What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 501-550 of 4,001

[Fiona (Titch)]

Will finish The Woman in Black - Susan Hill. Will read The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - Michael Morpurgo.

[Donna]

Just started The Witch's Trinity A Novel, but it's too early to give an opinion yet, I'm only on page 15.

[Rachel]

Jaime, have you read The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter?
It's a collection of dark retellings of fairytales and legends, a few being Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, and Bluebeard

I've just started The Book Thief - Markus Zusak, I've been meaning to read it for ages and a friend lent it to me yesterday. It's actually very good so far, i tend to avoid books that are really hyped because I feel I'll eb disappointed
Also reading 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

[Jaime]

Rachel wrote: "Jaime, have you read The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter?
It's a collection of dark retellings of fairytales and legends, a few being Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, and Bluebeard

I've j..."

I just ordered a copy of The Bloody Chamber from half books two days ago. I'm looking forward to getting it.

I really want to read The Book Thief, too. It is sitting on my shelf at home! Another genre I've gotten into reading lately is supernatural, or books with, for lack of a better description, "odd occurances" in them. Being a Women's Studies major in college, The Yellow Wallpaper is a definite on my list! Plus, Sarah Waters, an author I much admire, recommended this book on her website. I used to have a copy of it, but I can't find it anywhere. Grrrr.

I'm curious to know what you think of them, Rachel!

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

I loooooved the book thief. Read it read it. The hype put me off too but I ahouldn't have been so silly!!

[Jaime]

I just finished Briar Rose by Jane Yolen and am starting Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beastby Robin McKinley in the morning. I LOVED Briar Rose, although I wouldn't recommend it for people who are looking for a "classic" sort of telling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

[Stuart]

I'm reading The Seance by John Harwood. I've noticed references to the great ghost story writer MR James with a lot of the action being based in his home town of Aldeburgh Suffolk. I'm really enjoying it so far.
Next i'm going to read Oliver Twist as i continue to work my way through all of Dickens' novels.

[Wanda]

I am reading Summer by Edith Wharton. It is a short read about a young girl's sexual awakening in a small town in New England. So far, so good. Next will be The Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland and then Middlemarch by George Eliot.

**EDIT** I will be reading Middlemarch by George Eliot next. I can hardly wait to read this one. It should arrive from Barnes & Noble on Thursday. Middlemarch is part of another group's group read for the month of June/July. But, I will not forget to post a review of Mistress of the Sun once I have read it because I remember that some of you are interested in hearing how it is. From the sneaky peeks I have made of Mistress, it seems as though will be a very, very good read.

[Jaime]

Stuart wrote: "I'm reading The Seance by John Harwood. I've noticed references to the great ghost story writer MR James with a lot of the action being based in his home town of Aldeburgh Suffolk. I'm really enjoy..."


Stuart,

I'd like to know what you think of The Seance once you've finished it. I've picked it up a couple of times in my local bookshop and read a bit of it. It seems interesting. I was going to wait for it to come out in paperback to buy it, though.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Going to read The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - Michael Morpurgo.

[Stuart]

Jaime wrote: "Stuart wrote: "I'm reading The Seance by John Harwood. I've noticed references to the great ghost story writer MR James with a lot of the action being based in his home town of Aldeburgh Suffolk. I..."

Sure thing, Jaime! I'm enjoying it so far - i'll give you my full opinion soon.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Finished The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - Michael Morpurgo. Now will read Puberty Blues - Kathy Lette.

[Rachel]

Book Thief was amazing! Glad I got round to reading it
The Yellow Wallpaper was also very good, particularly the title story(which I read twice) and 'if i were a man'
I've never read anything by Sarah Waters, I shall keep an eye out :D

Now reading Pack of Cards - Penelope Lively, and rereading Hunger - Knut Hamsun
and trying to decide on a third right now!

[Cecily]

I love Penelope Lively, though now you've reminded me, I've only read one in the last few years and that was the atypical Making It Up, which was nevertheless, very good.

[Rachel]

I've only read her short stories but I really enjoy them (a book I enjoyed doing at A level!), though I did find The Photograph for 10p a few weeks ago

[Heather]

Just finished the Serpent's Tale. It was alright, but not as good as the last one. It kept me engaged though. Esp since at just under 400 pages it only took me about 2 days of reading it.

I am now picking up 13 1/2 Lives of Captain BluebearIt's a hefty one, but if it is anything like the City of Dreaming books, I will love it tremendously and quickly. I do have about a week to finish it though before Ella Minnow Pea, which should take me about 1 - 2 days.

[Cecily]

I read Bluebear a few months ago and have got Dreaming Books on the shelf, waiting TBR. What an extraordinary read - but brilliant. Yes, it's 700 pages, but there are illustrations and the whole thing is such a wonderful hybrid of an adult version of Steward and Ridell's Edge Chronicles, with touches of Python, fairy tales, Munchausen, Gulliver's Travels, Edward Lear and goodness knows what else. Lovely use of language, quite apart from the extraordinary imagination behind it.

[Heather]

CFSR, I read the City of Dreaming books and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to delving further into Captain Bluebear. I am only about 16 pages into it so far, but every time I open it my son "needs" me for something.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Finally finished the hilarous Puberty Blues - Kathy Lette & Gabrielle Carey. Will now read A Home For Rose - Jon Katz. He wrote the bestselling book A Dog Year.

[Jaime]

Heather wrote: "CFSR, I read the City of Dreaming books and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to delving further into Captain Bluebear. I am only about 16 pages into it so far, but every time I open it my s..."


Heather,

I am very curious about that book! I saw you were reading it last night and checked it out at the bookstore today. I drove an hour to go to a Borders because I was sick of the local Barnes and Noble. Oh, and I did have a forty percent off coupon! Anyway, I almost bought that book, but I tried to stay within my budget.

[Cecily]

Although I've only read one of them so far, I think Moers is an extraordinary writer. However, I would suggest you look at a copy in some detail as it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. They're also inconveniently large (won't fit in a handbag), which restricts when you can read them, but on the other hand, given the covers, I might feel rather self-conscious reading what looks like a book for 10 year olds in public!

[Cecily]

I am now reading Galapagos, which was one of the island books that didn't win the June poll (thanks Molly).

It's a fascinating story set at the onset of a world financial crisis. The human race will die out except for the survivors and descendents of a cruise to the Galapagos islands, and they will evolve/devolve to have smaller brains (amongst other differences), as our big brains are the source of our problems!

The chronology is strange: Vonnegut tells you so much about what will happen to everyone, why and how, that I don't know if there will be anything left by the time the main narrative catches up.

Anyway, a very interesting read, so far a little like Oryx and Crake, so if you liked that, consider this.

[Jaime]

C F S R wrote: "Although I've only read one of them so far, I think Moers is an extraordinary writer. However, I would suggest you look at a copy in some detail as it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. They're also ..."


Ha! They are pretty big and childish looking. I have been reading a lot of young adult literature lately, though. I think the people at the gym are starting to wonder about me. Of course, not many of them even bring a book, so let them wonder all they want! I don't think I would be able to bring this book to the gym. It wouldn't fit on the rack things they have for books. Hardcovers won't either and that's why there are books I own that I want to get to reading that I keep skipping over in favor of smaller, more "gym condusive" books.

I put myself on the "wish list" for his books on the online book swapping site I'm part of. I figured if I could get it for the price of postage, I might as well. I think I'm next in line for a couple of them already. They are most definitely my husband's type of books, so at least he would enjoy them!

[Jaime]

I just added The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales to my currently reading list. I just read a story here and there, so it should take me forever to get through. Over the years, I've read many of these stories, but it's great to re-read them! I use it sort of as a reference book. Before I read a modern re-telling, I re-read the original. It's amazing what has been created from some of the original stories. I spent some time deciding between editions of the Complete Grimms. The one I decided on seemed to have a more active voice for some of the characters in some of my favorite tales compared to the other edition I was seriously considering.

[Stuart]

Jaime wrote: "Stuart wrote: "I'm reading The Seance by John Harwood. I've noticed references to the great ghost story writer MR James with a lot of the action being based in his home town of Aldeburgh Suffolk. I..."

Hi Jaime,
I just finished 'The Seance'. I enjoyed it and would recommend reading it, but maybe you should get hold of the paperback. The only thing i'd fault is the pace of the last quarter ; it speeds up with one revelation coming after another in quick succession whereas a bit more time to absorb the finale would have helped. Nevertheless, a fine victorian mystery.
Cheers,
Stuart.

[Shannon]

C F S R wrote: "I am now reading Galapagos, which was one of the island books that didn't win the June poll (thanks Molly).

It's a fascinating story set at the onset of a world financial crisis. Th..."

Let me know what you think, it is on my to be read list after it didn't make the cut (as are a couple of others from the island theme).

[Fiona (Titch)]

Stopped reading A Home for Rose - Jon Katz. Now readin Whistleblower - Tess Gerritsen.

[Heather]

Jaime - If you like quirky reads, then you will like the Moers. The City of Dreaming books is quite fun and quirky and as you meet the booklings, I think you will like their names. All of the authors mentioned in the books are anagrams of actual authors. I have yet to decifer them all. He uses really interesting language and all of this characters are just weird...His illustrations really are amazing and they really help you set that imagined image of his creatures firmly in his mind. and I like how each of the books are set in the same world, but none of them ever meet eachother and you really don't need to read the others to have anything make sense for a different book. I have been looking at Captain Bluebear for about 6 years now, since I used to work at B&N, but I just picked it up a couple of weeks ago. I have already wizzed through almost 300 pages in the last 2 1/2 days, so obviously it's a good one...but then again, I am sick so that's really all I feel like doing right now.

oh...Happy Memorial Day ya'll

[Jaime]

Heather wrote: "Jaime - If you like quirky reads, then you will like the Moers. The City of Dreaming books is quite fun and quirky and as you meet the booklings, I think you will like their names. All of the autho..."


Thanks, Heather! Hope you feel better soon!

[Terri]

Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

[Heather]

Thanks Jaime. You are a peach! btw, any tips and tricks of dealing with a crafty three year old when all you want to do is curl up and die??

[Jaime]

Heather wrote: "Thanks Jaime. You are a peach! btw, any tips and tricks of dealing with a crafty three year old when all you want to do is curl up and die??"

Geez, I wish I could help! My son is one of those kids that's always on the move. Last week he napped well for me, but he's usually not even a good napper or sleeper at night, either. He'll entertain himself usually long enough for me to get dinner ready, but he rips the place apart. Typical active toddler stuff, I know!! We're not big tv people, but I know the one time I was really, really sick, I had to put it on just to get some peace. Although, he doesn't even really sit for that for long. Do you have anyone who can watch him for you for a bit? I know the couple times I've been real sick, I felt like it was hard to even feel better when I couldn't get any rest/peace. I feel for ya, Heather!!

[Terri]

Just finsihed the Crossroads by chris Grabenstein - an excellent YA ghost story

[Kathy]

I just finished Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris and loved it. I'm now reading Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin, the third in the Adelia Aguilar series. Both of these books are from two of my favorite series.

[Vicki]

Just started The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

[Heather]

Kathy - let me know how you like Grave Goods. I just finished the Serpent's Tale (2nd in the series) and debating on whether or not to go for the third. I want to wait until it's in pb anyway.

[Kathy]

Heather, so far so good, but I'm only on page 59. I probably enjoyed Mistress of the Art of Death more than The Serpent's Tale, but I love the character of Adelia Aguilar.

[John]

Just started "Amongst Women" - John McGahern. For some unintended reason I have been reading a lot of Irish books in the last year or so.

[Donna]

I'm reading Human Croquet as I recently read Case Histories A Novel and really enjoyed it.

[Dgold]

Just started "Atonement Child" by by Francine Rivers am really enjoyed it.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have just finished Whistleblower - Tess Gerritsen. Going to carry on readin A Home For Rose - Jon Katz.

[Jaime]

Stuart wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Stuart wrote: "I'm reading The Seance by John Harwood. I've noticed references to the great ghost story writer MR James with a lot of the action being based in his home town of Aldebu..."


Thanks, Stuart! I have enjoyed most of books I've read that have been set in the Victorian-era, so I will give this one a try.

[Heather]

Okay Jen...here goes on the WHY??? portion..

Okay, So I just finished The 13 1/2 lives of Captain bluebear. BRILLIANT by the way. Fun, wacky, informative on this world, just overall wonderful, and a very fast read. I think I got through it in about 3-4 days.

Up next I am going to try and go for 2.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, because well, it's the YLTO read for June and I'm the book leader, so I should probably read it again to hone up on the book.

Also, starting The City and the City by China Mieville. It just came out yesterday and I got it yesterday, but as I am going to see him and get it signed in like 2 weeks, I think I should read it before I see him. I am majorly geeking out right now, because I've been a crazy Mieville fan for at least 1 year or 2 now, and this is the first time I get to actually meet him. SQUEEEEE!!

[Wanda]

Kathy wrote: "Heather, so far so good, but I'm only on page 59. I probably enjoyed Mistress of the Art of Death more than The Serpent's Tale, but I love the character of Adelia Aguilar."

Kathy, Heather - will you please let post your opinions on the Adelia Aguilar books. They seem so crazy good to me and I have not read any of them; but I would like to. Is Adelia a believable character for her time and setting? Is she likeable?

[Jaime]

I just finished Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. I really wish they had 1/2 star ratings on Goodreads! I would give it three and a half stars. It was a good re-telling. I think I had myself really hyped because this book seems to be pretty popular among readers of the fairy- tale re-telling genre. I was annoyed by part of the ending, which I will not give away here (not that I would be giving away a lot, pretty predictable if you know the story). I guess I should have kept in mind that this book was written for young readers, not even teens. I am very interested to read McKinley's newer re-telling of the tale, Rose Daughter, as I think it may be more along the lines of what I'm looking for. I'll read it soon.

I need to take a break from the Fairy Tales for now, so I decided to pick up The Soul Thief A Novel. I'm looking for a book with a haunting type of prose that draws me in, and, from the first few pages, I think this will hit the spot. It was also a book reviewed in Bookmarks magazine last year. I'm a part of the Bookmarks group on Goodreads, so I've been discussing it a bit and am getting excited about it. I am a huge fan of Bookmarks magazine, having read it from it's inception and recommend it to every lover of books out there!

[Heather]

Wanda - Adelia is a great character. She is very authentic and believable. I feel like she loses her way a bit in the second book when she becomes a mother, but all in all it was still a good story. The first is way better than the second, and I am still waiting on what Kathy says about the third until I go for that one when it comes out in Paperback.

[Lynne]

Kat wrote: "I just started The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The reason is simple... I have wanted to read it for awhile.... so I saw it last week and bought it."

Oh, that is one of my favorite books of all time.. Let me know how you like it.

Lynne

[Fiona (Titch)]

Gave up on A Home for Rose - Jon Katz, just couldn't get into it this time. So I am going back to read The Brutal Art - Jesse Kellerman

[Wanda]

Heather wrote: "Wanda - Adelia is a great character. She is very authentic and believable. I feel like she loses her way a bit in the second book when she becomes a mother, but all in all it was still a good story..."

Thanks Heather. It helps me to enjoy a book if I like the character nor not and I think I might like Adelia. P.S. How are you feeling? Better, I hope. I felt for you when you wrote you were sick and your little one still needs you so much. I am a married "single" mother (husband is Active Duty Army) so I feel your pain. Get Well!

[Kathy]

Wanda, I love the Adelia character. Of course, I love strong female characters who are ahead of their times. I, also, love the time and place setting of the books, early 12th century England. I will have to differ with Heather on Adelia becoming a mother. I thought it added another dimension to her character, keeping her sharpness in check so that she doesn't become too hard, and, of course, gives her a lifelong connection to Rowley (call me a romantic). The historical fiction and mystery genres are my two favorites, so this series is definitely right up my reading alley. Unfortunately, I have had some interruptions reading this third book, but I plan on reading a lot today. I'm on page 113. I think it's absolutely worth buying the hardback, but I've thought that about all of her books, including the stand-alone City of Shadows A Novel of Suspense . After reading the Adelia Aguilar books, I highly recommend City of Shadows--fantastic read.