The Next Best Book Club discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Book Related Banter
>
What Are You Reading - Part Deux
message 3601:
by
Angela M
(new)
Apr 09, 2017 09:25AM
Karen , loved The Kite Runner too and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Hope you love it too .
reply
|
flag
Gutenberg’s Apprentice – Alix Christie – 3.5***
In her debut novel, Christie explores one of the most momentous events in history: the invention of the printing press. I did find the information about the conflicts between the guilds, the ruling class, and the Church interesting, but it went on for so long that I grew tired of the political and personal intrigue. Still, in this age of digital print, it is all the more wonderful to imagine the creativity, skill and hard work that went into this marvelous invention.
LINK to my review
I've started reading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.
Just finished Great Stories by Chekhov, a recent publication of stories from 19th century Russian author Anton Chekhov. My review (with many quotes to give you an idea of the Russian winter and philosophy)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just started Terry Pratchett's "Pyramids" - I've read most of his books, I love them!
The Penelopiad – Margaret Atwood – 3***
Atwood takes the story of the faithful Penelope, waiting 20 years for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War, and reimagines it. I liked this intelligent, savvy woman.
LINK to my review
Another pretty children's picture book asking the question we've all been asked: Why is the sky blue? Why Blue?
My review (with a couple of the illustrations)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke – 3.5***
Fantasy is really not my thing, but I did enjoy this book. I liked the play / counter play between the two magicians, and particularly enjoyed the scenes where they are influencing the Napoleonic Wars. That being said, however, this was just way too long. I found my mind wandering as much as the plot did. I certainly understand the popularity of the novel, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read another novel by Clarke.
LINK to my review
Jackie wrote: "Great book, Karen. Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns too?"I'm finding when I get to a sad part that I have to put the book down. I'm only a third of the way through and it's going very slow but it is a very good book just a bit dark here and there.
A debut novel and a bestseller by an Aussie author. Win-win for me! The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman was terrific. 5★
And now a film as well. My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wolf by Wolf – Ryan Graudin – 2.5**
This is interesting speculative fiction dealing with “what might have been” had Germany & Japan won WW2. The plot moves as quickly as the racers bound from Germania to Tokyo. Yael is a strong heroine – resourceful, intelligent, physically and mentally fit for the challenge. I thought there were several holes in this plot, and I think I would have enjoyed this kind of speculative plot without the “skin shifting” aspect. While I recognize the appeal for the target audience, it really wasn’t the book for me.
LINK to my review
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid is an important story many people have loved. Couple fleeing war.
I didn't quite love it, but you might!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake – Amy E Reichert – 4****
What a deliciously delightful foodie romance! I liked the characters, and was invested in their story from beginning to end. The food descriptions made me hungry, and I loved the way Reichert described the joys of Milwaukee (my home town).
LINK to my review
West With the Night – Beryl Markham – 5*****
Markham was an independent woman who lived life to the fullest, and on her own terms. While there has been significant controversy over whether she actually wrote this memoir (vs her third husband ghost-writing it for her), I still highly recommend it! Full of vivid imagery and really gives a sense of what life was like for the colonialists in Kenya in the early part of the 20th century.
LINK to my review
I've just passed the halfway point in
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.It was very slow going at first and I still would not say that this has my complete interest. This morning I've finally made some good headway but at this point, its not going to be one of my favorites.
I just started Thirteen Reasons Why. Really good so far. I wanted to read it before I watch the miniseries on Netflix.
The Quarterly Essays are a great offering in Australia at a time when we are swamped by a deluge of short news articles, posts and tweets. These are about 25,000 words, so writers can discuss a subject at length. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The White Queen: One Nation and the Politics of Race by renowned author, journalist, commentator David Marr
Loved the ins and outs of 20 years of Pauline Hanson. 5★ My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm reading Never Mind by Edward St. Aubyn. It's a short book, the first part of a trilogy. I'm enjoying it so will definitely go in to read the second book.
I am currently reading The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho.Survival and search for one's destiny can be as innocently civilized as possible despite adversely adult circumstances and situations like war.
Baking Cakes in Kigali – Gaile Parkin – 4****
This is a delightful debut novel. I love Angel – she’s wise, discreet, confident, compassionate, decisive and a great friend and mentor. There are several humorous episodes and several touchingly sad ones, but Angel deals with any situation with aplomb and compassion. Parkin peoples the novel with a wide array of characters who form a community and celebrate together with one of Angel’s excellent cakes.
LINK to my review
I'm going to start reading Black Water by Louise Doughty later today.
Finished The Kite Runner which was good but rather depressing. I'm reading a cozy, Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage which is always a delight.
James Patterson's "bookshot" The Witnesses.I'm enjoying this novella format - like a good TV episode.
4★
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Golden Hill caught me completely by surprise! A funny and sometimes poignant historical novel of mystery in 1746 New York. Quite a romp! 5★ my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 23 - Currently ReadingTEXT -
Expecting Adam / Martha N. BeckAUDIO in the car -
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / Agatha ChristieMP3 Player AUDIO -
Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral / Mary Doria Russell
The World’s Strongest Librarian – Josh Hanagarne – 4****
I really enjoyed this memoir of one man’s struggles to come to grips with his Tourette’s, and to find balance in his life, his work, his family and his faith. I loved all the literary references!
LINK to my review
I finished Quiet Until the Thaw: A Novel. My review: 3+ stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm about to start reading John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles.
My Name is Lucy Barton – Elizabeth Strout – 5*****
I love character-driven novels such as this one. Strout writes beautifully, with prose that reveals her characters to the reader with nuance and grace. Lucy’s recollections and probing questions lead her mother to reveal some of the “why” behind how Lucy came to be the woman she is.
LINK to my review
Scott wrote: "Fer-de-Lance excited,finally getting around to this series."I read these when I was a teenager. I was in love with Archie Goodwin. Loved those books!
I just finished Allegedly, Allegedly, which is a YA book about a 9 year old girl who girls a baby, allegedly. She is in baby prison until she is 16 and is then moved into a group home. She has covered for her mother but now that she is pregnant with her own child she wants the truth to come out. Sounds like a soap opera...but it is a dark story and how the mind works.Then I read the 3rd book in the JD Robb series....what fun:) Immortal in Death
I am almost finished with The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness which is an excellent book that everyone should read. It shows why America has the highest number of jails and incarcerations in the world....and for very minor offenses. I cannot believe that crack and powder cocaine have such different sentencing. "just 1 gram of crack are given the same sentence as those found in possession of 18 grams of cocaine" which of course targets poor and mostly black people. It's an eye opening book and sad for the people who are caught up in a crooked system and seemingly will and can never get out of. Things need to change.
Next up is Desperation Road. I am in a few chapters and it has grabbed me already. I have no idea what it is about other than it has gotten very good reviews and supposedly has beautiful writing.
The Route – Gale Sears – 2.5**
This was okay, but I found little substance here and I felt it was predictable. Some of the patrons on Carol’s route were charming, some were irascible. A few needed more help than Carol could provide, and a couple of them helped her more than she helped them.
LINK to my review
I finished The Golden City and now I am reading Atop an Underwood which is a collection of things that Jack Kerouac wrote from 13-21.
Recently read a non-fiction book, Into the Heart of Tasmania: A Search For Human Antiquity, by Aussie author Rebe Taylor.Great research and stories the world should know. 4★
My review (including one of the stories)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm almost halfway between an easy quick read
Guardian of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters. The main character, Amelia Peabody, can drive me to distraction sometimes but the stories are really fun, so I read them as sort of a treat between more serious books.
I finished The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just read Aussie author Kate Mildenhall's debut, Skylarking.Late 1800s, lighthouse near Jervis Bay, NSW. Fiction based on true incident of teen girls, best friends.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Karen, thank you for the PD James book recommendation, I've marked it tbr :)Later today I'm going to start reading Tarnished by Julia Crouch.
The Girl from EverywhereI just finished this book. I am a high school teacher and this book is more of a young adult fantasy book, but it was great. I enjoyed the surprise twists, and it kept me wanting to find out what happened next. There is a sequel to this book that I cannot wait to gets started on.
Orbiting Jupiter
I finished this book all in one sitting. This was a grown up story about middle school kids. As a teacher I wanted to reach into the book and hug the kid. I cried throughout the entire book, and could not stop reading until the end. It is sad, and makes you think about how much others judge people for things they have done. Looking past the actions of a person, and actually seeing the inside person is who they really are.
I am just started a kindle first read, A Criminal Defense and alsoOn a very different note, lol, The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
High Heat (other topics)Mai Tai One On (other topics)
Any Ordinary Day (other topics)
Death By Honeymoon (other topics)
Murder in Murloo (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lee Child (other topics)Jill Marie Landis (other topics)
Leigh Sales (other topics)
Jaden Skye (other topics)
Brigid George (other topics)
More...
