Goodreads Ireland discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
What Are You Reading
Colleen wrote: "I won The Black Snow from Goodreads !"Good news, Colleen-do you get a physical copy or an ebook version?
I almost feel that I won the book myself, given the penny I paid for a nearly new copy last week! :)
A will be getting a physical copy . I'm pretty happy:)
Mod
The Shining Girls which was highly disappointing (click through to see my review).
and
Americanah which is one of the two best books I read this year (And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic being the other). Americanah blew me away with the beauty of its language, the depth of main protagonist, and the keen insights into race in America. For awhile I was annoyed anytime there was a section with the secondary protagonist, but eventually when I saw how the story came together in the end, I appreciated them.
My next audiobook "read" will be Half of a Yellow Sun by the same author.
The main focus of my reading this weekend will be A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing for Barbara and I's Monday Irish book club. Although it's short, I approach it with a bit of trepidation, give that it's stylistically "interesting." The first 10 pages or so that I read last night intrigued me though.
Mod
Also I definitely think you would like Americanah Emma.
I'm currently reading The Three by Sarah Lotz. Not my usual fare but decided to try something a bit different. Its written in a very unusual style, basically like a factual account of a series of plane crashes and events that follow told through interviews , newspaper clippings and internet interactions. Very unusual but it gets a lot of interesting personalities across and the author presents some scathing representations of different people. Its quite an interesting approach, and the actual supernatural style story of mysterious child survivors from a series of awful plane crashes the conspiracy and apocalyptic theories that surround them is making it quite the book.
Sara, I know that Barbara loved Americanah as well, so I'll have to look out for it in Audible sales etc-starting another book by the same author straight after finishing one is testament to how much you obviously enjoyed it!I finally finished Iron Gustav: A Berlin Family Chronicle this afternoon, and while I didn't wet myself in the same way that the Irish Times reviewer did about the book, it's a strong 5 star read if you're into that kind of thing, like I am. Having finished the epic tale, I'm going to start Janet McNeill's The Maiden Dinosaur, solely based on Glenn Patterson's recommendation on the Literary Belfast website. It should be right up my street...
Iron Gustav sounds like a great read Allan. Definitely one Trelawn and myself should enjoy.
Mod
Iron Gustav looks like an interesting one. I appear to be reading quite a bit of things that reference pre WW1 (An Officer and a Spy), WW1 (The Guns of August) and WW2 (All the Light We Cannot See) era Europe...It's an interesting coincidence. I love it when my reading has interesting patterns like that.
Colleen wrote: "I finished The Boston Girl and really enjoyed it .I have started The Fields and am not really liking it at all.I will finish it but it might take awhile.Not many peo..."I started it but my heart wasn't in it. I don't like the subject matter. Mainly because it was too close to the Fritzl case, and then the author said in Writing magazine that it was that which inspired the story, and I'm quite uncomfortable with that, so I've never got back to the book. Maybe I will in the future.
Sara - I'm only about 20 pages into A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing and will read more tonight. I think it's fine if I don't finish it by MOnday night's meeting.I just started listening to The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and enjoy it. Not only is it set in a small bookstore, but it is about people who love books. I know that seems obvious, but the book loving is not gratuitous as it is as much about books the characters dislike as well.
I finished We Are Not Ourselves by switching to the kindle version. Though I liked the narration by Mare Winningham reading went much faster, and I appreciated the book more. It made me realize that for some (maybe most books) listening to the audio when I am driving and doing other things works well, but I get through a book quicker when I read. I got the book on kindle for $1.99 and picked up the offer for the audiobook for $3.99. $5.98 for both is a good deal.
Paul, there's loads of references to recognisable Berlin place names etc, so having been there you'd both definitely identify with it.Sara, I was reading it while listening to the Doerr novel which was interesting at times-it's a long book, and one that requires a lot of time to invest in it, but it's well worth the read.
It's definitely one I'll be picking up Allan, it sounds great and I love being able to visualise the places being discussed.
Sounds great Allan. Definitely one to add to the pile.
Mod
Sara wrote: "So yesterday I finish two books.The Shining Girls which was highly disappointing (click through to see my review).
and
Americanah which is one of the two best books..."
I really want to read Americanah, Sarah. You and several other people I kow have given it such high praise that I have to read it--most likely in the summer, when I'll have a little more time to devote to it.
Isabella wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I finished The Boston Girl and really enjoyed it .I have started The Fields and am not really liking it at all.I will finish it but it might take awh..."I'm so glad I'm not the only one that is not liking Room. I will keep reading it between other novels ...one chapter at a time.Hope I like it better as it goes.I didn't know she based it on a real case that makes it more disturbing.
Emma wrote: "I'll be curious to hear what your group make of it Sara and Barbara. The verdict when I did it with mine was lukewarm."I will have about a third done of A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing by tomorrow. I don't expect there to be many of us as the other women in the group moan and groan about depressing Irish novels. My position either they need to start their own book group and read Maeve Binchy and nothing but, or just shut up. This will be Sara's last meeting and my future attentance with depend on a number of things. I skipped 2 meetings in the past few months because of huge events at a nearby arena which means parking is impossible, and driving is my only option.
Emma wrote: "I forgot about those women in your group. God they are going to hate it. Its both extremely literary and extremely depressing. I'm not you could find a book further from Maeve Binchey."I am optimistic that they won't show up. It may just be Sara, Dennis and I. The 3 of us have had some great discussions!
Mod
Mod
"So the question for me about books that experiment stylistically is always, was it worth it? Specifically was the extra effort it took me to read it worth what I eventually got out of the novel? For example, both Ulysses and Life: A User's Manual are examples of books that to me were totally worth the extra effort the stylistically experimenting entailed. I'm also currently in the first 150+ page or so of Finnegans Wakeand my preliminary verdict on it is "probably not worth it." For me A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing falls somewhere in the middle for a verdict of "probably worth it."
McBride is particularly adept at getting inside her protagonist head and the stream of conscious paragraphs are gorgeous. She describes with eery exactitude the pain of being a teenage girl and how cruel teenagers can be to each other along with the protagonists complex relationships to her family members. On the other hand I had a really tough time with the paragraphs of dialogue that didn't have any quotation marks or separation between speakers.
Finally, the ending was even more depressing than I expected. This is one that I was glad to read, but probably wouldn't read again. It was a 3.5 star read."
Mod
I received this book free through the GoodReads First Reads program. I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5(rounded up to 5).
The title Jackpine comes from a second growth tree found in the Boundary Waters protected wilderness of northern Minnesota. Almost all of the old growth trees have been logged out. There is a small stand of old growth trees inside the protected area. Johnson Timber, run by Ben Johnson and his son Cliff, wants those old growth trees.
A logger is found dead, and Deputy Sheriff Reuger London has to determine if it is suicide or murder. There is also a possible rape of a 16 year old girl, who recants her accusation. Then a second logger turns up dead.
The sheriff demands that Reuger arrest an Indian for the rape and a local environmentalist for murder, but Reuger keeps digging. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing until the end.
I like how the author incorporates the local speech patterns:
"How she go?"=How are you?
Ya for yes and yer for you
Referring to the rest of the US as the "lower 48." Until now, I thought only Alaskans used this expression.
The book is an easy read and the local dialect is not overwhelming.
Mod
Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty--based on recs by GRI members.
The Dark Winter by David Mark I won and read book 3 in this series last year.
A Detective In Love by H.R.F. Keating--I have been reading his books, off and on, for 30 years.
I am currently reading After Freedom: The Rise of the Post-Apartheid Generation in Democratic South Africa by Katherine S. Newman--I won this from LibraryThing
Thomas, I think 'Dead I May Well Be' was McKinty's debut novel. I enjoyed it, though it was pretty far fetched. I hope you enjoy it!
Mod
I am 30 minutes from finishing the ebook The Sum of Our Days a memoir by Isabel Allende. I have 4 unread books by her on my shelves and want to continue reading her - probably with My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile. In the next 5 weeks I have to reread The Spinning Heart and Manning Marable's Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention for my book club that meets on the last Saturday of each month. I am listening to Ann Packer's new novel The Children's Crusade which is about a family in northern California in the second half of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st. So many books so little time, but as soon as classes end in 2 weeks, I will have more time for reading. Although I will be working until the beginning of July, I am not teaching so instead of planning classes and grading, I will have time in the evenings and weekends to do more reading.
I'm reading Stephen King's On Writing at the minute I'm delighted to say it is both entertaining, enlightening and very useful. He makes sure to remove all obfuscation that is so typical of books that are informing you how to write. He also balances between the practical and the more insight tips which is helpful so that there is something for the both the beginner and seasoned writer. I would label myself as somewhere in the middle of that bracket with having wrote a lot of short stories towards the latter half of secondary school and even now I still try to scribble down something every other week. I'm looking forward to putting a few of his tips into practice.
Just starting to listen to THE GODS OF GUILT by Michael Connelly.I am a Harry Bosch fan and I really like Mickey Haller. Though I don't know Mickey as well as I do Harry.
I've just started The Rosie Effect as I am entering holiday mode and don't want anything to heavy or demanding. I enjoyed The Rosie Project so I'm looking forward to this one. In case I finish this one I'll also be bringing The No.1 Ladies Dectective Agency with me.
I'm currently reading Half Way Home by Hugh Howey , one of the books he wrote before his big break through. Its pretty much reading like Lord of the Flies in space so far.For Holiday reads I think I 'm bringing Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence one of my secret santa books :-) and Stories edited by Neil Gaiman
Where ye off to?? Would love a holiday right now
Enjoy Portugal! Hopefully no books fall foul to saltwater and sand. :)
Portugal, nice. Have a great time, hope the small fella enjoys it. Had confirmation today, time flies!!
Looking forward to the break guys . Thanks.
@ Seraphina, I hope you enjoyed the confirmation. That must be tough, getting your son ready for secondary school.@ everyone thanks for the holiday wishes. really looking forward to a week in the sun with my guys.
Well, another reading filled Sunday has passed and I've got through quite a bit.King's On Writing.was an enlightening and instructive read that I will definitely reread at some point. King's style and attitude as a writer is something I find attractive and somewhat similar to my own which is probably why I found it so useful. He delves into the gritty details or writing, like language and phrasing, and I really enjoyed his methods for teaching his theories. His lessons are practical.
I finished Modern Classics the Grass Arena: An Autobiography yesterday and it was brilliant. A gritty account of life as a homeless alcoholic in inner city London. Healy doesn't hold back telling his life story of 15 years of homelessness and life with fellow alcoholics and the carnage caused in order to get the next drink. He is not looking for sympathy, there is no great ethical or moral tale. It is just the sheer truth of the situation which makes this so good.It is a part of life I have certainly walked past but never really thought too much about in daily life.
Colin McCabe gives a really good afterword about the book, highly recommended. Healy can describe characters in two sentences and you know exactly the kind of person he means
Sounds a worthwhile read Seraphina. Haven't read much non fiction the last while at all
Getting some decent reading done the last few days having finished The Catcher in the Rye today and moved on to The Tain, a story I am well acquainted with. This should be a quick anyway but it should also be interesting to read it now that I am better informed about it
Mod
My review:
I received this book free from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. The authors wanted to show how people are adapting to the post apartheid society in South Africa. They worked with researchers and outreach programs to enroll 7 persons from the three major racial groups in South Africa: Black, Coloured and White. Some black people are doing well in the new society and others are still living in extreme poverty, due to policies put in place under apartheid. Based upon this book, the government has done a great deal; providing old age pensions for everyone, child support payments for single parents and housing/clean water for millions of people. But there are still millions of people living in extreme poverty.
Reading about the extreme poverty was depressing. I have one complaint. There is a missing footnote, Chapter 6, p 132, footnote 6. Footnotes at the back of the book for chapter 6 stop at footnote 5.
However, I believe that this book is a solid 4 stars out of 5. It would be suitable for college courses and lay readers.
Well I have just gone through a massive reading spurt of 5 books in two days due to an eye infection that I really didn't see coming! :)Out of the five, the only one I would strongly recommend to the group would be The Catcher in the Rye. I'd also put forward The Lightning Thief for those in the group who dip into YA.
Moriarty was a big disappointment and has nothing on the author's other outing, House of Silk. It was also like they were written by two different authors altogether.
Right now I'm onto Dracula for a reread as part of the quarterly reads as it has been a few years since I read it. I've a lovely Barnes and Noble leather bound copy which is almost convincing me to take it slow and savour every word. It's proving to be a lovely experience so far.
I'm hoping to jump onto [book The International] next to finish off the quarterly reads.
A great run of reading ( and finally a few negative reviews)
I just bought Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked this Way Comes and The Night Circus though so there will be another long run of high praise soon. :)
Emma, there is only one kind of pun and that is a terrible pun. :)In other news, Turquoise is now said to be the best colour in the world.
It's cyantifically proven...
Yes Kevin - it's quite impressive and with an eye infection.... I think you may surpass one of our most prolific readers, Sara.
Mod
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Goodreads Ireland
Books mentioned in this topic
Band of Sisters (other topics)The Four Winds (other topics)
The Paris Library (other topics)
Lana's War (other topics)
Big Girl, Small Town (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lauren Willig (other topics)Kristin Hannah (other topics)
Janet Skeslien Charles (other topics)
Anita Abriel (other topics)
C.S. Harris (other topics)
More...
According to the blurb of his latest, Last Night On Earth, his debut was 'much loved'-I didn't mind it at the start, but it just became ludicrous, if I remember-his new one doesn't sound much better!
I'll stick to Roddy Doyle for my laughs, I think...