Lord of the Readalong 2020 discussion

I love getting recommendations from what other people are reading! So...what are your current reads? Are you liking them or no? Would you recommend them to others?

I am currently reading The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley

Currently reading and loving the Goldfinch. I have to finish it this weekend for my book club meeting. Also reading a biography on Washington.

I am currently reading Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things.

Currently reading The Duchess by Jude Deveraux. It’s a reread for me but it’s one of my favorites. 🙂

I’m currently reading skyward by Brandon Sanderson. It is so good!:)

Currently reading the testaments by Margaret Atwood

I have been working through The Count of Monte Cristo with another readalong. I'm currently listening to How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones and plan to wrap up The Saturday Night Ghost Club tonight.

Currently reading:

- The Three-Body Problem (Cixin Liu) - Science fiction
- A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth) - Historical, set in 1950s India
- The Way of a Pilgrim (anonymous) - Christian classic (ca. 1884)

I'm liking all of them so far, although I haven't gotten very far into the first two yet, since I started them both recently.

I am reading The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos, and The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton.

I like them so far, but I will say that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes includes a TON of intentional misspellings and intentionally misused words (e.g. all intensive purposes instead of all intents and purposes). It is written in diary form and the character keeping the diary is being portrayed as not very bright, though she believes herself to be quite smart. The grammar Nazi in me is struggling with it!

I am currently reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It was my spooky read for Halloween, though I did not get it finished by Halloween as I would have liked. I am about halfway through and enjoying it for the most part. Hoping to finish it up this weekend.

I am currently reading The Liar by Steve Cavanagh.

Currently reading The Quick by Lauren Owen. I’m not even half way yet, but I like it. It’s not my usual genre, I’d call it historical horror or thriller. We’ve got some vampires, so it’s good for this time of year.

Hey guys!! Currently reading Stalking Jack the Ripper, first book of the series. But having a hard time getting into it. Might DNF for now and read it at a later time. I'll see, going to give a few more pages to see. Wish me luck!!

kami wrote: "I am new to fiction. I read mostly memoirs and other nonfiction. But, I started following BookTube and I’m discovering so many great options. In a typical year I might have read a dozen books, but ..."

OMG! I can relate...since discovering BookTube my list of books has skyrocketed! Now I'm SO behind on my TBR pile. LOL

Simplybae wrote: "I’m currently reading skyward by Brandon Sanderson. It is so good!:)"

Oh! I just bought this book and can't wait to read it. :D

Zulma wrote: "Hey guys!! Currently reading Stalking Jack the Ripper, first book of the series. But having a hard time getting into it. Might DNF for now and read it at a later time. I'll see, going to give a few..."

I want to read this series too. Bummer that it's not working for you. I've heard such great things about the series.

I'm currently reading: Cinder, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Vicious, Wilder Girls, and Muse of Nightmares.

I'm reading a lot at once because 3 of them are buddy reads. :)

I am currently rereading dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.

Jennifer wrote: "I have been working through The Count of Monte Cristo with another readalong. I'm currently listening to How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones and plan to wrap up The Saturday Night Ghost Club ..."

The Count Of Monte Cristo is amazing!

I'm reading a few books right now. On my own, I've got Tyrant's Tomb, The Last Guardian, and Mort. I'm also reading Titan's Curse with my sister and cousin.

I am currently reading “The Story Of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. I am LOVING this book. It’s my first Non-Fiction November read for the year. I am also reading “The Watchman of Ephraim” by Gerard De Marigny. This one is a fiction work which I am also enjoying greatly. Talk about two very different books!!!!

I'm currently reading Rise of the Elgen book 2 to Michael Vey. Its really good. Also I'm games of thrones second book a Clash of Kings. This month I'm reading what I'm current I got on currently reading.

I'm currently reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

Jill (Fond of Fiction) wrote: "I'm currently reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë."

Jill, I am too and I am a little disappointed in it. I don't know what you think or how far you are but I hate it when everyone loves a book and I just think it is ok. I am only about halfway through though so maybe I will like it better as I read.

Currently reading:

The Bible
Thinking Fast and Slow
The Pursuit of God
1493
Islamic Imperialism
Tom Sawyer (in Turkish)
and Heretic

Just finished:
Wilder Girls--didn't really care for it--I gave it 3 stars.

Currently reading:
Outlander--loving it!
The Near Witch
Audiobook: Daisy Jones and the Six

I'm currently reading Pet Sematary by Stephen King, which is my first King ever! It's good so far :)

Last Night I finished Appointment With Death by Agatha Christie, I'm reading all her Hercule Poirot novels as my before bed reading.
Currently reading: As it is non-fiction November:
Clearing The Air by Tim Smedley,
Somebody I Used To Know by Wendy Mitchell - about early onset Alzheimer's Disease
Diagnosis by Lisa Sanders, M.D. about baffling medical mysteries
Five Days At Memorial by Sherie Fink for my Buzzword readathon
Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - bedside reading

Shameless self-promotion... but if you want a free copy of what I am reading, click here:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

I'm currently reading Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen) and Elantris (Brandon Sanderson). NA is dragging for me; I've seen a film adaptation of it and enjoyed that, but book is not grabbing me like other Austen masterpieces. I've been reading Elantris for a few months now. It is just one of those books that is a slow go for me, but I like it, so I will persevere.

Carmen wrote: "I'm currently reading Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen) and Elantris (Brandon Sanderson). NA is dragging for me; I've seen a film adaptation of it and enjoyed that, but book is not grabbing me like ot..."

I was the same way with NA. I can't remember if I gave it a three or four star.

I'm currently reading:
During December, I tend to read a lot of cozies, christmas novels, and some amish fiction.

I just finished Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh. Very good book. I am also reading The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

I'm reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, my last book of 2019.

Currently reading A Darkling Plain (Mortal Engines 4) by Philip Reeve and The Book of Dust 2: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman.

I am reading Lock Every Door and Pachinko.

I have a question and am not sure where to put it so I am putting it here.

I am not a fantasy reader. I have never read a fantasy book or author. I am also not a fantasy movie watcher. I have watched parts of shows when my daughter lived here.

My question is:
As a fantasy neophyte , should I watch the movies first then read the books or vice versa?

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "I have a question and am not sure where to put it so I am putting it here.

I am not a fantasy reader. I have never read a fantasy book or author. I am also not a fantasy movie watcher. I have watc..."

I don't consider myself a fantasy reader either and with me I saw the Lord of the Rings movie and have never read the book and I read the Hobbit before I saw the movie. I would think most would say read the book first but going by my experience with the Hobbit they were different and both enjoyable.

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "I have a question and am not sure where to put it so I am putting it here.

I am not a fantasy reader. I have never read a fantasy book or author. I am also not a fantasy movie watcher. I have watc..."

I would recommend watching the first of the LotR trilogy, then don't watch any more until after the books are read. This will give you a little grounding of what Tolkien's universe is like and give you visuals for what the different characters look like, but it won't spoil most of the reading experience.

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "I have a question and am not sure where to put it so I am putting it here.

I am not a fantasy reader. I have never read a fantasy book or author. I am also not a fantasy movie watcher. I have watc..."

I would agree with BJ about the LOTR movies. But for the Hobbit, I think the book on it's own is pretty accessible and should/could be read first. The movies change quite a bit from the story and are stretched into 3 movies (ridiculous). haha.

Thank you all for your helpful advice !

I am loving a book I picked up at the library, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman has been a breath of fresh air for me. It is funny, imaginative, quirky and fun. The swear words, esp. the "F" word are minimal. I started it this morning and would have finished it today, except I got sidetracked.

I am currently reading My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent and loving it so far. I am also reading a Sherlock Holmes short story every day from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which is my first foray into the Holmes world.

I am currently listening to The Starless Sea and I'm reading the Plantagenets.

MaryEllen wrote: "I'm currently reading: Cinder, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Vicious, Wilder Girls, and Muse of Nightmares.

I'm reading a lot at once because 3 of them are buddy reads. :)"

The Girl Who Drank the Moon was sooooooo cute. I loved it.💕

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "I have a question and am not sure where to put it so I am putting it here.

I am not a fantasy reader. I have never read a fantasy book or author. I am also not a fantasy movie watcher. I have watc..."

Good question. For me, I found it helpful to watch the movies first, even if there are differences between the two both in tone and some plot points. Since I was already invested in both the characters and the world before I read the books, I had an extra push to see what happened. The exception to this is if you watch the movie, and find you don't like it, maybe check to see what fans of the book think of it. Each person is different, of course, but this was my experience.

I am currently reading:
The Brethren by John Grisham
‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Governess Of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd
Jacob’s Way by Gilbert Morris
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

This is an extremely ambitious January TBR but I am reading on each of these.

Steph wrote: "I am currently listening to The Starless Sea and I'm reading the Plantagenets."

How are you liking The Starless Sea? I've heard pretty mixed reviews of that one so far.

I'm finishing up "The Hobbit" and about to start "An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones.