What are you currently reading?

[Girlystevedave]

I'm rereading The Catcher in the Rye because everyone says how great it is and I'm trying very hard to like it, but... I can't.

Agreed. This book is so overrated.


Currently reading: Doctor Sleep and loving it so far.

[Merlin1958]

I'm rereading The Catcher in the Rye because everyone says how great it is and I'm trying very hard to like it, but... I can't.

Agreed. This book is so overrated.


Currently reading: Doctor Sleep and loving it so far.

As I recall, it's kinda a "time of your life" book and intended for "Tweens" and such. I may be showing my age, but it was a seminal book in my life. FWIW

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

I also did not like Catcher in the Rye (and I believe it was my nomination for the book club.) I am also reading Dr. Sleep. Have not made it far enough in to comment yet.

[Ka-mai]

Maybe that's it - I should have read it when I was a jaded, miserable teenager, like Holden. But even at that age, I don't think I was as depressed as he was. Anyway, I'm glad at least a few people agree with me. If I have to read the words "crumby," "lousy," or "phony" one more time....

I need to go to the library and get more new books. I reread way more than is good for me.

[Girlystevedave]

One word of advice. If you hated Catcher in the Rye because of how miserable the main character was, stay away from The Graduate as well.
It was full of a bunch of characters who were miserable and unhappy with their lives, and I remember thinking none of them even cared about each other.
Waste. of. time, that book was.

[pathoftheturtle]

Not if miserable people who don't care about others are around in your real world.

[Ka-mai]

Yeah, but you're not hearing every single internal thought people in real life have. And you can get away from them and talk to other people. Even in other books, there are characters I don't like, but the book has other characters, so I get a break from the miserable ones. Besides, in other books, the miserable characters (Brienne from ASOIAF, for example) they at least have interesting stories or moments of happiness that interrupt the depression. Holden's happiest moment is creeping into his parents' home to talk to his sister at stupid o'clock in the morning, which isn't really sympathetic or... sane.

I read to relax, to learn, to enjoy myself. A certain amount of darkness is exciting or necessary, but there's a point at which it goes overboard. I didn't feel relaxed or happy while reading it, and all I really learned was "yep, I still don't like this book."

[Lurker]

Just finished The Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, first book in a trilogy, so on to the second book, Winter of the World. I've seen movies based on his books, but first one I've read. Pretty good.

[Ruthful]

[frik]

sk

[pathoftheturtle]

I didn't feel relaxed or happy while reading it, and all I really learned was "yep, I still don't like this book."

I don't necessarily need to enjoy myself all of the time, but agree it's a waste if you don't learn something.

[Girlystevedave]

Not if miserable people who don't care about others are around in your real world.

In that case, wouldn't you want your books to be opposite? Otherwise, reading isn't much of an escape.

[jhanic]

Yeah, but you're not hearing every single internal thought people in real life have. And you can get away from them and talk to other people. Even in other books, there are characters I don't like, but the book has other characters, so I get a break from the miserable ones. Besides, in other books, the miserable characters (Brienne from ASOIAF, for example) they at least have interesting stories or moments of happiness that interrupt the depression. Holden's happiest moment is creeping into his parents' home to talk to his sister at stupid o'clock in the morning, which isn't really sympathetic or... sane.

I read to relax, to learn, to enjoy myself. A certain amount of darkness is exciting or necessary, but there's a point at which it goes overboard. I didn't feel relaxed or happy while reading it, and all I really learned was "yep, I still don't like this book."

This expresses just the way I felt about J.K. Rowling's Casual Vacancy. There were NO characters in that book I liked whatsoever. I even tried rereading it, but still came away disappointed.

John

[fearless-freak]

i've had to give up on Lisey's Story for the moment i know its his most personal book to date

The Red Knight by Miles Cameron

[Jean]

Yeah, but you're not hearing every single internal thought people in real life have. And you can get away from them and talk to other people. Even in other books, there are characters I don't like, but the book has other characters, so I get a break from the miserable ones. Besides, in other books, the miserable characters (Brienne from ASOIAF, for example) they at least have interesting stories or moments of happiness that interrupt the depression. Holden's happiest moment is creeping into his parents' home to talk to his sister at stupid o'clock in the morning, which isn't really sympathetic or... sane.

I read to relax, to learn, to enjoy myself. A certain amount of darkness is exciting or necessary, but there's a point at which it goes overboard. I didn't feel relaxed or happy while reading it, and all I really learned was "yep, I still don't like this book."

This expresses just the way I felt about J.K. Rowling's Casual Vacancy. There were NO characters in that book I liked whatsoever. I even tried rereading it, but still came away disappointed.

John

I loved Casual Vacancy. I can name a number of other books I loved where the characters were miserable. In all of those, though, these miserable people are not presented as protagonists, worthy of admiration, bearers of new values as opposed to the "hypocritical" old ones, or discoverers of new truths as opposed to old "lies". Which is exactly the case of The Catcher. I have elaborated on this in our Book Club. There are some interesting posts there, and I wish the present discussion was taking place there, in The Catcher thread.

[Ka-mai]

I couldn't read The Casual Vacancy. While I was thrilled she was writing an adult novel that had nothing to do with Harry Potter, I was disappointed with the result. It was like she went too far over the other side and just littered it with profanity and hatred.

I'm rereading Eyes of the Dragon. I used to love this book, but this time around I just can't get into it. Hopefully I will get new books from the library soon so I can quit rereading.

[Yaksha]

Star Wars Death Troopers. This combines two of my absolute favorite things in the whole world. Star Wars and zombies. Epic.

[Darkthoughts]

Reading Robin Hobb's Tawny Man Trilogy. I can't believe it took me this long to get around to reading her work - my sister has been badgering me about it for years. I finally started in with the Farseer Trilogy during the summer and was amazed. Truly original and well written and in no way relying on Tolkien's work/world...that's rare in fantasy!

[Jean]

do you think bears might like it?

[Darkthoughts]

Hmm, hard to say! I think you would possibly like the Farseer Trilogy, which is mainly about a young boy who becomes a royal assassin and caught up in royal and political intrigue against his will. It's all set in a make believe medieval type setting. There's LOTS more to it than that, but I think that's the hook by which I may draw you in

[Jean]

the real hook is whether or not it is well written

[Darkthoughts]

Very well written! I was impressed. I want to like so many fantasy series, but find it's a genre where poor writing, storytelling and dialogue seem to be acceptable.

Hobb has a fantastic voice and she made me run the gamut of emotions with her characters.

[Jean]

I'll see if I can find it

[Darkthoughts]

The first book in that trilogy is Assassin's Apprentice <3

[Jean]