Book Geeks and Bookniks discussion

What are you reading this week? Have you finished your first book of 2011?

I actually stopped reading The Cookbook Collector. I was about halfway through when I realized that neither the plot nor the characters interested me. I'll go to the library later today and will hopefully find something much more interesting.

I think my first 2011 book was Kathy Reichs's Spider Bones.

I am still reading The Women's Room and The Kitchen House. Both are great books.

I am struggling through New World Monkeys....I hate it.

I'm still working on 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall-Smith. I'm enjoying it, but I didn't have alot of time for reading last week - VERY busy. Once I finish, this will be my first book for 2011.

Up next is Bel Canto and The Women's Room.

My first book of 2011 was Patti LuPone: A Memoir and was very interesting. I am still reading The Women's Room and started Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell's Blue Period.

I'm still working of The Radley's by Matt Haig. I'm enjoying it, just haven't had much reading time. My first book of 2011 was Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo. it was good:)

I'm still plodding through the Gospel of Food - it's very preachy, and has a lot of contradictions. I may actually give up!

I'm still reading Tatjana Soli's THE LOTUS EATERS! I'm liking it a lot but it's the type of book that I tend to read even slower than my normal slow, so it'll probably take me a while. (I started it in December, had virtually NO reading time, so pretty much started it over at the first of the year.)

My first book was Roses are Red by James Patterson.

I'm trying to finish Matched by Ally Condie

I read something about MATCHED yesterday, Tina, and it sounded kind of good. Are you liking it? Apparently it's the first of a trilogy.

First book complete for 2011 was The Polysyllabic Spree.

I'm still working on The Women's Room and True Notebooks. Hope to finish both up this week.

Currently reading Bad Blood by John Sandford and Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1. I think I will be working on Twain for quite a while.

Heather wrote: "Currently reading Bad Blood by John Sandford and Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1. I think I will be working on Twain for ..."

How do you like Mark Twain? I'd like to read it too, and Bookmarks magazine has highly recommended it.

I finished Little Children by Tom Perrotta the other day and LOVED it. I am now reading Forest For The Trees by Betsy Lerner and am really enjoying it. I am about 25% through.

I have actually finished 7 books already. My 8th book is Rooms: A Novel by James L. Rubart

I'm reading Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. It has recently taken a turn that I'm quite thankful for because it was starting to drag. I have 100pgs left. Also, Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch. It's OK so far and I'm liking it better than Girls In Trucks.

Next up The Neighbors Are Watching by Debra Ginsberg.

I just finished my 3rd book for the New Year. My first finish was the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, which I LOVED!! I am getting ready to start The Women's Room tonight!

Sara wrote: "I just finished my 3rd book for the New Year. My first finish was the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, which I LOVED!! I am getting ready to start The Women's Room tonight!"

I agree, Henrietta Lacks was amazing! Her story is so important, especially to research.

Read Room and really enjoyed it. Reading A Visit from the Goon Squad now and still not sure what I think.

Carol wrote: "I am still reading The Women's Room and The Kitchen House. Both are great books."

Loved the Kitchen House.. one of my favorites of 2010

I started Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich yesterday. My first book of 2011 was Alice I Have Been. I really enjoyed it! I think my copy of The Women's Room got lost in the mail (PBS).

Julie- PBS and The Women's Room seem to be jinxed. I received my copy promptly and it was completely unreadable. It was very old, musty and the cover was missing pieces. When I opened it, the cover and several pages fell off. I've never received a book in such bad condition. Unfortunately, the sender hasn't responded to my pm and PBS powers that be haven't responded when I wrote to them about how bad it was. GRRR

I hate bad swappers!! Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often.

I agree Stacey. I think that's why I was so upset. I've swapped soooo many books and they are nearly all in excellent condition. Fortunately this experience is not the norm for PBS:0)

I started my copy of The Women's Room last night...excellent so far. I got my copy from PBS and while it's yellowed with age, it's still in good condition. I would be glad to pass it on when I'm finished.

I'm about to start C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton

Jennifer L. wrote: "Heather wrote: "Currently reading Bad Blood by John Sandford and Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1. I think I will be worki..."

It is looooong and a bit dull in parts, but overall it is a fairly enjoyable read so far.

I just finished my third book of the year (being snowed in has helped in that regard), Kings of the Earth. It is by the author of Finn, which I haven't read yet. I'm not sure what to think. I liked it, and it will stay with me, but I'm not sure how heartily I'd recommend it. Dark, earthy, sad. I think it will stay with me a long time.
That said, my first book this year was Unbroken. Wow, now that's a book I can recommend! It was wonderful!

Hey all - I'm a newbie to this group and first of all I'd just like to say that I really enjoy how the What Are You Reading section is set up. I've joined many other groups and noticed that they usually have it as one giant forum going back for months. That can certainly be intimidating for a new member trying to jump into things, especially if you're like me - a bit OCD about back-reading everything in a topic before commenting on anything. Usually by the time I get to the end I've forgotten what comments I wanted to make. Bravo for finding a solution to that common problem!

As for what I'm reading right now - I tend to read several books at a time and switch between them as the mood strikes me. Here is what I'm reading:

The Age of Napoleon (Story of Civilization 11) which has turned out to be one of the most delightful and easy to read history books I've found in a long time. I'm about 450 pages in and have only found a couple excessively dull, chapters which would have been nearly impossible to make interesting. A note at the beginning of the book mentions that particularly dull passages not vital to the story have been put in reduced type - I love a history author that can admit that some parts of history are just simply less interesting than others. I'm thinking about buying the series (only $60 hardcover on half.com!) and reading the ten other books before it. It's been a while since I've read a good history book and admittedly, I only picked it up because of the next book I'm reading...

War and Peace I've been on a classics kick lately. Probably because with school commitments I've only had time for light stuff such as sci-fi and fantasy, which I enjoy, but it's time for something a bit more substantial. Not to mention, it helps that one of my other groups on GR is reading it. I'm finding that the translation you get for War and Peace can change the views as to its readability quite a bit. I've been enjoying a translation by Constance Garnett. So far I'm about 500 pages in and enjoying it immensely.

Dirt for Art's Sake is a book on various classic books which have been either banned or challenged in various countries. I picked it up mainly to get a reading list of banned books going. :)

Bend Sinister is another work by Nabokov, the author of the infamous Lolita. I enjoyed Lolita, as every line was obviously thought out and beautiful. So far, I'm not getting into it very much, but it could just be because I'm reading so many fascinating "heavy" books right now and it's taken a backseat. I may have to stop and come back to this one.

I'm reading about three other books right now, but I don't want to get this post too long and strain everyone's patience!

Kathryn wrote: "Hey all - I'm a newbie to this group and first of all I'd just like to say that I really enjoy how the What Are You Reading section is set up. I've joined many other groups and noticed that they us..."

Ohmigosh Kathryn - you are definitely an ambitious reader! I don't know how you can switch between such substantial books!

As for me - I have given up on the The Gospel of Food: Everything You Think You Know About Food Is Wrong and figured I would start This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper, and I finished it in two days - I really do love his writing!

"Carving for Stone"

Mary wrote: "I read something about MATCHED yesterday, Tina, and it sounded kind of good. Are you liking it? Apparently it's the first of a trilogy."

Sorry I'm so late Mary. I LOVED it! Highly recommend it. The next one doesn't come out until November 2011.

I just started Ape House during lunch today.

I'm now reading Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden. This is her first adult book. A nice cozy mystery.

Lisa S wrote: "I'm now reading Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden. This is her first adult book. A nice cozy mystery."

That is a funny title/concept. Been to PTA meetings that could have ended in murder.