I've just finished reading my first Nicholas Spark's book - Dear John. I found it amazingly close to home and honest, like you could imagine him sat next to you, telling you the story. There was enough description, yet he left enough room for the reader to make up their own mind. It was an emotional roller coaster but it gave out a strange aura of calm throughout.
I'm having a great time reading I, Partridge - We Need to Talk About Alan. For non-ukers (not sure if Alan is internationally known) Alan Partridge is a comedy character who has been on tv for ages, and this book is his autobiography. It's very silly
I just finished reading Wuthering Heights aloud to my husband last night. I loved it. I had read it once before, in high school, but despised it. I figured I should give it a second chance and am so very glad I did. Now we're reading Emma by Jane Austen. I've read it before and loved it, so I'm reading it aloud to my husband. It's his first time.
I just finished reading Inheritance by Christopher Paolini the other day. It was the final book in the Inheritance Cycle, and I think he did a good job of wrapping up all of the loose ends, even if I was a little miffed at the ending.
I've just delved into the Game of thrones (Fire and Ice) series. It's my first fantasy series. I'm currently on book 2, and still enjoying the storyline. I recommend it to anyone interested in reading the books. Just be prepared for a lot of reading!
I'm getting to work on the reworked Chung Kuo novels by David Wingrove. I never read the originals, but the first of the new ones got a good write-up in Interzone so I thought I'd give it a crack. I'm about 1/4 of the way through, and it's pretty good so far.
I got The curious incident of the dog at night-time the other day, and I'm nearly finished already. It's interrupted my reading Catch-22 so I'm trying to get through it asap. Was in the book shop and couldn't resist buying it It's a good book btw, a bit odd, definitely a change from your average prose.
Being the pushover I am, I'm about to start reading Wuthering Heights at Hannah's behest. Anyone interested in how I found Son of Heaven should have a look at my external blog. If only for the hilarity I managed to get out of the use of the phrase 'the odious Wang'.
I just started reading The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. I bought it at Half-Price Books in the Teen Clearance for $1.00, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I have a lot of books that I own, but haven't read, so I'm catching up!
^^^ Percy Jackson is a great series. If you enjoy it, definitely check out Riordan's other series as well. Personally, I'm sorta reading Dracula. It's in e-book form, and it's the first I've ever tried to read. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet...
I just read it last year on e-reader. I was rather impressed with his pros. It's a writing style I've never seen used before and I enjoyed it once I got used to the flow.
Just finished the second book in the Inheritance Cycle, and I'm still not sure as to how I feel about the series. Certainly not in love with it, but intrigued enough to continue reading.
It's not bad by any means. But I do agree, it's a different style and it's taking a bit of getting used to. I finished Inheritance a couple of weeks ago. The series takes a lot of flak from readers and reviewers alike, but despite the cliches and sometimes questionable prose, for what it's worth, I enjoy the series. It's a fun read, and the fourth book in particular really made me want to know how Paolini was going to wrap everything up.
I totally will check out his other series, thanks! I was never into vampires, but for some reason I felt the urge to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and fell in love with that book. I find it ironic, because Stoker reinvented vampires, but now they barely resemble Stoker's vision. And not even the ones that sparkle, but the ones in movies and TV are totally different. I don't like "typical" vampires much, so I really liked Dracula.
I just finished Jane Austen, a biography by Carol Shields. It was wonderful. I recommend reading a biography of your favorite author. It will change you. I'm also reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte. I love it so far. I hope the start Dracula soon as well.
Currently reading a mass of Shakespeare and Shakespeare-related material in preparation for an exam. Also reading Vita Novua by Dante Alighieri when I'm not studying.
Rereading Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh then I'll move onto the (underwhelming) sequel, Porno. The series has great first person narration which I currently need help with in my writing. Surprisingly easy to understand the Scottish colloquial style the third time you read through the series, used to put me off the books!
This morning, I finished reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I really enjoyed it. Just about to start Trouble In My Head: A Young Girl's Fight With Depression by Mathilde Monaque as part of novel research.
I am currently in the middle of reading Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, about to start the third book, and am really enjoying them. I am also half way through Landon's Anna and the King of Siam, which is for the most part, extremely interesting - some of the descriptions of Siam are beautiful. However, the author also spends too long talking about all these influential people and parties to go to, I suppose it is the history, but sometimes it seems irrelevant and boring.
Great series. I read these a few years ago, and really enjoyed them as well. Make sure to read both of his short stories in that universe too: Lyra's Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North.
