SA Book & Challenge Lovers discussion

Here we can tell each other what we are reading and what we just finished (and even the star amount you gave it if you want :)

Reading The Lovely Bones and 1st to Die. Been reading them for a long time tho :( Just soooo swamped with work :(

I'm reading Nervous Conditions, Vampire Academy #3, The complete Jack the Ripper and some poetry. Oh then also started The Women in White...

I've just finished a second reading of a South African novel - Cracks, by Sheila Kohler. Really dark, erotic mystery about a group of girls at a boarding school during the 50s. Not as good as the first time I read it, but still good stuff. Apparently they're making a movie too, although it won't be set in South Africa.

I just started Orlando by Virginia Woolf, although I'm not sure how far I'll get.

Niecole wrote: "I'm reading Nervous Conditions, Vampire Academy #3, The complete Jack the Ripper and some poetry. Oh then also started The Women in White..."

How is Nervous Conditions Niecole? It's one of those books I've been telling myself to read, but I never get around to it.

Well, hehe I've just started, so cant really tell... I'm suppose to read it for Unisa, but I think its going to be a good read!

Lauren wrote: "I've just finished a second reading of a South African novel - Cracks, by Sheila Kohler. Really dark, erotic mystery about a group of girls at a boarding school during the 50s. Not as good as the f..."

Cool will add it to my to-read list :)

Just wanted to comment for Lauren, I'm now on page 11 of Nervous Conditions, and its really triggering me

Niecole wrote: "Just wanted to comment for Lauren, I'm now on page 11 of Nervous Conditions, and its really triggering me"

Cool :) What is it about the book that triggered you? Is it in a good or a bad way? I've been meaning to read more SA lit, and I want something I can get more emotionally entwined in.

I'm currently reading and its quite good.

Just finished 1st to Die by James Patterson 4 stars

Now going to finish The Lovely Bones

I just started Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. It's a bit strange - it's about a person who has an intense affair with a married woman. But you don't know the narrator's name and you don't know if it's a man or a woman. It's also narrated in the second person, which is a bit odd to read. The writing is really beautiful though, I think I'm falling in love with this book.

That sounds really interesting!

I have been reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, I love the storyline, but Im finding it rather dull, so I am also reading Sunshine By Robin Mckinley. Enjoying it so far.

I just finished 1st to Die by James Patterson, Read The Beach House over the weekend, currently reading Almost Moon (just started) and Nervous Conditions

I’m BORED! I need a suggestion for something to read, I’m sick of reading threes and fours, or reading half a book and not bothering to finish it (I should actually start a new shelf!) I literally can't remember the last time I gave something a five star rating. I don't care what the book is, if it won a Pulitzer or is complete pulpy trash, I just want something that I can submerge myself in. You know -so your friend and family start wondering if you are still alive, the kind of book that has you saying to yourself "I'll put out the lights at the end of this chapter" but 3am you just resign yourself to the fact that you’re pulling an all nighter and its going to be totally worth it! Please Help!!

@ Lauren - Well how about a good vampire love story, and im not talking about twilight lol, i mean vampire diaries i've just started reading the seriese again but its so addictive im already on the fourth book of the seriese, i can not keep my might of these books :-D

Lauren wrote: "I’m BORED! I need a suggestion for something to read,"

Hmm, that's always a tough question, since people's tastes differ so much, but here are some books that made me go for an all nighter:

A good crime thriller: Prayers for Rain by Dennis Lehane. So far, everyone I know who's read it couldn't put it down either.

Charming chick lit: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. Another book everyone seems to love.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. An absolutely beautiful book. I became obsessed with the characters when I read it, and I still feel that way when I reread it.

Its funny Lauren that I was feeling exactly the same just this morning. The last book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading was The Lovely Bones. I have read a few books since then and none of them have been fantastic. I have given up 2 books that I have started reading, Sunshine By Robin Mckinley...and Neverwhere By Neil Gaiman, both didnt grip me like previous books. The other books that i have previously read which I could not put down was Vampire Academy, but I am sure that you have probably read them. I am currently reading Anita Blake and enoying it, I am finding it interesting and a little Sookie Stackhouse like. I understand that it can get really irritating when you have to put a book down half way through, through sheer boredom.

I am not sure what kind of books you are interested in reading.Anyway I have racked my brainand tried to think of the books that I have read and enjoyed.

Have you tried Nora Roberts?
The Godfather by mario puzo
The Jump or ladykiller By Martina Cole
Angela's Ashes BY Frank Mccourt
Lesley pearse Books
Red Dragon By Thomas Harris
Dan Brown books
The Green Mile By Stephen king
In cold Blood-Truman capote
Have you read the Outlander series?
Meg Cabot-All american girl
Stieg Larsson

This is just a few, obviously youre taste in books might ot be the same as mine, but hopefully you miht find something here that you can enjoy.Also check out what other people have enjoyed reading on different book clubs and on Amazon, I always find good recommendations that way.

Good luck!

I'd recommend you read Its about an homicide detective who is also a summoner..she summons demons..but its not a bad thing..the power can be used for both good and evil *sniggers* and she has crime to solve...its awesome..keeps you guessing.

Ok so I finished the Almost Moon, and what a weird book, but yet, I found it very good in a way. I'm getting further with Nervous conditions, but because I read it at home, I dont get so far with it, but its getting better and better...

Lauren, I got a tip from a friend telling me to read the book Geralds Game, by Stephen King, apparently its a creeper that will make you check your doors and windows for years to come... so maybe try that.

My next book should be Heart of Darkness (for English) but after reading the first few pages I just dont want to read the rest, but have to.

I suggest you read Harry Potter Lauren :P

Ah yes, Harry Potter, thats my favourite read when there is nothing else, not because its a last resort, but because I love it... I love Harry Potter everyone!!!!

Me too!!! Lol, lets not tell everyone where we met :P

hehe ok so where di you guys meet? :-D i love Harry Potter too especially no. 3 ^^

got some free ebooks that i try and read on my htc. works ok if it's in pdf. so currently reading
And trying my bestest to finish physical book [image error] but it's just so boring. And no, i won't just give up on it, even if it takes me a year, lol.

and of course my fav Harry Potter fan fics over at fanfic.com cause you can never read enough Harry Potter (:

Tracy wrote: "got some free ebooks that i try and read on my htc. works ok if it's in pdf. so currently reading
And trying my bestest to finish physical book but it's just so boring. And no, i won't just ..."

Nope never enough Harry Potter! All this talking of it makes me want to read them again!

Finished . Reading and starting

Thanks everybody!! I've read quiet a few of the recommendations, but most of them are books I have loved, which hopefully mean that the I will love the ones I haven't read just as much. So here's hoping that I will be my usual cranky, bleary eyed self from lack of sleep and too much reading really soon :D

Oh and Lu I will NEVER, not ever be bored enough to read Harry Potter. Because I’m a grownup ;)

Hahaha

:)
I am Reading
I'm done with Nervous Conditions, and to Lauren at the top who asked me to tell how it was, well, it turned out pretty good, just wish it had a better ending, it seems that the story should go on, but it wasnt boring, and I enjoyed it. :). Unfortunatly I'm not going to be able to read for fun for a while, got to start Heart of Darkness, and I dont think I'm going to like it... so if anyone has read it, please fill me in on how it is?

Thanks Niecole, sounds good, so hopefully I'll get around to reading it soon :)

As for Heart of Darkness... I think a big problem with that is that English was Conrad's third language, so although he's obviously very fluent in it, his writing doesn't flow as smoothly as it would from a writer who'd spoken it from birth. Consequently, it gets pretty boring and dense at times. I do still like how dark it is. There's some Freudian stuff going on, and Europe is presented as the superego, or ego (I forget) and the Congolese jungle is the dark, seductive, primitive id. Kurtz has gone native because he's been drawn in by the primitive nature of the jungle.
Of course you can also talk about how racist this depiction of the jungle and the Congolese people is. Chinua Achebe wrote an essay about it.
On the whole, it's a book I like for it's concepts, and it does have some cool passages, but overall it's not enjoyable to read. At least it's short.

Finished , Still reading and starting

I'm reading and proofing an e-book of The Grandmothers by Doris Lessing, a collection of 4 novellas.

The first story, about two women, best friends, who have long-term affairs with each other's sons, was brilliant. I'm looking forward to the others.

Sounds interesting!

Hello fellow books friends....hope you are all well and reading well :) I got myself this weekend "The girl with the dragon tattoo" its a very interesting which have a good story....cant put the book down....

OOh, I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It starts off a little slowly, but eventually led me to a late night/early morning reading binge. The second one is great too.

Yes thanks Lauren for the encouragement for continuing with this book, got back into it The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" today and the story has definately stepped up a notch. Enjoying it!

No problem :) Glad to hear you're enjoying it!

I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird, again hehe, very slowly, Feb is a slow reading month, for some reason I'm very busy... also reading WMC 4...

This weekend I started and got halfway through Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks. As usual, an impressive story from Banks, and plenty of 'wow, that's cool' moments.

Finished , Still reading and starting

How was the first one?
I need to start it but I just cant get to it :(
I'm so slow this month

Niecole wrote: "How was the first one?
I need to start it but I just cant get to it :( "

Do you mean Doomed Love Niecole? It's ok, the first and fourth books are the best, they focus on the story between Dido and Aeneas. The second and third are a bit boring and dense (they're all about Aeneas, and provide the background to the story).

It's not too hard to read once you get used to the style (I took a few pages to get into it), but it helps if you read the chapter summaries. I had summaries in my edition, but I'm sure you can just google them too.

Ok cool, I might not make the deadline of 28 Feb, but I will read it... Kind of busy at the moment, with party planning and stuff...
I'm still on To Kill a Mockingbird

Its a very quick read atleast, so you might make it :P
If not, there is always next month :)

haha yes, lets hope for that one then...I'm still busy with WMC 4, and its been 2 weeks now, Its been a slooooooooooooooow Feb for me girls

I had a very slow January... so I cheated in Feb and read some very short books to get me going. Thank God for Pocket Penguins. Sometimes finishing a book quickly gives me this feeling of accomplishment that gets me out of a reading rut :)

Hahaha I know what you mean!!!!
But I just couldnt get going this month, I feel so ashamed! And March is going to be slow to, I can feel it, but I'll have to be studying to... so that will be my excuse hehe... going to the library tonight, might pick up some quick reads, love to read some war time dramas or love stories, any recomendations????

Ooh, studying was always made me read more books for pleasure. I once polished off a 400-page novel in under two days because I didn't feel like writing an essay. Terrible really...

No war recommendations from my side I'm afraid, unless it's sci fi or fantasy... Atonement is great but it's hardly quick. I only have one romance recommendation: Garden Spells is great for a light, charming love story though, and it's a quick read.