24 to hear her speak. It's so good it makes my toes tingle thinking about it.
Declan, I think you would like it. Add it to your TBR pile. I'll even mail a copy to you. That's how much I love it.

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Declan, I think you would like it. Add it to your TBR pile. I'll even mail a copy to you. That's how much I love it."

Added it. I should manage to get a copy in the Library. You're such a bad influence on me, Susan. My to-read pile is getting out of hand.

[Barbara]

Laura wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCall Smith which is about a phil..."

There are so many responses to various posts I'm going to put them all here:) I just got the ebook of Life After Life from Barnes & Noble half price last weekend but have some library books I have to read first. I have gotten into "Tartan Noir" which includes Ian Rankin, Denise Mina (her new one is one of the library books),Lin Anderson (just finished her first Driftnet,Louise Welch and Peter May (recently read The Blackhouse.

I just started The Light Between Oceans and just finished the audiobook of Beautiful Ruins, and finally finished Slammerkin.
My local contemporary Irish book club just read Sean O'Reilly's Love and Sleep: A Romance which caused a rebellion. The group is composed almost completely of females over age 50, and is run by a local arts organization. The purpose of the book club is to read emerging Irish writers, and recent books. The complaint was this book was too dark. Well it's about Derry in the 1990's so of course it wouldn't be cheery. One woman wrote a long, long email rant. The complainers didn't show up last night and as a result we had a very pleasant meeting and made a list going up to November. The leader of the group is a man, also our age, who is on the board of the organization. Despite the complaints, we won't be reading chick lit including Maeve Binchy nor Patrick Taylor. I read them both, but they are not "literature".

[Cathleen]

Barbara wrote: "Laura wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCall Smith which i..."

Barbara, it sounds like there's a short story in your Irish book club. :) I chuckled (although it probably wasn't funny for you) when I read about the person who wrote a long email rant about the book selection.

How are you finding The Light Between Oceans? I can't decide if I want to read it or not.

[Michael]

Just finished :Their Eyes Were Watching God by Nora Neile Hurston
and just started : The Time Keeper by MitchAlbom

[Barbara]

Cathleen wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Laura wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I have read some of the 44 Scotland Street series but didn't think of the books as mysteries per se. I LOVE The Sunday Philospher's Club series by McCa..."

If I wrote a short story I'd be tempted to have some disaster befall the ranting member:)
I am caught up in The Light Between Oceans - more than I expected.

[Bernie]

I have just finished The Call of the Wild and White Fang and would recommend it to all my friends. You get into the mind of the dog and how events effect it.One story is about the decent from civilization to the wild and the other from the wild to becoming tame.

[[deleted user]]

Finally got myself an ereader. I'm reading a Star Wars series at the moment, and then I'm going to read an Agatha Christie novel to see if these cosy mysteries are any good.

[Mr. Owl]

Recently finished "The Master" by Colm Tóibín which was hugely enjoyable, one of these books that you did not want to end.

I actually got this at the local library - was wandering past recently and decided to join up. €2.50 well spent even if I don't get another book this year.

Currently reading HP Lovecraft who has the strange power of being both hilarious and terrifying.