What are you reading right now? Showing 951-1,000 of 2,326

[Jasmine]

And I just finished the fabulous Purple Cane Road by James Lee Burke. Loved this book.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Hey guys - Just a reminder to please use the "add book/author" function to put book titles in your posts.

Also, I read Purple Cane Road as "Purple Cane Toad" just then. I think the tropics are getting to me.

[Karen]

I am halfway through Perdido Street Station and finding it more accessible than Embassytown. Someone will probably cut my fingers off for typing this but I think this book would be 100% better if it were more condensed. It seems like I read on and on before I get to a new pertinent idea or plot line BUT I have to give this writer A+ for imagination. Also reading Palimpsest for the group read and Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand, reading the last because I need to escape all this dark stuff. Both are going well.

[Whitney]

Karen wrote: "I am halfway through Perdido Street Station and finding it more accessible than Embassytown. Someone will probably cut my fingers off for typing this but I think this book would be 100% better if..."

Hi, Karen. Checking your profile I see you are all the way out in Missouri, so the finger cutting is just too impractical.

I don't think what you're saying is at all 'wrong', just an expression of your personal tastes for a more plot-driven novel. Mieville definitely excels in world-building and description. I've seen him in person a few times, and what excites him is definitely the window dressing over the action. Maybe his books tend to appeal more to those who just want to hang out in his world for while, rather than those eager to head out for adventure :-)

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Its funny, but in reading Palimpsest I've been comparing Valente's style to Mieville's the whole way through. I'd like to say more, but that seems like a discussion for another thread.... :)

[Karen]

Whitney wrote: "Karen wrote: "I am halfway through Perdido Street Station and finding it more accessible than Embassytown. Someone will probably cut my fingers off for typing this but I think this book would be ..." You're right and I don't know why I did'nt think of this before where Mieville is concerned. I have always been plot over environment. I could barely make it though Faulkner and Michener in American Lit back in the dark ages for that exact reason. They had great stories to tell but they spent so much time 'setting the stage' that I wondered off. :-). Our current read Palimpsest is a good example of the sort of thing I really go for. You start reading and you are immediately 'in' the story. It's good to have this forum to exchange views and reviews.

[[Name Redacted]]

Finished Steppenwolf, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, Vol. 2: Gods and Monsters, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, Vol. 3: Russia and Fragile Things.

Finally started The Hero of Ages.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I've been tinkering with three books this evening: The Day of the Triffids, Floating Worlds and Fragile Things.

I've also been unpacking my books, so I'm tempted to just take a random detour into something completely different for a bit. If only I could decide which book......!

[Leo]

This week I've been getting some brilliant vicarious enjoyment from The Savage Detectives: the characters are squandering their youth in much cooler ways than I did :-)

[Riona]

Leo wrote: "This week I've been getting some brilliant vicarious enjoyment from The Savage Detectives: the characters are squandering their youth in much cooler ways than I did :-)"

I loved The Savage Detectives!

[Leo]

Riona wrote: "I loved The Savage Detectives!"

:D :D

Mark wrote: "Will finish The Twelve and Anathem today or tomorrow."

What kind of a reader is Neal Stephenson for ie. other authors he is like? Also have you read Cryptonomicon? Is it worth reading? :-)

[Jasmine]

I just started Bringing up the the Bodies by the great Hilary Mantel. She's amazing.

Bringing Up the Bodies, book #2

[Riona]

Leo wrote: "What kind of a reader is Neal Stephenson for ie. other authors he is like? Also have you read Cryptonomicon? Is it worth reading? :-) "

This question totally wasn't directed at me but I'll chime in anyway. I think Neal Stephenson's earlier books are completely different in style than his more recent ones. Personally I loved his older stuff (Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, Zodiac), which was similar in style to William Gibson, Philip K. Dick, etc. His newer stuff seems a lot denser. I personally lost interest in Cryptonomicon very early on, though I keep meaning to try it again.

[[Name Redacted]]

My friend ADORES "Anathem" and keeps insisting i read it. Then again he's a computer programmer.

[Leo]

Mark wrote: "I finished Anathem this evening. Leo, I would say a patient reader..."

Kool! Thanks for your advice, I do like some context :0)

Riona wrote: "This question totally wasn't directed at me but I'll chime in anyway."

But I probably should have directed it to you too haha! Cheers for the advice.

For some reason I'm really in the mood for something dense, experimental and meandering, so mebs I should give Neal Stephenson a try :-)

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Ian wrote: "My friend ADORES "Anathem" and keeps insisting i read it. Then again he's a computer programmer."

LOL. Well, obviously they don't count! ;P

[Vaishnavi]

I just finished reading Insurgent(really good! - can't wait for the next one). The only thing is that it's too similar to the The Hunger Games.
Just started reading Eragon after having it on my 'To Read' list for a long time.

[[Name Redacted]]

Ruby wrote: "Ian wrote: "My friend ADORES "Anathem" and keeps insisting i read it. Then again he's a computer programmer."

LOL. Well, obviously they don't count! ;P"

Indeed! Filthy, wretched beasts! (Why is everyone looking at me like that?)

[Whitney]

Riona wrote: "I think Neal Stephenson's earlier books are completely different in style than his more recent ones. Personally I loved his older stuff..."

I'm with you, Riona. I liked his older stuff, and also lost interest in Cryptonomicon. Unlike you I kept reading, which I regret. The 'humorous' digressions grow VERY tiresome after 400 pages or so, and the female characters grow more two-dimensional and annoying. A book in serious need of some editing. I've had several people recommend Anathem, but I break out in hives when I look at it, having been primed by Cryptonomicon.

[Mike]

The Ape Man’s Brother by Joe R. Lansdale

[[deleted user]]

Neal Stephenson thinks he's a genius. In the early books, he communicated this to you with style and wit. As he grew popular, he basically just started marinating in his own amazement with himself and clearly deviated into a wasteland of self-appreciation and pointless talking for the sake of hearing his own voice.

Someone needs to tell him that he's just a nerd who gets paid to make stuff up and share with people the imaginary games he plays in his head. I've read interviews with him where he seems to believe he's changing the world and helping to guide humanity into a better future.

No.

[[Name Redacted]]

Forrest wrote: "Neal Stephenson thinks he's a genius. In the early books, he communicated this to you with style and wit. As he grew popular, he basically just started marinating in his own amazement with himsel..."

That's more or less how I feel about China Mieville. Except without any of the positive associations from his earlier work.

[Jan]

A. wrote: "I've got a couple of books that I've bought and a few more from the library sitting on my bedside table.

Looking forward to a nice fortnight of reading.

Just started The Wasp Factory today."

Interested in what you think of Wasp Factory. Iain Banks is one of my favorite authors

[Jan]

got Infinite Jest from my library today. Whew! a doorstop tome! Have only read first few pages, not sure what to expect. I'll see how I feel after the first 100.

[Riona]

I devoured Blackout (All Clear, #1) and am now halfway through the second half, All Clear (All Clear, #2). I forgot how amazing Connie Willis is!

[Jennifer]

Jan wrote: "A. wrote: "I've got a couple of books that I've bought and a few more from the library sitting on my bedside table.

Looking forward to a nice fortnight of reading.

Just started The Wasp Factory t..."

I read that last year. I confess to still being confused. It wasn't a bad book. I just couldn't get into the cadence if that makes sense.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

A. wrote: "I've got a couple of books that I've bought and a few more from the library sitting on my bedside table.

Looking forward to a nice fortnight of reading.

Just started The Wasp Factory today."

Keen to know what you think too. I really loved it years ago, but I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much today.

[Leo]

A. wrote: "Just started The Wasp Factory today."

LOVE The Wasp Factory! It's love or hate though... me and my ma dragged my bro to a theatrical version of it and he didn't speak to us after haha! :D

Jan wrote: "got Infinite Jest from my library today. Whew! a doorstop tome! Have only read first few pages, not sure what to expect. I'll see how I feel after the first 100."

I am jealous of your first time reading! Lots of people have said it takes them over 200 pages to get into it, but I thought it was great from the beginning, maybe it takes that long to build up the storytelling momentum...

Just finished The Savage Detectives which was awesome, now moving on to Charles Dickens's's's's' eponymous epistemological celebratory seminal fantastical work Great Expectations, which I for one have always wanted to read because... that's a lie, my husband loves Helena Bonham Carter and she's in the film of it :P

[Matthew]

I'm reading Ken Follett's new book. He's a bit of a guilty pleasure.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Leo wrote: "A. wrote: "Just started The Wasp Factory today."

LOVE The Wasp Factory! It's love or hate though... me and my ma dragged my bro to a theatrical version of it and he didn't speak to us after haha! ..."

Gargh! So jealous you got to see a theatrical version! That would have been amazing.

[[Name Redacted]]

I did. But that's the glory of subjective experience.

[Whitney]

Mark wrote: "Ian wrote: "I did. But that's the glory of subjective experience."

So true."

Sounds like the makings of a good book discussion. Maybe we could start one if there's some interest? Ian, which Mieville book(s) in particular left you pondering why you wasted your time and money?

[evie]

I've just finished The Last Child and I've started reading The Shipping News.

[[Name Redacted]]

.(Brief mobile update from in-law's)

FINALLY finished "After Dark" by Manly Wade Wellman. Good book, but oddly put-downable for the first third.

Finished A Christmas Carol (as read by Tim Curry!).

Finished The Lump of Coal.

Started Black Sun Rising (loved as a boy) and continuing with The Hero of Ages

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I'm about 70% through The Day of the Triffids and 20% through Floating Worlds, and both are good, but I'm craving a random read of my own choice.

So I'm just about to pick up Zone One.

[विकास]

Finished I gave it 3 stars.....Now reading by P D James...

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Hi Vikas - if you could use the book title links instead of book cover links, I'd appreciate it. Thanks :)

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

A. wrote: "I finished The Sense of an Ending.

After a rather ordinary start, this grew into a very good book. You can find my review here for anybody who's interested. I gave it four stars, but after spendin..."

I have seen some fairly mixed reviews of that one. It;s on my shelf, but I'm not hugely enthused! Your review is making me rethink that though..

[Whitney]

A. wrote: "I wouldn't recommend this to some people I know, but I know some others who would probably love it. Does that make sense? ..."

Sure, different strokes for different folks. Your review made me TBR this book as well. A friend of mine said something similar about it being a book that it's worth sticking with to the end.

[Ernest Gonzales]

I just started reading Pax Romana and I am really impressed. It's a graphic novel about The Catholic Church using time travel technology to re-write history. Very experimental art style and written more like a novel and less like a comic. Highly recommended

[Jennifer]

I just finished The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard. Talk about reverse evolution...or maybe...just evolution...I was there in that lagoon that was London....

[Riona]

Finished Never Let Me Go... underwhelming. I started Brooklyn, Burning this afternoon and am already halfway through -- it's definitely a quick read!

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Jennifer wrote: "I just finished The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard. Talk about reverse evolution...or maybe...just evolution...I was there in that lagoon that was London...."

That one looks good. I bought 3 of his books after we read High-Rise, and they've been calling to me ever since. I figure they'll make good summer holiday reading.

Meanwhile, my BF ignored my (not very subtle) hints to try checking my "must-buy" shelf before buying me books as xmas presents. As a result, he gave me a Raymond E. Feist book that's book 26 in a series of 29. Much as I loved Feist, I think I only ever got to about book 10-12. So we returned it together today and got The City's Son, which I would never have found on my own. Looks awesome. Also picked up The Twelve and Gone Girl while we were there. All in all, a good day and some great summer reading ahead..

[[Name Redacted]]

Feist lost me around book 5 when his rape fetish started taking over. *shudder*

[Jennifer]

"Meanwhile, my BF ignored my (not very subtle) hints to try checking my "must-buy" shelf before buying me books as xmas presents. As a result, he gave me a Raymond E. Feist book that's book 26 in a series"

Ruby,
I solved that problem by ordering books from my wish list myself...and having my son give them to me for Christmas(I like used books, $100 goes a long way!!) That way the husband can't have a heart attack as I shove more books on my already crowded shelf. His plot to get me an e-reader has failed...thats full of books to!!

[विकास]

Read A certain Justice by PD James...Now reading Bag of Bones by Stephen King

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Jennifer wrote: "Ruby,
I solved that problem by ordering books from my wish list myself...and having my son give them to me for Christmas(I like used books, $100 goes a long way!!) That way the husband can't have a heart attack as I shove more books on my already crowded shelf. His plot to get me an e-reader has failed...thats full of books to!! .."

I tried hinting around that too. No go, I'm afraid!

Ian wrote: "Feist lost me around book 5 when his rape fetish started taking over. *shudder*"

Er..... I don't remember those books being overly rapey.

[Tracy]

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85... A Visit From the Goon Squad.

Just finishing. Have to digest why it is a Pulitzer--although it does have some freshness?

Finished. Did anyone else read this?

[[Name Redacted]]

Ruby wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Ruby,
I solved that problem by ordering books from my wish list myself...and having my son give them to me for Christmas(I like used books, $100 goes a long way!!) That way the hus..."

I remember there being at least one graphic rape or sexual assault in King's Buccaneer, Shadow of a Dark Queen and Rise of a Merchant Prince -- it all began in Faerie Queen though. I gave up on him after Rise, so he may have gotten better about it. Terry Goodkind fell into a similar habit. The amount of time and detail spent on the scenes (and the fact that the victim in FT was described as wanting the rape) put me off.

[Riona]

I've just started Ham on Rye. My first Bukowski!