'No More Buying Books Until I've Read the Ones I've Already Bought' Thread

Heffalumpi

I have set myself the challenge to read 52 books this year but decided to add a bit of a twist. Within the 52 books that I read this year I have to include an author whose surname starts with a different letter of the alphabet to ensure that I have at least one from A-Z - I think X might be a challenge in itself!

Sessie

So after a rather "unable to read" last few weeks (partly due to time, partly due to depression rearing it's head again ) I've now read (almost!) 4 in the last few days!!

"Cuckoo" is the first one - cant remember author's name - thriller but erring on the side of light rather than dark and nasty. Was good, chilling and... argh, I want to say more but don't want to spoiler it for anyone who has it on their "to read" pile. I'd give it 3/5 (but I'm quite stingy with my marks so a 3 is pretty good!).

"The Best A Man Can Get" by John O'Farrell I read in about three hours yesterday. Again, light and entertaining. About a man who has a secret flat in London where he goes when he's had enough of family life (would that we could ALL do that eh??) and tells his wife he's "working". Of course, eventually it all comes down around his ears and it's HYSTERICAL!! Really funny writing, yet you can actually even see it from his point of view as well as his wife's.

Have ALMOST finished the 9/11 brick (it's as big as one!). Extremely scary stuff. It's based on the actual 9/11 Commission's Report but basically picks it apart and points out the inconsistencies and questions a lot of it. Think I said before, I have my own beliefs about that whole event, this book has cemented those. It's a very factual book - especially when tracing the origins of the terrorists and the backstory of Al Quaeda/Bin Laden - you have to read a bit, put it down, put it all together in your head and then read a bit more. Quite hard to say I'm "enjoying" it given the subject matter but it has proved worth the purchase to say the least.

Finally, after having put it down about four months ago, am finishing up Roy Keane's autobiography. He's not your usual, "I'm awesome, everyone knows it, I did this and this and was awesome" type of footballer, he's very honest and upfront with his views, which I like. This will be passed on to someone at work when I'm done so a book ticked off AND some decluttering done!

On the whole, I'll be sticking to the lighter stuff/thrillers for a while as I'm changing my medication and also starting some counselling so my sleep and concentration are going to be shot. But I'm glad I've been able to get back into reading, I miss it so much when I can't.

Love to all, keep reading!

x

ljaneyr

Hi All!

I finished The Book of Human Skin yesterday. As I said in my previous post I wasn't enjoying it for the first 100 or so pages as the subject is so depressing and at the start of the book it feels like there is no hope. As the book went on it picked up and I felt a bit happier and probably ended up enjoying it. Without spoiling it I can say that the ending is satisfying.

So what next? I'm planning on starting A Feast for Crows (book 4 of the Game of Thrones series) when I'm in hospital on Monday because I'm completely addicted to the series and it will hopefully stop me panicing! Just need to remember not read it when I'm recovering from the aneasthetic or I won't remember it!

I picked up What the Romans Did for Us last night, it accompanied a TV series some years ago and is quite light and easy to read so will probably read that up until Monday.

Hope everyone else is enjoying what they're reading

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

@Hattiefattener Political: The Shock Doctrine, and No Logo Naomi Klein, also Punishing the Poor the Neoliberal Government of Social Insecurity. Loic Lacqaunt, Chomsky The Manufacturing of Consent, Profit before People. All above will shock you into realising what is REALLY going on in the UK and why it isn't exactly MSE (We are being screwed financially left right and centre).
Novels: The Broken Window Jeffrey Deaver, all Stig Larson The Girl with the thing Tattoo, The Forgotton Highlander an incredible story of survival in WWII (what this guy went through has to be seen to be believed, a friend recommended this one, The Life or Pi Yann Martel (a classic), The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kid (highly recommended very nice book) Alexander Mc Call Smith is good for Feel Good Fiction and we all need to feel good after fiction. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the fantasy novel IMHO, better than Terry Prachett.
Biography Gang Leader for a Day: a rogue Sociologist crosses the line (don't be put off be turned on by this excellent book).
That's it for now.
Any probs just look at my book list on Goodreads for more info.
Happy Reading and glad to be off help!
xhttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2071616-kate

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I am basically being a good girl, no choice but I did have a lapse on Kindle Books on Amazon.....

kellbobs

Just finished my second book of the year, To the moon and back by Jill Mansell. I really enjoy reading her books as they aren't taxing on the brain. Next on my to read list is The Slap

blindtoast

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

Novels: The Broken Window Jeffrey Deaver, all Stig Larson The Girl with the thing Tattoo, The Forgotton Highlander an incredible story of survival in WWII (what this guy went through has to be seen to be believed, a friend recommended this one, The Life or Pi Yann Martel (a classic), The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kid (highly recommended very nice book) Alexander Mc Call Smith is good for Feel Good Fiction and we all need to feel good after fiction. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the fantasy novel IMHO, better than Terry Prachett.

Thanks for this list wouldbe.

I would agree with the recommendation of the Steig Larson books - I found the 1st half of the 1st book very hard going but was very glad I perserveered as the rest was excellent.

I have the life of Pi and Hitchhikers guide on my to be read pile. Life of Pi was recommended to me about 10 years ago and I have never got around to reading it (which is one of the reasons why I find myself on this thread!)

I bought The Hitchhikers guide in an omnibus mainly because I felt I should read it and the book looked cool! (this happens a lot and adds to my pile a lot!) I've only read the Truckers series of Terry Pratchett books but I really liked them so if it's better than that I look forward to it!

Itsadogslife_2

I have the Slap on my shelf to read so you will have to let me know if you like it

I also have the Life of Pi, one of those books that was quite talked about so saw it in a charity shop and bought it but have never quite got round to starting it.

And, totally agree about the first Larsson book, enjoyed it in the end. Have just made OH read it because I want to drag him to see the film (purely because Daniel Craig is in it ).

Haven't started anything yet, but we have our next bookclub meet on Wednesday and I am wondering whether I will realistically have time to finish something - I do have an Agatha Raisin book left so I might give that a go as it is relatively easy reading

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

((((Sessie)))) just keep your head above water, your heart is in the right place Books Library MSE Goodness. Just get yourself the support you need whether it's Benefits Entitlement to Support Group to MSE whatever.! 1 in 4 of us suffer with this beast I do too, when you are physically and mentally incapable of soaring to the heights of putting one foot in front of another, doing chores, reading etc. It is good to have you here calling out to life in terms of MSE Friendly/Library Cultivation and exploring the tension between another bit of temptation (hmmm!) and the need to have a thoroughly good Budget. Lots of love and bestx

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

((((group hug))) Thanks for all the nice comments, people and wonderfulness on this thread. I like how this wee thread seems to be opening me up to MSE 'ers in all their glory where we can all interact together, good,bad, and ugly and learn to discover each other.xxx