What are you reading?

Jude the Obscure is one of my favourites. I am occasionally odd that way. Glad to say that Dr. Yes is a step up in the "Mystery Man" series; I'm really enjoying it. Got a ton of book reviews to write though, being ill really messed with my schedule! Even if it did give me an excuse to stay in bed and read for about two weeks straight.

Jude the Obscure is one of my favourites. I am occasionally odd that way. Glad to say that Dr. Yes is a step up in the "Mystery Man" series; I'm really enjoying it. Got a ton of book reviews to write though, being ill really messed with my schedule! Even if it did give me an excuse to stay in bed and read for about two weeks straight.

Ooh ooh!  A new Mystery Man book!  How did I not know about this?  Must go to bookstore tomorrow! 

I really liked Jude as well, though I read it almost fifteen years ago, and now realise that I don't remember much beyond being surprised that I liked it so well.  On my list now is The Mayor of Casterbridge.  I figure since I live in Casterbridge (Dorchester) and walk by the mayor's house practically every day, then I ought to make an effort.  I can't find a decent copy of it, though. 

I decided to start with Up and Down Stairs: The History of the Country House Servant by Jeremy Musson.  So far I am loving it!

Just finished this one yesterday.  I really enjoyed it, the author definitely did his homework looking through correspondence, diaries, etc. There were a lot of really interesting stories about individuals, which was surprising to me, though I don't really know why I was surprised.    It was a bit exhaustive at times when he would go through inventories and the like, but interesting nevertheless.

Now I have started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.  I hadn't heard of it, but my mom gave it to me for Christmas because she really enjoyed it.   Looking forward to a novel after a bout of non-fiction! 

Jude the Obscure is one of my favourites.

I really liked Jude as well, though I read it almost fifteen years ago, and now realise that I don't remember much beyond being surprised that I liked it so well.

Oh I liked it, and I'm guessing Mrs Robinson did too.  I didn't mean to discourage anyone from reading it, because it's a good book.  It's just that it's really sad.  I try not to read really sad books in Jan/Feb in England because I don't need any further grimness at that time of year.  I seem to be the opposite of a lot of people in that I take my heavier reading on sunny holidays when everyone else is reading cheap novels, and then I like to cuddle up with a funny book or a bit of travel writing when I'm stuck indoors on a gray day.

I'm almost done with Mystic and Rider, by Sharon Shinn (first book in a YA-ish fantasy series). Don't think I'll bother with the rest of the series, though, as the characters are quite one-dimensional and the "conflict" isn't that interesting. I've liked a couple of her other books (Court Duel and Crown Duel), but have been fairly "meh" about her Archangel series and now this one.

Goodnight Tweetheart-Teresea Miederos it is laugh out loud funny and a quick read

The white queen by Philippa Gregory. About the Plantagenets -- a bit disappointing.

Just finished The art of racing in the rain, by Garth Stein. Bit wordy, but entertaining. I'm a sucker for animal books.

Started The Good Fairies of New York, which should be interesting.

For the Thomas Hardy readers and lovers out there, this year is the 120th anniversary of publication of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and The Thomas Hardy Society is hosting a number of interesting events in connection with this:

http://www.hardysociety.org/

Would love to be able to go to that Memorial Service in Westminster Abbey this Sunday at Poets' Corner.  Poetry reading - yes!  But prayers?  Hardy would probably have hated that.  Lol!

I doubt I'll make any of these - because I'm not down there & also the timings are bad for me.  Hope someone can!

Guess I need to read Tess of the d'Urbervilles next!

I just started reading The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry.  So far, it's a pretty good read...I'm liking it at least.  

Finally finished Dracula on Friday night. Currently reading "Happiness
and Marriage" by Elizabeth (Jones) Towne.

I've almost finished Small Island by Andrea Levy which I LOVING, next up is Jewel by Bret Lott.

I've almost finished Small Island by Andrea Levy which I LOVING, next up is Jewel by Bret Lott.

I just finished a couple days ago, but I was reading it at the same time as Nourishment by Gerard Woodward.  The two books are completely different in tone, but the parallels were very definite in terms of major plot points.  It was just funny to me because it was pure chance I read them together, and I'm not a major WWII reader. 

Next up, The Map That Changed the World by Simon Winchester.

I'm reading Subterranean City: Beneath the Streets of London by Antony Clayton.  It's facinating! 

I just started The Help. The jury's still out.