Monthly Group Reads: Reading the Poll Losers Instead?

[Simona]

The girl never surrend.

[Lia]

Dawn wrote: "Lia wrote: "I read this twice and dislike it in both occasions. Too melodramatic for my taste. ..."

Yep, you would be the one negative I mentioned! :)

But why twice??..."

I thought, my dislike when I first read it was because of a bad mood or something. :)

[Lia]

Simona wrote: "The girl never surrend."

Just like Tim Allen said in the movie Galaxy Quest. "Never give up! Never surrender!" :D

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Haha! I am quite surprised to discover that there is anybody that even remembers that movie enough to quote it! :D

[Lia]

Terri wrote: "Haha! I am quite surprised to discover that there is anybody that even remembers that movie enough to quote it! :D"

One of my favorite movies of all times. :D

[Simona]

Ok, now you did it. I'm going to watch Galaxy Quest in streaming!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

It may be a nearly forgotten movie now, but there were plenty of laughs in it. :)

[Kimber]

Alan Rickman strikes again. What a great bad movie that was!

[Allison]

Terri wrote: "Haha! I am quite surprised to discover that there is anybody that even remembers that movie enough to quote it! :D"

I quote that movie all the time and no one ever gets it :/ too bad they just dont know a funny movie when they hear it!

[Simona]

I use to quote Mel Brooks...it will be a nice change!

[Alison]

After whipping through this months reads I've started on The Whale Road I'm not convinced so far. Was anyone else really confused about what was going on at first? I'm about 35 pages in so far. Does it start to make more sense soon? :) Really enjoyed the Gates of Rome and Harlequin so I'm hoping it does pick up a bit. (Also because I'm very fond of Vikings.)

[Darcy]

I believe someone mentioned in the Robert Low thread that it can take up to about 100 pages for things to really make sense. I didn't have that problem, but I'm a weirdo... :)

ETA: my interpretation is that you're meant to feel a bit like the protagonist. A bit confused, uninformed and not just a little bit under pressure.

[Dawn]

Definitely give it some time Alison. I found that it took me about 75-100 pages to really get into the story and it's worth it so that you can read the rest of the series too. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Alison wrote: "After whipping through this months reads I've started on The Whale Road I'm not convinced so far. Was anyone else really confused about what was going on at first? I'm about 35 pages ..."


YES!!! :)
I am one of the biggest fans of this series, but I nearly gave up on it when I first discovered it. I was completely disorientated by the early stages.
There were times I didn't even know what was going on!

I agree with Dawn, 75-100 pages and it all should start to read better for many readers.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh, and Alison, if you get curious, there is a Robert Low thread here in the group where you'll find lots of opinions on the books.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Simona]

Darcy wrote: "I believe someone mentioned in the Robert Low thread that it can take up to about 100 pages for things to really make sense. I didn't have that problem, but I'm a weirdo... :)..."

Me neither, so we are already two people ergo we aren't weird but a significant statistical figure :P

actually I loved that first part, I thought the author was able to really make me feel what he described.
I loved The Whale Road!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Simona wrote: "I loved The Whale Road! .."


I love that you loved The Whale Road.

[Gretchen]

Is anyone else picking up Sashenka in September? I have it on hold at the library but have to wait until after the holiday to get it.

[Dawn]

I have it out from the library but I'm not sure I'll be able to get to it.

[Sonny]

I picked up a copy and am going to try to get to it. It looks interesting.

[C.P.]

Allie wrote: "Terri wrote: "Haha! I am quite surprised to discover that there is anybody that even remembers that movie enough to quote it! :D"

I quote that movie all the time and no one ever gets it :/ too bad..."

Me, too. I love Galaxy Quest. Mum's the word. Mum, mum. ;-)

[C.P.]

Oh yes, and I'm months behind at the point. Likely to stay there, too, since I'm leading a discussion of Fathers and Sons in another group in Sept. But since I seem to have voted for both losing books in the October pool, I expect to be back here soon. :-)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

C.P. wrote: "Oh yes, and I'm months behind at the point. Likely to stay there, too, since I'm leading a discussion of Fathers and Sons in another group in Sept. But since I seem to have voted for b..."

I've voted for one loser in our OCT Poll. My other one is still in with a shot.

[Gretchen]

I recently started Sashenka. It's slow going so far. There are a lot of characters. I've had to spend some time taking notes about who is who especially when the nobles are mentioned. Russian nobility is complicated.

[Lia]

I just finished reading Sashenka. Five stars reading. Very interesting subject and story.
Thank you very much to our moderators who put this book on my radar. :)

[Dawn]

And here I desperately want to read that book and I've had to put it off again!
Very good to know it will be worth it when I get to it though.

[Lia]

@Dawn: Just be forewarned that the 2nd part (after the Revolution) was a little bit weaker compare to the 1st and the 3rd part.

[Dawn]

Thanks, I shall keep that in mind.

[Gretchen]

I am maybe halfway through Sashenka. I found part one dealing with Russia in 1916, before the over throw of the Romanovs, to be rather dry. For such an volatile time in history, the author seems to treat the events with a kind of bland approach. Part two, which takes place in 1939 before Russia enters WWII is picking up a bit. I think some of the group members might find this book a little too "r" rated for their tastes.

[Dawn]

I think Simon Sebag Montefiore also writes non-fiction so maybe that is rubbing off on his fiction book.

[Lia]

@Dawn: I'm going to check if my Library carry his other books.

@Gretchen: Definitely "R-rated". Although, I didn't recalled any cursing.

[C.P.]

Dawn wrote: "I think Simon Sebag Montefiore also writes non-fiction so maybe that is rubbing off on his fiction book."

Kind of hilarious if we consider that SS-M gets blasted for having too much fiction in his nonfiction.
;-)

[Dawn]

That is very amusing. I think I have one of his non-fiction actually....Jerusalem: The Biography, I keep meaning to read it and never quite get to it. I guess I should try both and see what I think of his style.

[C.P.]

I don't know that one. The one I'd like to read (with suitable tongue in cheek) is Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. Nothing like a large dash of autocratic power to unleash the inhibitions. ;-)

[Dawn]

That one looks good, I like both Russian and Communist history.

[Gretchen]

I was going for "r" for romance. (view spoiler)[ Shashenka's affair in part two specifically. (hide spoiler)]

[Lia]

LOL! The other kind of "R". Ooopsy! I put my foot in the wrong shoes. :D

[Gretchen]

Part two of Sashenka is definitely a little heavy on the romance side and I know that isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea in this group but despite the romantic undertones, part two is making up for part one. I am at a can't-put-it-down stage. The story has become gut wrenching. I crept away from my house tonight and was doing some reading at a local coffee shop. I sat and cried in the middle of the shop.

[Gretchen]

I finally finished Sashenka. At the end I found myself pretty disappointed and underwhelmed. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I think this book is definitely a little heavy on the romance for some of the members of this group. I wouldn't classify this book as a romance but there are sections (specifically in part two) where I can see some people doing some eye rolling.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Lia wrote: "I just finished reading Sashenka. Five stars reading. Very interesting subject and story.
Thank you very much to our moderators who put this book on my radar. :)"

Not me. Dawn is your girl on that month's poll. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Gretchen wrote: "I am maybe halfway through Sashenka. I found part one dealing with Russia in 1916, before the over throw of the Romanovs, to be rather dry. For such an volatile time in history, the author seems to..."


yeah the R in the book is something I had once been told about. :) Not for me, as you can imagine. tee hee.

[Geoff]

I went through a phase of collecting and reading a lot of the new histories that had access to the former Soviet archives. Some were great, others less than memorable. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar falls into the later category.

That said I was looking forward to Sashenka and the local library got it in for me. Having just finished Pt 1 there seems to a concentration on detail at the expense of the story. And not all the detail is correct: Love of Worker Bees. Still, I'll keep at it.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Keep us posted..

[Dawn]

I'm in the poll losers thread for November I think. I'm going to try and read The Scent of Death, though I can see all my ILL's coming in at the same time and throwing off my plans for this one!

[Gretchen]

I don't think I am going to be in any thread. No offense Terri but I just wasn't drawn to any of the books this month. I guess I will just have to spend some time catching up on other books. Tragic

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Gretchen wrote: "I don't think I am going to be in any thread. No offense Terri but I just wasn't drawn to any of the books this month. I guess I will just have to spend some time catching up on other books. Tragic "


No offense taken. :) I am never going to be able to pick books that appeal to every member every month, so I never get offended when people don't feel anything for the selections. It ain't personal. :D

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

On The Scent of Death. I would like to try this one. I may get it out if I go to the library in time.
Something a bit different. Being set in the US during that particular period of history...and not being a war/soldier one.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh..and by the way...I can't tell you how many bloody times I have typed 'Scent of a Woman' into the search instead of Scent of Death. What's with that! *stupid weary brain*

[Darcy]

If I can fit it in, I'm going to try to get to The Scent of Death too.

[Dawn]

I was correct and my ILL's are on their way but I'm pretty sure I can fit in The Scent of Death anyway. I have it out from the library now and I should start it some time this week.