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reading progress, changes in patterns, new years resolutions

This year, I'm starting off flying-I'm not sure why but my focus & concentration are strong again, I'm finding many books I like a lot, and I'm not yet paralyzed the way I sometimes felt last year by too many choices.

thats great Ellie, sounds like you're on a roll.
I am distracted from reading right now and am finding it hard to engage. I think this might have something to do with my resolve to write a review as I finish each book. I think it's making me overly critical, I am assesing more than reading for enlightenment.

I just started another dystopian sci fi.
Finally I am starting to bond a bit, but I have been disproportionally annoyed that I can't decide how to pronounce the main characters name, which is Rheinhardt. Is is RENARD or RINE HARD or HART?
any suggestions?

Rheinhardt looks like a German name or of German origin, in which case it will most likely be pronounced "Rinehart". On the other hand, if the author uses an unusual name and can't be bothered to give you a clue to the pronouciation, I reckon you are free to choose to pronounce it however you please.

I don't have that problem at the moment. I am reading Before I Go to Sleep, which is set in London and everyone (so far) has straight forward English names. It's very intruiging and I can't wait to get home tonight to read some more (I daren't bring it in to work. The temptation to read it when I should be working would be too much for me).

I once read an entire book pronouncing the name Penelope as Pennylope in my head. It wasn't until I spoke the name out loud that I realized my error. I'd say pronounce it any-old-way-you'd-like. No one but you can hear it. :-)

I'm reading Anna Karenina right now and Tolstoy is notorious for his multiple names for each character. To stay sane, I mostly just read the first syllable or two of the complex names and ignore the rest. Alexei A** becomes "Alex" in my head, and I roll right on through!!!

I think there is a snazzy internet lingo for my reaction to reading through these comments, but I AM laughing out loud, partly because it just tickles my funnybone(Pennylope) and then Jims comment verged on sacreligous ....so I got a bellylaugh and some good snickers...thanks all for responding.

I think I have weird fetish about pronouniatio that I am just realizing. Some people are that way about spelling. Not only that, but I wonder about the symbolism involved in the choice of name by the author.

Jackie, I think German too, but know nothing of the language, so wonder where the emphasis is,first or last syllable.And Rain hard is quite different than rain heart....mmm, how about I call him hard rain, suits him

well I got through Subterranean Gallery at last, and thought the writing picked up a lot near the end, though I never did really bond with the characters. See my whimsical review.

Just starting Doris Lessing
The Summer Before the Dark

Acquired The Holy Machine having sent my wife out with one of my book tokens. She also acquired two more cooking books, there is no hope for me midrift now !

For an old luddite like myself, distrustful and perhaps a bit contemptuous of machines, I have often demonized them. I never would have thought to put these two words together. Will watch for your upsates.

I had to chose just now, whether to finish the Lessing or to come here. I have gotten very engaged with the book, and remember that even at the time I first read it, way too quickly,I knew my reading of it was superficial and put it on my to read again list.
In fact, I was way too young and opinionateded to find much interest in the existential crises of a middle aged woman. Now that I find myself at the same age as the narrarator, and facing the same issues of power,mortality and reckoning, I am of course fascinated.