What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 3,301-3,350 of 4,001

[Lori]

I found a book I've been waiting for last night at a used bookstore, 22 Britannia Road. I started the first few chapters and found it to be quite good. A couple separated during WWII and reuniting in England where the husband has been in the army. Both husband and wife have a lot to work through. The wife has been in Poland, their native land, throughout the war. Could be grim days behind her. And he has some kind of affair he's covering up.

[Kat]

Lori wrote: "I found a book I've been waiting for last night at a used bookstore, 22 Britannia Road. I started the first few chapters and found it to be quite good. A couple separated during WWI..."

I read 22 Britannia Road last year - it's certainly very emotional and touches on a subject that isn't often written about. It does have a twist though, if I remember correctly ;-)

[Robin (Saturndoo)]

Right now I am just picking up random books from my TBR that hopefully will fit into some challenges. I hope to get through some of them before the Toppler.

I am reading Standing in the Rainbow and I hope to start A Great Catch before it has to be returned to the library.

[Chrissie]

I am reading Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. I find it extremely well written. It is one of those books that makes reading history anything but dry. Why? Because along with the historical facts you are shown the lives of particular North Korean people.

I have read several books since posting here. I have given both The Sacred Willow: Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures four stars. Here are my two reviews:

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

I had written in my private notes to myself for both of these books the following: ABSOLUTELY MUST READ!
Do yourselves a favor. Read these books. I love reading about people who live in countries I am not well acquainted with. What about you? None of these books are fiction. They are concerned with the lives of real people.

I am also listening to The Children's House of Belsen. I confused this book with The Girls of Room 28: Friendship, Hope, and Survival in Theresienstadt and thought I would be learning about the camp near Prague. Still, this one is getting interesting too. I was just so stumped since it was going in a different direction than I expected. I would have to say that the author's choice of word is a bit strange, and I find the narrator kind of makes it more melodramatic than it need be. The story itself is horrible enough without the added intonation. I do not regret choosing it.

[Kimberly]

I started Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith last night :)

[Kat]

I've read The Children's House of Belsen twice - without realising until I was part way through! I believe I even have two copies.

It is a good book though, I liked the Netherlands connection.

[Chrissie]

Kat wrote: "I've read The Children's House of Belsen twice - without realising until I was part way through! I believe I even have two copies.

It is a good book though, I liked the Netherlands connection."

Kat, I like it very much. I AM disturbed by the Australian pronunciation of the narrator AND that I feel her tone is too melodramatic. The book itself I like. It is amazing to see the juxtaposition of horrors and kindness. At times one feels that such good things couldn't possibly be happening in such surroundings, but I feel the author makes the reader comprehend both in a truly heartfelt manner. Very moving. What is different about this book is that the story takes place in Belsen the entire time. It becomes sort of a home to the reader. You feel you are there. I feel I really know Belsen.

[Kimberly]

Judy wrote: "I see you picked up the sequels, so you must like it a lot. :-)"

It's okay, its very different from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series though but it's cute :)

[Kimberly]

I haven't read the Philosophy Club yet but it's on my to read list for this year :) I'm going to be starting The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith and The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs today :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I generally read more than one book at a time. Last night, I finished Divergent and The Dead I Know. I had finished everything I had started.

So... I will be starting:

Relic - audiobook format. I really enjoyed Preston/Child's book, Thunderhead and have picked up a few more of their books, starting with the first in the series.
They Shoot Canoes, Don't They? (hardcover) This is my April YLTO challenge pick.
The Lifeboat (ebook) This is my April 2012 release challenge book.

[Kimberly]

Janice wrote: "I generally read more than one book at a time. Last night, I finished Divergent and The Dead I Know. I had finished everything I had started.

So... I will be starting:

Relic - audiobook for..."

I have Relic sitting on my bookcase I was thinking of starting it soon :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I started Relic last night Kimberly and so far, so good. :)

[Kimberly]

Glad to hear it Janice, I really liked the movie so I've got high hopes for the book.

[Janice, Moderator]

There's a movie? I must get Netflix!!

[Kat]

I'm a couple of days late, but started reading A Night to Remember yesterday. Been quite a while since I read a non-fiction book!

[Kimberly]

Janice wrote: "There's a movie? I must get Netflix!!"

Yes there is :) It was made in 1997!

[Kimberly]

Kat wrote: "I'm a couple of days late, but started reading A Night to Remember yesterday. Been quite a while since I read a non-fiction book!"

I was planning on buying that when it was the kindle daily deal but forgot :(

[Kat]

Kimberly wrote: "Kat wrote: "I'm a couple of days late, but started reading A Night to Remember yesterday. Been quite a while since I read a non-fiction book!"

I was planning on bu..."

Bummer! I really enjoyed it too!

[Jennifer]

Two more down, 23 to go-- finished Deeply, Desperately (loved it-- did she really quit writing this series??) last night, and Crocodile on the Sandbank tonight while I was cooking dinner. Really enjoyed it too, and fortunately the series is pretty good sized!!

[Kimberly]

So even though I have a million books on the go I started Battle Royale by Koushun Takami which is good since I have to return it in 5 days. I like it so far.

[Maria]

Okay, so I finished everything I have been reading... except for To The Nines, which I've been reading for ages and don't really like... I stay for Morelli.

I'm starting aaaaallll my Getting To Know You books, so that includes:

The Romance of a Christmas Carol
The Turquoise Cup and the Desert
The Absentee

Wish me luck!

[Eileen]

I'm currently reading The Other Boleyn Girl for my May f2f book club read. Love me some historical fiction and I love the Tudors, so I have high hopes for this one. Enjoying it so far.

[Pam]

I finished Divergent and can't wait to read Insurgent but my library doesn't have it yet. I started Wonderstruck and expect to finish it today. I wanted something light after my dystopian fest.

[cazdoll]

i was reading but i've put that on hold because im now reading i watched the film last night and remembered i had the book and always wanted to read it,very like film so far :)

[Kat]

I'm reading a YA time-travel book John Gone . It's a good idea but it's feeling a little drawn out at the moment.

[Susan]

Judy wrote: "I'm reading Rules of Civility and listening to The Lotus Eaters. (But not at the same time.LOL!)"

I am listening to Rules of Civility, and although I'm liking it okay, I don't find it as wonderful as I was led to believe. What about you?

[Chrissie]

Susan and Judy, I have been eying "Rules of Civility". I am curious to know what you both think. I thought I would listen to it.

[Chrissie]

Thanks, Judy. No further explanation? I will wait to read you review.

[Chrissie]

Judy wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Thanks, Judy. No further explanation? I will wait to read you review."

I didn't want to ruin it and I'm only 1/3rd of the way through. It is the story of two friends and the man t..."

Yup.

[Susan]

I believe it is the narration. The narrator has a lovely voice, but she speaks in a very downbeat, semi-depressed way. I expected it to be more humorous, and, Judy, you describe it as being humorous, but in the way it is narrated, it is not. I find myself almost being startled when she makes a snappy come-back, because her voice does not go along with it. She has no enthusiasm, and makes me feel like Katy would be a real downer to hang out with. She could at least put a touch of sarcasm into her repartee. The narrator is Rebecca Lowman, and I don't know if I have listened to anything she has done before, because I am really bad with names. In contrast, I am reading When God Was a Rabbit in book form, and find myself chuckling out loud. Makes me think that Rules would be better read than listened to. Never thought I'd say such a thing.

[Chrissie]

Susan, concerning Rules of Civilty, I will keep in mind what you have pointed out. A bad narrator can really wreck an audio book.

I dislike the narrator of the book I am listening to now: A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France. She cannot pronounce French words. Names and place sound totally ridiculous, and she tends to emphasize some words to give them more of an impact. In addition she uses a mannish tone for the men's words which absolutely makes me start laughing. So my book, too, should be read not listened to.

I must admit, I am having other difficulties with my book. I have found an absolutely incorrect statement and that has me wondering what else is wrong. And finally there are so many women discussed that you have a very hard time keeping them all straight. Would it have been better if the author had focused on just a few of the 230 women deported?

The book is NOT all bad. I think at this point I will give it three stars. Her theme on the value of the women's friendship for survival is interesting.

[Dem]

Susan wrote: "I believe it is the narration. The narrator has a lovely voice, but she speaks in a very downbeat, semi-depressed way. I expected it to be more humorous, and, Judy, you describe it as being humor..."

I did laugh out loud at that book too Susan, its strange but funny as well. Will be interested to see what you think when you finished.

[Kat]

I'm reading a book that is unfortunately not on Goodreads (yep I'm planning on telling the author to add the book ASAP), called Prince Charming Must Die - it's the story of a girl, Alice, who finds out that the Grimm brothers have an evil plot to take over the world. I love that it has classic fairy tale excerpts!

Hopefully I will finish this one tomorrow morning, so I can limber up for the TBR toppler beforehand :)

[Maria]

I watched a movie called "Romeo Must Die". Terrible movie, but hopefully the book 'version' is better?

It sounds epic!

[Dem]

Just finished The Grapes of Wraththis is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/210929229

[Kat]

It has a link now! Prince Charming Must Die - I'm enjoying this one, finding out more about fairy tales that I missed as a kid :)

[Kat]

LOL it actually just appeared overnight. Either the author is updating or I REALLY have some pull with GR ;)

[Nascha]

I am reading the Night Women right now. I had heard so much about this book. It is excellent so far and I'm glad that I'm reading it.

[Tanya]

I am reading David Copperfield...I have heard so much about this book and Charles Dickens himself said that it was his most favourite book..So I am just reading it now...How do you find it?plzz comment..

[Jennifer]

'Nother one down, 22 to go, not reading all that quickly at the moment because I've had a lot of distractions this week! Finished and what a great cozy mystery series this is. About 40% through which I thought I'd find more compelling than I do so far. About halfway through which I'm actually liking better than I thought I would.

[Maria]

Abiha: you can write "book: David Copperfield" with a [ and a ] in place of the quotes, or you can click "Add book/author" and search there.

Um. A bit of a whirlwind right now after that Toppler, but here are the being-read books:

To The Nines. I could hate Janet Evanovitch. I've been reading this since March, and I guess it's my "It can't get worse than this" book. It's good, I like it, but I'm not into it.

Maitreyi. Reading both for my 'getting to know you' challenge and because it's in Romanian, which I have to read in.

Ulysses. What can I say? I'm ambitious.

[Kimberly]

I love the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich, I just finished the newest one two weeks ago :)

[Chrissie]

Maria, do you plan on reading It Does Not Die: A Romance by Maitreyi Devi after reading Maitreyi? I have added both to my lists. They look very interesting. Please let me know what you feel about them.

[Jaye]

The Secret Lives of Dresses

i'm reading this because it's about:
vintage clothes
a vintage clothing store
a grandmother and her granddaughter
and
some of the dresses have stories

[Janice, Moderator]

I started the audiobook, Solaris, yesterday and have a couple hours left on it. I will start The Sandalwood Tree sometime this week. It's for my book club meeting on May 3. I hope I finish it in time. I'm still working my way through The Stonor Eagles.

[cazdoll]

Jennifer wrote: "'Nother one down, 22 to go, not reading all that quickly at the moment because I've had a lot of distractions this week! Finished and what a great cozy mystery series ..."

I finished The Help last month and loved it, enjoy :)

[Chrissie]

I enjoyed every minute of A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel, narrated by the author! This is so weird, it is not my usual kind of book. I adored the dialog, particularly what Mosey said.

ETA: It is half price now at Audible. That is why I gave it a try. You will not be disappointed. It is so funny - the lines I mean.

I will start Cry, the Beloved Country for my audio book. I am reading Carnevale. It is kinda good, but not super.

[Pam]

I finished Wonderstruck and started Chains for my faculty book club. I also started How to Save a Life. I've read one of her other books and look forward to reading some more.

[Betsy]

Started another Phyllis Whitney book -Rainbow In The Mist-as its' an easy read and i should be doing work instead...Hmmm..

[Tanya]

Maria wrote: "Abiha: you can write "book: David Copperfield" with a [ and a ] in place of the quotes, or you can click "Add book/author" and search there.

Um. A bit of a whirlwind right now after that Toppler, ..."

Thanks..