Wriging

I couldn't get in to the DailyLit thing. I just can't read on-screen, I need to physically hold a book in my hands.

Currently, I am only reading one (re-read of Catch-22) and I'm quite proud of myself because I frequently end up reading two, three, even four books simultaneously. Catch-22 is a novel that requires your full attention though, in my opinion, so I'm resisting the urge to start any others until I'm through with it.

I too am a fan of the Daily Lit! I was reading Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice and I got so into Jane Eyre that I had to go out and buy the book so I could take it on the bus with me. I'm also reading March, by Geraldine Brooks (it's about Mr. March, the father in Little Women) and Consolation by Michael Redhill. Good historical fun, all of it.

Well, I tried reading Cory Doctorow's Someone Comes To Town Someone Leaves Town through my RSS feed, but gave up. The fonts were not big enough, the chapters were not short enough, and the sense of pace was warped online.

I have been reading War And Peace, and I've 200 pages to go (currently Andrew Bolkonski has been in the middle of dying for 1 month plus). In this period I've completed 5 books.

I read fast - 100 pages an hour, I think, though that's just a rough estimate. But I just can't seem to complete War And Peace! Arrgh.

What terrific reading you guys are doing!

I tried Daily Lit, and although I loved discovering new things to read, I found it hard to read online and I didn't like getting something in my inbox. I suppose this has to do with not always being able to read something meaty when I open my email.

I'm reading two things, and listening to one -- an oral biography of Wallace Stevens (Parts of a World) that's full of terrific anecdotes about the poet's working life as a lawyer. And W. Jackson Bate's biography of Samuel Johnson, which is beautifully written and very interesting.

I'm listening to Susanna Clark's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, something I downloaded from audible.com. It's read by a guy with a delicious british accent. It's a long, leisurely told story of magic and magicians in England in the early 19th century. I really like it and look forward to my commute and find myself longing to go for a walk so I can listen to more of it.

@bloglily: I bought Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but haven't had the time to stick with it - it is such a meaty book. Listening to it might just be the answer... thanks!! [now I can't wait to listen!]

blolive -- I like audible.com. (I think it was cheaper the first three months.) It's such a long book, isn't it? But it's the perfect thing for listening because it's a story that's much more about plot than about language, so it doesn't matter so much if you're not reading it.

I love, love, love reading, but I didn't much enjoy Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. That made me pretty sad.

I'm currently reading two books: The Emperor of Ocean Park and Eat Pray Love.

I'll have to try out Daily Lit. The problem with me and books is that I get so caught up in them that I just spend an entire day laying around and reading.

Lila, Could be that some novel-problems aren't so apparent when they're read really well. I'm just enjoying the story so far (Mr. Norrell is in London, being shown around and not showing much interest in demonstrating his ability as a magician.)

Johnothan Strange and Mr Norrell was one of the books I finished when I was supposed to be reading War and Peace. It is lovely, especially the war where Clarke writes the most hilarious scenarios (I'm not going to spoil anything here Bloglily). The entire novel is richly detailed - with footnotes sometimes occupying whole pages - and I must say it should be, since Clarke spent a decade writing it.

I have only one gripe with it - the villian isn't in the least believable. But I suppose that can't be helped, seeing as it wasn't in his nature to 'have reason'.

Enjoy it while it lasts, BL - then tell us what you think of it. :)

Shadowsun, given that I have another 16 hours left to go, I'm going to guess you'll get that report around the end of the year.

I loved War and Peace. I read it on the bus to work over a few week period. I can only remember now that there were lots of beautiful scenes, and episodes, but it was such good writing. I wonder what it would be like to read it as translated by the people who did that great translation of Anna Karenina a few years ago.

I can only read one novel at a time, but usually that's interspersed with a short story collection (say, America's Best Short Stories), or a poetry book at the same time. And maybe a writer's reference.

So I might be reading upwards of three books at a time, but only one is an actual novel.

And I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Supposedly, Clarke is/has done a sequel to it, and I really can't wait for that. I bought her book of short stories (The Ladies of Grace Adeu), because I love her writing, and because there is a Mr. Norrell story in there.

I am currently reading five books at the same time. I bounce between them, as the mood fits. I read approximately 4-7 books a week, depending on the size of the book.

The City of Glory, The Truth About Lou, Vita, The Measure of a Man, and Gardening in Eden, are the books I am currently reading.

Lisa, Going into hour three or four, it's still really wonderful. I actually did an unplanned treadmill stint because I couldn't stop listening. Thanks for the heads up about those short stories. They sound like fun.