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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Finished Z 2134. Poorly written combination of 1984, The Hunger Games, and The Walking Dead. Not worth the time.
I've recently finished Nineteen Minutes. As with Lone Wolf, I found this really gripping all the way through, but then the ending didn't just feel quite right. It's as though she wanted a final twist in the tale, but to me it wasn't convincing. I'm still pleased to have found a new author however - and one my library stocks.
Finished reading The Secret Garden. What a lovely book!!!! If one has not read it I urge him/her to read it as soon as possible.....
The Marked series. Not completely done with all of the books but so far it's great. It's a lovely fast-paced book. I definetly recommend.
Dhanaraj wrote: "Finished reading The Secret Garden. What a lovely book!!!! If one has not read it I urge him/her to read it as soon as possible....."Yay! I am glad that you liked this, as Frances Hodgson Burnett is sometimes viewed as being a girls' author (along with Louisa May Alcott and L.M. Montgomery). Although I like Mary, my favorite character is Dickon.
Dayanara wrote: "The Marked series. Not completely done with all of the books but so far it's great. It's a lovely fast-paced book. I definetly recommend."What is the 'Marked'-series Dayarana? I tried finding it with GR-search but not sure whether I found the proper one.
I finished Homer's The Odyssey finally! I would recommend Robert Fagles's translation, The Odyssey, which is written in a style more easily understandable to a modern reader. Plus Fagles' edition includes good reference material like maps, glossary of people & places, etc. I liked Pope's verse but unless you have a strong classical background, the story is sometimes hard to follow.
Leslie wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "Finished reading The Secret Garden. What a lovely book!!!! If one has not read it I urge him/her to read it as soon as possible....."Yay! I am glad that you liked this, as Franc..."
In fact, I too was initially put off when I read in the introduction that it was a children's book aimed at the girls. But then when I began the story the story took me in....The MAGIC worked.....
Just finished The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin - was ok, 3 stars but a bit disappointing overall as was expecting much more from it.
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I LOVED it so much!
Leslie wrote: "Yay! I am glad that you liked this, as Frances Hodgson Burnett is sometimes viewed as being a girls' author (along with Louisa May Alcott and L.M. Montgomery). Although I like Mary, my favorite character is Dickon. ."
I DO Agree
Dhanaraj wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "Finished reading The Secret Garden. What a lovely book!!!! If one has not read it I urge him/her to read it as soon as possible....."Yay! I am glad that you liked..."
So glad you enjoyed it, Dhanaraj, one of my favourite books from childhood.
@ Leslie, Shirley and Laura T: I really loved the book (THE SECRET GARDEN) and the fact that I had never expected much from it only revealed later how wrong I had been. And you all have reasons why you considered it as one of your much loved books.
I loved The Secret Garden as well. I had a video of it and the start in India used to make me really sad! It was one of the books featured in the Folio exhibition with some lovely early illustrations of the gardens
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Alannah wrote: "Just finished Great Expectations. Really enjoyed reading third time round."One my favourite works by Dickens! Speeking of whom, it's nearly that time of year again for reading A Christmas Carol!
I finished Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which I thought was a great way to relax after a long day. I loved the extra side-comments added by Harry, Ron and Hermione. 3 stars because it was fun to read but didn't get anything else out of it. But at least, it supports a good cause: comic relief.
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I finished Room during my lunch hour! It was quite difficult to read, but I also couldn't put it down. I don't know if I can recommend it or not. I can see some people not reacting well to it even though it's well written. I'm glad to have read it, though.
Finally I have finished Journey to the End of the Night. It was really tough! Not only for the writing style but also because it was too dark and nihilistic also for me. It is a very deep book and it has a lot of themes: senselessness of war and badness of people, iniquity of colonization, the alienating industrialization and, above all, the pain of living.It talks about a journey into human misery, the deplorable human condition, moral corruption, the neverending suffering of life, the unsatisfaction of everything.
I however recommend it, I think it is an important book of the 20th century and a must read seen the influcence Céline had on other writers.
In the meanwhile I have read also Six Characters in Search of an Author a short play by Luigi Pirandello and it was very interesting. I recommend it only if you like plays.
I finished The Lowland yesterday. Once again, I'm impressed by Jhumpa Lahiri. She writes beautifully, and her stories are very moving.
I just finished the third book in Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland trilogy; the books in order are:The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
Time Magazine said: "One of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century. It really is the most magical series I've read in awhile. I would recommend it to anyone who loved Alice in Wonderland, with a somewhat darker twist.
I enjoyed the 1st two, haven't got round to finishing the trilogy yet. I thought it read like a dark Enid Blyton! I'm looking forward to the last book
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Actually I didn't like the first so much and therefore I didn't go on with them.
I've finished Patterns of Childhood and found it extremely interesting, even if not an "easy" read at all. Full of things to consider and think about.
A book to be read, absolutely!
Kristi wrote: "I finished The Lowland yesterday. Once again, I'm impressed by Jhumpa Lahiri. She writes beautifully, and her stories are very moving."Another book you have read Kristi, that I also want to read! We seem to have a lot in common with our reading choices!
LauraT wrote: "Heather wrote: "I enjoyed the 1st two, haven't got round to finishing the trilogy yet. I thought it read like a dark Enid Blyton! I'm looking forward to the last book"Actually I didn't like the f..."
I've been reading all the discussion on "Patterns of Childhood" and it has made me want to read it!! I couldn't get hold of a copy (cheaply) so I didn't join in - but will keep my eye out for this one...
Shirley wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I finished The Lowland yesterday. Once again, I'm impressed by Jhumpa Lahiri. She writes beautifully, and her stories are very moving."Another book you have read Kristi, that I als..."
Yes, we do Shirley!
Shirley wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Heather wrote: "I enjoyed the 1st two, haven't got round to finishing the trilogy yet. I thought it read like a dark Enid Blyton! I'm looking forward to the last book"Actually I di..."
Do not miss THE PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD by Christa Wolf. A book of great worth....
I know I am now just blowing into a trumpet that's already playing: but everything Laura and Dhanaraj have said. Underlined and with an exclaimation mark. And I am not even finished yet.
Jenny wrote: "I know I am now just blowing into a trumpet that's already playing: but everything Laura and Dhanaraj have said. Underlined and with an exclaimation mark. And I am not even finished yet."I have added it to my wishlist, I have followed your discussion (though not the whole topic, I was scared about spoilers) and the book seems really interesting. It remembers me of Life and Fate, perhaps because both are set during WWII and has a deep insight in human nature.
Is it written in a difficult German? I have read Laura had some problems to find an Italian edition (though I have seen on amazon that the German edition it is very expensive).
There is a rather inexpensive epub-version of the italian translation. Hold on, I think you don't read ebooks right? There's a cheapish paperback version of the German original, however I was just imagining Christa Wolf being an English writer and me deciding whether to read the original or the translation. I'd go for the translation I guess. Her language is really one of the main protagonists of the book I guess, very nuanced and complex. Oh my, it's hard to judge your own mother language.
Jenny wrote: "There is a rather inexpensive epub-version of the italian translation. Hold on, I think you don't read ebooks right? There's a cheapish paperback version of the German original, however I was just..."
I have a kindle!
This is the main problem with translated works and if it's possible I like to read in the original language above all German. I think it is a wonderful language for literature and it loses a lot when translated. For example I hate to read Goethe in Italian, it is terrible; the same thing happened to me with Bertolt Brecht and Kafka. But I gave up with Der Mann Ohne Eigenschaften: Roman, it is really difficult. I will try to read it again in the future.
You do? Good! If there's an epub there should be a mobi-file of it too right? There's also one of the german version. Try it maybe and see how it goes?
Jenny wrote: "You do? Good! If there's an epub there should be a mobi-file of it too right? There's also one of the german version. Try it maybe and see how it goes?"If I have an epub I can change it into mobi with calibre. Where can I find it? On amazon there are only paperbacks of this book.
not really cheap, but here's the German kindle version: http://www.amazon.de/Kindheitsmuster-... and here's the Italian translation: http://www.ibs.it/ebook/Wolf-Christa/... (epub)and here are some cheap used versions of the German hardcover: http://www.amazon.de/gp/offer-listing...
Jenny wrote: "not really cheap, but here's the German kindle version: http://www.amazon.de/Kindheitsmuster-... and here's the Italian transla..."Yes, they are pretty expensive.
Will look for the German hardcover, unfortunately the Italian epub has a protection so I can't change it into mobi.
Thank you ;)
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LauraT wrote: "@dely: I'll see if I can manage to send my copy of Christa Wolf's novel. I have an italian translation of The Man Without Qualities if you like dely. But I think this is one book to be had on paper..."Thanks a lot! :D
dely wrote: "Finally I have finished Journey to the End of the Night. It was really tough! Not only for the writing style but also because it was too dark and nihilistic also for me. It is a very deep book and ..."Whoa...that sounds heavy to say the least!
Shirley wrote: "I finished The Shadow of the Wind over the weekend. Really enjoyed it - definitely worth reading!!"Glad you liked it, Shirley!
Nicole wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I finished The Shadow of the Wind over the weekend. Really enjoyed it - definitely worth reading!!"Glad you liked it, Shirley!"
This is why I like being part of a group like this, I have been introduced to so many books I would not otherwise have read!! Thanks to everyone who recommended it to me!
A fantastic series is by Tessa Dawnhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Book 5 was just released OH MY GOSH what a ride. Check it out and my review.
I highly recommend this series
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The Bling Ring - recommend it to the celeb obsessed, anyone into crime & real accounts. Interesting read.
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