Read Women discussion

Doesn't have to be by a woman. What book/books are you reading at the moment?

I'm working my way slowly through The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth. Historical fiction set in England during and after the Norman invasion of 1066 and writen entirely in a 'shadow version' of old English. So no capital letters, punctuation (except full stops) and everything is spelt very oddly. But it's surprisingly easy to read after the initial few pages. Not very far in yet though, so don't yet know if I can recommend the story.

I am reading this book

I am also reading others, but these are the ones I am working on at the moment. I have about 11 books on my currently reading shelf at home and here and am always starting more. lol

And I thought I was bad with 4-5!

I'm also reading The Face in the Glass and Other Gothic Tales (reading one short story between each novel), The Ocean of Life. by Callum Roberts, and The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 3 (slowly, very slowly)

What do you make of Cuckoo's Calling? That's the only one I've read fof yours, but The Blind Assassin is definitely on my to-read list.

Cuckoo's Calling is hard to say. It is exciting, and I am "reading" it by audible, but it is definitely different from the Harry Potter series. I am only about 5 chapters in though. :)

Rashomon is my short story collection to read at the moment. Arabian Nights is also on my to-read list. :)

I'm reading Reconstructing Amelia, Outlander, Queen Victoria, and listening to Certain Girls.

Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. No, not a woman author, but at least the title is a woman. ;-)

I'm currently reading Uprooted by Naomi Novik and think it's fabulous.

Oooooh, you're enjoying it? I've sort of picked that up in bookshops a few times and then put it down again. I read Novik's Temeraireseries (still a couple of books behind) but I tend to think of her as someone who writes fun, but not particularly brilliant, books. Have heard good things about Uprooted from a few people though.

I've just finished The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (absolutely wonderful) and am about to start Mauprat for this month's group read.

Louise wrote: "Oooooh, you're enjoying it? I've sort of picked that up in bookshops a few times and then put it down again. I read Novik's Temeraireseries (still a couple of books behind) but I tend to think of h..."

I'm an avid fantasy reader, and I love it so far. She's done a great job at world-building and her main characters are wonderful. The book has a fairy-tale quality, with darker undertones.

Hmmmm, I might just pick it up next time I'm looking for a fantasy read then. Thanks!

Currently listening to (although on-hold as I am on leave until next week )Villette, and reading The Gap of Time ( Winterson is one of my all time favourite athors), Faces in the Water, Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine, The North China Lover and What Katy Did.

As mentioned in the Introductions thread, I am currently trying to complete a challenge by only reading women writers, so they are in high rotation on my reading pile at the moment!

I'm reading A Darker Shade of Magic

First woman of 2016 for me:

The Reef by Edith Wharton

I'm currently reading A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz for my book club.

I always read way too many at a time, but tend to concentrate on 3-4 so I'll list those.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl for another group ... I'm liking it so far.
Hour Game by David Baldacci ... library book that needs to go back tomorrow so I need to finish soon. I love mysteries.
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer I'm not a huge romance fan, but I love Heyer's writing. Great humor & dialogue.
The Halfling's Gem by R.A. Salvatore I'm not a huge fantasy fan either, but love Salvatore's writing. Great characters & stories.

I'll read anything ... a good story is a good story, no matter what the genre is.

Currently reading A Reunion of Ghosts by Judith Claire Mitchell. I put it aside for a bit to re-read Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant, but I finished that this afternoon.

Last evening I started Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall. New author for me.

I've started the second book in Connie Willis's time travel series, To Say Nothing of the Dog, but after a few chapters I've realised I want to read Three Men in a Boat first - the full title is Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) and that's where she got the title from. Boating with dog on the Thames in Victorian times is clearly going to be a theme of both.

Tonight I'll start Felix Holt: The Radical by George Eliot. It's been a year since I last read anything by her and I'm looking forward to it.

Started Elizabeth Strout's new release My Name Is Lucy Barton. Not a dozen pages in, and it's touching an emotional chord.

The Strout is very good, but, then, she's a favorite author.

One that has been on my shelf for a couple of years at least is The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland. So far, so probably just OK, but an interesting diversion.

I've just started Weathering by Lucy Wood. I think I'm going to love this.

I'm about half way through A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. I recommend reading Life After Life first (which I loved).

Ooh! I loved Life After Life, but I want to read it again before moving on to A God in Ruins. Are you enjoying it though?

Yes, it took me longer to get into than Life after Life, and I wish I could remember that one better. I think you have the right idea, reading it again first.

I've just started A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty smith. Finding it great so far.

Nicolle wrote: "I've just started A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty smith. Finding it great so far."

I read that years (40+?) ago, and can still remember parts of it very fondly.

Still trying to find the time to get back to What Katy Did, needing to get Milk and Honey and started listening to Mansfield Park on my walk this morning (which went for 1.75 hours, so I am making good headway with it, and very much enjoying listening to something other than a Bronte! ).

Amanda wrote: "... and started listening to Mansfield Park on my walk this morning (which went for 1.75 hours..."

Oooh, and an excellent walk too!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda wrote: "... and started listening to Mansfield Park on my walk this morning (which went for 1.75 hours..."

Oooh, and an excellent walk too!"

I am using returning library books as an excuse to go for long walks ;)

I walk, listen to an audiobook and return library books, without the temptation of borrowing any more ( I go before it opens, and before my family wake up ). So, getting fit and meeting my reading goals all in one!

Amanda wrote: "I walk, listen to an audiobook and return library books, without the temptation of borrowing any more ( I go before it opens, and before my family wake up ). So, getting fit and meeting my reading goals all in one! "

Haha, that is an excellent idea. I also walk to the library but it's only a mile each way for me. I sometimes go right before it closes, or when I only have 2 minutes to dash in before I need to be somewhere else :)

Gave 4 stars to The Forest Lover, and have started another Anthony Trollope - Marion Fay.

Sitting at work and realizing that, at work, I AM Fanny Price *sigh*, or that other one, - the one from Persuasion. Always in the background and not attracting interest or excitement, just quietly working away and getting it all done.

Well, there is no Edmund Bertram or Captain What's-his-name to excite my day anyhow, just as well!

I've been reading To Kill a Mockingbird for a little while now, so I've finally barred myself from starting any new books until I finish it. It's very good, but for some reason I can't stop starting (and finishing) new books!
I recently read (as in started and finished around TKaM) Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There. Both of which were fantastic although distinctly different genres.

I have two books going just now. Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You: 13 Stories by Alice Munro and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark.

Halfway through I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and will probably read The Driver's Seat over the weekend ( if my husband gives me back my library book! ). Also have A Room of One's Own penciled in. We have a long weekend where I am, so I hope to get a bit of reading done, but we have visits coming for lunch, and then dinner out to celebrate my husband finishing his PhD, so I probably won't get as much read as I would like.

Smiling to myself about the diversity of my current reading plan - all over the shop with genre, style, etc. Is keeping me very engaged.

Amanda wrote: "Halfway through I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and will probably read The Driver's Seat over the weekend ( if my husband gives me back my library book! ). Also have [bo..."

Congratulations to your husband!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Congratulations to your husband! "

Thanks Elizabeth :)

It's been a long process - I don't think our daughter has ever known him not to be student!

He has graduation next month, and is also presenting a talk in our national capital and the film institute (as well as having dinner at the Italian Consulate!), so things are moving along for him.

Now, if he just applies for the job he was told about, he will be much happier in his work - and we will have to back a big move across states!

(The Driver's Seat and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, my two favourite Muriel Spark books!)

Congrats to your husband, Amanda!

lethe wrote: "(The Driver's Seat and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, my two favourite Muriel Spark books!)

Congrats to your husband, Amanda!"

Thanks Iethe!

And I really enjoyed Jean Brodie, so am looking forward to getting Driver's Seat back ;)

My only other Spark was The Finishing School. I didn't love it apparently. Having just reread my review, see that I say I wouldn't be reading her soon. Ha! Jean Brodie seems better than I remember that other.

I'm currently reading The Ages of Lulu, erotic novel of the spanish writer Almudenas Grandes; Orlando, a classic of Virginia Woolf; and Tropic of Capricorn, by Henry Miller. I'm really enjoying the first two novels.

Currently reading The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder, and Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. While I'm enjoying the first, I absolutely love the latter (so far, of course).

I'm reading and struggling due to sleep deprivation (toddler and 4 month old baby in the house!).

I just started ...

A few days ago I started Music & Silence by Rose Tremain. It takes place in 17th Century Denmark.

I am reading some wonderful women writers at the moment:

Sigrid Undset--Kristin Lavransdatter
Alice Walker--The Color Purple
Virginia Woolf--To the Lighthouse
Margaret Atwood--Negotiating with the Dead
Enjoying all of these!

I'm curious about Music & Silence, Elizabeth. Kristin L is in Norway during an even earlier period, but has made me curious about Scandinavian history. I think I'll have to check this out.

Kathleen wrote: "I'm curious about Music & Silence, Elizabeth. Kristin L is in Norway during an even earlier period, but has made me curious about Scandinavian history. I think I'll have to check this out. "

I liked the one Rose Tremain I have read - Restoration - and have some others marked as "wish list". I am enjoying it, but I think it is not as good as Restoration, which takes place about 30 years later.

I'm reading Trouble Gender by Judith Butler and it's absolutely fascinating. The style can be quite hard at the beginning because it's a precise lexical field and after all it is an essay but at a moment you realize that you have read 20 pages and it's like a climbing up from underwater in which you discovered another truth... I've not finished but it's a fabulous source of thought and imagination.
Has someone read this book?