What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 1,151-1,200 of 4,001

[Kara]

I am re-reading Frost in May (Antonia White), because I am so overworked right now I need to read something soothing and familiar.

[Jaime]

Jenny wrote: "Jaime said: I am just about to start Shanghai Girls. I had to pick it up from the bookstore the day it was released in paperback and have been chomping

I did exactly the same. I pre-ordered it f..."

I'll keep you posted, Jenny! It's pretty good so far. We are in the process of moving and have been crazy busy, so I'm not sure when I'll finish it.

[Chrissie]

Jainie and Jenny, I think Lisa See older books are better than the newer ones! I think her best is On Gold Mountain: The 100 Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family, even better thanSnow Flower and the Secret Fan, which I did like. I haven't read Shanghai Gitls. I am not so sure it would be to my taste!

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Jainie and Jenny, I think Lisa See older books are better than the newer ones! I think her best is On Gold Mountain: The 100 Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family, e..."

Hmmmm....maybe I'll give that one a try in the future. I wasn't as excited about Peony in Love and the mystery series doesn't interest me at all. Shanghai Girls is good so far and even though it's got pretty page-turning details, I'm just not as in to it as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. It can be due to the stresses in my life right now, though. I can't seem to concentrate on anything for too long lately!

[Chrissie]

Jamie, I personally wasn't drawn into reading Shanghai Girls - they sounded a bit like spoiled brats.But what do I know, I haven't read it! On Gold Mountain gives alot of history in a very easily absorbed way, the life of the family pulls you right in. It is actually a memoir.

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

I will have to give On Gold Mountain a go. Like you Jaime I wasn't as thrilled about Peony as I was Snow Flower.

[Chrissie]

Jaimie and Jenny, There are no real English book libraries here in Belgium, at least they lack contemporary literature. Therefor I must buy many books :0) ! However, as a result, I am a maniac for checking out which books I buy. I most oftern read a portion of them via the Amazon or B&N and if possible check out unbiased editorial reviews such as Kirkus, which is my favorite, or Library Journal or Publisher's Weekly. That is why I never even tried Shanghai Girls. I could kind of tell I might not like it. Peony I had a hard time deciding about...... So I am a nit-picker on the books I finally put on my "must shelves". However if I read a bit of a book and it just pulls me in immediately, well then I usually push it onto the "must shelves", from which I buy books.... There are so many books to read; there is no reason not to be choosy! From my mist shelves I move them to "available to read", when I have boutht them. I have to stop buying books, but BookDepository makes it so easy and cheaper.

[Chrissie]

Yesterday I finished Cutting for Stone and My Life and Hard Times. The latter is very short for a memoir. It really is a classic, writing that does not loose its appeal as years and years go by. Many older books become dated - well not this. WODERFUL humor. It is a autobiography of Thurber's boyhood and it reads as funny episodes in his life, not as a straight normal autobiography. Some lines are simply the best humor you can find.

Cutting for Stone is marvelous. Simply marvelous - about family relationships, what it is like to be a twin, coming of age issues and the principles that should lie behind being a GOOD doctor. Wonderful lines: like "Do you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Both got 4 stars. Otherwise see my reviews if you want to know more.

Now I have begun Un sac de billes. It wan lots of prizes in France and it is a memoir about two children that managed on their own during WW2 France. Beautiful, funny, poignant writing so far!

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Yesterday I finished Cutting for Stone and My Life and Hard Times. The latter is very short for a memoir. It really is a classic, writing that does not loose its appeal ..."



My Life and Hard Times brings back many fond memories for me! It's a definite classic in my eyes! My Dad used to read us parts of it when we were young. I remember laughing and laughing and laughing.

Another Goodreads group I'm in read Cutting for Stone. I couldn't get into it after about 150 pages, so I gave up on it. I think I may pick it up in the future and give it another shot. So many people have raved about it.

[Chrissie]

Jaimie, check out my review for Cutting for Stone. It isn't an easy read b/c there is alot of medical jargon and discussions thrown in. I am uncomfortable with that, but the characters become really wonderful. First Hema and then Ghosh and then Marion. You also get Ethiopian history. Therre are also some cool philosophical thoughts too. What makes a good doctor? What is it like to have an identical twin? What is a real family - is it your birth Mom and Dad? What is home? The author is a doctor himself, so he cannot write differently, and hej the main characters are all doctors too!

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Jaimie, check out my review for Cutting for Stone. It isn't an easy read b/c there is alot of medical jargon and discussions thrown in. I am uncomfortable with that, but the characters become reall..."


Now that it's out in paperback, I'll probably pick it up sometime when I have a discount coupon at B&N. I literally haven't talked to anybody who did not enjoy this book. It's not that I wasn't enjoying the book either, although I agree that the medical jargon was a bit much. I just found it slow paced. Slow isn't always a bad thing, but I guess that at the time I started reading it I needed a faster-paced novel with more plot twists.

[[deleted user]]

I'm currently reading the following...

Alice in Wonderland - I love the disney movie version so I want to see how much was changed when they made it.

Twenties Girl: A Novel - the cover appealed to me

Shiver - same as twenties girl... I liked the cover.

[Chrissie]

Jaimie, Cutting for Stone isn't fast moving. Sometimes you have to wade through to get to the the essential. I felt too what you are talking about. Something bothered me sometimes....but in the end I thought back about all the things I learned and experienced and I was happy I read it and met these characters.

Sophie, yeah, covers are dangerous....

[[deleted user]]

I agree, the only problem is that while the covers may appeal, the book might not!

[Chrissie]

Sophie, exactly. That is a bit what has happened now with Un sac de billes, which by the way is translated into English with the title A Bag of Marbles. Cover is great, reviews in France great, BUT it is DEFINITELY a ya memoir. It is written so sweetly and so carefully to not disturb young readers that I think it belittles what the two brothers went through to escape from the Vichy controlled part of France in WW2. Or was it truly this simple?! Sure they were scared occasionally, but the majority is very rosy. I should say I have only read about a third of the book. Descriptions of Paris and Marseille and train views are beautiful, but I do not think YA books have to be so very, very sweet.

[Karen]

Twenties Girl: A Novel - have read some of Sophie Kinsella's other books so thought I'd give this one a go ,as for the book itself so far quite enjoying the story although I don't like the characters.

The Swan Thieves - picked this because I really enjoyed The Historian but so far I'm not sure about this one, although I'm only about a third of the way through so it might improve.

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie wrote: "Sophie, exactly. That is a bit what has happened now with Un sac de billes, which by the way is translated into English with the title A Bag of Marbles. Cover is great, reviews in Fra..."

One thing I think people don't get is that Young Adult is just that Young Adult. It's for those people who aren't reading Junior Fiction any more and need to go up because of their ages. Because of that the people who read young adult are ore likely to handle the types of things that come in this area.

But with that all in mind I still wouldn't recommend a book like the Southern Vampire Mysteries (which are supposed to be classified as Young Adult) to someone under the age of sixteen - unless they were really mature and I thought that they could handle it!

[Chrissie]

Sophie, what is annoying is that neither Amazon or B&N said it was YA! Usually I have nothing against YA, but in this book it seems to play lightly with the serious situation. It should have been classified as YA! But hey the writing is good.

[Lianne]

I am currently reading Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule. I've heard of the series for many years but didn't pick it up because it's such a long series and I've heard mixed reviews about it. But after watching a few episodes of Legend of the Seeker, I decided to check it out. It's a pretty good read so far =)

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie wrote: "Sophie, what is annoying is that neither Amazon or B&N said it was YA! Usually I have nothing against YA, but in this book it seems to play lightly with the serious situation. It should have been c..."

As long as the writing is good!

[John]

I'm about to start "The Long March". It is from an old university English course about 40 years ago.

[Chrissie]

John, I guess you mean this book:The Long March. It is easier if you provide the link (see text "add book/author" centered above the comment box). I was looking through the list and found The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, which I in fact added to my Mt. TBR!

[Chrissie]

Sophie, I have finnishedUn sac de billes and seriously think I was wrong in criticizing the "lightness" of the book. The author has an excellent afterword and he explains exactly what was bothering me! I highly recollend it as educational material about children living through WW2 in France. I explain more in my review. I gave it four stars.

Now I have begun The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo because I like reading about artists.

[Natalie]

Right now I am reading two books.

Loving God With All Your Mind: Thinking as a Christian in the Postmodern World because it was recomended to me by a friend

The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again because I found my old copy, which I first read when I was 10 or so, and the happy memories made me want to read it again

[John]

Starting How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, I hope it is as good as Art of Racing in the Rain one of my favorites from last year.

[Shannon]

I am reading (and enjoying so far) Icefields

[[deleted user]]

I've started to read Kisscut by Karin Slaughter. I have never ead anything by her and I'm enjoying it a lot. She got me hooked after the second chapter!

I'm also on the third book in the House of Night series (Chosen) and I'm trying to get my hands on the fourth in the Anita Blake Series (The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #4)).

Luckily I am going to a 21st this weekend so I spending a couple of days with my Grandmother... I'll head down the street and go to a bookstore! I haven't been and done a book splurge since Christmas and now I have just over $200 that is burning a hole in my pocket from my Birthday... I have a list of books I want :P

[Jaime]

Jaime wrote: "I am just about to start Shanghai Girls. I had to pick it up from the bookstore the day it was released in paperback and have been chomping at the bit to read it ever since. I reall..."

I just finished Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. The story line was okay. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked to learn more about Sam, one of the main character's husbands. The book followed two sisters from Shanghai to Los Angeles, covering the time period right before WWII up through the sixties. I found the history interesting and See definitely suceeded in catching my interest in the treatment of Asian immigrants and Asian-Americans during the Red Scare in the USA. I was more intrested in the actual history than the plot and will probably read more (fiction and non-fiction) having to do with it. I couldn't help but draw parallels to Becoming Madame Mao while reading this book. Shanghai Girls briefly discusses what is happening in China as it becomes a Communist nation and Becoming Madame Mao takes place in China during this time. I read the book a while ago, but remember really liking it. I may have to go back and skim through it now!

Chrissie,

Based on the fact that I really enjoyed the historical aspect of Shanghai Girls, I bet I would really enjoy On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family. I am adding it to my TBR today!

[Chrissie]

Jamie, I bet you will prefer On Gold Mountain even more. Have your read Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. You HAVE to read that!

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Jamie, I bet you will prefer On Gold Mountain even more. Have your read Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. You HAVE to read that!"


I KNOW!! Everyone raves about that book. Another for the TBR....

[Chrissie]

Jaime - it must be put at the top! Sorry for misspelling your name again...... I caught that.

[Lianne]

I am currently reading Guy Gavriel Kay's Ysabel because I've seen this book all over the place (and the premise sounds interesting) and I've never read Kay's works before (they come highly recommended) so I've decided to check it out =) It's pretty interesting so far =)

[Jaime]

I just started Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I have heard that it is very good and that it will be made into a movie, so I moved it up on my TBR. I'm only on chapter two, but it sucked me right in!

[Chrissie]

Jaime, I have Incendiary by Chris Cleave. I thought I would read Little Bee if I like the author. I am curious to read your review.

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Jaime, I have Incendiary by Chris Cleave. I thought I would read Little Bee if I like the author. I am curious to read your review."

I'll let you know what I think of it. It takes me a while to finish books these days, though! We're moving and I have very little (if any) reading time lately!

[Chrissie]

Jaime, there is absolutely no hurry. It is taking me ages to get through The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo. It is good, but long and detailed and lots of Italian names.

[Linda]

Just started Mistress of the Art of Death after giving up on Roses by Leila Meacham. I've had Mistress at the top of my TBR pile for some time. I hope it's as good as I've been told.

[John]

I know that Their Eyes Were Watching God didn't make the reading group for this month but it is the book that I have on hand so guess what I am going to read next.

[Shannon]

John wrote: "I know that Their Eyes Were Watching God didn't make the reading group for this month but it is the book that I have on hand so guess what I am going to read next."

Hey John, once you are done if you want to discuss we can put our thoughts in the Random Book discussions. I will be intersted to hear what you think of the book.

[Lianne]

I am currently reading Muriel Barbery's The Elegance of the Hedgehog. My colleague/dorm neighbour recommended it to me and now that my TBR pile up here has dwindled somewhat, I decided to check it out =)

[Donna]

I recently finished Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas which I really enjoyed and Veil of Lies: A Medieval Noir by Jeri Westerson which was OK.

Now on to Sunflowers Sheramy Bundrick

[John]

Back in 1967 I was sitting a Geography 12 class reading Off Islanders instead of learning geography. Unfortunately it was a laugh out loud book and I almost got caught. It is a Cold War spoof so I wonder if it is still relevant today. The book was made into the movie "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming".

[Jaime]

Chrissie wrote: "Jaime, I have Incendiary by Chris Cleave. I thought I would read Little Bee if I like the author. I am curious to read your review."

Hi Chrissie,

I just finished and I enjoyed the book, despite it being a pretty sombering read throughout. I found Little Bee's character and her experiences to be the most interesting parts of the book. I really like how Cleave continually draws parallels between Little Bee's friends (girls) back home in Nigeria and the Western experience. Most of the characters were unlikable in some respects. However, I did appreciate that Cleave did have different layers to his characters, ensuring the reader that people are not "all good" or "all bad". I, personally, found the experiences that Little Bee faced in the immigration removal center to be of interest. It is unbelievable how "civilized" nations can treat people the way they do in these facilities. I know this is fiction, but I feel that Cleave did his research and that it's a pretty accurate portrayal (he does talk a bit about it in his notes at the end of the book). I read a memoir several years ago called Do They Hear You When You Cry and the author discusses in detail her experiences with immigration facilities in the USA. She goes into much more detail than Little Bee, but I remember thinking a lot about this book as I was reading some of Little Bee's experiences. I question if many of the situations and decisions are realistic in the book. I won't go into detail here, but the scene where Little Bee, Sarah and Andrew meet for the first time is questionable to me in some respects. I also question the haste with which Sarah makes some of her decisions. Other than that, the book was a quick read and one that maintained my interest throughout. I read somewhere that a movie is going to be made. I definitely look forward to seeing it. I also think I will readIncendiary in the future.

[Jaime]

I just started The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. I need a quick, easy read that really draws me in as my life is in upheaval right now! We sold our house and have not yet bought another, so all my stuff is in storage and I've moved back to my parents after 15+ years with toddler in tow. You should have seen me picking out what books to keep out and which ones to send to storage! It wasn't a pretty scene (LOL)! My husband works out of town (closer to where we are looking to move) and we only get to see him on weekends. :( Oh, and I just finished Little Bee, which was quite sad.

[Chrissie]

Jaime, thanks for the review. I will have to read Incendiary soon, but I just started The Storyteller: Memory, Secrets, Magic and Lies and I am absolutely loving it.

[Karen]

The Anniversary Man, so far i am loving it.for me it's one of those books that i can't put down, you know the kind just a few more pages and then i'll put the light off which usually goes on for a few hours.

[Karen]

I'm reading The Handmaid's Tale and N or M?

[Bill]

I'm currently reading "Waiting" by Ha Jin. I chose to read this book because I was looking for a change of pace after reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Angel of Darkness".

I must admit I've not been disappointed - it is a very personal story that provides an interesting insight is a completely different culture.

[Christa (is on top of the world!)]

Frostbite because it's the second novel in the Vampie Academy series by: Richelle Mead

[Hannah]

I am reading Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews. I am reading it because I have read all her other books and this was the only one I haven't read yet. But I mostly go by the book preview on the inside or the back, if I can read the preview without getting bored I read it. Or I go by other peoples recomendations.