I posed this You Tell Me once before and I thought it was really fun to hear about what people are reading. Well, some time has elapsed and so here’s a repeat, this time with feeling:
What book(s) are you reading right now?
I’m reading WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY GIRL by Fannie Flagg, getting in touch with my small town roots.
What about you?
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AG says
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
So Amazing!
joan says
“Armadale” by Wilkie Collins & “Dial-a-Ghost” by Eva Ibbotson.
(Both are awesome so far.)
Jim Zoetewey says
Rereading “The Doomsday Book” by Connie Willis.
It’ll be the second or third time.
Helen says
I just finished Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, trying to understand what made it so popular. And I did. It’s so comforting to read about a weak stupid poor female in love with a strong smart rich guy who is perfect in everything. And it is a welcome twist that she is masochistic, and he is a vampire. What’s not to like?
D says
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and Agile Web Development with Rails…
Christa M. Miller says
I just finished an ARC of Joshua Henkin’s latest MATRIMONY (blog tour). Next up is M.J. Rose’s THE REINCARNATIONIST, also for the blog. For pleasure I have a crapload of books on my TBR list, but I’m looking at a collection of novellas called TRANSGRESSIONS or perhaps Updike’s TERRORIST… depends on my mood!
Lupina says
Anne LaMott’s “Plan B” (she’s honest, hilarious, earthy and spiritual all at once)
Nick Redfern’s “Man-Monkey” about British Bigfoot (His 3 Men Seeking Monsters is too funny)
Eoin Colfer’s “The Supernaturalist”
Just finished Ann Tyler’s “Breathing Lessons” (left me breathless)
Heidi, The Thief Lord is one of my YA all-time faves.
Steve Axelrod says
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn. Now complete in five volumes. Someone said it was SHOGUN meets THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Not perfect, but close enough. Gorgeous prose tht reads as if it was exquisitely translated from the Japanese. Great characters, high adventure, epic sweep, intimate detail. In order:
Heaven’s Net is Wide
Across the Nightingale Floor
Grass for his Pillow
Brilliance of the Moon
The Harsh Cry of the Heron
Collect ’em all.
Lauren says
Right now it’s David Lubar’s SLEEPING FRESHMEN NEVER LIE, a humorous YA “boy book.”
And for work, a Yale University Press tome called ASSESSING READING.
jennifer says
I read FAT KID RULES THE WORLD a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to get into any other book since. It was that amazing. So, I’m reading it again.
KL Going is brilliant.
Lacy says
Re-reading “The Thief Lord” by Cornelia Funke for inspiration.
Jaye Wells says
I’m finally reading THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova. Almost done. I’m also reading MY INVENTED COUNTRY by Isabelle Allende, and I’m listening to the ANANSI BOYS (Neil Gaiman) audio book in my car.
The Writers' Group says
THE RIVER WIFE by Jonis Agee and LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF PEACE: DIARY OF DANG THUY TRAM.
I expect the former to win national awards and have been looking forward to the latter for over a year. Both are exquisite.
Amy
Helen says
Oh wow, that is so weird. I am currently reading Twilight, wondering the same thing as Helen above and coming to the same conclusion. Did my future self travel back in time to let me know I shouldn’t be wasting my time?
Conduit says
I’m just about to start reading Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis for at least the fifth time. It’s a favourite of mine, and was filmed as Get Carter with Michale Caine in the early seventies (not to be confused with the abysmal remake with Sly Stallone). It’s a violent revenge thriller that flits between the brutal and the beautiful, sometimes within a sentence. While not quite one of my ‘once-a-year’ books, it’s close. Ted Lewis is a big influence on my writing.
My TBR pile is being whittled down, and a copy of The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski is next up, but I’m not sure I’m looking forward to that one.
Ello says
Thousand Splendid Suns
Free Food for Millionaires
Stolen Child
And waiting to get my copy of Weirdly where Blogger Bernita’s story will be showcased!
J M Peltier says
From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz
and
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
I’m just glad you didn’t ask yesterday when I’d have to cop to reading Eragon.
Wait…Ah, dang!
dramabird says
Just finished:
What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
Currently:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Up next:
The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (aka Joe King, aka Stephen King’s son)
Char says
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION, by Lauren Willig
I have a whole stack of historical-set mysteries from the library and this is the one that called to me the most. I’d call it more a spy novel with a romance, however, and I like how it alternates between the present day researcher character and the historical plot. The characters are simply wonderful, especially Amy. I’m a bit peeved at the hero presently (I’m currently on page 246), but he’s got room before The End to redeem himself. š
Tammie says
Finished reading The Road based on this boards recommendation and glad I did.
Now I’m reading Owls Well That Ends Well – a cozy mystery -something I have never read and figured I’d give it a try.
Michele Lee says
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. I’m absolutely loving it.
Pam Halter says
Gavin Goodfellow and the Lure of Burnt Swamp by Candy Abbott.
Dave Wood says
Just finished “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. It started to lose me three quarters of the way through, then yanked me back in the last 30 pages or so by throwing everything that came before into doubt. An interesting think, that.
Before that was “In the Woods” by Tana French. I’ve been looking around to see where my writing fits in with what’s being published. Kind of mystery meets literary. This book had some similarities but lots more differences. It’s the closest match I’ve found, and I’d sure like to see Ms. French’s query letter, but I’m glad they’re not too similar. The book left me actively disliking the protagonist and feeling like the mystery was a bit of a bait-and-switch. Don’t think I’ll mention the book in my queries.
And mixed in there somewhere was a blood-spattered horror book titled “Dead Sea.” Kind of fun and certainly a quick read. I have an idea for a zombie book and I wanted to see what others are doing with the idea.
In amongst the fiction I’ve been reading some historical non-fiction as background. “Trigger” sounds really cool; I think I’ll look at that next.
Michelle says
Lottery by Patricia Wood
Anne-Marie says
The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais.
Linnea says
Research material for my WIP.
“Everyday Life in Babylon and Assyria” by Georges Contenau and “Babylon” by Joan Oates. Boring for some, but I like it.
original bran fan says
A WRINKLE IN TIME. Madeline L’Engle just passed away and I thought I should re-read that novel.
I feel badly saying this but I liked that novel better when I was a child.
Betsy says
The Radiant Seas
by Catherine Asaro
(at work – science fiction)
Open Season
by C.J. Box
(before bed – western/mystery)
From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy
by Matthew Dickerson and David O’Hara
(for school – nonfiction/critical theory).
All worthwhile so far.
And Yay! for Amanda H. for starting with Son of Avonar. Carol Berg has become one of my favorite authors, and a lovely woman in person as well.
Great thread!
Jenny says
Jim Zoetewey,
Thanks for mentioning The Doomsday Book. I had read it years ago and loved it, but I couldn’t remember its title. When you cited it I realized that was the book I was trying to remember.
I was trying to tell someone about it only a few weeks ago. So now I know who wrote it! A wonderful recreation of the world of the Black Plague.
I read about 6 chapters of Bradshaw’s DARK NORTH before dinner, and it is as good as I hoped it would be.
Chumplet says
I’m reading SEABISCUIT, by… um…. well, it’s at home so I can’t remember the author.
MLM says
LOVE AND RESPECT
by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
It’s kicking my hiney.
Loquacious Me says
I just finished ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman.
Tom Burchfield says
I’m reading “Mary” Nabokov’s first novel. It reads like one, kind of, but there are those wonderful springy sentences and evocative descriptions. I just love pouring it into my head.
Also: “Caring for the Country” by Howard Rabinowitz (about the lives of rural physicians) and
“Bram Stoker and the Man Who Was Dracula” by Barbara Belford, both of which are research for my own novel, which you can read about this week at my own blog at:
https://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/
Lora T. says
I just finished reading THE CHILDREN OF HURIN by JRR Tolkien. I need to go to the library this weekend…
mkcbunny says
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon.
I started On Chesil Beach, by Ian McEwen, but I will probably finish Policemen and then go back to Beach.
Spartezda says
CETAGANDA, by Lois McMaster Bujold. I’m rereading it for the . . . um, well, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read it. Just finished rereading A CIVIL CAMPAIGN, too.
Am also starting 1634: THE BALTIC WAR, by Eric Flint and David Weber, because I am aching to know what happens to Oliver Cromwell (no, seriously. Alternate history).
Church Lady says
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
I love the West, and this is a great book about early 1900s homesteads in Montana.
Janniel says
Fannie Flagg is always fun.
I’m alternating between ARABIA, THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS by Johnathan Raban as background for a WIP; and THE BINGO QUEENS OF PARADISE by June Park.
Raban is a wonderful travel writer, but BINGO QUEENS has taken an unexpected turn. I may not be alternating much longer.
Jordyn says
I’m in the middle of reading (for something like the third time) Sarah Dessen’s THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER. One of my favorite quotes from which is this one…
“Then, about a year and a half too late, it hit me. I was never going to be perfect.”
original bran fan says
Funny that there are very few repeats on this thread. Everyone is reading something different. There doesn’t seem to be one “big” book that is the “must read” of the season.
Arjay says
Hooked by Les Edgerton
Topher1961 says
Just finished
Water for Elephants and
Ordinary Wolves (must read) and have started Beach Music
Isak says
Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds by Michael Hauge.
A Paperback Writer says
The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Girl in a Cage for YA stuff.
The Literary Traveller’s Guide to Edinburgh and Emily Cockayne’s Hubbub: Filth, Noise, and Stench in England for non-fiction.
Angelle Trieste says
Ptolemy’s Gate by Jonathan Stroud
Bakerman says
After years of avoidance, Jack Kerouac’s ON THE ROAD (original version).
Couldn’t get past chapter 7, roughly thirty pages. Unique writing style, however, which is what I expected.
Had a similar experience with ANGELA’S ASHES – the telling of a familiar story. No surprises. Yet, the first page was one of the best examples of gorilla marketing* since the advent of Madison Avenue.
*Maximum results from minimal resources
Anonymous says
“Beauty” by Robin McKinley. I’ve read it before, and I need a familiar book right now.
Kadi Easley says
“Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die”, by Nancy Martin. A Blackbird sisters mystery.
A fun romp through society with a dead body throw in for excitement.
Crystal Alexander says
I’m reading “Queen’s Own Fool” by
It’s a very interesting twist on the history of the queen of Scots.
-Crystal Alexander
P.S. Thanks for your encouragement on finding an agent. I think being a 16 year old writer hinders many agents from wanting to review my work. Got any tips?
cate says
MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides, but picked up STOP THAT GIRL by Elizabeth McKenzie today, and was totally hooked after sneaking a peek at the first page while my daughter was occupied with blocks. Plus, McKenzie is my neighbor here in Santa Cruz.