Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
Margo wrote: "Dark places was really good Emmet. Have you read Sharp Objects? It's even ...darker lolGotta love the Barrytown stuff too ;-)"
I haven't actually gotten around to it yet Margo, I must try it. It seems I rather like the books you recommend from a few we've mentioned back and forth. :)
@Emma you're right, I hadn't even noticed. I'm not exactly the world's biggest football fan! Lol!
That's one of the few Binchys I haven't read.
I found it on overdrive. I like Binchy.
Maeve Binchy is relaxing to read. She just writes about regular people. Even when they're conflicted she writes about them in a nice down to earth way. (Wrote, actually)
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My review 4/5
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is full of cynical wisecracks about corruption in Providence, Rhode Island. Liam Mulligan is a newspaper reporter who is determined to find the arsonist burning houses and other buildings in Providence. People are dying, including 2 children. His comments about corruption are humorous and sad:
"Graft, Rhode Island's leading service industry, is widely misunderstood ... Those of us who live here know it comes in two varieties, good and bad, just like cholesterol. "
Good graft is fat free. It's biodegradable."
He does solve the arson case, getting beat up a couple of times in the process.
I borrowed this book from the library. It was recommended by Miss M, a Goodreads friend.
Fiona wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Maeve Binchy is relaxing to read. She just writes about regular people. Even when they're conflicted she writes about them in a nice down to earth way. (Wrote, actually)"yeah, I wa..."
I've never read her. The blurb for the one you're reading looks pretty rough. Maeve is so tame lol!
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I'm pretty sure The Autumn of the Patriarch is the most difficult book I've ever read. I think the fact that it is stream-of-consciousness combined with the fact that was translated from English to Spanish makes it a challenge I'd be curious, if anyone here has ever read this in Spanish and whether it seems to flow better. I'm also fairly unfamiliar with the history of Latin America that this book draws upon. This part should be rectified, however, by drawing on the course materials provided.
That said there are some individual passages, that are simply gorgeous. Márquez is clearly a gifted writer with a knack for exploring themes of power and corruption by the state and the church. He deftly draws parallels between his protagonist, the Patriarch, and the figures of the Bible, in particular Christ.
I finished Time and Time Again too. Unfortunately it was the wrong author.
Hope it was a worthwhile mistake Susan :-)
I just started reading One Mountain Away. My mom just passed away last month and she read anything and everything. I decided I am going to read all the books she had on her bookshelves that I haven't yet read. So, this is #5.
Sorry to hear about your mother Cati. What a sweet way to remember her.
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Well, Trelawn, not really. It was about a couple who met in life after life. The previous lives were in the South. One was a couple who emigrated from Scotland after the Civil War and then one when she was the great granddaughter of the first one. I got drawn in by reading the previous life stories but there was no Hitler. It got a little sappy. He treated her badly in their two previous lives, Could she trust him in this own. Is that the story of You and Paul? You've lived many lives together?
Paul, guess what my book club is discussing tomorrow? We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I am interested in seeing how the discussion goes. See what you've done to me? :)
Oh Susan that's a great book! I didn't realize you had read it here. I'll have to look for that thread.
I My "hold" for Ben Elton's book at the library is still on hold, but I picked picked up David Nicholls A Question of Attraction and am really enjoying it so far. (Susan, it's not somber or depressing at all--ha ha. A change from my usual selections.). I've never read any David Nicholls before, and I've laughed several times already. I love the voice of Brian Jackson--so far a great summer read.
I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle a few years ago. Then I read a brief biography of Shirley Jackson. It explains a lot. She was extremely agoraphobic later in her life.
Well, Paul, I was torn up and spit out at the meeting today. My group loathed it. I think it was the cover that did them. All those screaming faces on it made them think it was more gruesome than it actually was. I asked them what was particularly gruesome in it, thinking Law and Order SVU is more gruesome than the book. They said, they really couldn't point a finger as they only read the first chapter or two but that cover gave them nightmares. They strongly hinted that I shouldn't recommend books from here as "they obviously have different tastes". I said I was surprised how much I liked it but I did read the entire book and not the first two chapters. Paul, you always get me in hot water.Someone brought in about in a book about Shirley Jackson and a huge book of her short stories. Those were rated excellent, apparently the cover was nicer. Sigh. But according to the book, Jackson had way more problems than agoraphobia. It said she was a very heavy smoker and drinker and died at like 48.
Ouch. !!! Cover issues can be terribly important though.
They say don't judge a book by its cover but I think we do whether we want to or not. I tend to avoid books with bare chested men full of lust because I don't like romance novels. For all I know the book could be about athletes lol!
For that matter I will pick up a book with a nice porch with a cat or dog on it because it looks cozy.We have always lived in the castle was more of a study of mental illness than horror. The cover isn't that bad IMHO. I like it. It's Tim Burtonish.
I suppose we all do judge a book by its cover to a certain extent, but reading groups are supposed to be about trying books that that might not normally might not consider. I had a similar experiance in my bookclub when someone chose Oryx and Crake and hardly anyone got past the first chapter - I loved it and read the trilogy. I chose The Mysterious Stranger for my last book club choice and everyone hated it, so I know how you feel ;-) In fact I don't think I've ever picked a book that they liked. Can make for more interesting discussions - if people bother to read the book.
Thomas wrote: "Just finishedShakespeare's Landlord my review, 4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I read that book a few years ago. I liked it too. Good review! I need to jump back into the series and finish it. I left off on Shakespeare's Trollop. Reading about Lily makes me want to do a big spring clean no matter at time of year it is!
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Shakespeare's Landlord my review, 4/5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I read that book a few years ago. I liked i..."
Thanks, Sherry
I haven't listened to any of the Shakespeare series yet but I'm a big fan of the Harper Connelly series. Very different from True Blood, which I don't care for. My mam has most of the Shakespeare books on Audio.
Charlaine Harris has quite a range. She writes the Aurora Teagarden books, which are cozies. I think she does two vampire series. Then of course the Shakespeare series. I think the tea garden books were made into a TV show. I've only read from the Shakespeare series. I'm not a vampire fan so I always ignored Sookie Stackhouse.
The Aurora Tea Garden TV series will start here in the US on the Hallmark channel on Sunday, July 26. I have no idea if the books are good.
The Harper Connelly books aren't vampire stories, they are crime mysteries. She has extra sensory abilities and uses them to locate missing people, usually they turn out to have been murdered. First in series is called Grave Sight. No vamps ;-)
Oh now I feel dumb! Lol that's what happens when you speak (type) without knowing the facts! Sookie Stackhouse books really are vampire books though!
Sherry, the Sookie Stackhouse books are great guilty pleasure easy reads for those who like vamps... in all senses of that word! ;) I hadn't even known that Harris had other novels aside from those. I just finished Coinman: An Untold Conspiracy which I gave 1 star for a mind-numbing storyline and misogynistic undertones throughout. As a commenter on my review pointed out though I'm not a fan of so called 'absurd' literature so perhaps take my 1* with a pinch of salt.
I like an easy quick read just for fun. I'm a cozy fan. I read you review and comments. I know there's more to the book than mean descriptions of the disabled but that's enough to turn me off.
Just back from holidays in Lanzarote and got through some books I've had on my TBR pile for ages!!The Night Circus which was just a beautiful read. So good.
What a Carve Up! which was very disappointing, he stole his plot directly from an agatha christie book and even tells you this throughout the story. When your stealing from a classic it's very hard to improve On it and he definitely didn't succeed.
The Tin Ring: How I Cheated Death which is my first read from a female perspective of surviving the holocaust. It was interesting to see how the camps first started out, where this lady used to perform in a theatre and it seemed quite liveable environment and then how quickly it developed into the horror camps we know of.
Of Mice and Men I have to say was one of my least favourite I've read from Steinbeck. I have loved all I've read from him so far so am hoping next one I pick up will return to form.
The People in the Trees this was another excellent read. A tale of a scientist who carries out research in a microindonesian island of it's people only to discover a secret to prolonged life and the consequences of westernisation of these people.
The Great Gatsby which left me a bit underwhelmed as it is always hailed as an American classic but which I didn't feel the writing itself was anything outstanding.
I hated Of Mice and Men! It's way too depressing. It's so stark. The ending is horrible.The Great Gatsby is boring IMO.
Night Circus is beautiful and I wish Erin Morgenstern would write more books. Night Circus is a stand alone and a sequel would be a mistake but I like the author's style.
Ya sherry, the reason I like Steinbeck is I enjoy his social commentary in his books but didn't feel he fully committed in this. The whole tale was quite depressing and could only end in a bad outcome really.Gatsby just didn't float my boat and hate to admit I preferred the film because at least you get to see the opulence and glamour depicted of the time whereas the writing never fully captured that.
Wow Seraphina, you got through a fair amount of reading. Like you I have lukewarm feelings about The Great Gatsby, I liked the setting and the '20s backdrop but never warmed to the characters or plot
Morgenstern is working on a novel but it's a while away. Definitely not a night circus sequel and shes fairly adamant that will never happen. She does a few free short stories on her blog if you are looking for fix of her writing. If it wins for BOTM it should be a good conversation book. Susan will love it ;-)
It actually could be one Susan would enjoy, I think she'd enjoy the romance of the story.
I'd honestly say she would love it. Its one of those fantasy books that works for anyone.
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LOL Thomas. It's my day for dumb posts but here's where Igot that info https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
We were forced to read and watch The Great Gatsby in high school. I was bored with both. Paul, I need to check out Morgenstern's blog. I'm glad to hear there will be no sequel to The Night Circus. The story is complete. I'm glad she's writing another book.
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Goodreads Ireland
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Before of after I call the ambulance?