What are you reading in January?

I couldn't find a thread, hope this isn't a repeat.

I began Anansi Boys on the first, and it seems to be a good start to the new year of reading. I'm still bogged down in Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

I cracked open The Thirteenth Tale yesterday and started The Art of Detection in the car ride home from Tenn. today. Both are quite good so far.

Luck in the Shadows/Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling. It's a reread, but it's fun fantasy, and oddly sweet for something that's borderline yaoi.

I read and reviewed Oom today ( member giveaway by author), and then started on Empire Falls for my 1010 challenge. Oom could be categorized as a YA fantasy, maybe. I was a bit uncertain as to the intended audience. I'd be interested in passing it along to get other opinions if anyone is interested.

Missylc, I have The Thirteenth Tale and have been seeing positve comments. I seem to recall that it's part of a trilogy? and haven' wanted to start it until I find out--Just a matter of looking it up, I know.

WillSteed, that series is on my 1010 challenge list as well, though really only Bk 1 is on the list (I'll have to read all once I start). Sounds like an old favorite of yours, yes? I loved the Tamir Trilogy and look forward to this series.

Still working my way through Travel As A Political Act while I chippy with Wolf Hall, The Big Burn, and True Compass. I really must get finished with, and review, at least one of these soon.

Finished up To Kill a Mockingbird as my final read of 2009 (one of my favorite reads) and picked up Virgin Blue by Tracey Chevalier. I quite liked Girl With a Pearl Earring and Remarkable Creatures but I'm not too sure about this one. Can't find the flow.

Here's what I'm working on:

Humboldt's Gift (Pulizer Award list)
1001 Arabian Nights (banned books list)
The Complete Kama Sutra (also from the banned books list)
Modern English Drama (library book)
The Mabinogion (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
The Emerald City of Oz (NEH Children's Classics list)
John Adams (Presidential Challenge)
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (NEH list + read-aloud-to-family book)

To The Nines by Evanovich

Next up is I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith

Into the Blue, by Robert Goddard. It's a mystery set in Greece and England.

Just started Triplanetary, the first (in chronological order, rather than publication order) in the Lensman series by E. E. "Doc" Smith. We're doing a group read of the series over in the 75 Books Challenge. I'm a fan of Golden Age sf, and this is definitely Golden!

Something called the dragon's treasure. I really need to get some serious reading done here

Same as in December - I've read zero during the holidays. Instead I've socialised with my family, cooked, eaten, socialised some more, watched a lot of Babylon 5, Star Trek Voyager & Enterprise episodes, watched some films (I think I watched Ice Age 3 on dvd three times with son, and then there was some Narnia, and...), played Nintendo DS with son (Lego Batman and Clone Wars)....

Now I've decided to pick up those papery things agsin, I've been missing them. So - finishing The search for the perfect language, and starting Green Mars.

Here's what I'm currently reading:

How to Read Literature Like a Professor
Every Living Thing
Lady of Light and Shadows

In the on-deck circle:

Arthur and George
The Name of the Rose

@KAzevedo - It is a favourite. I've read them a few times. The Nightrunner books have a slightly different feel to the Tamir Triad. They have a more role-playing sort of atmosphere that wasn't in the Tamir Triad. I just wish they had assigned her a better proof-reader. There are a number of typos in there that should have been noticed.
Depending on your understanding of "reading them all", it could get interesting. The first two form a duology, so you really have to read both of them. After that there's a stand-alone follow-on (Traitor's Moon), and the first part of another two-parter (Shadows Return), but the conclusion (The White Road) won't be out until later this year.

Just finished Shaman's Crossing, which I liked way better than I expected to. I am about to dive into my reread of Brothers Karamazov. Yay, Dostoevski.

Shaman's Crossing was good. I enjoyed it. The other two in the trilogy were a bit of a let-down. They didn't hold me.

I'm reading The Eustace Diamonds. I was maybe 3 pages in when I thought, "this is going to be good." So far, I haven't changed my mind. A really good anti-heroine to root against, some pithy philosophy, a meaty plot. Good fun.

#17 I love The Eustace Diamonds, cmbohn, but I'm a sucker for Trollope. I started The Civil War: Fort Sumpter to Perryville by Shelby Foote. It's very readable, which is a good thing considering how long it is.

am reading this biography of Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacsson. So far so good.

Eustace Diamonds was the only Trollope I couldn't make it through. Ordinarily I love him, he just repeated himself endlessly in that book until I wanted to scream.

But love me some Barchester series.

Just finished The Vampire Shrink, which wasn't half as stupid as I thought, and now have my second try reading Tempted by P. C. Cast.

Not usual GD material, but I am a meager 200 pages into Shelby Foote's @3100 page 3-volume The Civil War: A Narrative. I might finish by spring!

#22 We can form our own support group, dukeallen.

#22 My husband loved that series. I think it took him about 8 months.

23> I need support. This set is heavy! :)

24> I'm pacing myself, only reading them before bed, to prevent burnout. And I love them so far, too.

I'm reading Austen's Mansfield Park .

I've finished Een eenvoudig gebaar ('A simple gesture') last night. It's a Dutch comic (of sorts, I suppose. More of a 'short story collection illustrated with comic-style drawings' kind of thing) and assigned reading for one of my classes.

Next up are Corvus and loads of sparknotes to refresh my memory of books and poems before my exam. (EEK!)

>>which wasn't half as stupid as I thought

What a ringing endorsement!

18 & 20 - I read Barchester Towers last year and was surprised by how easy it was to read and how much I enjoyed it. This one is also pretty easy to read and get into, but it really is long. Over 800 pages.

I'm reading The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre which I'll finish soon, it's wonderful, and dipping into The Complete Stories of Truman Capote at bedtime (very good). Then I'm still reading Letters from India by Lady Wilson. I'm carrying that one in my purse, so it'll take me awhile to get through it, it's delightful though, she comes across as such a likeable person - I would have loved to have met her.

#29 If you think Trollope is accessible, try Wilkie Collins. You'd hardly know you're reading a book that's 150 years old.

Still working on:
Selected Writings of Ruben Dario
Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson
The City in History by Lewis Mumford
The Norton Book of Science Fiction

About mid-way:
Storyteller by G.R. Grove
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois

Recently finished:
Beloved by Toni Morrison
LSU Football Vault

Just started:
Into the Path of Gods by Kathleen Cunningham
Reading Seattle: The City in Prose
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel

I'm reading my ER book Arms-Commander (Saga of Recluce). Not to bad, I might have to give some of the other books in the series a try.

#32 janepriceestrada - Longitude is one of my favorite non-fiction books ever. I hope you enjoy it.

I'm reading The City & The City by China Mieville. It's a slow starter for me - lots of alien concepts and references to things that don't exist in our reality. But, I'm enjoying it.

I'm reading Mistborn (thank you SantaThing), No turning back, Frankenstein and Kalaallit Nunaanni meeqqat inuusuttullu pillugit kisitsisitigut tikkuussissutit.

trisweather - I do hope you like it!

What's the translated title of that one, Trisweather?

37> I would love to know too, and can I buy a vowel? :)

There are plenty of vowels. A lot of syllables, though. All I know is that the first two words are something about Greenland.

That's why I was asking for one, since that title has vowels enough to share.
I am constantly in awe of people who can not only speak but also read in several languages. I have trouble enough with English.

I went to the dentist today and discovered a book I had started last month and then misplaced, The Miracle at Speedy Motors. We are happily back on course again. Such a nice receptionist to save it on her desk all that time.

>41 MrsLee: What a happy discovery! Did she know that it was yours?

# 37 It is an report with key numbers about the lives of Greenlandic children and young adult. It is very hard to translate Greenlandic directly since it isn't really build like other languages (except some other native languages). Fx. the English name for where I work is Public and Central Library in Greenland. The Greenlandic name is Nunatta Atuagaateqarfia which directly translated means Our Country's Place where there are many books

#40 The report is in Greenlandic and Danish. I mostly read the Danish translation, because I am not that great at Greenlandic yet, but am working on it.

#42 - Yes, she knows I'm the big reading patient, so she had my name on it. :)

I recently finished A Land Beyond Ravens (historical fiction taking place just before Arthur, 546 AD - wonderful) and am now reading Her Fearful Symmetry which I am enjoying so far.

I'm reading The Documents in the case (a non-Lord Peters Dorothy Sayers) and lovin' it.

The characters are so vivid, I expect them to rise from the pages at any moment.

The Road has been set aside after 10 pages or so. Maybe I'll gather some courage and give it another try in the next weeks (if I don't "misplace" it accidentally before).

#46 rosefromthule - I adore The Documents in the Case because you get so many different stories about the same events. Tons of irony, and you're right - the characters leap out at you from the pages. Have fun.

#44 - glad you're reunited.

I've been reading groundties, uplink, and harmonies by Jane S. Fancher who is CJ Cherryh's tenent and a a much overlooked author in her own right. Fortunetly despite the woes of the publishing industry she's able to put her own books out as ebooks. A similar style to Cherryh, but distinctly her own ideas and characters. Much enjoyed.

Just about to start my Santathings - quiet game

#46 & 47 - Another thumbs up for The Documents in the Case!

Well last night I started on THe Lies of Locke Lamora which I'm enjoying so far and a little while ago I read the first chapter of The Hobbit whilst eating a muffin and having a cup of tea up on campus. May read some more of the Hobbit this afternoon and keep Locke as bedtime reading.

#46, 47, 49 : I like it even more than the "Lord Peter" novels, for the sheer mastering it shows. It's the embodiment of "Show, don't tell". Plus no big hero, no bad-bad villain, just common people (at least, so far ... I guess that, as it's a whodunnit, there will be some trouble in the way) ... I love it :)

#48, reading fox, I've enjoyed Jane S. Fancher for a long time - and I agree. Her ideas are wonderful, and the stories, well executed. Way too under appreciated.

Check my profile for what I'm currently reading, you lazy bums!

But really, I'm in a slump where I can't concentrate very well on anything. I've got 3 books in progress but that feels like a lie because I can't be arsed to pick any of them up; even the library books that are probably due soon.

I feel much the same, Fleela, but I think I'm going to blame my slowly failing eyesight rather than fess up to being lazy and unfocused.

I finished Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (thank you, santa!), Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh, and am currently reading The Gates by John Connolly. After that I may start Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger, or Wildwood Dancing, which I've had for ages and meant to read, but just haven't gotten around to yet.

*reminds myself I really really need to get around to read some Jane S. Fancher*

I'm taking a little break from fiction and getting into some Japan-themed non-fiction for a while. Starting with Eat Sleep Sit tonight, and Tokyo Vice when I've finished that.

I've finished Travel As A Political Act which is good as my book group is meeting soon. I have started Wolf Hall but I will read some other books alongside as I don't want to haul around the hall all the time. So, I am reading The Pleasures of Cooking for One and Nora Roberts High Noon (in the bathtub). I have several other books started on the kindle but I'll list them another time.

Hall hauling isn't easy.

I've been reading The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George, on and off, for months now. I really want to like it, but it's just not gripping me. I'm almost halfway finished but I think I may have to chuck this one.

I finished Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier recently which wasn't bad, a little vague in details. Have been picking away at Memoirs since but my eyes keep straying to the bookshelves and touching on other unreads.

maggie, why didn't you download Wolf Hall to your Kindle? I did.

I have recently discovered I get really irritated when I don't know the progress of my reading when I've got a deadline. For example, I want to know if I only have two weeks left before my book group's discussion and I have well over 1/2 of the book to read. I will not need this for books when I do not have a deadline but I noticed I got really irritated with Bridge of Sighs when I did not know how many pages I had left to read.

Note: this is about the Kindle I, not the newer II which has a way of letting you know what percent of the book is left to read.

OK, that's my story.

But you have the dots. When I had a K1 I used to tell hubby how many dots I had left to read.

I'm reading Band of Brothers. I finished The Darkest Evening of the Year and immediately felt like I was a dummy for wasting so much time on such a bad book. Cardboard characters and totally unbelievable.

I finished Anansi Boys. Still reveling in the delight of it. It seems the old tales live again. I wanted to read American Gods, but my daughter said I wouldn't like it, and she is a pretty good meter of what I like to read.

Just finished The Lions of al-Rassan -- the first Guy Gavriel Kay I've read. This is one amazing book, and I owe great thanks to Busifer for thr heads-up implied in her numerous enthusiastic posts about it.

I have it sitting in the TBR pile, quite near the top. Maybe I'll move it up a bit....

I just got my first G G Kay in from a BM, The Darkest Road but unfortunately it's BK 3 in
The Fionavar Tapestry. I'll have to wait until I can mooch the others. Many, many recommendations for his work to thank.

Now reading Aurian by Maggie Furey my first of hers which I'm enjoying. Too many distractions though.

ETA: Touchstones out!? Not this time....

Just started The Graveyard Book. I've only read chapter one, but I do like it. Sometimes I think Gaiman's at his best writing for a younger audience.

Will, I agree. I really like the Gaiman YA books I've read. I hope you'll let us know what you think of The Graveyard Book when you finish it. My book group is reading Odd and the Frost Giants next and I really loved it. (I've already finished reading it) It is a short read and I think any one who liked Graveyard will like Odd, too.

edit to add words

Gaiman had me on the first page of Graveyard.

I have finished Her Fearful Symmetry and I am going to start The Color of Magic which was loaned to me and highly recommended by a teenager friend.

*bows in the Durban direction (south)*
I'm honoured. IMHO it's his best, together with Tigana, A Song for Arbonne and The Sarantine Mosaic (Sailing to Sarantium & Lord of Emperors).

I had it all going. Almost finished The search for the perfect language, at last, with Green Mars (and Blue Mars) on the table, Consider Phlebas lined up for afterwards... Then this ebook thingy came, wreaking havoc with my schedule. So the first book I finished this year ended up being Hellburner, a reread. Not planned. At all. But it felt good supporting an author in her publishing efforts (as 'Fox has mentioned somewhere Cherryh has started to self-publish her books in ebook format /closed-circle.net/). And if I buy I should read, no?
;-)

I really prefer Gaiman's children's books. Graveyard was just amazing. Have you read the picture book, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish? I really want to buy that one.

I'm rereading The Chosen for book club. I'm enjoying it, but should finish tonight. So I guess I'll look around and see what I want to start next.

Well, I finished Ivanhoe over the weekend and started my latest ER book - The Chester Chronicles- and so far it's mildly amusing.

Continuing to read The Graveyard Book on the bus. Yes. I'm still enjoying it. I'll be recommending it to any young adult I talk to about books.

46% done with Brothers Karamazov. The amusing thing is that the arguments between atheists and Christians have not changed in 150 years.

I've finished Miracle at Speedy Motors and Odd Thomas, am starting Forever Odd. I haven't really decided whether I like them or not, the Odd books. I didn't really care for the tone of the narrator, but the story was fast paced and fun/interesting to read. I rated Odd Thomas with three stars.

Currently struggling with The Children of Hurin but also reading Spike Milligan: A Biography for what I thought would be some light relief. I really should have known as I've read a few of his books that talked about his experience of WW2 but it's not a lot of fun at the moment. Given that he was an unknown at this point in his life it's a fascinating insight to what being an ordinary soldier was (is?) like. Most writing about the military focusses on heroes and disasters and his tale is sad and mundane.

#68 KAzevedo, if it turns out you don't like them (too much), please do still give one of his other books a try. I found them to be very different from his other books and personally always recommend against starting with those. They're his first works, so the writing isn't as polished. It's heavily influenced by Tolkien's works, whilst the others aren't. (Which shows, largely, I think, because of the oversaturation of imitations available.) And even Tigana which is closest of all the books I read to the straight-out high fantasy that is Fionavar is extremely different in feel.

(Busifer can probably set me straight, though. ^-~ I admit it's been a few years since I read the trilogy, and Tigana.)

I'm currently mired in The Decameron and having some trouble making myself get back to it. (It's the constant adultery. Just... GAH!)

Also have designated as A Wizard of Earthsea as my take-to-work book. Not that I have much time to read as it's exam-prep weeks and, thus, busy, but just in case...

#79 (68) - You're right. Kay himself says he wrote them to show the world another way to use the fantasy tropes and themes (and format) than what was the norm at that time (mid-80's). So it's mainly an academic exercise. Besides not being very polished.

On an unconscious level I think he also needed to get Tolkien out of his system - he had previously been working with Christopher Tolkien on Silmarillion.

WillSteed - I adored Luck in the Shadows and Stalking Darkness as well. They were my top favorite books of 2008. I listened to the Graveyard Book on audio and enjoyed it as well, Neil Gaiman read the story himself and did a superb job.

Currently I'm reading an urban fantasy called Bleak History by John Shirley which was an impulse borrow from the library. I'm trying to work on primarily on my tbr pile but this one looked too interesting to pass up.

Following on from #66, 72 and others:

Lovers of The Lions of Al-Rassan may be interested in this hour-long program of music from Al-Andalus and the diaspora that resulted from the Reconquista. Unfortunately it's only available for the next 4 days (to 16/17 Jan.)

I finished The Chosen and started The Winter Queen, which is good but not great. Also reading Yearning for the Living God which I'm really enjoying.

>79 sparrowbunny: I just put a post on "Books that we read that would upset our parents" about The Decameron. I would frequently sneak into that book when my parents were out looking for the racy parts.

#82 - Thanks!

# 79, 80. Thanks for the advice! Just ordered A Song for Arbonne from PBS. Maybe I should start with that first?

Or perhaps The Lion of Al Rassan? Busifer, I was just skimming your thread about this one, but didn't want to read in depth until I've read the book. Since I haven't yet read any of Kay's books, which would you and Shanra suggest I start with?

As I said in #66 above, I started with The Lions of Al-Rassan -- the only G.G. Kay in the library, I think -- and am not only hooked but indeed hook, line and sinkered. For what it's worth.

My first was Tigana, then I read Lions of Al-Rassan. After that A song for Arbonne, and the Sarantine Mosaic. These five are those I think of as his best. In some ways reading these in chronological order can be rewarding - he brings certain things from his previous book into the next one, and until the Mosaic I felt his writing developed in a nice way.
Last light of the sun is weaker, but I guess it's still a good book. My main problem with that book was I'm no fan of fantasy leaning heavily on Celtic or Arthurian myths. This is also why I felt Ysabel lightweight. In any case Ysabel should be read AFTER Fionavar, as there's some connections between them.

Some people criticise him for his "bad" poetry or his pretentious style - in Lions he has a character who's an acclaimed poet, and the book features some verses. Personally I look beyond that. The story is more important.

He often explores or elaborates a tradition (as he does in Fionavar), and sometimes it feels kind of showy - "look, I have this grand arsenal of storytelling devices - come watch my mastery".
I can see why it gets to some people, but again - I don't care.
And - his stories (excepting Fionavar) are often more "historical fiction" than strict fantasy, and when you read up on the background you find he's done his research. Even if they're set in another universe, and with some magic added...

BTW, he has a new one coming, due in April.

#88 - My personal opinion is that Lions is his best, by far. Despite this I didn't felt let down until I read his two most recent books. Fionavar I knew was different, so I went in there prepared.

I have some hopes for the new one. It is said to take place in a fantasy/parallel 8th century China, the way Lions is a parallel al-Andalus/Spain.

Thanks Busifer, that's very helpful. Sometimes, starting a "new to me" author can be overwhelming if there are many titles, especially with one so loved as GG Kay. It's nice to have a plan.

I'd put my vote for Lions, too - and also have read every novel he's done.

People tend to have more widely polarized opinions of Tigana - most love it, some totally don't. I'd say try that one second, because of this trend.

88, hfglen, you said: "For what it's worth".
Your opinions are worth alot to me, thanks. That's what I love about LT. One gets a variety of opinions, gets to mull them over and make a fairly educated decision and a PLAN.

92, Janny, Thanks. That's two for Lions and one for Tigana. I'm excited to have an entire set of work from Kay to explore.

I'm finishing the House of Night series with Tempted. Next up is The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray mixed in with a couple of textbook reading assignments. I am focusing on light reading until these classes are finished.

I need to stay away from threads like this. If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, please dig me out of this TBR pile!

#89 His "bad" poetry. Poetry is a form I cordially loathe, and so I would normally skip over verse in a novel like "Lions" or LotR. In "Lions" it didn't annoy me so much because it was to the point rather than pretentiously obscurantist. And if you read it as a rough translation from a Rassanian-Arabic original (ibn-Wossname surely didn't speak English!) then it doesn't ahve to rhyme or scan.

#95 - I couldn't agree more. I have always skipped the 'song' parts of LoTR, they were way too long. In Lions they are more integrated with the story, and short.

Moreover, the very last poem is an adaption of a real life poem written as al-Andalus went under; shortened, yes, but in the important parts only the place names are substituted.
And that poet was allegedly famous in his own time, back when ;-)

(I've always been interested in the Moorish influence on "European" culture and happened upon the poem when reading another, non-fic, book.)

My introduction to GG Kay was A Song for Arbonne,then Tigana, then The Lions of Al-Rassan, then Beyond This Dark House (which is a poetry collection), but I still have a fair amount of catching up to do. My vote on where to start also goes for Lions, though, when push comes to shove. That is one awesome book. ^-^

Also, Busifer, that is so cool about the poem! I didn't know that! (Or, if I did, I forgot.)

#84, I bet they were easy enough to find! (The book makes me want to bang my head against the wall, though. Just... A little less of the adultery, please. Please? Pretty please?)

Still no further along, no. But I will dedicate today to reading more of the book! Just as soon as I finish posting this...

I love Kay's writing, but hated hated hated Tigana. Found it far too depressing and stopped reading it.

Tigana is interesting because how it explores the "Stockholm Syndrome", guerilla warfare, and the concept of "justice". It doesn't end on a happy note but gives the reader a lot to think about regarding value judgements and the like.
IMHO.

I have full respect for the fact that this is not up everyone's alley.

#99

Agree on all counts. But I stopped reading because I saw no way it could end (and be true to what had gone before) that would be in the least bit satisfactory.

I wanted to see the protagonist grow and change and wasn't seeing that.

I think I was about 2/3rds or 3/4s of the way through it. And as I said, I love his writing and really wanted to love this book, but did not.

It's entirely personal, my reaction, I know. Perhaps because I've worked with women with PTSD it hit far too close to home.

I started The Forgotten Legion last night, barely started but his writing drew me right in. It is eventually supposed to be about a Roman legion that is marched across most of Asia almost into china.

I'm going to read more non-fiction books this year by Georgia authors. Tonight I'm beginning Inheritance of Horses by James Kilgo.

I adored Tigana. I also enjoyed Arbonne, but not quite as much. I am still waiting, for what I have no idea, to read Lions. Soon.

I finished The Chester Chronicles yesterday. I finished Fences for one of my book clubs today. It's a play, actually, and a wonderful one, at that.

I just finished Some Danger Involved - lots of fun. Mystery set in Victorian England. Not sure what I'll read next, but nothing too complicated since I'm not up to it. Maybe a reread of something fun.

I'm going to try really hard to start The Metaphysics of Star Trek before this month is over, but, since last April when my dad first got sick, reading has felt like a chore so I'm not making any promises.

*hugs*
If it helps I thought The Metaphysics of Star Trek a fun read.

I had to set aside Europe's Physician. I'm feeling too punk to deal with the intricacies of seventeenth-century politics. Made my way through a couple of mysteries and am now reading Hunger Games, which I gave my daughter for Christmas. She thoughtfully left it behind so I could read it.

Currently reading None of This Ever Really Happened by Peter Ferry. It's a fictional book about the art of storytelling. Good so far...

>108 Rach974923:, Looks as if you're the first to read it, hope you'll tell us more about it.

Finished Aurian which was a fun, non-stop adventure story, with little in the way of character development, but good writing. Will read the others in the series; Aurian was the first book written by Maggie Furey, so perhaps her characters grow and develop more as she writes.

Now reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

#102 - If you are going to read books by authors from Georgia, I highly recommend Anything Can Happen. Of course the authors are from the Georgia which is by Russia, but it's still a great book.

Thanks, MrsLee. My TBR pile grows and grows.

I finished Inheritance of Horses, and I've moved to The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. I'm not sure what's up next other than a few chapters in a text book. :(

Almost finished Moby Dick and I feel as if I will have achieved something if I finally finish it.

Also need to read Zoo by Otsuichi for a dip into the horror genre.

I also read Asterios Polyp and really liked how it conveyed a man coming to terms with the reality that he really is a tool.

I'm reading book five of an interminably long series: The Gathering Storm by Kate Elliott. Each one is about 1000 pages long and sometimes feel never ending. But, press on I will.

I'm about a quarter of the way through Jasper Fforde's newest, Shades of Grey. Holy crap, what an amazing world he's built.

#114 - Uh oh. One more for the wishlist.

I'm resisting, resisting...ah.....re..sis...ting........

Is Shades of Grey a Thursday Next book?

117 > no, Shades of Grey is new series and really good. It was my November Early Reviewer book.

>11 pollysmith:, GeorgiaDawn, what did you think of "Inheritance of Horses"? The description sounds good but there are no reviews yet.

>109 KAzevedo:. Certainly. It's about a Creative Writing teacher called Peter Ferry who witnesses a young woman die in a car crash that he feels he may have been able to prevent if he'd intervened. It's this tale that he tells to his class, but did it actually happen, or is he just illustrating the power of storytelling? The story interweaves between this story, his class and other aspects of his life, always coming back to the core story of the girl in the car. It's an interesting read.

Ha! I have finally conquered The Decameron! I finished it! Read the whole thing back to back!

Whoohoo!

Way to go, Shanra! Now what do you have planned?

I added Shades of Grey to my wish list. It sounds great.

At the moment I am reading Myths of the Norsemen (AKA The Saga of Asgard) by Roger Lancelyn Green and have also started reading Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade.

I have just finished Possession : A Romance by A S Byatt. A wonderful book.

Next up is World Without End by Ken Follett for the 75 Book Group Read.

#119 - I loved Inheritance of Horses. It is a series of essays about experiences from Dr. Kilgo's childhood and adult life in South Carolina and Georgia. It was fun to read about places and areas that I have been and see them from another's perspective. I laughed in some parts, and got teary eyed in others. I would recommend the book for anyone interested in life in the south.

#122 Cmbohn, I plan to finish A Wizard of Earthsea tomorrow and then dive straight back into the Parzival. Neither should be too strenuous. Wizard is a quick read and I've read several (medieval) versions of Parzival already.

After that... I might continue with Angelic by Kelley Armstrong, but I'm not sure yet. I just know I'll want another small break from medieval literature before diving headfirst into next semester's reading. *hates being behind on her reading*

Finished The Brothers Karamazov. Still think Crime and Punishment is better. I think I'll take a little break and read Harpo Marx' autobiography Harpo Speaks.

Oh my, the new quick links here on LT to the booksellers is a dangerous thing. It is way to easy to add books to your wishlist, or buy them. Just added Shades of Grey as well, not for the least reason, that I prefer that spelling of grey.

My grandmother's middle name was Grey. I love the spelling, too. On Ancestry.com, a family member had it spelled "Gray." I attached a photo of her headstone and corrected the spelling. That was very important to me.

Just started Parallel Worlds, by Michio Kaku.

OOoh, Shades of Grey Kindle edition went down to $9.99 so I bought it. I refuse to pay more, but the price comes down pretty quickly!

Just finished up Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach (Huzzah!) and earlier today I finished A Wizard of Earthsea.

I'm reading and enjoying I'll Never Be French all the while I am marching my way through Wolf Hall. BTW, Wolf Hall...took me the first 100 pages to adjust to Mantel's style, but it is growing on me and I think in the end I am going to love this book. We shall see.

As usual I am reading several books at once. A Game of You by Neil Gaiman, which is the fifth part of the Sandman series, which I really love, furthermore I'm into Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, after I've read all of his Kenzie and Gennaro novels, and finally I'm into Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, which is tough to read, but I think really great!

I finished Harpo Speaks! (thoroughly charming) and started Shades of Grey. It's pretty trippy so far.

I have been adventuring in the worlds of Alexander McCall Smith - first Botswana and now Scotland

Rising Stars vols. 1-3 by J Michael Straczynski. It's the unacknowledged inspiration for Heroes. A special-powered man searches for the person who's been killing off other super-powered people. Super-powered people include the indestructible person, the woman with the unrecognised split-personality bad girl and the guy who has access to the raw super-power itself. Sound familiar?

Is that the guy from Babylon 5, Will?

I finished the latest in the Alcatraz books, by our good buddy Brandon Sanderson yesterday. Started my December ER book today, Sanditon. It is the novel Jane Austen was writing when she died.

139 - Yes, it is. Sometimes he's really good, sometimes he misses. I call this one of the hits.

I'm trying to read Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie, but I fell asleep twice today in a public place trying to read it. It doesn't seem incredibly dull, but for some reason it hits my sleep button.

Wow I haven't posted here for a while. I've been reading though.

Really enjoyed Greg isles Quiet Game an action packed version of Grisham's style. With characters.

Wasn't so taken with my otherSantathing - to say nothing of the dog, but you can't win them all.

Just started something I picked up in the Borders closing sale - hallowed hunt Which I'm enjoying, but it appears to be part of a series! Argh. Why don't publishers clearly indicate this on the cover, or frontispiece. Or somewhere. Oh well I'm sure I'll work out the important bits as I go along!

All this Kay discussion feels like I ought to try him again, but I just didn't get on with the writing in Tiagra so maybe I'll try one of the others. But I'm not that keen on historical fiction either.

>143 reading_fox: Don't worry too much about The Hallowed Hunt. Yes, it's part of a series but they are pretty much stand-alones. Different main characters. Separate plots. If you like Hallowed Hunt, you'll like the others Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls even better. I loved Curse. Didn't care too much for Hunt. Paladin was in the middle.

142 > MrsLee don't worry, Passenger to Frankfurt is IMO the worst book I've read by A.G. . I have no idea what she was tripping on when she wrote it.

I loved Hallowed Hunt and am disappointed the characters aren't in any other book.... sigh.

I've started The Good Earth .

I went through a Pearl Buck phase when I was in high school. I must have read and reread Good Earth twenty times.

143 - Pity - I giggled my way through To Say Nothing of the Dog. I suppose it's not to everyone's taste. It found it delightfully farcical, but others might think it silly or too distracted.

>143 reading_fox: Wasn't so taken with my otherSantathing - to say nothing of the dog, but you can't win them all

Thank goodness! It seems like everyone here (on LT) loved this book, so I never commented. But I think it was the reason I wanted to start a list of abandoned books! At least you were able to follow it with a more enjoyable book to "get the bad taste out".

>149 Choreocrat: Distracted is a good word, Will. As I recall, I found it much more confusing than, say, the bouncing around one gets in a Fforde book.

I have just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I really enjoyed it--except for the horrible Nazis, of course. But I *was* expecting the nastiness, which made the good bits that much sweeter.

#145 - I've heard that from a couple of other people too. I'm going to evaluate whether or not I want to try to continue. I don't have very much reading spunk lately, don't want to waste it on something forgettable.

Ten pages away from finishing Moby Dick - so close to being able to be smug and educated about the subject of 1800s whaling!

I've started The Help by Kathryn Stockett which is one of my SantaThing books. I'm only a few chapters in and I'm already hooked!

I finished 3 books yesterday Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade - the best of the books that I've read on the subject of how genetics has increased our knowledge of the prehistory of man; The Myths of the Norsemen (AKA The Saga of Asgard) by Roger Lancelyn Green - a very good retelling of Norse mythology and Rats and Gargoyles by Mary Gentle - a very atmospheric fantasy novel.

This means that I am now back reading this week's section of World Without End for the 75 Book Challenge Group Read and I have just started The Cave Painters by Gregory Curtis for my non-fiction read; Next up are The Tales of Beedle the Bard for my short story read and An Echo in the Bone the latest instalment of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander saga as they are both library books that will have to be returned.

calm, if you enjoyed reading the norse myths you might also enjoy Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants, a short fable written for young adults, but enjoyable by any age.

Thanks maggie - I've not read much Gaiman, he doesn't turn up often in the second-hand shops and the library doesn't have much, but this one is definitely on the radar (mental wishlist). I saw that you read it around Christmas - one of your Santathing books if I remember correctly;-)

Yes, I think it was a SantaThing gift and interestingly enough it is also on our LT book group's list to read for February. I actually recruited a friend to join our discussion by tempting her with this book. Its a winner.

I've recently sunk into feudal Japan - reading the Sano Ichiro mysteries by Laura Joh Rowland Started with Shinju and am now on to Bundori - very atmospheric.

Yesterday I started Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear and having a little trouble getting into it. I'm breaking up my reading with manga; Fruits Basket and Ghost Hunt.

I`ve just started "Tomorrow when the war began" (Norsk: I morgen, da krigen kom) by John Marsden. Not my usual genre but....:)

PTblog - I've heard really good things about that one. Or maybe just things that make me curious about it. Either way, tell us what you think when you're done!

I gave up on "Passenger to Frankfurt" by Agatha Christie, and began The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British spy ring in wartime Washington, by Jennet Conant. I'm only in the first chapter, but I like the work already.

160 - Those books are ever so popular here. They were a big early influence on my reading, and part of the reason for my continued love of young adult fiction.

#147 - I just read that last Fall. Loved it!

#154 - Oh, another 'Big History' book. I have that one on my wishlist. Want to get through Maps of Time before I buy any more, though.

Finished Shades of Grey. Meh. I wrote a review if anyone cares. Not sure what to read next.

reading_fox and littleshell

I wasn't fond of To say nothing of the dog, either. I tried, I really tried, I heard so many great things about it, but it failed to capture me. I'm still considering whether or not I want to try another of Willis' books.

I didn't much care for Blood and Iron, either. That was another one that I tried really hard to like, but I'm not sure I even actually finished it. I may have slogged through nine tenths of the book and just given up (not caring what happened at the end).

I'm currently reading 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman, but it's difficult for a non-fiction book to hold my attention too long (even one I like this much) so I'll probably pick up something else in the meantime.

>165 littlegeek:, Hey littlegeek, cheer up! You sound so down. I liked your review. I just gave the only less than wonderful review (way less) of my Early Review book, Never Look Away. Then decided I needed something excellent, West With the Wind, and it is!

The touchstones are all reading "Spam" by Spam??!!

#167 thanks for the pep talk. I guess I do sound down, but I'm really not. I've been watching tennis all weekend, which is awesome.

Hubby just bought a new dish drainer and shower curtain. See, my life is great!

>168 littlegeek:, lol! What a great guy!

For various reasons, I'm in the middle of too many books and audiobooks. But I just finished The Constant Gardener and I think I'll start Chalice rather than finishing up one of the ongoing books.

I went on holidays and forgot to bring my Creative Zen player on which I was listening to The Associate. I had decided to plug it in the morning we were leaving, to make sure it was as fully charged as possible, and then ran out of the house without it. Thank goodness I had left my iPod in my backpack. Usually it's only for music, but I had put The Green Mile on it a while back to someday test out it's audiobook features so I started listening to that on holidays and it's become my main listen. I love King's books when they're about the people and not about the horror.

Whew! Thank goodness you had at least one audio book sandragon, and a long one at that!! I'd be lost without an audio book.

I finished up The Winter Sea, thoroughly enjoying it. I like Susanna Kearsley's writing. And now I'm reading my latest ER book Poetic Lives: Shelley by Daniel Hahn. Just into it, but so far, so good.

#161
Sure:P

#163
Awesome:) I love books that inspire you to read more.

I finally finished Europe's Physician. I just couldn't deal with it when I was sick. Now I'm back to The Civil War: Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote.

Ahhh, Shelby Foote! Loved him in Ken Burns Civil War series on PBS. Haven't read anything he's written, though.

blasted touchstones

I finally managed to finish The search for the perfect language. Interesting, erudite, witty... and extremely taxing for someone who like me aren't too well read on linguistic theory. I'm glad I did finish it.
Now I'll get on to actually begin to read Green Mars, and I'll also pick up Search user interfaces which is heavily work-related but hopefully worth a read. I'm not allowed to buy one more book until I've finished off at least 3 tbr's... *sigh*

#174 Yeah, he was great in that. And his Civil War is quite readable. It's subtitled 'A Narrative.' It's not strong on citations and other scholarly things, although he clearly knows his stuff. I'm enjoying it, but it is not a fast read.

176> Welcome to the club. I got 3-volume set for Christmas, started a few days later, and am not quite halfway through volume 2.
I've noticed that sometimes he switching from the Northern to Southern perspectives in mid-paragraph, and unless you remember all those names, it can be hard to follow.
I still like it, and liked his appearances on PBS' Civil War, but I still prefer Bruce Catton's civil war books. And they are even faster reads, to me.

I really wanted to like the omnibus I got from the library, but the author's writing style is truly off-putting. It's like reading an extremely long article in some fluff magazine that pays by the word so each sentence has been padded with umpteen superfluous adjectives. And this is a book about geology!

I guess I really am a dry textbook kind of girl.

#177 One of the things I enjoy about my copy is the book review quoted on the front cover is by Van Allen Bradley, who was a friend of my father.

I agree that you have to sit up and pay attention to the names. I'm also not particularly good at following battle maneuvers, but I'm getting better.

I also own Catton's three volume Army of the Potomac. I've got a lot of work ahead of me.

I'm still going through How to Cook Everything. It makes me so hungry! And I just started the first Robert Jordan book.

So....anyone have any plate tectonics book suggestions?

/wishful thinking

179> It isn't work if you enjoy it! We might even learn something.

#182 You have a point. And my knowledge of Civil War battles could hardly be less.

#181 - Wish I did. :o/ Is there a geology group here on LT you could poke around in? My guess is, if there is one, you're already an active member.

Currently trying 1984 by George Orwell as a friend says I should!
For the rest of January I read Mistborn and The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, thoroughly enjoyed both and am currently awaiting the final book in the trilogy The Hero of Ages due out early next month. To fill in waiting I dug out Mercedes Lackey and Herald Vanyel's three books Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price.

I am reading MUCH Russell Hoban (rereading what's on my shelf, and enjoying/planning to review the several I've bought for my birthday gift). If you read his Frances books to your children, now treat yourself to his novels. His birthday is Feb. 4 and fans will honor him in a variety of ways. This is my contribution.

I love Russell Hoban. His books are just sweet fun.

Last night I started IOU by John Lanchester about the financial crisis. I knew it was ridiculous, but I never realized how much. Not only are Wall St a bunch of crooks, but they're stupid crooks and we keep on feeding them money to be even stupider!

I recommend this book to any regular person who wants to get into the mindset of people who feel entitled to steal our money.

Not only are Wall St a bunch of crooks, but they're stupid crooks and we keep on feeding them money to be even stupider!

I know. That's why I stay away from books like that. Only way to keep away from Disillusion Road. Husband watches a lot of TV on such topics and always comes away with the feeling a c-charged rock is the only solution to this infestation of humanity that clings to the planet. I can't live that way.

#189 But, Busifer, you can't ever fix something if you're too scared to look at it. Actually looking at it, it becomes laughably easy to understand how we got into this mess. Then it suddenly seems fixable.

One of the premises of the book is that regular people believe the lie that this stuff is too hard for them to understand, so they have to let the idiots who got us into this mess figure it out, because they're the "experts." They're not, we've just let them be.

Seriously, this book may make you feel way more empowered.

Of course. I'm of that opinion myself. Only I can't fix EVERYTHING, so I don't overload on things that I already know about. When faced with it I confront it but otherwise... I need to be able to sleep at night.

Edited out a dose of political analysis of the financial market...

I'm reading The Eye of the World, the first book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Who else has read this? It started off pretty well, and it has had some exciting parts, but in general I'm not enjoying it as much as I hoped. And it's over 800 pages long! I don't want to keep reading if it's not going to get better. Basically it's the squabbling among the young characters, Rand and what's her name, and the mysterious hints of deep dark voodoo magic to come that's bugging me. This whole conflict set up as men vs. women. Is that going to keep being important? Help, please!

It's the same for at least four books. That's when I stopped reading.

Squabbling and that one chick twirling her hair.

192 > if you don't like it by know and are interested, you probably won't be. When it's all said and done there will be 14 books and a prequel. Other than the prequel I think that The Eye of the World is the shortest.

Darn. One of the appealing things was that it was a nice long series, and if I liked it, there'd be a bunch to look forward to. But I don't think it's worth it for me.

Well, I still haven't tried Robin Hobb, and everyone tells me how good she is. Maybe I'll give that one a go next.

195 > while it isn't exclusive, people who like Jordan's work and those who like Hobb tend to be different groups of people, so you have a good chance with her.

Okay, so... I am such a wuss. I cried over Jane Austen's death while finishing her bio. :o( I don't think I've even been so sad over a biography before. I've decided to reread Northanger Abbey to cheer myself up. I haven't read it in about 30 years.

Hobb is awesome. Also, try Brandon Sanderson.

Not everyone I've forced it on has liked Robin Hobb, much to my dissapointment. ;) The complaints I've heard about it are that it's a bit slow, and there's too much intrigue without action, that it's too depressing, and that the characters are always making the wrong decisions (which I regard as simply being human).

I still haven't read any of Brandon's books. I must get a hold of Mistborn sometime.

Well, Hobb isn't perfect. I find that she talks things to death and sometimes spends too much time lingering on particular plot points, but her characters are great and if you like political intrigue, it's the next best thing to GRRM.

Oh, yeah, read George RR Martin.

I've never read anything by him either. This has been a good year already for trying new authors. I am deep in An Instance of the Fingerpost, which is really big but reads quickly. I'm SO thankful that I live in today's world, rather than back in the 17th century. The first part is all about the practice of what passed for medicine and just shows how much we have learned since then.

Sandragon - How did you get on with constant gardener?

#163 MrsLee - Is that a novel? historical fiction? or memoirs of Dahl himself? Sounds fun.

#186/187 Hoban as in Riddley Walker ? Not what I'd call sweet fun? or children's books. But it's the only one of his I've read. Very strange. Good though.

I'd certainly recommend Brandon to most people here. To me Hobb is very very different from GRRM or the bits of Jordon I've come across.

I've just finished heavy time and started hellburner

#201 Great book. One of those I wish I could wipe from my memory so I could read the whole thing over without knowing anything.

I finished I.O.U., which was very entertaining considering the subject matter. I don't think I learned anything I didn't already sort of know, except now I understand what CDS's and CDO's are and how they work. Still can't understand how anyone could have missed that they are a bad idea. A very, very bad idea.

Anyhoo, I'm now reading Turn of the Screw. Just give me a ghost story to cheer me up.

#202 - It's a non-fiction, written about not just Dahl, but others too who were in America trying to overcome the isolationist movement by many means. One thing I read about so far, is that they influenced several prominent astrologists to forecast the downfall of Hitler. Apparently, this had an influence on a certain segment of the American population. Sigh.

It is very interesting, as I had no idea that the isolationist party was as large as it was. It names many prominent journalists who were enlisted to help the British cause as well.

I was trying to read The Lacuna but I'm not in a Kingsolver state of mind so it went back to the owner. It took me a while to get into The Poisonwood Bible which tells me I needed to give it more time. Unfortunately I saw a copy of Pillars of the Earth and it reminded me that I never did finish World Without End. Amazingly I found where I left off and to give credit to the author, was able to dive right back into it again!

littlegeek - I'm finished, and it was amazing! Now I have a new author to follow. I just loved it.

MrsLee - I read the Dahl espionage book last year and found it less than entrancing. I wanted a lot excitement more from it. It was disappointing. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

#206 That's the best one that I've read of his, but I do enjoy his Art History mysteries for light reading.

clam you were right about Turn of the Screw. I've never seen so many commas. And hysterical females.

I spent Thursday evening until Friday night with a headache from hell and when the headache started to fade I decided my brain was in no state for hard work. So. I just started to reread the first Foreigner novel, in anticipation of instalment #11, due in May.

My, was Bren naive in that first couple of books! It's almost embarrassing to read...

At the moment I am reading An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon for my "at home" book - large hardback but I am loving it!

My going out book is Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. I picked it up yesterday after I finished The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J K Rowling.

My nonfiction read is The Dawn of Civilisation : Prehistory to 900BC an overview of early civilisations around the world.

These will probably turn out to be February reads but when I've finished the Diana Gabaldon I will be returning to the 75 books challenge group read of World Without End and also Book 2 of Herodotus's Histories for the 1010 Category Challenge group read.

I am "down" with a cold in d'nose which has given me a sinus headache and all I've done so far today is sleep, and flip through some magazines, and read a few threads. I hate sinus headaches. I can not get up the energy to read but I have fallen behind in my schedule to get Wolf Hall finished before my book group discusses it in a month. Gads, I used to read a big book like that in a couple of weeks.

202 - Reading-Fox - The Constant Gardener was a slow read, not meaning it was boring but that it was thoughtful. This is my first Le Carre and not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more spy and espionage, less about a man dealing with grief. I'm not too happy with the ending for Quayle either. But overall, it was a good book.

Maggie1944 - ugh, sorry to hear it's your turn with a cold. Hope your headache goes away quickly.

Busifer - hope yours is all gone too.

I finished Chalice by Robin McKinley and have started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Really good so far.

I've also finished listening to The Green Mile and will go back to listening to The Associate by John Grisham.

#208 - I'd answer you, but I'm too busy having an attack of the vapors. ;o)

He was young when he wrote it, so I am told. (Otherwise I'd say he didn't think too much of women.)

I am now reading The Graveyard Book and it's possibly the best Gaiman ever. And, to answer someone's question, the Kindle edition does have the illustrations. Not too slow to load, either, they must be working on the technology.

>>202 reading_fox:: Hoban is prolific. There are many many many children's books, and yes, he wrote "Riddley Walker," but for gentle Hoban, try "Turtle Diary", and you will be pleased I think.

I'm still plugging away at Kate Elliott's 7 book Crown of Stars series. Ugh. It feels interminable, and yet, I can't stop reading.

214 - Illustrations? I didn't know there were illustrations. This is where audiobooks pale in comparison to paper/ebooks. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed listening to The Graveyard Book.

#217 Yeah, but you get Gaiman reading, which is a singular pleasure.

re #178 - I'm taking Annals of the Former World back to the library unfinished. I can't read more than two sentences before my mind starts to wander, wondering about the actual science behind the author's overuse of every adjective known to man.

I don't think I've read a single book this month. Maybe I'm becoming a non-reader.

fleela, I know what you mean. I really have to push myself these days to read, except threads. I just think I should get credit equal to a big Russian novel for all the 75 book challenge threads I read. Meanwhile, I read 3-4 pages in the Ted Kennedy autobio last night thinking it might go more easily...ha! Fell to sleep. Maybe I should blame the cold in my nose, and my cold meds, more than the book.

edit to correct chronic misspellings

Forget about new books! March over to your shelves and find 2 absolute favorites. Sit down and READ. . . if the first doesn't do it, the second will.

I'm reading The Black Raven in my quest to finally finish the Deverry series. OMG she finally finished it!

I'm also reading Is He or Isn't He, but I'm not completely sure why I'm still reading it. The writing isn't particularly skillful, the plot is typical and the characters are not remotely identifiable. I think I'm just finishing it for finishing's sake.

Wow, Will, just say no! Too many good books out there to bother with the mediocre ones.

I finished - and loved! - Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Another gem heard about first here on LT. Now I'm deep into David O. Mckay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. I'm enjoying it, but it's a little too much detail. They could have used a better editor.

Meh. Our manager just brought us a table-full of motivational books she wants us to read. :( I'm feeling like a rebellious teen.

Oh, boy, I would, too. Pick out the shortest one, and skim it. Or better yet read a LT or Amazon review of it and be able to talk it up. Then, go back to reading what you want. Or, read it during work hours. You should not have to spend your time reading their stuff.

Fleela and Maggie - that is how I was last year - just couldn't seem to get in a reading groove - read barely half of what I usually do in a year - but for whatever reason this Jan. I've been flying through the books :) Maybe we just need a break now and then

Edited to add: oh and currently am reading To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts

224 - Yick! I'm allergic to motivational books! They demotivate me.

226> That book sounds great! I haven't read anything by that author yet so I am adding it to my wishlist.

#226 & 228 - Be sure to check out our group read discussion threads on To Ride Hell's Chasm after you finish it. The author, a fellow Green Dragoner was kind enough to join in the chats. It received a big thumbs up from our group. :)

maggie, that's what I'm doing, skimming them at work in my down time, which is getting much less now, just to see if there is anything I can use. On the plus side, I'm new to being in management (as a paid position, anyway ;), so I am open to learning how to be better at it. I feel frustrated though, in that I'm too tired from my job to read my own pleasure reading books, and now they want me to read those very non-motivating books. Bleh.

#229 - I absolutely detest books like that :(
But you could try Make it so, a book that uses ST:TNG for management lessons ;-)

Inheritor is by my bed at the moment. As with the two before I'm finding it hard to get into working out all the various backstabbing going on without much actually happening but I know I'll enjoy it at the end.

#231 - I think Inheritor is one of the ones that I like the best. It was slow going initially, on the first read. Lots of a-ha moments if reread after having read books 4-8, though.
Presently reading Invader, in this reread session. Will pause after Inheritor, to work on decimating Mount TBR.

# 232 so I was interested by your comment back in #209 that Bren is naive in the first couple of books as to whether he'll be getting less naive now? Also have you finished Green Mars now as you're back on Invader? Or does all the snow in Stockholm just mean you have even more reading time?

#233 - No, not finished Green Mars - honestly I haven't even started it yet. The plan is to read it after I've reread Inheritor (probably later this week).

Regarding Bren - I think he gets dramatically less naive as the series proceeds but in the first couple of books he's still "human", to some extent, while later on he "turns atevi" - something that's problematic in it's own way, as humanity is not just something you can shed... All in all I think the series is interesting in how it explores the culture/language/identity/change complex, and in this it lends itself to rereading - some nuances and implications can only be regarded in retrospect.

As mentioned in another thread, I just minutes ago finished Mortal Danger by Ann Rule. I am fascinated by her treatment of true crime. She identifies so strongly with the victims - especially when domestic violence is motivation. I also enjoy - if that's the right word - the fact that so many of her books are based in her native Northwest US. After my trip to Seattle in 2008, I can very clearly picture the areas she describes.

I am in the middle of Heaven to Betsy by Maud hart Lovelace, reliving my childhood I guess. (No, children, I did NOT grow up at the turn of the last century. I meant that I read all the Betsy books when I was a child.) (Later than the turn of the century.) (MUCH later than the turn of the century.)

ETA: touchstones not working - although they show up in edit mode.

ETA (II): now they are working. Hmmmmm

Just finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro which I thought was an amazing, horrific story. Here's my review:

http://www.librarything.com/review/55562896

I'm just starting Anathem, trying to make sense of the vocabulary, the makeup and the past history of the world. Haven't really gotten into the "meat" of the story yet, but I expect to be spellbound.

#235 don't be too defensive - you needn't specify which century. I could see you as a precocious 10 year old!

My son rhetorically asks me "are you born in the 20th century, or what?!" when he thinks I'm too far off the track ;-)

(I never thought I'd get that old!!!)

I just finished Nick Hornby's Juliet Naked which was ok. I thought it would be humorous. In fact, it was rather dull. I like to escape when I read a book and I wasn't able to. It's a classic Hornby so I should have guessed it would be about relationships going nowhere and men obsessed with musicians.
I have now started and gone through 4 chapters of Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed. It's going to take me sometime to finish this, because so far it's not that exciting. I picked it up because I really enjoyed "I know this Much is true" and "She's come undone."

Thanks, Barry. If you're as old as you feel, my knees are 90 and my brain is 12.

After a longish haitus, I am jumping back into science fiction with House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds.

I'm winding up what developed into a "Hoban Marathon." For my birthday I had gotten five of his books. Not yet finished reading them. Today is Hoban's birthday. Fans (especially in England) make a big deal of this. I'll try to do my part here ~~~ if you have "Frances books" in your kiddy corner, haul one out and share it. OR read a chapter or two of any of the grown-up novels!

There's a February thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/83779

bella + mrslee - love that book :)