Wellington Reads discussion

Hi everyone! I just finished a book which I thoroughly enjoyed, and that's what inspired me to kick off this month's edition of What are you reading? I just finished In My Father's Den by Maurice Gee. I haven't seen the movie and I haven't read any Maurice Gee (apart from The Halfmen of O at school) so I went in with zero expectations. And although the subject was very grim, I really enjoyed the book and the writing style, and would love to read more Maurice Gee. Where shall I start? Anyone read a Maurice Gee book they would recommend?

I'm thinking of moving to either Rachel King's Magpie Hall or The Casual Vacancy next. What's everyone else reading this April?

I read that book several years ago and really liked it too. I've found other books by Maurice Gee (like Plumb) less interesting.

This month I'm reading The Luminaries, Franny and Zooey and Lolita.

Thanks, Erica! I'd actually just put Plumb on my to-read list but will still check it out. I've read Lolita and I really liked it! Disturbing but very good and I really enjoyed the narration.

I'm reading Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You and Death at Victoria Dock. Stephanie, have you read Under the Mountain?

Chloe wrote: "I'm reading Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You and Death at Victoria Dock. Stephanie, have you read Under the Mountain?"

No, I haven't but I've heard it's very good. I'm also liking the look of your book Snoop!

Just finished reading The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson. This is actually a "Librarian's Choice" book in the Wellington library. It was sooo funny. Loved it. I'll try and return it tomorrow so don't all rush to get it out at once! haha

Stephanie wrote: "Hi everyone! I just finished a book which I thoroughly enjoyed, and that's what inspired me to kick off this month's edition of What are you reading? I just finished [book:In My Father's Den|706197..."

Just read The farm by Tom Robb Smith - very powerful, clever novel with an unexpected outcome to a son's dilemma over who to believe , his mother or his father. Have to read more from this author.

I'm reading Americanah by a Nigerian-American author called Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is on the subject of race in America. The protagonist is African but consistently finds herself in the position where people assume she has an understanding of all these African-American cultural references. Much of it is set in Princeton but other parts set in Lagos. Very well written, interesting characters and the book was on several "best of 2013" lists

Anne wrote: "I'm reading Americanah by a Nigerian-American author called Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is on the subject of race in America. The protagonist is African but consistently finds her..."
You've just reminded me to add Americanah to my to-read list! I've read two of her other novels, Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus and I really enjoyed them, so was excited to see her latest book on the new books stand at central library.

Currently reading 'Do Metaphors Dream of Literal Sleep' by Seo-Young Chu. It's an outrageous attempt to draw together a reading technique of Science Fiction with that of Lyric Poetry. Chu argues really convincingly that the same features of say Emily Dickinson can be found in H.G. Wells, or William Gibson.
It's really fun to read theory that takes up such a heretical project.

I'm currently on a bit of a graphic novel bent, having read Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile and Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft. I'm just finishing V for Vendetta and have Boxers in my to read pile.
Having seen the V for Vendetta movie first, I feel it was pretty true to the graphic novel. It was a good read, if a mite depressing in places.

Hi everyone. War and Peace has finally made it to the top of my to-read list. I'm pleased to find it very readable and even quite modern-feeling in places (though it's tricky keeping all the character names straight and I miss most of the French references).
Also just read the first couple of stories in Tenth of December and looking forward to the rest. Lots of juicy titles still on the bedside table - I do love me a good reading pile ;)
Adding Americanah to my list too.

Chloe wrote: "I'm currently on a bit of a graphic novel bent, having read Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile and Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft. I'm just finishing [book:V ..."

I saw the film Noah on the weekend and so am on a bit of a hunt for material about him. Have picked up The Lost Ship of Noah by Charles Berlitz and Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner. Is anyone else interested in this subject?

Since my last post I've been making the most of the Easter break and now Anzac weekend to get in some extra reading. I read The Art of Racing in the Rain for a group read and I really liked it! I'm also halfway through Lolita - the prose style of Nabokov is very good, and I'm about to start Little Exiles which I came across at the library.

Ali wrote: "Hi everyone. War and Peace has finally made it to the top of my to-read list. I'm pleased to find it very readable and even quite modern-feeling in places (though it's tricky keeping all..."
I think you're quite brave Ali! Let us know how it goes!

Hi all, I'm reading The Crimson Petal and the White, about half-way through, and am enjoying the narrator's ability to pull me right into the world. Has anyone else read this? What did they think?

Chloe wrote: "Ali wrote: "Hi everyone. War and Peace has finally made it to the top of my to-read list. I'm pleased to find it very readable and even quite modern-feeling in places (though it's tricky..."

Kia ora Chloe! Nah, not brave - I love long books because I feel sad when they're finished... This one is pretty dense tho - 1300 pages! It'll take a while as I tend not to be monogamous.
The social observation is lovely. I've never been big into history (History! It's just one bloody thing after another! ...can't remember who said that...) so I'm just letting it all wash over me.
I've added your graphic novel titles to my list for next time I'm at the library.

Chloe wrote: "I'm currently on a bit of a graphic novel bent, having read Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile and Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft. I'm just finishing [book:V ..."

Just finished the last Locke and key in the series Chloe and it's a great 'family' horror series, very much in the Stephen King mold. Well, author Joe Hill is Mr Kings son so no surprise there maybe...

Over the weekend I finished (finally!) Bosnia's Million Bones: Solving the World's Greatest Forensic Puzzle. Certainly appealed to one of my areas of interest (genetics). Not the lightest of subjects, but a story of science and compassion triumphing over conflict and deceit.

Ali, I think I suffer from this: http://bookriot.com/2014/05/19/fear-f... 'fear of finishing books'. I definitely feel sad when books are finished, but more often, I'm tentative about approaching their final pages. I do finish them, I just dread the ending a bit, and sometimes that can spoil the ending for me, maybe a little?

Celeste wrote: "Ali, I think I suffer from this: http://bookriot.com/2014/05/19/fear-f... 'fear of finishing books'. I definitely feel sad when books are finished, but more often, I'm tentative about a..."

A new "ism" to add to the pile, eh? :) That sounds rough - but not like my experience. I devour books right to the end and possibly even speed up for the last 50 pages or more. (Though if I can tear myself away and save the last chapter or so I smugly look forward to it the whole of the next day until I get to it).
Its not that I get disappointed by endings either - I usually feel quite satisfied with the tying up of plot lines and intrigued by what is left unwritten.
Nevertheless, when I put a book down for the last time I often feel really sad. The better the book, that sadder I am. Listless, bereft, I miss the world that has so absorbed me.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
(Tennyson, 1850)