What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

Tauriel · 13-03-2026 04:34PM

Indelible by Karin Slaughter

Book 4 of the Grant County series and my least favourite thus far. This installment centers on an unexpected, deadly assault on the police station in Grant County that is linked to Chief Tolliver's past.

Dial Hard · 15-03-2026 06:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124298072#Comment_124298072

Have set this aside temporarily to read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Going to see the film on Saturday with my brother and sister and they both urged me to read it first. On chapter 6 and it's an engaging, easy read so far.

eightieschewbaccy · 16-03-2026 09:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124314987#Comment_124314987

The audiobook is particularly great IMHO.

Jack Daw · 16-03-2026 11:39AM

Just finished The Aeneid by Virgil , translation by Robert Fagles.

It's very good and enjoyable to have such escapism and read something from so long ago. Style of writing for these types of books (Iliad and Odyssey also) means it can be a little confusing at times as there are so many different characters and alliances and sometimes it can difficult to keep track of them all at times. Very absorbing though and you can really picture all the battle scenes and travels they go on and get a good image of what the weapons and fighting and armour looks like.

I've now read The Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid in the past year, 3 books I've had on my list for a log time, good to have read them now.

Arghus · 29-03-2026 07:04PM

I've read a good few lately. Some great - The Barracks by John McGahern - some absolutely awful, near unreadable - The Book of Numbers by Joshua Cohen - but I have to rave about the most recent one I finished. Knocked me out.

Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter

https://www.nyrb.com/products/hard-rain-falling

I'd never heard of the book or the author before.

I picked it up because I needed a palate cleanser after the absolutely mind-numbing turgidness of The Book of Numbers. And the plot description and the genre sounded like it'd be a hard boiled read.

After finishing it, I'm dumbfounded over how little known this book this.

I'd never heard of this book anywhere before picking it up. This is probably the best book I've read in about 2-3 years and certainly the best that came from absolutely nowhere. Tbh, I'm the only person I know amongst my social circle that actively reads books - so the best I can do is rave about it here.

It tells the story of a young man who grows up orphaned, living a semi seedy life on the West Coast in '40s and '50s America and, eventually, prison and how his life intertwines with another character in there and the after effects throughout the rest of his life. There's a lot more, but, at a plot level, that's basically it.

On one level it's a hard-bitten, tersely drawn crime and prison novel - and it's a really brilliant one on that level: the prose is really clear and authoritative, every detail feels keenly observed and drawn from life, nothing is embellished or added to.

But - and full acknowledgement of how wanky this sounds - it's actually a novel about the insecurity of maleness, the limits of freedom, self knowledge, can true love exist, the meaning of it all...

And it's not the least bit boring, or overly heady.. It's tough - some of it might be too rough for some - unsentimental, but often very funny. It was one of the most purely engrossing novels I'd read in years. This novel is a multi-facted absolute ass kicker.

aero2k · 30-03-2026 12:13PM

Just finished David Trimble Peacemaker by Stephen Walker. Probably not a book I would have bought for myself - I got it as a gift - and not exactly a page turner, mostly due to the writing style of the author, but I'm glad I read it. Trimble always came across as unlikeable, but there were many descriptions in the book of admirable demonstrations of integrity. The problems he faced from other parties were obvious living the era of his political power, but I never appreciated how much opposition he got from within his own party, and unionism in general.

burningrubbish · 31-03-2026 04:16PM

Are books still popular?

Everyone i know has moved onto audio books, multitasking is the name of the game.

cj maxx · 31-03-2026 04:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353634#Comment_124353634

I was thinking about doing that as my eyesight is failing . I got new glasses but have already got out of the habit or reading every day / night.

BraveDonut · 31-03-2026 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353634#Comment_124353634

Audio books have their place but there is nothing like curling up with a good book

burningrubbish · 31-03-2026 04:51PM

I have gotten through dozens of audiobook that otherwise i would not have had the time to read, Bring the dog for a walk, in go the ear buds, thats a solid hour morning and evening, you will be flying through books like that.

If its a good one you will be listening to it while prepping diner, cleaning the house, doing some working in the garden.

Easily listen to 20 hours a week while multi tasking, i highly recommend it.

Some of the voice actors reading are superb, really sell the story, you will find a few you like and seek them out along side writers you enjoy.

Audible usual have a new listener price so check it out, you have nothing to loose.

A few recommendations.

Vindolanda
- Adrian Goldsworthy

Kolymsky Heights - Lionel Davidson

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
- Dennis E. Taylor

Stalingrad - Antony Beevor

Ceist_Beag · 31-03-2026 04:54PM

Much prefer reading personally. If I'm out for a walk I want to listen to what's around me, not really into plugging in earphones. If I did it would be to listen to music or the radio. If I'm reading I like to be completely giving myself over to it, not trying to multi-task. But each to their own.

Arghus · 31-03-2026 06:02PM

For non-fiction I don't mind, I do listen to audiobooks, even if I prefer to actually read it, I think the most important thing is taking in the information.

Not a fan of audiobooks for fiction. I think fiction is as much about how you take it in, as well as what goes in. For me that's important - I feel less engaged listening, even if listening closely, then I do reading: reading is more active.

But to each their own.

LambshankRedemption · 31-03-2026 06:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353951#Comment_124353951

I completely agree. I find, if the language is a bit denser, then audiobooks dont work for me because my mind drifts off, and then Ive missed something important. When reading, I can reread the sentence or paragraph multiple times to get it to sink in.

When I was a kid we used to take 1-2 tripsa year to Scotland in the car and would often have a Dick Francis audiobook in the car during the 12-ish hour trip to Scotland. They work really well on audiobook.

cj maxx · 31-03-2026 06:23PM

Good call on the fiction v fact books . Fiction I think is better to read it .The prose either adds or takes away from the book more .

Ceist_Beag · 31-03-2026 07:13PM

One other reason I prefer reading and it's also a reason I prefer reading physical books instead of a Kindle is that I often find myself going back a few pages or even chapters to reference something I just read. That's not easy with audiobooks or Kindle.

nachouser · 31-03-2026 07:59PM

I'm about to embark on "There once lived a girl who seduced her sister's husband, and he hanged himself: Love stories." By Ludmilla Petrushevskaya.

It was a gift from Valentines Day and I've been putting it off because I'm not a huge fan of translated stuff and also because of what my OH might be trying to tell me.

LambshankRedemption · 31-03-2026 08:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354209#Comment_124354209

Yeah… what might the OH be trying to tell you?

eightieschewbaccy · 31-03-2026 10:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353996#Comment_124353996

I normally only do factual stuff on audiobook but must say, I'm loving the Rivers of London series on audiobook.

Tauriel · 31-03-2026 11:30PM

The Discovery of the Titanic by Dr. Robert Ballard

This book details Dr. Ballard's early career, his interest in developing and using submersibles to find and study ship wrecks, and of course, his discovery of the ill-fated Titanic.

Some of the pictures are breathtaking, as is Dr. Ballard's unwavering determination to locate the Titanic given some of the obstacles he faced along the way.

Necro · 01-04-2026 08:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353951#Comment_124353951

I went almost completely into audiobooks for about 4 years but since about 2024 I've swung back the other way into physical books. I was commuting a lot over the 4 years and now I don't really commute at all which I think is the reason. That and falling asleep everytime I so much as put on a chapter of an audiobook in bed🤣

Say Your Number · 01-04-2026 09:17AM

Re-read A Football Man by John Giles a while ago.

Read it first Christmas 2010 and decided to revisit it.

Just brings into contrast how much different the sport is now, talk of salary cap and how it wasn't just the few richest teams winning all the time, a great time capsule.