Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Allan
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Dec 29, 2013 02:10AM
And some were even written by female authors! :-O ! You're all definitely a great influence on me!
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Success with finding number of pages - though some books on my list that are not ebooks or audiobooks don't include # of pages - e.g. Stepping Stones - interviews with Seamus Heaney.I have 28 books on my shelves (including one library book) that are up to 199 pages. I will prioritize reading several of these. 18 are Irish writers or Irish themed (e.g. Irish Journal by Heinrich Boll).
I have read more American authors thanks to this group such as Jonathan Lethem,Pete Hamill and Donna Tartt and have several Steinbeck novels waiting to be read. I read Alice Munro for the first time and love her! Have a shelf full of Northern Irish writers - both fiction and non-fiction thanks to Allan.
This morning I sorted my shelves. I made a pile of to-be-read soon Irish books, and a pile of books from Paperback Swap to read soon as they are wanted by other members. And a pile of books to read soon including And the Mountains EchoedThe Yarn Whisperer: My Unexpected Life in Knitting, At Night We Walk in Circles and The Daylight Gate.
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Dracula is excellent, Jamielynn-several of the group have read it / listened to it in the recent past and all of us, if memory serves me right, loved it!
Barbara-I have to say that my NI shelves are more fully stocked thanks to recommendations that you have given me as well. The likes of Dervla Murphy and Gerald Dawe I'd never have heard of if it hadn't been for you turning me on to them. We've so many well read and well informed members in the group, in lots of different genres and areas, I find that it's bad for the bank balance at times! :)
Jamie Lynn wrote: "I'm looking at Bram Stoker's Dracula. Debating on whether I want to take it on! It's in a box of books from a friend. Someone compared Dracula to Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Well I couldn't ..."I listened to the audiobook and was pleasantly surprised at how good it is!
Allan - it is interesting that Goodreads Ireland got me reading American authors - and it is interesting when I can read about another place and have input and additional details from you.
Hi Cphe, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Round House after Susan had nominated it as a monthly read a while ago. It had the hallmarks of a typical coming of age tale on the one hand, with the obviously serious theme that you're probably already aware of. I don't think that my ignorance of govt treatment of Native Americans took away from what I got from the book, but it definitely gave me plenty of food for thought. I hope you enjoy it! :)
Cphe, it was one of my favorite books from last year. You really get the feel for the lives of Native Americans living on reservations. It was bleak and hopeful at the same time. I hope you appreciate it as much as I did. Louise Erdich is an excellent writer.
@Cphe. My Christmas books and the group reads will be my priority for the coming weeks, but I'll definitely be reading soon after that. And don't worry, I'll let you know how I get on. :)
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I think it might just make it, Sara. I really thought it was excellent. Be sure to let me know how you liked Hyperion? :)
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Some of those are tiny, Sara. I could probably finish some of those on a bus journey.
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When I looked at the pile at first, Sara, from a distance it looked like a pile of DVDs! :) With your voracious reading habits, I doubt that it'll be hard for you to get through all of them as planned!I'm in the process of painting doors at home at present, so my physical book reading over the last 2 days has been negligible. I have, however, managed to complete one audiobook and will probably complete another today-Susan's favourite, Dissolution, today.
Susan, you'd have enjoyed a show that we watched yesterday evening, which brought me right back into the setting of the novel. It was called Tudor Monastery Farm Christmas.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/prog...
I didn't realise while watching that this was actually a special of a series that's already been broadcast, but I'll definitely be looking out for any repeats, because it was excellent!
That show sounds pretty interesting, Allan. Was it a reality show or a documentary style affair?
Thanks for the tip, Allan. I'll try to find it somewhere. You are so ambitious. Painting doors. When you're done, you could come over and paint mine. Tee hee. I've got my fingers crossed that you'll like Dissolution.
Declan, the programme consisted of the historian and archaeologists actually doing the things that the Tudors would've done, using the tools they would've used, so in that sense it was reality based, but they also provided narration / historical background, giving the programme a documentary feel. I came across it channel hopping, which I never normally do, and I'm glad I did. You can get it on Sky Anytime+ if you have it-I just checked and it's there, along with the first 2 episodes of the series that I've set to download.Susan-I've now officially painted 17 coats on our internal doors, with another 5 to go. At an hour minimum per coat, you can imagine how weary I am of the job, but needs must!
I finished listening to Dissolution today, and did indeed enjoy it. I have to ask though, not being a massive fan of the genre, do most mysteries follow the same pattern as this one? I saw all the same what I assume are 'conventions' in this book as I did in Cuckoo's Calling, the last mystery I read, and while I was entertained and kept guessing about the crimes until the end, I couldn't help thinking of Scooby Doo while the reveals were happening. Not a criticism at all, I suppose it's a question of taste.
You have to hand it to Sansom though, that's two books I've read of his, and while I probably preferred Dominion to this one, there's no question that he can write! He's certainly an author who does his research thoroughly. I'm really looking forward to listening to Winter in Madrid next, but I'll probably leave it a while before I read the next Shardlake.
Thanks for that, Allan. I'll have a look at that.
@Allan, what can be possibly be wrong with your doors that you need 17 coats. I can not imagine 17 coats. What is going on in Belfast?I am not sure what you mean about pattern? I suppose there is. You have the set-up, the crime and then the unmasking. Is this what you mean? I am fascinated about the history that goes along with these stories. I think it gives you a sense of the times.
Susan-I have 11 doors, each of which I have to put 2 coats on-hence the 17 coats so far (6 doors complete, 5 with one coat done)!I was talking about the conventions of these novels when talking about pattern, and I suppose, as they're essentially genre fiction, they have these conventions to adhere to. Sansom follows these, but does a great job telling the story and keeping the reader in suspense while doing so.
Sansom really brings the era to life, without a doubt. It was the same in Dominion-he really works hard with the small detail. You'll have to visit some of the monastic sites in Ireland if you're interested in that period when you're over later in the year. There are loads of them about!
Jamie Lynn wrote: "I have "The Goldfinch" cd book on hold at the library. I was reading the reviews (even though I vowed to myself not to pre read them) Anyhow, it seems she hasn't learned anything about editing. I r..."Jamie Lynn - this is exactly my reaction to The Goldfinch - at times brilliant, but really, why was it sooooooo long. There has been some chatter about the lack of editing these days of successful authors.
Allan - as with most DIY projects, you will be so happy when those doors are done!
It snowed last night - lovely, but it's now very cold. I took time this morning to finish At Night We Walk in Circles, which I loved. Review to follow.
@Barbara, I am one of the ones who think the lack of editing has really been apparent. The new Amy Tan book desperately needed editing. If I ever wanted to be a geisha girl I would know how to. It was like a training manual. Elizabeth George needs an editor too. I don't know if it's because they're successful so no one wants to touch it or what. I wish an editor had said to Isabelle Allende when she brought in "Ripper", you can't publish this garbage.
So I finally finished the painting of the doors today, and I'm not sad! I was determined to get done, to allow myself the weekend off before starting back to work on Monday. I managed to get through another full audiobook today-The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman, a novel about an author who is part of the literary set in Brooklyn. What a disagreeable main character, but a book that made my hours of toil bearable! :)
Congrats on finishing that big home project, Allan. You must feel great about that.Yesterday and into this morning, we had a huge nor'easter storm so lots of schools, colleges, businesses were closed early yesterday and today. Since things settled down by the afternoon, I ventured out to go to the local bookshop and pick up Stoner. I had seen it there just a few days before Christmas, and the library doesn't have it. Anyway, all copies of it were sold out, and the bookshop worker said that it turned out to be one of the best selling books over the holiday season. I had to order it, but I think it should e in by Tuesday. So much for my plan to curl up under a comforter and read it tonight. It's going down to -8 F tonight. Brrr!!
Jamie Lynn wrote: "Cathleen wrote: "Congrats on finishing that big home project, Allan. You must feel great about that.Yesterday and into this morning, we had a huge nor'easter storm so lots of schools, colleges, ..."
Jamie Lynn-- Oh my gosh. -13 is brutal. I hope you don't have to go outside!
Jamie Lynn wrote: "I refuse to go outside on Monday. I have prepared myself for that. I know some people have no choice like the mail carriers. Wow I would hate to be one of them in harsh weather."Yes, me too. My sister-in-law is a mail carrier in Pennsylvania, and she's out walking in all kinds of weather. I think she said she ends up walking about 12 miles a day. Rain or shine.
I shudder to read your temperatures, Cathleen and Jamielynn. It was 75/24 today. It was like Spring. It is unfortunate though. We are in a terrible drought and the water is drying up. The bad side is that 49er/Packer game is predicted to be the coldest game ever played.
The 49ers were the most travelled team this year probably due to their trip to London. Still I don't remember many cold weather games. I do think the 49ers will win this game. My hope is some team knocks off the Seahawks so they don't have to go back to that stadium and crowd noise. They had a hard time selling out the Green Bay game because, realistically, who wants to sit in that cold to watch it when you could be snug in your own home.
Jamie Lynn wrote: "I just wish I could "red pen" a lot of [The Goldfinch] and streamline her book and re-release it. "Perish the thought. I wouldn't change or remove a single word. From that or The Secret History.
I started listening to Adrian McKinty's 'I Hear the Sirens in the Street' while walking the dog in Carrick this evening, and couldn't resist walking up Coronation Road, past 113, the house in which the main character lives. It really is funny how McKinty hams up how dangerous and desolate the area was in the early 80s, given that I was a wee fella at the time and it was completely untouched by the troubles. I was greatly entertained to hear the Mace, the shop that my granny used to work in, get a namecheck, just as I was walking past it!Barbara, I mentioned to you somewhere that McKinty had relocated the street to Belfast in this instalment of the trilogy, but this isn't the case in the final version of the book. I actually began to doubt myself as to whether or not I had read the original draft of the first chapter so I downloaded the Cold Cold Ground ebook that I had originally bought on kindle onto my iPhone when I got back from my walk, and it has now completely changed from what was originally published as an extract at the end of the first book-hurrah for the editor in this case, I say! :)
Cathleen - I was wondering if folks would have difficulty finding Stoner as it has been so well spoken of. I was able to get it from my library when I read it a couple of months ago but maybe I should buy a copy. It's the kind of book I'd keep.Susan - my son starts a new job as a dog walker on Monday when our temps are supposed to go super low - in the teens. I wonder how he and the dogs will do. Luckily I have held on to a parka of his which he never ever wears but will probably be glad to have. He has 5 or 6 dogs and I think each has to have a 30 min. walk. I have a friend who is a mail carrier but I'm pretty sure she does rural routes and drives. I have a friend in Belgium though who delivers the mail from a bicycle in all kinds of weather. And though I think it's harder to sit outdoors in freezing cold, there are many times when I am happy to be watching baseball in my air-conditioned living room.
Allan- after listening to the audiobook of The Cold Cold Ground, I discovered I have a copy on my shelves. Jeez. But I am going to recommend it to my local Irish book club so I am glad to have a copy. I just decided to buy the audiobook of I Hear the Sirens and have the ebook so will try the whispersync. I got both for $7.98 - a real bargain. I am happy to hear that Duffy stays on Coronation Road. I am glad he was accurate to some extent, though glad Coronation Road wasn't as dangerous as he describes. If my book club reads it, it will give me some inside info on the setting.
I know my copy of Stoner, which came today, was more expensive on Amazon than I expected. I was surprised they had a copy for sale for $243.50. I don't know what made it so expensive but I ended up paying $9.90.Good luck for your son's new job. I hope it goes well.
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Barbara, I will support you when you suggest The Cold Cold Ground to our local Irish Book group. I definitely want to read it/listen to it based on your and Allan's recommendations.
Susan wrote: "I know my copy of Stoner, which came today, was more expensive on Amazon than I expected. I was surprised they had a copy for sale for $243.50. I don't know what made it so expensive but I ended up..."Sara wrote: "Stoner seems to be enjoying a particular resurgence over the past year or so. I've moved to #2 on the hold list.
Barbara, I will support you when you suggest The Cold Cold Ground to our local Iri..."
Susan - sometimes those Amazon prices are fabrications. Though other times they are real. I was able to snag a copy of a rare book on the Shetland Islands a couple of years ago for around $35 and got it via ABE from Germany. But because a well known knitter-designer wrote about it, copies soon disappeared. I just checked ABE and there are now 2 copies - $70 w/shipping and $98 w/shipping.
Thanks for the good wishes on my son's job. With record low temps early this week, he'll need it. I'm not sure if he will be able to have each of these dogs out for the required 30 mins. as they'll be cold too!
Sara - good, we can "join forces" at the next meeting. I think with the Nancy Pearl recommendation we have a good case. I didn't have to wait for the library copy of Stoner - just the time it took to arrive from another library.
I'm 75% done with the McKinty audiobook already, and am loving it! The geography is more or less completely spot on, and takes in areas like Islandmagee, Whitehead, Larne and Ballygally that are all just up the coast from Carrick, but his portrayal of Sunnylands, a housing estate where I lived for the first few years of my life and where my granny lived for over 50 years as a place where children were running around barefoot is laughable. Gotta ham it up for the US audience, I suppose!
I'm reading The Shadow of the Wind at the moment and it's not exactly what I'd hoped. It's still enjoyable to skim my way through it, but I put that down to the translator more so that the writer.
I'd love to read this by the pool.
I'd love to read this by the pool.
I had a look at the blurb of the book there, Declan, and am intrigued. I just bought a book set in Barcelona today, and have Homage to Catalonia sitting on my shelf ready to go. I see that both Barbara and Sara gave the book 5 stars. I remember the cover of the novel, which I think possibly stopped me from lifting it when it came out. It's now in my Amazon basket, but I'm determined to get through at least 10 of the books on my TBR shelf before buying any more! I'd be interested to hear your final thoughts on the novel. :)
I'll be sure to let you know, Allan.
Also, I intend to read Homage... but for some reason it isn't on my shelf. I'll have to add it.
Also, I intend to read Homage... but for some reason it isn't on my shelf. I'll have to add it.
Started the secret history and must say I can't put it down, first 20 pages have me hooked
Seraphina / Jamielynn / John / whoever else is interested! The latest episode of BBC Radio 4's Bookclub is about The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006s5sf
It's hot off the presses-my podcast app has just downloaded it, so I haven't listened to it myself yet-but the quality of this show is normally excellent!
I'll have a listen after work. Thanks Allan
Allan wrote: "I'm 75% done with the McKinty audiobook already, and am loving it! The geography is more or less completely spot on, and takes in areas like Islandmagee, Whitehead, Larne and Ballygally that are al..."Allan - you are tempting me to read the McKinty before I start Troubles. But I am still working through a Stuart MacBride audiobook so that will probably get me to Troubles first. I also discovered that I get all my police procedurals confused if I am listening/watching/reading too many at the same time. I have been watching the Irish TV drama Single-Handed on Amazon Prime; watching a French police drama Spiral (Entregage); and listening to Stuart MacBride. Sometimes I get my villians confused which is odd as the settings and even languages are different. French, Aberdeen, and Donegal.
Declan - the attraction of Ruiz's novels are the setting in Barcelona where I have been a number of times and even lived there for 2 months in 2006. Also, it was the first book of that genre I read, and I had no preconceptions.
@Barbara. It's all very pleasant and enjoyable which is more of a compliment than it sounds.
It seems over-egged in places and it seems to rely on coincidence in others, but it's all quite lovely, in spite of lurking darkness.
It seems over-egged in places and it seems to rely on coincidence in others, but it's all quite lovely, in spite of lurking darkness.
@Barbara, what did you think of Single-Handed? I really liked it despite the sister incident. The scenery was breathtaking.
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The latest episode of BBC Radio 4's Bookclub is about The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
"
Cool thanks. Nice clip to listen while I was working.
btw your link was only a wee snippet. The full link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03nrrbm
I just looked up Joan Didion as mentioned at the end. I never heard of her before. Has anyone read her?
Cheers!
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The Living Dead edited by John Joseph Adams. This is an anthology of zombie stories that I've been reading on and off since December. I like it, but there's only so many zombie stories I can read in one sitting. I have about 60 pages left and it has to go back to the library tomorrow.
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett. I'm only a few pages into the e-book, but since the e-book from the library expires tomorrow, this is another one to read today.
Tales of a Dying Earth Jack Vance is (from what I've read about him) vintage scifi. He died last year, so my science fiction group choose to read something by him this month. Luckily I only have to read the first novella (roughly 150 pages) not the whole huge omnibus, by Thursday.
Finally, I think my next "short" read will be the first difficult one, as it's Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. My friend Anton, my expert in all things Russian, says it's a good Dostoyevsky to start with though.
I should mention that due to weather conditions, I plan to spend the whole day inside and much of it reading.
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The only Joan Didion I've actually read is Political Fictions which I quite enjoyed. It might not be of much interest to you though, because it's all about the American political process.
Thanks, John, for the updated link-my podcast app downloads everything automatically and I had copied the link from the show notes that come with the downloaded programme. I'll be listening to this myself later!
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