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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
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Leslie
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Sep 29, 2013 04:57PM
@Jenny - I haven't read any George Eliot, but I have heard that Silas Marner is also very good. I have it in audiobook form so eventually I will get to it! I have Middlemarch in hardcover waiting on my shelves as well... your review makes me want to read it now but October is already overcrowded :(
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I just finished a cozy mystery, Moonlighting in Vermont, but I can't really recommend the Kindle edition I read. It was replete with editorial errors (typos, incorrect capitalization of words, etc.). The story had some potential though & I liked the setting of rural Vermont.
Leslie wrote: "@Jenny - I haven't read any George Eliot, but I have heard that Silas Marner is also very good. I have it in audiobook form so eventually I will get to it! I have Middlemarch in hardcover waiting..."Sounds good, I believe somewhere on my Kobo I also have "The Mill on the Floss", so I guess it will be one of the two, however not quiet yet, as my October is quite croweded as well.
Mod
Dorothea is a character who in italian we'd say "Should be bought just for the fun of slapping her face" (da comprare per il gusto d prenderla a schiaffi!!!) but the whole book is one of the best I've ever read!!!
Mod
Middlemarch is I think her real masterpiece; I liked almost all her other books, but literaly fell in love with it!!!
Middlemarch is on my TBR list but not sure when I will get to it as it's so long! I have so many >500 page books on my wishlist.
I have read quite a few books whilst on holiday and hopefully will read a few more when I'm travelling home tomorrow.
A Monster Calls- Recommended to me by Shirley this book was totally not what I expected. It made me cry many times and was beautifully written. 5*
The Light Between Oceans- Fiction read which I really enjoyed. I have posted my thoughts on the groups thread. 4*
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There A good sequel, but a bit dull in places. I will read the next in the series though 3*
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry I still don't really know what to make of this. I found it was a good page-turner but a bit unbelievable. I found the main characters quite annoying but I did want to find out what happened and I thought the end was perfect. 3*
White Ghost Girls Set in 1960's Hong Kong in an expat community. I didn't love this until the shocking ending. It was nice to read about the city I'm visiting and the writing was stunning in places. 4*
Quite a good collection and lots of high ratings. My top reccomendation would be A Monster Calls as it was a truly wonderful read. Thanks Shirley!
I have read quite a few books whilst on holiday and hopefully will read a few more when I'm travelling home tomorrow.
A Monster Calls- Recommended to me by Shirley this book was totally not what I expected. It made me cry many times and was beautifully written. 5*
The Light Between Oceans- Fiction read which I really enjoyed. I have posted my thoughts on the groups thread. 4*
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There A good sequel, but a bit dull in places. I will read the next in the series though 3*
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry I still don't really know what to make of this. I found it was a good page-turner but a bit unbelievable. I found the main characters quite annoying but I did want to find out what happened and I thought the end was perfect. 3*
White Ghost Girls Set in 1960's Hong Kong in an expat community. I didn't love this until the shocking ending. It was nice to read about the city I'm visiting and the writing was stunning in places. 4*
Quite a good collection and lots of high ratings. My top reccomendation would be A Monster Calls as it was a truly wonderful read. Thanks Shirley!
Heather wrote: "Middlemarch is on my TBR list but not sure when I will get to it as it's so long! I have so many >500 page books on my wishlist.I have read quite a few books whilst on holiday and hopefully will ..."
So glad you enjoyed A Monster Calls, Heather! It's one of those books that you never forget how you felt when you read it. Very moving.
Looks like you read some great books whilst away - look forward to hearing about what you read on your return journey!
LauraT wrote: "Dorothea is a character who in italian we'd say "Should be bought just for the fun of slapping her face" (da comprare per il gusto d prenderla a schiaffi!!!) but the whole book is one of the best I've ever read!!!"
LOL!! And you would too, if you heard me try pronounce schiaffi! ;)
Just finished Water for Elephants last night, which I really enjoyed. Better than I thought it would be, so I would recommend it.
Shirley wrote: "Just finished Water for Elephants last night, which I really enjoyed. Better than I thought it would be, so I would recommend it."Glad you enjoyed the story Shirley.
Jenny - there are 4 George Eliot books I like and you've read the longest I think! Of the others Silas Marner is quite short. There's also Adam Bede (which I always think is mistitled as it's actually about Hetty Sorrel!) but I too recommend "The Mill on the Floss" as the next best. An afterthought - I think we should be calling her Mary Anne Evans by now.
I've just finished Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". Wow - I'm English and had never heard of it or the events before. When I can collect my thoughts I'll write a review!
I just finished Murder at the Vicarage. Oddly enough the best way I can describe it is that it's a very charismatic book.
Jean wrote: "...I've just finished Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". Wow - I'm English and had never heard of it or the events before. When I can collect my thoughts I'll write a review! ..."Oh Jean you should check out the film version then - amazing movie!
Have just finished In Cold Blood as well which I would recommend - very interesting and well written. As well: In the Shadow of the Banyan which I would also recommend - set in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge, it's a heart-breaking story but beautifully told.
I just finished my second read of The Year of the Flood. I just love Margaret Atwood. This book (and series) is not for everyone, but I think it's brilliant and scary and beautiful. Now I'm ready to read MaddAddam!
Here's a link to my review of In Cold Blood It took me a long time to write and make sure I did this book justice. I didn't know there was a film too Leslie. Who's in it? Is it recent? Or is it a famous director or anything?
Jean wrote: "Here's a link to my review of In Cold Blood It took me a long time to write and make sure I did this book justice. I didn't know there was a film too Leslie. Who's in it? Is it recent? Or is it a..."
No, not recent! The book was published in 1966 & the movie came out in 1967 (Directed by Richard Brooks. With Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe, Paul Stewart). I think that the movie helped seal Capote's reputation - sadly though he never wrote another full length book.
Jean wrote: "Jenny - there are 4 George Eliot books I like and you've read the longest I think! Of the others Silas Marner is quite short. There's also Adam Bede (which I always think is mistitled as it's actua..."Good to know there's plenty more of her to read!
Leslie - thanks - quite an oldie then. I will look out for it. That is sad; I wonder why he never wrote another. Maybe he didn't know where he could go from there. Or maybe he was overly influenced by one-novel Harper Lee.
Jean wrote: "Leslie - thanks - quite an oldie then. I will look out for it. That is sad; I wonder why he never wrote another. Maybe he didn't know where he could go from there. Or maybe he was overly influenced..."I have heard that perhaps he got too emotionally invested with the killers, especially Perry Smith, and then was haunted by their deaths. Seems funny to be exchanging 50 year old gossip! ;)
I read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and really enjoyed it! I was drawn in by the group dynamics and the strangeness of Miss Jean Brodie too. I'd like to read more Muriel Spark at some point.I'm also intrigued by In Cold Blood through the discussion above.
Jean wrote: "Here's a link to my review of In Cold Blood It took me a long time to write and make sure I did this book justice. I didn't know there was a film too Leslie. Who's in it? Is it recent? Or is it a..."
Love the review Jean! I couldn't decide how to rate it - like you said at the end, really good but 'liked it' is totally the wrong word.
Thank you Laurel :)
Completed reading Edna O'Brien's Country Girl. I could not escape from the feeling of many repetitions since I had read her son's memoir prior to this book. May be, those who have read Edna's initial works will appreciate her memoir better.
Mod
Liked it and was really surprise: I was not expecting anything of the kind!!!
LauraT wrote: "Just finished - in little more than a day! - The House on the Strand.Liked it and was really surprise: I was not expecting anything of the kind!!!"
Well that's good news, it's next on my list after We have always lived in the Castle...
Mod
Liked it and was really surprise: I was not expecting anything of the kind!!!"
Well that's good news, it's next on my list after We have always lived in the Castle... "
Which I'm reading now!
I've just finished The Last Runaway which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's set in 1850 and is about a young woman who emigrates to America from England, where she becomes involved in helping runaway slaves.
Joy - That looks absolutely fascinating. I love Tracey Chevalier's books. Going on my to-read shelf thanks!
I finished a short story collection today The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick 1: The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford, which I really enjoyed. This was my first reading of Dick, and I am now even more excited to get to my library copy of his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?!
Just finished Defiance by c.j. redwine. It was actually apretty good read for a fantasy apocalyptic story. Now back to the bat by mary roberts rinehart.
The Bat by mary roberts rinehart was pretty good too for a mystery. The film version with vincent price is pretty good too and endora from bewitched is in it too.
I have read a couple of mysteries which were pretty good: The Widow of Jerusalem (historical fiction mystery set at the end of the Third Crusade) and The Fire Engine that Disappeared (Swedish police procedural).
Mod
@Laura - Have you read other Martin Beck mysteries? Beck is less prominent in this one - more about his colleagues.I just finished my first book for the Spooky Booky challenge, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This is really a novella or even a long short story, rather than a novel. I was pleased that it was as enjoyable as I remembered it, as it must be 40 years since I last read it, but I was less spooked than Ichabod Crane was!
I finished the third of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, The Cruelest Month. I'm really enjoying this series (which should be read in order). It's character-based and each book adds to the group dynamics.
Mod
I'm really enjoying this series (which should be read in order). It's character-based and each book adds to the grou..."
Is it april the cruelest of month Petra, as Eliot said?
There's a song by an italien singer whom I love, "La canzone dei mesi" (months song"), in which Francesco Guccini sings all the months of the year. When he gets to April he asks "what did the poet see in you, who found you cruel?" and every time april comes, with its mild sun and longer days I ask myself the same question.
Petra wrote: "I finished the third of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, The Cruelest Month. I'm really enjoying this series (which should be read in order). It's character-based and each book adds to the grou..."
I am waiting for that one to be returned to my library! I have read the first 2. Is that police woman Yvonne or Yvette in that one? I don't like her!
I finished The Eustace Diamonds today - quite similar to Vanity Fair in many ways but not as good (4 stars instead of 5!).
Laura, the book takes place in April....you're right! LOL!Leslie, Yvette is interesting. A lot happens in Book 3 and some things are starting to be explained. It's my favorite of the series so far.
Petra wrote: "I finished the third of the Chief Inspector Gamache series, The Cruelest Month. I'm really enjoying this series (which should be read in order). It's character-based and each book adds to the grou..."
I hadn't heard of this series so thanks for recommending it - it sounds the sort of book I like.
Mod
I'm really enjoying this series (which should be read in order). It's character-based and each book ad..."
I was thinking of looking for them.
@Tweedledum - Thanks, that looks really interesting!
Tweedledum wrote: "The Case of the Missing Servant Vish Puri my new favourite detective. Brilliant as an audiobook."These are so good, Tweedledum. I've read the first three and am looking forward to reading the fourth soon.
I keep hearing so many good things about A Monster Calls...think I may have to purchase that one soon!
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