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What are you reading at the moment?
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What are you reading at the moment?
Oct 17, 2012 03:01 PM
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Tell us about the book which you're enjoying. Why is it so enjoyable? We all like different things so your impression of a book is helpful.
I added many of the books, which were recommended on the previous thread, to my reading list, based on the poster's comments.
I've been having a crime-fest. The most recent are ...
Scent of a Killer by Kevin Lewis - I don't really like Brit-cop books - too depressing - and this was no exception. (What is it with British cops?) However, apart from some mistakes which should never have got past a decent editor, it was very readable with a good, if meandery, storyline.
The HIdden Man by David Ellis - This author has been likened to John Grisham crossed with Harlen Coben. Being a fan of both, I poo-pooed this idea. That was, until I read the book. How wrong I was! It is a gripping, fast read and deserves the comparison.
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(1 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Oct 17, 2012 09:37 PM
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A the moment the Peter F Hamilton's Nights dawn trioligy and then it will be the Blinding knife by Brent Weeks.
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(2 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Oct 18, 2012 12:00 PM
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After just finishing the Games of Thrones books, which I would recommend to anyone. They are fantasy but the fantastical elements are pretty minimal, they read much more like a cracking political thriller combined with a historical epic.
I decided to go with some more political intrigue but in a historical setting this time and I'm about half way through I Claudius which I'm really enjoying as well.
I've also got Thunder and Ashes by Z A Recht on the go. It's a good fun Zombie thriller, not particulary well written and full of gaping plot holes but fun none the less.
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(3 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Oct 25, 2012 08:44 AM
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can;t remember some wwii thing but i fancy it will not get beyond about chapter three.
did read fifty shades what a load of trash and not even particularly well written.
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(4 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Oct 30, 2012 03:25 PM
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Dean Koontz is one of my favourite authors - goodies are heart-warmingly good, baddies are really bad and the supernatural may appear at any time.
I've just bought the 4th Odd Thomas book - it was only when I read the reviews for the 5th book that I realised that I'd missed the 4th one.
'Odd Hours' arrived via Amazon (there's another no-no) for £2.47. Very good condition - looks unread.
I've decided to re-read through the first 3 Odd Thomas books - it's been a few years - before I enjoy book 4 and wait for book 5 to appear at a price I can afford.
So, I'm reading Odd Thomas - beware the bogharts!
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(5 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Nov 21, 2012 11:04 PM
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I am reading Diana Gabaldons, Through the stones, for the 3rd. time.. there is; time travel,history,romance, a hunky Highlander,red indians,murder and mayhem...lol.. set firstly in 1945,jump to the Jacobean uprising... (won't tell you how.) best series of books i have ever read....
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(6 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 9, 2012 10:33 PM
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I am reading volume 3 of "The Indian Marriage Bureau for Rich People". If you like Alexander Mc Call Smith, it's along the same type of narrative.
I am French but love reading stories set in India so this is a wonderful series 
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(7 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 10, 2012 12:52 AM
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(8 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 11, 2012 12:02 AM
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Why India?
I think it is a fascinating country with such a rich culture!
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(9 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 11, 2012 12:43 AM
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I was fascinated with Japanese culture, still am a little
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(10 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 11, 2012 10:14 AM
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Oh yes, the koi fish and beautiful gardens etc
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(11 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 13, 2012 11:29 PM
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 more than that
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(12 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 17, 2012 06:23 PM
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Lots of new authors to list - thanks, folks.
I've just chucked James Herbert's, 'Fluke', in the recycle bin but am quite enjoying his, 'Others'.
[I bought a 70-book bundle on eBay for £10 - King, Koontz, Herbert and others. Slowly working my way through them.]
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(13 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 18, 2012 07:24 PM
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ok-mrs-bee wrote:
Lots of new authors to list - thanks, folks.
I've just chucked James Herbert's, 'Fluke', in the recycle bin but am quite enjoying his, 'Others'.
[I bought a 70-book bundle on eBay for £10 - King, Koontz, Herbert and others. Slowly working my way through them.]
Oh I love Fluke! It's so different to his usual stuff. Had it been published under a nom de plume I'm sure it would have been a very popular book for readers of animal stories.
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(14 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 24, 2012 02:36 PM
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[/quote]
Oh I love Fluke! It's so different to his usual stuff. Had it been published under a nom de plume I'm sure it would have been a very popular book for readers of animal stories.
[/quote]
It didn't really go in the recycle bin. I read a few pages and relegated it to the boot-sale pile in the spare bedroom! Maybe I should give it another go.
But I do find Herbert very skimmable - so much unnecessary bumph. 'Others' was a good story but, for me, it could have been told in half the time. At 500 pages there was far too much self-indulgent padding.
Spurred on by the release of the film, I'm about to start reading 'Life of Pi'.
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(15 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 24, 2012 06:41 PM
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But I do find Herbert very skimmable - so much unnecessary bumph. 'Others' was a good story but, for me, it could have been told in half the time. At 500 pages there was far too much self-indulgent padding.
I think they all do it! With rare exceptions, if you take any popular author's output and stack them in size order, you'll find they're also (mostly) in copyright date order. In SF Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein all did it, and more recently Peter Hamilton. In horror James Herbert, Shaun Hutson and Stephen King. In crime fiction Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton. The worst culprit in my view is Stephen King. Why use a short paragraph when 3 pages will up the word count?!
Even the wonderful can-do-no-wrong Dean Koontz is guilty!
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(16 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 25, 2012 12:16 AM
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Gosh, Bernie (if you're not Bernie, I apologise), that has really got me thinking. I used to read every word of every book, only skimming in recent years with the realisation that, at my age, you can't waste time reading boring padding.
But sometimes the padding is worth reading. I really enjoy Dean Koontz's narrative style - he draws wonderful pictures. Maybe I've missed some of his more recent offerings, apart from the Odd Thomas books.
As for the SF authors - I read every word and didn't feel cheated but I gave up on Stephen King a long time ago.
I am now going to restack my library, by author and then by size so that I can check the hypothesis. 
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(17 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 25, 2012 01:35 PM
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No apology needed, I am indeed Bernie, it's nice to be remembered 
Not visiting family until tomorrow so that's why I'm here on the boards on Christmas day!
I gave up on Stephen King a long time ago.
I'm glad I'm not the only one!
But sometimes the padding is worth reading. I really enjoy Dean Koontz's narrative style - he draws wonderful pictures. Maybe I've missed some of his more recent offerings, apart from the Odd Thomas books.
On reflection, I think I probably did him a disservice. Yes his output did get bigger and bigger, but I agree with the wonderful pictures. My favourite at the moment is From the Corner of His Eye (2000), and that's REALLY wordy!
I am now going to restack my library, by author
Oh I'm so jealous, I wish my library was still on shelves! If it's not in author order already then what order is it in? Mine was in author order and I can't imagine any other way of doing it. When I packed up for the boat I randomised it, which means it's an adventure every time I open a box But it also means I haven't a clue where anything actually IS unless it's been listed already 
and then by size so that I can check the hypothesis.
I'd love to know if you agree with me!
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(18 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Dec 28, 2012 05:41 PM
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I gave up on Stephen King a long time ago.
I'm glad I'm not the only one!
But I've still got a shelf-ful of Stephen King from the 70-book bundle which I mentioned, above. I'm going to have to read some of them, as long as that Tower isn't mentioned.
Dean Koontz, again. My all-time favourites are the Moonlight Bay books - Fear Nothing and Seize the Night.
I was joking about restacking my library - but I think it would be a futile exercise with my books. Only Anne McCaffrey and her ilk, who don't pad out their books, and those 'horror' writers we have mentioned, are present in enough quantity to test the hypothesis. I don't think Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart count - where did writers of that ilk go?
However, Mr Bee's library has many of just one author - Tom Clancy. When I get around to it I'll pull all 22 from the shelves and check the page length.
I am intrigued by the Life of Pi - it's much better than I expected from Man Booker winner.
I forgot to say that I thoroughly enjoyed A Streetcat Named Bob, which enjoyed media fame because it was PC to like it. It is an interesting tale, well told by a ghost writer (who gets credit - how refreshing), about a street busker who is adopted by a remarkable cat.
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(19 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Jan 20, 2013 07:11 PM
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Have just finished Morgue Drawer Four by Jutta Profijit and started the second in the series Morgue Drawer Next Door, mystery stories with a slight difference - guess a bit like the old tv series Randall and Hopkirk idea.
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(20 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Jan 22, 2013 07:05 PM
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I have just finished James' Bowen autobiographical account of his meeting with Bob the street cat.
Didn't think I would enjoy it at first as autobiographies are not normally my cup of tea. My friend who works in a book store said it had been a big success so I thought I would give it a try.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book. Well written, a very honest, touching story that almost had me in tears. A wonderful insight into the life of a "vulnerable" young homeless / recovered drug addict. Changed my perspective on buskers and people who sell the big issue.
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(21 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Jan 22, 2013 07:35 PM
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Hi, Star, I really enjoyed the 'Bob-cat' book. I mentioned it in Post #18 - what a moving story it is. I looked for a catch-up to see how James and Bob are doing now - there is a Facebook page which is worth exploring.
I have recently finished re-reading, Green Mansions, by R.H.Hudson, trying to discover why this book made such a strong impression on me in my early teen years. I was disappointed. I couldn't recover the thrill of the first reading. In the late fifties the world was unknown to me and Hudson's descriptions of unchartered Venezuela was magical. There is still magic in the book but my first thrill couldn't be recovered.
Would you believe that I have only just got around to reading, To Kill a Mocking Bird. I've watched the film several times and the film about Truman Capote who was, allegedly, the model for Dill in the book, he being a childhood friend of Harper Lee.
"Write your Life Story and Publish it" .....
"Longdon Green, Farewell"....
Use quotation marks when searching.
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(22 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Jan 22, 2013 08:07 PM
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Ah yes I can seen your post now, I have looked at Bob and James' s facebook too, I feel so protective of them!
Have you seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ba1PEHRAZo
James looked a little bit nervous there bless him!
He seems like such a lovely man though, I hope he finds a nice girlfriend who loves equally as much as he does
I have never heard of "Green Mansions" but then again I am French so....
I am not sure what I am going to read next, maybe the Life of Pi.
You are right when you mentioned James Bowen is not scared to mention his ghost writer.
I have recently read Cheryl Cole's biography (I live in Newcastle so was interested to hear where she came from etc). Surprisingly well written and she too mentions her ghost writer which I thin kis very honest of her.
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(23 of 44)
Re: What are you reading at the moment?
Jan 22, 2013 08:43 PM
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I am reading Empty Cradles by Margaret Humphreys, this was made into a film called Oranges and Sunshine, I recently saw the film on television and wanted to read the book. The author is a social worker from Nottingham who in 1986 investigated a woman's claim that, aged four, she was put on a boat to Australia by the British Government. She found that this was just the tip of an iceberg, up to 150,000 children had been deported from Britain to a new life in Australia, Canada and Rhodesia, also New Zealand. They were mostly taken from childrens homes and orphanages. Many were told their parents were dead and their parents were told they had been adopted. In fact for many of the children it was to be a life of horrendous physical and sexual abuse, they were treated as servants and labourers on farms, etc. many of them received no schooling. Margaret and her team reunited thousands of families before it was too late, brought authorities to account, and brought worldwide attention to an outrageous miscarriage of justice. This was happening throughout the 1940s and 50s and continued right up to 1970. Some of the children they did not even know who they were, they had no birth certificate and no idea if they had families in Britain, for many it was too late as their mothers had died before they could be located. This is a very important book as most people may not have heard about this, many childrens' charities and the government joined forces to allow these children to be sent away.
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