Off the Books discussion

What else is on your currently reading shelf? Are you enjoying it, or are you begrudgingly slugging through it? Feel free to also put recommendations for other readers here (whether they're recommendations to read or stay far away!), and share your favourites.

I'm begrudgingly dragging myself through the fourth Percy Jackson book, I don't mean to be rude but honestly I'm kind of over books written by men because they have no idea how to write women, I was literally making the ugliest grimace face as I read this last chapter, I'm gonna quote you in my opinion the worst bit
~ "I brought my eyes back to Earth. However amazing the stars were, Calypso was twice as brilliant. I mean, I've seen the goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, and I would never say this out loud or she'd blast me to ashes, but for my money, Calypso was a lot more beautiful, because she just seemed so natural, like she wasn't trying to be beautiful and didn't even care about that. She just was. With her beautiful hair and white dress, she seemed to glow in the moonlight. She was holding a tiny plant in her hands. It's flowers were silver and delicate." ~ for your money Percy???? What?? Is that really an acceptable way to talk about a woman?? Anyway, it'll be over soon and I'll start Harry Potter instead

Just finished The Secret History (um wow A+++ I can't believe I waited so long tbh) and I picked up Red Rising at the library the other day.
It was voted best debut author in GRCA '14 and the sequel (Golden Son) was voted best sci-fi in '15 so I wanted to give it a try. Three chapters in and, although the martian "newspeak" sounds a little odd and forced, it hasn't been enough to put me off the book so far. No TWs that I'm aware of yet but casual warning for language if you're sensitive to that.

Happy holidays everyone (to those who celebrate it)!!

Did anyone get some cool books as presents? I got a really beautiful copy of both Pride & Prejudice and Emma from my parents :)

Happy holidays everyone (to those who celebrate it)!!

Did anyone get some cool books as presents? I got a really beautiful copy of both Pride & Prejudice and Emma from my parents :)

thats cool Betty!! i got a kindle for my birthday which is incredible and i love it and today i bought myself metamorphosis by franz kafka and a dictionary of space things by DK :)

Betty wrote: "Happy holidays everyone (to those who celebrate it)!!

Did anyone get some cool books as presents? I got a really beautiful copy of both Pride & Prejudice and Emma from my parents :)"

I got A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, I'm super excited about reading it!

Betty wrote: "Happy holidays everyone (to those who celebrate it)!!

Did anyone get some cool books as presents? I got a really beautiful copy of both Pride & Prejudice and Emma from my parents :)"

That is sooo cool! People rarely gift me books -,- Idiots.
Like I care for a mug with pictures on them.

I didn't get any books but I bought my Mum a copy of The Perfumer's Secret by Fiona McIntosh and I'm really excited to hear her thoughts on it, I think it's right down her alley!

I'm reading Margaret Atwood's 'The Heart Goes Last' at the moment and I am really, really enjoying it. I'm liking it quite a bit more than I liked 'The Handmaid's Tale', maybe because the world seems a little more relatable? Regardless, I am thoroughly invested in it & I'm really glad I decided to pick it up :)

I'm glad you're enjoying The Heart Goes Last Betty! It's on my bookshelf, next to my bed, I'll read it eventually :)
I'm 2 books into The Raven Cycle series and I haven't been so !! about a series since Harry Potter and it's really stressing me out

I'm glad you're enjoying The Heart Goes Last Betty! It's on my bookshelf, next to my bed, I'll read it eventually :)
I'm 2 books into The Raven Cycle series and I haven't been so !! about a series since Harry Potter and it's really stressing me out

Helloooo~

I just picked up The Sudden Appearance of Hope after having it on my shelf for a while waiting for me to finish my OTHER book, and so far... all I can say is it's a writing style quite unlike anything else I've read.
I'm not sure it I really like it, it seems a bit disjointed, but the plot is moving along nicely now so I'll keep you posted!
Just thought I'd drop a message to try and spark up a conversation ;)

Ive just finished reading Hiroshima by John Hersey, its terrifying what people can do to each other, but the strength of the survivors to carry on after is inspiring, its rather short too so it won't be a problem to finish with any kind of reader :)

One book series that I always go out of my way to recommend (seriously, the author should just start paying me) is Sergei Lukyanenko's 'Watch' pentalogy beginning with Night Watch. It's an urban-fantasy set in modern day Moscow and features complex characters, moral quandaries with literally millions of lives hanging in the balance, and centers around the question of what can a person do to make up for their past mistakes. I also highly recommend the movie of the same name, although it technically only covers half of the Night Watch novel while it's film sequel Day Watch (named for the second novel in the series) is the second half of the Night Watch novel (weird, I know).

Kinsey wrote: "One book series that I always go out of my way to recommend (seriously, the author should just start paying me) is Sergei Lukyanenko's 'Watch' pentalogy beginning with Night Watch. It..."

That was a book I remember seeing in the book store and being really interested in years ago, but they never had the first book in store (back before I could figure out how to use the internet I suppose?)
It's translated yes?

So Urban day fantasy like.. underworld? Or more cuddly like The Mortal Instruments?

Betty wrote: "I'm reading Margaret Atwood's 'The Heart Goes Last' at the moment and I am really, really enjoying it. I'm liking it quite a bit more than I liked 'The Handmaid's Tale', maybe because the world see..."

Betty, I'd love to hear your thoughts on The Heart Goes Last!
I had to read The Handmaid's Tale for my high school Literature class and I really love the whole, corrupt religious powers thing.
I'm looking forward to trying The Natural Way of Things which I think has a similar feel to The Handmaid's Tale.

Anna wrote: "Kinsey wrote: "One book series that I always go out of my way to recommend (seriously, the author should just start paying me) is Sergei Lukyanenko's 'Watch' pentalogy beginning with [book:Night Wa..."

Yes, it's translated from the native Russian but it's so seamless that I didn't even know it hadn't originally been written in English! As for the 'type' of urban fantasy, I would say it stands quite alone. The Others (people with powers) in the books are quite normal and...boring. Like, Anton's next door neighbor is a butcher who also happens to be a vampire, no big deal! Whether you are a "Light" or a "Dark" Other makes no difference...you can be Light and still be a terrible person or be Dark and end up saving the world. I know this isn't a very good explanation but honestly I can't think of even one book/series that is comparable to this series!

That's what I like to hear!

I'll give it a look! ^_^

Im reading fool me once by Harlan Coben.his books always have me on the edge of my seat! Never lets me down when i pick up a coben book. You guys should check his work out.

Currently reading Battle Royal by Koushun Takami, naturally ive seen the movie first, its what made me look for the original novel, only about half way but I'm enjoying it alot, don't know if anyone else has read it before