Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Diane
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Jul 08, 2014 08:28AM
No, Tess did not ever get a break. Hardy books do not have happy endings in general. I don't know why I like them so much.
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Gerry, I think that Orwell's non fiction is often overlooked because of the fame of his fiction. 'Wigan Pier' isn't as interesting to me as 'Down and Out', but is still a very interesting piece on the conditions in which the working class found themselves in the 1930s. I'm tempted to read his essay collection, 'Books v Cigarettes', next, if only because I like the cover!https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
I'd love to find the complete works of Orwell in my folks' house, but if I did have a 'hoke', it'd probably be the complete works of Maeve Binchy that I'd find!
Allan and Gerry - I have added Road to Wigan Pier and Down and Out to my Audible wishlist. It's handy to have things on my wishlist as I get an email if they are on sale. I have copies of Down and Out and Homage to Barcelona on my shelves.Susan - I am only 25% in but Ordinary Grace is good so far.
Allan - the Gavin Corbett novel is not 'traditional'. We'll see if it all comes together in the end.
Susan - Lady Gregory's plays are a bit ho-hum. Her work to promote theater and the Abbey Theater are noteworthy. Colm Toibin wrote a short book titled Lady Gregory's Toothbrush.
@ John that's quite a bargain! @ Emma i'm with you on Hardy. I've only read Silas Marner by Elliott and attempted Middlemarch. I might have a look when I'm next in Chapters and give her another go.
@Emma. I think know what you are saying. Books are more than just a story. Good books create emotions and at different times in my life I have wanted or needed different things. Hardy certainly creates downers. :-)
I finished Mark Lawrence Prince of Fools and it was simply amazing. Fantasy at its best. Monsters,quests,gore and a main character with no morals.Onto Good Omens now.
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In addition to having finally finished The Dream of the Celt (which I give a somewhat lengthy review over in the discussion thread) in July I've also finished Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage which was an interesting memoir, but not particularly well written.
I'm 53 pages away from finishing Loteria. Loteria takes as its inspiration the Mexican game of Loteria (like Bingo except with images and riddles) and has as its narrator a young Mexican-American girl who is in some kind of psychiatric/holding facility. Each vignette has a image of one of the cards at the front. Physically, it's a beautiful book. The framework is interesting and some of the vignette's to. Overall though it falls a bit emotionally flat. I think this is due to it being a debut novel and the use of an 11 year old girl as the narrator. I think it's very hard to pull off using a child as your narrator.
I'm also 2.5 hours away from finishing my latest audiobook,the memoir behind the Orange is the New Black show. I feel a bit odd about the fact that I'm enjoying a book that's about someone's experience in prison.
Next up is probably The King of Elfland's Daughter for my fantasy book club followed by Kirinyagafor my science fiction book club followed by the book for Barbara and I's Irish book club.
During my crazy June I only read 6 books. I hope to double that in July! I miss reading a lot.
Emma wrote: "Are you thinking of going to Coole Park Susan?"I have no idea what Coole Park is, Emma. Is it in Dublin?
@Sara. I was going to wait for your verdict pneumonia Kirinyaga before adding it but it looks too interesting to pass up.
I recently read the short Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villa Lobos which was also set in Mexico and also narrated by an eleven-year-old (but a boy in this case). I thought it failed. most of the time it felt wrong.
I recently read the short Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villa Lobos which was also set in Mexico and also narrated by an eleven-year-old (but a boy in this case). I thought it failed. most of the time it felt wrong.
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Sara, that's an interesting way to read it. It is my very favorite book in the series. The author is an University professor in botany in Arizona so, as she says, she's used to doing research. I just got her new book so I have several big books to read. That, Dominion, Goldfinch and Sons. I just don't know where to start.
Emma wrote: "@Susan Coole Park was Lady Gregory's estate. It's in Galway. She often had writers back to it. There is a tree in the grounds which various visitors engraved their names into, including the likes o..."Emma - the late grandfather of a friend of mine from Gort was Lady Gregory's house painter. Chris lives here in the DC area now. He teaches classes on various Irish authors at Politics and Prose bookstore, and they are very popular.
Good stuff Jamie Lynn. Seems there was a top secret meeting today for the tv adaption of the book. Not so Top secret in that they told everyone about it.
Pretty much. Probably still a year away from our screens though.
Emma wrote: "@Barbra I'd say your friends grandfather cane across some interesting figures in his time"He has great stories about Gort and his grandfather. Another claim to fame is that his mother went down to Galway harbor when Yeat's body was brought back to Ireland for burial and she wrote a letter that appeared in the Galway newspapers about it.
I'm reading A Room With A View at the mo. I studied the 1985 film for my Leaving Cert so know the story inside out. I wanted to see how it read though and this week seemed as good a time as any because I have limited readin time due to starting a new job. When I watched the movie I never really liked the character Cecil Vyse, he was absurd and seemed to try too hard but reading the book I find myself feeling sorry for him. This is my first book by EM Forster and I am really enjoying it. He has some very witty observations an almost ironic way of describing things.
Thanks Theresa, first time back in work since before my son was born two years ago so big adjustment. Hence, lack of reading time. Don't get me wrong, I still want to give Cecil a good shake but I just feel like he never stood a chance. Not after Italy anyway.
Trelawn - it'll be an adjustment but you were fortunate to be able to stay home with your baby for 2 years. Reading time can be hard to carve out, which is how I have become such a fan of audiobooks, and my iPhone. I never thought I'd read books on a phone but just today forgot to throw my book in my bag on my way to the mobile phone store (and longish wait). I usually have an audiobook, a physical book and an ibook on the go at the same time. It helps to have them be different genres or I get confused, especially if reading 2 mysteries at the same time.
@Trelawn. By the time you read this you'll probably.already at work, but best of luck, and I hope that all goes well.
@Barbara. I don't particularly mind reading comments and articles on my phone, but is uses a lot of power so I wouldn't read a book on it.
The movie was good, Trelawn, but I haven't read the book. I can't wait to get your opinion on it.Good luck on the job. What will you be doing?
I liked both the book and the movie. If you're going to see A Room with a View, you might also see Howards End with Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins. Another great movie and chock full of great actors.
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"This was a strong work...especially when viewed as a short story collection all set in the same world and around a very similar theme not a novel.
It proved good discussion in my science fiction book group. I think I had more sympathy for the witch doctor old man character than most of my compatriots did."
* the good wishes. @ Susan I'll be working in an accounts dept. Re A Room With A View the film is excellent. The cast, as already mentioned is excellent. From where I am in the book it seems that each scene in the film roughly equates to each chapter. A lot of the dialogue comes straight from the book which makes s
Sorry the phone is messing with me. * makes sense as I wouldn't rewrite Forster either.
@Sara. I'll prioritise that book, so. I started reading a short sci-fi novel and it's given me a taste for more. It's been a while and I've missed it.
@Trelawn. Hope your day has gone well so far.
Trelawn started on Wednesday but is off today. and starting the full week from Monday. But she'll till appreciate the good wishes.
Don't know how I got mixed up. :-/
Trelawn wrote: "Sorry the phone is messing with me. * makes sense as I wouldn't rewrite Forster either."
Best wishes for your new job, Trelawn.
Trelawn, best wishes on new job from me too. With so many of us pulling for you, it can only go well. E. M. Forster's Howards End is another really good movie adaption of his work. It came out soon after A Room With a View.
Thanks everyone :-) i'm nervous and excited but mostly looking forward to it.
Best of luck trelawn, I hate starting new jobs. Not knowing where things are or how things run but it'll all settle down and I'm sure you'll excel
@ Seraphina I hate that too but i'm lucky that I already know alot of the people i'll be working with which makes it so much easier.
I love the rush of new experiences, including starting a new job. I don't even think of it as nerves.
Declan wrote: "@Barbara. I don't particularly mind reading comments and articles on my phone, but is uses a lot of power so I wouldn't read a book on it."I normally don't read books on my phone but sometimes I run out of the house without a book (oh horror)! Today I went into town to meet a friend, after our shopping and lunch, I decided to get my annual pedicure. Luckily I had thought to bring a book, earphones to listen to my audiobook, knitting, and the charger for my phone. I was super prepared. My friend was 45 minutes late so I knit while waiting in the yarn store (appropriate), and finished my book (physical) while getting my pedicure (the drying part is the longest). And listened to my audiobook on the drive in and home:)
That sounds like a great afternoon, Barbara. If you have to wait around for someone, a yarn store sounds like a nice relaxing place for it. I can't imagine it getting loud and uncomfortable there.
Having just finished 4 12 hour shifts in a row I'm a bit too tired to read even though I'm mad keen to get back to good omens. Currently watching Mary poppins. Great film.
Love Mary Poppins! good choice. 4 12 hour shifts sounds painful. Enjoy the movie.
Barbara, you certainly used your time wisely during your day out yesterday! If you'd have brought your headphones, you could've listened to your audiobook while knitting and used your time even more wisely! :)Seraphina, I can understand that four 12 hour shifts will absolutely drain you of any energy-enjoy the movie, and hopefully you'll get some time off to relax over the next few days!
Personally, I've been working flat out over the last 2 days painting, and have finished the kitchen, leaving the study for tomorrow and Monday. So far, I've finished South of No North by Charles Bukoswki on audiobook, which I thoroughly enjoyed but probably wouldn't be up too many people's street on GI, and I'm over halfway through listening to Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, which is by far the most casually violent book I've ever experienced. The fact that it's based on a true story is frightening. Spending time painting does have its benefits in helping tackle the TBR pile!
@Allan. I never paid much heed to Blood Meridian, but now you say it's based on true story I'm getting curious.
@Seraphina. Chim-Chim Cha-roo! Enjoy your film. :)
A spoon full of sugar...doo doo do doo. The old ones are the best
Those songs really make me laugh. And the more I laugh... "the more I'm a merrier me!"
;)
;)
Trelawn is going to make me watch Mary Poppins tonight. Cheers guys
Brilliant. Let's go fly a kite ;)
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