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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
finished The Kind Worth Killing. Was very entertaining! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jen wrote: "finished The Kind Worth Killing. Was very entertaining! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Definitely be reading this! I saw it was starred on Kirkus, but I've been holding off it. You've convinced me.
Chuck wrote: "Jen wrote: "finished The Kind Worth Killing. Was very entertaining! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Definitely be reading this! I saw it was starred o..."
Excellent - hope you like it Chuck.
My latest read: Back From The Brink: Australians Tell Their Stories Of Overcoming DepressionMy review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished After the Parade by Lori Ostlund the other day, an author that is known for short stories mostly. I really liked this book immensely, it feels like she managed to transfer the strength of a short story - the precision in capturing a moment, or fleshing out a character just within a few sentences, beautifully into the novel. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
@Suzanne Great book choice!
Loved that one, Jenny.Finished Lockdown on Rikers: Shocking Stories of Abuse and Injustice at New York's Notorious Jail
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Absolute All-Star Superman. Read the whole thing in one go. DC One Million is my favorite Superman story, but this is top 5 for sure.
Elaine wrote: "I've just read Pawn of Prophecy which was a disappointment. Too unorigional and not written as well as other and better fantasy. It wasn't helped by the fact that I'd just read"That is too bad you did not like Pawn of Prophecy, I am a big David Eddings fan, but then again I read the majority of his books in my teens. Not sure how I would like them now as a first time read. However if you were looking for an epic type of fantasy book, I would give the Wheel of Time books a shot, The Eye of the World I did not start reading those till my late teens and enjoyed them all thru out my 20's, in fact I had a lapse of time where I got interrupted in the series and just finished the last three books of the 14 book series. Defiantly well worth the read and it was great how I was able to dive into the story line after years in between. Well Good Reading!
Well that last two books I have read are A Memory of Light and Nuts in May. Finishing off Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is bittersweet for me, as I have been reading this series since my late teens. Even though the last three books were completed by Brandon Sanders, the ending of the series was tied in nicely. There were none of those loose thread feelings I get with some books that just didn't sastify how the story ends.
Jordan is a great story teller in that he is able to paint a picture and really draws you into each characters plight, which continue to build and develope with each book.
Now for "Nuts in May" by Cornelia Otis Skinner, this book/play is just hilarious. I would have never heard of her or the play except for my daughter is currently in play rehearsals for it, so when I looked it up I had to go check it out. The only downside is that her works can be hard to find, but with a little looking it is definitely well worth the hunt and will have you laughing out loud. :)
I finally finished my review of Daphne Sheldrick's autobiograpgy, Love, Life, and Elephants: An African Love Story - ★★★★ Thanks to Chrissie for telling me about the book, perhaps not too long after it was first published (2012) - I remember it was the first time we'd chatted, and until I looked at the top of my review I had forgotten the recommender! So this is proof that I do get round to reading my recommendations eventually! LOL!
An amazing story, a tenacious woman - well worth a read, even if you have reservations.
Jean's review
Wow, you loved it, Jean......even more than I did. Great review.
Thank you so much Chrissie! I did have reservations, re. her views on the white/indigenous Kenyan population (which I thought might unfairly prejudice me against her work with wildlife) but I still think she is an honest and remarkable woman.
@Tom Glad you liked it, what a rip-snorting adventure the whole series is.
Ryan wrote: "Well that last two books I have read are A Memory of Light and Nuts in May. Finishing off Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is bittersweet for me, as I have been..."
Ryan, I looked up Skinner on Project Guetnberg and LibriVox for you but there's nothing available.
I finished smart and funny book about dirty jobs and bad bosses. I recommend Dirty Secrets of the World's Worst Employee for all people.
"There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature."
P.G. Wodehouse
Tom wrote: "Finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 Stars"I am really looking forward to this! I already have the first two as both Kindle & audio books -- now I just have to stop getting books from the library so I will have time *grin*
Terry wrote: ""There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.""Great quote! I'm off to see if it is in the 'quote library' here... do you know what book it is from?
@ Terry: Lovely quote. Thanks for sharing.
Leslie wrote: "Terry wrote: ""There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.""Great quote! I'm off to see if it is in the 'quote library' here... do you know what boo..."
From the short story “Strychnine in the Soup” found in Mulliner Nights
Wonderful quote and so true.Finished A Line of Blood: A Novel
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished an outstanding read that had my nerves jangling The Killing of Mummy's Boy
. Here Is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...and As Night Falls
which fell well short of my expectations. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Leslie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 Stars"I am really looking forward to this! I already have the first two as both Kindle & audio books -- now I jus..."
Well the audiobook is just over 32 hours (normal speed) so it is a pretty significant time investment.
Just finished What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?. A fun, light and quick read.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished two books this week:The Girls of August - oh dear.....three ungrateful, rude, nasty middle-aged friends who treat a young, new wife (who is hosting them to 2 weeks at her beachfront home) like trash.
I listened to the audio; had I had the book version, I doubt if I would have finished it. It was short....that helped, too.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sarah's Key - I started with the audio of this book but that was too slow and too juvenile (I had to look to make sure this wasn't a young YA story...it's not). I switched to the book version, which makes for a better story.
However, this story was manipulative and hijacked. It had a wonderful premise and there was a great story to tell of a little known happening in history but the author focussed on an unhappily married American woman in Paris. Sigh......so shallow. This was Sarah's story; not Julia's....but we heard Julia's.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chuck wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Terry wrote: ""There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.""Great quote! I'm off to see if it is in the 'quote library' here... do yo..."
Thanks Chuck, I should have known that as I actually own Mulliner Nights!
Leslie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 Stars"I am really looking forward to this! I already have the first two as both Kindle & audio books -- now I jus..."
Me too! I keep meaning to join a buddy read for "Outlander", as I think it would be fun to discuss. Not the greatest literary achievement, but sure to be entertaining! I'm going to need a fun, easy read after The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates and the morbid stuff I still have lined up for October/Halloween reading.
I've finished The Heat of Betrayal by Douglas Kennedy. No review forthcoming as I've been half reading another book, also based in Morocco, at the same time and managed to confuse myself a little. But happy to report, another 4★ book from one of my modern favourite writers.
Terry wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 Stars"I am really looking forward to this! I already have the first two as both Kindle & audio boo..."
I won't be getting to it soon as I have a stack of library books & a few other books to read. If you want to wait a bit though, we could do a readalong/buddy read.
I just finished The Orphan Master's Son and thought it was a 5* book but devastating to read. I knew that people in North Korea had a hard life but I had no idea how horrible the conditions are. The author even said he didn't include some of the worse things. It's worth reading but not if you're feeling vulnerable. Reading it made me so grateful that I live in the US despite our many, many problems.
I've just finished The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. I have another of her books, The Secret History, lined up for the AAB Bingo Challenge, and got sidetracked by The Little Friend.While The Little Friend is engrossing, it's an odd book; it seemed to switch genres from family drama, to coming-of-age novel, to murder mystery. I also found the ending unsatisfying.
My rating: ★★★
Ann wrote: "I just finished The Orphan Master's Son and thought it was a 5* book but devastating to read. I knew that people in North Korea had a hard life but I had no idea how horrible the conditions are. Th..."Oh yes, very, very, very good book. Totally deserved the Pulitzer.
I finished A Winter Haunting super early this morning. I thought it started pretty slow, but as it turned out it was just a great author doing his thing--set up and all. Dan Simmons really is a good author. If you haven't read him, I recommend reading him. Probably my favorite so far is The Terror. It's very good historical fiction with a pinch of horror thrown in.
Just read The Book of Strange New Things which I loved. Clever, thoughtful, subtle and gripping - I couldn't put it down.
B the BookAddict wrote: "I've finished The Heat of Betrayal by Douglas Kennedy. No review forthcoming as I've been half reading another book, also based in Morocco, at the same time and manag..."I love Douglas Kennedy also B! Hadn't realised he had another one out. Will have to chase it up. Thanks for the tip-off *:D
Bette , glad it was 4 stars . Looking forward to it .
Ann wrote: "I just finished The Orphan Master's Son and thought it was a 5* book but devastating to read. I knew that people in North Korea had a hard life but I had no idea how horrible the conditions are. Th..."Have that on my coffee table waiting to start...
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "I've finished The Heat of Betrayal by Douglas Kennedy. No review forthcoming as I've been half reading another book, also based in Morocco, a..."Sandy , I recently got this on NetGalley under an alternate title , The Blue Hour .
Angela M wrote: "Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "I've finished The Heat of Betrayal by Douglas Kennedy. No re..."Thanks Angela M - I will pop in and take a look and see if it is still available. *:D
Terry wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Tom wrote: "Finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. 4 Stars"I am really looking forward to this! I already have the first two as both Kindle & audio boo..."
WE have an outlander thread in another GR if you are interested - Bound Together. I think there is an outlander group too.
Joy wrote: "Just read The Book of Strange New Things which I loved. Clever, thoughtful, subtle and gripping - I couldn't put it down."Liked this one too, thought it was really different.
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All About Books
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There was humour (I think so, anyway) but mainly of the sarcastic kind, as though he were trying to make light of the situation, or at least, that's what I think he was trying to do...