What are you reading right now? Showing 351-400 of 2,326

[Margaret]

I'm reading Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers, simply because I enjoy this simple, easy to follow type of story. it's a lovely, bed-time read that doesn't give one nightmares.

[Katrina]

Just started The Dream Maker and thus far it's been really interesting and I can't say I've been able to put it down so far. I love it when you pick up a book on a whim with no expectations and it just blows you away.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Derek wrote: "Ruby wrote: " I ended up giving a 3 star book 4 stars on the basis that it would have been a 4 star book, had there been a half-decent editor involved! Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/..."

It was edited, just to a basic level. It really only needed finessing.

[Anette]

Mark wrote: "Anette wrote: "Wool omnibusWool Omnibus Edition. I actually bought the first book on my Kindle not knowing it was part of a serie. Got a little disappointed that it was so short and offered no real..."

I just ate the fourth book..... Well written postapocalytic read....

[David]

"A New Voyage and Description of the Isthmus of America" by L. Wafer and G.P. Winship, first published in 1699. As a journalist, I'm always on the lookout for new stuff, and sometimes new projects, especially of the magazine variety, originate by reading some very old stuff.

Early exploration of the Americas and failed settlement attempts have always fascinated me. I don't yet know if I'll pursue this one in particular, but what's delightful about this book is just how much the colonists make you feel like you're there. That may sound like a rather pat observation for a book of this genre, yet isn't that one of the most fundamental challenges of travel writing--to make readers feel like they're there, right by your side as you "march further down by the side of the river, through thickets of hollow bamboos and brambles"?

[Gary]

I tend to read several books at one time... so i wind up with the same reading list for a while. I mostly like nonfiction, though i have a couple of fiction in cue.
Currently finishing up:
Mental flosses "History of the United states",
"Good Book" by David plotz,
"Nature" essays by Emerson,
"Lion of Epicurus"
"Ante Ocuios: Epicurus and his philosophy",
"Time traveler's guide to medieval england" by Ian mortimer,
"The 48 laws of power" by Robert greene,
"The pig that wants to be eaten"
"The philosophers Toolkit"
"The Bedside Baccalaurate" and
"Meditations" by marcus aurelius,
"The Law is an Ass"
and lastly "alice in wonderland".

Just finished "SuperFreakanomics" by levitt and dubner, "A mind of it's own" by cordelia Fine and "You're not as smart as you think" by David Mcraney... all were interesting insights into our behavior using social research. Easy and fun to read (for me at least).

[Jan]

Hi,
I am new to goodreads and the group, glad to have found it. I just got Heat Wave and With Violets, a goodreads recommendation, from the public library here. looking forward to some summer reading and good discussions/recommendations.
Jan

[Leah M]

Hello Jan, How are you. yes this goodreads is a fantastic sites isnt it...i just love it,for all the recommendations etc..

[Mae]

Just started reading Feed and really liking it so far.

[Pam]

I've read a little over half of John Dies at the End, and I'm really enjoying it. I started reading it cause I saw it mentioned in this group a few times.

[Anna]

A Hero of Our Time, Persuasion and Major Barbara and still reading At Swim, Two Boys.

[Angela]

I just finished The Woman, by David Bishop, great book, very fast paced, definite page turner. Highly recommend.

[Mike]

I'm reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima.

[Anna]

Mike wrote: "I'm reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima."

Wonderful and daunting book.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Mike wrote: "I'm reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima."

That looks amazeballs! Definitely reading that.

Right now I'm focussing on:
Diverse Energies - It's a YA dystopian anthology with an emphasis on cultural diversity, which I think is a fantastic idea. The first story by Ellen Oh is a highlight so far, and I'm also enjoying the story I'm on by K. Tempest Bradford. She also had a story in Chicks Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It.

Also really loving The Beetle and Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, and impatiently awaiting my copy of Lord of the Flies in the post.

[Nicholas]

Pam wrote: "I've read a little over half of John Dies at the End, and I'm really enjoying it. I started reading it cause I saw it mentioned in this group a few times."

Mae wrote: "Just started reading Feed and really liking it so far."

High fives!

..............................

I just finished Threats. I found it really interesting and different, even if a bit of a downer (to put it mildly). I gave it 4 stars.

I'm most of the way through In the Miso Soup. The translation reads well and the story is engrossing, but it's not for the faint of heart. The violence is brutal and described in extreme detail.

Next up:
Apocalypse Cow
The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories: China from the Bottom Up

...............................

Side note:
Has anyone read or started Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art (new Christopher Moore)? I like his work and would be curious to hear some impressions from the group.

[Ruth]

I'm currently reading "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy. Does everybody agree that it is a good book? What did you feel when you were reading the book? I'm just on the first few pages and I don't know anything yet about it. I just borrowed it from our school library but I think I will finish it because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity--reading a classic book at the age of 17.

[Frozenwaffle]

I'm finishing the The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset too ^^ Rida and I share the same opinion to some extent, I Think :) Its a good book, not awesome, but good. I cheered for more gore and less gooey-feely stuff, but I guess YA has to keep a tight control on the blood, unless its about vampires *roll eyes* I like that its popular though, as it centers around the idea of standing up for what you believe in - that is the kind of story I'd like teenagers to be inspired by.

The City and the City has been pulling on me like a magnet these last few days - I even stop to caress its binding now and then! (Don´t judge me. One cannot be blamed for telling the truth.) So I guess you know what my next reading choice will be :D

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Frozenwaffle wrote: "The City and the City has been pulling on me like a magnet these last few days - I even stop to caress its binding now and then! (Don´t judge me. One cannot be blamed for telling the truth.) So I guess you know what my next reading choice will be :D ..."

LOL. I'm in no position to judge! I have a small (but growing) pile of books in front of me - the "must-take-to-townsville-next-week" pile - including Iron Council..... so seductive.

[Peter]

I've got The City and the City on my wish list and it will be the next book I read after I finish Leviathan by Paul Auster. Just the blurb alone took a hold on me. I haven't read Miéville yet only reviews and praise for his work. Looking forward to it.

[Elise]

Peter wrote: "I've got The City and the City on my wish list and it will be the next book I read after I finish Leviathan by Paul Auster. Just the blurb alone took a hold on me. I haven't read Miéville yet only ..."

Like Peter I've not read any Miéville but he does look interesting - where would be a good place to start?

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I'd recommend starting with Perdido Street Station, since it's the first in a trilogy, and since it worked for me! I've only read that one and The Scar, the next in that (loose) series.

[Peter]

I just started and read through the first 3 chapters of Offshore by Penelope Fitgerald. I'm not real sure of a plot just yet, but there are some interesting characters.

[Riona]

I finally finished Half Life and loved it. I definitely need to write a review of that one but haven't had the chance to sit down and really process it yet... damn you, 50-hour workweek and birthday festivities!

Up next: A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today

[Sean C]

I'm reading Does My Head Look Big In This? and Things A Map Won't Show You: Stories from Australia & Beyond for work...(I have to teach them next term) and also reading The Secret River for my own personal enjoyment.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Ripcat wrote: "I'm reading Does My Head Look Big In This? and Things A Map Won't Show You: Stories from Australia & Beyond for work...(I have to teach them next term) ..."

Those both look great! Let us know how the second one goes. It might have been a good pick for Australia in our "A Book For Each Country" shelf ("A" countries).

[Dana]

Currently reading Net Switchby Denise Baer. Wow. What an awesome psychological thriller. One of the best I've read in a long time. It drew me in from the very beginning and it's taking me on a whole lot of twists and turns. Really like the writing style. The characters are haunting and real. Very well developed. I'll keep you posted!

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I finished Diverse Energies last night, and really enjoyed it. That's unusual for me, since I usually struggle with short story anthologies. This one is a YA Dystopian story collection with a focus on cultural diversity. It had enough fascinating ideas to keep me going all the way through, plus I got to sample a few new authors.
Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

That was the first of my Netgalley ARCs. I'm on to Blood Zero Sky next.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Clint wrote: "I am reading Redshirts. It is not your everyday SciFi thriller.Scalzi has a great mix of humor and serious moment throughout."

I'm in two minds about Scalzi, but mostly because of his marketing! I'm on the Tor mailing list, and they promoted the hell out of his books, offering giveaways out the wazoo - but only ever to US residents, and they weren't upfront about it. I'd click through all the pages only to find out it was waste of time. My opinion is that maybe they should just promote the books within the US if that's their attitude!

[Tracy]

Just finished Billy Liar from 1959 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30...
Quite hilarious, if you like British humor. He's the British Holden Caulfield. End a little flat--I will read the second.

[Theo]

Just finished The Last Book in the Universe, a dystopian novel. It's written for 12-14 year olds, so it is rather simplistic, but it has fairly strong world building and very interesting characters.

Now on to Eighth-Grade Superzero and Revolution.

[Whitney]

I just started The Sisters Brothers. And wondering why the publisher changed this incredibly cool original cover for this incredibly lame new cover

[Riona]

I think I'm just about the only one who didn't love The Sisters Brothers, but I did love that cover.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I just ordered a copy of He Died with His Eyes Open, purely for this cover series:

[Riona]

That is some excellent cover art.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I love the human element to each of the pictures.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Forgot to mention, I started reading this short story the other day just to see if it would fit for one of the group read themes (it doesn't so far), and it's really good. The writing style reminds me a lot of Vonnegut's in SH5 actually! Fixture

[Whitney]

Ruby wrote: "Forgot to mention, I started reading this short story the other day just to see if it would fit for one of the group read themes (it doesn't so far), and it's really good. The writing style reminds..."

This looks cool,how did you find it? I finally got everything working so I can put Kindle books on my nook, and now there's this whole world of Kindle singles out there for me.

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

I'm actually not sure about that one, as I've had it for a while now. But the author is a member of this group, and another one I'm in, so I'm guessing that's how I came across it.

[Aresa]

Right now Im reading Speaker for the Dead. We'll see. I've read reviews saying it wasn't nearly as good as Ender's Game but then again, I tend to like what others don't so I guess we'll see. Its interesting to see how Ender went from hero to Xenocide though in a matter of 3000 years.

[Whitney]

Aresa wrote: "Right now Im reading Speaker for the Dead. We'll see. I've read reviews saying it wasn't nearly as good as Ender's Game but then again, I tend to like what others don't so I guess we'll see. Its..."

I thought it was better than the first one, but it's been a long time. The first one was more of a page-turner, for sure. The third one I wanted to shred and use as guinea pig cage material.

[Whitney]

Thomas wrote: ". I love a good cowboy story once in a while. I'm always looking for that next "Lonesome Dove"...."

I like a good western now and then as well. What are some of your other picks?

For 'lighter' stuff some of the books I've really enjoyed are the westerns of Elmore Leonard and Richard Matheson. For the more serious stuff Cormac McCarthy and Guy Vanderhaeghe. I loved Lonesome Dove as well, but I don't think McMurtry has come close again.

[Derek]

A. wrote: "I'm reading The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuściński. It really is an interesting read, but I am completely baffled as to how people can believe that Haile Selassie was a God/messsiah."

Does the book offer any insight?

[Ruby , Mistress of Chaos]

Matthew wrote: "I finished Mira Grant's Deadline and loved it. So I put a hold on all other reads and am now in the middle of Blackout, the third and final book in the Newsflesh trilogy. So much fun!"

I'm jealous that you get to read them back-to-back! She's finally releasing the Newsflesh novellas in paperback in October also: When Will You Rise: Stories to End the World

[Riona]

I just finished A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today and found it fascinating. Review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I think I'll start on my re-read of Slaughterhouse-Five tomorrow for the group read.

[Sofia]

Currently reading Life of Pi and Fifty Shades of Grey, the latter being one of the most ridiculous reads I've read in a long time lol ... All the hype over this? It's garbage.

[Sophie]

I just finished Gone Girl which I really enjoyed, even though I was incredibly disturbed by the ending!

Now I'm working my way through Wolf Hall (I know I'm a bit behind!). I am liking it a lot so far and I'm about half way through (I started it yesterday). I'm a sucker for any book that has anything to do with the Tudors.

[Whitney]

I don't know if you are aware of it but McMurtry wrote three other books (two prequels and and a sequel) to Lonesome Dove. I enjoyed them very much.
..."

I read Streets of Laredo and Dead Man's Walk. I did enjoy them, but not nearly as much as Lonesome Dove. I haven't read Comanche Moon - how does that compare to the others?

At some point I started both Anything for Billy and Sin Killer (not Lonesome Dove books, I know), but neither of them really grabbed me and I didn't get very far.

[Whitney]

Thomas wrote: "There's just no point in us comparing anything else to Lonesome Dove because nothing is going to live up to that book. ..."

True that, it is unfair to make the comparison (but hard not to with sequels). I appreciated what I took to be McMurtry's intent in Streets of Laredo, showing that life doesn't end with the ride into the sunset, and that even legends grow old, decrepit, and dependent. At the same time, I didn't much enjoy reading about it. I'll give Sin Killer another chance, I think I just wasn't much in the mood when I picked it up.

[Whitney]

I'm gonna have to read some more about the subject because I'm really scratching my head as to how/why he is the focal point of a religion..."

My understanding (the short answer) is that being crowned Emperor of the only African country that wasn't colonized by the west, Selassie was in a perfect position to be hailed as a messiah in in a time of growing black consciousness in Jamaica and elsewhere. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, though.

I read The Emperor as well several years ago, as I recall you're right that it's not really a history so much as a picture of Selassie's court at the time.