Reading for pleasure! What are you reading now?

[EndlessLaymon]

Voice Of The Fire by Alan Moore.

[(author) Katelyn]

The Convienent Groom by Denise Hunter. Well, I think that's what its called.

[Chris OConnor]

I'm reading "Godric the Kingslayer" by Jayden Woods.

[R. LeBeaux]

Picture Palace, by Paul Theroux. A sleeper of a literary novel. No detectives; no car chases; no gun fights; no fantasy. Just an excellently conceived and written story, with psychological depth and wonderfully drawn characters.

amazon.com/Picture-Palace-Paul-Theroux/ ... 0140050728

[dmalcolm]

I'm reading Left Neglected by Lisa Genova.

[thekidd]

I'm reading/listening to Hard Rain by David Rollins. I'm loving it so far!

[7seas]

Gerard Hindmarsh: Angelina, From Stromboli to D'Urville Island: A Family's Story

Imagine growing up on the slopes of an Italian volcano, tucked away in the Mediterranian, living among a close-knit group of families, barely surviving on fishing. Ready to break out of the island's community, two brothers emigrate to New Zealand, where they find a piece of land on another small island, D'Urville, located in the Marlborough Sounds.

Vincenzo returns to Stromboli in 1906 to pick up his 16 year old bride Angelina, and her cousin as bride for his brother too.

The author is Angelina & Vincenzo's grandson. Through the eyes of both his grandparents we read about their expectations, work, friendship, difficulties, and successes in their new home country. Those first New Zealand immigrants did not shy away from hard work. The Italians decided that sheep farming was the way to go: "Sheep leave you with clean hands and feet, but cows pull your pride into the mud and shit." Only after their first flock of 300 sheep did not produce the expected number of lambs did they find out that a third of the herd were actually not ewes but wethers.

Living in rural isolation is difficult for Angelina, who also suffers from an unfolding family feud. She meets a Maori women, Wetekia, with whom a close friendship develops.

Having migrated to New Zealand myself, I find that the country still pretty much is influenced by immigration. Its multiethnic population is a patchwork of Maori and "pakeha" = all non-Maori, most of which have British and Irish ancestry. While Europeans constitute the largest ethnic group, Pacific peoples and Asians also define New Zealand today.

Hindmarsh calls his work 'faction'. I find it interesting and entertaining; I generally prefer reading stories that are at least based on reality. My own experience of immigrating was vastly different, but I can still relate to some of the situations he writes about.

Cheers,
7seas

[EndlessLaymon]

Firestarter by Stephen King.

[EndlessLaymon]

2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke.

[lindad_amato]

Doc by Mary Doria Russell. Fictional account of the life of Doc Holliday and his pals the Earp brothers.