What book are you reading at the moment? Are you reading on paper or on an e-reader?

oakapple

Senior Member
Location
Oxford England
Just finished a very good Phil Rickman book called Candlenight. He writes rather spooky and atmospheric stuff set on the English/Welsh border country. Halfway through a historical novel called Wolf Hall, about the life of Thomas Cromwell [not to be confused with Oliver Cromwell.]Also just bought a book for my Kindle [which I do most of my reading on these days] called The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which promises to be good, about a man who goes for a walk and ends up on a kind of road oddyssey.
 

I started reading Violence of Action by Richard Marcinko but I'm not going to read any more of it.

If it weren't for the "F" word, this guy couldn't even write a simple sentence. Glad I didn't buy the book.
 
I've recently started listening to books on tape in addition to reading books printed out on paper, so I'll go through three or more books a week these days depending on how many cd books I check out of the library.

This past week starting with, Sunday:

Fledgling, by Octavia E. Butler, then Cinnamon Kiss, by Walter Mosley both on CD and I'm now reading a book of shorts, by, Christopher Merkner titled "Rise & Fall of The ScandAmerican Domestic" This latest one I am reading the printed paper form.

I have to admit, the books on CD have become a bit of an addiction, it's like sitting in the theater watching a play enacted, I didn't think one could feel even more immersed in a book. Of course it helps if it's a really good book told by a gifted voice actor and or story teller. Only problem is if you get too comfortable and set up for the long haul, you can easily be lulled into a nice sleep and have to restart a disk or two every now and again. :)
 

I love books on CD; especially in the car.
i have Alan Bennett, and Michael Palin's Diaries in the car at the moment.

I am reading Good Morning Mr. Mandela as a proper book, and I have two Kate Morten books on the Kindle.
 
To paraphrase Will Rodgers: "I never met a book,I didn't like". Like Falcon, after you have opened it and started reading....you can change your mind. I enjoy getting bags full of books from the library, and contrary to popular belief...you can judge a book by it's cover...at least when you are choosing. I will always be a "real" book person, as I find the images on the covers so powerful. This method of choosing works so well, I find myself having to weed out the "dups & duds" after every trip! Most books that I buy, I get on Amazon. My latest such purchase was "Bravemouth" Living With BillyConnolly", which was recommended by Warri, and in spite of a few jarring verbal speed-bumps, proved to be an enjoyable read! Billy is a remarkable genus! Thanks, Warri!! :)

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Strictly ereading these days and I am glad that this became available as I enter advanced aging. "Doubling Down" is the book later today that I recently started about brothers of a famous author successful in their own right who become addicted to casino gambling...
 
I am nearly finished reading a story written by an Irish writer.. her own story of the House on the Irish Hillside.. its a delightful book , have really enjoyed reading about life in Ireland.. so many lovely photos of Ireland as well .. but previous I read a story by Patricia Shaw.. "Fields of Gold." I liked this one as was about convicts coming out to Australia and what they did to work in the Gold field.. the hardships , triumphs and survival.. I read all sorts of books but not murder stories , or war . they are not my kind of books.. :)
 
What a lot of different reading or listening methods, and also very different books.I once had an Alan Bennet story on audio cd for the car and almost had a crash I was laughing so much.Vivjen may know the title;it's about a couple who come home one night to find their apartment has been completely cleared of it's contents? It may be called 'The Clothes We stand Up In'?That's all they have, their clothes.Try and get it or read it.Bennets Yorkshire humour may not be to everyone's taste, but you would need to be made of stone not to crack a smile at least.:D
 
This morning I started reading an old paperback I found in my wardrobe [like you do] The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham. I read it years ago of course, but once I read a few pages I couldn't stop. It was over breakfast and I got marmalade on myself I was so engrossed in the book.
 
Has anyone read The Girl On The Swing by Richard Adams? He wrote Watership Down, but the book I mention is nothing like that. If you have a nervous disposition, do not read it.It's supernatural and very gripping.
 
What a lot of different reading or listening methods, and also very different books.I once had an Alan Bennet story on audio cd for the car and almost had a crash I was laughing so much.Vivjen may know the title;it's about a couple who come home one night to find their apartment has been completely cleared of it's contents? It may be called 'The Clothes We stand Up In'?That's all they have, their clothes.Try and get it or read it.Bennets Yorkshire humour may not be to everyone's taste, but you would need to be made of stone not to crack a smile at least.:D

I'm going to have to look into that title, I need some lighter fare. The last five or so books I've read in the past couple weeks have been heavy stuff and I need something to make me laugh at least a little.

One book titled "Little Bee" by Chris Cleave, said it would make you laugh in many a spot, lies. It was interesting and chapter four (maybe disc 4) gripping, I could barely move from my seat, while listening to this part of the story though I needed to get up and take care of a matter, I was unable to till this section was over, it was devastating and held me like glue. Let me just say if I knew the truth how this story would continue and end, I never would have started reading it. However, I'm glad to have read it as it was fascinating and an important story.

You'd think I learned my lesson, onto another Interesting, but no less depressing story, but just as fascinating story was "American Dervish" By Ayad Akhtar. Don't look for the happy here either.

I like my reading material to have some meat and realism to them, but gee, I could now use just a bit of, in the end everything gonna be ok man, no matter how unrealistic it might be to some degree. :D

I have a couple of Grisham books on tape, "The Summons and "The Brethren". I might try, not sure if I can stomach them this day and age, I have another couple of books that will probably end up pulling at the heart strings, one I was about to start titled "A Free Life" by, Ha Jin.
 
Oakapple you are correct with your title...
i like any Alan Bennett ; I watched 3 Talking Heads I had recorded the other day...a very wry sense of humour.

You could also try some Maeve Binchey, Aprilt; Irish...basic stories about ordinary people; but she is acknowledged as a good writer, and again, gently humorous .

I read all kinds of rubbish...
 
Oakapple you are correct with your title...
i like any Alan Bennett ; I watched 3 Talking Heads I had recorded the other day...a very wry sense of humour.

You could also try some Maeve Binchey, Aprilt; Irish...basic stories about ordinary people; but she is acknowledged as a good writer, and again, gently humorous .

I read all kinds of rubbish...

Thank you Vivjen, the author sounds familiar, I'll give her books a look.

I had a problem finding the book by it's title, oakapple mentioned, but then I looked it up by the author and found it. "The Clothes They Stood Up In" In case someone else decides to look for it. Unless, I'm looking at a completely different book altogether and missed the other somehow, which could be possible. :confused:
http://www.amazon.com/Clothes-They-..._2_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411593988&sr=1-13

Unfortunately my library doesn't carry it regardless, so either way I'm out of luck for now. Sigh


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VivJen, I just quickly looked up the author, Maeve Binchy, on amazon and she may just be what I need for a change and a good laugh, I'll be sure to see how many of her books I can locate at my local library. Thanks bunches. :)
 
Vivjen, I have been having trouble staying interested in any book this year. I was wondering if you might know of something that might break this streak.
i use to really like what I called a saga. When I said that to our local librarian, she had no idea what I meant. I explained that it would be a story of several generations, with mystery, romance, and history in it. She still had no clue, so I gave up and went home.
Do you have any suggestions, and if I could get them for my Kindle or iPad, it would help.
:bighug:
 
Vivjen, I have been having trouble staying interested in any book this year. I was wondering if you might know of something that might break this streak.
i use to really like what I called a saga. When I said that to our local librarian, she had no idea what I meant. I explained that it would be a story of several generations, with mystery, romance, and history in it. She still had no clue, so I gave up and went home.
Do you have any suggestions, and if I could get them for my Kindle or iPad, it would help.
:bighug:
 
Ah, Viv, and now I know why the author's name, Maeve Binchy, sounded familiar, quite a few years ago, I read and very much enjoyed "Circle of Friends". I see my library has a pretty good selection of her books, so, I should be good for a while.
 
Vivjen, I have been having trouble staying interested in any book this year. I was wondering if you might know of something that might break this streak.
i use to really like what I called a saga. When I said that to our local librarian, she had no idea what I meant. I explained that it would be a story of several generations, with mystery, romance, and history in it. She still had no clue, so I gave up and went home.
Do you have any suggestions, and if I could get them for my Kindle or iPad, it would help.

I worked at a library years gone by, I know not everyone that works in such positions are always big readers, shocking though it may be, at least it was to me during my stint, but, if she is your local librarian, she needs to find another job if that was her reaction. To be in that position, she should have some inkling as to what you were referring to. :wow:
 
Vivjen, it doesn't sound to me as if you read rubbish at all; just a lot of different things, which is good.April, it does sound as if you need some lighter reads.You must try and read McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy. He goes on a road trip to Ireland [it's a very humerous travel book.]I told a friend a few years ago about this book, she got it and took it on holiday. She was laughing so much, a fellow hotel guest asked why, and my friend lent her the book, and soon she was laughing too.It helps if you know Irish people, but even if you don't you will really enjoy the gentle humour [and the laugh out loud moments too.]
 
Vivjen, it doesn't sound to me as if you read rubbish at all; just a lot of different things, which is good.April, it does sound as if you need some lighter reads.You must try and read McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy. He goes on a road trip to Ireland [it's a very humerous travel book.]I told a friend a few years ago about this book, she got it and took it on holiday. She was laughing so much, a fellow hotel guest asked why, and my friend lent her the book, and soon she was laughing too.It helps if you know Irish people, but even if you don't you will really enjoy the gentle humour [and the laugh out loud moments too.]

I really do need something light to read, I didn't purposely end up on this bleak genre it really happened haphazardly, I was going down the line picking throw the books randomly and trying to beat the clock. Many times I'm trying to gather as many titles as I can before I have to run back at to make the next bus, also I tire rather quickly so going all the jackets is a bit wearing so, I sometimes give up rather quickly and do a mad grab and dash if I'm not finding anything that makes me smile. I do pre-order books and sometimes they come in time for me to pick up on some visits, but if not, then I do what I just previously wrote. I just received a notice that four of five books I placed on hold are ready for pickup. YAY! I would be lying if I say they are all happy go lucky reading. :crying: but I will be picking up some light fare to go along with the other titles I will be collecting on my next visit. I know my local library has the title Vivjen mentioned both in print form and on cd and I will look for the Pete McCarthy. I'm very used to the writings of Irish authors, one of my favorites happens to be so I always felt a connection for some very strange reason I can't explain, maybe because many a movie I watched as a kid featured many a themed based in lives of people that may have been Irish people. I haven't any idea. Wasn't, Oliver, Irish and or Our Gang, all A lost of the I don't know But I do enjoy writings of any people from all cultures as long as it moves, enlightens or at the very least entertains me in some way and is well crafted.

Anyway, I'll look into the author, I wouldn't be surprised if I've already read something written by him. I do know I the book, Circle of Friends, by the author VivJ mentioned wasn't a laugh a minute book, it was a little heart breaking in fact, but, the other book does seem to offer a lighter side to life, I wonder if that's why I didn't continue with reading more of her books. Hmmm. I sometimes am my own worse enemy, ha, ha, ha. Just usually if I like a book I will read another of the writer's books. My memory is starting to reconnect on another of Binchy's books, but we'll see.

I do enjoy books that have me laughing out loud, I just haven't come across any of late, but, I will keep my eyes open. I just know, I don't need to get on a long tangent into these very sad macabre stories for weeks on end.

I thank you and Vivjen for your suggestions, ignore my babbling.
 
You may babble as much as you like, AprilT....let us know how you get on.

Now to Ina...I know what you mean by sagas....let me think for a minute...
 
Ina; I know what you mean by sagas; but I am going to suggest a few authors you might like....
try Cain and Abel, by Jeffrey Archer, Tara Road, by Maeve Binchy, or the Distant Hours, by Kate Morton.

If you get interested in one; you can then you can try others by the same authors....
Bet somebody has better ideas.....
 


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