Donna's comments
(member since Nov 29, 2008)
Donna's comments from the The Next Best Book Club group.
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If your group is interesting in something classic I recommend Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. The discussion following Rebecca was particularly interesting and there are movie versions as well which added to the discussion.
If you like historical fiction I can recommend The Last Queen by C. W. Gortner, The Commoner A Novel by John Burhnam Schwartz, and Pope Joan A Novel by Donna Cross.
For something quirky I would recommend Ella Minnow Pea A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn.
What about the books by Benjamin Black (pen name of John Banville). Both Christine Falls and The Silver Swan in the Quirke series were very good and the stand alone The Lemur was quite interesting. I would not characterize these books as thrillers more a psychological mysteries.
A good number of the classics are available for free download these days, of course these books might be too much like class work instead of pleasure reading.
Also, some public libraries have some form of e-book download to computers or audiobook downloads to mp3 players and they often have a broader selection of titles including new releases. If students have library cards in their home towns perhaps they could log on and access books that way.
Michael Shaara wrote a Civil War classic, The Killer Angels and his son, Jeff Shaara continued the story and has written a number of other books.
I recently read The Disagreement A Novel by Nick Taylor which was also a Civil War era book but from a civilian perspective rather than the military.
Finished Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner. It was good but the plot was a bit uneven. It's the first in the series and I did like the setting and some of the main characters so I may try the next.
On to Hidden Moon by James Church. I really loved the character of Inspector O in the first book in the series but again the plot was a bit hard to follow. Friends have said Hidden Moon is much better so I am giving it a try.
Petra wrote: "I started The Hot Zone A Terrifying True Story last night and am almost finished with The Red Badge of Courage which, although well-written perhaps, isn't really keeping ..."
Hi Petra, I live in the town where a good bit of The Hot Zone takes place and drive by many of the places described in the book on a daily basis. When I read the book I was amazed that all that was going on right around me and I never noticed.
I'm reading 2 books, Murder on the Eiffel Tower and The Queen's Devotion The Story of Queen Mary II and enjoying them both.
While it's not a true biography I saw an ad for Daphne by Justine Picardie. It's described as a "biographical novel". Has anyone read it?
Hayes, I really enjoyed Ella Minnow Pea. Very creative. I hope you enjoy it too.
Hi Pavel, No need to apologize. We all like different books and that is what make the discussions here so interesting.
I read this book quite some time ago so some of the details have faded from my memory but I do remember liking this book very much. I've really enjoyed reading all the comments and I am glad so many of you have enjoyed it too.
Susie wrote: "Hello Lizzie and Everyone,
I am new to a actually writing on a Web page. I love to read what everyone else is reading! I have always prided myself with starting and finishing books...no ..."
Welcome Susie. Have you tried audio books? I have enjoyed many books on audio and with a good reader they can be terrific. Our library had both books on CD and downloadable ones for mp3 players. You are right however, life's too short to waste on a bad book.
I haven't read the Book Thief - yet - but I have read Loving Frank and I highly recommend it. It is a interesting look at a very creative but eccentric man and his relationship with an equally interesting woman - plus there is a shocker of an ending.
I am listening to Rebecca this time (read it first about 35 years ago) and the reader is very good. I don't know anything about her but her name is Emma Fielding. I do think it starts out a bit slow or at least it seems that way because you are dropped into the story without any background and you sort of have to find out who is who.
I am about half way through and looking forward to finishing over the weekend.
How about the novel Loving Frank A Novel interesting look at the life of Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress then wife Mamah Cheney in the early 1900s.
Janny wrote: "Our local book club is reading Summer of the Red Wolf A Novel for Thursday, which is one of my favorites. I just finished The Course of Honor by [author:Lindsey Davis|2..."
Hi Janny, What did you think of The Course of Honor? Fans of detailed Roman history probably think it is rather light but I enjoyed the different perspective.
Denise wrote: "Shona wrote: "Lori wrote: "Shona, I am like you, in that I will continue to suffer through a book that I dislike, hoping it will get better. Well, at least you finished it, and wont be left wonderi..."
I agree with setting a point, 50 pgs, 100 pgs, whatever, and then stopping but I do one other thing - I will start something else, especially a different genre, and then try the book one more time a few weeks later. Sometimes it is just not the right time for a particular book. If it fails the second time then I'm done.
Time Bandit wrote: "I agree with Haelee. It is pretty cool but books are way better in my opinion. But some books are free on the Kindle so you do save money, actually, most books that you purchase on the Kindle are g..."
You do have to take into account the cost of the Kindle though. At $300 that would be about 15 new-release hard cover books or if you are a bargin hunter, 100 $3 used books.
Marti wrote: "I am presently reading Tall Grass by Sandra Dallas. I found it on an indie book sheet. I am about 40 pages in and had trouble putting it down."
I've heard good things about Tallgrass and it has been on my TBR list for a while. Please let us know what you think when you have finished.
I just started Death on the Nevskii Prospekt by David Dickinson. It's a historical mystery set in Tsarist Russia and so far so good.
