<p>I am reading a book that was a cheap Kindle offering called Mary Queen of France by Jean Plaidy. I love historical fiction and have seen her name mentioned for years as being a favorite. It’s okay. Okay enough to finish it, but not THE best writing ever.
What are YOU reading? And what is next up?</p>
<p>Have you seen our (very long) thread on “best books”? People pop out and post whenever they finish something they like.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/403424-one-best-books-ive-read-last-6-months.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/403424-one-best-books-ive-read-last-6-months.html</a> </p>
<p>If you like historical fiction, I think we were just talking a bit about Wolf Hall near the end of that thread.</p>
<p>Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I’m reading The Book Thief now with Outlander on deck. I discovered the Goodreads app and have loved the book lists by listopia. I’m reading the books in this genre on the list that I’ve missed over the years.</p>
<p>I’m finishing Kushiel’s Mercy by Jacqueline Carey. It’s the sixth and last book in the Kushiel’s Legacy series (fantasy). I love, love, love the books but am careful with my recommendation. 
(Kushiel’s Dart, first in the series, is 1,015 pages. I’ve been reading a while now!)</p>
<p>I’m also reading The Mammoth Book of Science Fiction. I’m underwhelmed and don’t recommend it (even though I’ve liked a few of the short stories).</p>
<p>Next up - The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe, chosen by my real-life book club. I picked it up at the library today and have to have it finished by Monday night. We’ll see. (I honestly have no idea whether or not I’ll like it. It’s not something I would necessarily choose, but that happens to be the good thing about a book club … at least sometimes.)</p>
<p>I like historical romances and feel like I’ve learned most of my English history from novels. FYI Jean Plaidy is the same person as Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr; I’ve read books under all three names and like Victoria Holt best. At the moment I’m reading JD Robb’s (AKA Nora Roberts) newest Something-or-other in Death. Next I’m reading the newest Eve Duncan by Iris Johansen. I just finished the newest Sophie Kinsella. (Hit it lucky on the new books shelf.) Mostly I read romance but it’s my escape - don’t want serious thoughts; I get enough of those from newspapers and magazines. I did read Life After Life because it sounded so interesting and I did enjoy it.</p>
<p>I’m reading Naked by David Sedaris. And also trying to finish Snow by Orhan Pahmuk. First 100 pages were wonderful, then I kind of got bogged down.</p>
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<p>Another favorite series of mine. Yes I’ve read the newest plus the 35 before that plus the short stories.</p>
<p>I’m reading A Storm of Swords–the third book in A Song of Ice and Fire series. Most people know it as the Game of Thrones.</p>
<p>I’m 600 pages in and only half way through. I’m not watching the popular HBO series or reading The Game of Thrones thread on CC because the third season is the first half of the third book. The finale was last Sunday and I’m not quite up to that point in the book. </p>
<p>I know there is something big coming in the book and apparently it occurred two Sundays ago on the HBO series. It was talked about on morning shows and written about on online news sites. But I was able to avoid a spoiler. So please do not mention it here. Haha.</p>
<p>I’m reading An Echo in the Bone, the seventh book in the Outlander series.</p>
<p>I read the first three books in the Outlander series, but after that I lost interest. I loved the first book so much! I heard Diana Gabaldon speak once; wonderful presentation.</p>
<p>I just finished Odds Against Tomorrow by Nathaniel Rich. I’m now 200 pages into The Passage by Justin Cronin. Both compulsively readable.</p>
<p>Just finished At Risk by Patricia Cornwall, started The Swallows of Kabhul. A friend of mine, Sharon Struth just publish a romance novel available for e-readers, The Hourglass. Can’t wait for paperback edition.</p>
<p>I have just started Isabel Allende’s Maya’s Notebook. I am slowly getting drawn in. I do like her writings. </p>
<p>Morrismm- I am only on season 2 of Game of Thrones and have read the first book. I won’t let myself read anymore until I get through the shows as I like being stunned. The first book was great and I can’t believe I never picked them up before.</p>
<p>I’m reading The Satanic Verses by Sahlman Rushdie at the insistence of my son, who is a big fan. The book starts with two people falling from an exploded airliner, and I was in fact flying from France to the US–three flights and an air traffic controller strike in France, oy vey–which was weird, to say the least. Right now I have put it aside to catch up with my accumulated New Yorkers, but will be back soon.</p>
<p>(I’ve read all of the Game of Thrones and Outlander books. Gabaldon has become increasingly tiresome over the last few, IMHO, but I still read them.)</p>
<p>Just finished Mary Coin by Marisa Silver - a beautifully written book. She takes the iconic photograph of the migrant mother by Dorothea Lange and writes a story about both women, weaving fact and fiction together. Highly recommended.</p>
<p>I’m about to start Colum McCann’s Transatlantic. His Let the Great World Spin is one of my favorite books, so I have high hopes for this one.</p>
<p>Consolation, your son has good taste in books. :)</p>
<p>I’m currently reading Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. It’s an interesting and entertaining book about World War 1 coming from the perspective of multiple international characters. This is the first book in a planned trilogy. I believe book 2 is out and deals with World War 2.</p>
<p>I enjoyed Fall of Giants. S1 has the second in the series. Hope to get it when I see him next weekend. I was such a fan of Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. </p>
<p>A great book I read recently was The Physician by Noah Gordon. It is the first in a trilogy. The first two were great. The third was ok but not as great as the first two.</p>
<p>I am reading the House of Velvet and Glass and it will be only the second book ever I’ve put down without finishing. I’ve just decided I am done with it and will be moving onto something else. I had really high hopes for it but i realized very quickly this author was not for me.</p>
<p>I also love goodreads. That’s where i got this one , but I liked the last six or so books I found there so ill forgive it!</p>
<p>VABluebird, if you are looking for more historical fiction - try Margaret Irwin. Her books were mostly set in 16th and 17th century England and Scotland and France and were well researched.</p>
<p>I just finished Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart and am now reading the two sequels.</p>
<p>I also have one book to go in the Games of Thrones series.</p>
<p>Margaret Irwin! I loved her books. Especially The Stranger Prince. Definitely many steps above Jean Plaidy.</p>