Aussie Readers discussion
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What Are You Currently Reading? (doesn't have to be an Aussie book)
Just started An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. How did such a nerdy teen get nineteen girls to say yes? :p
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An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Brenda wrote: "Cassandra wrote: "Just started An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. How did such a nerdy teen get nineteen girls to say yes? :p"An Abundance of Katherines by [author:John Green|..."
Thanks. I was on my phone! :)
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An Abundance of Katherines by [aut..."
No problems:)
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I read a couple of his books but got tired of them before I got to that one. Is it any good?
Phrynne wrote: "Cassandra wrote: "Just started An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. How did such a nerdy teen get nineteen girls to say yes? :p"I read a couple of his books but got tired of them before I go..."
Seems ok so far although I'm only up to chapter four. I'll have to let you know.
Currently reading
Too much work getting in the way of finishing this book. Very enjoyable so far, never read anything like it before...
Melbourne wrote: "Currently reading Too much work getting in the way of finishing this book. Very enjoyable so far, never read anything like it before..."
was forced to read this at school, it put me off reading ANYTHING by Patrick White ever again. Dreadful what school English class can do!
I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us. I had the opposite problem. In high school we were given The Wind in the Willows. At 14 I was insulted at being given what I considered a 'child's book.' Others tell me there is a lot more too it but I have still never read it. Did all my exam questions on the other book we had which was Reach for the Sky. My husband had a similar experience being givenPride and Prejudice He loathed it, as I suspect many teenage boys would. he has since come to appreciate Jane Austen. Funny aren't we?
Dale wrote: "I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us. I had the opposite problem. In high school we were given The Wind in the Willows in year twelve. Both love reading, both absolutely hated reading Emma. Our daughter said that the audio version was great for insomnia. Our son - well, let's just say that his tastes do not include Jane Austen.
Dale wrote: "I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us. I had the opposite problem. In high school we were given The Wind in the Willows for my high school reading and thought it was absolute rubbish. Even now I can't pick up a Tim Winton, even though so many love him.
Hmmm, what I wanted to write was that I agree totally Dale: I was given Cloudstreet to read in high school and thought it was total rubbish. Even now, I can't pick up a Tim Winton, even though so many people love his work.
Thanks Leonie and Angela. I love this group! People make me feel I am not such a weirdo for not liking certain books. Maybe that will change as he gets older Leonie. My husband was a mature adult before he got Austen.Tim Winton is an acquired taste I suspect, Angela. I like some of his but couldn't come at Cloudstreet butThe Riders is a favourite. Others fall somewhere in between the two extremes.
Haha not a weirdo, just human! I guess the trick is to know why we steer clear of certain things and make a conscious effort to try again if we want to. Perhaps I'll pick a Winton to read one day but I'll make sure it comes recommended (am off to read your review now!)
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Yes definitely not a weirdo! There's a reason for everything (that's becoming a very common phrase for me lately) and there are so many factors that go into our decisions/affect our choices. But it's nice to be understood isn't it?!
If you don't find kindred spirits anywhere else you'll be sure to find them in a reading group :o)
Brenda wrote: "It's just as well our reading tastes are all different - it would make for boring conversation if we all agreed about a type of book! I own The Riders Dale and haven't read it yet...I..."I have actually never read a Tim Winyon novel, this looks god, I've just added it.
Michael wrote: "I've started Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks and it is very funny"Ooooo I read that Donkey's years ago - early 2000s - (01? 02?) when it first came out and before I kept records - I remember chuckling a lot over it.
Brenda wrote: "It's just as well our reading tastes are all different - it would make for boring conversation if we all agreed about a type of book! I own The Riders Dale and haven't read it yet...I..."It's a lot of years since I read it so don't remember it enough to write a review but remember I loved it.
Suzanne wrote: "Yes definitely not a weirdo! There's a reason for everything (that's becoming a very common phrase for me lately) and there are so many factors that go into our decisions/affect our choices. But it..."Sometimes hard to see the reasons at the time, but often see them in hindsight I find Suzanne.
Brenda wrote: "It's just as well our reading tastes are all different - it would make for boring conversation if we all agreed about a type of book! I own The Riders Dale and haven't read it yet...I..."See Brenda, that's where a nice diverse and generously stocked TBR pile comes into its own! Isn't it nice to be able to select straight from your own shelf :D
Desperate to get back to the library. Looking for something to read after finishing Gone Fishing and the discarding two other library books. Haven't had any freebies sent recently.
Dale wrote: "I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us. I had the opposite problem. In high school we were given The Wind in the Willows.....You are right, Dale. We also had Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory which was marginally more readable at that age. You have to wonder how those who set the syllabus could imagine that Patrick White was suitable for 15-16 yr olds.
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YES!! lol
Funny isn't it? Sometimes I read a review after I have read a book and wonder if we even read the same book . But different books affect people differently. Probably just as well. Boring if we were all the same and all thought alike.
Michael wrote: "The books i was made to read during high school put me off reading for ages. I know now that was just because the novel's we read i just found dreary and it took me until 2011 to realise the wonder..."I think both the teacher and the books play a part. Some books I didn't like to start with, but the teacher showed us what was good about them. Unfortunately, for The Tree Of Man we had an elderly nun who didn't really seem to like us or the book.....
Dale wrote: "Funny isn't it? Sometimes I read a review after I have read a book and wonder if we even read the same book . But different books affect people differently. Probably just as well. Boring if we wer..."reading reviews can be a double edged sword: sometimes I think a book is great until I read someone else's review where they pick out all the things wrong with it that I didn't notice. In that case, ignorance would be bliss....
I'm currently reading 'Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington.' So far, so good! :)
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Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time by Doris Pilkington
Woohoo I just won my first reads book from goodreads. Nightingale.
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Nightingale is an excellent book Jo! Congratulations!
Yes Marianne, I understand how you feel about Patrick White. I had to read Tirra Lirra by the river for HSC. Not a book for a teenage boy. Indeed I remember taking a 5 Iron to my copy after the English exam.
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There's no Tirra Lirra by the River by Patrick White, MB...this one is by Jessica Anderson - can you give us the correct book please?
Brenda wrote: "Melbourne wrote: "Yes Marianne, I understand how you feel about Patrick White. I had to read Tirra Lirra by the river for HSC. Not a book for a teenage boy. Indeed I remember taking a 5 Iron to my ..."Tirra Lirra by the River Jessica Anderson. Maybe i should have said i feel the same way about Anderson as you do about White. It was thirty years ago i couldn't remember the authors name. I do remember getting a fair distance, however, with my golf club of choice....
@ BrendaI'm pretty sure the book by Jessica Anderson is the one Melbourne means. Just continuing the general discussion on the effect of books we were forced to read in school......I can see this one would NOT appeal to a teenage boy!
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Thanks MB:)
Melbourne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Melbourne wrote: "Yes Marianne, I understand how you feel about Patrick White. I had to read Tirra Lirra by the river for HSC. Not a book for a teenage boy. Indeed I remember taking I do remember getting a fair distance, however, with my golf club of choice.... ..."
If you read the reviews on GR, it seems quite a few shared your opinion. One reviewer says their teacher promised to let them show their appreciation of Tirra Lirra by the River IN THE RIVER. LOL
I have read it but I don't remember it at all, so it can't have made an enormous impression....
Dale wrote: "I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us."This is very true. I think it's only through being 45 and having read a LOT of other stuff that i can finally find my way through a Patrick White novel. Also having gone a very roundabout way to appreciate my country.
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Melbourne wrote: "Dale wrote: "I think half the problem, Marianne, is that when we are at school we may not be ready for what they give us."This is very true. I think it's only through being 45 and having read a LOT of other stuff that i can finally find my way through a Patrick White novel..."
I agree with Dale's sentiment, but still have a deep aversion (and that's putting it politely) to Patrick White. I think Tree of Man is The. Worst. Novel. Ever. And as for his horrendous play, Signal Driver... [Shudder]
Dale wrote: "Funny isn't it? Sometimes I read a review after I have read a book and wonder if we even read the same book . But different books affect people differently. Probably just as well. Boring if we wer..."A wise person said no two people ever read the same book.
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Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jo, congrats on your first reads giveaway win. Nightingale was well worth reading I thought. You should enjoy it.
Oh the problems caused by books and English teachers. It sounds like a common theme of wrong choices of books for a lot of us. Amazingly we turned out readers despite them, though some of us always have been, just not the stuff given us at school.
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About half way through and enjoying it."
They are a good series Dale."
Yes enjoyable.