Reading List Completists discussion

Alright, time to say hello....

A few things you may want to share....

1. Name
2. Where you're from
3. Favorite book(s) and/or genre(s)
4. Least favorite book(s) and/or genre(s)
5. Last book you finished and what you thought

1. Stephanie
2. Originally California, currently living in Virginia
3. Favorite genre is just...fiction? Regular all over the place adult fiction...I am not really specific as long as it is well written. The Blind Assassin and Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World are two of my favorites.
4. YA, romance. The only books I have DNFd are Twilight and The Inventor and the Tycoon.
5. The last book I read was The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Thought it was great, it was a fun little spy mystery type book. She is basically one of the best people that has existed.

I should probably thrown in on this, too.....

I'm Justin and currently live in Dallas, TX. I'd agree with Stephanie in that my favorite genre would probably be just straight up fiction. I like a good sci/fi/fantasy/dystopia novel as well. I can't hang with too much YA (but I do enjoy some of it), and I really can't do romance (especially of the paranormal variety).

Some of my favorite books include 1984, The Great Gatsby, Crime and Punishment, Les Miserables, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The last book I finished was Norwegian Wood (I think... I should just cheat and confirm it on my GR list). I really liked the writing of Murakami, but wasn't a fan of some of the book's content and the way it was translated.

Glad to have you all onboard and excited to see the group take off!

I'm another Stephanie, (from sunny So. CA). I enjoy historical fiction, travelogues, and some nonfiction. Can't say I enjoy sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia. Some YA okay, put paranormal is not my thing...
Looking forward to giving this group a try!

1. Name:Abbie
2. Where you're from:Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
3. Favorite book(s) and/or genre(s):°Most Genres.I tend to lean more towards Horror & Science Fiction.
°Favourite Books,
4. Least favorite book(s) and/or genre(s):Romance, Christian
5. Last book you finished and what you thought: I just finished , super good! Couldn't put it down. Kind of like Cast Away, except on Mars.Can't imagine being stuck on another planet for months by myself. He definitely has a will to live.

1. Courtney
2. Kentucky, USA
3. Fav Genre would have to be fantasy
4. Least fav would probably be really dry nonfiction
5. I finished "All's Well That End's Well" last night. I did not like the story. Too much man chasing for my taste. And I did not like the ending. Not Shakespeare's best for sure.

Welcome everyone!

1. Matthew (not Matt - I don't get mad if people call me Matt, it just isn't what I go by)
2. Greenwood, IN (also Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Laramie (WY), Yellowstone National Park (WY), and Gardiner (MT))
3. Favorite books are The Stand (King) and Brave New World (Huxley). I like horror, YA stuff, legal dramas, and political thrillers. Friend me on Goodreads and check out my favorites list. I love adding friends on Goodreads because I love discussing books - better than any other social media!
4. I don't like artsy books that try too hard. I have read a few that are supposed to be classics and been very disappointed.
5. Most recently completed book was Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Just okay - not as good as the first in the series, The Princess of Mars.

I'm Emily and I'm from Kansas.

I love classics, historical fiction, and mysteries, but I read just about everything. My favorite books are Wuthering Heights and Harry Potter.

My least favorite genre is overly-hyped fiction (if that isn't a genre it should be).

The last book I finished wasAll the Light We Cannot See and I loved it. One of the few that actually lived up to the hype.

Abbie - I agree about The Martian, but I know our group moderator doesn't, so I question his judgement! ;)

Hi, I'm Brittney. I'm from Florida and I'll give any book of any genre a try at least once. For that reason, I don't really have a favorite, though to be honest I'm not the biggest fan of mystery books. I'm currently reworking my way through the Harry Potter series because I realized a month ago that I'd never read them in order, just read them as they came out as I was growing up. I'm also working my way through Anna Karenina, and I finished the Divergent series last week. Can't wait to begin Infinite Jest!

My Name is Ally. I'm from Winnipeg, Canada.

I'm a huge science fiction fan, but I also enjoy horror, thrillers, fantasy and graphic novels.

I typically dislike the books that everyone raves over... Not intentionally, it just kind of happens that way.

The last book I finished was Wayward. I'm pretty much obsessed with Wayward Pines at the moment.

Haha, Matt, I mean Matthew, thanks for calling me out on my take on The Martian. That book is banned from any group reads in this group. Read at your own risk. :)

Justin wrote: "Haha, Matt, I mean Matthew, thanks for calling me out on my take on The Martian. That book is banned from any group reads in this group. Read at your own risk. :)"
Guess it's a good thing I have already read it then!

First of all, thank you Justin for the invite. Nice to meet everyone. :)

1. Name: Rachel
2. Where you're from: the sweet nectar of love or lust... depends on the point of view.
3. Favorite book(s) and/or genre(s): Genre is Horror! Dark fantasy, fantasy, sci-fi, non-fiction, and some others genres. So far this year my favorite read is The Collector. I love Frederick! Nothing like a good ole creeper to get my blood pumping.
4. Least favorite book(s) and/or genre(s): I'm not a fan of romance or chick lit, or YA. I'd rather have my eyes spooned out.
5. Last book you finished and what you thought: My last read was 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. I was really pleased with it. The short story 20th Century Ghost was just up my ally. Loved it. Great stuff. I'm currently cracking into, Heartsick plus a bunch of other reads.

Welcome to the group, Rachel!

1. Jennifer (a lot of folks call me Jenn)

2. I am from Southern California

3. Favorite book(s) and/or genre(s): A couple of my favorites are The Collector (by Fowles), The Mind Thing and Rosemary's Baby. Generally speaking I like fiction and more specifically horror and anything by Fredric Brown.

4. Least favorite book(s) and/or genre(s): I really struggle with biographies and non-fiction and I am not a huge fan of hardcore sci-fi/fantasy. I rarely ever read new books (meaning new releases) so I cannot ever find book clubs to join--all they ever want to read is stuff like Gone Girl and The Book Thief.

5. Last book you finished and what you thought: The Road is the last book I finished and I always have to adjust to McCarthy's style but when I do I find I enjoy his work. This book was great, in my opinion but not what I would call pleasant.

1. My name is Tracy--I'm an ESOL teacher, but also do drama, writing, and music. I'm also trying to learn some foreign languages.
2. I grew up in the Midwest, on the Mississippi River, but now I live in Florida, which I have mixed feelings about.

3. Right now I would say my favorite book is Dostoyevski's THE IDIOT. I don't much think of books by genre, as I like most stuff of quality, whether it is historical,philosophy, fantasy,Harry Potter, classic, hipster, detective, sci-fi.. I have favorites in each genre, but others I think are trash. I'm not much one for pulp fiction, although occasionally my job forces me to read stuff like GONE GIRL or YA stuff . I also have a big weakness for Russian writers, both classical and modern.

4. My least favorite book is probably MOBY DICK--I've tried to read it probably 6 times, and usually only make it slightly past the half-way mark. This bothers me because I almost always! finish. Other books I do not like, for philosophical reasons, is LORD of the FLIES. I also didn't like the ROAD much--but don't get me wrong, I like dark stuff, just not these. I think Faulkner is hilarious, for example.

5 The last book I read I finished yesterday; it's called DAY WATCH by a Russian named Lukyanenko --it's the second of a series, and it's basically sci-fi/fantasy about the world of humans who have become "Others" with special powers and challenges normal humans don't have. It's amazing, I plan to read the whole series, highly recommended and overlooked by Americans, I think, and there's two movies!

Thanks for the invite, Justin. Love the group concept.

Here is my intro:

1. Valerie, aka DarthVal

2. Live in Hickory, NC, but originally from Ohio

3. Favorite genres:
- Scifi/fantasy (I include horror in that)
- Mystery/thriller
- Graphic novels
Favorite authors:
- Ken Follett
- Jim Butcher
- Brandon Sanderson
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Michael Crichton
- Gail Carriger
- Gillian Flynn
- Malcolm Gladwell

4. Least favorite genre(s):
- Christian
- Romance
- YA (I don't mind a young protagonist, but I'm allergic to teen angst)
- Nicholas Sparks and the like

5. I just finished Shards of Honour. I enjoyed it, but I couldn't help but think of it as an introductory story, since I was reading it in preparation for a Group Recommended Read of The Warrior's Apprentice.

While the story was more than a bit romancey, I think it was more of a political scifi drama. I look forward to the next book.

Hahaha, "I'd rather have my eyes spooned out"- I definitely (mostly) agree Rachel. I only say mostly cause I will try most things, but I have not had the best of luck in the past. Rom coms are the worst.

And also this reminds me of a graphic nightmare I had after watching a specific episode of American Horror Story: Coven.

Matthew wrote: "Most recently completed book was Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Just okay - not as good as the first in the series, The Princess of Mars.."

I am rereading The Princess of Mars to start up Gods of Mars.

Stephanie wrote: "Hahaha, "I'd rather have my eyes spooned out"- I definitely (mostly) agree Rachel. I only say mostly cause I will try most things, but I have not had the best of luck in the past. Rom coms are the ..."

Oh, I love American Story. Do tell your graphic nightmare... I don't get nightmares. I am still looking for a horror novel that will freak me out. In one of my horror groups we read a book that really graphic and just the kind of crazy psycho killers we needed. It made us all think wow we love this but it is oh so wrong to love something like this. Just one of those moments where there is guilt for something you love. :P

Hi, I am Melike. I am originally from Turkey, but have been in the USA for 30 years. Currently living in NC, but soon moving to Rochester, NY aka the frozen tundra. Some of my favorite books are Middlesex, East of Eden, and Mists of Avalon. I like fiction, sci/fi, fantasy, dystopia and historical fiction novels. My least favorite genre is romance. Last book I finished was Pat Conroy's the Great Santini. I didn't care for it at all.

I loved Middlesex! Such a great book.

Oh man, I forgot about East of Eden. Classic.

Justin wrote: "Oh man, I forgot about East of Eden. Classic."

I loved Of Mice and Men and Grapes of Wrath - always planned to do some more Steinbeck but never have. I think that this may motivate me!

Yeah if you like those you'll love East of Eden.

1. Lori
2. London but I'm originally from Glasgow
3. I read a lot of mysteries and historical fiction but I also like a bit of fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, classics, horror, supernatural/paranormal. I'm a pretty eclectic reader. I never understand how people can limit themselves to just one genre.
4. I don't like romances apart from some classics like Jane Austen.
5. Guilty Pleasures - I got hold of a copy years ago because I was looking for a good paranormal mystery and it was a popular series. Sadly, I was fooled by the words "I don't date vampires. I kill them." on the cover as the series quickly turns into paranormal romance and then erotica. Finally bit the bullet and it was awful. A true one star book. There is no world building, it's never explained how a petite woman is able to hunt and kill vampires and the author seemed to forget there was supposed to be a mystery.

1. My name is Jessica!
2. Born and raised in the south/TN (and no, we don't walk around barefoot eating roadkill all day).

3. It is really hard for me to narrow down my favorites these days. I'm really all over the place with what I enjoy reading. I love calssic literature (old and modern). Sci-fi/fantasy have become a favorite of mine over the past couple years. And I do like YA-although I am extremely picky. There are some great authors in the genre. Sadly the good authors get overshadowed by things like Twilight (ick!)
A few favorite books:
1. Chaos Walking: A Trilogy
2. A Storm of Swords
3. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
4. The Handmaid's Tale
5. Jane Eyre
6. The Book Thief
7. and of COURSE Harry Potter ---> is my fav in the series Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
and The Name of the Wind holds a very special place in my heart because it it what turned me on to fantasy. :D

4. Not a fan of romance genre. Just not my thaaaang (that includes most paranormal romance that has become a genre in YA).

5. I am almost done with Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set
Great series! I have enjoyed the adventure. I'm trying to finish
The Scarlet Letter and Dubliners. So sloooow but thought provoking, which I appreciate.

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I am rereading The Princess of Mars to start up Gods of Mars. "

This was okay, but I think his concept was a bunch of serial novellas that came together as part of a larger work. Because of this, I felt like the best part was the cliffhanger ending; just like on an episode of a sci fi show so you can't wait for the next one!

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Hahaha, "I'd rather have my eyes spooned out"- I definitely (mostly) agree Rachel. I only say mostly cause I will try most things, but I have not had the best of luck in the past...."

Lol...Just that. I had a dream that someone held me down and started using a melon baller to scoop out my eyeballs. It really felt real. Only got one eye out before I woke up.

Hi guys, I'm Michael, from West Virginia, US. My favorite author is Stephen King. My favorite books are his 11/22/63 and The Stand. Generally I stick with fiction these days, but every now and then I get interested in something nonfiction. A few months a ago I tried to read Infinite Jest and only made it a couple hundred pages. I'm trying to talk myself into giving it another try. My last book was Cats Cradle by Vonnegut which I really enjoyed.

Stephanie wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Hahaha, "I'd rather have my eyes spooned out"- I definitely (mostly) agree Rachel. I only say mostly cause I will try most things, but I have not had the bes..."

Lol, I remember that part. That was great. I love that show.

1. Heather
2. My mom
3. It always changes to be honest. The Hobbit, One for the Money, Perks of being a Wallflower are three faves. I like urban fantasy and basically worship Jim Butcher. GRRM, Simon R. Green, Kim Harrison, JD Robb, Margeret Atwood, Tolkein, Stephen King, Lee Child.
4.Romance (except Sparks. I still read him.), most chick lit, YA "dytopian". I detest Suzanne Collins, EL James, and Stephanie Meyer. I'm bored with James Patterson and Janet Evanovich.
5. I just finished Oryx and Crake and thought it was pretty good. It's defonitly dystopian, but it has amazing point of views and the flashbacks woven through are masterful.

Hi everyone, I'm Rishabh, from Delhi,India. My favorite is Slaughterhouse V, or maybe Catch 22. They are both awesome and I can never decide for sure.
I like to read diversely and enjoy fiction as well as non-fiction. The only genre I dislike is "Self-Help", except for one or two books maybe, it's full of balderdash.
Last book I finished was Hamlet and I enjoyed it soooo much. I was hesitant to start a Shakespeare book but with help of notes and stuff I finally slayed that dragon, and that reminds me how come there is no Shakespeare or Tolstoy on that Time's List.

I'm Katrina, I'm from New Zealand.
My favourite books include Cloud Atlas, His Dark Materials (the trilogy, can't choose one, their great), nearly everything by Terry Pratchett, The Book Thief, and more...
My least favourite genre is probably Young Adult. Couldn't say a least favourite book, there are quite a few I haven't been able to force myself to finish.
I'm reading 1Q84 which is awesome so far. Really interesting and I can't put it down! It's all I'm thinking about so can't even remember what I last read!

Welcome to the group everyone!

Rishabh wrote: "Hi everyone, I'm Rishabh, from Delhi,India. My favorite is Slaughterhouse V, or maybe Catch 22. They are both awesome and I can never decide for sure.
I like to read diversely and enjoy fiction as..."

I'm with you on the Self-Help: and congrats on the Hamlet--still one of my favorites.

1. Sam.
2. Currently in Virginia, but have bounced back and forth between here and Florida.
3. My favorite genre is horror, but my all-time favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
4. Fifty Shades of Grey. Blegh blegh blegh.
5. Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce. It's the last book in the Song of the Lioness quartet, and I thought it was a solid end to the series.

1. Simone

2. Brasilia, Brazil, though I am from Rio de Janeiro.

3. My favourite genres are drama (love Shakespeare) dystopian, historical, and fiction in general. A few favourites: 1984, Brave New World, Frankenstein, The Catcher in the Rye (and the others by Salinger), Of Mice and Men, Dom Casmurro, Game of Thrones series.
I'm also kind of addicted to audiobooks. I love it because I usually listen to things I wouldn't have time to read otherwise, mostly non-fiction about history, music, neuroscience, etc.

4. Least favourites would have to be over descriptive Romantic/Realistic novels, which are so common in Brazilian/ Portuguese literatures, such as those by José de Alencar, Camilo Castelo Branco and others. This is the stuff we usually have to read in high school in Brazil, and I guess that is why there are so few readers in my country.

5. I've just finished rereading Hamlet, and it's been a lot of fun, while at the same time fraught with deep thinking. But before that I read Ivanhoe for the first time, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, I found it very clever and engaging. I like long sentences that challenge my attention and make me think about syntax. I've also just finished listening to 12 years a slave. The story was incredibly moving and full of insight.

Welcome to the party!

Stephanie wrote: "Abbie wrote: "1. Name:Abbie
2. Where you're from:Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
3. Favorite book(s) and/or genre(s):°Most Genres.I tend to lean more towards Horror & Science Fiction.
°Favourite Books,..."

Great, seems we have the same taste, we may have to find something to read together,!

1. Margaret
2. Adelaide, South Australia
3. My favourite go-to genre is Romantic Suspense (favourite authors are Suzanne Brockmann and Cindy Gerard), but I will read anything that sounds interesting to me.
4. I really struggle with YA, and anything called "New Adult" - there is just too much self inflicted angst in those books for my liking.
5. Last book I read that was noteworthy was Cold Touch by Leslie Parrish. It is in the paranormal romance genre but it had a great mystery/suspense element that kept me reading. I am really disappointed that she only wrote 2 books for the series (especially as I thought there could have been at least another 2 books she could have written from the great supporting cast of characters).

Hi,

I'm obsessed with lists in every aspect of my life.

1. Janina
2. Originally from Germany which is why my repertoire of English classics is a bit limited (as is my German, but nevermind). Currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area, but desperately hoping to be able to leave soon. My heart resides in Colorado.
3. High Fantasy, dystopian scifi and some coming-of-age stories, well-written lgbt (of the non-romance kind). Favorite books ... Station Eleven, Einstein's Dreams, a certain Harry Potter fanfiction series, Saga, Invisible Monsters, Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the Universe and a German book "28 Tage lang" (a brilliant YA novel about the Warshaw ghetto uprising).
4. Least favorite book(s) and/or genre(s): Romance .. traditional, paranormal, urban, whatever (with BDB being the absolute bottom of that list). Just not my thing. Also PI crime or anything involving detectives.
5. Last book you finished and what you thought: Vision in Silver, the third book of The Others. The series is brilliant and the world is incredibly unique. I have never read anything like it and I love it. Unfortunately, this book felt a bit like a filler book. Still, a good read, but not as amazing as the first two. Not enough progress for that many pages.

Stephanie wrote: "Lol...Just that. I had a dream that someone held me down and started using a melon baller to scoop out my eyeballs. It really felt real. Only got one eye out before I woke up. "

I just finished a book and there was spooning out eyeballs. Made me think of you. :)

1. Srividya

2. I am from India.

3. I tend to read books from all genres, mostly depending on what I am in a mood for. Recently I have found a liking for Fantasy and reading more from that genre but give me a good book and I am your friend!

My favourite books include Of Human Bondage, Trustee from the Toolroom, A Tale of Two Cities and a whole lot more!

4. YA is one genre that I don't really like, so also the New Adult and similar stuff - mostly because they just talk about the same thing and in a pretty depressing manner. Also don't really like chick-lit, although I do tend to read a few from the genre, in the hope that I might find a good one! Hope is eternal as I always say.

Least favourite books include Me Before You (Gah I hate the day I decided to read this one), The Beginning of Everything (Another really horrible one) and again many more to count!


5. Last book you finished and what you thought - I just finished reading Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and totally loved it. For me it was a mix of fantasy along with coming of age. It spoke of some bitter truths about growing up and loss of childhood through a story that was both funny and sweet. I will cherish this one.

Glad to have you all along! Welcome!

Hi everyone!

I'm Kirstin. I'm in Ottawa, Ontario

I love dark fiction be it classics, horror, sci fi or fantasy but I'll read almost anything. I stay away from chick lit and romance. YA isn't a big draw either but I've liked some titles. I don't confuse that with children's lit( which I love).

Too many favourites to name. I think my most read authors are Shakespeare and Stephen King. I love Vonnegut, Zola, Steinbeck, Shirley Jackson, and I'm loving all the amazing horror authors I've been introduced to here at GR.

The last book I read was Geek Love by Katherine Dunn and I thought it was incredibly strange, in the best way!

I'm a total list junkie so I'm happy to join the group!

Kirstin, your description of Geek Love is dead on. I thought it was wonderfully demented.

Valerie wrote: "Kirstin, your description of Geek Love is dead on. I thought it was wonderfully demented."

Thanks, Valerie. I was blown away by Dunn's imagination. What a cast of characters.