What are you reading in March 2010?

Tell us about it!

I actually finished three books today -- guess I was in "finishing" mode: Stormbreaker, The Afterlife, and Impossible. They were all good, but Impossible was the best of the lot.

I finished Enchanted Glass this morning. Thanks for the loan foggi!

I went to Borders yesterday and bought myself some books. I started on Your Hate Mail will be Graded last night and I'm really enjoying it.

I finished reading Juliet Marillier's Child of the Prophecy late last night. This title is really reminding me of the Guenevere series by Rosalind Miles (such as The Child of the Holy Grail) but it's really not like that. I think the closest thing the two series have to each other are being non-modern day and the fact that they both take place between England and Ireland.

I finally finished The Paradise War during a road trip yesterday. It was good. It started off very slow, but it did manage to get its hooks into me eventually. I'll probably try to finish the series some day, but that will have to wait until after my...

Jim Butcher EXTRAVAGAZA!

I'm reading First Lord's Fury right now (well, when I'm not posting), and I've picked up a bunch of the Dresden Files novels that I haven't read yet starting with Death Masks up until Turn Coat because I'm trying to get caught up before Changes is released next month. It's going to be a solid month of Butcher! I don't know when I'm going to have the time to read all this, but I'm going to do my best.

I'm reading The Dragons of Ordinary Farm right now. I'm not sure what to think of it yet. It reminds me a little bit of Fablehaven, but with more impending doom (which one would not expect from the title).

I just finished The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. It was WONDERFUL! (PIANO!)

I'm almost finished my re-read of Sophie's World.

I started reading South of Broad over the weekend and I really like it.

I'm reading The Secret History of the Pink Carnation which has really drawn me in. I hate to think that now I will have to read the entire series!

Later this week will be Dragon Slippers so if people still want to do a group read of it, I will start the thread probably Friday or Monday (I've got a busy weekend ahead).

I've started reading too, El!

I decided to read The Tail of Emily Windsnap to see if I can find something besides Rainbow Fairies for my youngest to read...

I'm reading Heir to Sevenwaters, the last book in the series I've been reading lately. It was only supposed to be a trilogy and the reviews for this book haven't been good so I'm going into it without hoping for something brilliantly amazing.

I finished Deja Demon earlier today. I had been meaning to read it for months.

Almost done with Team of Rivals. I need to start Briar Rose next.

>8 06nwingert:
I got Sophie's World as my SantaThing gift. Looking forward to reading it!

I love old cemeteries, so my husband bought me The American Resting Place. I am loving it so far. It's not morbid, really! It is history, I swear!

16- Ooh, I just read the description for that book. It looks really interesting!

There's nothing morbid about old cemeteries. They are beautiful and extremely interesting.

I'm reading Terrier by Tamora Pierce. I've found it good so far (I"m bout 200 pages in) but not as great as the others. I also just received a notice of an ER book i won: Heartless!!!! I'm really happy, as it's a book I really wanted to read! :o)

I gave up on Dickens. I tried. Anyhoo, the Onion A.V. Club has been reviewing Master and Commander all week and it has made me pine for all things Aubrey/Maturin. I still have 2 books to finish in the series. So, I'm reading The Hundred Days. Which it is the penultimate book, for all love.

I finished Harry, a History which was awesome because it brought back a little of the magic and I could relate to many of Melissa's stories and feelings. I have started on The Secret Garden which I know is a favorite for some of you guys, I hope to enjoy it a lot!

#21 -- Don't forget, we have a discussion thread for Harry, A History, so if you have any specific thoughts on it, you should do a thread resurrection!

I read A School for Sorcery, but I found it disappointing. I liked the main character and the story started off well, but honestly, Tria would never learned! She kept making dumb mistakes all the time. Lots of holes in the plot.

23---> I agree completely. Its a good story, but the end felt rushed.

#23 -- I think I read that a few years ago (pre-LT, because it's not in my catalog), hoping that it would be Harry Potter-like . . . but it wasn't.

>#18: from above ground.

>#20: I'm going to pretend i didn't read that.

Reading Silas Marner and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for the first time. For gawd's sake, gel, stop bawling! And stop talking about your cat to mice and small birds - you need to show some species sensitivity.

I am astounded that you never read Alice's Adventures, MrA. I always thought you were from Wonderland.

Like I am. 8-D

If you like Alice and haven't read The Phantom Tollbooth, I would suggest that next. It's more of a "boy" book anyway. :o)

I'm going to be starting Everwild soon.

I just finished Robin Palmer's new book Little Miss Red. It was a cute light read. I'm sorry to say I hated the message it was trying to convey though. "When it comes to love you must settle for an unloyal bad boy or a boring non-sparkfilled relationship".

Phantom Tollbooth is one of my all time very favorite books!

Lately I've read Dragon Slippers, reread Breaking Dawn, and today I started Catching Fire. It's been sunny and warm-ish (sadly, 42* counts as warm right now) out so I've spent the last two days soaking up every moment of sunshine on the front porch hammock. I have to wear a sweatshirt to stay warm enough, but I can't be picky right now.

29 - I misread that to say "a boring non-sparkly relationship. I myself am a big fan on non-sparkly relationships.

#31 - I did too... funny that.

Just finished First Lord's Fury which was every bit as good as I was expecting and a fantastic ending to an incredible series. I only hope that Jim Butcher writes more in that universe. Don't now if he has anything to add to it, but I hope he does.

Next up I'm going o start Death Masks because I need to get caught up with Butcher's other series. I'm hoping that this one will go faster, but I'm not expecting it to. *sigh* The problem with having a full-time job is that it eats into my reading time so…

#27 jp:
My mother and I were discussing Alice in Wonderland earlier today and I had made that same book recommendation. I feel there are similarities as well.

I'm now carrying Austen's Emma in my bag to read. I probably can't start it until tomorrow night. As for those reviews of Heir to Sevenwaters, I disagree entirely. It was a very good book. I'm looking forward to reading other works by Marillier.

Finished Wolf Hall, which was good, and Tales from Outer Suburbia, another work of quirky brilliance from Shaun Tan. Just started The Ask and the Answer, the sequel to The Knife of Never Letting Go, and Freedom, the sequel to the cyberthriller Daemon.

I finished Catching Fire! That series is so ... intense.

I finished Right is Wronglast night and went to the library this afternoon to pickup Fair Game by Valerie Plame. Since I don't have lots of school work, I'm trying to read more and lower my tbr list, most of which are political books.

just started reading my January Early Reviewer book Island of Betrayal and so far I am a bit disappointed. It's a decent size book so I hope for my sake it gets better, I read Terminal Neglect a couple weeks ago and that one was awful, and I just finished Last Snow which was decent, but had a couple problems, so I could really use a GOOD book.

I read Feline Friends: A Cat Lover's Treasury, half of The Dangerous Book for Cats (which oddly links to a book called Spam by Spam?), and a couple of chapters of Austen's Emma today.

I've set aside Possession as it just wasn't grabbing me, and have become thoroughly engrossed in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (no touchstone). It is a fascinating account of the development of the first immortal human cells grown in labs - HeLa - and the life story of the woman whose cells HeLa grew from. I'm only halfway finished, but I can already highly recommend this book!

Suge must be speachless. Or the book she's reading is invisible. That must make it a challenge. ;)

#38 -- I think The Devious Book for Cats will touchstone to the right work. Spam by Spam is a catchall for the combiners -- rather than having a lot of fake books by spammers trying to advertise a product, they combine it into one to keep it contained. I guess there are the words "Dangerous" "Book" and "Cats" in the 'works' combined into Spam, so the touchstone went there.

Currently I'm reading CoS (yes still-I'm reading it at night when I'm in bed). I'm also working on The Second Siege.

I just got 2 new books that I'll be reading next. One is the Percy Jackson Ultimate Guide, and the other is the 1st 39 Clues book.

I'm now reading Children of Men. I do so love how the English turn a phrase. Americans can do snappy, but the Brits flow.

LOL I don't even know how that happened! Kirby, I wouldnt put it past myself to try to read an invisible book. I think my family has been expecting that for years.

I can't remember what I wanted to say in the post above.... Probably something sensational and marvelous and breathtaking... about what I'm reading now? In March? Who knows.... Well now that I have you here: I just finished Persuassion, which was picked up after an extensive and dangerous Austen Film binge, an immersion so deep, that I sort of surprised and dissapointed that didn't wake up in the 19th century, like in Confessions of a Jane Austen whasit. I'm still toiling through War and Peace, Muerte de Nadie and the odious Otherworldies. I can't get on at all!

I've been thinking of starting a new blog for awhile, one where I blog while I reread HP. I finally started the blog and wrote an introductory post. If anyone's interested: http://thoughtsonharrypotter.blogspot.com/

Still intend to join in when we do a group reread as well of course.

Bib, I'm in the middle of my HP re-read, too; working on GoF right now :) Will *try* to pop over now and again to check out the new blog!

I'm reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie -- I love the movie, so I thought I would read the book . . . and I'm loving it, too.

Bib (#46)- I've been thinking about starting a blog for awhile, too. Yesterday, my journalism teacher gave us an interesting assignment: create a blog and write about journalism, media ethics and editing. I'm also including some political posts and books reviews. I made it this morning, and I am still working on it. http://rationaljournalist.wordpress.com/

#42 foggi:
Thanks! You've just reminded me parts of titles will tag sometimes. I didn't think to do that! :)

Test:
The Dangerous Book for Cats

Now I feel like slapping my forehead. Heehee. ;)

Just started The Missing by Chris Mooney

I'm reading a book of short stories by Ray Bradbury, The Cat's Pajamas: Stories and I now remember why I don't read many short story collections. I'm not as committed to finishing it since I can finish one story in one sitting.

Just think of each story as a chapter instead of as a story! ;)

Memories of the Future - Volume 1, apparently I'm the only one who owns it, which I find surprising. It's Wil Wheaton writing about the first half of the first season of ST:TNG, he's currently working on Volume 2. I read a preview of it and it was awesome.

I am reading Ireland's Pirate Queen: The True Story of Grace O' Malley It's a little denser than I figured so it might take me a while to wade through it, and of course there is a lot of Gaelic in it, so I'm not even sure how to pronounce some of it. It's fairly interesting so far.

I'm reading the third book in the Fablehaven series: Grip of the Shadow Plague. I think I picked up the series on Laia's recommendation (thanks, Laia!) and it's a lot of fun. I have the fourth book checked out, but have several other books I want to read, too, so I don't know which I'll read next.

foggi, I'm glad you're enjoying them! The first three are great, but the fourth book is far and away the best so far. Not to try and convince you that you *have* to read that next - just throwing it out there ;)

Rachel's finishing up In Cold Blood and I'm nearing the end(ish) of HP 5; we've got a list of books we want to read together (and several of which we own two copies, since one of us recommended it to the other before we lived together), and I think we may start with The Book Thief. Also on the list are Memoirs of a Geisha, Mayor of Castro Street, and Ender's Game, though, so who knows which will be next. I'll continue with the HP series when I'm not at home, though; I can't believe I'm only on GoF and it's March!!!

I finished His Excellency George Washington and Garden Spells while I was in Arizona and started The Alchemyst. It seems like I kept seeing that book everywhere, so I'm glad I finally picked it up, but for some reason, it just wasn't holding my attention for long.

I just started a book called Warbreaker and it is a really intriguing fantasy - good set up, good world building, good characters. I've heard plenty of good things about the author (Brandon Sanderson) but this is the first book of his I've read.

And just in case my TBR pile didn't hate me enough, I hit a Scholastic book fair last night (over $80 worth of books for $11 - really, was there any way I could resist??) Along with a bunch of gifts for nieces, nephews and friends I picked up Everlost, The Bad Beginning, The Seekers series, a few of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole books, The Seer of Shadows, An Abundance of Katherines, The Hunger Games, and a few others. (Did I mention I only spent $11?) If anyone has any input on ones they loved, I'll be sure to jump them to the top of the TBR stack. And if anyone has any input on how not to go crazy buying bargain books, I'll happily accept that too. ;)

Wow, El! Good score! SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALLLL THE LUCK, SIGGGGGGH! :) I Definitely, definitely recommend An Abundance of Katherines, John Green is a god, also The Hunger Games, the series is soooo addicting.

Still working away at War and Peace and Muerte de Nadie, I've also picked up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies---hope I don't regret it for the rest of my days.

#59 $11?! That's amazing and soooo worth it! I read Everlost and I really liked it but it started off a bit slow for me. Then I got into it. :)

I'm still working on Huck Finn. I've read 5 paragraphs now. Lol, it's going a bit slow...

El, with a deal like that, there is no strategy for not going crazy. ;)

I managed to walk out of the book fair without anything in my hand. I do have 2 books set back to purchase next week, but I didn't impulse buy! We were supposed to go and do our wishlist for parents/students, and I always find lots of stuff. This time not so much. I requested about 5 different non-fiction books. We'll see if I get any. Most were $5 or less. One was $15, so I bet I won't get that one. That's okay.

#59...what a deal!! I don't think I could have resisted either!

#57 -- I did go with Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, and you're right, it was very good. I'm really glad that the fifth book comes out soon, though!

Now I'm debating what to read next. Again. I have a lot of things I could read, but nothing is jumping out at me.

I finished The Alchemyst. It seemed like this one got a lot of publicity and word of mouth, but I didn't think it was that great. I didn't hate it, but I won't be reading more in the series. I was a little upset by the way the twins are treated by all the adults, like they are pawns and they have no control over anything.

#66 -- I read that a while back, so the details are fuzzy in my mind, but I do remember that I didn't care for it enough to continue on with the series.

I'm reading A Proper Pursuit, which I bought to send to my mother, but it sounded interesting so I thought I would read it first. ;-) Straightening my bookshelves today reminded me that I have many, many books in my TBR pile (now a TBR shelf! . . . well, shelves) that I very much want to read.

About to start Whispers of the Dead by Simon Beckett

Picked up Nightlight last night. So far it's just a little funny, like an annoyingly funny friend.

I finished Childhood's End Friday at work, The Anubis Gates on Saturday at home and I'm reading Club Dead, the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

I'm reading The Great Gatsby for the first time, and Rachel and I decided to read The Mayor of Castro Street, so I'll probably start that one tonight.

I'm back home for spring break and have finished two books, my ER, He Crashed Me, So I Crashed Him Back and a re-read of Harry Potter Should Have Died. I'm having a hard time figuring out what to read next, though. Possibly re-reads of Goblet of Fire or His Dark Materials.

This month for school I have read Fences, Death of a Salesman, and Heart of Darkness. On my own I'm currently reading The Last Secret of the Temple and Half the Sky

I finished Terrier and am now doing a reread of DH. I can't believe I've forgotten so much from the book! I also started making my way through Bloodhound but that's probably not gonna get finished for a while.

73 - I really enjoyed Heart of Darkness when I first read it, but I reread it last year and I didn't feel quite the same. I'm not sure why.

>75 cmbohn:- I must say it intrigued me but left me slightly dazed and confused. Though my english teacher says it should have raised more questions rather than answers.

Last night I finished a reread of The Secret Garden. I love reading it in the spring! Today I am going to start Half Broke Horses. I really liked The Glass Castle that was by the same author.

I am reading The Line of Beauty. Plus, I'm working my way through Musicophilia as my bathroom reading. Fascinating stuff.

Just lately, I've read Magic Below Stairs, which was quite good, and Wake and Very Lefreak, which were quite mediocre.

98% of my books are packed so I'm feeling rather humdrum.. but I've been squirrriling books away that I was supposed to have packed already, but just before I put them in the box, I might read the back and say "Wow! That sounds interesting! How come I haven't read that before?" and I am hit with a sudden, overwhelming desire to read them. I shouldn't read book backs while pack...

I'm re-reading: Alice in Wonderland, Angus, Thongs, and FullFrontal Snogging

Reading: Edge of Twilight, War and Peace and Muerte de (freaking) Nadie... sigh.

Finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks this morning and it was phenomenal. Cannot recommend this highly enough!

I have no clue what will be up next, or when over the next few days I'll find time to start whatever it is I decide to read...

I finished Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker and absolutely loved it. If anyone's looking for a standalone epic fantasy book I highly recommend it - wonderful characters, great world building, intriguing plot.

Next up for me is my Feb Early Reviewer book, She Walks in Beauty. So far it's mediocre - I think I like the setting (1870's New York) more than the protagonist. We'll see how the story goes.

Suge why are they packed? Where are you going? I clearly haven't caught up yet on all the threads.

I am still reading dramaturgy stuff but I did pick up the follow up to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag which features an eleven-year-old British girl solving mysteries in the 1950s. They are pretty splendid.

Not that she can't answer for herself, but as she's not here and I am and I know the answer...suge is moving back to the Dominican Republic.

Later today I will be starting The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Aberystwyth by Malcolm Pryce.

Last night I finished Splendor, which I started last month, but then I sent the book to Mom, so I had to wait for a library copy to some in. I thought it was an interesting way of wrapping up the series -- won't say more in case anyone is reading this who doesn't want to be spoiled.

Several other library books came in for me, so now I have a dilemma as to what to read next.

Right now, I'm not really reading any fiction, which for me, is unusual. I've been reading up on gardening. I want to grow a vegetable garden this year and am trying to figure out the best way to do it without biting off more than I can chew. 8)

I just finished a book called "The Day The Falls Stood Still"

It is by Cathy Marie Buchanan and is a love story with a lot of the history of the power plants that diminished Niagara Falls.

I liked Half Broke Horses, but The Glass Castle is better.

I am going to start The Dragon of Trelian tonight.

Ohh, Compski, I loved Dragon of Trelian. :)

El, I have heard good things about Warbreaker and I've read Elantris and liked it. The cover of Warbreaker always made me hesitate. But I suppose I should read it!

I read my early reviewer book, Heartless, and liked it very much. It's a dragon book, and a bit different than most I've read.

I also reread SS (Bib, I'm not as disciplined as you -- once I started it, I finished it).

And I read Spinners which I liked but not as much as I thought I would. I thought it too close to the real fairy tale to be a retelling. It was more like an expansion, explaining motivations and such. But not much changed from the normal story.

I just finished Scarlett Fever, the sequel to Suite Scarlett. It was as fun and funny as the first book, though it ended on a cliffhanger. *sigh*

Now I have to reread The Secret Garden, I think, because it's been referenced so much lately on various threads.

finished the Alices (what silly books!), almost finished The Woodlanders (curse picking up books in holiday homes!), started Mortal Engines . Like the opening line:
It was a dark, blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea."

Edited to close link

84--> Bib, thanks! I couldn't have said it better!

YES, MAR! I'M MOVING TO THE DR! *does little dance*

I've decided to push my date back by two weeks because as usual I can't get my act together and have procrastinated and I still have a million and ten things to do.... sigh. So I'm now thinking mid April for my move. sigh. ho hum, hi-ho.

#93: Is visiting us one of the things? :o)

#94---> Top of the list, JP!

I'm reding two books right now but not really into either one

One is a collection of short stories about Animal mysteries and the other is about a guy who decides to traverse Ireland with a donkey.
Both are mildly entertaining

*Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!!*

I have FINALLY finished my ER, The Whole Wide Beauty. It should NOT have taken me this long, but I just couldn't get into it. And now I've got to figure out what to say about it in my review. I just....I don't know. one thing that really annoyed me was poor geography of London. And the author is english, and should really have known better. I think that's where she lost me.

I just started The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu only to realize that it's the second book in the series. I think I will read it anyway. Interesting so far.

I'm reading my ER book One Good Dog

#90 - Yeah the cover is weird and truthfully I almost didn't read it because it didn't look that good and it was really long, but it definitely hooked me. I haven't read any other Sanderson stuff, but the world-building was awesome and the characters were great. Ignore the cover and give it a chance!!

I finished The Secret Garden today (which was great, as always), and then I read Fat Cat, which I found slightly disappointing. I really loved Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature by the same author, but this one was just not as compelling. It felt like it was trying to do too many things, like a science experiment with too many variables.

I just finished spending the day reading Shiver for my book group. The meeting is tomorrow, and I had meant to start it on Sunday but forgot. Monday ended up being crazy busy, so today I was rushing to read it. Thank goodness I read fast. ;)

#102 cat:
What do you think of Shiver? Do you like it?

I'm going to be putting aside Emma to reread Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck while my mother reads our copy of Bite Me. Then, I will happily get to read it, too. Hmm, I've just remembered that I don't like reading books after her. She spoils. I must plug my ears.

Edited to fix a link.

103- I liked it, I thought it was a sweet romancey book. It made me want to look for more poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke. I liked that it was told from the werewolf's perspective, as well as the girl's perspective. Portions of it reminded me of Scarlet Moon (A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood), which was a really good book. Shiver also had an interesting way of redoing the werewolf mythology, I don't think I've ever seen it done the same way.

Thanks, cat! I was curious about it but wondered if it was too much like other books I've read. New mythology stories are wonderful and I like retelling of fairy tales so I just might read it, too. :)

As far as I know it wasn't a retelling of any fairy tales, but it was a nice romance.

#104> I seem to remember someone telling me she couldn't do reviews. Now who could that be...

Of course you can write reviews, cat!

About to start Ghost Train by Stephen Laws

"The Magic is in Me!" I finished The Secret Garden yesterday night and I thought it was wonderful!....and now I am reading El Quinto Mago (The Fifth Magician) a book a friend of mine is begging me to read (it's like the third book he has ever read entirely in his life and he would like to comment on it)

107 & 108- Okay, okay, I can write reviews. I just forget to write them. *blushes*

Stop peer preassuring cat into reviewing stuff!

I'm re-reading Are These My Basoomas I see before me?

Foggi, I also loved and other freaks of nature. I dind't know the author had another book out! Ah, what is LT for if not to expand my book wishlist with each visit?

That reminds me! I haven't written the review for my early reviewer book yet.

112- Thanks suge, I can always count on you. ;)

I finished The Last Secret of the Temple and have finally held back me repulsion for the Twilight Saga and am going to read Breaking Dawn just so I can say I read the whole series and won't feel out of the loop when people talk about the series. I'm not expecting much, but several people have told me that it's their favorite in the series, *crosses fingers* Let's hope for the best...

#113 - Nor me!

Ah, cat it is what pals do :)

I have finished the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. It is very good. I enjoyed it very much. I am sure to be waiting exicitedly for the next one! I hhave no clue what to read next though!

Just starting on Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs

I just finished Maid of Murder which was a cute mystery that I got a review copy of from the author. It was really cool in that it was a story centered around a smart, creative, single female but it wasn't about her seeking a man or falling in love. I kinda wish more books did that.

Next up for me is The Traitor's Gate by my favorite YA author Avi. :) It's a Dickens-style historical fiction and so far it's pretty good.

I finished The Mysterious Benedict Society which I loved, and The Cat's Pajamas which was good but I had to read the last part faster than I usually read since the book needed to be returned to the library. I learned that when I try to read very fast (without hearing the words in my head) I hold my breath. I almost passed out trying to finish it.

Now I'm reading This Book is Overdue, which I hope I can finish well before it is due. :o)

84 and 93 Wow Suge, that sounds fantastic! I am glad you are excited about it. Any plans for what you will be doing in the Dominican Republic? I went to finish The Kingdom of Carbonel and found the bookmark that K made for me in our gift exchange which had cats on it no less. I was magical to find it.

Now you have to read the other Benedict society books. The Traitor's Gate sounds interesting!

JP, I'm glad you liked Benedict Society! There are two more, Perilous Journey is next. I love the series. Great characters.

I'm trying to get into Dead Beat. I know I'm going to love it, but there are so many non-book things going on that I don't know if I'll be able to get into it or not. Maybe I'll spend this evening with the book.

RE: Warbreaker, I really liked it, but it was definitely not as complex as the other fantasy I've read by him. As with all of Sanderson's books, though, it has fantastic characters and a wonderful system of magic. I kept thinking the entire time I was reading it that it was the kind of book that would make a fantastic graphic novel or manga.

That said, I think Elantris and the Mistborn trilogy are fantastic, some of the best epic fantasy being written by a living author. I highly recommend them if you liked Warbreaker. I can hardly wait for The Way of Kings to come out this year. If he does a signing in KY again I have to make it this time.

I finished The Line of Beauty and liked it. Now I don't know what to read, but it might be the new Chris Moore, Bite Me.

I finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. After a slow start to the book, I began to really enjoy it and now I'm so glad I read it. There was a part early in the book where Norrell creates this whole flotilla of ships created from rain. I just loved the whole idea.

I finished The Traitor's Gate and did enjoy it - you could call it Avi's tribute to Dickens.

Next up for me is Fool by Christopher Moore which I'm hoping to finish before going to see him at a book signing tomorrow!!! *happy dance*

I love The Dragon of Trelian! Our school media specialist is ordering it for the library.

I decided to reread Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal in honor of Easter. I am so jealous you get to go to a Christopher Moore book signing, El! ETA: I have already laughed out loud three times and that was only in the first chapter!

I put down The Daughter of Time unfinished and picked up Dead to the World. This series is so much fun to read!

I've been reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything for several days now, and I'm enjoying it. I wish it moved a tad faster, but I've also only had time to read in little snatches, so the pacing issue may be more a fault of the reader than the writer.

I really need to start reading Sarah's Key for my book club, but the library copy I reserved still isn't in. It's starting to look like I'll need to buy a copy...

Grk, when your son is older, there is a children's version of Bill Bryson's book. :o)

Ooh, good to know JP, thanks! I attended a panel discussion at work yesterday afternoon on women in science, and heard about the various outreach opportunities our faculty are doing for middle and high school kids in the area and it got me super excited about teaching Rex all about science!! The children's version of Bryson's book will definitely help :o)

I finished Dead to the World already and I'm going to start my ER The Dogs of Rome.

This should probably go on the good news/bad news thread but I'm stuck at work and probably won't get to see Christopher Moore tonight. :(

#134 Oh, el, go anyway! One of the best authors to see live. He's funny and personable.

#126...I enjoyed that book also!

I am currently reading The Blythes are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery. I am having a difficult time putting it down.

#134 - The event started at 7 and the earliest I would have made it would have been 8:30. I suppose I still could have said hi and gotten a book signed but I was pretty wiped out from a very crazy day so I opted for putting my feet up at home and watching Lost. Hopefully he'll come back to the area.

On a related note, I'm almost done with Fool. Decent, but not my favorite Moore work. I think if he'd gone a little more high-brow with the Shakespeare humor I'd like it more.

#137 You'll see him next time. I agree that Fool could have been better. I'm reading Bite Me now, and it's pretty fun. I still think Lamb, The Stupidest Angel and A Dirty Job are my favs.

#122 Maren:
I'm glad you like it. There's nothing like finding a surprise in a book. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you to look inside it for the bookmark I made! :)

I finished reading Bite Me this afternoon. It was so good! Fool's in my TBR pile. I want to read King Lear for the first time before reading that.

Last night I finished The Second Siege, which ended weirdly. I've only read a few books that could pull off a disappointing ending. This one was close.
Last night I also finished my re(re,re,re..)read of Chamber of Secrets. The next quick book I plan to pick up is 39 clues.

#138 - I'll have to read A Dirty Job, Lamb and Stupidest Angel are my favorites of his too!

I'm still reading This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, which is now overdue (stoopid shortened due dates for new books). Question for the librarians in the audience...Book Cart Drills? Have any of you seen these at your library conventions? Because they sound awesome!

I am reading Theodore Rex right now. It's going a lot faster now that I've given myself permission to skim through some parts. It just wasn't capturing my attention. I'm getting a clear picture of Roosevelt himself, but the other people are more outlines that real pictures.

#142 -- I know of them, but have never actually observed one.