What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 6,001-6,050 of 12,687

[Albert]

Just finished Old School by Tobias Wolff. My first by Tobias Wolff. I enjoyed it very much. I was worried at the end. I thought he was going to wrap it up nice and neat. Instead, he left me with something to chew on.

[GeneralTHC]

Gavin wrote: "Finders Keepers. 3 stars. Not S.K's best writing, but very entertaining nonetheless. I read the whole thing in one go."

I thought that could have been a very good book, but it was too ad hoc, too contrived. I think it was a mistake making that into a sequel. I like the first half much better.

[Leslie]

Alice wrote: "Finished The Odyssey. Loved the smooth lyrical form and the thrilling narrative. I'm glad that I dived right into this important work of the Western canon of literature.

My short review"

Glad you enjoyed it! Now, when will you be ready to read The Iliad?? I'm just joking (but if you do decide to read it some time, let me know as I would be interested in rereading it!)...

[B the BookAddict]

Finished The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

My very short review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

I finished Edna O'Brien's The Country Girls.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shirley]

I've just finished readingThe Age of Miracles, and I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. Something didn't quite work for me.

[Pink]

Leslie wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it! Now, when will you be ready to read The Iliad?? I'm just joking (but if you do decide to read it some time, let me know as I would be interested in rereading it!)...
..."

I'll join for The Iliad if you decide to read it....still haven't read The Odyssey yet, which I'm planning this month, but it keeps not happening!

[Alice]

Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished The Odyssey. Loved the smooth lyrical form and the thrilling narrative. I'm glad that I dived right into this important work of the Western canon of literature.

..."

Leslie, I admit that I'm tempted - I loved the movie "Troy" with Brad Pitt as Achilles!

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Fortune Smiles
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Alice wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished The Odyssey. Loved the smooth lyrical form and the thrilling narrative. I'm glad that I dived right into this important work of the Western canon o..."

I really liked that movie, too. Forgot all about it until you mentioned it here.

[Canadian Jen]

Just finished Bird Box....A really good creepy read. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[GeneralTHC]

Jen wrote: "Just finished Bird Box....A really good creepy read. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Yep. That was a good one. I call it "post-apocalyptic literary fiction."

[GeneralTHC]

I finished In a Dark, Dark Wood. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought it was a little bit better than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

[Pink]

Chuck wrote: "I finished In a Dark, Dark Wood. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought it was a little bit better than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN."

That's not selling it to me!

[LauraT]

Albert wrote: "Just finished Old School by Tobias Wolff. My first by Tobias Wolff. I enjoyed it very much. I was worried at the end. I thought he was going to wrap it up nice and neat. ..."

It's a while I want to read it!

[Angela M]

Finished This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!. 4 stars . My review :https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Gavin]

O Pioneers!. 3 stars.

[Chrissie]

Gavin, have you tried My Ántonia? It is much better.

[Gavin]

Chrissie wrote: "Gavin, have you tried My Ántonia? It is much better."
Haven't gotten around to it. I messed and started The Song of the Lark instead. Oh well, I'll read it after that.

[Bionic Jean]

Just Like Floss, my favourite of the children's picture books by Kim Lewis

★★★★★ Jean's review

[Chrissie]

Gavin, just don't give up before you read My Antonia. I gave O Pioneers, three stars too, but five to My Antonia.

[Ann]

I just finished Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald and I thought it was terrific. She's quite a writer!

[Chrissie]

Gavin, I understand. I think it is important to read the best book of an author first......you might give up otherwise. That is how I am at least.

[Gill]

Pink wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it! Now, when will you be ready to read The Iliad?? I'm just joking (but if you do decide to read it some time, let me know as I would be interested in rereading it!..."

I'm starting The Iliad around 24/25 of this month. To

[Gill]

Ann wrote: "I just finished Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald and I thought it was terrific. She's quite a writer!"

I've got this on my price drop watch list for my kindle Ann.

[Pink]

Gill wrote: "I'm starting The Iliad around 24/25 of this month..."

Oh I didn't know you were planning to read this also, are you doing a readalong for it, or reading in your own time? Have you read it before?

I want to read The Iliad and The Odyssey this year, before Ulysses next year!

[Gill]

Pink wrote: "Gill wrote: "I'm starting The Iliad around 24/25 of this month..."

Oh I didn't know you were planning to read this also, are you doing a readalong for it, or reading in your own time? Have you rea..."

Reading in my own time, Pink. I've been intending to since May, and now am actually close to starting, I don't really want to delay reading it any longer, but if you fancy starting around that time we could do it as a readalong?

[Pink]

Maybe, though I'm reluctant to commit to a readalong as I'm not sure when I'll start, or how long I'll take to read it and don't want to throw you off schedule. It's one of those books that I don't know if I'll race through in a couple of days, or take a couple of weeks (or more!) I'll certainly be interested in comparing thoughts afterwards though :)

[Petra]

I finished reading a novella, Timbuktu, last night. It's the first of Paul Auster's books that I've read and I'd consider reading another by him. I think he says a lot in a few words.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

Petra, I am interested in Paul Auster. So you liked this one! Thank you for your review.

I am unsure where to start. Maybe Timbuktu or Moon Palace or should I pick something else?

Has anybody read several of his?

[Tom]

Chrissie wrote: "Petra, I am interested in Paul Auster. So you liked this one! Thank you for your review.

I am unsure where to start. Maybe Timbuktu or Moon Palace or should ..."

While I've not read any of Auster's novels, I did see a movie (Smoke) for which he wrote the screenplay. I didn't know what to expect, but ended up liking it a lot.

[Chrissie]

Tom, hmmm, good to know you were pleased.

I will go and see if I can find a book called Smoke.

[Tom]

Chrissie wrote: "Tom, hmmm, good to know you were pleased.

I will go and see if I can find a book called Smoke."

Three Films: Smoke, Blue in the Face, and Lulu on the Bridge is what I found.

[Chrissie]

Thanks, Tom.

[Ann]

@Gill,

I hope you enjoy it, Gill.

[Kevin]

I read several Paul Auster novels many years ago. Timbuktu, and in particular The Book of Illusions, were my favourites, but they were all well written

[GeneralTHC]

Pink wrote: "Chuck wrote: "I finished In a Dark, Dark Wood. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought it was a little bit better than THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN."

That's not sellin..."

Lol! I take it you didn't like that one too much, Pink?

[Pink]

Not at all, I really had major problems with the story. It got quite a scathing review from me, so I'll probably stay away from the other one you mention!

[GeneralTHC]

Petra wrote: "I finished reading a novella, Timbuktu, last night. It's the first of Paul Auster's books that I've read and I'd consider reading another by him. I think he says a lot in a few words.
M..."

Paul Auster is an author I've been meaning to check out. I recently downloaded two of his audiobooks: Travels in the Scriptorium and Man in the Dark. I listened to a little bit of each one of them, not very much. His writing strikes me as being very strange.

[Chrissie]

Kevin wrote: "I read several Paul Auster novels many years ago. Timbuktu, and in particular The Book of Illusions, were my favourites, but they were all well written"

The Book of Illusions seems to be mystery, and that is not my favorite genre, so of the two you name, probably Timbuktu is probably best. Do you want to tell me a bit more about him? So i can sort of figure out if he will work for me. Like how would you describe his writing, his plots, his characters?

Thank you for your help.

[Chrissie]

Chuck wrote: "His writing strikes me as being very strange. "

What do you mean? Please give me a better idea of what you felt? If you remember....... Any little hints would be helpful. I cannot say I was considering those two.

[Leslie]

Gill wrote: "Pink wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it! Now, when will you be ready to read The Iliad?? I'm just joking (but if you do decide to read it some time, let me know as I would be interested in ..."

I don't know if I have time to read it this month. Which translation do you have Gill?

[GeneralTHC]

Chrissie wrote: "What do you mean? Please give me a better idea of what you felt? If you remember....... Any little hints would be helpful. I cannot sa..."

Gosh, I don't even know how to put it into words. I wanna say the subject material of both of the books I was checking out seem very surreal, almost twilight zoney to me, but that would give the wrong impression. And then I wanna say I'm almost reminded of the mood that Murakami evokes with his magical realism, but that's not quite right, either.

Frankly, I'm in awe of anyone who can write like Auster does. For instance, consider MAN IN THE DARK. It starts off with an old man with insomnia who's confined to his bed listening to the sounds the house makes at night; he's reflecting on his family's life, and suddenly the reader is off into this old man's imagination, and the reader bounces back and forth between his imagination and his reality. I mean, it's really pretty incredible to be able to pull that off. It evokes a very strange feeling if you get into it--almost like a little Ambien trip or something.

[Suz]

I have just finished The Bat on audio. My first from this author. Wished I liked it more! Here's my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Suz]

This is one I highly recommend! Hades by Candice Fox. Great Aussie author. 5 stars! My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Gill]

Leslie wrote: "Gill wrote: "Pink wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it! Now, when will you be ready to read The Iliad?? I'm just joking (but if you do decide to read it some time, let me know as I would be i..."

It's by Richmond Lattimore, Leslie. I used him for The Odyssey, and was pleased with it.

[Chrissie]

Chuck wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "What do you mean? Please give me a better idea of what you felt? If you remember....... Any little hints would be helpful. I cannot sa..."

Gosh, I don't even know how to put it in..."

OK, I understand what you are saying, I think. I like the idea of being pulled into another world

Thank you.

I will read Timbuktu first, and see how I react.

[dely]

Have finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It was such a good book, it had everything I'm looking for in a book: well depicted characters to whom I can relate, a good plot who wasn't predictable and an interesting historical background. I also loved that the main characters were all female; all strong women though in different ways.
I wasn't sure if rating it 4 or 5 stars but at the end I choose 4 stars, don't know why. Perhaps I will change the rating to 5.

[Canadian Jen]

dely wrote: "Have finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It was such a good book, it had everything I'm looking for in a book: well depicted characters to whom I can re..."

I agree Dely - was an outstanding read.

[Chrissie]

dely, yeah, I liked that one even more than the The Kite Runner. And the Mountains Echoed goes down even further, but I still liked it. When you read an excellent book you keep expecting the author to maintain that level and can easily get disappointed.