All About Books discussion
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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Just finished this incredibly powerful book Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Oh I am so hooked on this latest book from netgalley called: The Eighth Day
Shawn Jaffe is sitting in a restaurant having breakfast and this very disheveled man in a suit stumbles up to his table and says: They're watching you. You aren't who you think you are. You're not from Ohio. You are not a financial adviser.
Um, okay. Shawn is confused. The reader is wondering WTH? Love a good semi-paranormal mystery.
I should read Winter of the World next, but have Fall of Giants next on the tbr. Finished We Need to Talk About Kevin, which was pretty extrodinary, the author sounds fascinating as well and would love to hang out. Also recently finished Life and Other Near-Death Experiences (GR giveaway) which took some tough subject matter and made it humorous to deal with.
I wanted some light fare after Virginnia Woolf’s Moments Of Being: Autobiographical Writings, so tried a freebie potboiler, Photographic: A Novel. It started off as a real page-turner, but descended into toe-curling schlockiness. You know those novels where the characters keep turning up on each other’s doorsteps, demanding to know the other person’s motives? In real life, you’d take out a restraining order — or at least not answer the door!
I have finished Even in Paradise and definitely recommend it. If you haven't read this author you must. I gave her Anna In-Between four stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, I still haven't gotten around to reading Half a Lifelong Romance by the author. ... Good to hear you thought the author was good enough to give..."Chrissie, I'm afraid I won't be able to get to Half a Lifelong Romance this month or the next, because I'm tied up with a re-write of my historical epic. I'm saying that most of Eileen Chang's novels are about man-woman relationships, usually with sad/tragic endings, and Half a Lifelong Romance is one of such.
I have just finished reading Kaddish for an Unborn Child.I gave it 4 stars.
I found this book difficult, both emotionally and because its style is complicated. I intend to re-read it at some stage, especially if I can do this as a readalong, so that I have people to discuss with on the way.
Finished The Empress of Bright Moon. 3.5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, I still haven't gotten around to reading Half a Lifelong Romance by the author. ... Good to hear you thought the author was go..."Thanks for clarifying. I'm totally fine with tragic endings. OK, it stays on my wishlist.
Just finished my 45th book this year Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Yesterday, I finished Miller's Valley. I took me a few pages to get into Anna Quindlen's rhythm but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. I'm originally from the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and I know from rivers flooding and dams being built or not, and the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Quindlen has her finger on it in this five star book.
Hanging out for my library to get a copy!
The Condition by Jennifer HaighMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Darlings by Cristina Alger
My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bean Trees was a big disappointment to me. Many of my friends love it. This makes me feel pretty darn terrible. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "The Bean Trees was a big disappointment to me. Many of my friends love it. This makes me feel pretty darn terrible. Don't feel terrible. I liked it but it has a very particular appeal. I felt that a lot of my enjoyment was because it suited my mood at the time.
I am not good with unrealistic feel good stories.... but thanks Esther!
I just finished the concisely and moving told But You Did Not Come Back. Fantastic book. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well narrated too.
Tracey wrote: "Just finished my 45th book this year Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..." I would love it if you also share the book title. I usually don't click thru on blind links, my tablet is too slow to follow every one.
:-)
The audiobook The Letters of Abélard and Héloïse has only the letters and no additional information. I am not even sure if all the letters are here. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
sorry Zipper girl I'm mostly just on the phone app that's why no link. I will try to remember to go on the full site when I'm posting books :)
Just finished Stay with Me. What sounded like it should be an intriguing, interesting story just wasn't. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "The Bean Trees was a big disappointment to me. Many of my friends love it. This makes me feel pretty darn terrible. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
We're in the same club, Chrissie. I remember not liking it or even finishing it. Disappointing from an author I usually liked.
Tracey wrote: "sorry Zipper girl I'm mostly just on the phone app that's why no link. I will try to remember to go on the full site when I'm posting books :)"Hi Tracey, no worries. You can just mention the title. That would work for me.
Thanks,
Zippy
Just finished Diana Wynne Jones' Black Maria which just missed out on 5 stars because the ending was rather weak.
Also a rather nice coffee table book Medieval Flowers. Sorry I would've edited my last post but the yellow box is stuck over the top so I can't get to the edit link.
Another kids one from me, a classic in my opinion We're Going on a Bear Hunt. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
You don't have to even give the book link Tracey; maybe just include the title in the text :)
Finished Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pam wrote: "Just finished Diana Wynne Jones' Black Maria which just missed out on 5 stars because the ending was rather weak."Have you read DWJ's The Time of the Ghost - really spooky!
I've just finished The Lonely City, a meditation on loneliness, separateness, and how they have driven many "outsider" artists including Andy Warhol. An interesting and wide-ranging book, part memoir and part art history.
I've just finished Eve Green here are my thoughts ...Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I finished a couple of books over the weekend:The Riverview Lands (https://www.amazon.ca/Riverview-Lands...) - this book is not on GR. I enjoyed this history mainly because its a local site. I drive by the lands often and even in their poorly maintained condition, the site is lovely. There is a "lower" site across the highway which is now a bird sanctuary and nature park. I often jog through it.
Anyway, about the book.... it was an interesting history on the gardening & landscaping side of the asylum. It is interesting that the plans for the land included both an asylum and a botanical garden from the very start.
A God in Ruins - I really enjoyed this story. It's a difficult one to say anything about because its best to go into the story with no more than the "book blurb" and I don't want to inadvertently give anything away. I gave it 4 stars and it may deserve more. Very well plotted.
I finished The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan and I really liked it. Perhaps it helped that I heard it want great and read a few reviews, so I knew what the scope of the book actually was. However, it also reminded me strongly of aspects of my own expat experience, which also helped a lot.
Petra wrote: "I finished a couple of books over the weekend:The Riverview Lands (https://www.amazon.ca/Riverview-Lands......"
Petra, I've added it to GR. Here's the link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Thanks, dely!! I'll add my review and rating. It may not be read by anyone else; it's very localized in topic, I think.
Petra wrote: "Thanks, dely!! I'll add my review and rating. It may not be read by anyone else; it's very localized in topic, I think."
You're welcome ;-)
Joy wrote: "Pam wrote: "Just finished Diana Wynne Jones' Black Maria which just missed out on 5 stars because the ending was rather weak."Have you read DWJ's The Time of the Ghost - really spooky!"
No I've read quite a few of DWJ's works, but haven't come across that one. Will need to see if I can obtain it though I am desperately trying not to buy more books (so many TBRs)!
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Alice, I saw this message only now! I am curious to hear what you have to sayabout Half a Lifelong Romance. Are you saying that this is perhaps just an ordinary love story. I don't really understand.