What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED) Showing 3,901-3,950 of 4,001

[Janice, Moderator]

I read Dark Places a long time ago, and just downloaded Gone Girl and Sharp Objects from audible.com the other day. It's going to be a while before I get around to them.

[Chrissie]

Judy, you liked the Orphan Master's Son! I thought the opposite. Yuck! What a bore if we all thought the same. :0)

[Chrissie]

Judy, I usually agree with Dem too! I am the weird one here. i mean my God I hated it. But others have read my review and told me they hated it too. It is funny how books hit people so differently.

[Janice, Moderator]

I started reading Mistress of the Art of Death last night, but I may have to start all over again. I was dose-reading.

This is a buddy read that starts today, and if anyone else would like to join us, hop on over to the buddy read section.

[Dem]

Chrissie wrote: "Judy, I usually agree with Dem too! I am the weird one here. i mean my God I hated it. But others have read my review and told me they hated it too. It is funny how books hit people so differently."

I am afraid I think wires crossed somewhere:-) as I have not read or is it even on my TRL
The Orphan Master's Sonbut its nice to be mentioned in a post anyhow LoL!!

[Dem]

Judy wrote: "Oops Dem! (blushing) Now I have to figure out which one of my highly esteemed friends reviews I read that praised it so highly......."

Judy am always happy to be in your thoughts!!!

[Chrissie]

Two friends of mine and I will be doing a buddy read of A Long Long Way. I have never read anything by Sebastian Barry and I am reading WW1 currently rather than WW2 books. But the buddy read has been delayed so I will listen to The Leisure Seeker until the others are ready to read ALLW.

TLS is funny. There is an old married couple. One has Alzheimer's the other cancer. They decide to take a vacation, against all advice from everybody! Here is a sentence: "Between the two of us we are one whole person." Maybe you have to be not the youngest of persons to read this book and get a laugh out of it. This is an audiobook I got for less than 5USD from Audible. Another one of their special deals. I love Audible.

[Betsy]

Reading which is eerie because I didn't want to pay $26 for a new author I might not enjoy.I saw it on sale for 5.95 and since I liked the plot summary, I decided it fit into my budget.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've got Graveminder on my wishlist.

I finished A Discovery of Witches this morning and have already purchased the sequel. But before I start that one, I'm listening to The Cruise of the Snark. So far, it's quite enjoyable. Jack London has quite a sardonic sense of humour as he describes the trials and tribulations of setting out on a ocean voyage aboard the Snark and with no navigator.

I'm also reading Mistress of the Art of Death for our buddy read.

[Stuart]

I am reading as it is the book for the month for my offline book club.

[Janice, Moderator]

From the sounds of it, the name is appropriate.

[Dem]

Just finished Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
This is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/400600725

[jaxnsmom]

I have a bunch of books checked out for rainbow reads, but I think I'll return most of them and focus on monthly/buddy reads (only 9 ☺ ). Right now I'm trying to read Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer for buddy read here, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. for another group, and On Toby's Terms for rainbow green book. Tomorrow at work, I'm going to finish listening to Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood and start Still Life or The Shoemaker's Wife. At least I know I'll get at least 6 or 7 hours of listening time then.

I'm thinking of not participating in most of my group reads in October or November. I think I'd like to spend a month focusing on books that I've been putting off, and probably wouldn't become a group read. Mainly some mysteries and oddballs.

[Jennifer]

Finished two today -- Kill Shot which means I have only one unread Flynn left. And he's been ill, so I hope he's able to overcome and forge ahead. Also The Hollywood Canteen: Where the Greatest Generation Danced With the Most Beautiful Girls in the World , the primary effect of which was to make me feel like I was there-- which is exactly what I wanted from it.

[Susan]

I just started reading Arthur & George by Julian Barnes. I'm only a few pages in and writing is wonderful! Arthur's father was "a gentle failure . . . ." I picked it up in the library because I liked the cover and only after that realized he is the author of The Sense of an Ending, which has been on my TBR list for a long time. I am waiting for the audiobook of TSofE to come in for me at the library.

[Chrissie]

I have finished the paper book A Year In The Maine Woods
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
and audiobook The Leisure Seeker
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I will start the paper book Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur and audiobook A Long Long Way.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'll be interested in your thoughts about Tears of the Desert, Chrissie.

[Susan]

Note to all the authors that I like: Please stop writing books for a while. I need time to catch up. Thanks.

[Janice, Moderator]

LOL! This never used to be such a problem. Maybe we can get Connie and the Detroit sisters to give us speed reading lessons.

[Susan]

I added four new books from previously-read-by-me authors to my TBR list today, which already has about five years of reading, by which time everybody will have written new books, and I'm not getting any younger. End of rant.

[Chrissie]

Janice, could my review help you decide if you would like A Year In The Maine Woods? I really tried to be clear so you could compare it to the other book of the Canadian woman in Saskatchewan. The author is very investigative. This could drive some people crazy, but think to have this guy as a family member. Every minute would be so exciting. He know so darn much!

Susan, you have me laughing! I remember the time before GR. Night and day!

I will tell you about the book in Sudan! It starts very well. I was drawn in immediately by the writing style.

[Kimberly]

I'm going to start The Angry Woman Suite by Lee Fullbright because I'm hosting a review spot on the book's blog tour in 3 days.

[Janice, Moderator]

Chrissie wrote: "Janice, could my review help you decide if you would like A Year In The Maine Woods? I really tried to be clear so you could compare it to the other book of the Canadian woman in Saskatchewan. The ..."

I'm going to read A Year in the Maine Woods! Thanks for the recommendation.

[Chrissie]

Janice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Janice, could my review help you decide if you would like A Year In The Maine Woods? I really tried to be clear so you could compare it to the other book of the Canadian woman in S..."

Glad I could help.

[Dem]

Just finished One Breath Away this is my review www.goodreads.com/review/show/379345136

[[deleted user]]

Having spent the day wading through patents (not what you'd call light reading) I'm quite looking forward to starting this month's "real" book club read A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Although I'm slightly concerned I got a bit carried away applying for GR giveaways. I seem to have won this: the sex god - No Mud No Lotus hmm. not sure that's one I want to explain to my mother...

[Chrissie]

Dem, I am reading A Long Long Way on your recommendation. What writing! Good stuff. Wonderful recommendation.

[Marren]

Gilead. I am reading because it is on my shelf and I have not read it

[Eileen]

Today I got an audiobook, which I don't usually do, but it was free, so what the heck! The Party Is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted, which I've been listening to as I work on a tedious project. So far, nothing shocking, but at least I don't feel like a crazy person!

[Dem]

Chrissie wrote: "Dem, I am reading A Long Long Way on your recommendation. What writing! Good stuff. Wonderful recommendation."

So glad you are enjoying it Chrissie! I loved it as it is very true to Irish History and the feelings of the time.

[Janice, Moderator]

I just started the audiobook Shadow of Night because it's the sequel to A Discovery of Witches which was so dern good that I couldn't help myself from downloading and starting the next book in the series.

Hurry up Deborah Harkness and finish the 3rd book. I'll be finished the 2nd in 30+ hours of listening.

[Dem]

Janice wrote: "I just started the audiobook Shadow of Night because it's the sequel to A Discovery of Witches which was so dern good that I couldn't help myself from downloading and starting the next book in the ..."

:-) Good for you Janice, I am with you on this one, as I just finished Fall of Giantsand the sequel is due out on Sept 18th and I cant wait.

[Nicole]

Marren wrote: "Gilead. I am reading because it is on my shelf and I have not read it"

I attempted this one without much luck, Marran.

[Eileen]

I actually liked Gilead. Read it for book club a couple years ago!

[Susan]

Dem wrote: "Janice wrote: "I just started the audiobook Shadow of Night because it's the sequel to A Discovery of Witches which was so dern good that I couldn't help myself from downloading and starting the ne..."

I really liked Gilead. It had a raw beauty to it. Robinson's sequel to it, Home, however, was deadly.

[Kimberly]

I started 2012 The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott. Only 12% in but I like it

[Eileen]

Didn't try Home! Luckily, I have a deep TBR pile, so I don't feel tempted!

[Betsy]

Amaya wrote: "Chrissie, You have good taste.

I'm reading The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat & Other Clinical Tales. I'm researching memory loss for future work, but it's such an interesting read, I'm now po..."

Chrissie - I loved that book -The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat_ too. Flowers for Algernon was also based on one of Oliver Sacks books,not this one but another.

[Chrissie]

Betsy, are you referring to Flowers for Algernon or Flowers for Algernon?

[Chrissie]

I finishedTears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur. My review explains why I so appreciated this wonderful book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


I have begun Here be Dragons. Gosh, everyone praises this book, but I am finding it difficult to get into! So many have the same names, and there is a lot about this king fighting that king.... Johanna has finally been introduced; finally I am more interested.

I don't have the words to praise A Long Long Way adequately. Barry's prose and Cormack's narration were superb.
Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Liking Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder, I wanted to read another by the author. I will soon start listening to All That I Am: A Novel. I really wanted to listen to another about WW1, or rather I want more of Barry and Cormack. Nothing I tested seemed as quite as good, so I have switched to a different topic.

Sometime I do want to listen to The Absolutist, but if I were to pick it up right now I would just compare it to "A Long, Long Way", and could it possibly be as good?

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie wrote: "I finishedTears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur. My review explains why I so appreciated this wonderful book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


I have begun Here be Dra..."

There's sometimes a lot of weight of expectation for a book to be excellent straight off the bat. And I don't know that is always fair, especially for something as meaty as Here be Dragons. It's probably my favourite of Penman's books, as later in the trilogy it just gets unbearably sad. I don't think I'm giving anything away if I say wales is no longer an independent nation... Having said that, it does help if you know the outline of the history of the period, so that you don't get terribly lost in who is fighting married or otherwise related to whom. Stick with it, it warms up. I first read it as a teen and fell head over heels for Llewellyn.

[Kat]

I finished Gone Girl last week and I really enjoyed it - my review here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm now listening to Goodbye for Now which is unfortunately not as good as I thought it was going to be....

[Chrissie]

Helen wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I finishedTears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur. My review explains why I so appreciated this wonderful book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...


I have ..."

I am worried.....I do not like romance either. I looked at other reviews and noted that some have said it takes a while to get into. I hope that is the problem.I have previously read When Christ and His Saints Slept. I gave that three stars. I enjoyed the history in that one. I want both history and attachment to the characters.

Thanks for your encouragement. I will continue.

[Betsy]

Chrissie wrote: "Betsy, are you referring to Flowers for Algernon or Flowers for Algernon?"

Sorry,never should post when I'm tired. What I meant was Flowers for Algernon was not based on He Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie, don't fret on the romance front, I don't remember Dragons being any more overtly romantic than any of the others.
I just found the whole hero faced with unbeatable odds yet still trying everything just way too attractive to my overheated teen imagination. I thought all men were like that - I've learnt to live the the disappointment that they're not. >;-)

[Chrissie]

Helen, I did anything but pick it up yesterday..... I will preserver. I have read only 100 ofthe 700 page book. Even if it gets good, no book should still be dragging after 100 pages. I definitely am the weird one. I know that. If I reacted to books like others life would be so simple; I could just read anyone's review and know whether to choose it. Sigh. I bought the book, so I want it to be good.

[Kimberly]

I started Agartha's Castaway by Chrissy Peebles last night. I got it as a kindle freebie ages ago and it's pretty good. I love anything that has a lost world type feel so I have high hopes for this one!

[Chrissie]

Helen, Here be Dragons is clearly picking up. Definitely a slow start, but there is a lot of history and people that have to be explained.

[Janice, Moderator]

Anna wrote: "I'm currently reading The Long Weekend. Fancied a light read as I've not had a lot of time to dedicate to me of late!"

Welcome to our group, Anna! This is a good group if you're looking for some "me" time. :)

[[deleted user]]

Chrissie wrote: "Helen, Here be Dragons is clearly picking up. Definitely a slow start, but there is a lot of history and people that have to be explained."

Good oh! Dare I say that it's the first in a trilogy?! All fairly meaty. I think the second Falls the Shadow is one of my favourite books ever.