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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Bette, thanks for explaining.I remember form five years
I read a few other interviews with Jeanette Walls, and in each one she said that she had always hidden her past, she was afraid for anyone to find out, worried what people would think of her. It seems to me she would have not purposely made things out to be worse than they were, maybe even done the opposite and downplayed parts of her life or left it out of the book completely. It's been a long time since I've read the book so I don't really remember a lot of it. I think we all have our own truth, the way we see things.
Patricia, thanks for telling us. I share your feeling.
Chrissie wrote: "Patricia, thanks for telling us. I share your feeling."Your welcome Chrissie!
Chrissie and Patricia, I have enjoyed all the discussion about truth/fact and The Glass Castle. I don't think that Walls has ever been outed like James Frey was about his claims in his so-called memoir A Million Little Pieces. Oprah Winfrey certainly laid into Frey when it was proved that pieces in his book were untrue or greatly exaggerated.
I never read A Million Little Pieces, but boy do I remember the fallout!
Me too, lol:) Boy, did Oprah let Frey 'have it'! Btw, I did read it and hated it.
I've finished The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes two days ago, and in writing the review realized I had to alter my rating from 4 to 5, because I like it even better now that it had time to linger a little. If the words 'fictionalized biography' don't prompt you to run and hide, I'd recommend it strongly. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flora Poste, a single minded creature but with no real malice, and I found myself laughing out loud by the end. 4 stars from me.
It's always great when I read a new author and he's as brilliant as this one is. :) Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I've just read We've Already Gone This Far: Stories. 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hales wrote: "Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flora Poste, a single minded creat..."Now you should see the 1995 film, if you haven't already! Very well done and the small parts played by Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry were both hilarious.
Hales wrote: "Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flora Poste, a single minded creat..."Isn't it meant to be seen as a parody? I am a bit hesitant myself! So why would you recommend it, having given it four stars? Please explain a bit.
It is certainly a parody, in short I would say that it takes typical ideas of 'Britishness' at the time and multiples the characteristics to the point of ridiculous. Flora is a well educated girl (though she doesn't care for education) who goes to live at cold comfort farm when her parents die and decides before she even arrives that her new task in life is to sort and order the lives of the people that live there, having never met them and assuming they cannot possibly do it without her. Then you throw in a mad aunt who stays in her room and controls the farm with an iron fist and more cousins and crazy servants than you can count and you get Cold Comfort. I appreciate its not for everyone but once you take it as a bit tongue in cheek and accept it ludicrous nature it's a sweet funny book. I hope that gives you more of an insight Chrissie, sorry I'm not really a good reviewer.
Leslie thank you for letting me know about the film. I have been wondering since I finished how the story would translate to the screen, will certainly be checking it out. Especially as I love Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley. :)
Chrissie wrote: "Hales wrote: "Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flora Poste, a singl..."I thought that the writing style, especially of Flora's own writing (the character Flora wants to be an author), was a parody of Victorian writing and Thomas Hardy's in particular. All the characters of Cold Comfort are exaggerated. If someone was unfamiliar with English Victorian writing or didn't like satire, this book would just seem silly I think. However, as a fan of both satire and British Victorian authors, I found it highly amusing.
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I finished Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun's classic Hunger. My review is below; I can see why Chrissie didn't like it but I am more ambivalent...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished The Cellar. I thought it was excellent for the most part, but the ending just ruins it. If not for a couple of paragraphs I would have said it's a solid 4-star book. Oddly enough, those paragraphs are missing from the audiobook! I would have never known that had I not read the e-book along with the audiobook. Not sure what's going on there, but cutting those paragraphs doesn't help. As a matter of fact, without them the story is open-ended and you're left scratching your head. However, in the e-book the story is most definitely not open-ended. Very strange. I've never seen anything quite like it. Could be the narrator just messed up the narration for all I know. Either way, though, the ending ruins it.
Read and completed Par Lagerkvist's The Dwarf. A powerful allegory of the two World Wars (the book was written in 1944). If interested in such themes, go for it. I almost gave it five stars. My rating is four and half.My revew: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chuck wrote: "I just finished The Cellar. I thought it was excellent for the most part, but the ending just ruins it. If not for a couple of paragraphs I would have said it's a solid 4-star book...."That is strange! Perhaps worth sending a note to the audiobook publisher or Audible if you bought it there.
I've finally finished Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving 5★My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished The Lower River by Paul Theroux. This story is set in Malawi; in a small, remote, forgotten village of Malago. The people of Malawi are destitute, rely on Foreign Aid, AIDS is devastating the people and leaving thousands orphaned & fending on their own; there's no hope at all. The book explores the themes of hate, aid, entrapment, fear and so much more.
I enjoyed this book. The bleakness reminded me of Thomas Hardy: well-written and bleak but very enjoyable nonetheless.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished two good reads:
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...And
Death Night by Todd Ritter. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Have finished a wonderful book about India: Nine Lives by William Dalrymple 4,5* It was very interesting and fascinating. Nine stories, nine different lives in a country that mixes modernization and economical growth with ancient religious rituals. Sacred and profane live together and there is no neat line between them. It's non-fiction.
My English/Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I know there was someone else in the group reading this but put it aside because didn't like it. Was curious to know why she didn't like it. I don't remember if it was Gill or Terri.
I recently finished Dead Wolf Walking by Veronica Blade. It's the third book in her Shapes of Autumn series. It was absolutely amazing and you finally get answers to your questions!
I just finished the audiobook of Beautiful Creatures. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I just finished an excellent first novel with a Sci-Fi romance blend and a heroine who uses her brain. She is striped of everything else to punish her for the crimes of her father, who is executed. Along the way she is the sole support of her young sister and mother. Does contain erotic content. The Cartel: The Apprentice Volume 1. I've reviewed it.
Just finished Island of a Thousand Mirrors. Here is my 5* review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished a short story collection by Grace Paley. Not a great read for me.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Leslie wrote: "All the characters of Cold Comfort are exaggerated."I think this might cause me trouble. I enjoy satire but not all books of satire. I like complicated characters with nuances. Thank you.
Laura, thanks for confirming Leslie's opinion. Now I am double sure.
Finished Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from My Italian Mother-in-Law. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Hales wrote: "Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flora Poste, a singl..."I've been hesitant too. I think because it's supposed to be funny and I'm always wary of these sort of books. I'll read it one day, but I never feel particularly drawn to it.
I have just finished Probability for Kids which I received as an early reviewer, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
Karin wrote: "I have just finished Probability for Kids which I received as an early reviewer, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl."Karin, why not link your reviews here? I had to go into your profile reviews to find your excellent review:)
B the BookAddict wrote: "Karin wrote: "I have just finished Probability for Kids which I received as an early reviewer, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl."Karin, why not link your reviews..."
How do I link them? I have tried, but it goes to some page just for the book.
I just finished The Versions of Us, and I liked it a lot. Here's my 4 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Karin, pull your review page up on screen, highlight 'http://www..' at top of that screen, press 'copy', then paste the link in this thread.Like so - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm not the best at explaining thing but I hope helps:) If not, someone else here will explain it.
I do admire you, homeschooling your kids.
Pink wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Hales wrote: "Just finished Cold Comfort Farm I had no idea what to expect and at first found it to be very strange. However by the end I was enchanted in a way by Flo..."Pink, why not just try the film? It is very good and sometimes humor is better when visual rather than mental.
Karin wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Karin wrote: "I have just finished Probability for Kids which I received as an early reviewer, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl."Karin, ..."
Ah, I think I see the problem (possibly). To link your review, before doing what Bette describes in post 7774, go to the book's page and click on the words "My Review" to get your review of the book on a separate page.
dely wrote: "Have finished a wonderful book about India: Nine Lives by William Dalrymple 4,5* It was very interesting and fascinating. Nine stories, nine different lives in a coun..."
Yes, I've read part of this, dely. I found it a bit more detailed than I realised I wanted to read. Have you read anything else by William Dalrymple? I thought City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi was excellent.
I have been reading a lot of plays this year, which I review or discuss in the Drama section. Lately, in honor of Black History month I have listened to Jump at the Sun and John Ball's In the Heat of the Night.http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
And I spent all day yesterday listening to the audiobook of Barrayar. I got so caught up in the story that I even missed Downton Abbey!
Leslie, Bette,I've never been able to do this either. Trying now. See what happens:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Seems to go to the book's general review on GR, with my review below. Don't think this is right?
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