Goodreads Ireland discussion
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What Are You Reading
I paused the novel of Marcel Proust, because, it was too hard to me. Maybe, I'll take it back after. But for the moment, I'm reading "Emma" by Jane Austen, in French :)
I took your advice, Barbara, and contacted GR. I also contacted Amazon since it specifically states Amazon reviews. I hope you enjoy Company of Liars as much as I unexpectedly did.
Thats an issue I've heard come up a few times, authors requesting the removal of low reviews or asking them not to post them at all. It goes against the whole point of a fair review.
I finished The Island of Dr. Moreau recently enough and it was my first expedition into the work of H.G. Wells and it was surprisingly ok. It is always interesting to read some of the earlier sci-if works even though they can be often clunky reads. Dr. Moreau was alright though I expected the story to have a few more twists and turns than it did. It was probably a big step in sci-if writing at the time though.Currently reading Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself and it is a straightforward but enjoyable read so far. Nothing groundbreaking or shocking as of yet but it is a solid fantasy read for those who dabble in that genre. It's nice to read a fantasy author who is closer to home as well.
I've read two of the three Shattered sea books by Abercrombie and really enjoyed them. Again nothing ground breaking but very entertaining. Should get to part three this month. Thwn I'll probably read The Blade Itself soon enough
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I finally finished the August BOTM yesterday and will post my thoughts later. I had a few issues with the ending. I've also been devouring an excellent all women writers sci-fi anthology. I've finally started Gun Street Girl by McKinty and plan to start a biography of a local activist today at work. I'm also working on the latest issue of Stinging Fly and enjoying the audio book of Telegraph Avenue.
(links to be inserted later... wish the Goodreads phone app was more functional in this regard.
Good reccomendation on 20,000 Leagues. I read it not so long ago and its worth a look. Interesting reactions all round to the end of Company of Liars :-)
I've just finished Nick Hornby's Funny Girl, I must say that overall I enjoyed it.
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Kevin (or anyone else) I'd specifically recommend this edition of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea put out by the Navel Institute Press.
Lightspeed Magazine, June 2014: Women Destroy Science Fiction! Special Issue
Gun Street Girl
Finding My Radical Soul
Stinging Fly Issue 31 Volume 2 Summer 2015
Telegraph Avenue
I read 2,000 Leagues for the first time only about five years ago. You can easily see how it must have seemed way ahead of its time when published. Some incredibly descriptive phrasing. A real classic.On a different note the wonderful Irish writer Martina Devlin has a new book coming out & for those based down South with youngsters, Judi Curtin will be doing readings in Waterstones, Cork this Wednesday @10 & 12 (I think)
Daniel wrote: "I read 2,000 Leagues for the first time only about five years ago. You can easily see how it must have seemed way ahead of its time when published. Some incredibly descriptive phrasing. A real clas..."Found this http://martinadevlin.com/
Looks like it's available on kindle in the US for $5.99.
I am listening to The Marco Effect, a Danish police procedural, and reading Preparation for the Next Life.Preparation for the Next Life was a book I had completely missed until Allan read and reviewed it. But it won all these prizes including one from my local indie bookstore Politics and Prose (Carla F Cohen Prize for Fiction).
*Winner of the 2015 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction*
*Winner of the New York City Book Award for Fiction*
*Finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Fiction*
*Winner of the 2014 Carla Furstenberg Cohen Prize for Fiction*
New York Times Best of 2014
Wall Street Journal's Best of 2014
Vanity Fair's Best of 2014
Publishers Weekly's Best of 2014
BuzzFeed's Best of 2014
The Cohen Prize alone should have been a clue to read it. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is a book that one of Politics and Prose's booksellers encouraged me to buy. It turned out to be a super choice.
Perhaps it has been mentioned before here, but I am enjoying the latest online edition from the Dublin Review of Books. See: http://www.drb.ie/ [ hope link is functional ]. Also, reading a compendium of essays, poetry, and academic papers re: big Jim Larkin. It is most interesting --- but then my tastes don't parallel what is stacked on the paid-for front tables at modern booksellers...
Anyway! For those curious about the era of the Rising, or beginnings of the Irish labor movement, or early socialism, and a lot of other threads in the fabric of Larkin's existence, it is quite interesting. James Larkin Lion Of The Fold
Whoa - that issue is chock full of interesting stuff! I am very interested in Larkin and will check out this book. He features as a main character in Strumpet City which was a popular read in this group a while back.
Barbara wrote: "Whoa - that issue is chock full of interesting stuff! I am very interested in Larkin and will check out this book. He features as a main character in Strumpet City which was a popular..."Larkin was a figure in many plays, esp from Sean O Casey. You'll enjoy the book.
Barbara, what do you think of the Lish book so far? It doesn't pull any punches at times. I have to admit that I only heard about it because I was attracted to its cover-the UK hardback is a lovely edition...
I just finished After Me Comes the Flood. It's very beautifully written. I had mixed feelings about it and especially at the beginning I found it a challenge. But I did warm to it as it progressed.
Where did you come across that one, Sean? I have to admit I haven't heard of the author...
It was a Waterstones book club recommendation. The author has quite an interesting story herself.She was brought up in a religious sect with limited exposure to modern culture. The book was written for her Phd and the poet Andrew Motion was her supervisor. The book is is very much in the Gothic tradition. It captures very well a sense of forboding and eerieness. I think it is one of those books that divides opinion.
Waterstones always have an interesting selection of book club choices-have you ever attended any of their Belfast Book Club nights? I think they hold them in the cafe upstairs.
Allan wrote: "Barbara, what do you think of the Lish book so far? It doesn't pull any punches at times. I have to admit that I only heard about it because I was attracted to its cover-the UK hardback is a lovely..."It's gripping and brutal. The PTSD flashbacks of the former soldier are difficult. I dated a Vet years back who had PTSD. The lives of people on the margins of "society" show us the resilience of the human spirit. The UK cover is definitely much more attractive than the US edition which looks like something printed in someone's basement.
Allan wrote: "Waterstones always have an interesting selection of book club choices-have you ever attended any of their Belfast Book Club nights? I think they hold them in the cafe upstairs."I went to a couple several years ago. I must try and see if they are posting on FB or Twitter about any up and coming meetings.
Remember the author who asked me not to publish a review under 3 stars? Both GR and Amazon have declared this is against policy and have been in contact with the author. Just another example of my old age crankiness. Quit trying to manipulate the ratings system that I, and others, trust to bring us honest reviews.
I would have thought that it is far more in the Author's own interest, to have honest reviews. Otherwise how can he or she learn how their work is developing.
Daniel wrote: "I would have thought that it is far more in the Author's own interest, to have honest reviews. Otherwise how can he or she learn how their work is developing."Authors vary in this respect. Not all are in touch with the quality of their own products. Of course, it always makes sense to have honest feedback as you develop your writing. That's what editors can do. I have mentioned before I am in a book group that has been coerced to read two self published books by one of our members. His writing is adequate but not at all compelling. It seems he and his wife attend various writing classes and sometimes they are quick to critique highly lauded writers we read saying the writer is breaking some rule they learned in writing class. Sigh. Taking writing classes is no substitute for review by critical readers and good editing.
Susan - you may call it crankiness. I just think you are refusing to be bullied.
I am reading Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27... by Bill Bryson. This is sort of outdated but who cares because it is laugh out loud funny. I am less than 100 pages in and I have lost count of the amount of times Paul has rolled his eyes at me for chuckling uncontrollably while he is trying to read. Bill wanders vaguely through Europe commenting on the various cuisines and customs as well as mocking the architecture and critically commenting the wares of a Hamburg sex shop and the vintage of Amsterdam prostitutes. I swear this man is some sort of genius, I always love his books no matter the topic.
I am trying to read Red Rising by Pierce Brown buy its hard to concentrate due to an annoying noise nearby.
Emma wrote: "In a change to my intended reading I'm going to read Harry Potter 4 next, mainly because it's fecking huge so I may as well reread it while I'm still on holidays rather then lugging it around in my..."One Potter tome in each hand, stand with feet slightly apart, arms outstretched to the front. Slowly raise and lower arms w/o dropping the f*g volumes. Repeat to 10 times total, then try it with arms raised to the sides. Tones upper arms. Or have a wine spritzer and laugh at your upper arms and read some more Potter. PS Do not try this with nonfiction longer than 300 pages, as usually nonfiction is printed on heavier paper.
Sounds wise Emma :-) It's ages since I did a HP reread. But with a tottering TBR, I think I'll stick to new reads for now.
Have you read his 'Australia' book? It starts with (I'm paraphrasing) There are so many things in Australia that want to kill you. I agree with you fully, Bryson is great. His writing brings you in effortlessly, like he's regaling you with stories in a pub snug.I'm currently flicking between his Shakespeare book and Ireland's own Martina Devlin's new novel, About Sisterland. Have to say this lady has some imagination with world building. It's off to an excellent start.
Daniel wrote: "Have you read his 'Australia' book? It starts with (I'm paraphrasing) There are so many things in Australia that want to kill you. I agree with you fully, Bryson is great. His writing brings you in..."Other funny Yanks: Tony Horwitz is more subtle, eg, Confederates In The Attic and A Voyage Long And Strange. See also authors Dave Barry, and Carl Hiaasen. Now deceased: Art Buchwald, whose essay on seeing the Louvre fast via roller skates, is hilarious.
@ Daniel I haven't read Down Under yet but it's on my list. I loved his biography of Shakespeare. At Home and One Summer were also amazing. I have read Notes from A Big Country two or three times and each time I can't breathe for laughing.
Fantasy books can be quite the exercise tools Emma. 1000 page plus books all over the place. Think the next Brandon Sanderson book I will be reading is 1200 pages, so it will be quite the workout ;-)
Susan wrote: "I am reading a so-so book from Net Galley. I am getting a little skeptical about reviewing lately. The publisher for this novel wrote me and asked me to name how many Facebook friends and GR friend..."Went back to prior page and found out the issue. Yes, this is not standard practice, or didn't used to be.
But sure, don't all the Big House publishers also have their captive authors give each other glowing reviews which end up quoted on the Amazon product page or on the jacket copy as if so-and-so happened to just looorrrrvvveee this new novel. Another commercial publisher trick is to order their own books from distributors upon launch in order to jump a title up onto a "bestseller" list and then return the titles (never mind that's cheating themselves and the author on royalties....must have that faux Bestseller label! )
It would appear that the most reliable sources for reviews/recommends are friends and trusted online website/threads. Beware what you see here as the minions of the Big House are hard at work. The first dozen or more reviews can consist of friends/fellow authors from a Big House giving shill reviews. GR does not seem to mind that a'tall.
: What is honored in society will prosper there. We seem to be in the age of sheer *b--shit*. Orwell would have a field day. Fake wars and not so fake refugees and all. Caveat emptor .
Emma wrote: "Who needs gym membership when you can use your books to do weights. :-D"Exactly.
Time to make a spritzer.
Trelawn wrote: "I am reading Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27... by Bill Bryson. This is sort of outdated but who cares because it is laugh out lo..."We just had our meeting to pick the next six month's book reads for my in person book - one fiction and one non-fiction each month. One of our choices was Bryson's Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States. You'll get a kick out of this, Trelawn. Our "classic" (not nominated by me) is Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. I find it very questionable that it was a classic but was outvoted. My two recommendations that were selected were The Miniaturist and Company of Liars. They said that doesn't sound like you, Sue. I said it was my friend, Paul's, bad influence.
Some decent books in there Susan! very excited to see what you think of Gaudy Night. Have you read The Miniaturist yet? I enjoyed it but the general consensus is the ending was disappointing and needed some work.
Wow. I'm glad I got you so enthusiastic about the book Susan :-).
It just goes to show you, Paul, that an old dog can learn new tricks.We have a rule, Trelawn, that you have to read the book before you nominate it. People's reading time is valuable and we want to make sure it's worth the time. I tried to get that rule here but no such luck. Didn't we read Gaudy Night?
I have, many times :-) we read Strong Poison and possibly Have His Carcase. Gaudy Night is the third in the Peter and Harriet books.
Lucky thing here is most winning nominations have been read by some member but its not a bad idea for an in person group.
And Susan , I'd never class you as an old dog ;-)
Trelawn, I went back and looked and I haven't read Gaudy Night. For some reason, I stopped. Maybe it will get me going again.
Susan I will be shocked if you don't love it. No pressure :-)
Gaudy Night? How about a brief description of the premise
Daniel here is a link to the book Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey, #12) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93.... It is by DL Sayers, one of the Golden Age crime writers. Her detective was Lord Peter Wimsey and he featured in a number of short stories and full lent novels. There was a buddy read of her work running for much of last year.
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I am working on finishing Company of Liars as I an eager to read one of my recent purchases. I'm halfway through. It's been challenging to find enough reading time. But I really have to go to yoga this morning as it's been over a month. It does take up 2 and a half hours though of my Sunday which is precious time.