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I hope its okay to start a thread here! I'm always looking for new books to read, and I thought we could all list what we're currently reading and/or have finished.

I'm reading an urban fantasy now called Oaths of Blood: An Urban Fantasy Mystery, but I just finished an amazing book about Australia called

Has anyone else read anything good lately?

I enjoy many different genres, but my recently read favorite memoir is Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness in Africa. And, my favorite "beach read" of the summer is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. (I hope you find a few titles you like on this thread!) You might also try yournextread.com. It's fun and addicting!

Ah! I wasn't sure if there was another thread like this or not! I had looked, but not well enough obviously. The memoir sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my TBR pile. Thanks!

I'm reading way too many books at once and my to-read list is a never-ending list.
Three Bags Full - from our group's current selection
Virgin Soul by Judy Juanita & We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo - from my other group's selection.
The Name of this Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch - a gift for my niece she claims is too scary to read.
And a bunch more!

Michelle, we love new threads! We even have a knitting subcategory, so if you want to start threads about that too, go for it!

I'm still reading 3 Bags Full, as well as some romances, but I just listened on audio to The Christmas Mouse and noHollyfor Miss Quinn by Miss Read. Very cozy British stories about a little village in England in the 60s, maybe? Kind of timeless, cozy fiction.

Michelle wrote: "I hope its okay to start a thread here! I'm always looking for new books to read, and I thought we could all list what we're currently reading and/or have finished.

I'm reading an urban fantasy n..."

Michelle, I heard they're making a movie of The Light Between Oceans.

Tiffany wrote: "The Name of this Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch - a gift for my niece she claims is too scary to read."

My daughter read that book, too! I always meant to, but I never got a chance. Is it any good?

Zoe wrote: "Michelle, I heard they're making a movie of The Light Between Oceans."

It seems that I heard that as well. I'm always hesitant, though, to see movies about books that I've really loved! I'm worried I'll be disappointed.

It's pretty good. The narrator is snarky & tongue-in-cheek, much like kids that age, so they can relate.

Tiffany wrote: "It's pretty good. The narrator is snarky & tongue-in-cheek, much like kids that age, so they can relate."

Lol. That about covers it!

I'm reading "A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander and a small group of other people that worked together at the Center for Environmental Structures. As relatively new homeowners, my partner and I are envisioning transforming our home with additions, landscaping, gardens, etc.

This book stems from the premise that "most of the wonderful places of the world were not made by architects but by the people." They move gradually from macro to micro, cities and towns to neighborhoods and individual residences, developing a "pattern language" that articulates human needs and their reflection and expression in their human environment.

Fascinating stuff.Published in 1977, it originally sold for $65; my copy is from the library and I'm reluctant to let it go. We've located it used for $25, I think we'll make the purchase. It's a gem.

On the lighter side (that book weighs in at 1169 pages), I also just started reading "The Man who Fell in Love with the Moon" by Tom Spanbauer. It jumped off the library shelf and into my hands because of the unusual title. The back cover claims it will oblige me to rethink my whole idea of narration and history and myth. It's the story of a half-Indian boy in search of his identity among his mother's tribe. Should be interesting!

I'm reading Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason (Three Bags Full must have started me on a reading pattern.) Mason's book is described as being Hitchcockian. I can see that - it's clever and dark and the suspense is dragging me on. The first line is terrific, "There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard."

Kathryn, I'm going to have to look for "A Pattern Language" at the library. I love that kind of stuff.

I'm reading (mostly - I can't seem to keep focus all the time on one book) North and South. But I have a couple of mysteries from the library that look pretty good, and I might change my mind again...

I've been sick for the past few days, and have consequently been reading a bunch of Hercule Poirot mysteries in bed. Before that I was reading Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red, which I'm almost done and which so far has been really interesting.

I just started A Quick Bite and just finished The Bastion Club series by Stephanie Laurens. It's been a very fluffy reading year for me.

Huma, Christie is always a lovely comfort read! I like to watch old Poirots on PBS too, even though I have seen them all.

Denae, fluffy reads are a necessary part of life. This is totally a no-judgement zone!! I read lots of romance, and even a large chunk of children's fiction (I like to say its because I have kids, but sometimes I read stuff I know they'll never be interested in, like all the spin off series they did for the Little House on the Prairie books a while ago). We like what we like!

Another Christie fan over here!

I only mentioned the fluffiness because the percentage this year is higher than normal and I feel a little guilty. Not because I am ashamed of what I have been reading. I just feel like I am neglecting a bunch of other stuff that I would normally have read. Then again, been doing much more knitting and am learning to spin, so it all evens out!

I'm currently reading The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon which I picked from my library on a whim. I'm also trying to make myself read 1984 by George Orwell since I think it's horrible that I haven't read this book yet but I keep letting myself be distracted by other books.

1984 is great, but I can understand being distracted. That happens to me a lot.

I've found the Nero Wolfe novels are a great fluffy read this year.

I just read some Kate Elliott and I am waiting for more from the library. (Great Sci-Fi.) I also was reading and rereading the Robin Owens Heart series - fluffy futuristic romance which I consume like candy. And Naomi Novik's newest (Napoleonic Wars plus Dragons, she wanted to cross LOTR with Master and Commander, and she does.) Last but not least, Julia Spencer-Fleming's mysteries. I had put these off despite great reviews, but now I am hooked. They really capture Upstate New York plus they have religion without being irritating. (The heroine is an Episcopalian priest, but she is very tolerant of other beliefs or lack thereof, if the church I get dragged to was like this, I would not have to be dragged.)

Nero Wolfe hasn't held up as well for me upon rereading. Peter Wimsey is my preferred mystery series I read in youth. This Argeneau series is delightful though. I just finished the second book, making it two in roughly a day and a half.

I'm taking a quick break from The Silk Code to read Coraline, book of the month for another group. I'm also listening to 1984 here and there, mostly during chores.

Hennypenny wrote: " if the church I get dragged to was like this, I would not have to be dragged."

This made me laugh but I know what you mean and it's a good point.

Stephanie wrote: "I'm currently reading The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon which I picked from my library on a whim. I'm also trying to make myself read 1984 by George Orwell since I think it's horrible that I haven't ..."

I'm currently reading 1984, too, and for kind of the same reason. I've never been all that eager to read it since I know the gist of it well enough to get any references to it I come across. I read something recently, The Traveler, that was compared to 1984 in several reviews and finally got an itch to read it.

Do you like The Pillow Book? I've wanted to check it out since I read and loved My Year of Meats.

My current read is the enormous elephant thread in GR Feedback, but it's hardly a comfort read.

Chrissy & Stephanie, you might want to read 1Q84, a recent novel set in 1984 Japan, soon after you're done with 1984. I always wondered what it would be like to read these two books fairly close together & make fresher comparisons.

I just finished listening to Breaking Silence third I think in Linda Castillo's Amish mystery series. I had a long road trip and had it nearly done on my return. I am still trudging through Ken Follett's Fall of Giants. Have been making myself put down the IPad and read. LOL.

Can I just say....I love you people! I am a big lover of Nero Wolfe (the series was even better than the books - and I can count on one hand how often I've said THAT) and Peter Wimsey. I also love Naomi Novik's Temeraire series - and I am NOT a huge Fantasy reader, but those books are amazing.

I loved 1984 when I read it - in 9th grade! So I think once you get in, you'll appreciate it. It's not long, as I recall.

I've tried the Julia Spencer-Fleming books, and while I was blown away by how well they were written, they seemed really, really grim to me.

Denae wrote: "I just started A Quick Bite and just finished The Bastion Club series by Stephanie Laurens. It's been a very fluffy reading year for me."

The fluffy comment made me laugh a little because it's so relative. My partner reads stuff like "The History of Psychology, Vol. 3" so most days everything I read seems fluffy.

He is adorable though. He gets all excited about that stuff, comes to me with book in hand and says, "I just have to read you this paragraph!"

I can't even understand all the words, never mind the concepts...

Oh, the Temeraire books - those are great fun indeed. 'Cause sometimes you just need to turn your mind off, and anyway - "Napoleonic wars with dragons" is just a winner.

Lol, I read 60% of The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich earlier this year before I dove back into the UF, PNR, & Regency romances.

That's a good balance! Fluff and depressing.

Chrissy wrote: "I'm currently reading 1984, too, and for kind of the same reason. I've never been all that eager to read it since I know the gist of it well enough to get any references to it I come across. I read something recently, The Traveler, that was compared to 1984 in several reviews and finally got an itch to read it. "

I think that's my problem with it. I've so much about the book that I already know the gist of what's going to happened. In fact, one of the latest audio books I listened to, Downtown Owl, 1984 was discussed in that as well so I've been getting a bit of Deja Vu.

As for the Pillow Book, I am enjoying it but I've always been a sucker for diaries and lists. I wanted to read it since a old professor showed our class the movie The Pillow Book. I hadn't heard of My Year of Meats though. I'll have to add that to my Want to read list.

Tiffany wrote: "Chrissy & Stephanie, you might want to read 1Q84, a recent novel set in 1984 Japan, soon after you're done with 1984."

I have heard good things about 1Q84 so maybe I will. I'll have to see if there are any copies available at my library. Thanks for the suggestion!

To Zoe: I'm sure you're right. Once I sit down and focus on it I'm sure I'll get sucked in. I've friends who claim they don't enjoy reading (yes, they're weird lol) and even they have said they liked 1984.

Kathryn wrote: "Denae wrote: "I just started A Quick Bite and just finished The Bastion Club series by Stephanie Laurens. It's been a very fluffy reading year for me."

The fluffy comment made me laugh a little be..."

Where's the (funny) button?

GR is sadly lacking such buttons.

My family background is Ukrainian. I recently read a book about Animal Farm, George Orwell and Ukrainian Refugees. The idea of the book is that Orwell is specifically talking about Holodomor (the starvation/torture which killed 6 - 14 million Ukrainians in 1932-1933) and the new book traces a specific edition of Animal Farm that was printed in Ukrainian for refugees in the Displaced Persons Camps. I read Animal Farm Animal Farm in High School, but I have read a lot more about Holodomor since then and I am considering re-reading even though it was a sad book. If you are interested, Orwell and the Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm plus a PRI story about the recent book . (The author's family is from the same displaced persons' camp as my family so I was ravenous for any details she could tell.)

ETA - spelling of Holodomor (my non-Ukrainian husband feels I should learn to spell it).

Hennypenny wrote: "My family background is Ukrainian. I recently read a book about Animal Farm, George Orwell and Ukrainian Refugees. The idea of the book is that Orwell is specifically talking about Holodomir (the s..."

Yes, one of the reasons books like 1984 are so shocking and relevant and memorable are partly what was going on in history that made the writer write them, or even what the writer was reacting to. No, you don't need to read To kill a Mockingbird to understand the civil rights era, but it is as eloquent a viewpoint as anyone could ever make about non-fiction persons.

::Sigh:: so many good books to read - and re-read!

Denae wrote: "GR is sadly lacking such buttons."

I like the ones at MTS (Mod the Sims): "useful," "funny," and "love."

Hennypenny wrote: "My family background is Ukrainian. I recently read a book about Animal Farm, George Orwell and Ukrainian Refugees. The idea of the book is that Orwell is specifically talking about Holodomor (the s..."

That sounds really good. My kids have read Animal Farm for school and *hated* it! But I liked the book, and I think I'd find this interesting.

Right now, I'm reading science fiction

Just finished , hysterically funny! And for the other end of the spectrum, I'm reading one of Neil Gaiman's (sp?) Sandman graphic novels - and finding it kind of annoyingly bleak. But I tend to be an upbeat person, so maybe it's just me.

Started Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World last night. Very good so far.

Just finished Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks, an homage to P.G. Wodehouse.It read like vintage Wodehouse. Bertie and Jeeves were in perfect form. Now I'm reading The King of Scotland's Sword, 3rd book in the new Agatha: Girl of Mystery series for kids by Steve Stevenson (I'm in the children's department at the public library, so I need to keep up on kid stuff!) Agatha is a member of the eccentric Mistry family and a budding mystery author. Fun series for 3rd and 4th graders.

I'm reading Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story. Enjoying it so far.

I just finished Sharp Objects and really liked it, although it was very disturbing to me.

Molly wrote: "Just finished Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks, an homage to P.G. Wodehouse.It read like vintage Wodehouse. Bertie and Jeeves were in perfect form. Now I'm reading The King of Scotl..."
Molly, I just discovered the Girl of Mystery series and my ten year old enjoys them! I also just heard of the Sebastian Faulks book, and I'm so thrilled - huge Wodehouse fan, I've read lots of his stuff, so I'm thrilled to hear it's good!

Right now I'm reading The High Sensitive Person. I realised this summer, that just that have been my "problem" all the time. Now I'm learning to live whit the fact that this is the way I'm supposed to be. A huge relife and so hard at the same time.

Sacred Games, a historical mystery set at the Olympics of 460 B.C. I'm enjoying it.

I'm now reading "Claire of the Sea Light" my first book by Edwidge Danticat and "Without Their Permission" by Alexis Ohanian.

I am starting Defending Jacob today. I heard it was excellent, but I see about that.