What book are you currently reading?

Katelyn Leclerq wrote:

Paul wrote:

Well, I am 1000 pages into Les Miserables. It seems to be taking me forever to chug through this book. I do enjoy the story, but when Hugo goes off on one of his many tangents it really bogs things down and my interest wanes. Still, I will finish it. I find it interesting, concerning the romance between Marius and Cosette, how stalking is considered an acceptable part of courtship. If Marius did this today he would have a restraining order slapped on him.

Hugo does tend to do that. What is he blathering on about? Still architecture?

Actually, all sorts of things, from a detailed description of the battle of Waterloo to the history of convents to argot (slang) to How To Build A Better Barricade to...and, yes, some architecture as well.

I borrowed a book from one of my teachers called Lies My Teacher Told Me. It's actually really interesting. He's read through twelve high school American History textbooks, and starting from Christopher Columbus, he goes through everything these books either decided not to mention or just plain got the facts wrong. I'm only on the second chapter, and already I can see how many events were tampered with in order to make the Unites States look forever brave and blameless.

Jane wrote:

I borrowed a book from one of my teachers called Lies My Teacher Told Me. It's actually really interesting. He's read through twelve high school American History textbooks, and starting from Christopher Columbus, he goes through everything these books either decided not to mention or just plain got the facts wrong. I'm only on the second chapter, and already I can see how many events were tampered with in order to make the Unites States look forever brave and blameless.

Whoever wins the wars writes the books. So mostly, we write the books.
It really makes me wonder how much I've missed and how much I think I know and don't.

I'm not reading a novel right now, but I'm slowly working my way through Simon Schama's "American Future: A History". History, mostly religious and political.
Beautifully written and wickedly wry, the piece is fascinating. I highly recommend it.
Also working through G K Chesterton's The Innocence of Father Brown.
I'm thinking about reading some Dorothy Sayer's stuff after reading an article about her. Can you recommend anything?

On a off topic note, I watched INglorious Bastereds last night, and hated it.

I finished Les Miserables last night! Yay!

The story was excellent. Hugo's characters are amazingly drawn. If only he wouldn't go off on so many tangents! The last tangent involved Parisian sewers.

Now I have my sights set on "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. I've been wanting to read that one for a while.

I finished Anne of Ingleside last night. It's not really the best Anne book in the series, I was kind of shocked to read about Anne Shirley of all people becoming an insecure, jealous and bad-tempered hussy.

Now I'm on to Rainbow Valley of the same series. But what I really want to get to is Rilla of Ingleside because the story about war seems so interesting...and the children are all grown up!

I've been reading a lot of Maureen Johnson books recently, because she took John Green's place on vlogbrothers while he was on paternity leave, and she was incredibly funny and gave great advice, and I felt as though I owed it to her. So far, I've read Suite Scarlett, The Key to the Golden Firebird, and The Bermudez Triangle, all of which are fun and clever, but still very moving.

Cormac McCarthy is phenomenal. I have never read more intense, unflinching, stark prose. "No Country for Old Men", "The Road", and now "Blood Meridian" are among my favorite books. I cannot wait until I get ahold of the three novels that make up "The Border Trilogy". This is strong stuff, unconventionally written (no quotation marks for dialogue), but highly recommended.

I'm almost done with Sophie Kinsella's "Twenties Girl" (it was time for some light reading again). I really like it, although it is largely like her other novels, and the development is pretty easy to predict.

Grace wrote:

I'm almost done with Sophie Kinsella's "Twenties Girl" (it was time for some light reading again). I really like it, although it is largely like her other novels, and the development is pretty easy to predict.

I always get some form of amusement/pleaure when intelligent people read novels they know don't count for much. I don't know why, it just amuses me. I hate it when my sister does that, though. Primarily because I'm trying to get her to read books I may consider in the future, and am looking for a reliable review from someone I know.

I'm currently reading Lolita and The Count of Monte Cristo. I've been a bit slow with Lolita, but am loving every step of Alexander's masterpiece. The only downside is that the story has been translated and is therefore lacking a clear tinge that some authors stamp their work with. If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about, read Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I've always had a weakness for some children's literature, like Potter, Carroll, Lewis, Seuss.
I'm highly interested in Les Miserables. How was it? Was it well worth it, with the tangents? I missed The Hunchback of Notre Dame's group reading, but I plan to get around to it sometime in the next 5 years, and perhaps Les Miserables when I retire. I'm interested to know if you considered it to be worth the deviations from the plot, or not...

Nolofinwe wrote:

Grace wrote:

I'm almost done with Sophie Kinsella's "Twenties Girl" (it was time for some light reading again). I really like it, although it is largely like her other novels, and the development is pretty easy to predict.

I always get some form of amusement/pleaure when intelligent people read novels they know don't count for much. I don't know why, it just amuses me. I hate it when my sister does that, though. Primarily because I'm trying to get her to read books I may consider in the future, and am looking for a reliable review from someone I know.

Well, I finished it, and it was just what I needed - a bit of simple fun *gg* Sometimes I just need a proper dose of chicklit.

Having recently finished Never Let Me Go, I'm inbetween books at the moment. I read a few pages of A River Runs Through It, a couple more of The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Both seem good, but I've just been so occupied that I haven't really gotten into either. I should work on that.

Spring break begins on Friday. If I'm too drained to read tomorrow and/or Thursday, I'm procrastinating until then!

Grace wrote:

Well, I finished it, and it was just what I needed - a bit of simple fun *gg* Sometimes I just need a proper dose of chicklit.

I actually like chick-lit, although I haven't read any in over a year. I love Kinsella's works. Yes, they are predictable and shallow, but they make me laugh and cheer me up after a hard day.

I will definitely read Twenties Girl some time this year. Ugh, but someone usually checks it out from the library first before I do...

Howl wrote:

Having recently finished Never Let Me Go, I'm inbetween books at the moment. I read a few pages of A River Runs Through It, a couple more of The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Both seem good, but I've just been so occupied that I haven't really gotten into either. I should work on that.

Spring break begins on Friday. If I'm too drained to read tomorrow and/or Thursday, I'm procrastinating until then!

OOOOoooooooooooh! Finally someone's read Never Let Me Go. Is it good? It's been critically acclaimed but after reading a synopsis I wasn't sure ... can you give me a review?

Livia wrote:

Howl wrote:

Having recently finished Never Let Me Go, I'm inbetween books at the moment. I read a few pages of A River Runs Through It, a couple more of The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Both seem good, but I've just been so occupied that I haven't really gotten into either. I should work on that.

Spring break begins on Friday. If I'm too drained to read tomorrow and/or Thursday, I'm procrastinating until then!

OOOOoooooooooooh! Finally someone's read Never Let Me Go. Is it good? It's been critically acclaimed but after reading a synopsis I wasn't sure ... can you give me a review?

You mean, by Ishiguro? It's one of my favourites, a wonderful story, but it does take some time to get into it. I haven't read it for years, though... A more recent review would be great, Nicholle!

Right now I am reading "Agincourt" by Bernard Cornwell. The main character is an English archer who finds himself, of course, at the famous 1415 battle under Henry V. I have enjoyed some of Cornwell's other historical novels, but I am having a tough time getting into this one. He is laying on the graphic violence pretty thick (captured archers having their fingers chopped off and their eyes gouged out, etc.) without the horrific catharsis of a McCarthy novel. But I think I'm going to stick with it, just to see how the battle itself is played out.

As much as I would like to say I read history novels for the sake of sounding intelligent, I'm going to be truthful and admit that I don't read history books all that much, unless they are assigned for school.
I find history to be sometimes more disturbing than literature. In fiction, we find all the noble characteristics in our heroes and heroines, and we love them, all the more so if they are slightly flawed. In history, we often delve into it only to discover Bloody, Carnal and Unnatural acts, accidental judgments; casual slaughters..
A book written from the viewpoint of a character may be more inspiring, but I still find history rather depressing. I also read books that are written by the person in the middle of the crisis (the Cultural Revolution, or Pol Pots reign of terror, for example).
I like tragedies, but when real people are killed by the millions, it's not a beautiful tragedy but madness.
Of course, I actually have quite a few history books I plan to read, depressing or not. The review on All is Quiet on the Western Front has sparked my curiosity, and I have a score or so books by the politically interesting author Richard J. Maybury. I highly recommend his books, although I have not read them all. It doesn't take long to realize this author has something unique to offer.
I hope you enjoy your book. You history novels seem to rival some of the graphicness of most horror novels I've read. Don't forget to post a review.
Okay, I mentioned politics more than I should have, and if any of this offends anyone, just PM me and let your anger go.

Right now I am reading "Under a Velvet Cloak" by Piers Anthony. Anthony is probably most famous for his popular "Xanth" fantasy series. "Cloak" is actually part 8 of a fantasy series called "The Incarnations of Immortality". Originally there were only 7 Incarnations (Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Satan, and God), which were conceived as offices held by humans at various times throughout existence. I had read the previous seven books some time back and thought they were entertaining enough. Then I found out "Cloak" came out a couple of years ago and I ordered it. This Incarnation is supposed to be Nox, or "Night". It involves a girl in Arthurian England who demonstrates powers as a Seer, gets an education (in more ways than one ) from an older Seer, falls in with Morgan le Fey, and ultimately becomes the Incarnation of Night.

I have just started this, and I must admit to being a bit shocked. There is a fair amount of sexuality, and, to me, not all of it is appropriate. Still, I liked the other "Incarnation" books, and I am hoping this one will find a way to redeem itself. We'll see.

No, it did not redeem itself. This is a disappointing entry in what I thought was a good series. It's too bad.

However, it does give me an idea for my next subject in the anti-blog...(no, it's nothing bad )

Oh well, not every book can be a winner.
That's why I base my choices off recommendations .

I'm reading A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre - the same guy who wrote Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy, and The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. It's interesting, the way first person and third person mix, and the way the man and the other characters view life. I'm only a little way in, but I highly recommend it.

Cassandra Maddox wrote:

I'm reading A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre - the same guy who wrote Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy, and The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. It's interesting, the way first person and third person mix, and the way the man and the other characters view life. I'm only a little way in, but I highly recommend it.

I heard that John Le Carré is supposed to be good - which of his books would you recommend most?

I am getting ready to dive into "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. I have heard a lot about this book, and the trilogy it is part of, both good and bad. I figured it was time to find out for myself. I will let you know how I like it!

John Le Carre is a highly acclaimed author. He seems to be a bit better than his contemporaries when it comes to cold war novels (such as Tom Clancy).
A Perfect Spy is very interesting, with realistic situations, well developed characters, and a delightful plot. It's my first book by him, and I'm loving every minute of it. I think you would like it, Grace, although you may want to try some of his more famous works, perhaps The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
Some people I have met in the past mistakenly associate the spy genre with action-packed thrillers. Perhaps this misconception has been encouraged by recent films and novels such as James Bond. If you are looking for that type of story in any of John Le Carre's books, you will not find it. His stories are dramas, not thrillers.

I've read only one novel by Le Carre, and that was "The Constant Gardener" a few years ago. I seem to remember it was a good book, though a bit bulky in parts.