Alexi Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I finally finished American Gods! Nearly three weeks that has taken me. Planning to spend some time this weekend updating lists and working way through ReviewsOfDoom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 16 hours ago, Alexi said: I finally finished American Gods! Nearly three weeks that has taken me. Did you like it? 16 hours ago, Alexi said: Planning to spend some time this weekend updating lists and working way through ReviewsOfDoom. Lol . Good luck ! I finished my previous book yesterday, but am not sure yet what I want to read next. I've got some other things planned for today, so I might not pick another book until tomorrow. I'm a mood reader, so will see what I feel in the mood for later. I'm still not entirely out of my reading slump unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Two books finished in quick order in the last day or so, both started whilst away on holiday in the Hebrides. One on the Kindle - Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie, a series of short essays that I could read in bed (after lights out!), and the other in paperback - Sea Room by Adam Nicolson, all about the Shiants, a small group of islands just off the coast of Harris/Lewis, and almost visible from where we were staying for the second half of the holiday. A brilliant holiday, and two excellent books, both on 5 stars. A bit of a loss as to what to go onto next, but have provisionally plumped for some more short essays, this time A Point of View by the late and great polymath, Lisa Jardine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 I'm nearly halfway through The Burning, a DC Meave Kerrigan crime thriller by Jane Casey. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the title character or her colleagues yet, but the writing is very good and I'm enjoying the story, so will definitely continue with the series. There's six books in this series, so I'm glad I'm enjoying it as the other two series I've enjoyed recently (Maggie Neville and Matilda Darke) have only 1 and 3 books respectively so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 I finished The Go-Between yesterday, and that completes my English Counties challenge! My main challenge now is to try and reduce my TBR a bit more, and keep it somewhere around the 10-15 books. Currently at 38, so hopefully shouldn't take too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 I'm reading two books at the moment. The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett which falls under neuropsychology. And for a lighter touch, I'm also reading After You by Jojo Moyes. I'm still drastically behind on reviews...I have no idea what is going on but I just find it hard to motivate myself to write them. I'm still reading though, so that's the main thing I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirley Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Finally finished reading the Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry. I did enjoy this one Now moved onto Under a Cornish Sky by Liz Penwick and The Muse by Jessie Burton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 I'm just about to start The Muse too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted August 22, 2017 Author Share Posted August 22, 2017 I'm reading V. E. Schwab - Shades of Magic 1: A Darker Shade of Magic. So far I'm liking it a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Been a bit slow in my reading - nearing the end of The Burning and really enjoying it. Can't wait to read the rest of the series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Had a couple of days of sitting and waiting, so have been devouring books and have finished four books - Storm in a Teacup and The Persephone Book of Short Stories both of which I was already over half way through, then today I've read Cream Buns and Crime by Robin Stevens and The Long and Short of It by Jodi Taylor (which is a collection of short stories which had mostly initially been available as audiobooks, but collected together with a brand new story, so I whizzed through most of it having read/listened to most of them before). The new Chronicles of St. Mary's is out on Thursday, so the short stories were a nice settling into the world again before I start the new one which I've pre-ordered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Lisa Jardine lived up to all expectations, A Point of View being a collection of thought provoking essays from the eponymous Radio Four programe. They are a little bit dated, mostly from around 2006, but most still have something strong to say about life and events today. 5*. Have now moved on to Peter Clarke's The Timeless Way, in which he puts together a walk the length of the Outer Hebrides based on old tracks and ways. Interested as have just returned from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Decided to give the police procedurals a break for a little while - they're a bit like fast food, they're the easier option in terms of time and they do satisfy a craving, but rarely as satisfying as something that requires a bit more effort. So, I'm reading Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist which so far I'm enjoying a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 3 hours ago, Nollaig said: So, I'm reading Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist which so far I'm enjoying a lot. I keep seeing this at the library and can't decide whether to give it a go! I'm now reading We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson. I'm intrigued so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 7 minutes ago, bobblybear said: I keep seeing this at the library and can't decide whether to give it a go! I'm a quarter of the way through, and so far it's almost entirely not about the disappearance mentioned on the cover. It's about people related to them, mostly recounting their histories from long before the disappeared person was born. Fortunately, though it's quite rambling and doing little more than telling you about these people, it's beautifully written and the people are super interesting, so I'm thoroughly enjoying it! I will report back when it's finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 Still reading A Change of Climate by Hilary Mantel. I'm almost two-thirds way of the through it. It's good, but slow-moving and bleak, so I'm reading it in small chunks. When I finally finish it, it'll be September -- which means I'll be diving back into my murder mysteries for the onset of autumn! Wahooo! Agatha Christie (et al), here I come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lau_Lou Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 My reading has slowed down a bit. I am hoping to get the books I am currently reading finished by the end of August. I am in the mood for some history/historical fiction. My girl Philippa Gregory I think and want to try a new author Alison Weir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Pixie Posted August 26, 2017 Share Posted August 26, 2017 3 hours ago, Lau_Lou said: My reading has slowed down a bit. I am hoping to get the books I am currently reading finished by the end of August. I am in the mood for some history/historical fiction. My girl Philippa Gregory I think and want to try a new author Alison Weir. I read Alison Weir' s The Lady Elizabeth ( oslt ), and quite enjoyed it ( but not as much as the superb P.G. I'm up to page 174 of The Goldfinch by Donna Tarry. It's great so far, but I'm still feeling the loss of my reading mono. Hopefully reading something so good will restart my reading engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 I finished Harbour. While there was a lot I loved about it (the writing, characters, setting, concept), it was reeeeeeally drawn out and kept jumping from present day to the past to fill in the gaps about what's happening in the community. It seemed to take a very lot time to tell, essentially, quite a simple story. And it was enjoyable, but not very rewarding, ultimately. So I only gave it 3 stars. (@bobblybear) Yesterday I started Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas. Read just over half of it yesterday, really enjoying it. A few cliches, but I'm as clueless as the characters about what's happening and why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Have gone a bit mad with book buying recently, with a special deal on Georgette Heyer books on Kindle and then a trip to the book shop on Saturday, my TBR is back up over 50, but I'm not bothered. I'll start working my way through them again and see how I get on. Books bought are: A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer Charity Gril by Georgette Heyer Cotillion by Georgette Heyer Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer Sylvester by Georgette Heyer The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore Freshers by Tom Ellen & Lucy Ivison Indigo Donut by Patrice Lawrence Lockwood & Co: The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud The Huntress: Sea by Sarah Driver I'm going to an event with Ali Smith and Kamila Shamsie later in the year, and I've never read any of Kamila's books, so I've also just downloaded Home Fire which is one of the books they'll be discussing, so I'll be a bit more informed before the talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 (edited) Rattled through three or four books in the last few days, all of them pretty short, including The Timeless Way by Peter Clarke, More About Paddington (read for the Popsugar challenge category, a previously read book guaranteed to raise a smile - more like an out and out howl of laughter!), and The Bridges of Madison County. Now a change of pace, as have started Arnold Bennett's chunky Clayhanger, this month's choice for my book group - to be discussed next Monday! Edited August 28, 2017 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirley Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 A long weekend and I hardly read anything, seem to have slowed down on my reading for some reason, cannot say I am doing anything else to replace it. It had to happen I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Finished Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas, really enjoyed it. Quite original, and while I did guess one twist, I didn't guess another two. Loved the ending. Now halfway through Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I'm generally reluctant to read books about unusual individuals, as I usually don't get along with these books. Eleanor is funny, I've laughed out loud a few times. But as with many of these kinds of characters, she comes across almost as a caricature of someone who isn't 'stereotypically normal' and as such is a source of amusement for the reader. I can relate to the majority of her attitudes and her social attitudes, so apart from her exaggerated lack of social skills, her way of speaking and the obvious impact of her past, she's not that odd to me! She's more social at work than I am! I like Raymond, though. Interested to see where the book goes, but can't imagine it'll be more than a 3 star read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 (edited) On 8/26/2017 at 3:45 PM, Little Pixie said: I read Alison Weir' s The Lady Elizabeth ( oslt ), and quite enjoyed it ( but not as much as the superb P.G. I have to agree about PG vs AW. I have never liked AW's historical fiction. As a historian, she is amazing. But PG is great with the historical fiction. Hi everyone! I've missed you all! I am back to reading and with Athena's encouragement, I decided to come back Recently, I have finished a few re reads, like Memiors of a Geisha and Only Ever Yours by Louise O'neil. Some new ones I enjoyed were Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, which I read as an Immersion Reading book. That got me interested in mountain climbing books- this is totally NOT me at all lol- and I also enjoyed K2: The Savage Mountain by Charles Houston and Robert Bates. One of my next reads will also be about a K2 climb (one of the worlds 14, 8,000 meter mountains (28,000 feet). They are the highest in the world- topped by Everest- but K2 is more deadly. It is in Pakistan). Right now I am reading No god, But God by Reza Aslan, about the Muslim faith and also Get Well Soon by Jennifer Wright, about plagues and illnesses that have afflicted civilization. Good to "see" everyone again Edited August 29, 2017 by Anna Begins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 2 hours ago, Nollaig said: But as with many of these kinds of characters, she comes across almost as a caricature of someone who isn't 'stereotypically normal' and as such is a source of amusement for the reader. Yes, that was one of the problems I had with the book. Playing Eleanor for crass laughs seemed a bit "off" to me, to be honest. (That, and the utter predictability of the plot!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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