Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
I didnt knock your reading choice. I asked you to clarify a point which made no sense. Sadly you continue to make no sense so I give up .
Burial Rites was a big hit with the group, Emma, including me. I would have guessed you'd enjoy it.
I am reading two books at the moment reading the Jeffrey Archer book "Best Kept Secret" which is a series of books this is the 3rd book and really enjoying them. Also started reading Laurent Fignon autobiography "We were Young and Carefree" Laurent is a two time Tour De France winner in the 80's so interesting read if your into cycling.Bought Burial Rites recently so looking forward to reading it
To any who might be interested, two of the stories from my recent collection, 'The Things We Lose, The Things We Leave Behind', are being serialised on RTE Radio One's Book On One programme this week. The show is broadcast in five parts, every night after the 11 pm news.If you are outside Ireland and feel like listening, you can do so through the RTE Radio One website. The broadcasts will also be archived for playback for the next month.
Here's the link, if anyone feels like checking it out:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/book-on-one/
@Garret. I.wouldn't usually read sports biographies but that sounds interesting. Let me know what you make of it.
@Billy. Congratulations. I'll probably dip into the archive.over the coming weeks. Thanks for sharing with us.
@Billy. Congratulations. I'll probably dip into the archive.over the coming weeks. Thanks for sharing with us.
Emma wrote: "I had to read one of David Sedaris's books for my in person bookclub. I have to say, while some of the stories were funny and all were mildly amusing I wasn't exactly in stitches. The impression I had been given was I would be in stitches. "Here's an interesting thing. If I read David Sedaris, or listen to him on a regular audiobook, I might not laugh out loud. ( Even if I find him really funny, as I often do). But some of the chapters in some of audiobooks are actually recordings of him doing a live reading. And that is when I actually laugh out loud. Only when laughing alongside a live audience.
Current reads:Audio: Me Before You - Halfway through. This is quite enjoyable for a book so rammed with cliches (Bitter quadriplegic is shown that life is worth living by a working class carer, while he teaches her the riches of a cultured life). Pygmalion meets Inside I'm Dancing.
Kindle:
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things. Just started this also. Bought by accident! I fancied another book of short stories. And I meant to buy This Isn't the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You. Oh well. It's not getting much of a look anyway as I'm doing more walking than reading at lunchtime these days. As much as I adore reading in Stephen's Green at lunch time, it's fitness first at the moment!
I find David Sedaris to be wildly uneven in his books and short stories. I listened to Me Talk Pretty One Day and laughed out loud. I started Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and couldn't even finish. I found it just plain tiresome. Perhaps it was the mood I was in, I don't know but I don't think it was up to the previous book's standards.
I got The Tricking of Freya from the library and started it Monday. But I gave up because it's due tomorrow. Instead I picked up June the Sixteenth by Maya Lang which my friend Maureen passed on to me. Of course I have to read it! I have a book club read coming next week Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride.
I just finished I am Venus: A Novel. The book was ok (historic fiction,not my favorite) but the really good part is that I read it for my art museum book club. The director of the museum is a wonderful speaker and always lectures for the first hour not about whichever book is choice of month, but about peripheral subjects related to the book. I could listen to her all day.
Re: Funny Sedaris. I can't remember which book this featured in but I just found it as an article here, and I think it's one of his funnier ones:http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005...
Not that I judge Sedaris entirely on funny bones : in fact if his books were pure comedy they wouldn't be much good at all. Most of his his work has a bitter/sweet edge to it. I really loved Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary and that was its best during the darker tales.
John wrote: "Current reads:Audio: Me Before You - Halfway through. This is quite enjoyable for a book so rammed with cliches (Bitter quadriplegic is shown that life is worth living by a working..."
I agree John, it's an interesting read, but I'm not sure the narrative style Moyes used really worked. Great description btw! You should have written the blurb ;)
@John. The NYorker story was hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
I need a change of pace so I've decided to read Cranford by Mrs Gaskell. I heard great things about it and I really enjoyed North and South. I have a lovely edition of it that I bought in Naughton's of Dun Laoghaire about 3 years ago. It's a cloth bound 1901 edition with lovely illustrations and a preface by who I assume isWilliam Thackeray's daughter. I'm looking forward to this one.
Will do Emma. Only on the preface at the mo but I'll keep you posted.
Wow, Trelawn, that sounds wonderful. A cloth bound 1901 edition. What a find. I loved both the book and the TV series with one of my favorite actresses, Dame Judy Dench.
I won't lie to you Susan, I'm very proud of it. I have some older editions of Dickens cloth bound too but this one is in very good condition considering it's 113 years old. I love that old book smell :-)
I don't think I've ever seen a cloth bound book. It sounds amazing.
They're very common Susan, at least here. I bought a good few of my Dickens ones in Chapters for not a lot of money. There is sonething elegant about cloth covered books, I love them.
I finished Dream of the Celt and am now reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Kate is helping get out of the Dream of the Celt induced low.
I love the sound of the edition of the book you're reading, Trelawn-I'm sure the physical object itself goes a long way to transporting you back to the time that you're reading about! :)
@ Allan it really does help. If I'm reading any of my classics I prefer to read the cloth editions if possible or at least an usual ot otnate modern edition. As you say it helps you get a feel for the time you're reading about. Also, I love the way the look on my shelf, reminds me of the book room in Dickens house in London :-)
That is quite nasty. I had heard of hanged men and women being dissected but not having their skin harvested to bind books. How could that possibly be a talisman?
Well the Royal Shakespeare company use a real skull for Hamlet
Me too. Somehow a skull as a prop is more acceptable than skin as a book cover. hmmm
@Diane. As low as it made you feel, I hope The Dream of the Celt was a worthwhile experience.
Re. Book types: Susan made me a gift of a book that had French edges (at least I think that's what they were called). I' d never seen these before and I enjoyed the novelty of it.
Re. Book types: Susan made me a gift of a book that had French edges (at least I think that's what they were called). I' d never seen these before and I enjoyed the novelty of it.
Speaking of donations, do people have donor cards? Working in dialysis it's something I always encourage people to have. I really think the govt should bring in an opt out system that it's taken that your willing to give your organs unless you have a card opting out.
I do and I've signed the back of my drivers licence plus my family all know my wishes. I agree about the opt out system Seraphina. I people feel strongly against it they can say no but i imagine many people don't agree to donate because they are unsure of the deceased's wishes. An opt out system would create a lot more donors i think.
I have a habit of losing donor cards but all of my family know I'd like to donate my organs.
Its a good idea Seraphina. Not sure how I'd feel about my skin though. I assume the French edge is rough cut page edges. I'm a big fan of rough uneven edges
@Emma. I'm happy enough to let doctors have what they want and then the rest of me can go into a ditch for the animals. If my corneas help someone see or my skin helps someone recover from horrific burns It'll be worth it.
I'm not what organs can, or can't be used. I had yellow jaundice as a baby and can't donate blood, which is an awful shame as I'm the only person in my family with no aversion to needles.
@Paul. They're the very thing. I really love having a book like that in my collection.
I'm not what organs can, or can't be used. I had yellow jaundice as a baby and can't donate blood, which is an awful shame as I'm the only person in my family with no aversion to needles.
@Paul. They're the very thing. I really love having a book like that in my collection.
You're too small to give blood?
@Declan. I have a few cut like that and I get excited if I find a book I want done that way. The last one I found was the 4th Gormenghast book done by Peakes wife.
I read Titus Groan and was very underwhelmed. I watched BBC 4 documentary about fantasy and he Peake was heralded as some unsurpassable genius. I wasn't even impressed enough to try Gg 2.
Gormenghast seems to be an acquired taste. I much preferred the second book to the first anyway
You can shop in the kids section which must save a few quid though
I think I was bigger than you by second class, Emma.
We were speaking about clothbound covers earlier and here's a new edition of I Robot in Cloth. Pretty -http://covers.booktopia.com.au/big/97...
It's pretty cool, alright. I want it.
I'll have treat myself, I think.
You've earned it ;-) Might treats myself in chapters tomorrow as well :-)
You owe it to yourself, Paul. :)
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Go ahead and use the PM system whenever you want to deride the few comments I add here from time to time, or to advise when you are generally insulted or despondent about my choice of reading material, or my opinions. But don't knock my Sybil Connolly glasses. Not ever.