What Book are you Reading?

[hmbutler]

I'm excited about the release this week of a new book in a series I've very much enjoyed, and am wondering what books everyone else here likes to read? Assuming you are one who enjoys reading in the first place

I have a rather varied taste in books... some of my favourites are from all different genres! Here are some of my favourite books/book series



Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling: Kinda goes without saying... most people who have read this series will include it in their favourites! I'm a HUGE Harry Potter nerd haha loved all the books AND the movies, and have read all the books multiple times

Conqueror Series - Conn Iggulden: This is the one with the new release book this week. There are now 5 books in this series - the first 3 are about Ghengis Khan's life, from child to warrior to ruler of a nation, the fourth is about his heir/s and the fifth is about Kublai Khan, Ghengis's grandchild, who goes on to conquer a fifth of the world and is apparently one of the greatest warriors/conquerors the world has ever seen - I say apparently because before reading these books I'd heard of Ghengis, but never heard of Kublai. I'm very interested to read his story

Emporer Series - Conn Iggulden: Conn is great with historical fiction, and I've always been interested in ancient Rome, so when I found this series about Julius Caesar, I expected to love it. My husband was reading the series so I started with the Conquerer series before getting into Emporer (surprised me because I didn't expect to be interested in Ghengis Khan's story, but it was so gripping). Julius Caesar's story was just as exciting and gripping as I'd expected, and I loved this series too. There will be a 5th book some time next year, I believe.

Anything by Jodi Picoult: I've read My Sister's Keeper (book is a million times better than the movie, IMO) and a few others, and while they tend to have the same theme (medical problems/some kind of trauma/drama, followed by an unexpected plot twist at the end), they've all left me shocked and thinking about the story, which is probably what I like about them. They're easy to read, you get emotionally involved with the characters, and the ending is always unexpected, so finishing the book is fun.

Twilight Series - Stephenie Meyer: Granted, these are not the most well written pieces of literary brilliance, but I still got totally hooked by the story. I'm a sucker for a gorgeous bad boy/not really bad boy who is so in love with his soul mate that he'd do anything for her... hehe

Tudor Series - Philippa Gregory: A bit slow at first, The Constant Princess ended up being a very interesting read about Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII. Followed up by The Other Boleyn Girl, about Mary and Anne Boleyn, which I have just finished reading. I really like historical fiction, it's so interesting reading how messed up some of the worlds most famous people were haha. I began reading The Constant Princess a few years ago, and never got passed the first few chapters. But after watching The Tudors, I was much more interested in Katherine's story than I was before, and once I got through to where she arrives in England, I found it to be very interesting the rest of the way through. I'm going to start reading The Boleyn Inheritence next, not sure when I'll start on it though (probably after the Kublai Khan book).



I think I tend to enjoy books that are part of a series more so than stand-alone books... perhaps I just remember them more clearly because there was more material to read. But yeah, those above are some of my current favourites, and I'm glad I got back into the swing of things, reading wise... I have a bookshelf half full of books I've never read, with the other half being books I've read over and over haha. I'm finally getting through some of the un-read ones!!

So what are your favourite books? What books would you recommend to anyone and everyone? I would definitely recommend Conn Igguldens books to anyone with any interest in historical fiction - I had zero interest in the mongols and their battles, but was hooked from the beginning of the first Conqueror book!

[CorgiPaws]

I'ma big reader.
It took a lot of convincing from my sister, but I finally gave in, and have to admit I am currently way into the stupid Hunger Games books. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the second one.

[hmbutler]

I'ma big reader.
It took a lot of convincing from my sister, but I finally gave in, and have to admit I am currently way into the stupid Hunger Games books. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the second one.

I've never heard of the Hunger Games books lol so I don't know how "stupid" it sounds haha. So are they any good? I'm always looking for new books to add to my collection!

[CorgiPaws]

I've never heard of the Hunger Games books lol so I don't know how "stupid" it sounds haha. So are they any good? I'm always looking for new books to add to my collection!

Any time anyone explained them to me, I thought they sounded incredibly stupid, but a lot of people were reading it... kinda like HP or Twilight, the trilogy almost has a cult fanbase. LOL.
They are set in the future, and pretty much the humanity has gone to hell and we've destroyed civility. Everyone is divided in "districts" and the Capitol pretty much reins Hell on everyone. Every year they have The Hunger Games, there the Capitol forces two kids from each district, whose names are drawn, to enter. Only one wins. Only one lives. It's dreaded by the common people of the district, but celebrated by the Capitol people.

I'm doing a crappy job explaining, and it sounds lame, but the story really sucks you in.
The Hunger Games - Home |

[hmbutler]

I also forgot I'm currently reading Fallen by Lauren Kate, after a friend informed me that "Bella and Edward are old news, it's all about Daniel and Luce now" haha. I am only halfway through book one though, so it's yet to make my "favourite series" list lol.. pretty interesting thus far though, as weird as it is lol

[chowder]

I'm currently reading 'The Judas Strain' by James Rollin. He's my hidden addiction. I call them 'popcorn' books. Not a lot too them but good to read at night in bed! He's a veterinarian from California and writes a whole series of 'Indiana Jones' kind of books.

I've also just started 'Monday Mourning' by Kathy Reichs because I just stumbled across it in a thrift store. It's the only one of hers that I don't own so I was happy to find it.

That's the kind of stuff I read lately. If it has a spy, lawyer, forensic scientist, or mystery, then I'll read it. I used to read a lot of other stuff but with so much schoolwork now my brain is too tired for any heavy thinking by bedtime.

[Hadley]

Currently I'm started on Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. I'm only on the second book, The Laughing Corpse.. but well, my friend is forcing me to read them. She says they get better LOL. We will see. They're pretty short books and pretty easy to read..and surprisingly, even though I'm not into the whole "vampire" fad thing.. they are interesting. My friend says they get pretty R rated later on tho.. haha.

[hmbutler]

My friend says they get pretty R rated later on tho.. haha.

Well that's always a plus haha

[IslandPaws4Raw]

I am a huge Sci-Fi/ Fantasy fan. I think because of that I love books with a lot of meat to the story. If it is just a novel, it has to have lots of character development and depth for me to enjoy it. There is nothing worse than a book that reads like a bad movie IMO.

ATM I m reading book 13 in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan -Towers of Midnight. This is a series 20 years in the making...... the author passed away, but made copious notes for someone to finish the series. Brandon Sanderson is the co-author of the last few books. The transition is rough in parts, but heck, I want to know how it ENDS!

I joined a book club two years ago, so I've broadened my horizons a bit A few that I've really enjoyed during that time:

House Rules- Jodi Picoult

The Elegance of the Hedgehog-Muriel Barbery- a French novilist and professor of philosophy- I LOVED this book, must have a dictionary nearby when tackling this one though

Cutting for Stone- Abraham Verghese

Millennium Trilogy- Stieg Larsson

I will always be a fantasy fan at heart. Here are my all time favorites:

Guy Gavriel Kay- The Fionavar Tapestry (trilogy) No matter how many times I read this series I will suffer from culture shock if I have to put it down!

Bridge of Birds: A Story of an Ancient China that Never Was- Barry Hugart. Highly entertaining, most imaginative book I've ever read.

Robin Hobb- Enjoyed everything by her except the Soldier Son series.

A good book is the best form of escapism for me....and I like to escape A-LOT

[wags]

Shoot I am gonna post all the books I ma into being an avid reader but the darn Phones ringing DARN! BRB!