What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 2,101-2,150 of 4,001

[Chrissie]

Janice. I read bits to my husband, and I get him laughing too. What a relief after the last book I read. I can think of two times I smiled with that one.

[Kristina]

Because The Sisterhood books are one of my fave series of all time and I seriously love that she wrote a 5th one about the girls 10 years later. I really hope it lives up to my expectations

[Janice, Moderator]

I've added it to my wishlist Chrissie. I'm looking forward to some chuckles. :)

[Chrissie]

Janice, it is rather dark humor, about life in Kiev in the post-Soviet era. And poor Misha is depressed. There is a very strange mix of kind deeds, rough people and crime. Don't jump to buy it until I have finished and read the whole book. My hunches are sometimes totally worthless.

Again, this is a short Kindle . I have already read more than half! Or do I read faster using the Kindle? Probably......

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Chrissie. It is on my wishlist, so it could be awhile before it pops up to buy.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've finished reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and later today I'll start my June/July challenge read Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid.

[Donna]

I'm reading You're Next because a friend of mine recommended it to me. It's one of those slow build up tension type books!!

[Anne]

Janice wrote: " later today I'll start my June/July challenge read Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid."

That looks interesting. I'm going to read a kindle sample.

[Chrissie]

I just finished Death and the Penguin. I thought the humor was going to be of a different kind, in fact the beginning lines I found a bit deceptive. My spoiler-free GR review explains more:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Many have praised Pope Joan. I have it sitting here on my shelf. Has there been a female Pope? I am not so sure that question will be solved by this book, but it looks like a fun read.

[Dem]

Just finished Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and really enjoyed this novel. Its now on my favourites list.

[Dem]

I just finished The AbsolutistbyJohn Boyneand really enjoyed this emotional novel. While reading this book I exclaimed out loud and cried and for me this is the basis on which I award 5 stars, I try to write my review on a novel as soon as I can after putting the book down as I like my review to express my feelings of the book when I closed the covers be that good bad or indifferent. The absolutist had me so emotionally charged that I was thinking about the story even when I was not reading it.

[Anne]

Dem wrote: "I just finished The AbsolutistbyJohn Boyneand really enjoyed this emotional novel. While reading this book I exclaimed out loud and cried and for me this is the basis ..."

Can't wait for the review. The book is on my "maybe" shelf because there are so few reviews. But it does sound good.

[Chrissie]

I have completed Pope Joan, and here follows my spoiler-free GR review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I did not like how this book was written. My criticsm of the book has nothing to do with the author's view that Pope Joan did exist. I found the author's note at the end of the book quite convincing.

I have begun The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. I am so tired of reading short kindalized books! This one is long, interesting and something to sink into, I hope.

[Anne]

I hope you like this one, Chrissie.

[Chrissie]

Anne, me too.....

Dem, I have been considering The Absolutist too. I like books that have an emotional pull too.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sew Retro sounds interesting with the history included. I saw a book today about designing your own quilts. There were some interesting quilts in the picture gallery. I took some pictures of one and may try to replicate it - some day. HA!

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading Hourglass by Claudia Gray. It's the third in the series and I was so into Stargazer that I needed to know what happened after that. So far I'm not impressed because they basically aren't thinking!

[Janice, Moderator]

No, there is no such thing as a bad quilting book. One can always find inspiration in the smallest thing.

[Dem]

Just started
this book had got great reviews and am only about 30 pages in but its my type of book so far.

[Janice, Moderator]

I just started Under Heaven for my year long challenge. The author is Canadian. I've read some of his other books and really enjoyed them.

[Chrissie]

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration is done for my part. Here is my spoiler-free GR review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . It did not pull me in to the lives of the three individuals which the book focuses on. Either my mood did not match up to what this book offered or the book didn't manage to make history read like fiction. History books CAN do that! History is utterly fascinating if an author can present it properly. Rather than explaining this twice, please see my review.

I wanted to fall into a story and learn about a different time. Now I am reading Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops, with the hope that I will get total immersion. I very much enjoyed Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus. I hope I will be similarly pleased.

I know, I know....... I do not read books in a series. Children of Tantalus is just that, but there is always a first for everything. Each book can be read alone. With this in mind, I am willing to try. Now I hope to fall into the Bronze Age, ie 1350 BC in what is today the region around Greece and Turkey. I will also learn some ancient myths. I hope. I want to empathize with the characters. All of this is what I want from this book. Given the reviews I have read, I think all this may be achieved.

[Anne]

Anna wrote: "I'm currently reading Meat for another group and I'm not quite sure. There are parts of this book that have really made me cringe - I don't consider myself to be a prude, but really..."

I don't know this specific book, but I can just imagine. I'm seen and read enough about the industry to know how badly the animals are treated. However, there are smaller "farm" which feed animals appropriately and organically. This is better for the animals and for those of us who eat meat.

[Anne]

That's great that you can get your meat from a local farm. I still have to buy at Whole Foods. I love Michael Pollan, including TOD. But I discovered him early on when he was writing about gardening. I read anything he writes because he has such a unique way of looking at any given topic and he writes really well. He makes a cameo in a documentary on the meat industry which would turn the stomaches of most people that watched it. Don't remember the name.

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration is done for my part. Here is my spoiler-free GR review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . It did ..."

One of the things I would like to see in a book's description is whether or not it can be read as a stand alone if it is in a series.

[Chrissie]

Janice I believe the Tapestry of Bronze books are stand alones. Jocasta: The Mother-Wife of Oedipus, which I have already read was clearly a stand alone. Dione and Tantalus and their children were mentioned in that story too, but here in this book, Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops, these characters play the central role. the affect is that the reader learns what was happening in the Greek/Turkey region 1350BC. I like the historic detail AND the characters feel like people you can understand. I am struck by the similarity of the characters' emotions and my own. But why wouldn't people living so long ago not have been curious and jealous and angry and crazy, just as we are today? The emotions of the characters draw you in to the story and you learn history withot rying. You learn about what they ate, how they dressed, how they treated illnesses, what were their spiritual beliefs, how the cities were layed out, existing empires and more. It is an engaging and delightful read. It is also exciting. I have read about 1/3.

[Janice, Moderator]

The series does look interesting, as does the time period. I've not read any of Victoria Grossack's work, but I have read her comments in Historical Fictionistas, and looked at her author page. She seems like a very interesting person. I do want to read some of her work.

The points you make are why I like historical fiction - you learn history without trying and gain perhaps an idea of what life was like in the past.

[Kristina]

, It's a BOM for another group and I've had it for awhile! In the mood for a fairy tale as well :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Ooooo - I like the cover on your book, Kristina.

[Melanie]

Im reading The Bookseller of Kabul because a friend told me it was a good book, but Ive been working on reading this for close to a year, so I just need to get through it.

[Chrissie]

Melanie, it doesn't sound like you are enjoying The Bookseller of Kabul. I actually enjoyed that very much. On the other hand the follow up book, A Hundred And One Days, I enjoyed less. I wouldn't recommend that if you are having trouble getting through the first one!

The Angel of Grozny: Orphans of a Forgotten War has been on ly lists for ages. This reminds me that I should read it. I think this sounds very interesting.

[Chris]

The Book of Human Skin - Michelle Lovric It was reccommended to me and so far it's a good choice.

[Janice, Moderator]

This is a reminder for people to use the "add book/auhor" feature when naming a book. It makes it easier for others to look up the book.

The Book of Human Skin is an interesting title. I will have to investigate. :)

[Dem]

Just finished reading and reviewing This is a inspiring and educational read. It’s one of those books that you gasp out load while reading as the horrors of war really come to the forefront in this book. However as I said in my review I found this book at times repetitive and in some parts dragged. Having said that, this is a true story of unbelievable endurance, pain and heroism.

[Chrissie]

Dem, I was debating between reading The Forgotten Highlander and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I chose the first. I was basicly worried that the latter was a biography and the author was "famous". Would the book be praised for the author's past laurels ra? Then a friend of mine read both. My suspicions were verified. I recommend The Forgotten Highlander instead. I also have included here by spoiler-free review to explain more thoroughly why I gave tje Forgotten Higlander 5 stars.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Chrissie]

Dem, I was debating between reading The Forgotten Highlander and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I chose the first. I was basicly worried that the latter was a biography rather than an autobiography and its author was "famous". Would the book be praised for the author's past laurels or the book itself? Then a friend of mine read both. My suspicions were verified. I recommend The Forgotten Highlander. I also have included here my spoiler-free review to explain more thoroughly why I gave the Forgotten Higlander 5 stars.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I had planned on reading, The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, but still haven't had the stomach for it.... The Japanese deny the atrocities committed, but I have also read that this book may too present an unbalanced pov.

!

[Dem]

Also finished Born Under a Million ShadowsI found it really entertaining, informative and a very intersting insight into Afghan Coulture and how they view western coulture. This is a nice easy read and a page turner.
Just starting The Dry Grass of August

[Janice, Moderator]

The Dry Grass of August looks really good! I'm adding it to my wishlist.

[Dem]

Janice wrote: "The Dry Grass of August looks really good! I'm adding it to my wishlist."

Will let you know Janice!

[Chrissie]

Dem, I have downloaded the Kindle sample of TDGOA. Please tell us what you think. I have it on my list and several friends have given it four stars.

[Dem]

Chrissie wrote: "Dem, I have downloaded the Kindle sample of TDGOA. Please tell us what you think. I have it on my list and several friends have given it four stars."

Thats sound good Chrissie, will let you know how its going, thanks for that.

[Anne]

I've downloaded the sample now as well.

[Chrissie]

Dem, one question I have is how much this is a YA book? The sample was intriguing! But does the whole book hold up? I assume you have read The Help and Harper Lee's absolutely marvellous To Kill a Mockingbird. The latter I read again last summer, and Ithink I loved it even more than when I read it as a child.
Anne, I could spend a whole day just reading samples.... I never buy a book without reading the sample.

[Chrissie]

I just finished Children of Tantalus: Niobe and Pelops and have already begun the next in the tilogy entitled The Road to Thebes: Niobe and Amphion. Who should read these books? those intersted in escaping into another world. That is exactly what I was looking for and got! The third book in the trilogy is entitled Arrows of Artemis: Niobe and Chloris. Here follows my spoiler-free GR review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Dem]

I just finished and reviewed The Dry Grass of August I really enjoyed this Novel, Its one of those Novels that makes you mad and sad.

I am currently reading The Betrayed

[Chrissie]

I am now reading How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers

I have been told you don't have to know how to meditate or even be attracted to Buddhist beliefs, to be helped by this book. Anyone with a chronic illnes or who cares for another with a chronic illness should consider this book. This is a book for those people who have an illness that is not going to go away.

I am very reluctant to read self-help books. I just get out a piece of paper and pen and think while I jot down my thoughts. A dear friend suggested this to me. She said read a bit and see what you think. That is what I did. It drew me in, and I wanted to continue. So this is what I am reading.

[Janice, Moderator]

It sounds interesting and I look forward to hearing your comments when you are finished.

[Chrissie]

Janice, it is very short. I find myself posing all my usual scepticism toward Buddhist thinking, but then the author reveals alternate interpretations that I find valid.

[Rhonda]

I'm reading Thick as Thieves by Peter Spiegelman. I chose it because I read a review and it's a thriller but the characters are real. Here's the review at new york journal of books, I love this book:

http://tinyurl.com/3ot8yjh

[Michelle]

I'm reading two books at once because one of them was on hold at the library and my name just came to the top of the queue. I am reading because I found it at Costco and it had tons of positive reviews all over it. Especially one from Stephen King - he is one of my guilty pleasures, I have to admit. It is an apocalyptic story but it sure didn't seem to start out that way. Lots of interesting surprises. I am curious to see where the story will take the reader...
The library book I just picked up is . Another group here on GR is reading it so that's how it ended up on my TBR list. Only 22 pages in so far.

[Chrissie]

I will now start On Hitler's Mountain: Overcoming the Legacy of a Nazi Childhood. I bought it. My husband grabbed it first, and he said I would like it. He even confirmed that the historical facts were accurate. :0) So I will tackle the paperback. If it proves to difficult I will switch to a Kindle book.

I just finished How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers. I give it my highest recommendations. You do not have to be chronically ill to learn a lot from this book! You need not be a Buddhist, but you might begin to appreciate their beliefs. Before reading this book I thought Buddhism was way to negative for my tastes. The book was a real eye-opener! Here follows my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . This is a five star book.