Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Margo
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May 22, 2016 02:02PM
I watched the first one of those Sherry, and no more! Not even proper horror - just set out to shock and make the audience jump. In no way suitable for children
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Freddy makes me jump too. It's really cheesy but it's just way too rough for tiny kids.
I'm sticking with The Shadow of the Wind, but it's not grabbing me the way I hoped it would. I did get a chance to visit a used bookshops this afternoon, though, and I got a lovely hardcover edition of Barchester Towers. I also finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and I really enjoyed it. Cool little twists and turns in this one.
Shadow of the wind is not grabbing me either either Cathleen. I got the audio and translations never flow as well for me.How are you getting on with Edna?
Margo wrote: "Shadow of the wind is not grabbing me either either Cathleen. I got the audio and translations never flow as well for me.How are you getting on with Edna?"
Maybe that's it--maybe it's the translation. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I feel like it's something I've read before--or maybe I've just read too many books about books! :). I'll keep on with it, though, since I have it.
I haven't picked Edna O'Brien's book up yet, Margo. I have to see if it's at the library or the local bookshop--if not, then I'll look online. Have you read it yet? What did you think?
I found a brilliant Irish author very unexpectedly through LinkedIn. His name is Billy O'Callaghan, and he wrote a collection of short stories set in Ireland called, "The Things we Lose; The Things we Leave Behind." He has two books out that are short story collections and has just signed a contract for his first novel. His writing style and voice is beyond compare. Look into this guy. I think he's a force to be reckoned with, and his presence is being lauded in the literary world! Wanted to share!
Thanks for the recommendation Claire :-)Cathleen, I really don't get on with Edna, so I'm giving this one a miss! Must check out the spoiler thread to so how it's going down.
I'm on a reading break. I finished Peter Pan (sophisticated reading for an old hag lol) but I'm doing more work hours lately so when things slow down I'll catch up.
Ahh, I remember work. The thing that used to interfere with my reading ;-p
It interferes with mine far too regularly also ;)
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I'm glad you're enjoying it Tom. :)
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The Book of Unknown Americans was an excellent read. I'm relatively liberal/progressive on the issue of immigration, but found that this book challenged even my preconceptions about immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America. It's not nearly a monolithic group as certain politicians *coughcoughTrump* and even sometimes the U.S. news media make it out to be.
The book is mainly the story of a family from Mexico who legally come to the U.S. seeking a better school for daughter, Maribel, following an accident that leaves her with a traumatic brain injury. In their apartment building, they encounter a Panamanian family who have been in the U.S. for a number of years and become U.S. cit zens. The two families become friends and the son of the family, Mayor, falls in love with Maribel, and she with him.
The book is told through alternating narrators. The primary narrators are Alma (Maribel's mother) and Mayor. Every so often you also get one of the other immigrants who lives in the building telling their story. I listened to this on audio book with multiple narrators, which was the perfect way to "read" this book.
About four fifths of the way through the the book I had thought I might have to downgrade the book from 4 to 3 stars because I was having major issues with how the author was wrapping things up...It comes together, however, I may have even cried a few tears at the books end.
Mod
Wow that's a rave review Sara if it made you shed a few tears. Will have to add that one
I've just finished another of the Austen Project books. Joanna Trollope's version of Sense and Sensibility was very well done. Characters were still recognisable but the modern setting was done very well. It was a perfect holiday read for me.
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The library hold system is a bit of a mixed blessing! I use it for audio books which can't be late as they just take them back when the lone is due, but resently on arrived almost 2 months early. I wasn't ready for it so had to let it expire and go to end of the queue.
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Today there is a New York Times review which pans it. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/boo...
Susan gave it 5/5, her review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I think the NY Times reviewer is wrong and Susan has the best review and mine is a good review, but I am interested in your thoughts.
Well, thank you, Thomas. I was surprised to read the NY Times review. Did they read the same book I did?
Mod
Thomas wrote: "I read Lilac Girls and enjoyed it(4/5). My reviewhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Today there is a New York Times review which pans it. See
..."
My aunt used to say there's a special little corner in hell for really horrible people. That saying goes for the twisted evil doctors who did medical experiments in Nazi Germany. Following orders isn't an excuse. It was pure evil and nothing less.
I actually enjoyed the deviations ( shocked myself on that one) which made the story Sittenfeld's own take on P&P but it is obviously not going to work for everyone. But I thought she did some interesting things with the characters and plots without annihilating them
I'm looking forward to Eligible and, having listened to the sample, the audible version sounds really good. I'm not going to get it til I've listened to some of stuff I already own though. Between audible and kindle deals I'm damed! I have to learn to say "no" to myself!!Today i started litening to Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, an audible daily deal. I watched the film, but so far the book is even funnier. It's dry, sarcastic humour is reminiscent of the Adrian Mole books.
Me neither. I am apprehensive of what they'll do with Mansfield Park and I wonder how the author will incorporate the letter in Persuasion.
Persuasion is very much of its time. it'll be interesting.
I loved Eligible and laughed all the way through. It's a very American version and maybe that's what set your teeth on edge, Emma.
I can't imagine what they'll do with Wentworth either
True. I have enjoyed the three I've read so far. Still wary of Emma.
I hadn't heard about these new updated classics ladies but I think I'll add them to my TBR list. I really struggled with Austen in the past, in particular Emma, which I found a chore. So hopefully the updated version will be more for me (although Clueless was as close as I came to enjoying Emma the first time). When did they start updating the classics? I have finally finished the inscrutable To The Lighthouse, and flew through Jojo Moyes You Before Me on a bus. Can't say I particularly enjoyed either novel for very different reasons. I think the latter will work well in movie format though so I am looking forward to that.
Congrats on making it to the end of To The Lighthouse. That shows great determination!! I've never read any Moyles so can't comment on that one.The only Austin book I didn't like was Persuasion. I did it for my leaving cert so maybe there's a clue as to why I didn't ennoy it. Very slow progress and over analysis will put me off any book!
I'm looking forward to the film of Lady Susan.
Emma wrote: "Emmet they only started doing the updates a few years ago to tie in with the 200th anniversary of the publication of Austen's books.Margo I can't believe you didn't like Persuasion. That's my fav..."
Emma, it wasn't even doing the exam on it that killed it for me, it wasthe study notes that told you what it meant. Thinking for your self was frowned on back in the 80's. We were encouraged to read study guide, memorise and regurgitate. And not to read ahead of the class.
Doesn't sound much different than the 90's margo lol
Thomas wrote: "I am reading The Origin: A Biographical Novel of Charles Darwin It is 743p and I am at p556."Thomas, was that book the basis for the film Creation do you know? When you think about it Darwin was very brave to put forward ideas that went so much against christian philosophy at the time.
I always thought it was possible to believe in God and evolution both. If God makes something it can still evolve.
Mod
Thomas, was that book the basis for the film Creation do you know? When ..."
I don't know since I have not seen the film.
Sherry wrote: "I always thought it was possible to believe in God and evolution both. If God makes something it can still evolve."That's pretty much accected today Sherry, but in Darwins time is wasn't. People found the idea that they were decended from apes quite insuting! The theory has been refined somewhat, but it's clear the we share common ansestry. Poor apes!
Yes I agree with your saying poor apes. People aren't always nice! Lol
Even the 00s were the same for the LC. "Here memorize these 90 poems and try to analyze them on a sunny day in June" was the prevailing message in both Irish and English classes.
Did you hear about the gorilla killed at an Ohio zoo? A four year old child got into the pen somehow and they were afraid for his life. There was a large outcry that he wasn't tasered instead of shot. Now they're investigating the parents for letting the child wander around unattended supposedly. The security had stood up for over 35 years. Sad all the way around.
Ya heard about it Susan. To be honest I think open enclosures are a really bad idea. No one should be able to get in to a class 1 dangerous animal. If they hadn't shot the gorilla that child would be dead. Proves why zoo's shouldn't exist.
Emma wrote: "Susan wrote: "Did you hear about the gorilla killed at an Ohio zoo? A four year old child got into the pen somehow and they were afraid for his life. There was a large outcry that he wasn't tasered..."I'm with Emma on this one. It's not bad parenting - 4 year olds will go to places that seem interesting and OMG are they fast and sneeky! Itshould not have been possible. But surley there should a way to bring the animal down instantly without killing it?
That posted all wrong! Anyway I think the parents messed up for not having their eyes on their small child. The zoo messed up because the child was able to do it. The mother works at a daycare center. She should be used to watching several children at once. The wall isn't tall enough if a baby-sized child can climb over it. I think people forget that there is a risk in going to a zoo. Wild animals aren't safe. They look cute but they are big and they don't know any better. For all we know that gorilla thought that was a fun game.
I am with Seraphina about zoos. I hate them for a whole list of reasons. I wonder why they didn't have a tranquilizer gun?
Sherry wrote: "That posted all wrong! Anyway I think the parents messed up for not having their eyes on their small child. The zoo messed up because the child was able to do it. The mother works at a daycare cent..."It would take a bit of time for a tranquillizer t act, and if it came to choice between the child or the animal - well! But maybe tazar would have been an option. I agree about zoos - sad places that noone shold enjoy. Far better to watch wildlife documenteries with your child.
It's a week for parenting issues to be in the news - what about those japanese parents that put their kid out of the car in a forest as a punishment? They left him for 10 mins and came back and he was gone.
They didn't tranquillise him because of the risk of him injuring the child while being knocked out. I imagine tazar could have frightened it in to injuring the child also. Some experts have watched it back and said by the gorilla's body language it was going to do harm.The set up of enclosure is completely at fault
To go against the tide I love zoos. To be able to get close to these amazing animals is a great thing.A zoo run properly and on a conservation basis plays a huge role in saving a lot of endangered species from the brink of extinction.
Like it or not we have already screwed all there habitats so in many cases a zoo can be the only option.
Either that are we reverse all the damage we have done, dismantle all infrastructure and revert a few hundred years of development.
The parents have to bear some responsibility here as well. I know the child shouldn't be able to get in but If you are with a young child in a potentially dangerous location your awareness should be increased. Letting the four year go long enough to get that close , the parents must have been asleep.
Mod
The japanese one is insane all right. really weird. What were the parents thinking .
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