Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Trelawn
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May 03, 2014 12:54AM
I haven't seen Bridehead. I think Sandy Welch is on charge of adaptations at BBC and seems to be very good at choosing excellent casts and getting the scripts just right. I think that's what annoys me the most about some adaptations; they choose a beloved book and then change huge chunks of it.
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I'm not sure if it's a Bank Holiday weekend in ROI, but up here, despite the Everton result and the weather that looks like it's on the turn for the worse, I'm determined to enjoy some extra reading time. I'm almost finished Ironweed by William Kennedy, the book Willy Vlautin apparently ranks as his favourite ever, and have finally finished The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which, unlike most people, I absolutely hated-horrible characters leading horrible lives and a writer who, in my opinion, spent a lot of the book showing everyone just how clever she was. I'm just glad I read The Goldfinch, which I loved, before this one, because if I'd read this first, I'd never have gone near her latest.
Next up for me on audio will probably be the Steinbeck book, America and the Americans, although I have two credits good to go that I might cash in, and with the whole political crisis up here, I'm going to reread the excellent 1997 unauthorised biography, Man of War, Man of Peace, of the prominent figure currently incarcerated about 8 miles from me, which was written by well respected and impartial BBC political corespondent Mark Devenport, and gives what seems to be a pretty accurate account of said figure's somewhat disputed past.
Is anyone else reading anything exciting this weekend, then? :)
Hi Allan, sounds like a lot of reading :-) I'm about 100 pages into Brooklyn so I'll keep going with that. I'm just finished the latest batch of chapters I'm test reading for a new book. I'm hoping to start a book about Bletchly Park soon too but we'll see. Happy reading :-)
Hi Allan, I have been missing you. I guess it's probably a busy time for teachers. I read a mystery novel today that was pretty good and am now reading a book for review "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger. I am going to be watching the Shetland Island mysteries tonight. Saturday is a terrible night for TV.
Susan, you must be a VIP to have managed to get access to the Shetland series in the USA! ;) I'm not massively busy work wise, but have been busier at home now that the evenings are longer here, and as a result haven't had the chance to post as much. I love the way you can get through a novel in a day, and am looking forward, I have to say, to July, when I'll be able to try to emulate this myself! Trelawn, I set my targets high reading wise each weekend, and am invariably disappointed by what I achieve at the end, but with a long weekend, I might fare a little better! You're doing well with Brooklyn anyway-I'll probably not get to my reread until July. I hope you're enjoying it! If you don't mind me asking, is a test read a proof read, or are you actually helping to edit a book? Sounds interesting, as does the Bletchly Park novel. You have a pretty busy schedule reading wise yourself!
Hi Allan, for the test read I give feedback on everything from style, character and plot development to what I like and dislike. The author is writing his second book and is looking to gauge reader reaction throughout the process. I'm really enjoying it.
Have never read it Theresa but have vague recollections of seeing the film with Anthony Hopkins. Let me know what you think of it.
Sounds like a major change of pace and direction, Theresa. I might have read something in between those, but if you have to keep up with yiur group reads... ?
Mod
I'm envious of your good weather, Sara! I always enjoy finding out about what you are reading, as your choices are always so varied and interesting. I hope the time you have today is as enjoyable as you have hoped!
Allan wrote: "I'm not sure if it's a Bank Holiday weekend in ROI, but up here, despite the Everton result and the weather that looks like it's on the turn for the worse, I'm determined to enjoy some extra readin..."My exciting reading-related activity this weekend was to see Sebastian Barry at my local bookstore. He read from his new book The Temporary Gentleman. He is a spectacular reader and I suggest anyone who has an opportunity to see and hear him, do it. He has lots of ties to the theater ((wife, mother, and he writes plays) and it shows. His books are always about people in his family, and he usually writes about people who are no longer alive. The audio-recording of the reading should be posted in a few days here:
http://politics-prose.com/video
Allan wrote: "Susan, you must be a VIP to have managed to get access to the Shetland series in the USA! ;) I'm not massively busy work wise, but have been busier at home now that the evenings are longer here, an..."Allan - at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival today (it's a HUGE event), I told a friend who raises sheep, runs a dairy farm, and has her own yarn business, that I had the new Shetland series on DVD. She was soooo envious, but said she is so busy she wouldn't have time to watch it. Imagine running 2 businesses in addition to having a herd of over a hundred sheep...
Barbara, I have to admit that I've never read any Sebastian Barry, but I'll check out the link when the audio is posted. It must be great to have a bookstore with the amount of events Politics and Prose hold within as short a distance of your home as you have!I actually ended up going to a One City One Book event today in East Belfast, which consisted of David Park in conversation with Glenn Patterson. The event was really poorly advertised, to the point that Patterson was able to give each of the audience members a mint from the box he had before it kicked off-I'd say, including the authors, Arts Council staff and venue staff, there were maybe 25 people there-disappointing, particularly when two of Ireland's most respected authors were speaking for free.
The event itself was similar to the launch of The Poet's Wives to be honest, but there were a few interesting anecdotes thrown in, including the fact that both authors' dads worked in the same East Belfast factory. Patterson told a similar story to your taxi driver poet experience as well, Barbara. Apparently Lucy Caldwell worked as a waitress in the cafe opposite the Ulster Museum when she was a student, and after each shift, as the lowest ranked member of staff, she got to eat her meal last, sharing her time with the middle aged kitchen porter. Normally they ate in silence, but she decided to engage in conversation one night, and having established that she had an interest in writing, she quickly found out that the porter had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Irish literature, being able to quote writers she'd never even heard of. She learnt the lesson that day of never judging anyone on the basis of how things appear...
Oh, and Susan, a female audience member was complimenting Park on his portrayal of female characters in his novels-I was tempted to put up my hand to share your comparisons with him and Maeve Binchy, but I resisted. He was a big Agatha Christie fan in his youth, I must add!
Will Shetland ever find it's way onto screens Stateside, btw? Or will two Goodreads Ireland members with 'contacts' be part of a handful in USA lucky enough to catch it so soon after broadcast? :)
@Barbara. I'll watch thar Barry talk tomorrow at some stage. I loved the Roddy Doyle one.
@Sara. I've added Alif...
@Sara. I've added Alif...
Allan wrote: "Barbara, I have to admit that I've never read any Sebastian Barry, but I'll check out the link when the audio is posted. It must be great to have a bookstore with the amount of events Politics and ..."Allan - I love the Lucy Caldwell story. It's unfortunate that there was such a small turn out for the Patterson/Park event. I was pleased that it was standing room only for Sebastian Barry. when he was last here a couple of years ago, there was only a handful of people. Yesterday several people from my contemporary Irish book group showed up - we hadn't planned to meet there, including my least favorite member. For some strange reason, she was very friendly. Sara was missing though!
I think any of you who are able to hear the Barry talk when it's available, will decide to read his latest book. i got a copy at Dublin airport as I couldn't resist a "buy one, get 50% off a second book". I don't care for the cover art on the version sold in Ireland
but prefer the US hardcover art.
Barbara wrote: "Allan wrote: "I'm not sure if it's a Bank Holiday weekend in ROI, but up here, despite the Everton result and the weather that looks like it's on the turn for the worse, I'm determined to enjoy som..."Thank you for the link ! Just ordered one.
---Those wanting a copy but don't want to be robbed and who don't have access to an indie bookseller, can relent partially in that via Amazon the hardcovers can be had for around USD6.95 plus shipping.
I finished the Kate Mosse short story collection which was quite good. Probably a few more days on the Martian and in the mean time for my bedside short story reading I think I'll start the Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. Never read it but I assume the title is linked to the character of the same name in Something Wicked this Way Comes
When Sue Townsend died I decided to read another of her books having loved the first two Adrian Mole diaries when I was younger. So, I've picked up Number 10 about a British prime minister trying to get back in touch with the people. So far, so good. It's interesting and vaguely bizarre and very witty.
Mod
Me too. I only read the first two so I'd have quite a few to catch up on. It was for that reason that I decided to go for one of the stand alone books :-)
I read the Adrian Mole books when I was about 9, and obviously missed a lot of the humour, but I picked the first one up again for 99p when I used my Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it. For the Steinbeck fans among us, I've started the America and Americans audiobook, which is a selection of journalism pieces, and I'm pleased to say that it's excellent-it'll make my commute a little more enjoyable than last week's anyway, when I was struggling to get through The Secret History. I'm particularly looking forward to his piece on visiting Limavady, the Hamilton ancestral home.
Barbara, I see that Sebastian Barry is featured in the latest Guardian books podcast.http://www.theguardian.com/books/audi...
@Jamielynn. Is there a store near you that holds author readings. The sound like something you'd love.
Re. Sue Townsend. The Secret Diary... was another first-year school read. I remember laughing a lot but feeling desparately embarrassed for Adrian Mole.
Re. Sue Townsend. The Secret Diary... was another first-year school read. I remember laughing a lot but feeling desparately embarrassed for Adrian Mole.
Allan wrote: "Barbara, I see that Sebastian Barry is featured in the latest Guardian books podcast.http://www.theguardian.com/books/audi..."
Thanks! I'll share.
Jamie Lynn wrote: "Yes I would love that. I'm not sure, I should look into that..."
The internet is great for that. A few minutes browsing will likely turn something up.
The internet is great for that. A few minutes browsing will likely turn something up.
Thanks for the update Theresa, I might get round to it at some point.
There is a beauty in the writing. The plot does get exceedingly slow but its a nice read despite that.
I'm confused Jamie Lynn. What's going on? :-)
That's just the colour of her hair and eyes. it's a fairly common description, i'm surprised you haven't come across it. I loved your reaction though :-)
No, it's the joy of reading. you discover new expressions and descriptions with every book :-)
I really enjoyed the Night Circus Emma but I cant see it as a film. I don't think it would transfer well
Jane works the look :-) are you enjoying the story?
@Jamielynn. Wasn't it Richard Wright who said 'I leave near a place that sells breakfast at any time... so I ordered eggs Benedict in the Renaissance.'
Barbara, I was glad to hear that Sebastian Barry is interesting. I might make the 2 1/2 hour commute to hear him speak. Now that the weather has improved that's a nice drive. Maybe I could even find an audio of his to listen to while I drive.I have what is probably a stupide question but when has that ever stopped me. When you get a book from Audible do they send it to you or do you download it on a disc to play it? I'm not sure how it works but you guys like your audio so much I thought I'd find out. The ones in our library are SO old.
I don't use audible, Susan, but I'd imagine they'd send it to you as an MP3 file. You'd then download it to your phone or MP3 player.
It would more accurate to say you'd download it to your laptop when you buy it rather than 'they send it to you.'
Susan wrote: "Barbara, I was glad to hear that Sebastian Barry is interesting. I might make the 2 1/2 hour commute to hear him speak. Now that the weather has improved that's a nice drive. Maybe I could even fin..."Susan - I am sure you'd really enjoy Sebastian Barry. He is probably the best author I've ever seen reading his work.
Audible is part of Amazon. On Audible your books go into your library and you download them from there onto your "device", Devices include your computer, iPad, iPhone, iPod etc. Amazon and Audible has just updated so that now my books automatically go to my iPhone (and probably iPad).
Someone else here surely know more about using Audible with other devices or even making CDs but I think its require multiple CDs or a DVD.
Mod
My review: "This was a fun light read for anyone who is or ever was a fan of comics or superhero literature. The plot twists were predictable but in a fun way. It's also the story of a seemingly ordinary young woman trying to define herself, figure out how she fits it with an extraordinary family, and find love. I found more emotional resonance in the book than I was expecting from 'just a fun read.'"
I also finally got to start my reread of Alif The Unseen.
It sounds very charming, Sara. Was it a 5* read?
Well finished The Martian so I have shifted from Sci fi to historical fiction and I'm now readingThe Walls of ByzantiumWhich so far is actually mainly set in the Pellopenese rather than Byzantium but is all set in the 13th and 14th century. Interesting enough so far but not too much idea where it will go
Susan wrote: "When you get a book from Audible do they send it to you or do you download it on a disc to play it? I'm not sure how it works but you guys like your audio so much I thought I'd find out. The ones in our library are SO old. "You buy an audibook with cash or credits. Or like all good dealers, you can get your first one for free.
Then it goes into an online library, that's always there when you log in to your account. You can download it onto your computer - and then onto whatever device is most handy for you to use. I listen on my iPod.
Or you can just get an Audible app for your phone and download it directly on to that.
Usually comes in chunks of 8 hours. For longer books, say a 24 hour book, you might have to download 3 files.
Most books are one or two parts. Actually you find yourself avoiding really short books as it's not good value for money when an 7 hour long book costs 1 credit, and a 30 hour book also costs 1 credit.
Mod
I gave it 3 stars, but it was almost a 4 star read...While I did enjoy it, I don't think it had enough depth that I'd read it again (one of my major criteria in determine whether something gets bumped up).
Well I'll allow that, you're clearly wrong but we'll overlook it :-) Only kidding, at least you're giving Jane Eyre a chance. Let me know your verdict when you're finished.
because Charlotte is the best and the others are just jealous :-)
@ Emma hell yeah :-) poor Anne does get left out in the cold a bit. I actually like her better than Emily.
Never read the Brontes but the name rings a Bell. (bad nerd pun:-P) I should be punished for that.
I've only read WH, but it'll take a hell of a lot of topping. I saw a JE adaptation with Michael Fassbender and wasn't blown away.
The characters in WH are quite abusive, which always struck me as the point. Catherine Linton's change of heart that brought the cycle to an end was the key moment, and the scene where she humiluated Hareton and he then destroys her book was nothingb short of brilliant.
The characters in WH are quite abusive, which always struck me as the point. Catherine Linton's change of heart that brought the cycle to an end was the key moment, and the scene where she humiluated Hareton and he then destroys her book was nothingb short of brilliant.
@ Paul the literary gods will punish you for that pun. @ declan the things you mention are exactly what I hate about it. Everything is so overblown and dramatic. When I read it all I could see in my head was swooning into conveniently placed chairs, hair tossing and Heathcliff screaming into thr wind while Kate Bush sings and dances theatrically in the background.
@Trelawn. I don't watch period dramas so bone of that stuff crossed my mind. I just didn't experience it like that. Those scenes played to me quite realistically and rather than swooning some most of those scenes seemed disturbingly close to.violence.
@Jamielynn & Theresa. I've been to the Brontë house, Parsonage, in Yorkshire. It seemed like such a beautiful but dreadfully lonely lonely place to grow up. I can only assume it affected their writing.
As foul as their brother might have been, he seems to have been a tortured genius. His artwork is brilliant.
@Jamielynn & Theresa. I've been to the Brontë house, Parsonage, in Yorkshire. It seemed like such a beautiful but dreadfully lonely lonely place to grow up. I can only assume it affected their writing.
As foul as their brother might have been, he seems to have been a tortured genius. His artwork is brilliant.
Oh the violence both physical and mental was definitely there and made it quite an uncomfortable read at stages. But there is no denying that it has stood the test of time. Many people love, I'm just not one of them :-) I've never seen any of Branwell's art but he definitely seems to have battled his fair share of demons. Talented family.
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