Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
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Diane
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Aug 02, 2014 07:13PM
Sounds good to me also. It's been so long since I read Peter Wimsey, I forget them
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Susan wrote: "I think if we do it, we should do the books in order and one a month. How does that sound? I'm excited."Sounds good to me.
Sara wrote: "Me too. The first one is apparently Whose Body?"I just checked it online. If anyone has a Barnes & Noble e-reader or a Kindle, the book is available for .99 cents.
My kind of bargain. I am excited. Do you guys want to start this month or next?
Count me in :-) I have most of the books on my shelf so I'm good to go. I'll double check I have Whose Body. Regarding start time I'm not fussy. When suits everybody else?
I just spent the big bucks and got it for 99 cents. I'm ready to go but need to finish one book before it. I don't know anybody's reading schedule so I'm OK.
Well I'm half way through One Summer but I'm enjoying plodding through that. I can start in the next week or so.
Jamie Lynn wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Jamie Lynn wrote: "Remembering Sam: A Wartime Story of Love, Loss, and Redemption is a good wartime book. It's a true story but it was very well done."That looks go..."
I love Kate Morton novels .I've read them all except The House at Riverton which I need to read soon :)
Fiona wrote: "Sara wrote: "Me too. The first one is apparently Whose Body?"I've never read any Sayers before, but I got a copy of this and am just starting it :)"
I should be finished with Dorian Gray (what a book!) in the next day, so I'll be able to start it soon, too.
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I tried a few of the Wimsey short stories and enjoyed them. I couldnt motivate myself to read the novels. Just not enough of my thing but they are fabulously written
Why don't we make it an August-September read, then?
Sounds good Cathleen :-) I can start it anytime too it's a fairly short book. Nice suggestion for the buddy read Susan.
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My review:
"This was a pretty good read, aside from a bit of drag in the middle. Butcher skillfully combines the detective noir novel with the urban fantasy novel. He accomplishes some skillful world building that will no doubt serve the future novels in the series in good stead. Harry Dresden [the main character] is kind of an ass though."
I've got an e-newsletter to put together for work, but hope to read some more later.
Emma, I'll be interested to read your thoughts on Strumpet City in comparison to At Swim, given the fact that they are both set so close in time to each other. I've also been tempted to purchase the O'Connor novel as well, so will look forward to yours and your group's verdict. :)
Allan, will you be joining us for the Buddy Read on Dorothy Sayers? We would love your witty commentary.I love the idea of an Aug-Sept read. We don't need to have pressure just fun.
Susan, I missed your post above there-certainly I'll join your buddy read-on the one proviso that the book is set in either Belfast or New York! ;)I haven't read any O'Connor, Emma, but the latest does appeal to me, so I will appreciate your thoughts. Nice new profile / holiday pic btw! :)
God, not me. It's just too exhausting to think about it.I just finished The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. His mother is dying of cancer and they read books together. He and his sister are both gay. They are reading Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín which both loved. He wonders if Toibin wants to be known as a writer or a gay writer. You know it never occurred to me to think about an author's sexual preference. He goes on to say that the book is written in a gay perspective. Again I never thought that. What does everybody else think?
Its an odd one. Ive read plenty of books by gay authors but never labeled them based on that. John Boyne never had a gay character until the Absolutist so I was curious did he do it to be labelled an author first rather than having his sexuality attached.
I think labels keep people from reading certain books. A well written book can and should appeal to everyone. Our library labels some books as African-American. I think perhaps it is to encourage or guide Blacks toward them but it also discourages non-Blacks from picking the labeled book up.
Emma, that is a great new profile pic. Is the background a bookstore or library? Or your living room?
Susan, I find that there are some writers who are a little more overt than others about their sexuality, and their writing is known for this-Toibin would definitely be one, and I'm thinking of the likes of British writers Alan Hollingshurst and Philip Hensher and American writers like Edmund White and Armistead Maupin as examples. I've read some of each of these authors' work, and have mixed feelings about them. I'm not long finished another 'gay' writer, Tom Spanbauer's latest novel, and all it did was annoy me-sometimes these writers want to include all the issues, at the expense of the story, which I'm not fussed on.The books with gay characters I've enjoyed most over the last few years are ones where the sexuality of the protagonist is incidental, not the central tenet of the story or the sole interesting thing about their identity, and I suppose this is because that fits with me personally. I do think there's a place for 'gay fiction' though, particularly in the YA genre, where books can make individuals realise that there is a bigger world out there that maybe fits in with the feelings they are having as opposed to what they see and hear around them-indeed this is the genre that I'd mostly hear of such books these days.
Susan wrote: "Allan, will you be joining us for the Buddy Read on Dorothy Sayers? We would love your witty commentary.I love the idea of an Aug-Sept read. We don't need to have pressure just fun."
Yes, indeed. I have to read and re-read some books I'll be teaching, so having an August-September read will work even better for me. No pressure, just fun.
I don't really care about an author's sexuality unless it becomes a point in the read. I had no idea of Toibin's sexuality and I don't think it was important for me to know. In Maupin's case, his sexuality is an aspect of the story. He rather inserts himself into it.I do like the idea of more YA fiction as I think it's important that every child knows they are not a weirdo.
BTW, Allan, are you in Spain sliding down the slide.
I am in Spain, Susan, and have indeed slid down the slide once, just for the experience! :) To get back on topic, I'm reading Butcher's Crossing by John Williams, author of Stoner, and 100 pages in, I'm not sure if I'm enjoying this one quite as much as the book the group mainly loved. There's still a fair way to go, though, so I might be drawn in yet!
Stoner was so good and I am disappointed to hear this one is not as good.I have my fingers crossed there will be a pix of you on the slide.
Well I drove nearly 1500 miles in my travels up to New England. My knitting camp was everything I had hoped for and more. The accommodations were "rustic" but we had hot water, and 3 excellent meals a day. And I managed to read! I finished East of Eden, and read The Devil I Know by Claire Kilroy and Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You: 13 Stories by Alice Munro. I listed to 2 audiobooks - A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen and Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead. I started listening to a third audiobook - an Adler-Olsen. I have found mysteries are better entertainment for long drives and gave up plans to listen to the 27 hour long "The Luminaries" as it didn't grab me.
I'm glad to see you enjoyed EoE so much, Barbara. :)And it sounds like you had one he'll of a trip.
It does sound like a great trip, especially in such a beautiful part of the country
I am so happy that you had a great time, Barbara. I can just picture you rocking on the front porch of a cabin, knitting away and listening to a good book. It sounds like heaven. Maine is such a lovely state too. You should be ready for school to start after that rejuvenation.
I recently finished We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Which I really enjoyed. I've started Sharp Objects on the Kindle. Oh...that will be her whole catalogue read after this. All three!
Hoping to start the 11/22/63 audiobook this week.
Barbara wrote: "Well I drove nearly 1500 miles in my travels up to New England. My knitting camp was everything I had hoped for and more. The accommodations were "rustic" but we had hot water, and 3 excellent meal..."How relaxing your trip and time sounds. You are a total bookworm, respect!
I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter circa 1650. So interesting and a holding story, also enjoying the Catholic rituals and beliefs as a Priest is a key character so far.Finished a couple of Ken Bruen books set in Galway - The Guards and Killing of the Tinkers. Fantastic series based on an alcohlic ex-guard who loves books and investigates "cases" when he manages to be sober. Raw, real, funny. Enjoyed alot.
Theresa wrote: "John, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is on offer on Kindle and I bought it this morning having noted you were reading it. So, I'm very glad you enjoyed it. :)"I immediately went to Amazon and was disappointed. It wasn't on special here. Then like the dummy I am, I remembered you are UK. Again green with envy.
Tara wrote: "I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter circa 1650. So interesting and a..."Both of those--Seek the Fair Land---and Ken Bruen's book sound really good. Is that the same "The Guard" that was made into a movie, Tara?
Allan, I know you are on vacation living the life of Riley but I need your help. Put that lovely sangria down and explain some things to me, please. I am reading the Cold, Cold, Ground. First let me say, I would not have come to visit you in Carricfkfergus in the 1980's. As charming as you are, I would have been scared.1. The peelers (I love that name) have gone to an apparent Catholic neighborhood to investigate a murder. There a group of boys attack them while hurtling objects. One of the reservists "had keeked a planet in their whips". What? I have literally no clue what this is.
2. The protestors were yelling SS RUC. I have no idea about this either.
3. Sean says in Irish, "Le do thoil". Again no clue.
Any help you give me would me appreciated. I hope you are using the slide every chance you get.
@Susan. Not positive, but I think 1) means shit a planet in his pants. 2) Compares the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Waffen SS and 3) is one way of saying please in Irish. The most literal translation would be 'with your wish.'
Theresa wrote: "John, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves is on offer on Kindle and I bought it this morning having noted you were reading it. So, I'm very glad you enjoyed it. :)"Hmmm-it's not on special here - maybe tomorrow:)
Susan- I was in a rocking chair on a porch knitting:) One day I created a music playlist and escaped by listening to it. sometimes it's nice to not have to chat, but just zone out. We weren't too far from Belfast Maine, so I had to visit.It was mentioned in the article Sara posted about book stores in Maine as having several used book stores. I saw them but didn't have time to stop in.
Also - Susan - some translations - "Le do thoil" means "please" (Google translate). "SS RUC" seems to be a chant comparing the RUC (police of the era) to the Nazi SS. I don't know what "keeked a planet in their whips" is though but Declan came to the rescue I see - I wasn't reading far enough ahead.
and to make you all laugh - we went all the way down to The Kennedy Center here in Washington DC tonight to see The Lion King. Paid $23 to park, waited 45 minutes to get in only to find out we were there a week early. I thought I was losing my marbles, but discovered I had put the wrong date in my iCal. Jeezzzzz. They said people do it ALL the time:) At least we didn't go AFTER the date. These tickets cost $130 each!
$23 to park? Whoa. How much would a drink while you're there cost or, heaven forbid, a souvenir t-shirt.
Diane wrote: "$23 to park? Whoa. How much would a drink while you're there cost or, heaven forbid, a souvenir t-shirt."Yes it's expensive but The Kennedy Center is an expensive place to run. I didn't see the price for tshirts for the show but the hoodies were $50 - the price that rock concert gear costs. I rarely ever go to the Kennedy Center because it is so expensive.
Cathleen wrote: "Tara wrote: "I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter circa 1650. So inte...""The Guard" is not based on "The Guards" the book but apparently some of Bruen's books have been made into TV movies (didn't realise until now). Below is a link to "The Guards" movie (as if life wasn't complicated enough!). I think I'll check it out, sounds quite good.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1547657/?...
Still I bet it's a special treat to be in the Kennedy Center especially to see the Lion King. $23 to park is ridiculous. But that's probably the right price for hoodies. I saw Spamalot in Vegas and that's what they were charging. If I get a tshirt or something I rarely wear it afterwards. I don't know why except I feel like an old person trying to be a teenager. You know, Barbara, you lead a nice life. Congrats.
Tara wrote: "I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter circa 1650. So interesting and a..."I'm delighted a few people picked this up even if it didn't win the vote. Its always been one of my favourites and I reckon a lot here would love it
My first time to read it was in a hospital in Galway way back when .
Susan, I have to tell you that, while geographically McKinty has the area he is writing about correct, he has massively 'over egged' what Carrickfergus was like during the 1980s, and indeed during the troubles. Believe it or not, despite only being 10 miles away from Belfast, there was only one bomb attack during the troubles in Carrick and that was in the early 1970s. The only danger you'd have got on Coronation Road while driving up it would've been having your car hit with a football that the kids were playing with. And there were / still are no Catholic areas in the town-it's about a 97% Protestant population, which I why, as an adult, I find the place completely tiresome.
I've never heard the expression 'keek a planet in your whips' but your 'whips' are your underwear, and to 'keek' is indeed to defecate-a lovely image! SSRUC was used by all sides to shout at the police, and was immortalised in the punk band Rudi's song, which I think had the same name.
But, as I say, Carrick was nothing like what McKinty portrays it to be, apart from geographically, though it makes for a more interesting book that way!
Tara wrote: "Cathleen wrote: "Tara wrote: "I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter cir..."Thanks, Tara. I'll check that out. It looks like it would be suspenseful.
Paul wrote: "Tara wrote: "I'm reading "Seek the Fair Land" by Walter Macken. Paul recommended this a while back and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Set during the Cromwell invastion/slaughter circa 1650. So inte..."I've put it on my groaning TBR list, Paul :)
I'll likely finish The Picture of Dorian Gray at some point today, and it will easily be a 5-star read. It's one of those classics I've always known about, but the difference is enormous between what I thought the book would be like and what the book actually is. Not surprisingly, Wilde's writing is like glass. The themes and ideas woven throughout the book are giving me a lot to mull over. After I finish that, I'll continue with 11/22/1963.
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