What are we reading in May?

Apparently it's MAY now, so what are you reading this month? I'm currently enjoying Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge, a YA fantasy loosely based on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Please share what you're reading below!

Thanks for setting up this thread, Christina. I am currently listening to the delightful Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, and reading No Orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase, which is both darker and more violent than I expected.

This morning I finished The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy which was left over from last month. Then I started Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris which is my book club book that needs to be finished. And then I ran over to the library to pick up The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd which I had had on reserve and, as long as I was going, I asked for The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing.

I've started Dead beat by Val McDermid. It seems I've chosen to read mostly mysteries this month which is a problem. I usually have two or three books on the go at any given time and if they are all mysteries the plots can become tangled. Might have to rethink May's plan.

>2 DeltaQueen50: Here is George Orwell's article, Raffles and Miss Blandish.

Working on about five different books and none of them are really holding my attention. I may try to finish up one today or just go ahead and start the next shiny book, Space Chronicles, by Neil deGrasse Tyson, which I'm reading for the May Non-Fiction CAT.

>5 pamelad: Thanks for that link, Orwell helps to explain the author's reasoning and his influences. Although I found it to be highly readable, this will not be a book that I recommend to many due to it's lurid nature.

For pleasure, I'm reading Citizen Reporters: S. S. McClure, Ida Tarbell, and the Magazine that Rewrote America by Stephanie Gorton (which will also count as the journalism square on my second BingoDOG card). For my first BingoDOG card, I'm reading Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin (from a legacy library square) and The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, and for this month's RandomCAT, I'm reading On to Victory: Propaganda Plays of the Woman Suffrage Movement edited by Bettina Friedl. I live in a retirement community where we are required NOT to leave campus, have visitors, or visit in anyone else's cottage or apartment although we can take walks outdoors on our campus. We have been confined to campus for at least two or three weeks and will probably stay confined for at least a couple more. Therefore, I have been doing a lot of reading of books we already have in our cottage. At the current time, I'm just not interested in reading anything for a few squares on my first BingoDOG card.

Although we are living under confined conditions, we are better off than many, many people, who are really struggling with being out of work or working under stressful and unhealthy conditions.

I ended up reading The Travelling Cat Chronicles in one sitting. Apparently just what I needed.

I just finished In Praise of the Useless Life by Paul Quenon. I am still reading The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton and just starting Murder on the Orient Express.

I just finished The River People by Philip Wayre and will now move on to my next otter book Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson as well as Crooked House by Agatha Christie.

Currently reading, hope to finish this week: Tread Softly on my Dreams (Ireland circa 1900), Villette (this is the 2nd time I've tried to read and it's going better this time) and Queen Margot by Dumas. Then on to May's reading: Krakatoa, as well as read another in the Poldark Series. Hopefully the latest Hillary Mantel will come to me from the library this month, also.

>9 rabbitprincess: That's one for the wishlist!

Currently reading Girl, Woman, Other and The Way Home. Then will start on The Shadow of the Wind.

Just started Space Chronicles, by Neil deGrasse Tyson, my May Non-Fiction CAT choice.

Just finished The Stolen Letter for NetGalley, and reading Murder on the Orient Express.

I am reading several books at the moment: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dream Work, Night Soldiers and just starting the audiobook of The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club.

The book I wanted wasn't available from the library's electronic resources so instead I chose How to be both by Ali Smith. Of the two books by Ali Smith that I've read, the first was a hit while the second turned out to be a miss. Although I haven't finished it yet, I'm afraid How to be both will fall into the "miss" category.

I just finished my new fave craft book! Craft Lab for Kids gives kids and adults a wide variety of craft projects from which to choose, 52 in all, aimed at various ages and skill levels. The projects can be completed using materials and media that can probably be found in most homes. There is indeed something for everyone here!

The book is divided into sections, with projects grouped into topics, such as "15 Minute Makes," "Classic Crafts with a Twist," and "Crafting with Kindness." Each project description includes lists of materials, step-by-step directions accompanied by color photos, call-out boxes with tips for enrichment and adaptations for "little hands," and information about skill development. A table of contents and an index make it easy to find suitable projects, whether a kid has 15 minutes or an entire day to devote to a craft. Additional color photos feature both boys and girls demonstrating the finished projects. Teachers, parents, and librarians will probably love this book, but no doubt will have to negotiate with a kid to get their hands on it. (Personally, I found a ton of crafts from this book that I would like to try.)

Getting ready to start When Days are Long, by Amy V. Wilson.

Currently I am reading Gone With the Windsors by Laurie Graham, a tongue-in-cheek story about Wallis Simpson and her romance with the Prince of Wales. The book includes an excellent amount of period detail about upper-class British society of the 1930s. I am also listening to As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson, another entry in the Walt Longmire series. And just to keep me busy, I am also about to start I, Robot by Isaac Asimov.

Ended up getting through >20 rabbitprincess: in a single sitting. Next up will be another light read, Doctor Who and the War Games, by Malcolm Hulke.

Currently enjoying The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman.

I am reading Murder on the Orient Express as well as Miss Austen and Ask the Astronaut. (Of course, the first question I skipped to in the astronaut book was about how to go to the bathroom in space. I guess you can take the teacher out of middle school, but cannot take the middle school out of the teacher.)

Enjoyed Doctor Who and the War Games, and have now started The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence.

I'm currently reading (and loving) A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness and Crossroads of Twilight, the 10th book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

Miss Austen presents readers with a new look at what the relationship between Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra might have been like, using an Austen-like writing style. Cassandra’s future looks rosy, but unexpected tragedy reduces her life to one of devotion to her family, particularly her sister Jane. The plotline switches between Cassandra’s present life in old age and her past life. Correspondence between family members serves as the device tying the two time periods together, while revealing unknown depths and secrets of family relationships, viewpoints, and loyalties.

Readers who are fans of Jane Austen will enjoy this fictional take on Jane and Cassandra. While melancholy in tone, the book provides an intriguing entry into the lives of single ladies in England in the 1800’s.

Continuing on with Murder on the Orient Express and Ask the Astronaut.

I am now reading The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths, the 3rd book in her Ruth Galloway series and I am about to start Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas for the Group Read. Also I am going to start listening to The Moor's Account byLaila Lalami.

I'm currently reading The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing. Set in Rhodesia, I have to keep reminding myself that it was published in 1950 so the attitudes and language are a reflection of the times.

Started my May RandomCAT selection, Beware of the Trains, by Edmund Crispin.

I'm tackling The Sacred Wood and Major Early Essays by T.S. Eliot. It's definitely a challenge, but at least it is short! :) I've had the book since before I joined LT, so it's about time I'm finally reading it.

I'm reading way too many books in Viveca Sten's Sandhamn Murder series. I had to make myself take a break, not from crime novels though, I started reading Bluebird, Bluebird.

I've started A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, probably my favorite series and also H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.

I just finished Botched Butterscotch for NetGalley and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.

I am reading Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman and Casanova's Chinese Restaurant, the fifth book in Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time.

I am currently reading Daddy-Long-Legs and Murder in the Wine Country A Kelly Jackson Mystery.

I AM READING Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas and about to start Dead Water by Ann Cleeves as well.

I'm not really feeling any of the books I have on the go. Might try A Rising Man, by Abir Mukherjee, to see if a mystery will kick the blahs.

I had my reading planned for this month but I fell down the rabbit hole when I went looking for ebooks. As a result my plan is a mess.

I'll restart by filling a couple of CATs with Talking to the dead by Harry Bingham for GeoCAT and One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline for AlphaKIT. Then it's anyone's guess. I'm not good with plans.

I finished A Discovery of Witches, almost done with Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and continuing with Crossroads of Twilight. All good reads so far this month.

I've finished The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther an picked up Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore from the library which is the next book our book club is reading.

I've decided to revisit the "Study" series by Maria V. Snyder; I just finished Poison Study and have moved on to Magic Study. I'm enjoying the reread, but I think when I'm finished I will take these books off my shelves and make room for something new!

I just finished All About the Amish and Murder in the Wine Country for NetGalley.

Currently I am reading As She Left It by Catriona McPherson. I am thoroughly enjoying this quirky mystery. I have Seafire as my second option but so far, I can't put As She Left It down!

I am currently reading The Other Bennet Sister and Brighty of the Grand Canyon.

Finished Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Crossroads of Twilight and now reading A Tale for the Time Being and The Demolished Man.

Yesterday I started The Field Guide to Understanding 'Human Error', by Sidney Dekker, and for light relief today I will get started on A Matter of Malice, by Thomas King.

Finished The Other Bennet Sister and Brighty of the Grand Canyon. I am currently reading The Crow's Call for NetGalley, which I am having difficulty getting into.

Currently I am reading Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes and We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.

I'm currently reading Saga Land for GeoCAT and should finally finishs In Extremis by Lindsey Hilsum this week. And I'm just about to start The Lark Ascending: The Music of the British Landscape by Richard King too, which I'm really looking forward to.

>49 DeltaQueen50: Interested to see what you make of We, it's on my TBR too.

I'm about to start The Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh.

I was about to start Golden Poppies, when I learned that there are two books before this one that gives the history of the characters. A quick check and Yellow Crocus and Mustard Seed are now on my Kindle. I'm starting with Yellow Crocus, and I can tell I'm going to like it already.

I just finished Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore, an excellent debut novel. I'm starting Too Close to the Sun by Sara Wheeler and also The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd.

Rereading L.M. Montgomery's Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. Not as good as the Anne or Emily books, for me, but still nice nostalgic reads.

Hi everyone, I am currently reading "Becoming".

I finished The Crow's Call for NetGalley and now I am reading Summer Darlings. Not sure about this one, I am about 40% through it.

It's summer here already! Fortunately I have a stockpile of light crime novels to pick from. First up is Family Matters, by Anthony Rolls.

Apparently all I want to do right now is reread things...I'm now revisiting Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins.

I finished Summer Darlings and Ask the Astronaut and now I am on to The Jane Austen Society.

I've just started one of my brand-new Thingaversary books, Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose. Not sure whether I'll finish it this month or not, though!

>60 christina_reads: Congratulations for your Thingaversary.

>61 sallylou61: Thanks! It's been 14 years, which seems crazy to me!

Going to try to get back into my Serial Reader reading... I'd bailed on one serial and paused on the other, because my attention span was so shattered I couldn't even handle 10-minute doses of reading. So I will attempt to get back into The Coral Island, by R. M. Ballantyne, and I will add a re-read of Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen. I watched the 1995 movie with friends at a virtual watch party: we all hit play at the same time on Netflix and group-texted our reactions, so now I want to read the book again!

Finished The Jane Austen Society for NetGalley. I loved this book, although it was a slow start whilst the author introduced the backstories of all the characters. Now I want to re-read all of Austen! I ordered the Everymans Library copies of her books, all with the beautiful dust covers.

Now I am reading The Rural Diaries which annoys me greatly so far and I will probably skip over some of the backstory part and get to the farm part. (Seriously, planning to have a baby with a guy after knowing him for a week? I also do not see why the "F" word has to be inserted into a book when it is unnecessary.)

I've mostly been an un-reader in May. What I have read or tried reading is because of library due dates. With the closures, all my library books were made due 5/1. Then that changed to 6/1. Now 6/15.

I finished The Parisian by Isabella Hammad near the beginning of the month. Spent the interval trying to re-read the beginning 300 pages of and then finish The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens. But then I found out 2 of my library books have holds on them, so today I finished one of the two, The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell.

Going into June, will have to start The Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever by Cass Sunstein, the other book with a hold on it. Am also continuing Dickens.

Also on the someday soon pile:
* Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann
* Finishing School. The Happy Ending to that Writing Project You Can't Seem to Get Done by Cary Tennis & Danelle Morton
* Forever Painless: End Chronic Pain and Reclaim Your Life in 30 Minutes a Day by Miranda Esmonde-White
* A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America by Philip Rucker & Carol Leonnig
* Your Score: An Insider's Secrets to Understanding, Controlling, and Protecting Your Credit Score by Anthony Davenport with Matthew Rudy
* Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

And two non-library book group titles that I haven't made a priority since my book groups have been disrupted by the pandemic:
* The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker
* Observations on the Real Rights of Women by Hannah Mather Crocker

I've made a thread for June here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/320995.