Next Round of 'What are you Reading Now?'

I'll start off by admitting that I am STILL trying to finish A Brief History of Time. Let me just say that brief does not mean easy! I keep having to reread paragraphs because I don't understand a thing he just said. Got to the chapter about imaginary time and that was just too much. But I am going to finish this book!! Really!

And I read The Aunts today by Robert Liddell today. Just found this one in the library and it was quite different from what I expected.

I have one chapter left in The Christian World: A Global History. After that I'll probably use my usual trick to find a book from my TBR pile to read: search for "tag: nonfiction", then sort by page number.

Two chapters to go in The Well of Lost Plots, plus I started re-reading(listening) to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone today in the car. I love Jim Dale!

edited to fix touchstone

I just finished Dhalgren, now I'm reading Watchmen.

I've got a really bad case of the Young Adult Book kick. That's all I seem to be able to read lately..

Anywho, I'm almost done with The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and it's an amazing book so far!

4 - Gosh, that's intimidating reading. Dahlgren was impressive, but I'm not sure I understood any of it.

I'm trying to read Boned. The writing is not great but the story is interesting.

4, 6:
Oooooh, now you both have reminded me to re-read this one. I love Dahlgren even if I don't care much for the rest of Delany's work.

8 - Interesting. I liked Triton, and thought Stars in my pocket like grains of sand was interesting, but Dhalgren, like I implied, was kind of too much for me. I had to read some notes on it to work it out. I felt stupid, which is a stupid reason not to like a book.

Just finished The Suspicions of Mr Whicher last night, and am starting Mainspring today. I've been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks, since I first saw it on the library's recent acquisition list.

Still trudging through Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson (touchstone isn't working). It's a small book but I can't seem to get through it. I forget who a character is and then have to go back and re-read. I just don't think William Gibson is for me. I didn't like Burning Chrome either.

I'm reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. I'm really enjoying this particular Arthurian series - I like Cornwell's changes and the way I can see exaggerations developing into myths. Besides that, he always has a great atmosphere and feel for the time period.

Next up: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry and The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. I'm really looking forward to these two.

@12 - Mr. Cornwell's Arthur series is great! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

If you're looking for another, check out Jack Whyte. His Camulod Chronicles are a bit less fantastical than Cornwell's are, but they're still good. The first book is The Skystone

I'm reading The Faceless Fiend and I just finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (I got an ARC copy!!!).

I'll finish the Time Paradox tonight and maybe start Dark Fire. Started listening to Darkly Dreaming Dexter this morning on my commute.

I'm reading Xenophon's Anabasis: The March Up Country. I'm also rereading The Iliad.

#13 - I've actually got The Skystone on my TBR pile. I have two Arthurian series to finish before I get to it, this one and Mary Stewart's. I'm glad to have your recommendation for it, though, because now I will look forward to reading it. =)

#3 missylc - I love Jim Dale too! It's almost time to re-listen to the whole series again.

I'm reading way too many books right now.

Sojourn by Jana Oliver almost finished, pretty good
One More Year by Sana Krasikov short stories, an ARC, very disappointing. I can't seem to care about these people. But it's an ARC, and I owe a review.
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet excellent book about an autistic savant, told in the first person. I'm really enjoying it. I love it when he explains how his mind works.
The Power Makers by Maury Klein another ARC. Good but very slow reading.

I'm going to start Eclipse as soon as I finish Sojourn.

@ 4 - I didn't start it for a long time because it'd been dubbed the Gravity's Rainbow of science fiction, but once I started it Dhalgren was way more straightforward than I expected.

I do think it completely fell apart in the last 200 pages. That being said, I loved all of the great social commentary that was in this book.

@ 8 - I liked Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand better than Dhalgren, I just wish I'd known it was a part 1 of 2, with 2 unfinished before I read it. Now I just walk around hoping he'll actually get around to completing it.

I found a ton of his stuff super cheap. As soon as i finish Watchmen I'm going on a total Delany glut.

Finished The Lightning Thief already and recommend it to any that love mythology. It may be a young adult book, but I still think it's entertaining.

Now I'm on to Book 2 of the Percy Jackson series: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan.

I am about a third of the way through In the Shadow of Young Girls In Flower by Proust. This one is the Grieves translation and I think I really prefer the Moncrieff. But either way, the book is marvelous.

I've been reading the Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay and finding it to be a really enjoyable read. I got it for fifty cents at my aunt's church, and am definitely glad I grabbed it.

I'm also reading BKS Iyengar's Light on Life and really enjoying it. Most people seem to see yoga as purely a physical exercise, but originally it was a spiritual discipline within Hinduism, used to train the body for meditation. In LoL Iyengar goes into the spiritual/philosophical underpinnings of yoga, and its been a very informative read. Might just get me to start practicing yoga again.

#5 - My son finally convinced his sister to read The Lightning Thief and she's hooked. I love that series! The Battle of the Labyrinth is the *last* one on my 888 challenge. I did finish the Steven Hawking book this morning.

Primarily, I am reading Daoud Hari's The Translator A Tribeman's Memoir of Darfur for which I owe ER a review. Bad girl, I've have been. But I also have bookmarks in The Lions of Al-Rassan, The Catcher in the Rye, American Pie Slices of Life (and Pie) from America's Back Roads, Pocketful of Names, Alice in Wonderland, Yurts Living in the Round, and then, I have the periodicals floating around the house: National Geographic, Time, Bark, and on the Kindle the daily NY Times.

I often skip these "what are you reading now" threads because I hate to admit how many books I am juggling.

Ah, sweet, so many books, such a good life.

I'm currently reading an ARC of First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader and Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Both are very good. I'm also listening to the The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I love the online audio downloads from my library.

I love those online downloads too.

I started the Christ the Lord series by Anne Rice a few days ago. I finished Out of Egypt today, and am starting The Road to Cana tonight. I love her writing style and the Jesus story from birth to crucifixtion has always been of interest to me. So far, not bad. But, I miss her vampires...apparantly Lestat and Marius will not be showing up in the Holy Land.

Started reading Tolkin... back to front... The first book of his Im reading is 'The Hobbit'

Georgia, consider Passage by Connie Willis .... so so good!

I never did start Angelica, but picked up Gap Creek instead.

I am so looking forward to First Daughter!

eta

fixing blasted touchstone

My sister got the quadruple box set of sisterhood of the travelling pants yesterday, but she knows I'm a faster reader so I'm reading them first, I read the first and second in 4 hours each yesterday - on the third now.

#29 McKait - I have Passage sitting in my TBR pile. :)

#13 & #17-I read The Skystone & started to read The Singing Sword which is the second in Jack Whytes Camulod Chronicles series. I enjoy the point of view of the series because it is set outside of Rome proper in the colonies. The main characters have a totally different mind set from what of most characters in stories about Rome generally do. Have not gotten back to reading it yet but will ultimately. Bought all the books in the series in PB from a used book store for a fraction of the price they would have been new! 8^)

I finished reading Jack Kirby's OMAC and I'm working my way through the Starman Omnibus Vol. 1.

Starman is "one of the principle discoveries of my life" to paraphrase Salvador Dali, though he was talking about his discovery of Freud. As for me, I think Starman is a lot more wholesome a discovery, and some awesome, yet emotionally powerful, superhero comicness. As for OMAC I found the end confusing, yet it's my first Jack Kirby series I've ever read, and I liked what I saw.

great, Georgia! Do post how you like it :)

I'm currently reading...three different non-fiction books. This is kind of surreal. I don't really read non-fiction. Like, ever. I've read I think 5 non-fiction books in the last year and a half (or possibly longer).

So I'm reading:
Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age
Simplexity: The Simple Rules of a Complex World
Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction

They're all pretty fascinating, but non-fiction takes a lot of concentration for me. Maybe it'll get easier.

Just started 13 Bullets by David Wellington.

Having finished Lord of the Rings I'm now reading The Simarillion and on the lighter side I'm also reading Summer Lightning by Wodehouse. I'm almost finished the Wodehouse though and plan on picking up some more when I visit Seattle for the PNW GD get-together next weekend. Wodehouse is addictive, and also makes you want to drink tea and eat crumpets ;-)

I just finished Gap Creek. I didn't like it. It was filled with so much misery and hardship. It actually took me about three days to read, I just couldn't bear to go back to it. Why did I finish? Good question.

I kept hoping that it would turn around and end up being filled with hope.
I hated Hank, who was quick tempered and passive aggressive.

And I think I hated it because I have lived though some very hard times myself over the years, and it just brought back feelings of hopelessness and fear.
You never forget being hungry....Why do I keep reading Oprah Bokk Club picks.. They are all so heavy and sad.

What is up next for me? Not sure.. I feel like I need to take a shower and lie in the sun to get all of the bleakness out of me.

Then I will decide.

Summer fun, between deadlines, and a plane trip pending: The Rigante series by David Gemmel and I bought Shadowmarch by Tad Williams to go with the sequel I found at the library sale. I haven't read anything recent by either author, and look to have a good time.

Just not in the mood for anything too weighty at the moment - and recently, another series and my local reading club choices were such downers, or left me crying or depressed, I'm in the mood for something heroic that won't leave me in the grinder.

I think I will be reading for the rest of my life, Caesar and Christ and Trinity. I keep reading and reading and getting nowhere, but I'm enjoying them both. Also reading Rebecca, which I've read at least three other times. That story is in a compilation of mystery stories which I picked up.

Just finished Innocent Traitor, currently reading Practical Demonkeeping, Kushiel's Mercy, Training the Horse: Thoughts on Riding by Brigadier Lyndon Bolton, and Horsemanship by Waldemar Seunig.

#38 mckait, that was one of the few Oprah book selections that I didn't like. And for the same reasons you gave. I agree many of her books are deep, dark, sad, intense, but for the most part I have enjoyed them. This one just was too much.

Mrslee... the rest of your life eh? lol
I liked Trinity a lot! haven't read the other.

momom I have read a lot of her other books too. And you are right, many of them have been good. This one really was as you say... too much.

I am glad to know that I am not alone in feeling that way !

:)

I haven't picked up a new read yet. Maybe finally Angelica? I have set it aside twice now... because I felt compelled to read other books first .

katylit- I LOVED Summer Lightning. I was familiar with the Jeeves and Wooster books, but the Blandings series are just as funny.

I Love Wodehouse! Heavy Weather is an awesome one with Blandings Castle. I just finished the Mulliner Omnibus too, which is great. Am currently reading Ukridge. It is seriously an addiction :-) good thing he wrote lots! Also, his Psmith books rule.

I've also just started the Collected Works of A.C. Swinburne. All I can say is Swinburne, where have you been all my life! I can't believe I've never read him seriously before. I'm not generally into poets who rhyme, but it is some of the most powerful poetry I've ever read.

I am reading The Echo Maker by Richard Powers and although it is well written and just the kind of book I normally enjoy a lot, I just can't seem to settle down with it. I even keep getting the title wrong and calling it The Noise Makers.

I should have finished it days ago but it's such hard work, and it's not the books fault, it's mine. It has an interesting plot and characters that seem to be coming together fairly well. It's me, I just can't get my head to focus on it.

Yes cmbohn and jenknox, I completely agree, the Blandings Castle bunch are a hoot! And I'm really looking forward to meeting Mr. Mulliner and Psmith and Ukridge. I've only been familiar with Jeeves and Wooster up til now so it's delightful to know I've got lots more to look forward to.

I know how you feel Jody, I have many, many days like that (sadly), when I have problems focusing on my book. Couldn't help but chuckle a bit though on you re-titling it - very creative ;-)

#47 Katherine - well it is set in Nebraska and it does keep mentioning cranes. I have heard that cranes 'whoop', so I imagine they are noise makers :-)

How has it happened that we haven't spoken for so long?

Started Kushiel's Mercy last night. I've read the entire Imriel series, but I prefer the original trilogy.

ten years under the earth a 1950's penguin, english translation of the original 1930's Frensh work. So far it's spending a lot of time on stoneage man rather than the caving challenges Norbert experienced, but it's still fascinating - and those early explorers were absolutely nuts.

I've moved on to Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell, the last in his Arthurian trilogy. Enjoying it so far, as I've enjoyed the other two.

The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium - An Englishman's World - picked this one up at a recent library sale.

Just started my Early Reviewer copy of The Charlemagne Pursuit. 10% of the way in, it's pretty entertaining so far.

The Necklace arrived yesterday. Once I finished The Fire, I picked that up.

I'm reading Moonshine by Rob Thurman. It's the second in a series of urban fantasy novels. I was quite impressed with the first but this one is letting me down.

Have to announce some books from the library in church on Sunday, and this one pulled me in, though I was steadfastly not going to begin another book until I finished the two endless ones I'm already reading. What's so Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. Some very fine food for thought.

Finished The Necklace, and have moved on to American Savior: A Novel of Divine Politics by Roland Merullo, which I am finding to be very entertaining!

I am currently reading Christy, The Subtle Knife and Trickster's Choice.... back and forth between all three.

About a year ago I jotted down the Dresden books in my little black book, and I bought the first one some time ago when I couldn't find what I originally was looking for when in the real life bookshop. Started the first one (Storm Front) today, and I kind of like it. Too early to tell, though, only 44 pages in ;-)

#11 - (VictoriaPL) You know that one is the last one in a trilogy? I think you'd need to read Neuromancer and Count Zero to 'get' it. That said I guess those books would feel a bit dated if I read them today. Cyberpunk classics, though.

I've been re-reading the essays in UKL's The Language of the Night, which are full of wisdom and gentle humor. I'm about to start my ER book, Blackbird, Farewell, which looks pretty juicy. But I'm also about to re-read The Book of the New Sun for a group read, which is exciting because it's a favorite and (IMHO) still the finest example of literary spec fic. Come on over and join us! (I'd post a link but the book was just chosen and the conversation hasn't started yet.)

I picked up Dark Hearts of Chicago today, which I am about to start in... oh... 60 seconds or so? Depending on how long it takes me to finish writing this messa-

I'm reading Imago by Octavia Butler and The Power of Babel, which, I'm happy to say, doesn't have any glaring errors that I've picked up so far, which is *very* good for a pop linguistics books. There are some right shockers out there.

I'm working my way through The Penguin Book of Summer Stories, which has been a bit of a slog so far. The selections aren't bad, but nothing has really sparked for me. I'm kind of wishing I'd decided to sample some Charles de Lint instead.

ahhh deLint! I just moved his books to my brand new bookcase.. to live among my other favorites....

#13 bookmasterjmv, #17 littlebookworm & #32 Vayne - I have the camulod Chronicles in my library, they're not marked TBR, but i dont think I've read them coz I usually avoid arthurian stuff - I might have to have a look & see if they're worth a read/re-read...

I'm still working my way through Marcus Herniman's Arandin trilogy, I'm about half way through book 2 Treason of Dortrean atm & its frustrating reading... I like some of the characters (though I'm having trouble keeping track of them all) & am invested in the story enough to really wanna know whats gonna happen, but its really sloooooooooooow going. I know nothing about editing so this is an uneducated opinion, but I'm thinking it hasn't been edited well coz usually I just get lost in stories & am not really that picky about writing style, but this really does feel like hard work to get through, it kinda feels like there are too many words, though I cant easily pick out any unnecessary passages or anything - it could be that I'm just not really in reading mode lately i spose...

I'm reading an ARC called The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It's enjoyable but not gripping.

I'm also slowly working my way through The Power Makers by Maury Klein.

Next Friday I'm going to be getting Breaking Dawn back from my co-worker (I loaned it to her for her daughter) and will then read it.

Read the first three books in the camulod chronicles, enjoyed them but i like my arthurian fiction with a little more magic. Might try Cornwell, a lot of you folks seem to enjoy them.

I was trying to read Pathways of Taranaki by Tom O'Connor, which is all about Maori wars in the 1700's but, ugh, the guy's writing is dreadful.

Historically relevant, set in my home province or not - it's outta here.

Now I'm about to read Peony in Love by See, because I like to be depressed apparently.

Anyone ever tried Passing Under Heaven by Justin Hill? God that was depressing. I'm expecting something similar.

I've picked In the Company of Others by Julie E Czerneda as my next read.

I plan to start Ruby by Francesca Lia Block and Carmen Staton on the bus this morning. It's been a while since I read any new-to-me work from Block, so I'm looking forward to it.

I'm about to finish Libba Bray's The Sweet Far Thing. I'm also in the middle of The Faceless Fiend by Howard Whitehouse, and I'm reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume to my kiddo.

Late last night I finished book one in J.C. Hutchins' 7th Son trilogy, Descent. Due the amazing capabilities of iPod playlists, I was able to immediately begin listening to book two, Deceit.

# 69 - Busifer - Have a fun read - of all Czerneda's works,In the Company of Others is my favorite, so far!

For me, just finished up a lightish fantasy adventure, and now I am catching up on some C. J. Cherryh that I'd missed. Just started Finity's End, and will follow up with Forge of Heaven. It's still too hot to dig into anything huge, with the outdoor stuff, like mowing, keeping my free time maxed out.

I had a hard time choosing which of my Seattle haul I was going to start with, but ended up picking The Book of Lost Things. I started it yesterday and am now about 1/3 of the way through already (the Olympics distracted me). It's going to be very hot here today, I think I'll just plunk down and read all day and drink iced tea.

I like the way Connolly writes.

I just finished Phantom and am now on to Confessor, which is the last in the Sword of Truth series.

I just finishing the first book in the Sword of Truth series, Wizard's First Rule.

#76 2seven: Yay! Only 10 more to go in the series! I'd be interested in hearing what you think of them as you go along, having just read them myself.

#77 So far so good. I'm actually kind of surprised that I've not picked up this series sooner.

Did you know that they're making a TV series based on these books? It starts in the fall. I think the current title is Legend of the Seeker.

#78 2seven: Whoa, I didn't know about the tv show - thanks for sharing! I'm off to look this up!

I finished Trinity!!!!! Now I get to start three more, because I'm not in a hurry to finish the history on Rome that I'm reading. *Can't resist* After all, (say it with me) Rome wasn't built in a day!

These are what I picked up to read today:
El Dorado: Adventures in the Path of Empire by Bayard Taylor (a journalist's traveling memoir of early California)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (I loved the movie)
The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien (Starting on my new books!)

MrsLee, Memoirs of a Geisha is a wonderful book, and one of my favourites. It's a smooth, quietly beautiful story that gets me every time.

I'm on the third novella in The Queen in Winter. I enjoyed Sharon Shinn's story quite a bit, but the ones from Lynn Kurland and Claire Delacroix haven't done much for me. I think they're more firmly rooted in the romance genre, which I don't have much experience with.

I'm almost finished Adulthood Rites and I've started World War Z - Eek! It's living up to its reputation. It's scary and realistic (even with zombies!) and it's a proper 'world-wide' thing, not just a 'world-wide but let's just look at the author's country' type thing. I'm enjoying it, but I'm not allowed to read it after dark, I've decided.

A piece of fluff - Storm Front

I will have to read that World War Z. It sounds really cool.

I finished The Book of Lost Things last night and really enjoyed it. I was going to start The Mist in the Mirror which I picked up the other day - my new ghost story. But I think I'll keep that for a rainy day, literally; reading a ghost story on a bright, sunshiny day just doesn't evoke the proper atmosphere.

So I'm starting The Clerkenwell Tales by Peter Ackroyd instead.

#82 Will: I'm off to start World War Z myself - I'm pretty excited about it. But, at the rate I read (v. slowly these days), you'll be finished long before me, I'm sure.

Oh, and I just finished Stardust, which is, of course, wonderful.

Just finished Star Fraction which was complex but superb. Very cyberpunky but political and well written too.

Finished Peony in Love by Lisa See yesterday. Sheesh. Talk about harrowing. Depressing. Some redeeming notes of hope, I suppose.

Now I'm reading The Mabinogion by Evangeline Walton - bah, won't touchstone. It's a compendium of her translations of classic Welsh myths (the first part published around 1936) - Pwyll and Rhiannon, Pryderi, Bran and Gwydion etc. What I love is that it takes the well known parts of the myths and expands them into fine detail. Beautifully written too. Going to take awhile, it's a bit of a tome.

>88 Severn: Hey Severn, that version of the Mabinogian sounds pretty good! I think I'll check it out if I can find it. Mine is a fairly dry translation and is often confusing :(

I'm sure my library has room for two versions. After all, I keep three versions of Beowulf, and four of The Odyssey!

I just cracked Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum. I dig the Victorian style chapter headings.

CHAPTER XVI
A call for careful navigation - Three hours' steering in twenty-three days - Arrival at the Keeling Cocos Islands - A curious chapter of social history - A welcome from the children of the islands - Cleaning and painting the Spray on the beach - A Mohammedan blessing for a pot of jam - Keeling as a paradise - A risky adventure in a small boat - Away to Rodriguez - Taken for Antichrist - The governor calms the fears of the people - A lecture - A convent in the hills

Yes, Dano - it isn't remotely dry.

I've heard it can be really hard finding the Fantasy Masterworks series in the US, so let me know how you get on if you decide to get it.

:)

I've finally given in to the urge and started Shaman's Crossing. I've been saving the series for a time when I can just wallow in it, and I figure that time is now! I'm not far enough in yet that I can give any definite opinion, but I am enjoying it so far and I trust Hobb to rip my heart out and stomp on it at least once or twice. ;)

I finally finished Blackbird, Farewell, my less-than-superb ER book from last month. Am having a great time re-reading The Book of the New Sun for the SF group discussion, and have also just started The Anubis Gates based on favorable LT mentions.

#92 - xicanti, Hobb definitely does that in the the Soldier Son trilogy. Several times for me.

I'm reading Guernica by Dave Boling, historical fiction about/around the bombing of Guernica in World War II. It's okay. It's probably going to end up with a mediocre review as I'm halfway through and it's not grabbing me that much.

On the other hand, I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yesterday and decided it was my favorite book of 2008 and an instant member of my favorites-ever list, so this may not be entirely Guernica's fault.

The Hundred Days by Patrick O'Brian on paper and When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris on iPod.

Xicanti - your trust is well placed. ;)

Loved that series - a little slow in places (enough to cause many to think the series a stinker, bah, the sillies, it's Hobb), but that didn't affect my enjoyment one bit.

The reason I didn't like Soldier Son as much as the Farseers was that I didn't feel the same attachment to the characters. What she did to them was horrible and rippedmy heart out, but it was just because it was happening to someone, not because it was happening to *my favourite characters*.

But I still hold faith in her writing. She's worth it.

Yes, the main guy is no Fitz, that's for sure.

Mind you, I'm not sure there can ever be another Fitz.

I heard her next project is set in the Rain River Wilds...I hope it's brilliant, whatever it is.

Ooh, yes, apparently it's a stand-alone about the dragons. I'm really looking forward to it.

So far, I'm really enjoying Shaman's Crossing for the world building, but Navare isn't really engaging me. I spent all of Assassin's Apprentice hoping and praying that good things would finally happen to Fitz, even though his intro kind of precluded that possibility, and I only got more involved with him as the books went along. I still haven't really found any sort of connection with Navare.

Climb every mountain One guy doing all the Scottish mountains (Munros and Corbetts) in a year just beacuse he can. Lots of rain so far.

Just started The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie.

Xicanti- I found Shaman's Crossing quite engaging, I found the second one lost it a bit, not much happened and the characther seemd to be going around in circles, but the third was almost as good as the first.

I've got the first two by Joe Abercrombie but i keep putting off reading them untill I have the third, but I keep losing the ebay auctions (I want a BCA hardback to match), might just cave and buy the paperback from amazon. How did you like the first 2?

Reading the fifth book by Auel Shelters of stone right now but just got Warlord today.

just finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.It was incredible.Probably the best book of magic and fantasy that's not a series i've read,i want more.
Reading The Name of The Wind and Patricia Mckillip's Winter Rose.

In the mood for something substantial, so I'm rereading Michael Innes right now. I finished Death at the President's Lodging and I'm planning to read Hamlet, Revenge next.

I've been on a Sarah Monette binge. Re-read Melusine in prep for The Virtu and The Mirador, which I polished off in quick succession (and enjoyed -- liked Melusine even better the 2nd time around). Now, I'm reading Companion to Wolves which she wrote with Elizabeth Bear. It's an interesting concept, but requires more dedicated attention than I can give it right now (in other words, doesn't hold up well to interruptions by my five year old). Plus, I'm still thinking so much about Felix and Mildmay (some of the most interesting characters in fantasy, I think). That's always a good sign, when you find yourself obsessively thinking about the characters after closing a good book. Are there any fans here of this series (Doctrine of Labyrinths)?

ludmillalotaria - me! I whipped through the books in rapid succession back in June and instantly added Corambis to my buy-the-very-second-it's-available list. Monette's stuff is definitely among the best I've read this year. I can't get her characters out of my head; I agree with you that they're among the most interesting in fantasy. I also really enjoyed A Companion to Wolves and The Bone Key, and I loved her story in The Queen in Winter. (Unfortunately, not all the novellas were of the same quality).

I read Zoe's Tale, John Scalzi's new book, start to finish yesterday (I couldn't put it down!). Today I'm reading the other book I bought yesterday - Enchantment Place, an anthology of stories about a mall in Chicago where vampires and werethings and magical folk shop. Hilarious! Both of them, in fact.

Its good to see others opinions of Hobb's Soldier's son series are similar to mine. I think my main problem with it was that after her six duschies books my expectations of her writing were way too high, she is brilliant IMHO, but i guess we cant expect genuis from her every time...

I'm finally into book 3 of Marcus Herniman's Arrandin trilogy & it's allready feeling much faster paced than books 1 & 2. I'm really looking forward to reading how it all pans out :)

Recently started the enormous tomb Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson it's a good start, we'll see how it develops.

#109 - Tell me if you liked it, will you? Until now I seems to be the only one who've enjoyed reading it.

Just finished In the Company of Others, which was just... great. One of those books where you just feel loss when it ends; loss over not being able to be in the company of those characters any more.

As my next read I've deliberately picked some fluff - Fool Moon, the 2nd Dresden book. I can't afford neglecting life around me the way I do when I get sucked into a story like the one I've just finished. The dishes need to be washed ;-)

It rained for a few days here so I read The Mist in the Mirror after all. I thought it was good until the ending, then it felt like the author either ran out of steam or her publisher was nagging her for the finished book! Disappointing. A good ghost story needs a satisfying finish. :-(

Well, I finished Shaman's Crossing earlier today. I enjoyed it very much, but I find myself somewhat divided now that it's over. I think I was expecting more development from Nevare. While I did come to feel for him very much, a lot of his choices and opinions just frustrated the hell out of me! (And not in a good, "I'm so involved with this character that I just can't stand to see them mess up" kind of a way). There are still two more books, though, so I'm not giving up hope yet. On to Forest Mage!

To be honest, Xicanti, you might find yourself really fed up with him by the end of number two. (I was). I'll be interested to know what you think!

@110 - Busifer - one of my good mates, who has an LT page, loves him. You're not alone! He's inspiring me to read them -eventually, if I ever crack the to-read and to-buy piles.

I just finished The Anubis Gates, which was fun but not all that well written. Just started The Ghost Brigades, Scalzi's follow-up to Old Man's War. Also re-reading The Book of the New Sun for the SF group read. Waiting for the library to deliver my Laura Lippman book for my monthly club there.

After finishing Fool Moon the other day I perversely decided to reread In the Company of Others right away.

It will definitely be some time before I pick up the next Dresden book. Entertaining, but like a light snack - tasty, but it won't sustain you.

I think I'll pick either The Book of the New Sun or Century Rain next.

About halfway through well of lost plots so that I can soon start the first of the books I bought at the GD meet a few weeks back - First Among Sequels

I've just started The Golden Compass (yeah, I missed the group read of this one here on LT). :/

I didn't realize until I picked it up that TGC is part I of a trilogy - so I'm now prepared to read them all, since I'm enjoying TGC so much.

I read Love and Friendship by Jane Austen and The Dreaming Swimmer by Elizabeth Ogilvie, plus finished The Horse and His Boy. I liked them all, but the Austen book was *nothing* like I expected. Funny, but really different.

I'm still tearing my way through the Sword of Truth Series. I'm on the fourth book now, Temple of the Winds. Something tells me that unless I lose interest, I won't be reading much else for a while.

I'm comfort-reading Fool's Errand. I wanted something familiar.

#119
I'm rereading Temple of the Winds (typed 'wings' first time, haha). It's one of my favorite books in the series. Aside from Faith of the Fallen. That one is amazing. I got my friend to pick up the books and she's on number 10 or so. We're both so excited for the TV series that's coming out in November. I'd heard about it, then forgot, then found out about it again...and it's almost time! The preview looked really good so I have high hopes.

I'm about half way through the Charlemagne Pursuit. I like it so far. Lots of people to keep track of and a lot of quick and short action going from Germany to Virginia to France. Entertaining!

I finally finished Marcus Herniman's Arrandin trilogy on monday & I'm now jst under a quarter of the way through John Marco's The Jackyl of Nar (book 1 of Tyrants & Kings). The political landscape of this is really intriguing to me, I'm not really sure who the bad guys are yet & I cant wait to figure it out, though I suspect its not gonna be as black & white as good guys & bad guys - there allready seems to be a few shades of grey!

Still working on Steampunk, and Gone, Baby, Gone is next.

#119 & 121, 2seven & Darragh: I've just recently finished the Sword of Truth series, and, Darragh, I agree with you that Faith of the Fallen is my favorite of the bunch. I'm a little hesitant about the TV show, though; they picked a poor actor to play Richard - he's small and scrawny and Richard's supposed to be tall and, well, not beefy, but pretty muscular, right?

Re: Legend of the Seeker.

Darragh & Scaifea, have you read any of Goodkind's commentary about the show on his website? Apparently, he's written quite a bit of new content to flesh out some of the back story for the show.

#125
Yeah, you're right. He is supposed to be muscular but I guess they assumed a small scrawny Richard would attract more attention from the females.

I don't really know--just guessing.

Maybe he'll get muscular later? In the beginning of the series he's a very innocent/simple guy. A few months with that sword might change him a bit ;)

#126
No, I hadn't read that! I'll have to go check out his website. I used to go on it almost daily. Thanks for the tip!

--edited to reply to 2seven--

2seven: No, I hadn't heard that about the new content, but I'm glad that Goodkind is actively involved in the project.

Darragh: Yeah, that sword should whip him into shape, if he can keep hold of it (for the seeker, he sure seems to, uh, misplace that thing a lot!).

A few on the bottom are tbr, not currently reading. But all the rest...

I wish I could just pick a book and finish it, pick up the next one and finish it, etc, but these are mostly not books that I can sit down and read straight through (with the exception of Hero and the Crown and probably Elsewhere). Which is why I'm reading so many of them in the first place.

I'm almost finished Forest Mage, and I'm pretty disappointed. It's decent, and there have been a couple of places where I felt completely involved with it, but for the most part it's nothing special. If anyone besides Hobb had written it, I think I'd be happy to pass it along to someone else... assuming, of course, that the last book is on the same level. Sigh. :( Here's hoping for a stellar ending to make up for a rather laclustre middle.

I finished Memoirs of a Geisha, loved it. Am starting The Two Towers and Ender's Game, except my OH stole EG out from under my nose so he could read it. Still reading my histories.

Just read all 10 volumes of Y The Last Man, excellent stuff it is too, and I'm about half-way through Tarzan of the Apes, which is also an excellent read. Not sure where to go next, might try something of a sci-fi / space theme...

131 - Oh Mrs Lee - I bought the Memoirs of a Geisha dvd yesterday. Loved that film. Oddly, I haven't read the book, however I recently bought Autobiography of a Geisha which you might be interested in too.

I guess one day I'll buy the actual book of 'Memoirs' - be interesting to see if I like it, since I love the film so much.

Today, I'm going to start Quarantine by Crace. It seems like it's going to be quite dark and I'm not sure I'm in the right place for dark. We'll see. He's a bloody brilliant writer, so if anyone can carry it off, he will.

eta - since what would a post from me be without an 'eta'?

I am just about to open Operation Blue Light by Philip Chabot
an ARC that I was sent to review.. looking forward to this one..

bye for now!

Rereading Tripoint. I have a stack of books that I'd really want to bite into but I feel so exhausted, close to brain dead, that I felt the need to read something I already knew, without it being fluff or too light.

133 Severn - I liked the book and the movie. The book has a very different pace and atmosphere, more like reminiscing. I enjoyed the rich visual treasures of the movie. Of course, they rearranged a couple of things in the movie, but I kind of liked discovering that in the book. I've heard of the book you mentioned, it sounded interesting too.

I just finished World War Z Very cool - I enjoyed it immensely. Now off to start Fluke as part of my Christopher Moore bibliography reading list.

The Golden Fool - Robin Hobb
Apropos of Nothing - Peter David
Starcross - Philip Reeve
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

Have abandoned Quarantine for now - I'm really not in the mood for dark and disturbed. Definitely not in the right head space.

So, I'm now reading Returning by Edna O'Brien, which looks to be an innocuous collection of stories about girlhood in Ireland.

Sounds good to me.

Currently reading Otherland: Book Two by Tad Williams. Very good!

Conducted Tour by the late, great and sorely missed Bernard Levin; beautifully written, as always, and often hilarious. PS as usual, the choice of work thrown up by the touchstone is daft.

Finished Ender's Game, liked it. Beginning Like Water for Chocolate.

I'm rereading The Scarlet Pimpernel. So cool! I am just loving it.

Just finished Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck, have dried my tears and am taking a break before I write my review and move on with my reading.

So far I have The Killing Floor by Lee Child to finish (good story but quite gory--needed a break from that, too; reading it because recommended by a friend I trust) and How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Foster. This one I'm loving, but it takes concentration and I'm taking notes. When I get home Tuesday I will be starting The Poisonwood Bible for the LT Group read. Luckily I had the foresight to bring a Georgette Heyer novel (Black Sheep for those of you who read her) with me in case of emergency--I think this is that emergency. I should have no trouble finishing it before we go home.

#42 MrsLee

When you finish Ender's Game let me know how you liked it. My older son has been trying to get me to read that for years--he even gave me a copy. I loved Water for Chocolate when I read it years ago. That's a book I had to leave behind when we moved and I'm tempted to buy it again because I'd love to read it again.

I noticed you are reading Tolkien. Did you know that one of the groups is planning a group read of the trilogy starting in September?--So far the 8th is the target date. They are trying to decide whether to begin with The Hobbit or The Fellowship of the Ring. If you are interested, let me know and I'll locate the group for you--I made a post there although I don't belong, so I can find it easily.

#144: I really enjoyed Ender's Game, and I'm not a big sci-fi reader. It grew on me. You could read my review if you want more details, but I agree with your son. Read it, it's pretty short and easy. :) I'm enjoying the watery chocolate book, though I've only read one chapter so far. About reading with the group, eh, not this time. I'm already to The Two Towers and I read pretty fast. This is about my fourth time through the books, but I find new quotes or special ideas and thoughts every time. Thanks though!

I agree with you. I thought about it but I'm doing Poisonwood Bible group read in September and I've read the Tolkien trilogy at least 8 times--the last time in 2006 when I led an 8 week seminar on it at my church. I will read it again but right now I have too many other things clamoring for my attention. And now Ender's Game in on the list! :-) We will be going to my son's house in Chicago for Thanksgiving and I would love to tell him I've finally read it. It will also count toward the 10,000 pages I'm trying to read out of my own library before the end of the year. (I'm up to about 8,300 pages so far.)

#137 - Just finished Fluke, wonderfully bizarre book!

#147 groo: I'm loving it so far - I've really enjoyed all Moore's books (the ones I've read), and I think Lamb is probably my favorite, so if you haven't read it, you should add it to your list!

I just finished rereading Tripoint. It's a good one. But as usual I'm slightly disturbed that one of the main characters have a nickname that happens to be my real name...

I had thought that I'd might read Century Rain now, but somehow I think I'll read Forty thousand in Gehenna instead.
I'll decide which one later today.

I'm trudging through Go To and listening to The Fellowship of the Rings. I think next up is Words I Wish I Wrote.

Reading Thermopylae: the Battle for the West currently.

I just finished The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Candy Shop War - I know, what a contrast. Now I'm reading Three Cups of Tea and Colonel Chabert by Balzac. Three Cups is good, I'm enjoying the story and inspired by the events, but the writing is not always as good as the story.

Busifer - I couldn't get through Forty Thousand in Gehenna, but I finally read Cyteen. Maybe I should try it again... Currently, I am reading The Silicon Mage series. I've been on an Octavia Butler kick. I am also reading The Broken Mirror about body dysmorphic disorder, which is a bit depressing. I also started Obama's book in the interests of being an informed voter.

Finished up Gone, Baby, Gone while at the mother-in-law's waiting for Gustav to go go by. Unfortunately, it was the last book I brought on vacation. Fortunately, I found my copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance I lent my father-in-law before he died and am rereading that.

Onto The One Kingdom by Russell now. Seems like a fairly stock-standard high fantasy to me, and haven't read far enough in to garner any impression other than that really...

I am reading Mystic River by Dennis Lehene

I am not liking it.

I put it aside once. If it doesn't draw me in tonight, out it goes! shoo!

I think I will read the second book of Maupin's Tales of the City from the omnibus edition I got.

So how do you say his last name anyway?

terrific writer!

Nope, next book is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I'm really enjoying it.

Hey, anneh, what Octavia Butler have you been reading? And how do you combat the depression that sets in whenever you read it?

Hi, folks, I'm new to the group, and thought this looked like a good place to chip in.

I just finished Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, and liked it enough that I bought the sequel (The Sea of Monsters) this evening.

I just finished listening to an audiobook of The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber

Still currently reading My Lord John by Georgette Heyer. It's a little heavier going than her usual style; a bit too much "forsoothly."

Picked up Lonely Werewolf Girl today. It's starting well.

#157 Morphidae

I've read so many good reports on The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down that I finally bought it this weekend. Now I guess I should nudge it up to the top of the TBR pile. :-)

Welcome, Joiedelivre! I love your screenname. It's very clever.

#153 - I loved Cyteen, and I'm looking forward to the sequel, due in January next year.
Hands down Cherryh is one of my fave authors. And Forty thousand in Gehenna is important to the overall Alliance-Union story/universe (but I think you know that), so I'll read it for that reason alone, if nothing else ;-)

Haven't started it yet, though, as I decided on impulse to reread Hellburner first. Should be a fast one - I have a TBR pile to consider, stuffed with interesting books!

Welcome, Joiedelivre! Nice to meet ya!

159 - Welcome. I loved the Riordan series; they continue to be good all the way through. Now my son and 13 year old daughter are hooked too.

Said daughter returned a book I got her, Tithe, saying there was too much swearing. I looked through it today and I thought it was too dark and depressing for me. Still listening to The Nonesuch.

I'm plodding along through Breaking Dawn, which just ain't grabbing me. It's an okay book, but that's about it.

Thank you, WillSteed and mckait!

cmbohn - The Nonesuch is one of my favorite Heyers!

Finally finished reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which The Husband and I were reading aloud to one another. I had read all of the books before except Mostly Harmless and I have to say that although I really like the series, I was *horrified* by the ending. Oh well.

Still reading Goodkind. I'm half way through Soul of the Fire now.

I'm about 150 pages into A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and on disc 3 of Affinity by Sarah Waters. Since Seth's vast novel isn't easy to cart about, my portable read is The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux. Finally, in the smallest room I'm enjoying True Tales of American Life edited by Paul Auster.

#168 - Man I simply LOVE the Hitchhiker's Guide but sadly refer to the Fifth Book of the "Trilogy" as Mostly Useless!

#171 groo: Whew! I thought I was betraying the series by not liking that last one - I'm glad someone else feels the same way!

WillSteed - I read the first two of the Lilith books and found that one way to cope is to take a break. Then I read Kindred and Fledgling, which weren't so bad. But I am one of those people who didn't even notice that Robin Hobb consistantly abused her characters until someone on LT pointed it out. I didn't think it was significantly worse than some of the things C.J. Cherryh does to hers until I reread the Soldier Son series. Come to think of it, a lot of my favorite authors are dreadfully depressing...

I also read The Demolished Man or the first time. I liked it so much that I got onto the wrong Metro train, because I forgot to look up at the sign.

#172 - Many fans felt that way. It seems Adams got so sick of fans ignoring his WONDERFUL Dirk Gently books and clamoring for more Hitchhiker that he wrote a "Well I'll Show Them" book! While there are some funny bits, he ignores Fenchurch completely and just mucks everything up in a no fun anymore kind of way, IMHO.

Mrs. Lee and others, I'm not a huge fan of Ender, but I thought the next one, Speaker for the Dead, was much better. Ender is disgustingly wise but I enjoyed the other characters. If you liked EG you might want to give it a try. After that one the sequels got downright Herbertish, if you know what I mean.

I tried Kavalier and Clay this week. I liked it but it was a bit deeper than I have the mental resources for right now, so I've just started A is for Alibi, which seems nice and light.

I've finally just got a chance to read over this new thread and there've been lots of encouraging comments on books I've left languishing in Mt TBR. I've been ignoring my Sarah Monette, Neal Stephenson, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Robin Hobbs, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell... What a nice reminder about books I've got to look forward to :o)

17, littlebookworm - I'm in the same boat as you. Before I start Jack Whyte's Camulod series I want to finish up Mary Stewart's Merlin series and also read Mists of Avalon first. With all the rave comments here, I may have to add Corwell's series in there after Whyte's!

132, Tane - I've been reading Y The Last Man for several months now. About a volume a month. I'm waiting for Vol 9 to get to me from the library. I thought the series was just okay at first, enough to keep my attention, but the last few volumes have been excellent. I've enjoyed seeing, through the art and storyline, how the world/society has changed over the years of the story.

Right now I'm reading Tales from Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin and enjoying it very much.

#175 - Jim, I'll give that a try. I found out yesterday that my brother has read them all. This is only monumental to me, I didn't know he read sci-fi.

Received World War Z this morning from Amazon and just finished it. Terrific can't put it down story! Hope I don't dream tonight...

I finished the uber-disappointing Breaking Dawn at lunch time, and posted a review up on Stella Matutina this evening. Am I ever glad it's over!

I'm now about 2/3 of the way through Nymph by Francesca Lia Block, which is much more to my liking. Her books can be kind of hit-or-miss, but this one's a hit all the way.

I finished The Clerkenwell Tales which I enjoyed. I found it along the lines of The Name of the Rose in theological debate and medieval tidbits of information.

Now I'm reading The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman. I've had this for ages - figuratively at the bottom of my TBR pile and just grabbed it yesterday and didn't want to put it down. Excellent! I'm very glad it's a series, lots more to look forward to :-)

#100 katylit

I guess Clerkenwell Tales goes on my wish list. I loved The Name of the Rose--I've read it 3 times but not recently. When I get the Ackroyd book maybe I'll read them back to back to compare. (I love to "make connections" between books.)

Currently reading Watchmen, but I'm horrible about my reading habits, they're all over the place.

That said, I'm also into reading The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 1, one story at a time...

#181: I love making connections, too! :D

#181 & 182 I love making connections too, that's what I found fun about Clerkenwell Tales. Ackroyd's writing is totally different from Eco's, but the medieval setting, the debates, the interesting info all related through a story is similar. Reading Tales reaffirmed how thankful I am not to have lived back in the 13 century!!

I hope you enjoy it if/when you get it MusicMom :-)

#144 and 145 - I love Ender's Game; I've read it several times. Ender's Shadow was very good, too. I don't care very much for the other books in the series.

In anticipation of Brandon Sanderson writing the final installment for Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, I've just gotten a copy of The Eye of the World. Now if I can just find time to read it!

After rereading Hellburner I decided I had to reread Downbelow station, because I felt there ought to be a lot of connections between them that I wasn't able to appreciate the first time around.

The connections was there, so now I HAVE to finish it, despite Anathem and a few other new purchases are burning holes on the shelves...

Anneh - I agree, more or less. Some authors do equally horrible things to their characters. The difference for me with Robin Hobb was that I really cared about the characters. For Octavia Butler, the depressing thing for me is that she manages to highlight the worst of human nature in a lot of ways and makes it so that you have to acknowledge that it is there, even if at the same time, she's saying that humans are also really good.

Oh, and heaps of my favourite authors are horribly depressing. It's comforting for some reason.

Has no-one been reading since the 6th?!!!!

I'm on the postman Brin's post-acoplytic novel of the decency of human spirit. More or less. It's really superb, properly touching poigent characters (very very unlike his Uplift fluff). Three-quarters through and wait to see how it ends.

#185 - I know I need to re-read hellburner and heavytime again, they set the mind fully in support of Mallory and against Cyteen and the merchanters, it's great how the whole universe can be viewed so differently.

I've pulled out to try again The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley that I started a few weeks ago and quickly put to the side for a variety of other books. In my car I'm listening to Jinx by Meg Cabot and for manga I'm reading Avalon High Volume 2 also by Meg Cabot.

I've been reading, but mostly in the same big books. I'm reading Return of the King and loving it again, still working on Caesar and Christ, finished a really good book about California, El Dorado: Adventures in the Path of Empire by Bayard Taylor, a sort of travel journal. Also reading a Greek Gods book which was written for children and I feel like I'm missing out on all the good stuff in the stories, and another history of Rome because I'm making my son read it and I have to quiz him on it. Oh, and I just started Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee.

Well, since finishing the Downbelow station reread (see above) I went on to read Forty thousand in Gehenna but getting seriously ill this weekend stopped all kind of activity that required me being awake and with a functioning brain...
I have picked it up again but some of the not so nice things in 40 K stuck in my head in an almost hallucinatory way while I was ill so I feel kind of hesitant now - I associate the text with feeling very nauseous.

Looking at Anathem, and a few more, but I'll finish 40 K first.

Also having some heavy duty reading/analysing that is work related, which takes a lot of time and energy.
To say the least.

I'm listening to Cards on the Table now and reading several books, a kid's hidden picture book (can't remember title), Death of a Garage Sale Newbie, and a cookbook. And I just got Murder on the Eiffel Tower today and I can't wait!

But also I'm playing Lord of the Rings and I'd really like to be doing that all day long.

I'm halfway through Kushiel's Scion. It's been several months since I read Kushiel's Avatar and this has been like settling in with old aquaintances and catching up. I also like that nothing majorly traumatic has happened yet to Imriel, as it always seemed to be happening to Phedre in the last trilogy. I liked reading Phedre's story but so far Imri's is more relaxing.

I just finished listening to Anne McCaffrey's Freedom's Landing which I was disappointed in. More of the same kind of thing I've read from her before (alien relations, exploring a new world) but I did't find it very engaging this time.

Next up to listen to is The City of Ember which I want to read before seeing the movie.

cmbohn, how do you play Lord of the Rings? Is this on-line?

Onto book two of the Sean Russell series: The Isle of Battle. I'm enjoying the series, and it's definitely stock-standard high fantasy. (Clear distinction might be needed: that does not mean it's full of elves, dragons, highfalutin magic, or swords and sorcery - rather it's about a bunch of youths who will probably end up saving the day, with help from powerful others). This is a good thing, because that's what I'm in the mood for - a nice, feel-good, easy read about overcoming odds and interesting characters.

Before that I read The Saffron Kitchen, which was suitably moving and culturally enlightening. I'm going to write a review this week, but I'll rant about a particular element that bothered me here. Ok, so the book starts out with a miscarriage. It's not a spoiler, it happens on the first page. Now, I really don't like it when authors who are most definitely NOT writing a magical realism novel insert an element of magical realism.

Scene - woman reflecting on lost baby. Woman holding husband at night while he sleeps. Woman thinks (not a direct quote except for the 'anchor' bit) 'I remember when we made love at such and such a place, and I felt my lost baby 'anchor' inside me and I knew we'd made something special'. Anchor inside? What a load of Romantic bollocks. You do NOT feel a baby 'take' inside you. That's what pregnancy tests are for.

I could forgive this lapse if the character was going a bit nuts and obviously having a flight of fancy. But, no, the author presented this as an actual memory of the character. And it was so jarring, it really threw me out of the world, and the reading experience, for awhile.

*rant, rant, mutter, rant*

Yes, little things like that really matter.

Just finished up the latest Barker & Llewellyn mystery, The Black Hand. Starting The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine, about the sale of what purported to be a bottle of wine owned by Thomas Jefferson and the scoundrel that sold it. Perfect airplane reading. I'm also in the middle of The Ten-cent Plague, a history of early comic books and the attempt to censor them.

I'm reading Carpet People & the Bromeliad - since I didn't manage as a kid.
Nation is pretty high on my TBR so might get started before I finish some of the other stuff.
I'm putting off reading Oathbreaker by Michelle Paver because I'm sure its going to scare me and make me cry because the last one did & she is getting more gritty (& I don't care that they are children's books they have me hooked emotionally)

Also fighting Trigger's History of Archaeological Thought, Sack's Diodorus Siculus & the first century & scouring Carew's Survey of Cornwall

I am currently reading The Secret Garden. Of course I know most of what happens already because of several movies and the musical (I love the musical; I was listening to it when I pulled up at the bookstore, which was what made me think of the book) but I realized a few years ago that I've never actually read the book. Which is kind of funny, really, because A Little Princess by the same author has been one of my favorite comfort reads for many, many years.

I will likely finish it today and then have to decide what else to read.

Finsihed the Postman last night, ending wasn't as brilliant as the beginning but it's still very good. reviewed

Now on Carol Berg's Song of the beast which somewhat different!

ETA #193 there is a PC/online version, but also a seriously long winded board game version (and some others) and I'm fairly sure a trading cards game too. I've got the 2 player board game vresion which normally lasts 18 hours or so.

I'm still listening to Fellowship of the Ring. I'm SO GLAD I didn't attempt to re-read this. Thankfully, I'm cross-stitching at the same time so when he describes the trees and landscape for the millionth time, I have something else to do.

Also reading Women Who Run with the Wolves which I'm really enjoying though at times it's a little frou-frou.

I am woman, hear me... bark?

Here's my game:

http://www.ea.com/official/lordoftherings/thebattleformiddleearth/us/home.jsp

They have an online option, but our computer is a little slow and I don't think it would work. I saved Boromir last night.

I finished Red Bird, poems by Mary Oliver last night and will publish my review as soon as I get a chance to proofread it.

I haven't picked my next poetry book yet but last night I was looking at all the purchases I've made in the last couple of days and pick up one of my impulse buys, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running a memoir by Haruki Murakami and since I am now on page 48, I guess that's what I'm reading next!

I will get back to The Poisonwood Bible either tonight or tomorrow--i needed a little break and I need to post about the second book before I get too far into the third book or I will get "confused." (Hubby says, that's okay, no one will notice the difference.)

Right now everything else in on hold because I must get to the point where I can start Kristin Lavransdatter by Friday and I have 2 mysteries waiting to comfort me over the weekend when hubby will be on his two week trip to China (assuming his visa arrives before Thursday AM! It is now in Washington--has been since last Thursday. Our government seems to be as inefficient as China's! This trip has been in the works for a year.)

It is rare that I give up on a book, but this afternoon I decided that the reason I couldn't focus on The Wine of Angels was because I wasn't enjoying it. Just too stubborn to admit it and didn't want to give up on it. But finally down with the book, up with a new, shorter book to occupy me until The Name of the Wind arrives. I've officially given up on Phil Rickman now, I've tried twice to read his books and he hasn't managed to engage me past a third, starts off great - which is why I get them, and then, just, meh...

I'm now reading Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay of which I've heard very good things, and I think fits my mood right now.

I'm onto Saturn Returns by Sean Williams. Pretty dark SF quite fun so far.

I'm about a third of the way through The Gypsy by Steven Brust and Megan Lindholm. It's decent so far, but it hasn't clicked yet.

Starting the Charlemagne Pursuit tonight. We'll see how the ER book turns out.

I've been horribly sick (I'm not fishing for sympathy, only stating my reasons - OK?) and could not read for a big part of the week. Then I felt like I needed some comfort reading (not reading about terrible things happening to largely innocent people /which seems to be much of what's happening in the book I'm REALLY reading right now/), so I reread Foreigner books 2, 3 and 9.

Now I'm ready to pick up the horrible things to innocent people-book again, lol.

#206 Busifer

Oh! Oh! Did you accidentally touch a poisonwood tree? Glad you are feeling better.

I didn't have an excuse to take a break, I just did it. But I'm back in the groove (I hope I don't get knocked off the track again!)

#207 - No, it's probably only a bout of cold... we don't have any poisonwood trees here, luckily.

I'm struggling through Left hand of darkness I know it's supposed to be a classic. But like many classics frankly it's just dull. Not a lot happens to some quite dull people, set in some surprisingly dull alien cultures. It could be so good, but I'm nearly at the end of it and it just doesn't seem like it's going to be. Was there a GD thread about somewhere in the archives. If I can find it, once I've finished I'll rant a bit more in there, and read what others made of it.

Already offered my sentiment on this over at Shejidan, but...
*shrugs, with a smile*
I probably wouldn't had liked it if I had approached it from a "this is a classic so must be good" perspective. I read it for the first time sometime in the late 80's, and had no idea of the status of the book.
Loved it, still do.

Finsihed it and today started the Deep beyond a CJC anthology of Cuckoo's egg and Serpent's reach. CJC on top form again, plunged straight inot an alien culture, from an alien view. And there is passion and tension in the writing. Superb, and that's just a few pages in.

Picked up The Menopause Manager by Mary Ann Mayo. I'm just saying.

starting into The Mystery of the Olmecs

I love this kind of stuff...

mckait

Where did you find a book about the Olmecs. I'd love to read about them.

Reading Fox - I thought that was a very funny description! I didn't enjoy The Wizard of Earthsea that much either. It had the potential to be better, but it just wasn't as good as I hoped it would be.

#214

The devil Amazon

I was searching forStephen Mehler's book on Crystal Skulls.. and I bought that one too

* blush*

I read Name of the wind and Stormcaller this weekend, now I have to chose from Jimmy the Hand, Warlord, Sebastian and The Blade itself I've read the first chapter of each and still don't know.

I started Kushiel's Avatar this afternoon. I'm kind of surprised that it's taken me so long to get to it; I read the first two around this time last year and figured I'd move along to this one pretty quickly, but other books got in the way.

I'm currently alternating between The Crow Road by Iain Banks and Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson.

Haven't yet, but I plan to begin Sweetsmoke by David Fuller, today. Just finished The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Loved it, so glad that I give some of the group reads a try, I haven't met a looser yet in them!

I have Elantris on hold at the library and I need to go pick it up. I also got The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher that I need to read.

Still reading Band of Brothers, and just started reading Star Wars: Invincible.

Finished Toll the Hounds yesterday and Nobody's Perfect at lunch today. Now I'm moving on to Every Last Drop by Charlie Huston.

Over the weekend (I had Friday off, too) I finished What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Murakami and The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver (finally!!) and read 2 mysteries, Out of the Deep I Cry and Seduction in Death--both in series I'm reading and both okay but not great.

On the advice of my son yesterday I started The Alchemyst (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott. When this son recommends a fantasy novel I'm pretty sure I will enjoy it and I am. Today my copy of Kristin Lavransdatter finally arrived so I will be starting that this evening. (Unfortunately have to work after my lunch hour is over!)

(edited for spelling)

#224, for what it's worth, I loved Kristin Lavransdatter.

I'm pretty sure I will to. I also am glad to have a copy with maps and notes because i want to get imersed in this time period and area of the world.

I've begun Sweetsmoke by David Fuller and Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Enjoying both, not enjoying Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but enduring it.

#215- I enjoyed Wizard of Earthsea. Too short by todays standards, but still well done. The sequels add a lot to the basic premise of the world.

Really enjoyed the Deep Beyond. Some of CJC at her finest imagining alien worlds and cultures that aren't just sterotyped humans in fancy dress.

Thief of Time lasted a day. it's still one of my favourite Pratchetts.

Currently on The ordinary route which is, in the beginning at least, dry rambling memories of climbing in the UK in the 50s. Well crafted though.

#225 MusicMom--what is the translation for Kristin Lavransdatter that is supposed to be the best? I had a copy in my had at Borders but put it back as I wasn't sure if it was the right one.

Finished Late Nights on Air which takes place in the Canadian Arctic and am now reading Krakatoa which takes place in Indonesia. I love how reading can take you around the world in an instant. It's wonderful.

Hopefully The Name of the Wind will arrive soon and I can start reading that!

lol, anybody seen xkcd today http://www.xkcd.com/483
the text that comes up when you hover is funny too.

#229, I recommend the Nunnally translation. It's actually suppose to be more in keeping with the author's original tone. The Archer translation is the older translation (usually sold as three volumes) which uses the more archaic language. I read both, and whatever version you have is worth reading, but the Nunnally translation, IMO, is superior. Hope that helps!

ludmillalotaria, thank you. I had that version in my hand yesterday but put it back. Ok next 30% Borders coupon, Kristin Lavransdatter is mine!!

I finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman this morning (it was excellent). Now I'm alternating between Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont and Nation by Terry Pratchett.

Can't wait to read Nation. Are you enjoying it?

I just finished Elantris after hearing about it here. It wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it would be more 'magical' - with wizards and elves and stuff. Not like that at all. I really enjoyed it. The setting was really well done, but so were the characters.

Now I'm reading The Storm Thief. I loved Poison by Chris Wooding, but this is really different. My daughter says it's good, so I'm going to stick with it a little longer and hope it picks up.

#235 I am so far. It's a little different, but still has all the humor that I love about Pratchett's books.

Just having finished Forty thousand in Gehenna, which was really good, in a disturbing way - so disturbing I couldn't read it while too sick, so I stuffed 7 of the 9 Foreigner-books into the middle of it.

Now I'm about to start Anathem, finally. I'd thought to start it some weeks ago, but I wanted to finish 40K first, so...
Anyway, it's quite a tome so I won't be lugging it around. Haven't decided on the 'portable' read yet, though.

I'm rereading So Yesterday as my read-before-bed book and I have Any Given Doomsday as the book I'm taking to work to read during lunch, but I'm really struggling to keep reading the latter. It's an ER book, so I'm trying to give it more of a chance than I would a book I picked up on my own, but...

#231 - I just started Anathem, and I hope that comic strip is not an omen.
I immediately thought of your post.

(I would also like to add Cherryh to the hoover-disclaimer...)

Next up is The Gnostic Gospels by Pagels and The March by Doctorow. Both have been on Mount TBR for sometime. Then I'll probably start our GD group read.

#229 momom248

Kristin Lavransdattertranslated by Tina Nunnally, published by Penguin.

It comes either in 3 separate volumes or a sincgle large volume (cheaper that way!) It is very readable and supposedly closer to how Unset wrotein Norvegin than the earlier, more "stilted" translations.

I am about two-thirds of the way through Ada, or Ardor by Vladimir Nabokov and it is gorgeous. I am trying really hard to finish it within a couple of days so my oldest son, who would rather talk about books than almost anything else, can call me from hunting camp and we can discuss it.

I'm just about finished with High Spirits, Robertson Davies's collection of ghost stories. They're more humor than horror, and some of them are very good... but some of them are so insiderish I have a tough time paying attention. (They were originally read at his College's yearly Christmas parties. There are a lot of jokes about faculty members and well-known College places). Davies's prose is as delightful as always, though.

I think I'll be reading The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes next.

Thankyou Musicmom!!

Just finished Mistborn, absolutely loved it! I was very impressed with Elantris so I was prepared for another great read, but Mistborn really blew me away! Great stuff, highly recommended!