Currently Reading? Showing 901-950 of 2,623

[Penny]

Mike wrote: "I'm currently reading

Death Watch by Jim Kelly

I thought the latest book by Elizabeth George was excellen..."

interesting Mike - I love this series but this one was a little off key for me. I found it long and quite slow in parts - yet as usual I wanted to know what happened in the end. I think the best character was Salvatore - he could start a series in his own right!! I found the ending with Barbara getting away with all her crazy behaviour slightly out of sync - especially as Ardery has no love for her. I guess she did it for Lynley.

[Leslie]

Sarah wrote: "My seasonal mystery read is Tied Up In Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh.

Merry Christmas everyone :-)"

I read that last December - it was pretty good! This year my seasonal mystery was Rest You Merry, which was OK but not as good as Tied Up in Tinsel or Envious Casca…

[Susan]

Mike wrote: "I'm currently reading

Death Watch by Jim Kelly

I thought the latest book by Elizabeth George was excellen..."
It's so interesting because I found the book a disappointment again. I think she's gone off since she killed Helen. I find it hard to believe that in less than a year Lynley would be on his second affair. I do agree with Penny that Salvatore stole the book. I am interested in him. I wish George would just let Lynley and Havers solve some crimes unrelated to their personal lives again.

[Jean]

Me too, Susan. I agree completely with you. I'm glad that Haddiyah and her father will be gone, at least; that will give George a chance to get away from the personal stuff. Sometimes I think that, if the detectives managed their personal lives better, none of these writers would have any plots at all.

[Kay]

Susan and Jean, I agree with you. Sometimes events in their personal lives ruin a book for me.

[Joan]

I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the latest Elizabeth George, and so far it's still carrying me along. I'm not riveted, however. Frankly, I find it a bit implausible that Barbara Havers would, again and again, risk her job (and even her life and limb) for Azhar and Haddiyah. I also find it totally implausible that Azhar's (abandoned) Pakistani family would freak out in public and/or in front of a police officer when he shows up after 10 years. Yes, people have strong feelings about all sorts of things, but don't they also have some self control, some dignity, or at least some ambivalence?

[Susan]

I couldn't agree more, Joan. I could understand the son though. His age and loss was totally guiding his actions. If you're 1/4 of the way through you will find that Barbara continues her suicide mission but I found it realistic. These were two people she loved and she loved so few that it became even more important.

[Lorraine]

I'm half way through Divergent by Veronica Roth. I've seen trailers for the movie which comes out in March and wanted to read the book before then. Good so far.

[Penny]

Lorraine wrote: "I'm half way through Divergent by Veronica Roth. I've seen trailers for the movie which comes out in March and wanted to read the book before then. Good so far."

my daughter read this straight through as we drove her back to University after Christmas - I will have to give it a go !!

[Helen]

almost done re-reading Charles Todd's Bess Crawford series, the first four. Number 5 is on its way from Amazon and I wanted to refresh ...

[Susan]

@Helen, this must be a good series then? I just started to read his Rutledge series and liked it very much. Would you recommend the Bess Crawford series?

[Helen]

Susan wrote: "@Helen, this must be a good series then? I just started to read his Rutledge series and liked it very much. Would you recommend the Bess Crawford series?"

Susan ~ yes I quite like the Bess series - it covers WWI and the stories are well done. I do have to admit though that sometimes the incidences of chance meetings between characters are just a bit too coincidental ~ that being said I still enjoy them. Have you read his stand alone Murder Stone? Definitely different.

[Susan]

No, the new Charles Todd was the first one I've read and I liked it very much. It also dealt with WWI and it's complexity reminded me of Maisie Dobbs. Both talked about PTSD although they didn't call it that then.

[Ruth]

Who do you think is the best of these writers who are currently writing detective novels set in pre-war Britain?

[Susan]

Well, I love Maisie Dobbs but it seemed like in her last novel that it was the end of the series. I've only read one Charles Todd but that one was really good.

[Penny]

Sarah wrote: "Who do you think is the best of these writers who are currently writing detective novels set in pre-war Britain?"

Have you read any of the Joe Sandilands books by Barbara Cleverly? I have really enjoyed those, also The Railway Detective Series by Marston. Not sure who I would list as the very best of writers basing stories in that time - its an interesting question though!

[Carolien]

I've read Barbara Cleverly and enjoyed it. I'd appreciate recommendations for more books set in this era.

[Ruth]

Thanks for the recommendations - I'd appreciate any more as well.

[Sally]

I'm nearly finished with .The lead character is a down on his luck magician. The story takes place in Glasgow, London, and Berlin. The story is building to a climax so I have to finish it today.

[Helen]

Susan wrote: "Well, I love Maisie Dobbs but it seemed like in her last novel that it was the end of the series. I've only read one Charles Todd but that one was really good."

I have just put Maisie on my list after having read a few pages on Amazon - thank you !

[Penny]

I enjoyed which is the first of a series - I've not yet read any more but I probably will. They are set prior to WW1.

[Ruth]

Is anyone else doing the 2014 Reading Challenge? How do you pitch it - do you make it easily achievable or add a few extra books on top of your limit? I haven't done it before so nothing to compare it with.

[Yvonne]

I just finished Bad Men by John Connolly (Dublin, Ireland) - a little gruesome, but I will probably read more of his books. Tried to read one of Peter Fowler's Peculiar Crime Unit books, but they just aren't my thing.

[Jean]

I also like the Sandilands books by Cleverly and the Railway Detective ones by Marston - I don't like much else of his stuff but these are excellent. I also like Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, but not as much as Todd's Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge ones. Have you tried the Daisy Dalrymple series by Carola Dunn? They're quite entertaining. Does anyone else have suggestions?

[Carolien]

. I picked this one up in the bargain bin of my local bookstore today and it is fascinating to browse. Colleen Barnett, the author, has read thousands of mysteries and provides short biographies of female characters in mysteries. I haven't heard of many of them (especially the American ones), but it's a wonderful source.

[Carolien]

Jean wrote: "I also like the Sandilands books by Cleverly and the Railway Detective ones by Marston - I don't like much else of his stuff but these are excellent. I also like Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, bu..."

I'll check out Carolann Dunn and Marston.

[Miss M]

Carolien wrote: ". I picked this one up in the bargain bin of my local bookstore today and it is..."

Ha...I got that aaages ago for my kindle- completely forgot about it...thanks!

I like Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series from that era.

[Jean]

Yes, I like those too, Miss M.

[Leslie]

Sarah wrote: "Is anyone else doing the 2014 Reading Challenge? How do you pitch it - do you make it easily achievable or add a few extra books on top of your limit? I haven't done it before so nothing to compare..."

Sarah - I have made it easily achievable since you can always increase it later on if you want to.

[Ruth]

Thanks Leslie, I was wondering if you could increase it through the year. So I think I'll go for achievable and see how it goes.

[Susan]

I love the Royal Spyness series. I particularly like the one where she met Coco Channel. So much fun.

[Miss M]

Susan wrote: "I love the Royal Spyness series. I particularly like the one where she met Coco Channel. So much fun."

Seems like they'd be perfect for a tv mini-series...

[Susan]

They do don't they?

[Diane]

Sarah wrote: "Is anyone else doing the 2014 Reading Challenge? How do you pitch it - do you make it easily achievable or add a few extra books on top of your limit? I haven't done it before so nothing to compare..."
Not really on the subject but just love your little
picture - I am pretty sure it is Dolores Costello
on an old Photoplay magazine.

[Ruth]

Diane wrote: "Not really on the subject but just love your little
picture - I am pretty sure it is Dolores Costello
on an old Photoplay magazine. "

Isn't she lovely! Well-spotted - I just liked it as a flapper image but didn't know who she was. So I've just googled Dolores Costello and yes it's from the cover of the October issue of Photoplay magazine. Thanks Diane!

Who is that on your profile picture? She's lovely too.

[Joan]

OK, so I've made is to page 296 out of 720 in the latest Elizabeth George, and it's due back at the library. I'm going to return it. I'll get it from my university library when classes restart a week and a half from now, and I doubt I'll spend any time during that week and a half wondering about what happens on page 297. What is the opposite of "page turner"?

[Jean]

Joan, I probably wouldn't have finished it either, but I kept hoping George would redeem herself. Didn't happen though . . . .

[Joan]

Jean, I do actually intend to finish it eventually. I'm just not willing to pay overdue fines in order to do so. :=)

[Helen]

I have broken my own cardinal rule ~ the one that says "do not read during the day because nothing will get done". Three books arrived on December 30th and all have been read! An inordinate number of pages between noon on the 30th & midnight on the 2nd, bearing in mind that I worked on that day as well....C.S. Harris' "What Angels Fear" (comments here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Bruce Alexander's "Blind Justice" in which I really enjoyed the writing style & Charles Todd's latest Bess Crawford "A Question of Honour" which I feel was the best of the three. My next will be Peter Kirby's "Vigilante Season", not British, but he lives in and writes about my home town - and very well. Right now I am off to catch up on all that has been ignored since the delivery :>)

[Susan]

Joan wrote: "OK, so I've made is to page 296 out of 720 in the latest Elizabeth George, and it's due back at the library. I'm going to return it. I'll get it from my university library when classes restart a ..."

I warned you that I had to slog through it. Why, oh why, do I keep hoping George will regain her former style. I wish that Lynley and Havers would go back and solve crime unrelated to their personal lives.

[Leslie]

Helen wrote: "I have broken my own cardinal rule ~ the one that says "do not read during the day because nothing will get done". Three books arrived on December 30th and all have been read! An inordinate number..."

I love Bruce Alexander's series! And I strongly recommend reading them in order so you can follow Jeremy Proctor's growth.

[Helen]

Leslie wrote: I love Bruce Alexander's series! And I strongly recommend reading them in order so you can follow Jeremy Proctor's growth"

I plan to do just that Leslie - I know I will enjoy them, judging by the first one

[Carolien]

Helen wrote: "I have broken my own cardinal rule ~ the one that says "do not read during the day because nothing will get done". Three books arrived on December 30th and all have been read! An inordinate number..."

I like your rule! I spent New Year's Day reading The Kills by Linda Fairstein. What nice books! They're all on my TBR list especially Bruce Alexander. I don't know Kirby, will look him up.

[Helen]

Carolien wrote: I like your rule! I spent New Year's Day reading The Kills by Linda Fairstein. What nice books

I am 98% retired and read so much that I found I was losing my days (and my home was suffering) ... hence the rule. Attached to that is the fact that I felt I had to reduce my book budget as well. So now, bedtime is my reading time ;>) (usually)

[Carolien]

LOL!

Sounds blissful. I'm at the other end of the spectrum - two young children, full time job and studying part time. I only read at bedtime since that is the only time I have for myself (but must then make sure I still go to sleep at a reasonable time and not read just another few pages!)

[Karlyne]

If I am going to read before bedtime, I have to follow my two rules. I have to have read the book before, and it has to be full of sweetness and light, charm and goodness. I'm too susceptible to the written word to be able to get to sleep otherwise!

And I do not watch the news before bed, either...

[Leslie]

Karlyne wrote: "If I am going to read before bedtime, I have to follow my two rules. I have to have read the book before, and it has to be full of sweetness and light, charm and goodness. I'm too susceptible to ..."

Sounds like a good time to reread some Georgette Heyer :)

[Karlyne]

Of course she's on my list, Leslie!

[Wendy]

To all those people doing the Reading Challenge... do you have several books on the go or always read in a linear, fashion, so to speak? If I have more than one book going, it's usually one novel and one non-fiction but some people say things like "I'm currently reading 6 books..." How do they organise their reading? I've always wanted to know!

[Leslie]

Wendy wrote: "To all those people doing the Reading Challenge... do you have several books on the go or always read in a linear, fashion, so to speak? If I have more than one book going, it's usually one novel a..."

I started reading multiple books about 18 months ago, when 2 things occurred to change my reading habits - I discovered GoodReads and I started listening to audiobooks.

I started to read more poetry and short stories, of which I read a little bit each day, so I might have in my "currently reading" shelf one book of short stories, one collection of poems, one audiobook, and one "real" book. Then I started reading more classics, which are sometimes very long or hard to read, so I started having a second "real" book (usually a mystery); often one is print and the other on my Kindle...