What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 3,601-3,650 of 4,001

[Eileen]

I really liked The Book Thief, Pri. I was very moved by the story line, and I enjoyed the characters immensely.

[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome to our group, Pri! It's good to see new members jumping right into the discussion threads.

I loved The Book Thief. I listened to it on audiobook. The narrator made the story come alive for me.

[Chrissie]

Oh hi, Pri! I didn't know you were new. Welcome. It is a very nice group. :0)

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm about half way through The Bone People which I need to finish this month. It's my last book for the Year Long Challenge. I put it aside while we did the Toppler.

I finished the audiobook, Pompeii last night and will start Gideon's Sword sometime today.

[Snoozie Suzie]

I'm currently reading Jeffrey Archer 'Only time will tell' on my Kindle. I haven't read one of his books for ages. And it's fancied it.

I'm also reading 'the Long Walk' by Slavomir Rawicz as my last book of the year long challenge.

I also have Bella Pollen's 'Summer of the Bear' going too. About a family who have lost their dad and had to move. And a bear. Which intrigued me. Especially as it is set in Scotland. Just seemed an interesting mix.

[Chrissie]

Snoozie Suzie wrote: "I'm currently reading Jeffrey Archer 'Only time will tell' on my Kindle. I haven't read one of his books for ages. And it's fancied it.

I'm also reading 'the Long Walk' by Slavomir Rawicz as my la..."

I read The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom. The question is: Is it true? Wait till you meet the Abominable Snowmen. Note the plural ending. Here is my review but it has spoilers: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Chrissie]

Judy, I know the feeling of having too many books to read. One recognizes those of us who have been on Gr for ages - we add less books. We already have tons to read. I am really trying to read the books I have already purchased. But I do get carried away and love my new experience with audiobooks. I never thought I would love them so much.

[Chrissie]

I have started When the Elephants Dance, which is historical fiction, although it is based on the author's father's and grandmother's life experiences during WW2. It is filled with magical Philippine tales too;her grandmother was an adept storyteller. I am expecting a lovely blend of fact, fiction and insight into Philippine culture.

I finished The Question of Bruno: Stories. I hated the shorter stories but I did like the novella. They are all in the same book. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
And really, what I didn't like was not just the short story format.

[jaxnsmom]

Chrissie wrote: "Then, I simply had to start another audiobook. I chose Lolita, narrated by the fantastic Jeremy Irons! I cannot now stop listening to this. What I am wondering now is: what do I enjoy, the author or the narrator? Look, the author's words are excellent and the narrator's intonation is superb! I am embarrassed to say that Jeremy Irons manages to make the subject funny. The book is told from the pedophile's pov. And Nabokov as a wondrous way with words. It is even a travelogue too, a route twisting around the US with him and Lolita. Let me tell you, her remarks are sometimes just so perfect for a twelve year old. Now everybody is going to think I am terrible, having such fun reading this book. NO, remember! I am listening to it, narrated by Jeremy Irons."

I love audiobooks. A great narrator makes drivel sound good, and raises the experience of a good book to something almost spiritual!

I try to acknowledge when a narrator has affected my opinion of a book, they are part of the experience. From my review of Beauty Queens: "This book is so over the top that my eyeballs should be spinning from all the rolling they should have been doing. It's a cross between a traffic accident where you can't stop yourself from rubbernecking, or that poor dog who's so ugly it's cute. In spite of all that, I had a rollicking good time with it, and all because I listened to it. This should only get 3 stars, but I'm giving it 3.5, rounded up to 4, because of the narration. This is one you have to listen to!"

[Chrissie]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Then, I simply had to start another audiobook. I chose Lolita, narrated by the fantastic Jeremy Irons! I cannot now stop listening to this. What I am wondering now is: what do I en..."

Absolutely, sometimes a mediocre book becomes magical when it is read.

I loved A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel. Here too the book improved with narration.

[jaxnsmom]

Chrissie wrote: "I loved A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel. Here too the book improved with narration."

That's on my tbr. I'll have to look for the audio.

Matterhorn is one of the best books I've listened to. The narrator put you right in the middle of the action during the Vietnam War.

[Chrissie]

jaxnsmom wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I loved A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel. Here too the book improved with narration."

That's on my tbr. I'll have to look for the audio.

Matterhorn is one of the best books I'..."

I just added Matterhorn. Thanks for the tip. I should have made it clear that with Lolita, the writing was so excellent one didn't even need that fabulous narrator.

[Janice, Moderator]

I started to listen to Gideon's Sword yesterday and have decided to abandon it. For one, I'm not into espionage. Plus, the narration isn't doing it for me.

I've started Lady of the Butterflies as a replacement.

[Chrissie]

Judy, which? "Matterhorn" or "A Grown Up Kind of Pretty"? If I were to guess it is "Matterhorn" because of the content. Which means I really must read it soon.

[Chrissie]

I just finished a wonderfully, unbelievaby fantastic book. No question. It gets five stars. Many of you have probably already read it. It is better, even much better than The Invisible Bridge, and we all know how good that was! Right?

READ or LISTEN TO Skeletons at the Feast.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Mark Bramhall is a fantastic narrator.

[Susan]

Janice wrote: "I started to listen to Gideon's Sword yesterday and have decided to abandon it. For one, I'm not into espionage. Plus, the narration isn't doing it for me.



I'm not into espionage either, Janice. I can never figure it out and it doesn't resonate in my personal world.

[Chrissie]

Susan and Janice - espionage gets the thumbs down from me too. Like you, I can never figure out what is going on. And no, I am not a spy, so I don't relate either......

[Susan]

Chrissie wrote: "Susan and Janice - espionage gets the thumbs down from me too. Like you, I can never figure out what is going on. And no, I am not a spy, so I don't relate either......"

Gee, Chrissie, I figured you for the Mata Hari type.

[Chrissie]

Susan, :0) Now you have me laughing again.

OK, I MUST listen to Matterhorn.

[Dem]

Just finished A Land More Kind Than Homethis is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/322298753

[Janice, Moderator]

Dem wrote: "Just finished A Land More Kind Than Homethis is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/322298753"

This looks very good. I've added it to my wishlist on Audible.

Chrissie, Mark Bramhall is one of the narrators for this book. You might want to check it out.

[Chrissie]

Janice, it is not available to me here in Belgium! That narrator is certainly good!

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "Janice, it is not available to me here in Belgium! That narrator is certainly good!"

That's too bad. I wondered about that as I was looking at Audible.

[Chrissie]

And it is not at that Philadelphia library either. I am checking everything out there to see if it is worth paying for.

[Chrissie]

Susan and Janice, I found a book for us, and they are available at Audible: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax!

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "Susan and Janice, I found a book for us, and they are available at Audible: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax!"

Thanks for the recommendation, Chrissie. It looks like a fun read.

[Chrissie]

Lady of the Butterflies is now available at Audble with the narrator Patience Tomlinson..... who also narrated A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France. I didn't like her French pronunciation, but did like the book.

Janice, maybe I will add the Butterfly book. I will see what you say!

[Susan]

Chrissie wrote: "Susan and Janice, I found a book for us, and they are available at Audible: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax!"

I'm on my way to the CIA right now to fill out an application.

[Chrissie]

:0), I am ahead of you, Susan. Hey, we could work as a threesome with Janice too. What languages can we put together? I have English, French and Swedish....and with all the potential Swedish crimes that is a plus.

[Chrissie]

I have begun Perla on my Ipod. It is about the Dirty War of Argentina. I grabbed it since I very much enjoyed the author's The Invisible Mountain, which is set in Uruguay.
This author has a knack with magical realism. It is not too unbelievable; similar to Allende's in The House of the Spirits. Well, I hope it is as good as "The Invisible Mountain".

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "Lady of the Butterflies is now available at Audble with the narrator Patience Tomlinson..... who also narrated A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occu..."

The version I'm listening to is narrated by Patience Tomlinson. So far, I'm enjoying her performance.

[Chrissie]

Janice, she just cannot speak French properly. Don't listen to the audiobook of A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France. Read it instead. Tomlinson is probably fine with your book! I will read you review.

My French sounds terrible too, but I am not narrating a book with lots of French names and terms.

[Susan]

Chrissie wrote: ":0), I am ahead of you, Susan. Hey, we could work as a threesome with Janice too. What languages can we put together? I have English, French and Swedish....and with all the potential Swedish crimes..."

Sorry, I only have English . . . after taking years of Spanish and French in school, I can say, "Hi, how are you?" but can't understand the response. Probably not having Spanish would disqualify me from working in the U.S.

[Chrissie]

Susan, you can fake it! My French pronunciation is a joke. I am not very talented with languages, but I try.

[Susan]

Bueno!

[Chrissie]

Susan, :0)

anything but return to my stupid book: When the Elephants Dance

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

[Chrissie]

Judy, that is fun! Where did you buy it? it was pretty hard for me to get a copy. I got it from ABeBooks.

I finished When the Elephants Dance and I completed the review, see link in message 3988 above if you are interested. Now I will start Primo Levi's If This Is a Man / The Truce. Two books in one. Supposed to be a fabulous author.

[Chrissie]

Judy, I usually write reviews.....they help me figure out what I think and remember, so I don't forget everything. Levi really is supposed to be worth reading.

[Stuart]

I am reading Stalking Shadows byS.A. Hunter as I liked the previous book in the series.

[Eileen]

Just finished up A Discovery of Witches, which I really liked - can't wait to get the next book in the series on 7/10 - Shadow of Night. Nothing earth shattering, but a fun story that got me involved with the characters and the plot line. Now I'm on to reading Firefly Lane for my face to face book club. Excited to have snagged a copy of Kurt Vonnegut's Cat’s Cradle at my local used book shop last week - I'll be reading that when i'm on vacation - along with a few other things!

[jaxnsmom]

Chrissie wrote: "Susan and Janice, I found a book for us, and they are available at Audible: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax!"

I read all of the Mrs. Pollifax books years ago, and they are loads of fun. Maybe we should all plan on becoming spies after retirement :)

[Chrissie]

I completed the audiobook Perla.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I have begun another audiobook: Sipping from the Nile. So far I love this memoir that starts with the author's childhood in Cairo. I enjoy how she expresses herself.

[Dem]

Just finished Gone Girl
This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/309545874

[Janice, Moderator]

Dem wrote: "Just finished Gone Girl
This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/"

For some reason the link you had took me to my book shelf. I had to hunt for your review and I found it here:

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

I read Gillian Flyn's Dark Places and really enjoyed her style. When I saw Gone Girl come out, I've been wanting to read it. I can't decide if I want to do audiobook or print.

[Janice, Moderator]

As soon as I finish here, I'm going to start A Canticle for Leibowitz. I finished The Janus Stone last night and have yet to write my review.

[Dem]

Janice wrote: "Dem wrote: "Just finished Gone Girl
This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/"

For some reason the link you had took me to my book shelf. I had to hunt for your review..."

Thanks Janice, got it sorted, It probably would work good on audio as well, will check out Dark places as would love to read something else by this author.

[Tea]

The hunger games trilogy are such an easy book , it's taken me about a day to read the first two books. Pretty good, I expected better though from all I've heard about the series,

[Susan]

Janice wrote: "As soon as I finish here, I'm going to start A Canticle for Leibowitz. I finished The Janus Stone last night and have yet to write my review."

It has been over 40 years since I read "Canticle" but I still carry an image from it in my mind (that I don't like).

[jaxnsmom]

I just entered to win Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Andrew Shaffer. Yes, it's a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey. I thought it would be perfect for this group - the main character is named Earl Grey, and he's...dunking a tea bag! Too bad it wasn't out for the Toppler :D

[Kat]

Tea wrote: "The hunger games trilogy are such an easy book , it's taken me about a day to read the first two books. Pretty good, I expected better though from all I've heard about the ser..."

I remember tearing through those books too Tea! I enjoyed reading them, but I do think there are other dystopias which are better.