What is Everyone Reading?

Posted on by thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany

Well, I am still having a bit of trouble writing.  I wouldn’t describe it so much as writer’s block, as just plain not writing anything, at all.

On a positive note, I have started reading again! The weather here in western Germany has been on the cool side, with plenty of rainy, grey skies.  The perfect days for tea and books.

So, I have finally read The Handmaids Tale, and loved it.  Well, love is probably not the best word for such a book.  More like I devoured it, read it in one day, and felt great fear while doing so, yet couldn’t stop.  The story line stays with you long after finishing the book, and you can see hints of the story coming to life in the American daily news.  Frightening.

Now I am on to Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch.  I am trying to read it slowly, to make it last.  That’s not really working for me, but thankfully this is the first of a series.  It’s a crime story that also has a supernatural element, and plenty of humour as well.  I am really enjoying it and looking forward to the rest of the series.

Cheyenne just started Mythos by Stephen Fry.  She has always been a big fan of the Greek myths so this book is perfect for her.  So far, she has really enjoyed it and liked the style of the writing.  I will be reading it as soon as she is finished.

When I do my grocery shopping in Brühl, I walk past no less that three book shops on the way back to meet Dirk.  So far, I have only been in two of the shops. Both have a small English language section.  Both shops have let me know that they are able to order anything that I would like, but I usually order my book from Amazon so they come right to the house.  But I really like to browse the books at the shop, even all the German language books (Someday I will be able to read those too!).  I also really like to buy the books from the shop.  A Lot.  Let’s hope I start writing again, and better yet, selling some of the writing so I can feed my book buying addiction.

While I was out, I also picked up The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.  That is the next book on my list to read.  I will be sure to let you know what I think of it when I am done.

So, what is everyone reading right now? Anything you would recommend?  I am looking forward to the new Anne Rice book, it’s a new tale of Lestat.  I plan to pick that one up as soon as I finish my most recent book haul….which will be very soon.

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62 thoughts on “What is Everyone Reading?”

  1. I have to confess that I didn’t like The Handmaid’s Tale at all. I read it when it first came out, at a time when the future it described seemed very unlikely.

    I’m reading St. Augustine’s City of God. It’s the last of twelve classics I chose back in January.

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  3. Having been unable to read anything since the ‘legs’ accident I finallly started GIn about. Fortnight ago and read (devoured) three books in a week it was the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, I enjoyed it a lot.

    Through the week I noticed The Bloggess tweeting about her books written in German – and obviously thought of you 😊

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  5. My daughter has promised to lend me her copy of ‘Mythos’ when she’s finished so looking forward to that, although it’s so far a myth like the apparent contents. I’ve just finished Matt Haig’s ‘Humans’ which was very funny and has an amusing point of view.
    Also continuing to work through the Terry Pratchett bibliography, why it took me so long to discover his work when clearly I was the right sort of character to really enjoy his unique way of seeing things is a mystery.

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  6. I adored the Handmaid’s Tale. Read it about 20yrs ago & it just gripped me. I need to read Rivers of London- I like the sound of that. I’m currently reading a really fascinating book about our Adrenals. It honestly is interesting. Then I’m finally reading Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde. Thought it was the right time of year to read!

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    1. I love reading classics now. When I was in school I didn’t so much. I’ve never liked being told what to do. But now I really enjoy them.
      I am trying to read Fear, but it’s hard. I feel so on edge regarding the situation in the US. It’s hard to read about it, makes me feel hopeless and scared. Oh and really fucking angry too.

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      1. Oh god, love. It’s all just horrific. I get so angry too and I’m not from America. I can only imagine that Fear is incredibly hard to read. I just feel so useless. It feels like there’s literally nothing I can do.

        And yes re classics. Never liked them as a teenager, but am really enjoying them now.

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  7. I’m reading a book a friend of mine just published, Gina In a Floating World, and I just picked up Kingsolver’s latest, Unsheltered. I can’t wait to read that one.

    So glad to hear you read A Handmaid’s Tale, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on Mythos.

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    1. I am really looking forward to reading Mythos.
      I am planning to make it a habit to buy some of our blogging friend’s book once a month. We have so many published authors in some of these blogging groups that I think it would be a shame not to support their work.

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  8. The writing thing I so get too. I’ve started using blog prompts like Linda Hill Stream of Concious and #BlogBattle to hit random points in my back stories just to get back into some sort of writing. Books I’m reading like mad too. Decided last year to cross many genres I’d not normally do too. Girl on a Train, The Roanoke Girls, Witcher series, so many I can’t remember them all. Many were really good reads too. My normal genre is horror so Stephen King And Brian Lumkey there. All time favourite being The Dark Tower books…which clearly isn’t horror lol.

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      1. Agreed. I also consider writers should branch out in their reading too. Observe how flow changes in different styles. An essential apparently as Sai King says… if you don’t read then you don’t have the tools to write… who am I to argue that lol

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  10. I want to read “The Handmaid’s Tale!” I got the feeling from your comments that it’s based on a true story, is that right? Great review. I’m trying to read “Truly, Madly, Guilty,” but I’ve been so busy with a new job and trying to squeeze some writing in that I haven’t had a lot of time for reading. 🙂

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  12. My reading focus has been on finding strong female characters and writers from cultures other than mine — so I just read Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and am reading The Unforgotten Woman by Rabih Alameddine and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen is up next. So far so good.

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  13. Read The Handmaid’s Tale when I was at school and again last year when my son studied it – Rivers of London series very popular in my house too. I have just finished “Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jesmyn Ward with my book club – centred around Parchman Prison in Mississippi it is very powerful & most of us thought it fantastic. Now reading The Dead Club by Kate Rigby…..

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  14. Loved Handmaid . Horrifying. I read Rivers of Blood as part of An Historian About Town fb book club and just finished (loved) My Life in France. Just finished part one of The Seven Sisters too- really good. I have an upstairs book , downstairs book, bath book and car book on the go always! Starting Thir13een now and The Couple Next Door.

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  15. Have you watched the Handmaid’s Tale TV series? I’m more hooked on that than I was on the book (which is odd for me as I usually enjoy the book more), and they’re continuing the series past where the book ended (and it’s just as good). You should check it out – the actors are superb!

    As for me, I just started East of Eden, a classic by John Steinbeck. I’m only a few chapters in, but enjoying it none-the-less. I just finished The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, which I also enjoyed. A book about horses, art, and love – perfect for me. 🙂

    Great post, Cherie!

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  17. I recently read an article arguing for Little Women to be kept on the syllabus in middle schools (I think) in the US, and I realised it’s a book I actually haven’t read but have heard so much about, so I decided to give it a go. The language and some of the attitudes are obviously outdated because of the time it was written in and that can make it hard to get through, but then there are some great little moments in it. I expect I’ll keep going until the end!

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  18. I love reading and could easily spend days lost in a book. I’m currently reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Set in WWI and just after WWII we are introduced to two main characters, Eve, who is a spy in France for the British during WWI and Charlie who is looking for her cousin who lost touch in France during WWII. Both women come together to revisit France together to resolve their demons. It is a great book and would thoroughly recommend it.

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  19. I really enjoyed (?) the Handmaid’s Tale and loved the River of London series! I’m reading the Tamil Tigress for our Bookclub and it’s quite good. Another good read was Crazy, Rich Asians. My best book recently was Any Ordinary Day which I reviewed last week on my blog. Bet you can’t wait to be able to read German books 🙂

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    1. I have heard good things about Crazy, Rich Asians.
      Yes, I really hope the day come soon that I can start to read and communicate in German. I’m planning to buy the first Harry Potter book in German. I have read it so many times in English that I feel I might be able to make the connections if I read it in German…maybe.

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  20. I don’t know anything about ‘Mythos’ as I’m living outside the states and it’s hard to get my hands on books and even harder trying to follow what’s new and recommended— so THANK YOU! Really helpful! I know what I’ll be putting next on my kindle !

    I loved The Handmaids Tale bit I read it about 15 years ago and really think it needs a re-read. I find so many parallels between the story and today’s world.

    I’m currently reading My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante and cannot our it down! Absolutely mesmerizing.

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  22. Definitely reading more than writing here too…
    Currently nearly finished Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang because I love the serial.
    Unfortunately it’s not as great as the TV show… But I’m still gonna finish it!!!
    Loving Amanda Prowse books at the moment xx

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  23. Ooo, I might like the Fry book. I’m reading the novel OHIO by Stephen Markley, which I was prepared to love and just don’t. I can’t get interested enough in any of the all-male cast of characters (so far anyway) to “get it.” And seeing as that title would have been a good contender for my (someday!) short story collection, I’m feeling a little bitter. Probably a good time to be writing more than reading!

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  24. Ha ha!! I just finished Handmaid’s Tale last month and I couldn’t do it!! I found the world so confusing… I hate being left SO in the dark… Where was this society? Where were these colonies? If these we this war going on and all this nuclear fallout, why did it not seem to effect the rest of the world??… I was just so confused and wanted answers… Lol!!
    I’m reading Angelfire by Deryn Pittar for a blog tour post next week…. It’s… Not very good. 😂😂 We’ll see what happens…

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  25. That’s some nice collection of reading to be completed Cherie….:)….I am currently reading an old classic Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie, always a big fan of Hercule Poirot mysteries….keeps you on the edge…:)

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  26. The Handmaid’s Tale has been on my to read list for way to long, I’ve even got in downloaded so I really must get on it. I’ve just finished reading The Rules Of Magic, which is a prequel to Practical Magoc apparently, but I’ve not read that or seen the film, seems I’m the only one! Some books I’ve really enjoyed reading this year are Beartown by Fredrik Backman, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
    Oh I didn’t realise there was a new Anne Rice book, I cannot explain how much I love The Vampire Lestat!

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    1. Yes, she has been writing with her son Christopher Rice!
      I have heard good things about The Night Circus, seems I need to add it to the list.
      Practical Magic is one of my favourite movies of all time. The book was OK, I actually liked the movie better..weird, not how that usually works for me.

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Published by thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany

Born in the United States, living in Germany, telling stories about my adventures.