You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What Are You Reading and Why? 2015 second half
Lilisa wrote: "I'm half-way through Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol: A Mystery, which will help me complete Level 5 of this year's Series Chalkenge."OOH Lilisa I can't wait to read your review - I guess you liked the others in the series?
Lynda wrote: "Finished Middlesex with just hours to spare. It was so so good. A wonderful epic family tale, and also a poignant, though atypical, coming of age story. Thank you for the audio recommen..."Lynda,
I loved that there were so many middle-grounds in the book
(view spoiler)
I think the author was brilliant -
Travis of NNY wrote: "Joan wrote: "Just starting Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring This is about a spy ring in New England during the American Revolution.
I am married to an Engl..."
Travis - thanks for the warning - it is so hard to avoid history books by lazy writers or worse the ones that just make s*#@ up.
Joan wrote: "Lynda,I loved that there were so many middle-grounds in the book...
I think the author was brilliant -
"
Yes! The title fit the theme so well, and when I found out (view spoiler). It's no surprise to me that it won the Pulitzer that year.
The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve This is a "the fed is bad book," but I have also read more "objective" books on the fed. Kind of indirectly relates to the 08 crisis and how some basically make money by creating it. It is "conspiracy"-esq, so if you do not like that sort of thing, it wouldn't be your jam. Despite the difficult subject matter, its actually a pretty easy read as the author can write about complicated topics in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
Joan wrote: "I just finished The Traitor's Emblem I wish I could recommend it. Clearly the author wanted to build a story around a surprising true event and he had a love story he wanted to writ..."It sounds like if the author just would have stuck to the true story or some unmanufactured version of it, this book would have been awesome. And yes, Masons were against Hitler and he persecuted them for this and their "secrecy" and "occultism" despite Hitler's own obsession with the esoteric occult.
Joan wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I'm half-way through Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol: A Mystery, which will help me complete Level 5 of this year's Series Chalkenge."OOH Lilisa I can't..."
Hi Joan - Out of the five I've read, three were 3 stars and two were 2 stars. So far this one is tracking like a 3 star, so let's see where I land. :-) -- 3 star for me is a pretty decent book.
Welcome to the group, Regg. Nice to have you with us.
Started reading Stephen KingThe Stand uncut version 2 days ago. I love this book and really enjoy the way he introduces the many story lines seperately as you progress. Although I will say I usually don't enjoy the jumping around the story by chapter aspect, he does it very well in the stand. Anybody else read the stand as well as the first two books in his Mr. Mercedes series? I noticed that there is a hodges and a mr Halliday in the stand. Distant relatives maybe??
We read the first two books in the Mr Mercedes series as buddy reads. The threads are still there in the buddy reads thread if you want to check them out.
I definitely will. Thank you. Definitely one of my favorite series ever. I don't know why, the story just gets me so wrapped up. Brady's so twisted in the mind.
Looks like we have a couple of new members - welcome Regg and Sik7.
Well, I was poking through the library last night looking for a new audiobook now that Middlesex has been put to bed and decided to pickup The Angel's Game. I'm sure it's going to be a good book (I've only listened to an hour and half of it so far), but I'm having a hard time getting over the narrator having a British accent.
I finished Halfway to the Grave and really enjoyed it. I'm in for the duration with this series and its offshoots it appears. There are 3 interconnected series with specific reading order. *sigh*Next up is another first in a series - Moon Called.
I finished reading The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin maxwell. It was alright but I much prefer Philippa Gregory's books written about the same period in history.I'm going to start reading A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale today.
Janice wrote: "Next up is another first in a series - Moon Called. "Be interested in what you think.
Jackie wrote: "I'm going to start reading A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale today."I would be interested to hear what you think of this Jackie. I enjoyed it but it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be given all the hype.
I finished The Buried Giant for the monthly challenge. I really did not enjoy this book at all and gave it 2 stars. It's one of my least favourite books of the year.I am now starting a non-fiction book, The Book of Christmas: Everything We Once Knew and Loved About Christmastime, which I'm hoping will help get me into the festive spirit.
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it Lisa. I'm about to start Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man. I'm in the mood for something light and feel-good, and I've had this book lying around for a long time and I think it will fit my mood.
I'm listening to Fireworks Over Toccoa. I'm probably halfway through and it is okay, but really not what I was in the mood for. And there is a big case of insta-love that I just can't get past. In less than 24 hours the main characters are thinking things like "he thought he knew everything there was to know about Lilly, but was now realizing there are even more depths to her soul." (Obviously not a direct quote, but pretty dang close!)I picked this book up almost exclusively because I spent the summer in Toccoa, Georgia with my parents when I was in high school. It was one of the most beautiful places I've been. Toccoa Falls is the highest waterfall in the US and is absolutely breathtaking. So far this book doesn't live up to the city it is set in.
I finished
to kill the series :) I really enjoyed this series. I think the last book could have been a little shorter (over 700 pages which is a lot for me). There were so many emotions in this book that I laughed, was sad, got mad, etc. I was so drawn into the story that when I read, time flew by.
Stephanie wrote: "I was so drawn into the story that when I read, time flew by. "I love it when that happens!
I've just borrowed Nemesis on ebook from the library. I need a book for my commute as my current Murakami just doesn't work when I'm on the train.
Finished
The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories This is my reviewwww.goodreads.com/review/show/1472296795
Also starting The Bazaar of Bad Dreams which i reserved at the library. I pucked it up today. It will be my boat book.
Rusalka wrote: "I started Magic Bites last night, and fell asleep with it on my face."Lol, was it that boring Rusalka? Or were you just really tired?
Rusalka wrote: "I started Magic Bites last night, and fell asleep with it on my face."This is almost me every night. I fall asleep reading my Nook, but wake up with a start when it hits me in the face!
I hope Rusalka was just really tired and it wasn't the book!
I try not fall asleep with a book or kindle. Half the time I throw them axross room in my sleep. I am apparently a violent sleeper smnetimes. I get the occasional wake up from the wife for hitting her in her sleep while I sleep. Muscle spasms mostly. I usually sleep on the couch
Nope. This is a common occurrence, with Lexx taking my book off me and calling me a moron. With some more words. It's just nicer when it's a little book like Magic Bites, rather than large tomes.
My old housemates (a couple) are both BJJ fighters/trainers. They sometimes wake up to the other one trying to choke them in their sleep. Other housemate's sister was a taekwondo champ and kicked through their parents wall in her sleep.So you are okay until you get there Travis.
My friends boyfriend has ptsd ao bad the army actually had to discharge him because he was a risk to the unit. He gets treatment here in the states but he has walloped her some good ones in his sleep. First time he punched her in the face she woke up not knowing what the hell was going on he was asleep in a violent nightmare yelling and thrashing in the sheets. She just moves to the couch but every now and then she takes a good one. Harmless when he is awake though
When I realize I'm holding the book with my eyes closed and have no idea what the last little bit I read was, I make myself put it down. Thankfully I usually am able to do that before it hits me in the face! My husband has came to bed to find me lying on my side with the book in my hand beside my face several times. And sometimes I end up resting a finger on the kindle screen and highlighting words without knowing I'm doing it.
I've highlighted words too, Kimey. And sometimes I find the dictionary pops out with the definition of the word I'm fingering.
I just started Divergent. I'm liking it so far :) I saw the movie awhile back and really liked it. It will be interesting to see if the movie followed the book :)
I also started the 4th Percy Jackson book as well and I have another book going with my kindle:) trying to squeeze these last books in before the end of the year! I'm going to get to my goal of 75 books read this year!!
I've just finished Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and I took a look at the calender... Something I obviously shouldn't have done. Stress! Only 2 more weeks untill the end of this year, and I wanted to finish all the fiction books I started before the year is over. So that means almost 1700 pages spread over 3 books... that's going to be a close one o_O Since my brain is strained from reading the Murakami, I'm going to give myself a quick break and read the ever so light Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy.
Travis of NNY wrote: "My friends boyfriend has ptsd ao bad the army actually had to discharge him because he was a risk to the unit. He gets treatment here in the states but he has walloped her some good ones in his sle..."PTSD can be pretty full on. Heard some pretty huge sleep stories from my mate who's just left the army about some of his workmates. Just what happens when your dreams are so intense and so scary.
KimeyDiann wrote: "When I realize I'm holding the book with my eyes closed and have no idea what the last little bit I read was, I make myself put it down. Thankfully I usually am able to do that before it hits me in..."I will also wake up and realize what I'd thought I'd been reading, I've actually only been imagining/dreaming, and the text doesn't match what I thought was going on at all.
I finished Moon Called. I really enjoyed it! I finished it in two days which should tell you something. I like a strong female lead, and this one takes no guff from anyone. Looks like I have another series to read.Next up is Brilliance.
Amy really liked Brilliance, Janice.I am still listening to Born With Teeth and started reading After Alice by Gregory Maguire, just because.
Right now I'm reading The Outsiders .. Been reading about this book in more than one book, so I thought I should know what is it about.
Let me know what you think of Brilliance Janice. It keeps popping up in my recommendations and I couldn't decide whether to get it or not.
Brilluance is one I always see on sale too
CFDeeDee wrote: "Right now I'm reading The Outsiders .. Been reading about this book in more than one book, so I thought I should know what is it about."Great story. Great movie.
I finished listening to Born With Teeth. Janice - I really liked it! She gets my 5 stars. It was well written and well read! (The last part of the audio book was a recording at the last book signing and interview with Rosie Odonnell. Nothing new from what was in the book, but some interesting comments.)
I am not particularly enjoying After Alice. Feels like Maguire really struggling to make up a story. He gets a few more pages, but I may have to dump my second book for the year if it doesn't get more interesting.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Anne of Windy Poplars (other topics)The Golden Compass (other topics)
A Darker Shade of Magic (other topics)
The Left Hand of Darkness (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Emilia Pardo Bazán (other topics)
Carlos Ruiz Zafón (other topics)
Rysa Walker (other topics)
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I'm still listening to The Story of a Marriage and should finish it today. It is quite intriguing, the writing is beautiful, and the narration is perfect. A young black woman in 1950's San Francisco tells the story of discovering that she really doesn't know her husband at all, and what comes after this discovery.
The opening paragraphs are particularly beautiful and thought-provoking in my opinion (spoiler tags only bc it is kinda long):
(view spoiler)[ “We think we know the ones we love.
Our husbands, our wives. We know them - we are them, sometimes; when separated at a party we find ourselves voicing their opinions, their taste in food or books, telling an anecdote that never happened to us but happened to them. We watch their tics of conversation, of driving and dressing, how they touch a sugar cube to their coffee and stare as it turns white to brown, then drop it, satisfied, into the cup. I watched my own husband do that every morning; I was a vigilant wife.
We think we know them. We think we love them. But what we love turns out to be a poor translation, a translation we ourselves have made, from a language we barely know. We try to get past it to the original, but we never can. We have seen it all. But what have we really understood?
One morning we awaken. Beside us, that familiar sleeping body in the bed: a new kind of stranger. For me, it came in 1953. That was when I stood in my house and saw a creature merely bewitched with my husband's face.
Perhaps you cannot see a marriage. Like those giant heavenly bodies invisible to the human eye, it can only be charted by its gravity, its pull on everything around it. That is how I think of it. That I must look at everything around it, all the hidden stories, the unseen parts, so that somewhere in the middle - turning like a dark star - it will reveal itself at last.” (hide spoiler)]