It's Friday! What are you reading?

[charlatti]

What are you reading and how do you like it?

QOTW: There have been studies showing that people who read fiction are generally better at reading other people -- more able to figure out what someone else is feeling. How true is that for you? (I'll be back later to link an article or two on the studies. ETA here's one: www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empathy/ )

[labbie]

I'm listening to the Golem and the Jinni and am loving it. It's really sucked me in.
I'm reading Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard. It's ok. The writing is sort of meh, but I'm really intrigued more by the prisoners' stories and of life behind bars.

QOTW: This is interesting, and yes I do consider myself a good "people reader", although never gave it a thought that my voracious reading could have something to do with that. I guess it makes sense, since reading truly opens up worlds and exposes all types of people/places/situations that I'd never otherwise think or learn about.

[charlatti]

I'm reading th latest Maisie Dobbs, A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear. Good so far, solid but not yet among my favorites of the series.

QOTW: I think I am very good at reading people and picking up on subtext, nonverbal cues, that sort of thing. It's hard to say which comes first though -- are empathetic people drawn to reading? One study , if I'm remembering right, showed people responded differently to situations depending on whether they had just read ficiton or something else. So there is some evidence of causation, but then frequent readers might also be choosing to reinforce that, if I'm making any sense.

[labbie]

Ooh charlatti, I didn't know the new Maisie was out- I've listened to them all on audio so I'll have to seek out the new one.
Thanks!

[BlackCanary]

Ender's Game

[spedrunner]

Mar 27, 2015 6:58:59 GMT -5 charlatti said:

What are you reading and how do you like it?

QOTW: There have been studies showing that people who read fiction are generally better at reading other people -- more able to figure out what someone else is feeling. How true is that for you? (I'll be back later to link an article or two on the studies. ETA here's one: www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empathy/ )

Currently reading:

Outlander (first book)  eh, not sure, im only a few chapters in. Its not really my usual go to (i like quick moving, psychological thrillers) but I ve heard wonderufl things so I am going to stick with it. 

Imperfectly Perfect (really enjoying this "beachy trashy" read so far  No thinking involved

Just finished The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. I really liked it, i think I am a nicholas sparks fan (my first!)

[spedrunner]

qotd: YES, i totally agree with this! I lvoe fiction and I am also veyr interested in psychology and the way peopel think. I often feel I can really read other welL!

[aprilsails]

I am reading the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. I'm on the 5th book - The Devil's Star. I think I like this one the best so far, but you really have to read books 3 and 4 to get a proper appreciation for it. 1 and 2 were standalone books and were just nowhere near as good as 3, 4, and 5 have been to this point.

I think I agree with the QOTD. DH always complains since I tend to read fairly dramatic books and then I'm sitting there sobbing on the couch. I think it's important to be exposed to historical events and different cultures and reading fiction can do that in so many ways. In that manner, you learn more about people and also how their lives may differ from your own.

[rootbeerfloat]

I finished The Hobbit yesterday. I'd never read it before as it's not really my genre, but I enjoyed the movies well enough, so I was curious. I don't think I'll invest the time in LOTR, but I liked it.

QOTW: I think I'm pretty good at reading people, and I happen to like to read. Never thought those could be related.

[mactastic]

Hi all! I'm currently reading Big Little Lies - I needed a break between two depressing, heavy books (just finished 12 Years a Slave, and am about to start 5 Days at Memorial for my book club.) For what was supposed to be a light pallette cleanser, BLL is a bit heavier than anticipated!

Still hate-listening to Sisterland. I've got about an hour left in it, and at this point, am just sticking it out so it'll count towards my total

As for your QOTW, that's very interesting! I'm a counselor by trade, so I'd HOPE I'm pretty good at reading people. Maybe my early nerdy years prepared me for my career?

Happy reading!

[kiminky]

Currently reading The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan. I have had a string of books recently that have just been "meh", I'm not sure this is the one that is going to bring me out of it.

[marigoldgirl]

I just finished The Handmaid's Tale. I didn't really like it. I am loading my kindle full of audio books for my travel for spring break. So I have not started anything yet.

QOTW- I am good at reading people and picking up signals from them. This was an interesting read. It makes sense to me.

[Pippin]

I'm still working on The Gunslinger but I had stopped and read a lighter read this week.

QOTW: That's interesting. I would consider myself to be good at reading people and I read mostly fiction.

[whitemerlot]

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

I really like it so far!

spedrunner I know you like thrillers, have you read this?

[spedrunner]

Mar 27, 2015 16:37:44 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

I really like it so far!

spedrunner I know you like thrillers, have you read this?

no, I am adding it to my list!!!!

[SpartanGirl]

I just finished Yes Please by Amy Poehler after waiting a ridiculously long time for it at the library. It was good. Not quite as funny as I thought it would be, but it did give me a few laughs.

I'm going to start The Cuckoo's Child by Margaret Thompson tonight. I picked it up at the library yesterday because it looked interesting.

[Emerald1486]

I've finally moved onto Breath of Snow and Ashes (book #6 in Outlander)

QotW: I'm not so sure. I have a hard time, but it could be a mix of social awkwardness and mild paranoia. I never know if someone is feeling what I perceive or not

[MrsAxilla]

Still working on Gone with the Wind. It's more than a thousand pages and I'm halfway through.

[dorothyinAus]

I'm reading The Litter of the Law by Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown. I really like the Mrs. Murphy mysteries, especially the scenes where the animals are talking to each other. I'm enjoying this one, but I'm only 4 chapters in. I hope to finish it this weekend.

QOTW: I read a lot of fiction, but I really haven't noticed I'm any better at reading people than anyone else. I think part of that is I'm generally oblivious of other people -- not rude, just more absorbed in my own thoughts.

[Deleted]

Grimm's Fairy Tales and Sense and Sensibility. 

I don't think reading fiction has made me more sensitive. 

I just think time and reflect have helped. 

[ally]

I'm reading Staying at Daisy's by Jill Mansell.  I got a three book bundle for the nook for $2.  It is fine, a light read which is what I was after this week. 

QOTW: I love to read and feel I "understand" people.  At least I do better than DH!

[apelila]

Currently reading "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach. I'm enjoying it so far.

QOTW: Huh. I have always been a good people-reader, and able to intuit whether I should give them a hug or give them some space. I have also always been a HUGE fan of the fiction. I wonder if my enjoyment of fiction stems more from my natural ability to pick up on signals from people, or if it's the other way around, as indicated from the article.

Either way, it seems most of us seem to have both qualities!

[msmerymac]

Whoops, missed this post. I'm reading the Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. So far not as good as the last book (the Gunslinger).

[aurora]

Mar 30, 2015 16:46:44 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Whoops, missed this post. I'm reading the Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. So far not as good as the last book (the Gunslinger).

I agree! But it was worth reading to get to Wizard and Glass.

[msmerymac]

Mar 31, 2015 10:14:11 GMT -5 aurora said:

Mar 30, 2015 16:46:44 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Whoops, missed this post. I'm reading the Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. So far not as good as the last book (the Gunslinger).

I agree! But it was worth reading to get to Wizard and Glass.

At least the first three books are short...er. I take it the last few monstrosities are good. 

The Wind Through the Keyhole is after Wizard and Glass and before Wolves of the Calla, right? I should read it then?

[aurora]

Mar 31, 2015 12:04:38 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Mar 31, 2015 10:14:11 GMT -5 aurora said:

I agree! But it was worth reading to get to Wizard and Glass.

At least the first three books are short...er. I take it the last few monstrosities are good. 

The Wind Through the Keyhole is after Wizard and Glass and before Wolves of the Calla, right? I should read it then?

I actually havent read Wind through the Keyhole yet but there was a thread about the chronology here just recently. I can't remember who or the answer, though.