What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 1,301-1,350 of 4,001

[Charmian]

Cheryl wrote: "I *loved* The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time! (Note, it's incident, not case, after a key line in a Sherlock Holmes story.) But then I'm a big fan of [book:Born on a Bl..." Hello Cheryl, if you loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, then you may also like The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.

[Cheryl]

Thank you all for the recommendations. :)

[Karen]

The Thirteenth Tale I'm reading this for a book group challenge. I'm currently about halfway through and I'm absolutely loving it.

[Lianne]

I'm currently reading Louis de Bernieres's Birds Without Wings (which has been on my want-to-read list since I finished reading his other book Captain Corelli's Mandolin which I absolutely adored) and Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit (loved the BBC adaptation and my copy of the book has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf since Christmas *blushes*) =)

[Shannon]

I really liked Boyden's Three Day Road even better than Through Black Spruce so will definitely read the third when it comes out.

Regarding the above discussion on books that deal with mental health, you may be interested in Richard Power's The Echo Maker. The lead character suffers a brain injury. I have a review of it on GR.

I have the current month's read in hand and have just started it.

[Gitte]

I started reading Blast from the Past by Ben Elton last night. I needed some light reading as I've been trying to read Dune, which I'm finding difficult to follow - I haven't given up yet, just taking a break :-)

[John]

Shannon wrote: "I really liked Boyden's Three Day Road even better than Through Black Spruce so will definitely read the third when it comes out.

Regarding the above discussion on b..."

I agree totally. Both are great but TBS held my interest a bit more, I don't know if it was because it is a bit more contemporary. Now, the wait for number three. Thank goodness there are still a few good books around to read while we wait!

[John]

My last book was a NF war story so I now need some humour and this book has been in my pile for over a year, time to star reading A Fraction of the Whole

[Patsy]

People don't post her very often. I check everyday and sometimes more than once. I get emails saying that there are additional posts but when I check I still see the same last one by John (#1373). Am I doing something wrong? I have this page bookmarked and go to "newest" when the page comes up but...

Well, I'd like to say something about "Blindness" which I'm currently halfway through. It is very depressing but I have never been one to be bothered by a depressing book or movie. I know that this one won the Nobel Prize for Literature and I am not arguing that (especially since I haven't even finished the book). I am just having a bit of trouble with his writing style (the no names and dialog not punctuated). I guess I am starting to get used to it but, being a writer, it fascinates me that the rules are so broken. I would like to use some different techniques in the book I am working on too. Hmmmm...

Also, I found out that there is a movie of this book planned for release in the fall!

[Ally]

Patsy wrote: "People don't post her very often. I check everyday and sometimes more than once. I get emails saying that there are additional posts but when I check I still see the same last one by John (#1373). ..."

Patsy I initially really struggled with Saramago's writing style as well, but I found I did get used to it by the end of the book, and I really enjoyed it despite the depressing subject matter. I've read a couple of his other books and found I got used to the writing style much more quickly and that it made the books easier to read. I hope you find it a little more easy going the further you get into it!

Re: the emails about additional posts, are they saying there are new posts on this thread or in the group in particular? I get frequent email updates, but they tend to me to do with other threads such as the monthly book read discussion. If it's saying there are updates to this thread when there aren't it might be worth bringing up on the goodreads feedback/problems thread (sorry, I don't have a link to it, but it's been mentioned elsewhere).

[Ally]

Patsy wrote: "People don't post her very often. I check everyday and sometimes more than once. I get emails saying that there are additional posts but when I check I still see the same last one by John (#1373). ..."

I forgot to mention that I'm very intrigued to see how they have made the book into a film!

[Shannon]

Patsy wrote: "People don't post her very often. I check everyday and sometimes more than once. I get emails saying that there are additional posts but when I check I still see the same last one by John (#1373). ..."

Stick with it Patsy. The story has hope and it is a book that I really liked. The lack of names etc was something that I really liked because I could envision the story totally as I wanted to. There was a movie made of Blindness in 2008 and directed by Fernando Meirelles. I thought it was really good and the cast was great - even if different than I had imagined it. I hadn't heard that there was to be another movie.

I have also read Baltasar and Bluminda by Jose Saramago (it was the first one that I read). Again I really liked it but it took me a very long time to get into the language with no punctuation. My book club read that one and it divided the club along some itneresting and unpredictable lines.

[Ally]

I'm currently reading Pandaemonium and I also bought Yellow Blue Tibia: A Noveltoday to add to my to-read pile.

[Stuart]

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, because it's the current book for my offline book club and because I want to see what all the fuss is about.

[BurgendyA]

Now I am currently reading Beauty's Punishment by Anne Rice. I decided to read b/c it's the second book of the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. I enjoy the first one and I promised myself that I would read the series during the summer.

My second read is Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. I decided to read this book b/c I loved Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife. Since that was an awesome story then this new book would be great.

The third read is A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler. I like the movie alot and decided to give the book a try when I heard the film was based on a novel. =)~

[Donna]

Currently reading The Third Man by Graham Greene. I recently read Zoo Station by David Downing which is a WW II era espionage type book and I decided a classic of the genre was in order.

[Shannon]

Currently reading The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy because a friend passed it on to me. So far the language is beautifully poetic. Lots going on so will take a bit to follow but looks promising.

[Annie]

Im reading Eragon.

[Gitte]

Donna wrote: "Currently reading The Third Man by Graham Greene. I recently read Zoo Station by David Downing which is a WW II era espionage type book and I decided a classic of the genr..."

I remember really enjoying The Third Man although it's been some years since I read it.

[Ally]

Just started reading Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World. It's pretty interesting so far, and seems to be an easy read as well :)

[Tina]

I'm reading 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' by Ernest Hemingway. Reason: I loved 'The Sun Also Rises' and I think Hemingway is an absolutely extraordinary writer.

[Stuart]

I am reading The Third Claw of God by Adam-Troy Castro. I am reading it as I am curious as to what it has to offer.

[Donna]

Currently enjoying Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane. Great characters and setting in Boston.

[Molly]

I am in a deep South 1930's state of mind - recently finished Faulkner's Light in August and now have moved to the non-fiction Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. I feel very dusty, tired and poor. But the scenery is beautiful.

[Ally]

Just started reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I also reached my target of reading 25 books this year so I'm very pleased!

[Molly]

Ally wrote: "Just started reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I also reached my target of reading 25 books this year so I'm very pleased!"

That's great to have met your goal already just halfway through the year! I'm working on book #12. I read 26 in 2008, 30 in 2009 and I think in 2010 I'm taking a step backwards. But I did read War & Peace this year so that took a couple of months! I like to set goals to keep me reading but in the end, I'm just happy to have read a bunch of quality books, regardless of the overall count.

[Ally]

Molly wrote: "Ally wrote: "Just started reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I also reached my target of reading 25 books this year so I'm very pleased!"

That's great to have met your goal alrea..."

Oh absolutely! The books I've read have mostly been books on my to read list, books that have been recommended to me or books that I found interesting from looking in bookstores! I'd always go for quality over quantity, but I read 25 books last year, so I wanted to see if I could beat it this year.

I think being unemployed since the beginning of May has certainly helped increase my book total!

[Larry]

What:Hothouse by Brian Aldiss
Why: well I read this book ages ago and it recently got reissued by Penguin Classics so I bought a copy. Also I'm a botanist and plant obsessive so the subject matter appealed to me!

[Shannon]

Jo wrote: "I'm reading The God of Small Things"

Let me know if you want to discuss in the random book talk section. I am just finishing it...

[John]

Need a change of pace so I am going to try Give Me Back My Legions!

[Sharon]

I am currently reading Cornelia Read's Field of Darkness because I loved the description of the main character on Fantastic Fiction (I use this site a lot.) The description of a once main line sharp tongued deb was a great enticement.

[Patsy]

I tend to feel embarrassed when I say that I'm reading Sisters by Daniele Steele. I am enjoying it. A friend loaned it to me and I didn't know how to say no. My husband says I'm a snob about books. I'm also reading "Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates, very creepy and dark.

[Molly]

Patsy wrote: "I tend to feel embarrassed when I say that I'm reading Sisters by Daniele Steele. I am enjoying it. A friend loaned it to me and I didn't know how to say no. My husband says I'm a snob about books...."

Oh Patsy - that is funny. Chick lit stories are good fun - I especially enjoy them at the beach. I actually posted about reading without shame on my blog a few weeks ago at this link.

[Patsy]

Molly, I read your blog and feel better now. I've read the entire Harry Potter series! I used to read a lot of Daniele Steele and Mary Higgins Clark and so forth. But, after I went back to college and got a degree in English I guess I gave those up. I now am able to read something challenging and usually prefer to but, after Blindness, trying to get through The Sound and the Fury (I haven't given up yet) and totally giving up on Atlas Shrugged I thought I could use some light reading.
I loved your blog.

[Molly]

Thanks Patsy ;0) And don't give up on Faulkner. He rewards you for the effort. Just make sure to reward yourself with lighter fare after the fact!

[Holly]

I just started Mistress of the Art of Death because I went into an Indie bookstore and the owner, who obviously loved it, went on and on about it. How could I say no to that enthusiasm?Mistress of the Art of Death

[Donna]

I finished Darkness, Take My Hand and needed something a bit lighter so I read The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom. A delightful book about a quirky Irish village and their new librarian.

[Patsy]

Donna,
OOH, that sounds good!

[Shannon]

After reading The God of Small Things i needed an easy read so am reading Shadow Man by James Doss. Similar to the Hillerman books. Good, easy reading.

[Gitte]

I just started Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy for the Rory Gilmore Book Club.

[Molly]

Gitte wrote: "I just started Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy for the Rory Gilmore Book Club."

I really enjoyed that when I read it last year. I'd be interested what your opinion is of Ms. Anna when you're through.

[Stuart]

I am reading Kidnapped: The Adventures of David Balfour byRobert Louis Stevenson for my offline book club.

[John]

Hi Everyone,

My name is John Cicero and I am a fantasy/adventure author. I'm new to Goodreads and not sure if it's appropriate or not to talk about my own novel or not, so I figure we could talk about the genre it's in instead

I'm curious what everyone’s thoughts are on fantasy/adventure and if you feel the genre is gaining strength or not?

Give me an idea of where you think the genre is going.

And, if you have a moment and the interest check out my website and at... www.RainbowsShadow.com

Take care, John

[Molly]

John wrote: "Hi Everyone,

My name is John Cicero and I am a fantasy/adventure author. I'm new to Goodreads and not sure if it's appropriate or not to talk about my own novel or not, so I figure we could talk..."

I don't think it is appropriate to spam the same cookie cutter comment amongst all of the groups you join. Makes your thoughts less personal and more of a solicitation.

Though your post wasn't unique to this group of folks, there is a folder in this group for Newbies which is where it would better fit.

Spend time getting to know people on Goodreads directly rather than marketing as in introduction. Interact with group members by joining in a group read and providing input. Or sharing here in this thread what you are currently reading and why - as the topic suggests.

Just my suggestions to you. I love to encourage authors - I just don't like sales pitches in social networking environments.

To answer your question - I am not a big fantasy fan but I think the genre is incredibly popular so with the right audience I'm sure your hard efforts will succeed. Best of luck and welcome to the group.

[Ally]

I've just finished reading Change of Heart and am part way through Oryx and Crake.

[John]

Great...thanks for the feedback

[Molly]

John wrote: "Great...thanks for the feedback"

You're welcome. Goodreads is a terrific place as is this group. Have fun with it.

[Molly]

Ally wrote: "I've just finished reading Change of Heart and am part way through Oryx and Crake."

Ally - I am really interested in reading Oryx & Crake ever since we discussed The Handmaid's Tale here. Have you read other Atwood or is this your first? Thumbs up so far?

[BurgendyA]

I am reading Flesh and Blood by Johnathan Kellerman & Stalker by Faye Kellerman. I decided to read more of Delaware & Sturgis series. Since I've missed reading them. They are my favorite crime solving duo. As for the Faye Kellerman novel. I thought I should give her work another try. Has anyone read them before? =)~

[Ally]

Molly wrote: "Ally wrote: "I've just finished reading Change of Heart and am part way through Oryx and Crake."

Ally - I am really interested in reading Oryx & Crake ever since we dis..."

I've read The Blind Assassin and The Handmaid's Tale, both of which I really enjoyed. I think Atwood is a fantastic writer. I'm enjoying Oryx and Crake so far, though I seem to be reading it a nit intermittently which is not helping with the flow of things! I'm hoping to dedicate a bit more time to it this week though so I'll let you know how it develops :)