You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Sept 2012 Buddy Challenge REPORTING
message 51:
by
Alison
(new)
Sep 13, 2012 10:53AM
I've finished mine - Imperial Woman. THanks Connie for making me read it. It's about the same historical figure as Empress Orchid, which I think a few people might have read as part of the year long challenge. It is a better read though - I'm not making any comment on historical authenticity or otherwise, but Empress Orchidleft me cold as it was so dully written.
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Snoozie Suzie wrote: "Ok, I'm officially giving up on my book. It just wasn't for me. And there are too many others I want to read so I'm not bothered that I have abandoned. Onwards and upwards as they say"Oh what a shame Suzie :( but you're right, too many other books to have to force yourself to read something you don't enjoy.
Sam wrote: "I've finally finished The Green Mile and I loved it, brilliant choice by Valerie!"I always love it when someone loves a book I love! Can't you feel the love? (Move over Danielle Steel)
I read A Monster Calls which isn't a horror book at all. It's a young adult book with a monster in it, but this books isn't scary at all. It's about a young man coming to terms with the fact that is mother is dying of cancer. He is in denial, having nightmares, very angry, and being visited by a monster who is telling him tales... who is guiding him towards an understanding. The illustrations are wonderful. Sad, poignant, and wonderfully written. For children of all ages! Bring your tissues.
I finished Breakfast of Champions last night - at times I was fascinated, other times I was confused, but overall I'm definitely glad I read it!
Kat wrote: "I finished Breakfast of Champions last night - at times I was fascinated, other times I was confused, but overall I'm definitely glad I read it!"I'm glad you are glad :)
I'm going to have to give up on my book as well. I read to page 100 and it is absolute torture. Its written in such a stiff uptight manner I can't get into it. At least I tried though.
Alison wrote: "I've finished mine - Imperial Woman. THanks Connie for making me read it. It's about the same historical figure as Empress Orchid, which I think a few people might have read as part of the year lo..."I have loved Pearl S. Buck's books for many, many years, and when I saw her book on your list, I knew that was the one I was going to select for you. I have read Empress Orchid and liked it, but Pearl Buck is always the winner in Chinese literature for me.
@ Janice
I still find myself thinking about Mudbound after having finished it weeks ago. It has haunted me. There are so many deep themes to think about in this book. Thank you for recommending it. If you have any more recs, please let me know! ; )
I'd recommend anything on my 5-star shelf. If you haven't read Someone Knows My Name (also has the title The Book of Negroes), it's another great read.
Janice wrote: "Sam wrote: "I've finally finished The Green Mile and I loved it, brilliant choice by Valerie!"I always love it when someone loves a book I love! Can't you feel the love? (Move over Danielle Steel)"
Goodness that's a lotta loves!
Chelsea, you must think that I am terribly ungrateful for not acknowledging your choice of book for me to read. It first took me a while to locate it in my stacks.
Then I just had to concentrate on the Half Year Challenge. Who knew Rainbows were such high maintenance!
Now I’ve finally started. Everything is going well with The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York.
LOL! Funny the impact dreams can have on us. You wouldn't like living way up north where the sun doesn't set in the summer (nor does it rise in the winter).
The book I read, A Monster Calls, is still sticking with me after a couple of days. It's an easy, quick read, and I highly recommend it to all ages. The illustrations are amazing.
Amber wrote: "I'm half finished with my buddy read and I have a bit of a funny story. . . I'm reading The Age of Miracles in which the Earth's rotations have slowed down. Where I'm at right now, a single day (..."That part of the book made me stop and think that perhaps whinging about 15 hour nights in winter was a little bit over the top! Sleeping in daylight wouldn't bother me as much as 48 hours of darkness though....ugh.
I'm very slightly worried that Kendra Jo, for whom I selected a book, hasn't been in at all. Anyone else missing their buddy? Hope that means they've not managed to find it, rather than have hated it and are hiding.
How are you doing with your book, Katrina?
Helen wrote: "I'm very slightly worried that Kendra Jo, for whom I selected a book, hasn't been in at all. Anyone else missing their buddy? Hope that means they've not managed to find it, rather than have hated ..."Maybe send her a private message to see how she's doing.
I finished my buddy read Like Water for Chocolate. I'm going to have let this book simmer for a while. I enjoyed it, but I think I will mull over it and see if a new flavour doesn't emerge. Thanks for recommending this book for me Rusalka. :)
Janice wrote: "I finished my buddy read Like Water for Chocolate. I'm going to have let this book simmer for a while. I enjoyed it, but I think I will mull over it and see if a new flavour doesn't emerge. Tha..."
No worries! I found it was one of those books that needs a bit of a simmer.
I read it with no background or raving attached to it. I wonder if that would change my feelings about it if I read it now.
I have my chosen book, A Pigeon and a Boy, sitting here but haven't had a chance to start it yet. I'm finishing up with Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer, and have at least three other books for other groups. I think I'm going to have to pretend I'm sick this weekend, or hope for lots of rainy weather, so I can get a lot of reading done :)
jaxnsmom wrote: "I have my chosen book, A Pigeon and a Boy, sitting here but haven't had a chance to start it yet. I'm finishing up with Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer, and have at least three other books for othe..."LOL jaxnsmom, good idea!
Janice wrote: "I'd recommend anything on my 5-star shelf. If you haven't read Someone Knows My Name (also has the title The Book of Negroes), it's another great read."Thanks for the rec, Janice. I may sneak a peek at your 5 star shelf, too. ; ) It seems like we enjoy some of the same types of books.
So... 30 Sept hey?>.>
<.<
We talking a standardised time? Or your own local time? My 696pp are asking you see.
Rusalka wrote: "So... 30 Sept hey?>.>
<.<
We talking a standardised time? Or your own local time? My 696pp are asking you see."
When midnight Sep 30th hits your time zone, your book turns into a pumpkin.
Connie wrote: "Thanks for the rec, Janice. I may sneak a peek at your 5 star shelf, too. ; ) It seems like we enjoy some of the same types of books...."I noticed that too. :)
Can't blame a girl for trying :D
Amber, I am so glad you enjoyed your book. I have heard mixed reviews of it, so it's nice to hear such a positive one!
jaxnsmom wrote: "I have my chosen book, A Pigeon and a Boy, sitting here but haven't had a chance to start it yet. I'm finishing up with Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer, and have at least three other books for othe..."How are you doing on
? I decided to read it for a Violet Rainbow book. Am picking it up at the library today.
Want to really do a Buddy Read?
Will that get you going?
Debra wrote: "How are you doing with your book, Katrina?"I only picked it up again yesterday I think and I'm determined to see it through but somehow the story itself isn't quite gripping me yet. What keeps me reading is mostly the ambiente as well as the way it's written so I don't really know yet.
Finished
. (A violet, non-fiction October Toppler candidate for some of you, by-the-way!)Thank you for the pick, Chelsea.
Almeta's Review
Amber wrote: "I finished my book last night, The Age of Miracles. The ending was, in my opinion, pretty intense. I don't even remember how long the natural days and nights were by the end of the book, perhaps ..."I'm glad you enjoyed it Amber! It had me pretty freaked out too, imagining how much life would change if the days and nights were that long!
Katrina wrote: "Debra wrote: "How are you doing with your book, Katrina?"I only picked it up again yesterday I think and I'm determined to see it through but somehow the story itself isn't quite gripping me yet...."
Well, as you said, since you just started reading it, it's hard to tell. Keep us posted! I'm hoping you will enjoy it.
I'm done! I read The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. It was a bit odd to be honest. Ok, but the ending is so abrupt, almost as if it's supposed to have a sequel... still, it had been on my list for a while, so It's nice to cross another one off. Thanks for the pick :)
Almeta wrote: "How are you doing on A Pigeon and a Boy? I decided to read it for a Violet Rainbow book. Am picking it up at the library today.
Want to really do a Buddy Read?
Will that get you going?"
Have you read it yet? I'm starting it tomorrow (actually tonight) after work. I haven't gotten a lot of reading done this week. My older dog, Jackson, died Sunday night, and I've been getting the basics done, but not much else. I miss him so much!
jaxnsmom wrote: "Have you read it yet? I'm starting it tomorrow (actually tonight) after work. I haven't gotten a lot of reading done this week. My older dog, Jackson, died Sunday night, and I've been getting the basics done, but not much else. I miss him so much! ..."I am so sorry to hear about Jackson. Is that how you formulated your "handle"? The loss of a member of our family, even a furry one, is so hard.
I started A Pigeon and a Boy yesterday. Had a struggling start. I think the translation may be poor.
One minute I thought the protagonist was talking to his mother (maybe in a letter or journal), the next he was talking about his mother to me (the reader). It took quite a while to determine that this was supposed to be the same person. (You know, like how some couples actually call their spouses “mother” or “father”, just as their kids do.)
See what you think.
ETA
Okay now that I've read further, I've decided it is not the translation. All of the chapters that I have read so far with the exception of Chapter 2, read just fine.
The structure seems to be that each chapter is a different explanation. 1-The War, 2-The Mother, 3-The Father, 4-The Children. So only the Mother chapter was disjointed and confusing...which by-the-way so was The Mother. Maybe this was a clever author's device?
Almeta wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "Have you read it yet? I'm starting it tomorrow (actually tonight) after work. I haven't gotten a lot of reading done this week. My older dog, Jackson, died Sunday night, and I've b..."Yep, Jackson was the inspiration behind my 'handle'. And much easier thatn getting confused with any other Donnas :)
I'm going to start Pigeon if I ever get home tonight. System problems and end of month, probably be here til about 10.
I hate it when spouses call each other Mother or Daddy or whatever. It makes me want to ask them if they have some complex about their own parent. My brother referred to 'Mommy' last night and I thought, "Chuck, our mom's dead", then I realized he was talking about his wife. YUCKY! But thanks for the heads up on the first chapter.
Gaeta1 wrote: "Winterson doesn't seem to have completely grown up. She seems stuck in a permanent adolescence"I watched an interview with her the other day, and she admitted she wrote the book very young and was stuck in that adolescent frame of mind. That may explain it.
I'm not sure you will be able to view this outside of Aus, but the interview is here if you are interested http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday...
Awww! J'Mom, I am so sorry about Jackson. Big hugs!!!
Finally finished Wife 22. I had lent my copy to my sister in another state, so I have been sneakily reading it at Barnes and Noble all month. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be selling, as my copy that I stuck in the back of the pile has not gotten closer to the top as I was reading. I enjoyed the book. Chick lit is not usually a genre that I like, but Melanie Gideon and I grew up together, so I wanted to read this one. Glad I did. Thanks for picking it for me.
Chelsea wrote: "Beth, thank you for suggesting Parnassus On Wheels; otherwise, I might have missed this gem. It is a delicious bite of literary candy and a delightful story. Five stars!!!"Glad you had fun with it. I will have to find it myself!
Rusalka wrote: "Depends on the day..."You are amazingly funny!
Connie wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Not unlike this: "
I love It? I shall always think of you as an ADHD muppet in moments of extreme stress! I understand because I have been guilty of chasing my tail myself! ; )"
Have you guys read the piece by a writer on Slate about chaos and order Muppets??? http://www.slate.com/articles/life/lo...
Lol Beth. *blush*Done done done done done-diddly-doneskis. With 1 hour and 20 mins to go.
Will write my review tomorrow but 3.5 stars for enquiring minds. Thanks for making me read it Katrina! But maybe nearly 700pp is too much for a month. Especially with my last weeks... urgh.
Unless you are Connie, Debra or Almeta of course!!! Word machines comes to mind!
Yay Dem! Bringing in the home stretch you and I!
Sam wrote: "I've finally finished The Green Mile and I loved it, brilliant choice by Valerie!"I am so jealous of people who are reading great Stephen King material for the first time.
When people say "I don't like Stephen King", this is one of the ones I always challenge them to read. How can you not like The Green Mile collection?☺
jaxnsmom wrote: "I'm going to start Pigeon if I ever get home tonight. ..."Okay, I've finished...and gave it a three, mostly because of the "Mother" switching. If I had caught on to that earlier, I might have enjoyed the book more.
So here is my final advice (because before I was so confused, see message 99): Any time the Mother is spoken of just pretend she is in the room with you having tea. So a conversation would go like this...
To you, the reader, "My mother always picked figs in the fall"...
turning to his mother for her confirmation, "You always picked figs in the fall."
His mother is not actually there, so he is really talking to her memory, but you are present for a conversation among the three of you.
Get it?
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (other topics)Graceling (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
The House of Silk (other topics)
The Body (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Melanie Gideon (other topics)David Baldacci (other topics)
