Once again, it's holiday travel time. With Christmas Eve and Christmas Day falling on a Monday and Tuesday respectively, I'm betting there's a whole lot of moving around going on between yesterday and today – and waiting. Always waiting!
Which would mean that we're carrying books with us, right? I mean, when are we NOT carrying a book?
I'm currently between books and trying to figure out what to read next. I took a break from romance to read some nonfiction about efficiency and workplace prioritizing (and how being busy is not the same as being efficient or even effective) (darn it) so I'm looking for something to begin reading. It's both awesome and unnerving at the same time. Sort of like jumping in a cold pool: I have to just start reading and jump in already.
So, whatcha reading this weekend? What's making your brain and eyeballs happy?
Safe travels, happy holidays, and good reading to all of you!
I’m re-reading James Herriot’s memoirs – finished All Creatures Great and Small and have All Things Bright and Beautiful next in line. I first read these when I was 10 or 12ish and they were the first books I read that weren’t written for children. And so far, they’re holding up pretty well to re-reading.
I just finished Room at the Edge by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow – m/m/m bdsm sequel to Room at the Top. I really enjoyed it, although I think I may be over bdsm romance for awhile.
I’ve been devouring holiday novellas – standouts include Carol of the Bellskis (m/m Hanukkah) and Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane (m/m Christmas). Next up is the Carina anthology A Galactic Holiday.
I too stalled out on Grease Monkey Jive. It was too many kinds of book, I felt. There was the real Australian surfing mechanic stuff, the Strictly Ballroom stuff (which just reminded me how much better Strictly was), the was a reality TV Strictly Come Dancing vibe, way too many secondary characters who took up too much story oxygen, and then there was this metaphysical ‘what is it to be a man’ question that got crowded out by all the other stuff.
I have just finished Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois Bujold and Steel’s Edge by Ilona Andrews. I am currently savoring Cold Days by Jim Butcher. So Good!
Well owing to the 32 degree Celsius heat which is supposed to become 37 later i will be spending the whole day lying very still and probably reading ‘Lord’s Fall’ by Thea Harrison in one go.
Mine to Take, by Dara Joy.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
I’m reading My Steadfast Heart by Jo Goodman, book 1 in the Thorne Brothers trilogy. I’ve got all 3, but I’m not sure I’ll make it that far. In book 1, the H/H went from “I hate you” to “let’s get married” awfully fast, and most of the angst could be fixed if they’d just *talk* to each other – Heroine can’t seem to tell Hero the truth to save her soul, even when it doesn’t matter.
I’m taking a long trip, and I’ve got Cetaganda and Brothers In Arms lined up on the iPod, because after reading Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance (twice!) I need more Ivan. I’ve got the Agent of Change sequence by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller on my Kindle for reading on the plane.
Reading Mary Balogh’s “Xmas Bride, Xmas Beau.” It’s great b/c I can run errands, cook, wrap Xmas gifts, iron linens, etc., & when I get back to reading it’s familiar and heartwarming, silly. Of course I’m only on page 4 LOL!
I just started Lauren Willig’s The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. Next up for my holiday break reading will be Martin Walker’s Black Diamond (third in a mystery series that’s one of my new favorites). After that, I think I’ll just pull out my Kindle and see what looks tempting on my ever-growing virtual TBR pile.
Thanks 4 the book recommendation
Also reading Code Name Verity! Twinsies!
Got to check out a lot of the books mentioned! I just finished a Madeline Brent re-read (comfort stuff). I am part way through Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace. It’s an interesting story and nicely written. However, I am constantly aware that it’s YA which is not the case with a lot of the YA I read. So starting to stall. Also reading Steve Umstead’s Gabriel’s Redemption – nicely done, very traditional scifi, though the women are better characters than in the scifi I read in the 60s. I will certainly finish this one and will probably read the sequels.
i’m curled up with the sorcery and cecelia and might i say it is very interesting reading a book of letters i can’t seem to stop because i always wanna read the response to each other btw i’m loving the gammar!
Reading Liquid Lies by Hannah Martine…can’t say it’s going to be a keeper. I’ve got 30 pages left and then I can’t wait to start on something less angsty.
Next up will be A Lady Awakened by Cecelia Grant or The Hobbit…undecided. (Sidenote-The new Hobbit movie is awesome!)
I haven’t been able to get much reading done the past couple of weeks. It makes me very cranky and out of sorts when I don’t read. Reading isn’t just a pleasant pasttime for me; it’s essential for my mental wellbeing.
That said, I did read Sorcery and Cecilia which I enjoyed very much. I was sorry I had to miss the chat since I’d been looking forward to it.
I also read the latest book by Connie Suttle. I LOVE her books. Thank goodness she’s a speed writer. And I’m mere pages away from finishing Barbara Metzger’s Father Christmas. I’m not sure what I’ll pick up next, but it will most likely be one of the many other Christmas-themed books in my TBR pile.
lol- twinsies. I’m only about 100pages in, but I am enjoying it.
I’m on a Christmas book binge, I finished the Balogh, “Christmas Bride, Christmas Beau” and Robyn Carr’s Virgin River Christmas book, “My Kind of Christmas”, and I’ve got Diane Farr’s “Once Upon a Christmas” and Linda Lael Miller’s “An Outlaw’s Christmas” line up for tomorrow.
I just finished Eloisa James The Ugly Duchess. Ok, which for Eloisa is practically condemnation. I usually love her books. I have to stop reading and go wrap gifts!
I’m almost done with The Devil and the Deep, an enjoyable HP. Next I plan to finish a couple of nonfiction titles, and start The Magician’s Assistant (?) by Ann Patchett for my book club. Then I’ll make my January reading list.
I just finished Tessa Dare’s Goddess of the Hunt, which I really liked the first two thirds of, then found the last third a little annoying. Next is either Nalini Singh or Courtney Milan, I haven’t decided yet.
Haven’t had much time for reading lately, so the books have stacked up. Started “Fantasy in Death” by J.D. Robb last night in my continuing quest to catch up on this series. On the pile are the latests by Liz Carlyle, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Meg Cabot, and Victoria Dahl. Also have “Ice” by Karen Marie Moning. Was looking forward to this, but haven’t really gotten into it. Maybe because Dani is only 14 and I prefer older protags so there is at least a possibility of a love interest with sexy times, or maybe because the first part is a catch-up of the Fever series. Have the latest from Kresley Cole waiting at the library but haven’t managed to find time to get there to pick it up.
3 days into my holiday and I have read two books out of my TBR and taken about 1000 photos! luckily I am only way for 8 day and then have another week off to process so not so much reading. I have Kameron Hurley’s Rapture and Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara on my Kindle to read, and just finished Valors Trial by Tanya Huff, finally rounding out that series.
Bright blue skies, 25+ deg, slap on the sunscreen and enjoy a walk up to a waterfall today. Enjoy your holidays 🙂
Oh and Code Name Verity was my most AWESOME read this year, it will rip you apart!
I love holiday reading time! I’ve read more books than I can think of over the past week, but the most recent winner is Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick (so much more endearing than the Stephanie Plum novels to me). I’m also working on Scorpions by Noah Feldman about FDR’s Supreme Court justices. Always on the lookout for more fun mystery/adventure novels like Disappearing Nightly or Mindy Klasky’s Fright Court!
On the non-fiction side, I really enjoyed The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg this summer and am currently reading The End of Overeating by Dr. David Kessler. So far I’m still in the delicious phase of the book, not the “this is how your food is killing you” or “this is how you stop being obsessed with food” parts. Next up for nonfic is The Violinist’s Thumb and The Disappearing Spoon, both by Sam Kean. And for fiction I’ve got the latest Courtney Milan waiting for me. All in all, happy book time!
Pamela- I’m currently reading Care and Feeding …I am enjoying it but certainly not with the same insane train-wreck intensity that I did Heat. I am definitely going to read more by R. Lee Smith. Have you ever before read any like Heat? I haven’t.
I’ve got Crimson Frost due to be released Christmas Eve and A Low Down Dirty Shane on Christmas Day but to make the wait bearable I’ve been reading Tessa Dare’s Stud Club. I really enjoyed the first and am now reading the second.
Merry Christmas Everyone.
Reading Two Graves by Preston and Childs, but then it’s on to Monica McCarty’s Highland Series…sizzle!
Well, I was reading Darynda Jones Second Grave On the Left. Finito and I have to patiently wait for the Third and Fourth graves to get back to the library.
I hate waiting. Fortunately, I have a lot of unread on my Kindle. So then…Trapped by Kevin Hearne. Very similar to Jim Butcher (a fact both authors acknowledge and appreciate).
I read Spark last night and preferred it – more character development
Last week I read Wicked Appetite, and now I have Wicked Business. I’d read all 23 Plum books (over a couple of years, not last week) and guessed it would be more of the same. Yep, pretty much.
I’m looking forward to reading Spark.
I’m reading In a Treacherous Court by Michelle Diener based on recommendations here, and re-reading Sense and Sensibility. Every now and then I like to re-read Austen to reboot my Regency frame of mind.
@Cleo I think you stole my reading list, lol. I’m finishing Double Blind by Heidi Cullinan, and then Carol of the Bellskis, Turkey in the Snow, and the Galactic anthology were next on my list. Although in my case I just reread all of James Herriot’s illustrated childrens stories, does that count? 😉
I love all of Herriot’s writing, but the children’s anthology is my number one go to present for young kids. Little ones love the pictures, and once they get older they can really appreciate the stories.
@Crystal- I will definitely check out Trapped. Thanks.
I’ve never read anything like it, no. It’s rare to find a book that so unflinchingly shows that much of the weird and terrifying and manages to make it compelling and wonderful.
Ruth Downie rocks. I have all of that series on my Kindle, after reading them all as library books. It was one of the first things I got for my Kindle.