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What Are You Reading - Part Deux
Caddie Woodlawn
– Carol Ryrie Brink – 4**** This Newbery Award winner tells the story of Caddie Woodlawn, age about 12, in 1864 Wisconsin. Caddie is a courageous, intelligent and resourceful girl. The story reminds me a bit of Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” books, and that is definitely a good comparison.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "Caddie Woodlawn Caddie Woodlawn
– Carol Ryrie Brink – 4****
This Newbery Award winner tells the story of Caddie Woodlawn, age about 12, in 1864 Wisconsin. Caddie is a courag..."
This was one of my favorite books growing up -- read it many times and bought a copy for my niece. :)
Did a re-read of The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion for ftf bookclub and I'm about to start reading The Secret Life of Bees.
Sit! Stay! Speak!
– Annie England Noblin – 1* Addie Andrews has inherited her Aunt Tilda’s house in tiny Eunice Arkansas, so she moves from Chicago, and the painful memories there, to refurbish the homestead and heal from her wounds. The best part of this novel – and unfortunately it’s a small part – is Felix, the pit bull puppy; and I say that even though I’m not a “dog person.” I knew going in that it was chick lit, and I wasn’t expecting great literature but this was really bad.
Full Review HERE
I'm going to start reading The Stone Boy by Sophie Loubiere today.
I am reading A Storm of Swords by George R.R. MartinI am a bit too late in plunging into the Game of Thrones world but now when I have started reading it, all I want to do is sit with this book all day.. It is such a gripping series!
Not reading The Secret Life of Bees after all. :(Just finished Memory House which was a magical realism delight and now I'm starting Plain Christmas.
Paula: Like your taste in books!
Pax
– Sara Pennypacker – 4**** Peter is forced to turn his pet fox, Pax, loose in the woods, but then reconsiders and sets out to rescue his beloved pet. This is a wonderful tale of loyalty, love, grief and perseverance. The point of view shifts from from Pax’s story to Peter’s experiences by chapters. Both Peter and Pax have been betrayed and are distrustful as a result. They draw on reserves of strength, courage and perseverance they didn’t know they had to help not only themselves but those around them.
Full Review HERE
Journey to the River Sea
– Eva Ibbotson – 4**** Maia is an orphan in London, in the early 1900s who is sent to live with distant relatives on their rubber plantation in Brazil. What a lovely adventure / coming-of-age story! Maia is a strong female character – intelligent, kind, generous, brave, resourceful and loyal. I did think the Carter family – father, mother, and twins – were rather stereotypical “villains,” but that is a small quibble. This is a children’s book, after all, and I don’t expect the same subtleties that I would in literature written for adults.
Full Review HERE
I'm now reading Digging to America by Anne Tyler.
Currently reading (nearly done with) Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris. Saw her at the Wisconsin Book Festival yesterday and she is hilarious -- one of the best events all weekend!
Dracula
– Bram Stoker – 5***** Stoker wrote this as a series of journal or diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. This gives a certain immediacy to the writing, and builds suspense. The novel is wonderfully atmospheric; from the delights of a new culture as Harker first experiences the loveliness of Eastern Europe, to the creepy, skin-crawling scene with the hordes of rats, and finally to the “pure-white” snow of the mountain blizzard, time and again Stoker puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the scenes. But the novel is more than just a horror story. There are several themes which would be great for book group discussion.
Full Review HERE
I just finished reading The Memory Stones, a wonderful story about a family caught in the coup in Argentina in 1976. Thousands of people "disappeared" including new born babies . This novel depicts this piece of history through the heartache of one family. 4 stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just loved this one! 5★ for The Fly Strip 
It's still available on NetGalley till the end of October if anyone's a NG reader.
Very funny, touching story of a 17-year-old boy dealing with family tragedy while still maintaining a funny, sarcastic sense of humour. Not necessarily YA but suitable for teens.
I liked it better than The Catcher in the Rye.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished The Tommyknockers, To Build a Fire, and Twittering from the Circus of the Dead.I'm trying to figure out what to read next.
Anne’s House of Dreams
– L M Montgomery – 4**** What I love about these books is Anne, herself. She’s so optimistic and friendly, with good common sense, a kind heart, and a generous spirit. She is no stranger to trouble and heartache, and this book definitely includes some heart-wrenching events. I love the young woman she has become.
Full Review HERE
I finished The German Girl: A Novel. 3.5 stars rounds up to 4 . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I felt this was an important story because it tells of how a ship of German Jews were turned away from asylum in Cuba and the US in 1939 and this is perhaps not known by a lot of people.
Book Concierge wrote: " Dracula
– Bram Stoker – 5*****
Stoker wrote this as a series of journal or diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. This gives a certain immediacy to the writ..."
Dracula is one of those books I think I know the story but I've never actually read it. The book sits beside the bed and I pick it up all the time, only to put it back down. Thanks for the great review, Book Concierge, I'll definitely start it soon.
I'm going to start reading The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood tonight.
The Dinner
– Herman Koch– 4**** In an oh-so-fashionable restaurant in Amsterdam two couples meet for dinner. I was completely fascinated by the psychological nuances explored in these two couples. Over the course of this meal they dance around the very serious situation their sons have gotten into. Emotions are triggered, and just as quickly suppressed. I can hardly wait for my F2F book group discussion!
Full Review HERE
You Will Know MeJust started it so I can't tell you much about it except it's a well-reviewed mystery and so far it's narrated by the mother of a gymnast who is an Olympic hopeful.
Book Concierge- I've enjoyed both books I've read by Koch. Am really looking forward to reading his latest one when I get hold of a copy!
I finished The Eastern Shore. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Midaq Alley
– Naguib Mahfouz – 4**** I love stories that feature an ensemble cast such as this. Midaq Alley is but one of many such small streets in Cairo. The residents form a microcosm of society, and over the course of the novel they fall in love, endure heartbreak, commit crimes, become ill, take chances at new adventures, and simply move on with their lives. Mahfouz’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric – I could smell the bread baking, or hear the cacophony of sound in a busy public square.
Full Review HERE
I finished And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. 5 stars . My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I recommend this highly to anyone who has read and loved books by Fredrik Backman and to anyone who has not read them , I would say you have to read this beautiful novella.
Later today I'm going to start reading The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.
Well I just finished Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas . I recommend it highly but just a heads up: the ending is a bit of a disappointment.
Will do a review on my blog though so ya know..........stay tuned?????? (Thanks anyone who will read my blog is amazing)
Just finished The Hours
by Michael Cunningham. I rated it a 3 because I had a hard time 'getting' the characters. All except Virginia Woolf, of course. I did like how the author brought it all to a very good conclusion. But I'm still not sure if I would say I liked it ... the writing and the development of the characters were good but I couldn't like them.
And now, of course, Im debating how you follow such a book as this.
Just finished t
by M. J. Arlidge and now starting
by Jason Matthews.
I've recently finished Wreckage by Emily Bleaker and liked for the drama of post plane crash survival - reviewed it & gave 4 stars
This is a week for comfort food which, in my reading universe means . . . Jack Reacher. I started Without Fail by Lee Child.Last night I finished the wonderful The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a five-star read. And I don't read plays, generally.
I'm about half through The Last Director of Shoreditch which is so good. I started it last night and it's one of those "hard to put down" books.
I wish I could say the same about mine, Karen, lol.
I'm reading Winterling by Sarah Prineas
I just finished Doctorow: Collected Stories. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Monkey’s Raincoat
– Robert Crais– 3.5*** This is a great detective story that reminds me of the old-fashioned noir tales by Chandler. I was hooked from the beginning and interested throughout. Will definitely read more of this series.
Full Review HERE
I read 3/4 of The Shipping News by Annie Proulx and then skimmed through the remainder as I just wasn't enjoying it.I've also just read Amsterdam by Ian McEwan which I liked very much & gave 4 stars. He's a great writer, imo.
I've now just started The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
I am reading Longbourne by Jo BakerIt is about the Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice, but from the servants point of view
The Red Leather Diary
– Lili Koppel – 4**** Lily Koppel was a young (age 22) writer working at the New York Times when she discovered an old red leather diary. It had originally been given to Florence Wolfson for her 14th birthday – Aug 11, 1929, and Florence dutifully wrote in it every day for the five years allowed on its pages. The diary did more than offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. As Lily read the young Florence’s record of her hopes, dreams, heartbreaks and triumphs, she discovered something about herself. And then Koppel went searching for Florence…
Full Review HERE
I finished Irena's Children: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto. 5 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..... I did not know who Irena Sendler was but I'm grateful to have learned about her through this book .
Up To This Pointe
– Jennifer Longo – 2** When her life-long plan to be a ballerina with the San Francisco Ballet goes awry, 17-year-old Harper Scott finagles a way to go to Antarctica for six months as a research assistant. This story line is so ridiculous that I made myself dizzy rolling my eyes. On the plus side, Harper does mature (a little) over the course of the novel, and while she makes some foolish mistakes she does eventually learn some important lessons.
LINK to My Review
Angela M wrote: "I just finished reading The Memory Stones, a wonderful story about a family caught in the coup in Argentina in 1976. Thousands of people "disappeared" including new born babies . Th..."thanks for this. I will look for this book.
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The Next Best Book Club
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I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh.
Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...