Aussie Readers discussion
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What Are You Currently Reading? (doesn't have to be an Aussie book)
Thanks, Sally - I'll hold on to that thought!And Ace - I'll let you know!
Kerrie wrote: "I've got a few on the go (as usual :) ) - I'm currently trying to read Dark Horse by Honey Brown. It seems like its got such potential - and its had awesome reviews..."I hope you can stick with it, I really enjoyed it and rated full 5 stars. Good luck :)
Tonight finished Tampa. I'll say the word again I guess as in my review I stated that I'm lost. Anyway, maybe someone can explain! Here is my review, two stars:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It doesn't sound (from your description and others) like a good book for me. Well done for having a go at reviewing it!
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My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've started Hunting and Gathering by book Anna Gavalda. I have no idea how this book came into my reading radar but I am enjoying it. One of those purely character driven novels which is really enjoyable.
I started reading : Bridie's Choice by Karly Lane this morning. Only 70 pages read so far and already I'm loving it :)
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Loved that one Sharon!!
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I haven't read that one Jools - will be interested in your review:)
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Love, love, love that series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carolyn wrote: "I'm half through Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb. Whew, that Roarke is pretty hot!"How did you go with A Place Called Winter Carolyn??
B the BookAddict wrote: "I've started Hunting and Gathering by book Anna Gavalda. I have no idea how this book came into my reading radar but I am enjoying it. One of those purely character dr..."I enjoyed the movie a few years back, and have often wondered whether I should read the book. Sometimes I find translations a bit tedious, but it sounds like this might be a good one.
☼♄Jülie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I'm half through Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb. Whew, that Roarke is pretty hot!"How did you go with A Place Called Winter Carolyn??"
Going well Jools, about half way through and really enjoying it. It's my bedtime reading (paperback) so takes me a bit longer to finish than my kindle books (commuting and day time reading!) Like most of us I like to have at least two different books on the go :)
Carolyn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I'm half through Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb. Whew, that Roarke is pretty hot!"How did you go with [book:A Place Called Winter|2288..."
Oh I that's good, I was trying to drag it out to make it last, I liked it so much!
I have started a on new jigsaw puzzle to encourage me to listen to the rest of The Poppet and the Lune, which I put on hold during my challenge :)
I've just finished
An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones. I loved it - great chick lit!Now I have added
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean - historical romance
A Carolyn I'm glad you are enjoying it too, as Julie and I did.
I am really enjoying Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen which may sound strange, to be enjoying a book about spelling and grammar and punctuation, but, amazingly, there are laughs to be had and I am finding myself nodding in agreement quite a bit.This arvo after giving Mum lunch and then seeing hubby in hospital, I had a mini-book club with a work colleague, a woman of my own vintage (born mid 1950s, schooled 1960-1972). We talked about this book and she tells me that kids of her son's vintage (age mid-thirties) had a terrible education in the above. We really feel sorry for them. Apostrophes may be a challenge for many of us, but to simply not know whether to use "their" or "there", because you were never taught, is sad, and must affect their chances of employment and promotion, as anything they write lacks a professional touch. They can't rely on spell-check and grammar-check in Word programs, because, for example, "there" and "their" are both correct spellings and the computer can't tell which one is right for the context.
So I consider myself lucky in that regard (my English-born hubby often looks to me for spelling, grammar and punctuation, and I was Dutch-born and had immigrant parents with minimal knowledge of the finer points of English, so my school must have done a good job!!). But even I am learning (or maybe relearning) things.
I'll get off my soap-box now.....
Marianne wrote: "I am really enjoying Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen which may sound strange, to be enjoying a book about spelling and grammar and punctuation, but, amazingly, there ..."Well, maybe it depended on the school (or perhaps the student's interest in spelling and grammar) but I can assure you, that as a mid-30-year-old myself, at my school, we WERE taught when "their", "there" and "they're" are to be used, and "to", "too" and "two", "new" and "knew" and any of the other homophones you can think of! We also learnt where to put our apostrophes, although I admit I am a bit hazy about some of the finer points of punctuation - commas, colons and semi-colons all being things I struggle with from time to time. I also admit that my grammar could be better on occasion - I think we did miss out on some of the grammar and punctuation niceties, but spelling was still quite important when I went through. And I acknowledge that it probably deteriorated soon after I went through... I also had a mother who was very English-oriented, with grammar, punctuation and spelling being very big when she went through school, so possibly she kept me on top of stuff more than some other mothers.
I probably would like this book, Marianne. Another one I've been interested in, but never actually read, is Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Sigh - one of these days!
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Her kids were NSW educated, and it probably does make a difference what the parents are doing too. I do remember being amazed at some of the changes the education system brought out re spelling etc. Bizarre things about the whole word instead of breaking it up into bits to learn how to pronounce & spell.... Thanks for reminding me about the Lynne Truss book, I see my library has copies, so I will definitely get that out some time.
Currently reading
and want to read
next !
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and want to read next !"Two great books there Keely! Welcome to the group:)
Brenda wrote: "Keely wrote: "Currently reading and want to read next !"Two great books there Keely! Welcome to the group:)"
Thank you !!! :D
Marianne wrote: "Her kids were NSW educated, and it probably does make a difference what the parents are doing too. I do remember being amazed at some of the changes the education system brought out re spelling etc..."That's true - which state you're in could make a difference. And there are definitely some strange things going on in the area of children's education and not even limited to English - from childcare throughout school!
Leonie wrote: "I've been having a bit of a Kylie Chan read lately. I met her at Swancon - she's lovely."I couldn't get into her books - but my daughter loves them
Sally906 wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I've been having a bit of a Kylie Chan read lately. I met her at Swancon - she's lovely."I couldn't get into her books - but my daughter loves them"
I did start slowly, but the storyline has slowly sucked me in.
Marianne wrote: "Her kids were NSW educated, and it probably does make a difference what the parents are doing too. I do remember being amazed at some of the changes the education system brought out re spelling etc..."@ Kathryn and Marianne, I have had this little book..Eats, Shoots & Leaves for many years now and still get it out from time to time. It is surprisingly funny with its many references to grammatical errors. Most certainly recommended for anyone interested in brushing up on their grammar.
Kathryn...I never knew there was a word for those 'same sounding' words! So I have learnt a new word today thanks to you ;) - Homophones -
Leonie wrote: "I've been having a bit of a Kylie Chan read lately. I met her at Swancon - she's lovely."yes these are great, Leonie, the last book of 9 is out late this year. They really do suck you in
Marianne wrote: "Her kids were NSW educated, and it probably does make a difference what the parents are doing too. I do remember being amazed at some of the changes the education system brought out re spelling etc..."My niece was Vic state school educated, she's 26 and her spelling, written grammar and punctuation is simply appalling, not to mention her handwriting which is shocking. Now of course, it's all made worse by the 'text spelling' they all use on their mobiles etc. Don't even get me started on acronyms, ha ha:)
I was convent educated, late 60s/early 70s and if you couldn't learn the above, you had it slapped into you, lol:) And we did 2 hours of cursive writing each week, I still write cursively.
Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, but my spelling, grammar and punctuation are good.
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Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, but my spelling, grammar and punctuation are..."I'm sure I could rustle up, for you, a bad-tempered old nun armed with her trusty wooden ruler to snap your fingers and knuckles into obeying the rules of good penmanship, lol:D My hands still tremble at the thought of Sister Mary Joan!
Anyway, Marianne, you're a pharmacist - same field as a doctor, so less than perfect handwriting is allowed:)
B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, but my spelling, grammar an..."Reminds me of my piano teacher at school who used to whack your fingers with a wooden ruler if you played a wrong note. I was usually a shivering mess of nerves by the end of the lesson. Waiting to be whacked with the ruler sure didn't make me play any better!
I've finally started reading A Beautiful Place To Die by Malla Nunn. Been looking forward to getting into this series after Brenda and others have raved about it :)
B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, but my spelling, grammar anI'm sure I could rustle up, for you, a bad-tempered old nun armed with her trusty wooden ruler to snap your fingers and knuckles into obeying the rules of good penmanship, lol:D My hands still tremble at the thought of Sister Mary Joan!
Anyway, Marianne, you're a pharmacist - same field as a doctor, so less than perfect handwriting is allowed:) ..."
LOL, Bette! What I do now is a form of modified printing. And I often have trouble reading my own writing, so for anything lengthy, I use a computer and print it out!
Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, but my spelling, grammar and punctuation are..."I write beautifully cursive - I always enjoyed the flow under my fingers when writing like that. Can print ok to. My husband's writing however? Be it cursive or print it's dreadful. So thins means when it comes to filling out forms old muggins here has to do them - his as well as mine!!!
I have a list a mile long of current reads - think I may have started more than I should!! Trouble is - I am enjoying them all - so I read a bit of one then another bit from another book and so on. Think I will just have to concentrate on the first two as need them for reviews and challenges :)Season of Shadow and Light by Jenn J. McLeod
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
Pandora Jones: Reckoning by Barry Jonsberg
My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg
The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
Carolyn wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, bu..."Gives a whole new meaning to Chopsticks Carolyn!
Marianne wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, bu..."And what you really need is me - a physiotherapist, skilled at 'other health professional hand writing interpretation.' Have had much practice!
Marianne wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Bette, we had modified cursive forced onto us, and I hated it. Didn't join up, no flow. Abandoned it as soon as I could. So my handwriting is appalling, bu..."I obviously should have been a doctor or pharmacist then. LOL as everyone tells me my writing is hard to read. Used to get into trouble at school got it. It's got worse since then.
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Wonderful Carolyn!!
I'm currently reading a contemporary fiction set in Mumbai, have never read a novel set in India, but am enjoying it as my brother and his family lived in India for years, so I'm catching onto a few of their stories.The Girl Who Went Missing by Ace Varkey, really enjoying it.
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Aussie Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Sister (other topics)Saving Fish from Drowning (other topics)
The Zahir (other topics)
The Zahir (other topics)
Libriomancer (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rosamund Lupton (other topics)Kerry Greenwood (other topics)
J.D. Robb (other topics)
Thomas Ligotti (other topics)
Peter Swanson (other topics)
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Half of a Yellow Sun does take about the first third of the book just to introduce the characters, but the story really does pick up after that, I think it's worth persevering with. I ended up giving it 4★s.