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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
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Joy
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Jul 12, 2015 03:25AM
Ive recently read Funny Girl which I romped through - great light entertainment. If you enjoyed About a Boy, you'll almost certainly like this one too.
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Finished Red Lightning. Ended up giving it 5 stars for the quality of the writing. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also finished a 5-star book of short stories, Music for Wartime: Stories. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also finished a 5-star book of short stories, Music for Wartime: Stories. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oops sorry! Too English?"Bishop: "I'm afraid you've got a bad egg, Mr Jones";
Curate: "Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent!""
-"True Humility" by George du Maurier, originally published in Punch, 9 November 1895.
It's a way of saying "good in parts", but overall a bit iffy. Or even that the whole thing is a stinker, but you feel it would be tactless to say it ... a very useful expression! Anyway,
Here's my review of The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London. Finally posted it!
Jean said: Oops sorry! Too English?Jean, I assume that I'm like many book addicts. I love learning new words. We should have a mini-contest for those of us on this side of the pond: who can first work "a curate's egg" into a live conversation. :)
I've got my idea: When I next go out for breakfast, I'll tell the "I'll be your server" that I just had a great curate's egg. LOL.
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Glad I was the 'dummy' who put her hand up to admit ignorance. LOL:DI love it when I learn new words and expressions. Thank goodness for Wiki, my 'go to' place when I need explanations.
That's what's so great about AAB - so many countries represented that we have the chance to learn new words.
Hadn't realised it was used so infrequently ...Chuck - re Death and Mr. Pickwick: A Novel, the author Stephen Jarvis contacted me just before it went to print, and asked who I would advise him sending complimentary copies to. (He had enjoyed my review of The Pickwick Papers and wanted to make contact.)
I suggested both Peter Ackroyd and Claire Tomalin might be helpful authors to have read his book, but it sounded as though he'd already had a falling out with Peter Ackroyd. He said he'd send one to Claire Tomalin.
He said his novel would change the whole course of how we look at The Pickwick Papers. Hmmm. A rather large claim, I thought ;) But who knows?
We had quite a series of conversations, but in the end I decided the book was just too expensive to buy on kindle, and although he's joined a Goodreads group (who read Dickens exclusively) on my recommendation, again, he was only keen to promote his book really - and said so.
If you are interested though, his Facebook page, devoted to his novel again, is here
I would be interested to hear anyone's views who has read the novel ...
Have just downloaded and read the Kindle free sample. Quite Pickwickian, with Seymour in Yeovil, then London. With the intro about the narrator working in the 1980s.Very promising, and tempting, but £8 on Kindle is, as you say, a bit much.
I might be tempted idc .....
Jean wrote: "Hadn't realised it was used so infrequently ...Chuck - re Death and Mr. Pickwick: A Novel, the author Stephen Jarvis contacted me just before it went to print, and..."
I can't believe he didn't offer to at least send YOU a copy of the eBook; you sound like quite the Dickens enthusiast.
Chuck - LOL! That's what my husband said!John - It has come down in price by the sound of things - I'd remembered about a third higher than that. You could always get it out of the library, but when I asked the author if it would be in Large Print he said it was up to the publisher.
Even so, a bit of a risk at that price, I thought. He's not an established author yet.
I've just finished reading The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly. It only took me a day to read but how beautiful and insightful! I gave it 4*.
Ages ago, 5602, Greg wrote: You and Jean have convinced me to give him another try, either Joyland or 11/22/63. " Sorry for the delay. Greg, the reason I wanted to read Joyland is because I've heard it's atypical - a detective novel - and the other sounded an interesting premise ...
I haven't had much luck with reading Stephen King, but have seen him rated so highly by Goodreads members that I really wanted to give him another try, in the company of informed readers who like him.
Pretty much like you by the sounds of it, really ...
Erica - have added that one to my TBR shelf! Thank you :)
Jean - re Death and Mr Pickwick', having read the sample thoroughly now, I think I'd rather read a review that gives the argument and conclusion of the book than read 800+ pages of sub-Dickensian picaresque whimsy. Then just read Pickwick Papers again!
Someone who regularly posts here hasn't been around for a week or so - Chrissie. Anyone heard from her?
Bette, I am still here. I am reading a book that is taking everything out of me:The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45. It is good, but very hard. WW2 the Pacific theater. I usually cannot read battles and this is predominantly one battle after another but still it is definitely a good book. JUST HARD reading. I am also very busy working outside, so I work myself to pieces and then come in and listen to the book. You have to have maps if you listen. I think it is almost 1000 pages long. Nice that you cared about me, Bette.
Thursday through Sunday my son and wife and two kids and dog are coming to stay with us. It will be a circus but a fun circus. Leah, their youngest, will be three years old, so party time too. I just hope the dogs don't meet b/c Louis, their Samoyed, doesn't like Oscar!!!!! So cross your fingers for me.
I got Leah, the "little Mommy", a doll and some clothing for her. We are all going to work outside in the garden. Pick up pine cones for example...... Busy, busy, busy. Or pick up sticks . Or move stones. Or play croquet.
Chrissie Hi:) I admire your reading that book, I couldn't. Sounds like you have a fun four days ahead of you, when family stays it's always a circus, isn't it? But as you say, a fun circus. Enjoy your family time:)
Bette - I agree - J.G. Ballard's Empire of the Sun was bad enough for me. Glad you're OK Chrissie :)John - that is very useful information. And not too surprising, frankly. Thank you!
P.S. John - Let me know when you do and I'll probably join you ;)
Jean wrote: Ages ago, 5602, Greg wrote: You and Jean have convinced me to give him another try, either Joyland or 11/22/63. " Sorry for the delay. Greg, the reason I wanted to read Joyland is because I've heard it's atypical - a detective novel - and the other sounded an interesting premise ... I haven't had much luck with reading Stephen King, but have seen him rated so highly by Goodreads members that I really wanted to give him another try, in the company of informed readers who like him.
About 11/22/63 Whether or not I'm "informed," I do remember exactly where I was on 11/22/63. More book addict cred: I almost got arrested as a kid for attempting to shoplift ... paperbacks from Woolworth's.
I don't relish horror and who would want to read a book when the outcome (what happened that day) is well known? Well, it isn't horror and guess what, it pulls you in. Not literature, but a great read. IMHO.
Jean - re your Pickwick P.S: I will. It'll be like painting the Forth Road Bridge!
Angela M wrote: "Today I finished Language Arts. 5 stars . My review :https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Aw! Angela, I am not familiar with the author, but your review is so lovely and eloquent, I'm totally sold. Putting it on my list now. Thanks!
Katie, thank you for the kind words . I hope you enjoy it .
☔Diane S. wrote: "Finished Death Comes for the ArchbishopDeath Comes for the Archbishop"Diane, I just read that last year. What did you think?
It wasn't one of my favorite books, but it was interesting. There was some interesting historical detail that I didn't know, and it kept me engaged and the characters were well-written. But it also was definitely a product of it's time, I was kind of bored by getting almost only the perspective of Christian white dudes, and having all the people of color, women, and indigenous people be pretty one-dimensional and stereotyped. But still, it was a good read.
katie wrote: "☔Diane S. wrote: "Finished Death Comes for the ArchbishopDeath Comes for the Archbishop"Diane, I just read that last year. What did you think?"
Katie, posted a link to my review. I love Cather so I think I am a little biased.
☔Diane S. wrote: "katie wrote: "☔Diane S. wrote: "Finished Death Comes for the ArchbishopDeath Comes for the Archbishop"Diane, I just read that last year. What did you think?"
Katie, posted a link to my review. I love Cather so I think I am a little biased. "
Just read your review. Yes, well put. I think we basically agree ;o) It was the first I'd read of Cather's, and I'm definitely interested in reading more! What is your favorite of hers, so far?
B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie Hi:) I admire your reading that book, I couldn't. Sounds like you have a fun four days ahead of you, when family stays it's always a circus, isn't it? But as you say, a fun circus. Enj..."Bette, The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45 is definitely good. You are not just given dry statistics. You get into the heads of American army, naval and air force troops. Into the heads of kamikaze fighters and Japanese soldiers who are NOT pulled toward suicide. Both sides. Every single battle is made palpable. Whole books are written about each battle, each event, and here they are all in one book. I have avoided books on the Bataan Death March, but that was here too, and of course the Battle of Leyte Gulf (the biggest naval battle in history)and and and....
I wonder sometimes how the author got the individualized detailed information. Access to their thoughts? Letters? Other survivors? It is non-fiction. I am amazed that I do not want to stop. Boy, have I learned a lot about the Pacific islands! If you don't have this detail I think I would forget it all more quickly.
Yeah, looking forward to the circus about to begin. I don't think I can read anything while they are here, so I MUST finish the book before they come.
Jean, Empire of the Sun is just not comparable to this. I did like that book very much though.
Chrissie, have a good time with your family!Yesterday I finished the second beta-reading of a book by Mario Pacchiarotti and I liked it also this time.
Today I have finished my beach-read, Dirty Hands, a play by Jean-Paul Sartre. Not at all easy but very interesting. It talks about idealism and if it's possible to follow firmly our ideals or if sometimes we must get our hands dirty in order to achieve an improvement, i.e. a higher good.
Finished reading The Crazy Rich Asians. Here's the link to my reviewhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jon wrote: "Jean wrote: Ages ago, 5602, Greg wrote: You and Jean have convinced me to give him another try, either Joyland or 11/22/63. " Sorry for the delay. Greg, the reason I wanted to read Joyland is bec..."
I think 11/22/63 is absolutely a fabulous book. His best, AFAIAC. I almost never re-read fiction books, and I've read it 3 times, and I would re-read it again. The first time I actually listened to the audiobook--marvelous! Perfect narrator for it. I would almost go so far as to call it romance, but really it's a mix of genres.
Chuck , I absolutely loved this one too .
☔Diane S. wrote: "Finished Reykjavik Nightshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Oh, that is on my library "shopping list"! Arnaldur Indriðason has become one of my favorite mystery writers.
I decided before I started my library book Fish Tails, which is the third of a sci fi/fantasy trilogy, I would reread the second book of the trilogy (The Waters Rising) as I didn't have a very clear memory of it even though I remember the first book (A Plague of Angels) very well. Glad I did as I enjoyed it, although I don't think it was as good as the first book. Both have a strong environmental theme but the first book dealt more with how people react to or choose to handle difficult dilemmas (not just environmental, but disease, poverty, education etc.) which I found very thought-provoking.
John (mainly) - Yes, reading Charles Dickens reminds me of what we did as children, going into the pictures (cinema) halfway through a film, watching the rest of it, then staying to watch it all the way through again and so on until it was time to catch the bus home - frequently half way through again!I'm sure I'll want to "go round again" with this author!
Leslie wrote: "☔Diane S. wrote: "Finished Reykjavik Nightshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Oh, that is on my library "shopping list"! Arnaldur Indriðason has b..."
Love him. His stories are as good as his characters.
Jean - yes, 'going round again' is truly a sign of our respect for a writer, isn't it, given there are so many other books to read? Might be a theme for a thread?
Just finished Signal by Patrick Lee. He writes some pretty excellent action-thrillers for the most part, and this was going really good too, but then the last 40 pages completely ruined it! SO frustrating! I was getting ready to sing his praises to everyone.
I've just finished Bulgakov's Feuilleton for the 2015 Bingo Challenge.My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have completed The Rising Sun: The Decline & Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-45. It was a hard book to read, but I am very glad I read it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is pretty darn amazing that a book that has so much devoted to battles could keep me reading. I didn't know that when I started.
Chrissie wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie Hi:) I admire your reading that book, I couldn't. Sounds like you have a fun four days ahead of you, when family stays it's always a circus, isn't it? But as yo..."I'm going to have to get this. I absolutely love WW1 and WW2 stuff.
Chuck, definitely worth reading. It will keep you busy for a time.
Just finished My Dear I Wanted to Tell You it was marvellous and heart breaking. I gave it 4 stars because one of the characters was so vexing it was hard to read her narrative. Other than that the story is about love in war, injury and the human condition when faced with terror.
I have finished 2 books this week and I loved both of them
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I thought this was brilliant, a very powerful and interesting novel that deals with life in rural China at the turn of the century. 4* and very pleased I picked this one
A Man Called Ove 5* I loved everything about this book. I honestly couldn't fault it
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I thought this was brilliant, a very powerful and interesting novel that deals with life in rural China at the turn of the century. 4* and very pleased I picked this one
A Man Called Ove 5* I loved everything about this book. I honestly couldn't fault it
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