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What Are You Reading - Part Deux
The Toynbee Convector by Ray Bradbury – 3***This collection of short stories was originally published in 1988. Most of the stories are the type that we more typically associate with Bradbury – time travel, science fiction, paranormal, horror. One completely delightful surprise was Junior featuring a group of senior citizens with healthy libidos. For me, the star of this book is a tender love story titledThe Laurel and Hardy Love Affair. It’s the story that forced me to look at Bradbury with new eyes and to appreciate his skill at crafting a story that engages, entertains, and kindles the reader’s emotions.
Full Review HERE
I'm on page 140 of ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr. It's wonderful. It will be hard to put it down to sleep. It's about two children (one French and one German) growing up in the aftermath of WWI and through WWII. The book makes me stop and think. I love books that make me think and grow. I'm also expecting a fondness for ham radios and snails to grow from this book:)
Furrawn wrote: "I'm on page 140 of ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr."This one was a recent read for me, as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I started The Key to Ro do last night.
Stay in the WWII vein I seem to be reading in this week, I'm starting When Books Went To War by Molly Manning.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler – 4**** In general, I’m not a big fan of celebrity memoirs, but this one was getting great reviews from friends whose opinions I value, so I decided to give it a go. I could NOT stop listening. Poehler is funny, engaging, self-deprecating, kind, funny, outrageous, honest, funny, intelligent, dynamic and funny.
Full Review HERE
I am just about to start Crippen: A Novel of Murder by John Boyne.
Still LIfe by Louise Penny – 3***This is the first in a series of mysteries featuring Chief Inspector Gamache. I’ve heard much about this series and have several friends who are devoted fans, but I thought it took a very long time to take off. I’ll give the series another try. It wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t grab me as I expect mysteries to do.
Full Review HERE
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – 2** I kept hearing about Rainbow Rowell and how much people loved her other books. I should have at least read the book jacket first – totally my own fault. I didn’t believe in the characters and their relationships. I thought the dialogue was tortured and ridiculous. Not to mention the plot elements. On the plus side, Rowell does a pretty good job when writing suspenseful / thriller scenes. Euan Morton does a fine job narrating the audiobook. I give his performance 4****, and raise the entire rating to 2 stars as a result.
Full Review HERE
I'm just starting page one of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. It was such an important part of All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr that I vowed to read it soon after.
I'm in the middle of The Cuckoo's Calling. It's good, but it can't compare to how great Night Film was.
I'm currently reading A Good Indian Wife by Anne Cherian. A ok read so far but hoping it gets better.
I've gone back to a favored author and am reading Michael Connelly's The Overlook. this will be the 14th book of Connelly's that I've read and I would like to say that I read them in order but that's not the case. Despite that, it hasn't changed my enjoyment of his stories.
I'm reading Plague of the Dead by Z.A Reicht... which, so far, is reminding me of World War Z, but in a chronicle order. It uses email messages to tell parts of the story and is quite up-beat and 'jazzy' for a 'horror'.
I've made a start on The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
I read "Outlander" years ago and enjoyed the humor. It's still pretty much a romance novel however. It's MUCH better than the TV series IMHO. LOL!
Jackie wrote: "I've made a start on The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt."That's on my want to read but I don't know when I'll be able to get to it. So many books are stacked in my bedroom and on the kindle ... I'm reading a little bit of Murder on the Menu: Cordon Bleu Stories of Crime and Mystery — short stories — every night and will begin The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri as soon as I get home.
Lol Pamela, so many books too little time - I think that's the case for most people who love reading.
Indeed! The list is too long! I'm working on Yellow Crocus which is a Civil War era novel about the relationship between a slave the young mistress of the house that she raises.
I'm beginning The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway.
Book Concierge wrote: " Yes Please by Amy Poehler – 4**** In general, I’m not a big fan of celebrity memoirs, but this one was getting great reviews from friends whose opinions I value, so..."
I'm reading this, too! I'm on the last chapter. It was a gift from my sister because she loved it. I like that it's not a "how I got to Hollywood and why my life is so interesting" kind of book. It's really a book about balancing life as a woman. She's a real person and she doesn't put herself on a pedestal. There's really some good advice in there, too.
Fitzempress' Law by Diana Norman Historical fiction: Set in the 12th century, roughly England and France. Norman also writes as Ariana Franklin, and all of her books under that name are intriguing and entertaining. She uses a fair amount of Old English, and gets right into the customs of the day.
Claude & Camille by Stephanie Cowell – 3***The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of Monet. It’s a good work of historical fiction, with a true-life romance at its core. Cowell does a good job of giving the reader a sense of the time and place, as well as the enthusiasm of youth, the passion of working toward one’s dream, the camaraderie of friends, and the safety of a steadfast love.
Full Review HERE
Rebecca wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: " Yes Please by Amy Poehler – 4**** I'm reading this, too! I'm on the last chapter. It was a gift from my sister because ..."
Totally agree - I was really impressed with her starting Smart Girls - way to pay it forward!
I have started the last volume of Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 3: The Complete and Authoritative Edition It has been amazing. The audio is a blast, the narrator does a very good Hal Holbrook version of Twain.
Since I couldn't make it through American Gods by Neil Gaiman, I switched to the audio version and am enjoying it much more. I've just started Helen Simonson's new book The Summer Before the War.
I'm starting Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I'm an INFP. A friendly introvert but still an introvert. I had a extroverted friend once say to me, "Yeah but you're getting over that" as if introversion was a disease. I'm excited to read this book and am quite happy being an introvert:)
13½ by Nevada Barr – 3.5*** Much darker and more terrifying than the Anna Pigeon series by which most readers know Nevada Barr. I was captivated from the beginning, and Barr held my attention throughout. There is considerable foul language, and some very graphic scenes of violence. Dan John Miller does a fine job of narrating the audiobook.
Full Review HERE
I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt – 3***Brandt, a former prosecutor, managed to get Frank Sheeran to tell the true story of what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. I was interested, but disgusted with Sheeran and the other thugs profiled in the book.
Full Review HERE
The Women by T C Boyle – 3*** Boyle tells the story of Frank Lloyd Wright through the eyes of the women who loved him: his three wives and his mistress. The chronology is moves back and forth, beginning with Wright’s last love, and the story line seemed somewhat fractured. Despite the title and the organization of the book, the women come off as secondary to the man. Frank Lloyd Wright is a bigger-than-life presence here, and I grew tired of him.
Full Review HERE
I'm starting The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This one has been on my mental "to read" list for awhile.
Elizabeth wrote: "Indeed! The list is too long! I'm working on Yellow Crocus which is a Civil War era novel about the relationship between a slave the young mistress of the house that she raises."This is another book that I want to read! Goodness -- how I wish I had more time to read more books! Am reading A Killing Kindness by Reginald Hill but am also crocheting a baby blanket ... and catching up with a couple of TV shows through Netflix.
Later today I'm going to start The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar by Robert Alexander.
Recently started The Master Butcher's Club. Getting pulled in.
I'm just starting The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler. Hoping it's good. With the Swedish crime books, I tend to love them or hate them...they never seem "just ok." I'm hoping this will be a hit rather than a miss:)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl – 3***A classic children’s story with a message about good behavior being rewarded. I never read it as a child and I found it a bit over-the-top, but I can see the great appeal that this kind of “fairy tale” holds for children. Eric Idle does a marvelous job of narrating the audio book. All his skill as a voice artist is put to good use creating unique characters. I’d give him 4 stars for his narration.
Full Review HERE
I'm reading WHAT ALICE FORGOT by Liane Moriarty. I'm about halfway through and I just love it.
Listening to the audio of The Song of Achilles, a retelling of the Achilles tale. The Narrator, Frazer Douglas , does a great job. About 20% in and totally hooked.
Theft: A Love Story by Peter Carey – 3***The novel is told by the two brothers in alternating chapters. The plot is convoluted and intricate, as befits a psychological thriller, but I didn’t find it a grippingly fast read. I was interested but puzzled about where this was going for a good third of the novel. Simon Vance is superb as the narrator of the audio version. He gives each brother a unique voice, which makes it easy to tell who is narrating.
Full Review HERE
This is a fabulous story about a man whose life is swapped with another man's who looks identical to him, and how he lives this new fraudulent life. Extremely gripping and as well written as you'd expect from du Maurier. I think I love this even more than Rebecca. Haven't been able to put it down!
Today I'm going to start reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Just finished:
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just started:
The Times And Trials Of The Rawalpindi Conspiracy 1951 The First Coup Attempt In Pakistan
Chris - I liked that book! I wasn't sure if I was going to as I'd seen various reviews saying it was a kind of fairy story and they're not usually my cuppa tea.
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The Next Best Book Club
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A great story with a great cast of characters. I love Mark Watney! Weir’s writing completely captured me and transported me to a different planet. I have no clue if the science is accurate, and I don’t care. The novel grabbed me from the beginning and never let go! R C Bray does a superb job performing the audio version.
Full Review HERE