What are you currently reading?

[Fitato]

I enjoyed it!

I find John Irving has very particular style and I like it, so that helps. The book is definitely more of a journey-type rather than destination-type book if that makes sense. I enjoyed that the author used the book to explore various facets of American politics throughout the main character's life. I'm not American, so maybe Americans would know more about that?

If you enjoy this book and want more, you could always read "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by the same author. That one is so good!

I like his style too! And yes, that makes sense.

I haven't gotten far enough into it to reach the political stuff, but I'd be happy to share my thoughts once I do!

 

[WolfDreamer]

I am currently working my way through The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

 

[ryunyc]

I’m currently reading an adventure book called The Lost City of Z by David Grann. It’s an incredible true story about British explorer Percy Fawcett’s journey to find a mysterious ancient city in the Amazon. It’s filled with mystery, danger, and fascinating history! How about you? What are you reading?

 

[Set Monje]

Took longer then I hoped, but finished "Autodesk Revit 2024 Architecture Basics From the Ground Up" by Elise Moss.
Now I need to decide, the textbook for commercial interior design (which only has one chapter on commercial interior design, the textbook for 3dstudio max which we aren't teaching again till next fall, the textbook for Civil 3D that is taught in the summer, or Sketchup for interior design which I've read but is taught in the spring and will be the most relevant soon (but is only half a semester long).
Also still have the Count of Monte Cristo on my desk at home, maybe during the winter break I can make a dent in it again.

 

[Nevetharine]

I kind of forgot about this group! I'm currently reading The Oversight. So far I'm enjoying it, it's different. I like the worldbuilding a lot.

And I'm also reading The Great Alone, though after reading some reviews of how the story goes, I'm not sure I want to continue it.

 

[Maegaranthelas]

I am reading Worn: a People's History of Clothing by Sofie Thanhauser, and it's fascinating!
I watch a lot of video essays about fashion history, so I knew a bunch already, but there is so much more context here!
And even more "here is how the British f-ed over India" and such xD

 

[Damer]

"Cognition and Extended Rational Choice" by Howard Margolis.

 

[NancyTree]

A question to German readers: do you have some recommendations for originally German written books, that are not too hard to read?
I'm in Germany and I hope to find a bookstore on Saturday to bring some books home.

I can understand German pretty well, I have read Narziss und Goldmund (Hermann Hesse) 10 years ago (it was not easy, but I managed) and at the moment I started with Der Schwarm (Frank Schätzing) which I got from a friend (in the beginning I didn't really understand, but now at page 50 I'm in).

Thanks!

 

[val.lavigne86]

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle.

This book has recently come up on my Good Reads Rec's. Only made me want to read it more!

 

[val.lavigne86]

I'm currently reading through too many books (nine, big YIKES!) and it's a bad habit I thought I'd curbed!

The ones I am likely to finish tonight, or tomorrow morning, are The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman (only 3 volumes left) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. If I finish all of those in that time frame then the next one up is From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout. Not very far into this one yet and it's very 'meh' for me at the moment. Certain types of books / genres are too cookie-cutter for any decent reading these days it feels like sometimes.

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

A question to German readers: do you have some recommendations for originally German written books, that are not too hard to read?
I'm in Germany and I hope to find a bookstore on Saturday to bring some books home.

I can understand German pretty well, I have read Narziss und Goldmund (Hermann Hesse) 10 years ago (it was not easy, but I managed) and at the moment I started with Der Schwarm (Frank Schätzing) which I got from a friend (in the beginning I didn't really understand, but now at page 50 I'm in).

Thanks!

I'm not German - but german was my first foreign language, and may recommend Stefan Zweig's "die schachnovelle" and Dürrenmatt's "Der Richter und sein Henker", I read them last year of high school.

 

[Anek]

A question to German readers: do you have some recommendations for originally German written books, that are not too hard to read?
I'm in Germany and I hope to find a bookstore on Saturday to bring some books home.

I can understand German pretty well, I have read Narziss und Goldmund (Hermann Hesse) 10 years ago (it was not easy, but I managed) and at the moment I started with Der Schwarm (Frank Schätzing) which I got from a friend (in the beginning I didn't really understand, but now at page 50 I'm in).

Thanks!

I enjoyed "Bella Germania" and "Der Pfau". The first one is a family saga in the last 60 years, the second is a cozy mystery.

 

[NancyTree]

I'm not German - but german was my first foreign language, and may recommend Stefan Zweig's "die schachnovelle" and Dürrenmatt's "Der Richter und sein Henker", I read them last year of high school.

I enjoyed "Bella Germania" and "Der Pfau". The first one is a family saga in the last 60 years, the second is a cozy mystery.

Thanks for the tips! I found 3 books: Der Richter und sein Henker, Der Pfau and Das Parfum.

 

[Syrius]

It's been a while since I checked in. I have a few open books that I am working through, but primarily, I am working through The Eye of the World. Other open books are Dune: Messiah and Fire and Blood. I'll probably finish up The Eye of the World, then try to finish up Fire and Blood next.

 

[EnbyFitness]

I’ve been reading like crazy lately, but I’m currently reading Fellowship of the Ring for the first time. I’m liking it more than I thought I would.

Who would’ve guessed that one of the greatest fantasy novels ever written is this good? Lol

 

[Damer]

The first time round is always the best. I envy you that feeling @EnbyFitness

 

[Anek]

I'm currently reading "How the World Eats" and it's super interesting. I thought it would be about the different types of foods but it's much more about food philosophy and politics and anthropology and it's full of very interesting facts.

 

[Saffity]

"Raising Human Beings" by Ross W. Greene - I mean, I have two tiny chaos warriors that I need to eventually contribute to society so I think I need all the help I can get.

 

[Henry (thinman)]

Not a book but an Xbox One RPG Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, loads and loads of reading.

 

[Maegaranthelas]

Not a book but an Xbox One RPG Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, loads and loads of reading.

I heard they're planning on fully voicing their next game, but it might still count as a book. Like Disco Elysium. So much text

 

[Jaga]

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: interesting information, but I find his tone really, really off-putting. It's way too definite and assured for a psychology book, if that makes sense. Brains are weird! Sure, you can identify trends and make generalities, but not everyone's brain is going to conform to every result you find in your studies. And in university studies especially you have to be careful not to confuse a trend in college students (the typical volunteer for those studies) for a trend in the general public.

Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey. An anime-style story about a grump with bad knees kicking butt? Yes, please!

Thinking, fast and slow in on my to-read list. It seems, that it can wait a bit longer

Currently I'm reading 1984 by G. Orwell, Royal Assassin by R. Hobb and starting Howl's Moving Castle by D. Jones.

 

[Saffity]

I've joined a website called NetGalley that gives early access to book of all types and have been enjoying getting reviews from my daughter on kiddo books. One of the audio books I'm listening to right now is from there called Single Player Due out Jan 7. So far I'm finding it a cute slow burn romance. When not listening in the car, I'm curling up with Lovelight Farms for a seasonal cozy read after the kids are in bed.

 

[Maegaranthelas]

Today I started reading Half-Arse Human by Leena Norms.
I may have spent six or so hours just devouring this book
I adore Leena's youtube channel and podcast (No Books On A Dead Planet which I have mentioned here before) and this is her take on a self-help book.
Instead of telling you to do more more more she's tackling topics that a lot of us waste our energy on, in that at heart we don't actually care that much about all of them.
Basically, it's a dive into why we feel so pressured to invest all our energy in these topics, and permission to half-arse what we don't want to invest our all into.
That way we can free up energy to put towards things we actually care about but never get around to because we're so exhausted from the little things!

I feel validated in spending less energy in some areas than seems to be the norm (hello elaborate skin-care routines I cannot be arsed with)
and more inspired to try and invest energy in the bits that I actually want to work on.
And, to be frank, seek out more corners I can cut if I have to xD

 

[NightWolf714]

I hate reading multiple books at one time. Two at the most if one is a manga. And yet, here I am with four. XD

The main one is Twisted Wonderland: Red Rose Tyrant - Volume one of the novelization of a mobile game I am obsessed with. This one does the first book of the game which sorta mirrors Disney's Alice in Wonderland. (The whole premise of the game is you got sent to another world based off Disney villains except they're all teenage boys in a magical school as designed by the person who created Black Butler. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of them has issues to work through, haha.)

Supposedly I'm also reading Radical Acceptance by Tara Branch. I had a short time therapist when switching jobs recommend it as a way to get comfortable with "the unknown." It's actually a really good and helpful book. It's just not my normal reading material so I'm not as motivated to read it, haha.

I'm nearing the end of a manga series called The Tale of the Outcasts about this girl who makes a pack with a massively powerful demon dude. Though they end up becoming good friends. Takes place in the end of the 19th century. Basically a tale of two characters finding a purpose in living life sorta thing.

And then last I was at work, I left my books at home so I ended up starting a random kindle book I picked up for free somehow ages and ages ago. Four and a 1/2 Shades of Fantasy. Honestly, it's simple teenage girl in urban fantasy/paranormal settings romances. But, to be honest, I like junk food books sometimes and it's fun. I recently accepted that I like romance books and that's okay. XD

 

[AquaMarie]

Just finished The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger. My first non-fiction book of the year, yay! It was really good, too - it's about plant behavior and intelligence. Not a subject I know much about, so lots of good new information. The author put a lot of thought and reflection into what she was talking about, and I loved how she pointed out how science and scientific thinking is influenced by the popular thinking of society at the time.

Currently reading The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Not my usual thing - I typically read more genre fiction, and (even though it has a ghost in the story) this book tends more to literary fiction. I'm enjoying it, though; the main character is a delight.

 

[NightWolf714]

Currently reading The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Not my usual thing - I typically read more genre fiction, and (even though it has a ghost in the story) this book tends more to literary fiction. I'm enjoying it, though; the main character is a delight.

Looking at the summary, that sounds like a fairly fun book.

 

[AquaMarie]

Looking at the summary, that sounds like a fairly fun book.

It was! I actually finished it last night . The tension ramped up a little at the end, and I ended up zooming through it to find out what happened. It had a really satisfying ending, too! I recommend it.

 

[MissSmilla]

A question to German readers: do you have some recommendations for originally German written books, that are not too hard to read?
I'm in Germany and I hope to find a bookstore on Saturday to bring some books home.

I can understand German pretty well, I have read Narziss und Goldmund (Hermann Hesse) 10 years ago (it was not easy, but I managed) and at the moment I started with Der Schwarm (Frank Schätzing) which I got from a friend (in the beginning I didn't really understand, but now at page 50 I'm in).

Thanks!

Hi there. I'm aware your question is a few weeks old, but I cannot resist

I guess it depends (as always) on what type of book you like. Personally, I'm probably more up to date with literature published in English, as it helps me keep my language skills awake.

But if you're into classics, such as Narziss und Goldmund, maybe you'd like Thomas Mann's Die Buddenbrooks. It's the story of a rich and powerful merchant family and its eventual downfall. The book holds a special place in my heart because years ago, I was looking for a book to read in my grandma's shelves and asked her about this one. Her answer: "Jaa, das liest sich so weg" (I cannot give the exact English translation, but it basically conveyed to me that the book is an easy, emotionally undemanding but well-made read.) It made me laugh to hear my grandma, who is very intelligent but had very little formal schooling due to living through the times she lived through, say this about one of the absolute classics of German literature. I then proceeded to read the book and what can I say, she was spot-on. The language is beautifully crafted and there is very little in terms of emotional uproar.

If you like your reading more current and funnier, I can recommend "Die Känguru-Chroniken". There are four books now in the series, and they tell the story of a, you would probably say comedian, who suddenly has a talking kangaroo move into his apartment. A very communist kangaroo. The premise sounds kind of weird, but I found it really funny - and so did many people, hence, he kept writing them . I didn't read the books but listened to the audiobooks, but I believe it should work in writing as well.

The newest German novel I consumed (also as an audiobook while sewing) was "Jahrhundertsommer" by Alice Grünfelder. I now know more than I ever wished to know about how rigid and how misogynistic life in a small village in the 1960s could be. Somewhat depressing (even though there was some relief toward the end) but still very impressive.

 

[Saffity]

Recently on the Kids book reading, Biggie's absolute favourite book is "Potato on a bicycle", he goes through all the "NO WAY" options, and then tickles the baby picture at the end while waiting for me to tickle him. We go through this book so many times a day I think I need to pick up a second copy for when this one inevitably breaks. Munchie's favourite is "My book with no pictures" where she's put words the grown ups HAVE to read in the blanks and it's all very silly.

I'm currently listening to "The Vanishing Bookstore" by Helen Phifer on my commute, and I have "For whom the Belle Tolls" by Jaysea Lynn as my curl up and actually read book in the evenings. I'm currently very much enjoying both. Bookstore is an advanced reader (listener) copy from NetGalley, and Belle Tolls is based on an original concept of the afterlife that has a whole TikTok story to go along with it, though you don't need to know the TikTok to enjoy the book.

I'm very much enjoying having the brain power to read again. It's amazing what actual sleep allows you to do.

 

[NancyTree]

@MissSmilla thanks for your reply!

"Jaa, das liest sich so weg"

We have the same expression in Dutch

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll keep them in mind for my next Germany trip

 

[NancyTree]

Just finished 'De Zwarte met het Witte Hart' (The two hearts of Kwasi Boachi) by Arthur Japin. It is an impressive true story about two African boys that were taken to the Netherlands as part of a business deal, what hardships they had to face and what effect it had on them. It was sometimes hard to read because of the older Dutch words the writer uses (understandable because of the time the events took place, but not easy) and all the details he uses.

It's translated in multiple languages; Danish, German, English, French, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Czech.