Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Maria Hill
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Jan 05, 2017 11:17PM
Shelly Atkinson is the narrator on the audio book. It's good because you can hear the sing song of the Cork accent.
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Thanks. Speaking in the voice of the characters' accents must really add to the truthfulness of the audiobook.
The temperature is dropping sharply here in NYC. Since it's too cold to do anything outside, I thought it would be a good time to begin rereading The Return of Sherlock Holmes. Maybe I'll build a fire in the fireplace this evening to put myself more in the mood.
Sounds like a good way to pass the evening frank
Has anyone here read Beatlebone by Kevin Barry? I am currently reading it and it is not really doing it for me. I find the lack of punctuation and quotation marks particularly irritating - but then I am a punctuation fanatic! I am curious to hear what other people though of it.
I'm halfway through reading Runelight and the further into the book I get, the slower my reading becomes. It's a fabulous book and all, but I can never seem to enjoy any book longer than 300/350 pages. In the mean time I've picked up Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls to help break the monotony. Gah, I dunno.
Frank wrote: "The temperature is dropping sharply here in NYC. Since it's too cold to do anything outside, I thought it would be a good time to begin rereading The Return of Sherlock Holmes. Maybe ..."Hi Frank. As a bit of a challenge to myself I re-read the entire collection of Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories in Spring 2016. All the plots of the short stories are mad but great entertainment. Good way to beat the cold weather.
Charlie wrote: "Frank wrote: "The temperature is dropping sharply here in NYC. Since it's too cold to do anything outside, I thought it would be a good time to begin rereading [book:The Return of Sherlock Holmes|1..."I'm amazed by how many shows and movies have been done about Sherlock Holmes. Many of them are so different from the original that they should change the names of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to John Smith and Mark Jones or something. I've enjoyed most of the current Sherlock series but its wayyyyy off the mark. Mary's huge role for instance. The books never made her so imortant.
I realize that the Holmes books aren't the bible and screen writers can do what they want. It happens with so many books, not just Sherlock Holmes. Woe to any student who tries to do book reports based on the movies based on books! Haha!
Mod
My review, 3.5/5, first book of the new year. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Last book of last year. The 7th Woman
My review, 4/5. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yes, Charlie, the Sherlock Holmes books are classic entertainment. I think that's why they've stayed so successful for so long. The never presume to be anything more than fun reading. And that they certainly are.
Sherry wrote: "Charlie wrote: "Frank wrote: "The temperature is dropping sharply here in NYC. Since it's too cold to do anything outside, I thought it would be a good time to begin rereading [book:The Return of S..."I made the same comment myself about Mary. The actual main plot in last week's episode (about the pearl of the Borgias hidden in busts of Margaret Thatcher) was based on one of the Holmes short stories - though, of course it wasn't Thatcher - but then it went off in a really odd direction.
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I read some Shakespeare for the challenge I'm participating in. I finished up The Two Gentlemen of Verona, which gets particularly convoluted in the last act. You can definitely tell it's one of his earlier written works, and that he's still trying to find his footing as a playwright. You can see a few elements that come up in later. works. I also read Venus and Adonis, which was dynamic and well written, but incredibly troubling in terms of the power dynamics between Venus and Adonis. There's a strong argument to be made that she sexually abuses him. The question for me is whether Shakespeare condones the abuse. As you can see from the schedule, the reading schedule actually has the poem read in several chunks every Saturday over the next few months. Several people in the group I'm in on Facebook read the poem in it's entirety yesterday, and will reread each section as they come up. I think I'll take that approach as well. It will be interesting to see how my opinion of the poem changes over time.
I also read more of The Angel of History, which is an intense little book. The writing is incredibly powerful, but I'm finding it hard to read too much of at once due to it's subject matter.
I finished A Room Full of Bones yesterday. It restored my faith in Ruth Galloway which was badly shaken by The House at Sea's End. Making slow but steady progress through The Penguin Lessons and The Odyssey for the genre challenge.
Sara wrote: "I stayed in yesterday after a round of grocery shopping in the morning. Although we only got a couple of inches...which for New England is really a light dusting, it was quite cold (high of 20 degr..." Hello Sara. 2 gents is particularly troubling in the way that rape is presented in the final act, and complex in the way it reveals how betrayal of male friendship is easy when lust takes over. Lots of spoilers for what lies ahead in As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet.I think there's a youthful truth to it, penned by a youthful Shakespeare. Quite nasty. Not very gentlemanly at all, but rings true in many ways to me in a Sixteen Candles universe.
Have just finished The Blind Astronomer's Daughter. Ecellent, set in late 18th cent. Ireland. An interesting mixture, subtly portraying a dissolute landowner against unrest developing and leading to the events of 1798. The story is set in co. Kilkenny rather than at Birr demesne where Parsons had the largest telescope in the world. * * * Excerpt below from review:
' One can visit the garden at Woodstock, the property that is the model for the Ainsworth estate. See the glasshouses where men shoveled coal all day long to earn one potato for dinner---to stay alive enough and work the next day. Glasshouses, to grow rare fruits and flowers for m'lord's table. Not all was that dire, but much of it was. The entire country was blighted and gray, barely standing and only enough so that the Famine could come along like a scythe through the poor, not long after this story ends. Their only entertainment would have been the stars. If the English could have charged for the view, they would have.
Even today, Ireland has more astronomers per capita than any other nation; no doubt that was the case when the great mounds with carved kerbstones were built at the Boyne. Solstices and equinoxes were known and observed here before the Pyramids had been built and well before Troy or Mycenae existed. '
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My review, 4/5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hi Cphe, the last western I read was Lonesome Dove - really enjoyed - must add some to read this year.We're into book 3 of Harry Potter parallel read - challenge is keeping up, eldest really getting in to them.
Have only read #1 in the series - adding Streets of Laredo to read - time to get back on the horsechecking out the western genre page on goodreads, hadn't considered the Dark Tower series as being western
also, seems to be a lot of abs related western fiction these days :)
doesn't seem very practical for life on the plains...
read the first six and enjoyed, would see them as fantasyI think if enough people shelve a book in that category it will show on the genre...
cannot think why I never got around to #7, might be the 1,000+ pages, TBR
I'm also on the fantasy genre, re-reading Wheel of Time (On number 5 now), however I'm still battling through the saccharine A Man Called Ove and I've just begun The Line of Beauty which so far is really dragging me in!
Emmet wrote: "I'm also on the fantasy genre, re-reading Wheel of Time (On number 5 now), however I'm still battling through the saccharine A Man Called Ove and I've just begun [book:The Line of B..."I admire your sticking with books you're a little bored with. I will abandon books which is unheard of in some circles. Hehe
Emmet wrote: "I'm also on the fantasy genre, re-reading Wheel of Time (On number 5 now), however I'm still battling through the saccharine A Man Called Ove and I've just begun The Line of B..."</i>I really didn't like [book:A Man Called Ove, but I'm swimming against the tide on that one :-)
I'm reading Me Before You which is my current book club read. It's a lot better than I expected (it's a book I'd never have chosen to read) but I'm less than 20% through!
I don't abandon book but I will leave them hanging on my currently reading shelf :) One of my goodreads friends read a book that may give me heart failure but I will try to find it.It Can't Happen Here
Colleen wrote: "I don't abandon book but I will leave them hanging on my currently reading shelf :) One of my goodreads friends read a book that may give me heart failure but I will try to find it.[book:It Can't ..."
Wow! That hits close to home with our incoming regime!
Colleen wrote: "Doesn't it :("Don't read it!!
It's almost like I have too but only if I find it . I won't buy it online or in a bookstore so that leaves the library. Or a second hand bookstore
Colleen wrote: "It's almost like I have too but only if I find it . I won't buy it online or in a bookstore so that leaves the library. Or a second hand bookstore"Walk away - it won't make you happy lol
Working my way through Elizabeth Kostova's new book The Shadow Lands set in Bulgaria. Loved the Historian by her. This one has a very different feel but its a decent read so far. Not sure where its going but enjoying it. Its slow paced but well written
Cphe wrote: "A friend here on GR's recommended The Last Ride"One of my fondest memories is my grandfather reading Louis L'Amour's books. It seemed like he always had one of his paperbacks in his back pocket. Have you read any of the Longmire books? I enjoyed the TV series and wonder how the books are.
Paul wrote: "Working my way through Elizabeth Kostova's new book The Shadow Lands set in Bulgaria. Loved the Historian by her. This one has a very different feel but its a decent read so far. Not sure where its..."I really want to listen to the historian but audible only the abridged version ad I hate chopped up stories! Keep looking at the kindle version but 700 pages might make my head explode, even with the opendyslexic font ;-)
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you want to know how close they are to the tv show see the link to the author talking about this subject in this review of The Dark Horse
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I also like Louis L'Amour books
Thats a shame Margo but I agree in the abridged version. ThleHistorian is well paced so that may help with the length but 700 pages is daunting
Thomas wrote: "Liz and I started reading the Longmire books after watching the series. We have read 8 books in the series. See my review of Book 1 The Cold Dishhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Thanks, Thomas. I might give one a go although Cphe has tempted me to try Shane. Would that qualify as historical fiction?
Also, Thomas, I noticed it's set in Wyoming. Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education thinks they carry guns at the schools there to fight grizzlies. God save us all.
Yea you never know when a grizzly will show up in a school cafeteria. They get hungry ya know.
Mod
https://www.goodreads...."
I did not vote for Trump. I am depressed and surprised that he was elected. If you watched the TV series and enjoyed Victoria 's character you will love the books.
I saw Rand Paul talking about the insurance replacement. He thinks too many things are covered. Some people need meds, services, and equipment to survive. I heard a great saying today..."republicans pray in churches on Sunday and prey on people the rest of the week." There are people who didn't have insurance for years and finally could. Now it'll be back to some people choosing between meds and groceries.
I think if they are going to get rid of ACA they should lose their insurance first . The saying is so true . A bunch of hypocrites!
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Republicans are also moving to eliminate funding for PBS--Downton Abbey, Sesame Street, Masterpiece Theatre down the tube.
I will pray for your grandchildren, Thomas. Of course, they would eliminate PBS funding. You don't want people to think for themselves do you? (Sarcasm).
Mod
Of course, they would eliminate PBS funding. You don't want people to think for themselves do you? (Sarcasm)."
Thanks Susan
Cphe, I read the Cowboy and the Cossack many years ago and enjoyed it.
It's despicable what they are trying to do with health care and the arts . Public education ,now we don't want the masses to be smarter then trump . Praying for a miracle
Glad to see so many like-minded people. I going to the march in NYC today. I've been in a state of utter despair since November 8.
finished Wool after a few recommendations from this group.very good, will be looking to continue with the series
have started on Dark Matter (the sci-fi one from Blake Crouch),
so far, a mix of Philip Dick We Can Remember It for You Wholesale and Hugh Everett's multi world interpretation
really enjoying.
great escape from reality :)
Andy, I'm really looking forward to Wool as it's been on my shelf for ages and ages!
Wool is brilliant, definitely worth reading the full trilogy. Its also available as a Graphic novel now for those inclined that way.
There was talk of a film or series for a while, it seems The Martian was picked ahead of wool as the same company had the rights to both.
Hopefully an adaption happens soon but at the moment it looks like they are adapting a different work by Howey - Beacon 23
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