What I’m Reading

by Marinka on January 29, 2012

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

This post was inspired, as most things in my life have been, by Alice Bradley.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading, on my new Kindle Fire.

Even though I’ve had an e-reader less than a month, I already don’t understand how anyone can read regular books.

“I like paper books,” a friend told me when I tried to shame her into e-reading.

There’s always one. Probably when books came out there were all these people who were all “I prefer cave etchings! I guess I’m just old-fashioned.”

But not me.

I like that it’s light, I like that I can have a kazillion books on it and can read what I want depending on my mood.

For example, on the subway, I’ll often read Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. I’m reading this seemingly endless series of books because Young “I don’t like to read” Ladrinka is reading them. He’s a few books ahead of me and every evening he asks me what part I’m up to and then nods knowingly.

When I’m on line at Starbucks, I’ll glance at Bossypants. I’ll be honest. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It’s a good read because it’s TINA FEY! But.

At home, I just started Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austern? Austen? I can’t keep track of all these up and coming sensations. I don’t quite believe that I’ve never read it before, but I can’t remember doing it. To my horror, I know that I did read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a few years back and I’m not even a zombie person. THAT I KNOW OF.

I’m also really enjoying Tigerlilly’s Orchids by Ruth Rendell. I’m a huge (ok, of size) Ruth Rendell fan– and this mystery-suspense novel is a real treat. Thank you to the lovely Wendi for recommending it.

Speaking of mystery-suspense, I recently finished Laura Lippman’s The Most Dangerous Thing. It has all the elements that I like. Childhood friends, a mysterious death, The Big Chill-type reunion years later. But it fell flat for me. I wasn’t satisfied. Which I’ve been feeling a lot with Lippman lately. I think it’s because What The Dead Know was so strong and compelling that I haven’t found anything else of hers that has lived up to it. Dilemma.

I’m looking for recommendations especially in the mystery/suspense. I like books that are mysterious and suspenseful but I just can’t read ones that have a private investigator. A childhood spent with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot will do that to you.

Any ideas?

Are you reading anything wonderful? Or anything not wonderful? OMG, do you even know how to read?!

One year ago ...

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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }

hokgardner
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 11:10 am

I felt the same way about Bossypants. It was almost like she was trying too hard.

I just read the new bio of Catherine the Great and am now in the middle of a book on Columbus’s four voyages.

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b a seagull
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 11:39 am

I loved Denise Mina’s boooks, Field of Blood and The End of the Wasp season. Loved.

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Cy
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 12:21 pm

I’ve been giggling like an idiot reading Bossypants, but what do I know? I’m reading the “regular book.”

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Kristina Brooke
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 12:53 pm

Hi! I am a bit of a bibliophile and I love having tangible books. I have so many and can’t wait until we have space to display them all. I do ebooks but I find that it is harder for me to concentrate when the books are on a screen (we have a kindle fire and an ipad) so I tend to only read easy books in ebook format. Anyway, are you on Goodreads? Would love to link up (goodreads.com/user/show/861287-kristina)

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Jennie January 29, 2012 at 12:55 pm

I love to read, and often find really good reviewers on LibraryThing. Sometimes I get stuck in the reviews of books instead of moving on to a great book. One reviewer, rebeccanyc has some great reviews. I’m probably going to read The Lost Steps, just based on her review of it.

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Jennifer James January 29, 2012 at 1:12 pm

One day last year while traveling I picked up Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History. I forgot about it, picked it up recently and now I cannot put it down.

It’s not a mystery, but it sure is good.

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Christi January 29, 2012 at 1:54 pm

If you like mystery (obviously you do since you just asked for mystery recommendations), I was really impressed with Child 44. It’s set in post-WWII Russia, so that may be a plus or a minus for you, not sure.

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magpie January 29, 2012 at 2:32 pm

I liked “No Name”, a novel of intrigue and double-crossing, by Wilkie Collins. It was FREE, too, for the Kindle.

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Nora January 29, 2012 at 2:42 pm

While I prefer paper books, right now I read all my books on my tiny Droid phone, since I am always nursing or holding a baby. I kept waking him up when I dropped my real book or kindle on his head, because I am also often dozing off. The smartphone on his head? My little tiger sleeps right through it.

The Mary Russell series by Laurie King has a smart feminist protagonist whose sidekick is an aging Sherlock Holmes. It is clever and historically correct, and the characters are decidedly well-mannered, which is important if you love Poirot/Marple. Most entertaining.

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suburbancorrespondent
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm

I LOVED Bossypants! I’m reading Girl Land by Caitlin Flanagan on my Nook.

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suburbancorrespondent
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm

But the cave painting version was better…

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Peajaye
Twitter:
January 29, 2012 at 7:06 pm

If you’r’e looking for a mystery, I’m reading the menu for our new neighborhood restaurant and trying to figure out what chili peppers are doing on pizza.

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Nina January 30, 2012 at 4:59 am

It’s neither mysterious nor suspensful, but it is hilarious so I’ve been reccomending Caitlin Moran’s “How to be a Woman” to everyone on the face of the planet.

As far as mystery and suspense, I read The Emperor’s Gold by Robert Wilton which was so mysterious and suspensful that I stayed up until the small hours two nights in a row just to finish the thing.

I’ve also began reading the Benjamin January books by Barbara Hambly and am loving them.

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes January 30, 2012 at 7:28 am

The six wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser. Love it!

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Gdot January 30, 2012 at 7:37 am

Read THE BOOK OF NEGROES by Lawrence Hill this past summer.My favorite read of all time.
*loved A CHILD OF HITLER by Alfons Heck many years ago too.
And NO. you do not sense a ‘theme’ here. But be warned. Reading these in paperback on The subway WILL not get you a seat.
PS I feel the same way about BossyPants…sigh

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Jk January 30, 2012 at 8:16 am

I too thought I preferred paper books, but after getting an iPad for Christmas last year, find that paper books are now too cumbersome and awkward for me. Best of all is that now you can download library books and exchange books with friends, although I haven’t figured that last part out yet.

Just finished Fall of Giants by Ken Follett which tells a personal story of World War I, from the perspective of someone from each country involved. I was not much of a history student in school but I did like this.

I’m currently reading Faithful Place by Tana French, a murder mystery set in Dublin. I love the dialogue and the pace.

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Kara
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 9:34 am

I am just in awe. In awe I tell you!! How are you successfully reading so many books at the same time? I guess my simple brain can’t handle that many storylines without becoming ridiculously confused.

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Wendi
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 9:36 am

I’m reading the 2nd book in “The Hunger Games” on my Kindle Fire because I’m trying to look more youthful.

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deborah l quinn
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 9:58 am

Thank you for outing Tina Fey’s book as being not as great as Tina Fey. I’m now an e-reader even though I prefer paper books b/c I live in the land of no lending library and anything I buy I’m eventually going to have to pack & move back. Shudder. So. Do you know the Donna Leon detective stories set in Venice? Good mysteries, occasionally bloody, great scenery, great food, interesting detective (with a FAMILY, can you imagine)? Lee Childs’ thrillers keep me awake (earlier ones better than more recent ones, as so often happens). Ann Patchett’s latest novel–State of Wonder–smart AND good to read (those things don’t always go together). Mennonite in a Little Black Dress was word for word funnier than bossypants. Of course (pander alert): so are you.

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deborah l quinn
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 10:00 am

OMG (as the kids say), I totally forgot!! Forget that damn Steig whatsisface. Try Jo Nesbo if you want SERIOUSLY good thriller detective Scandinavian gloom and mystery and vodka. Really, really, really good. Don’t read them alone at night.

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annie January 30, 2012 at 10:13 am

Have you read the Book Thief yet? It takes place in nazi Germany and is narrated by death himself (herself?) – very uplifting. 😉

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Awesome Dude January 30, 2012 at 10:49 am

This is a very simple business….Life before and after Kindle. Who would read 6 volumes of Gibbon if you have to carry these volumes around?

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Issa
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 12:24 pm

I finished Bossypants last week and I started 11/22/63 the other day. I’m hooked.

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Vicki
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 3:26 pm

I love using the Goodreads recommendation engine, but often just by poking around there I find good stuff to read. I’m not a huge mystery person, but I heard The Sisters Brothers might be good and up your alley. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/books/review/the-sisters-brothers-by-patrick-dewitt-book-review.html

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ScottsdaleGirl
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 4:32 pm

If you haven’t already you must read “the help”

Also I highly recommend the author Joshilyn Jackson. Southern writer, easy reads but entertaining

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Wacky Granny January 30, 2012 at 5:07 pm

I am currently reading The Help – love it!!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves Tina Fey but was disappointed in Bossypants.

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Amy January 30, 2012 at 8:02 pm

I just read Pride and Prejudice, for the first time. Really enjoyed. Will now peruse your comments for my next read.

Didn’t read Bossypants. Figured I’d be too jealous to give it a fair shake.

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alaina
Twitter:
January 30, 2012 at 8:44 pm

I recently read The Mermaid’s Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. It was a good book about marriage, not about getting married, but about when marriage goes stale. I love my Kindle but nothing beats the smell of an old book.

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Beth January 30, 2012 at 10:09 pm

I am reading Lethal by Sandra Brown. I’ve never read her before but I’m enjoying the book. Also just read two books by John Hart and enjoyed them also.

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Louise January 31, 2012 at 6:37 am

I just got a kindle for Christmas and I’m re-reading my childhood favorites – Anne of Green Gables and the Little Women series at the moment. Another series of amazing books (more geared towards teenagers) is the tomorrow when the war began series, followed up by the Ellie chronicles, by John marsden (an australian author).

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Jodi F. January 31, 2012 at 9:09 am

My son is on his second reading of the Cirque du Freak series. I think they are creepy, but watching a middle schooler read obsessively makes this librarian mom happy.

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Cary January 31, 2012 at 10:14 am

Elizabeth Strout: Abide With Me, Amy and Isabelle, and one other I can’t remember right now….really really good.

Also Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by somebody.

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Daphne January 31, 2012 at 4:34 pm

I just read “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. Watson and it sounds like exactly what you’re looking for– very suspenseful but not a police mystery. It’s about a woman with amnesia who wakes up every day having forgotten her life from the day before. I thought maybe it was written for me and how I wake up, but no– its fiction. And nicely done.

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The Avid Reader February 7, 2012 at 11:16 am

Have you read Lippman’s To the Power of Three? I really liked that one.

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