The Next Best Book Club discussion
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What Are You Reading - Part Deux
Sandra wrote: "Just finished All the Light We Cannot See, that was a 5 stars to me. Incredible touching and beautiful story.Nos starting The Headhunter's Daughter: A Mystery for m..."
I absolutely agree on 5 stars for "All the Light We Cannot See." I've been talking it up with all of my friends. It's the best book I've read in a long time. Memorable.
I'm going to start reading A Girl is a Half Formed Thing by Eimear McBride today.
Wish You Were Here by Rita Mae Brown – 2.5**Two gruesome murders have the residents of Crozet, Virginia in a tizzy. Postmistress “Harry” Haristeen, and her faithful animal companions – Mrs Murphy and Tee Tucker – solve the case with the help of a few postcards. More of the book is spent on dissecting Harry’s failing marriage, or opinions on racism, feminism, the environment, etc than on the murder. On the plus side, it’s a fairly fast read and Harry is an interesting character. While she’s suffering the hurts of a broken relationship, she is generally a strong, independent woman and I appreciate that. But it IS supposed to be a murder mystery, so I’d like more mystery and less social commentary.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I got 90 odd pages into A Girl is a Half Formed Thing and gave up. Couldn't stand it any longer. Hated the style of writing.Going to start The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton which I hope will be an improvement!
I finally finished
,
, and
. I am now reading
,
and
. I hope to finish anatomy of a misfit by the end of the day after i finish a paper for my English class.
Jackie wrote: "I got 90 odd pages into A Girl is a Half Formed Thing and gave up. Couldn't stand it any longer. Hated the style of writing.Going to start The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton which I hope will be ..."
Jackie, Kate Morton is a great storyteller. I read The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours by her and enjoyed both.
I agree, Sandra, Kate Morton is great -- I've read The Forgotten Garden and can't wait to get to the The Secret Keeper and the House at Riverton.I'm about ready to start a new book and I keep thinking about what books I have and can't decide. I'll figure it out eventually!
1st To Die by James Patterson – 2.5** Debut of The Women’s Murder Club. Four women – a homicide inspector, a reporter, a medical examiner and an assistant D.A. – put their considerable talents together to catch a serial killer. I liked how Patterson portrayed the four women; they were professional, strong, intelligent, and tenacious. I did get tired of Lindsay’s emotional struggles, and thought her health issue was an unnecessary subplot. Skip the audio which is over-acted by Suzanne Toren; lost a half-star on the rating due to her melodramatic performance. I’ll probably read another in the series – emphasis on READ, not listen.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paula by Isabel Allende – 5***** Evocative, heart-rending, luminous, suspenseful, triumphant – I cannot think of enough adjectives to describe this beautifully written memoir. Allende lays her soul bare on the page as she attempts to write her family history at the bedside of her comatose daughter, Paula. The work moves back and forth from Allende’s history to the events in Paula’s hospital room. It took me a while to get into the book; the writing is very dense. But Allende’s gift for storytelling is evident. Her experiences may be unique, but her reactions are universal.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Donna TarttListening to the audio edition, narrated by David Pittu, who add such life, vitality and nuance to the characters. Each is an individual with a unique voice and style. The book is splendidly written, it is a true joy to immerse into the coming of age world of Theodore Decker.
Finished Gone Girl and gave it three stars. Think I might have enjioyed it more if I listnened before I saw the movie.I am currently reading Gray Mountain by John Grisham which is rather slow reading at this point. The plot is about a young lawyer who after being laid off ventures to a small law firm in West Virginia to do pro bono work for them for one year. I find the talk about coal mines and stripping, while interesting, about now somewhat boring. I do hope this plot picks up. I am also reading The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow, an author I recently found and really enjoy reading. Finally I am going to begin listening to Amy Bloom with her recent book, Lucky Us.
Book Concierge wrote: " Paula by Isabel Allende – 5***** Evocative, heart-rending, luminous, suspenseful, triumphant – I cannot think of enough adjectives to describe this beautifully written ..."
I read Paula so long ago that I have forgotten about it! Good you reminded me about it. I remember enjoying it a lot.
Finished today The Headhunter's Daughter: A Mystery by Tamar Myers. It was a funny and interesting reading. Though it is a mystery it handles with topics like racism, colonialism and tribal Africa. I'll start today The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley. I've read so many good things about it! I'm really expectant about this novel.
I finished Found by Harlan Coben today and am continuing to read The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow.
Robert wrote: " by Donna TarttListening to the audio edition, narrated by David Pittu, who add such life, vitality and nuance to the characters. Each is an indivi..."
My F2F book club is reading this next spring. Perhaps I'll try the audio. Thanks for commenting on the narrator's performance, which can really make or break the audio version of any book.
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin – 4**** This is a beautifully written debut novel that exemplifies “show, don’t tell.” Just as you get to know your neighbors or friends over decades, one event and reaction at a time, the reader gets to know Talmadge over the course of the novel. A man of few words he rarely directly reflects on the guilt he carries over his part in events. Rather, his actions speak to his deep-seated pain and desire to make amends. Coplin also writes with eloquence about the land and the time period. Mark Bramhall does a marvelous job voicing the audio book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Ugly Little Boy by Isaac Asimov & Robert Silverberg – 3*** Alternate title: The Child of Time - Interesting science fiction fantasy. What happens when a
Neanderthal child is plucked from the Ice-Age and deposited into a “bubble” in a 21-st century scientific laboratory. One compassionate nurse, hired to care for the child, gradually becomes very close to the frightened child, and recognizes that what may be good for science is not necessarily good for the boy. First published as a short story in 1956, Robert Silverberg teamed with Asimov to add more information on the Neanderthal tribe from which the boy was taken, as well as a subplot involving a self-proclaimed child advocate adept at media relations.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
i'm currently reading
Halfway through and i'm really enjoying it
Just read a short book called Black Sheep by Susan Hill. Very sad & bleak but I still liked it alot.Going to start reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty today.
Jackie wrote: "Just read a short book called Black Sheep by Susan Hill. Very sad & bleak but I still liked it alot.Going to start reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty today.
I loved "The Chaperone" Jackie. Hope you enjoy.
I also loved The Chaperone and read several other books by this author which I enjoyed but not as much.
I'm going to start reading Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer today.
Just started A Thousand Splendid Suns. I loved The Kite Runner but so far I can't get into this one.
I tried to read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I gave up on it, returned it to the library. I wasn't sure why I wasn't enjoying it though.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – 4**** A classic of the genre, Shirley Jackson’s novel has been scaring people since 1959. Four people come to Hill House to investigate whether there is an occult presence. They get more than they bargained for, and Eleanor, a meek young woman with a past that includes a poltergeist, is particularly affected by the House. Bernadette Dunne does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. Get a bag of popcorn, turn the light low, and listen – if you dare!
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am reading
. It says this is #4 in a series but I don't know which ones came before this. I don't think they have to be read in any particular order. Philippia Gregory is the author and is one of my favorites.
Will be starting 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff later today.
Just finished The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley. I didn't really enjoyed it so much as I expected. The plot is predictable. The writing style is too simple. The characters are plain, boring and some times their actions and reactions just don't make sense. Though I gave it 2* since I can't say I hate it. I'm not sure what I'll read now. I'm trying to pick something from the huge pile on my bedside table...
The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier – 4**** Two men meet by chance and discover they are so identical in appearance they could pass for one another. After a night of drinking, John awakens in Jean’s pajamas, and finds that his French counterpart has stolen his identity and car. There’s nothing to do but take on the mantel of the Comte de Gue until the “practical joker” returns. Du Maurier writes wonderfully complex psychological suspense, and this is a stellar example. The way in which John muddles along as “Jean de Gue” reveals much about his doppelganger. The plot is full of twists and turns, which kept me interested and intrigued from beginning to end.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've been reading pretty sporadically today. I read a bit of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Afterworlds and Techniques of the Selling Writer and Sell Your Book Like Wildfire: The Writer's Guide to Marketing & Publicity and Million Dollar Outlines. It was a very interesting, very ADHD reading day for me. XD
I'm now reading American Rust by Philipp Meyer.
I finally decided to start reading The House Girl by Tara Conklin. While deciding I read a children book called The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies that my 9 years old son recommended to me. It was a great reading! I'm not boring everyone here with my comments, but here is my review if anyone with kids is interested.
Just bought the Blood of Olympus...haven't started yet, but the suspense is real !
Claire wrote: "I am reading . It says this is #4 in a series but I don't know which ones came before this. I don't think they have to be read in any particular order..."They can be read in the order of history or Gregory has put some of them into trilogies like The Cousin's Wars.
Jackie wrote: "Will be starting 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff later today."This is a wonderful book and movie.
I decided to stop listening to Kaubul Beauty School. I got the gist of the book and had enough. I am now reading one of my guilty pleasur authors - Danielle Steel. I pretty much have stopped reading her but the subjects of WWII, the Holocaust and Lipizzaner horses interests me.
I recently read a book of the most terrible beauty. It is called The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan. It deserves more than 5★s.Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(This review and others can also be seen on my blog, The Power of Story, at feelthepowerofstory.wordpress.com.)
Roderick - I loved Never Let Me Go!Nancy, I enjoyed the book but haven't seen the film. Im not really that big on films unless it's one I really fancy seeing.
@Jackie, did you see "Never Let me Go"? I will watch the film after finishing the book.
Hiya Roderick,No I haven't seen it, in fact I didn't even know it had been made into a film lol. Who's in it?
Already on Page 49 of Blood of OlympusIt's already good! Has anyone else read the BoO, or the Heroes of Olympus Series in general?
Luke wrote: "Already on Page 49 of Blood of OlympusIt's already good! Has anyone else read the BoO, or the Heroes of Olympus Series in general?"
I've been reading them. I have The House of Hades in Mount TBR, but not BoO -- my sister hasn't finished it yet.
I am currently reading The Painted Veil, about 3/4 of the way through and enjoying it so far.
@Jackie, Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, some others...Should be out on video (2010)...I will watch it in a few short days (when I finish the book)...
Oh right! I wonder if the book will prove to be much better than the film, as seems to be in a lot of cases?
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The Next Best Book Club
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Nos starting The Headhunter's Daughter: A Mystery for my local book club. So far is funny and interesting.