Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

What are you currently reading?

Let us know what you are reading and if you would recommend it to the group.

I started Bringing Up Girls in Bohemia by Michal Viewegh, well, last year. :D This author is generally known for his humorous writing style and writing satirical stories. It's too early to recommend it.

My big challenge for today is to keep myself from starting ALL the books ...

Kathleen wrote: "My big challenge for today is to keep myself from starting ALL the books ..."

Too funny! I have a stack of 8 that I can't wait to get into. I've been spinning my wheels for a couple of days, barely managing not to start them before the new year.

Kathleen wrote: "My big challenge for today is to keep myself from starting ALL the books ..."

I sometimes do that. I start too many.

How can you possibly buy an audiobook or borrow one from the library without checking that it downloaded alright? And thus accidentally start it.

Right now I seem to be currently-reading‎ 12 books. I will try to finish them someday.... (ahem.....) One non-fiction book has been on my currently-reading for over 10 years.

I'm currently slowly reading with groups according to weekly group schedules:

Augustus by John Williams
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain by Charles Dickens

And I'm about to start a buddy read of:

The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk

And I'm also reading on my own:

Happening by Annie Ernaux
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

All of them are good so far, actually. It's maybe a few too many at once, but they are different enough from each other that I think it can work. 😀

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "My big challenge for today is to keep myself from starting ALL the books ..."

I sometimes do that. I start too many.

How can you possibly buy an audiobook or borrow one from the..."

I have a few of those, too. :D

Starting the year off with Frankenstein: The 1818 Text and Peril at End House.

I'm reading Little Dorrit, one chapter at a time. I haven't read it before and don't really know where it's going but I like Dickens' writing.

I just picked up The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and am loving it. The writing is spritely and the story intrigues me. It's a relief after a couple of dully written books I just slogged through. I've seen the movie and TV show years ago, and have fond, if fuzzy, memories of them.

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is full of short chapters about birds in the author's Nashville backyard. Pleasant reading for winter.

Teri-K wrote: "...The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is full of short chapters about birds in the author's Nashville backyard. Pleasant reading for winter."

I have a copy of this! I'm pulling it out to read now.

I got this The Myth of the Eternal Return or, Cosmos and History for Christmas. Am reading it now.

Finally, a TBR book off of my shelf! Whoo hoo, I enjoy a challenge.


The Giver by Lois Lowry | Review

I was sitting in my living room today watching the first 6 inches of a projected double digit accumulation of a beautiful, gentle but constant snowfall while reading about the first winter endured by the characters settling in the 1779 North Carolina Appalachian wilderness as portrayed in John Ehle's The Land Breakers

After finding out about the book in this group a few years ago, I bought a copy but whenever I considered reading it its stark subject matter and small print had me a bit hesitant to start it.

I shouldn't have been hesitant. Not only is it a perfect book for my current reading setting, but after reading almost 1/3 of it, it feels like it as the makings of a great novel. Such descriptiveness and atmosphere! As a Thomas Hardy fan, the descriptiveness and starkness are both appealing aspects of the book.

I had thought this book had been in a CUOC discussion but it seems to have been in a discussion by the several CUOC members who moonlight as GR Southern Trail - Blazers. I perused the discussion over in that group but, even with no spoilers, I discovered it was best for me to wait until I finished the book to read the posts more closely.

I have just started reading the book with the fewest number of ratings (3!) on my GR shelves, namely:
Castle Crazy by Adalbert Stifter


seems pretty good so far btw ;o)

Brian, I am going to read the Land Breakers later this year, so I will be interested to read your review.

I just started Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett, who also wrote for young people as Noel Streatfeild. I've read Murder While You Work by Scarlett and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately she didn't write any more mysteries, so this one isn't quite as much fun for me - it's more of a very slow village romance. But I'm enjoying it so far.

I also picked up John Buchan's Mr. Standfast, hoping it would be fast moving like Greenmantle was. But it's a lot slower so far, and January is a month where I struggle with the darkness and grey, rainy skies, so I want ACTION! ADVENTURE! EXCITEMENT! And I'm not getting it. lol

Just finished The Female Man by Joanna Russ [5/5] review
best book of the 70's so far, really amazing and a total surprise.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Just finished The Female Man by Joanna Russ [5/5] review
best book of the 70's so far, really amazing and a total surprise."

I recently read that one too and really liked it.

Currently reading Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone de Beauvoir and re-reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

I am reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. My first Tolkien book but not my last! As well as rereading Deuteronomy and Joshua ESV

Wreade1872 wrote: "Just finished The Female Man by Joanna Russ [5/5] review
best book of the 70's so far, really amazing and a total surprise."

That's on my January TBR if I can get to it. I'm actually planning on reading various of Russ' works over the year because I meant to read her last year and didn't get to it.

Janice wrote: "I am reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. My first Tolkien book but not my last!"

Oh, first time reading The Hobbit! I hope you love it!

I've read Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield--a literary science fiction novel. Fully 3 Stars.

Now I'm open to reading herPrivate Rites at retelling of King Lear by William Shakespeare

I’m reading Question 7 by Australian author Richard Flanagan (non-fiction) and War and Peace by Tolstoy.

Yesterday I started Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Watson. I'm about half way through, it's a quick read and not really what I expected but I'm enjoying it.

I'm still reading, among others:
Little Dorrit, Dickens
The Law and the Lady, Collins
1774: The Long Year of Revolution, Norton
Nemesis, Christie

I made this comment on the old thread. Perhaps I am losing my attention to detail as I age. LOL! Anyway,...
I finished Thomas Hardy's The Portrait of a Lady and Octavia Butler's Kindred. The latter was a re-read. I am closing in on the ending of the marvelous story The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain by Dickens. A slow group read.

I recently finished Question 7 by Richard Flanagan, which I really liked. I’ve got several library books going - James by Percival Everett, Merlin’s Tour of the Universe (audiobook) by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong. And, I’m squeezing in a few pages of War and Peace every day!

Finished a couple of books The House of Fear (1927) by Robert W. Service [2/5] review and
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith [1/5] review

I'm enjoying the year so far despite these scores, currently reading a 50's b-movie like sci-fi book
From What Far Star? by Brian Berry and finishing my League of Extraordinary gentlement reread.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Finished a couple of books The House of Fear (1927) by Robert W. Service [2/5] review and
[b..."

I didn't realize Service wrote novels, I only know him from "The Cremation of Sam McGee and The Shooting of Dan McGrew. My Dad could recite most of both poems, though he was born and bred in Colorado. Probably I got my fascination with Canada from him. lol

Interestingly, I just watched the old black and white movie Murder She Said. In it Margaret Rutherford supposedly plays Miss Marple, who is trying out for a part in a play and recites sections from Dan McGrew for a spellbound group. Also, I recently read a mystery by a Canadian author that referenced Dan McGrew. So traces of him linger on.

Teri-K wrote: "I didn't realize Service wrote novels..."

I didn't realise you wrote poems! Good info.I saw the name The Shooting of Dan McGrew in passing but assumed it was another book.

Wreade1872 wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "I didn't realize Service wrote novels..."

I didn't realise you wrote poems! Good info.I saw the name The Shooting of Dan McGrew in passing but assumed it was another book."

They are both famous poems by Service, who was sometimes called The Poet of the Yukon. You should check them out - they're all over the internet. They tell fun, over-the-top stories set in Canada with strong rhythm and rhymes. They're best read out loud with lots of energy and expression.

"A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon;
The kid that handles the music-box was hitting a jag-time tune;
Back of the bar, in a solo game, sat Dangerous Dan McGrew,
And watching his luck was his light-o'-love, the lady that's known as Lou.

When out of the night, which was fifty below, and into the din and the glare,
There stumbled a miner fresh from the creeks, dog-dirty, and loaded for bear.
He looked like a man with a foot in the grave and scarcely the strength of a louse,
Yet he tilted a poke of dust on the bar, and he called for drinks for the house."
- from The Shooting of Dan McGrew

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee."
- from The Cremation of Sam McGee

Boy, this has taken me back to my childhood. lol

I'm reading Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. I had enjoyed the writer's lyrical prose and did not want to lose a comfortable feeling about her. Fortunately the lyrical writing continues into her memior.

I am also read 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke for a sci-fi challenge and because I promised myself a space opera this year, as a try out. It is a readable, well-thought out novel. I must watch the movie!

Cynda wrote: "I am also read 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke for a sci-fi challenge and because I promised myself a space opera this year, as a try out. It is a readable, wel..."

I loved the movie and the book "Out of Africa". I haven't read "2001: A Space Odyssey" (actually, i didn't know there was a book!), but I did watch the movie. I know a lot of people love it, but it just was not my taste. I hope you have a better time watching it Cynda :-)

Teri-K wrote: "Wreade1872 wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "I didn't realize Service wrote novels..."

I didn't realise you wrote poems! Good info.I saw the name The Shooting of Dan McGrew in passing but assumed it was anot..."

For a lighter touch
The title song from a movie of the same name, staring the original boop boop a-dup girl, Not the original Betty Boop...

Helen Cane
Dangerous NAN Mcgrew

Hotcha, Chacha, Vo-doe-de-oh,
And Boop-oop Poop-oop-a-doop.
Tootin', shootin', high-falutin',
I make you loop the loop.

I'm from the great North West.
I'm dif'rent from the rest.
Stand up, stand up, throw your hands up,
I shoot pants and vest.

Oh, I've been a bad girl all my life.
I pick my teeth with a carving knife,
And I make a widow of a wife.
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.

Why, I slapped Jack Dempsey in the face
And I make barbed wire look like lace
And I throw myself right out of place
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.

And I eat dynamite
And I blow up in spite
I shoot everything in sight
Beware! Boom boom! Take Care! Poo poo!

With one breath, I sink a boat
And if anybody gets my goat
I cut myself a piece of throat
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.

Why, bullets, they bounce right off my chest
And I sleep on a hornet's nest
Why, I'm the gal sends show men west
'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.

Why, lions tremble when I frown
When that great big Zeppelin came to town,
Remember? I'm the one that held it down
Because I'm dangerous Nan McGrew.

I like destroying pelf
I shoot bottles off the shelf
I'm so bad I scare myself.
Take care! Boom boom! Beware! Poo poo!

Why, I pull a train right off the tracks
And for perfume, I use shellac
When mad dogs bite, I bite 'em back
Grrrr! 'Cause I'm dangerous Nan McGrew!

Phrodrick is determined to clear a growing backlog wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "Wreade1872 wrote: "Teri-K wrote: "I didn't realize Service wrote novels..."

I didn't realise you wrote poems! Good info.I saw the name The Shooting of Dan McGrew in passing but assu..."

Funny! Though, if you've read the original poem you can't help thinking she could have just been "a girl named Lou". :)

Kathleen wrote: "My big challenge for today is to keep myself from starting ALL the books ..."

That's one of my challenges too. 😂 Every time I hear about a book, so I'm really trying to keep that in check, so far it's not working out but I will keep trying

soon starting Passing.

I finished reading The Martian Chronicles (Ray Bradbury) I've been wanting to read it for some time, finally have, just amazing

Anisha, I found that the Martian Chronicles could have been true! Glad you got to read it.

Cynda wrote: "I am also read 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke for a sci-fi challenge and because I promised myself a space opera this year, as a try out. It is a readable, wel..."

That's one of my favorite sci fi novels!

Right now I'm reading The Spectre General: The Golden Age Science Fiction Classic , The Mysterious Affair at Styles and Cloud Cuckoo Land .

I am reading My Favorite Thing is Monsters book two by Emil Ferris. The illustrations are just perfect for the story, which is rough, complicated and full of mystery!

I am also reading Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. So far its very good!

Now that have finished reading 2001: A Space Odyssey, I am in awe. Thank you for cheering me as sci-fi is a reading fear/challenge that I keep being pleasantly surprised by.

started Hecuba and Passing to follow.

On a side note, if you're interested in Tolkien and a Kindle reader and in the US, I noticed currently the The Lord of the Rings Illustrated is reduced to $1.99 this is a hardback ed

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Ill...

I have this as a physical ed, the illustrations are wonderful.

Cynda wrote: "Anisha, I found that the Martian Chronicles could have been true! Glad you got to read it."

Thanks Cynda, and you've finished reading 2001: Space Odyssey - yeyyy!!!! for getting over a hurdle.

I've only read the screenplay and have yet to get to the novel which I have, and one of these days ... if only there weren't so many books.

I am currently reading “The Brothers Karamazov” (after many false starts) and “Nowhere In Africa” by Stefanie Zweig.

I just finished “Anna Karenina” (after many false starts) and “The Magic Mountain” (after many false starts).

Finished Cannery Row by John Steinbeck [2/5] review which i couldn't get into at all really.
Added The Poor Mouth by Flann O'Brien, very funny stuff.

I bought the complete novels of Flann and Joyce some time ago, after this i'll have left just At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann and Finnegans Wake by Joyce so hopefully finish both collections this year.

Finished From What Far Star? by Brian Berry [4/5] review

I'm reading by Larry McMurtry. Its just okay. A friend gave it to me, and its short, so I decided to give it a try and get it off my TBR shelf. It's my first McMurtry book, which is unfortunate, because Lonesome Dove is supposedly so good. But I will not let this little book stop me from reading Lonesome Dove one day.

currently reading Dante’s Daughter! I’m a big fan of Dante’s work so I thought I’d try out this fictional book loosely based on her life. So far, so good! 💕