PenPal Readers discussion

📚 Share what you are reading or just finished. Like it? Love it? Not so much? Why did you choose it? What's next? 📚

I just read Washington Black - I chose it because it's shortlisted for Man Booker Prize, written by a Canadian author, and the blurb spoke of 19th century adventures and destinations of Barbados, Canada, and England. I liked it, but didn't love it. I can see why it's nominated though, it's well written, and has some complex themes of themes of slavery, ownership, freedom. It's a slow thoughtful read with a splash of adventure and exploration.

I'm currently reading Forever . . .. I remember reading this when I was way too young to, and thinking it was the most disgusting yet intriguing book ever - I think I even hid it under my pillow! So I've picked it up again to see what all that fuss was over about 10 years ago ;)

ah yes, Forever, one of my first 'dirty books'. I bought a first edition a few years ago but "lent" it to someone. That means I never got it back.

I have also bought another copy of The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan MacDougall, another one of those 'dirty books' from my childhood that I had taken off my mother's nightstand.

I am currently reading

Eleni - Nicholas Gage

Christ Stopped at Eboli: The Story of a Year - Carlo Levi

Oh that book Forever definitely brings back memories of childhood. It was spoken of in whispered tones amongst friends, we passed around a copy secretly to each other! What a great idea to re-read! I can’t imagine it will seem as “dirty” now as it did back then!

FInished off Forever . . . the same day I started it, and I actually wasn't too impressed! Have no idea what I got so caught up in!! I am about to start reading Into the Drowning Deep.

The Lorien Series

Just finished Sadie by Courtney Summers

I could not put it down - listened straight through! It's a great one for audio - the novel is presented as a radio show podcast of the story of a 19yr old girl, Sadie, who goes missing shortly after her younger sister is found murdered. The story alternates POV between the podcaster and Sadie herself.

The content is mature YA - trigger warnings for: violence, pedophelia, murdered girl, but most of it is in the background/already happened, so there's no gruesomeness. It's a thrilling and compelling read, and the main heroine, Sadie, is complex and very real.

There's a lot of buzz around this book: a new york times bestseller * an indie bestseller * a top 3 fall 2018 kids indie next pick * a bookexpo america editors' buzz pick * a junior library guild selection * an amazon best ya book of September 2018

NOTE ON THE AUTHOR
This author is a young Canadian writer with an interesting bio - she left school at 14 to homeschool, she wrote her first book at 18, and she has multiple critically acclaimed books to her name, winning the 2009 CYBIL award in YA fiction. In 2016, she was named one of Flare Magazine’s 60 under 30.

I just started Vengeful. I was actually busy with a few other books, but I have been so hyped for this one, that I just have to read it first. The first book, Vicious, was so good... I just hope that Vengeful will live up to it.

Femke wrote: "I just started Vengeful. I was actually busy with a few other books, but I have been so hyped for this one, that I just have to read it first. The first book, [book:Vicious|40874032..."

Oooh, this series sounds awesome... I need to read Vicious, adding to my TBR!

The early reviews on Vengeful look to be glowing, so I hope it delivers a great read for you - enjoy!

Dorothy Must Die

One of my work colleagues recommended Bel Canto by Ann Patchett so I picked it up from the library last weekend. Its fabulous, a very slow burn book with brilliant detail and characters. I had two flights yesterday and got through most of it, have about 50 pages to go. Definitely one of my favourite reads this year.

I've read a lot in the last week and a bit because I'm taking part in two readathons!! Today I'm picking up Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick!

This week I read
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
and am currently reading
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I just finished The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain. I absolutely loved it, one of my favourite authors. 5/5

Jazzy wrote: "This week I read
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
and am currently reading
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah"

Yay, you're reading again!! I hope the headaches are all gone now! PIcnic at Hanging Rock is on my TBR.

I finished The Cuckoo's Calling

I'm reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World it's entertaining

Jazzy wrote: "This week I read
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay "

How was it? I recently watched the show then found out it was a book. Worth a read?

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a most excellent bit of pure soul-kissing literature!

I'm still not well, but think the high fevers are gone. Will see the doctor on Wednesday :)

oh and also reading the luscious Poems of John Keats (again)! - It has a foiled cover for my NEWT challenge :)

I hope it goes well at the doctors, Jazzy, your illness has lingered on far too long! I think the doc needs to prescribe you a week on a tropical island with a bag full of books!

I'm reading The Library Book - by Susan Orlean - non-fiction historical book about a fire at Los Angeles library in 1986 (book about books theme :))

and And the Ocean Was Our Sky - by Patrick Ness - it's an upside-down retelling of Moby Dick, where the whales harpoon the humans lol - narrated by the whale. Reviews are a bit mixed, but sounds weirdly interesting - It's got beautiful illustrations, so using it for World Wonders task#28

I'm in-between books right now. All the books on my currently reading shelf are related to school, so I doubt I'll pick up anything from those during the weekend.

I could read something for the Copy Cat Challenge, find a book set in the future for my NEWTs or any fairytale retelling for World Wonders. I wish I felt like looking up books!

I'm listening to Drums of Autumn and reading The Pagan Lord.
I've tried to shorten my list of books to read in November so that I can do NaNoWriMo and actually finish this year! Haha!

Ann wrote: "I'm listening to Drums of Autumn and reading The Pagan Lord.
I've tried to shorten my list of books to read in November so that I can do NaNoWriMo and actually finis..."

I'm doing NaNoWriMo too! At least I hope I can remember my determination to do it in the upcoming weeks!

I'm about half way through The Girl in 6E! It's great, I'm absolutely loving it!!

I'm reading The Witch Elm and find it hard to put down. I have been somewhat slow catching on to Tana French's writing style in the past but am really enjoying this book.

I'm just starting Rosewater by Tade Thompson. This is speculative fiction, not a genre I usually read so interested to see what it's like.

I picked up A Tomb for Boris Davidovich in the morning and I hope to finish it later today. It's the last library book from the pile I borrowed some time ago. It's a bit too dark for my tastes right now, so I would like to pick up some light reading tomorrow. Any recommendations?

Love seeing all these updates :)

Eldee - ah yes, Tana French's writing is good!! I've read a couple so far, definitely want to read Witch Elm

Diane - I have Rosewater on my TBR, Diane, so I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

Mion - how about The Uncommon Reader - blurb calls it: "A deliciously funny novella that celebrates the pleasure of reading."
It's only 120 pages, is tagged humor, and is a 'book-about-books' which fits our theme this month :) - I'm planning to read it this month, I'll add to buddy read organizing thread if anyone wants to join, post interest there...

I've been in a MAJOR reading slump - haven't read anything since the 4th of November. I'm now moving house and have all my books packed, apart form two, which I'm not interested in right now... not the best reading month so far!

I am currently reading The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which is what the Reading Club where I am employed has chosen to work on. The History of Love is the November read for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club.

TGB is really good! I was caught off guard by the writing style and the storytelling aspect of it.

THoL had me captivated from the beginning!!

I couldn't get into Rosewater by Tade Thompson Sci fi is not my genre but I needed a sci fi book for a challenge. So I have put that one aside.

I'm now reading a hilarious political satire - 2028 by Ken Saunders We have a state election in two weeks and a federal election next year so this one is timely.

I am reading THE LAST GIRL:The story of my captivity and My fight against Islamic State by NADIA MURAD.
I have plan to finish it by 18th november.
Though just the beginning, appears to be Nicely written..
... reading in progress..

I'm nearly done with The Story of Siegfried, and it's been a surprisingly fun experience. I hadn't really read any big epics before, but the cadence and structure were really easy to follow.

Also, it's actually my first audio-book; I had never realized how noisy the city is before! But all in all, I think I may hunt down a few more to listen to while I'm commuting :)

Diana wrote: "One of my work colleagues recommended Bel Canto by Ann Patchett so I picked it up from the library last weekend. Its fabulous, a very slow burn book with brilliant deta..."

This is so encouraging for me! This book is on my library's reading challenge and it's one of the few I decided to give a try! I will probably be reading this later this month.

Right now, I'm reading A Clash of Kings but since my edition has divided the book in two parts, I'll probably take a short break when I'm halfway through.

I listened to Warcross and Wildcard by Marie Lu - YA fantasy/sci-fi (videogame/tech) - i found both books entertaining and engaging, the story moves along at a quick pace, and I liked the characters... a bit like Ready Player One with more technology/future and a female protagonist. I gave both books 4*

I listened to Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming and I thought it was amazing. 5* It was fascinating to hear her point of view on the many things that happened during her and Barack's 8 years in the White House. She's really honest in sharing her feelings an experiences, with incredible insight and perspective as a first lady, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a working woman. The audio is a lengthy one at 19 hours, but I was quite captivated through it all, as she tells a far deeper story going all the way back to her childhood, schooling, early career, first meeting Barack, and their early years together. She narrates this book really well... I loved hearing her tell her story with such honesty, passion, insight, and commitment.

I'm just starting Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart. This is for a challenge.

I'm reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I REALLY want to get this done before December so I have some intense reading to do as I'm only about 100 pages into it!

I am close to finishing but rereading To Kill a Mockingbird. Love this classic and excited to read the recent sequel she just came out with.

I'm reading The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me

Faith wrote: "I am close to finishing but rereading To Kill a Mockingbird. Love this classic and excited to read the recent sequel she just came out with."

I absolutely love To Kill A Mockingbird - desperately need to re-read it!

I'm reading You Against Me for the third time!!

Chloe wrote: "I'm reading You Against Me for the third time!!"

The summary of that book sounds great! I hadn't heard of it before, but it definitely sounds like something to keep an eye out for! I've just started Strange Sweet Song, though it lays a bit outside of my comfort zone.

Im currently reading the storm sister by Lucinda Riley!:)

I just finished A Scanner Darkly and started Roadside Picnic

I got overwhelmed with work and now I'm finally back to reading all the stuff I fell off on.

Currently listening to Dune again. Currently reading The Six-Gun Tarot

Mion wrote: "I just finished A Scanner Darkly and started Roadside Picnic"

I heard Roadside Picnic is amazing and is on my to read list. I watched Tarkovsky's adaptation of the book "Stalker" and loved it. One of my favorite films of all time.

Kyle wrote: "Mion wrote: "I just finished A Scanner Darkly and started Roadside Picnic"

I heard Roadside Picnic is amazing and is on my to read list. I watched Tarkovsky's adaptation..."

I've seen the movie too! It was amazing! Right now, I've only gotten very little into the story, but the foreword by Ursula K. Le Guin made me want to read it even more! So far, I would really recommend it!

I'm now reading How Not to Disappear which has been on my shelf for SO LONG!

I'm currently reading Shock Wave by John Sandford and The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie. Both books are amazing so far. Can't stop turning the pages!