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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
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Pam
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Apr 27, 2016 08:49AM
Latest read and review is Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll. Third one of his I've read, and I found the ending weak and rushed as with the other 2.
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I was definitely impressed by The Swans of Fifth Avenue. I am often hesitant toward historical fiction, but this one is very good. Correct facts. You get into the heads of the individuals and their thoughts seem genuine. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Days of Abandonment is a tough read, but I recommend it.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I listened to The BBC fullcast recording of The Cherry Orchard. It is this edition: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...Personally, I think plays are to be seen, not listened to. What I have listened to is in fact an abridgment! This was not stated at Audible. This annoys me. I have chosen not to rate it. The play is fantastic, but not the audiobook even if the performance is not bad.
Here is my minimal review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished reading The Brothers Ashkenazi by Israel J. Singer. 5 stars for me! It was a brilliant book and I liked the writing style, the historical and political background, all the many characters...I liked everything. Despite the 600 pages I hadn't one moment of boredome.My Italian/English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
dely.....well, it is nice you liked it more than me! What can I say?
Chrissie wrote: "dely.....well, it is nice you liked it more than me! What can I say?"I have read your review. Unlike you I felt for the characters and I hadn't the impression that the author wanted to teach history through them. I really was put in that time and lived there with them.
For me there were too many characters; I would have preferred fewer with more depth. What about the fact that so few dates were specified? I felt the story was told rather than shown. Yep, people react differently to books, dely. I could only give The Brothers Ashkenazi two stars.
Chrissie wrote: "For me there were too many characters; I would have preferred fewer with more depth. What about the fact that so few dates were specified? I felt the story was told rather than shown. Yep, people r..."I didn't care that much about the dates because it was not difficult to understand when events were happening. I think that if he would have added dates, I would have found it more boring because for me they weren't that necessary, at least not in this book.
I think there were so many characters because the author wanted to show how different people can be. For example two that fight for the same values but then start thinking in a different way and go on opposite sites. It's the variety of people.
I recently finished a couple of classics, both of which I liked quite a bit: Victory by Joseph Conrad and The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister.
I thought Anna and the Swallow Man was a middle-grade book, but I was wrong. 3 stars and a good start to end up my reading slump :)Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm in the midst of several longer books and I just needed a shirt break, so I read the Kindle Single My Mother's Lover. I really liked it. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "For me there were too many characters; I would have preferred fewer with more depth. What about the fact that so few dates were specified? I felt the story was told rather than sho..."Well, as I said, so glad you liked it more than I did.
I recommend first reading Portrait of an Artist: A Biography of Georgia O'Keeffe , then this:Georgia O'KeeffeMy review of the later, which I have just completed:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. I found it entertaining, but was a bit disappointed that it veers off too much from the subject of Catherine the Great. But overall, it is a remarkable historical novel about 18th century Russian court life, especially about Empress Elizabeth's reign. I'm giving it 3.7 stars.My Review
Unfortunately I didn't like this much as I'd hoped. The World Without You. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I completed Royal Highness. I should have chosen something else by Thomas Mann.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently read the best book I've read in years, All the Light We Cannot See. It's one of the most well written and crafted novels I've ever read (don't have any count of how many books that would be, of course). Plus, the audiobook narrator was perfect for the book.My review
Karin wrote: "I recently read the best book I've read in years, All the Light We Cannot See. It's one of the most well written and crafted novels I've ever read (don't have any count of how many ..."That looks like an excellent book Karin, it is on the too read list. I see that you have also read it Diane and gave it a wonderful review. Need to get my hands on a copy.
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Not everyone in the group liked it Hales, but I also loved it! .. beautifully written, so tactile & lovely ... also engaging, some great mysteries and a hint of mythology ... very touching as well.
Greg wrote: "Not everyone in the group liked it Hales, but I also loved it! .. beautifully written, so tactile & lovely ... also engaging, some great mysteries and a hint of mythology ... very touching as well. ..."I don't think there is any book that has ever been written that everybody likes :).
So true, Karin, but it was a five star read for me too.
Diane S ☔ wrote: "So true, Karin, but it was a five star read for me too."I am just happy to have liked a Pulitzer prize book so much; I don't always agree with their choices :).
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For me as well!
I am one of those who did NOT like All the Light We Cannot See. Only the sometimes pretty writing pushed me to give it two stars. Nope, I did not like the fantasy interwoven and I did not like the incorrect historical facts and it did not conjure up St. Malo well.
Just finished
e-Murderer: A Jenna Scali Mystery by Joan C. Curtishttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Life would be dull if we all liked the same books. What would we talk about?When I get to it I will be sure to let you know my thoughts. It sounds right up my street just hope it's not too historically inaccurate, having a history degree can sometimes be a curse :)
Just finished and really liked The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
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Terrible story. I've often wondered how I'd react if my son would perpretate terrible deeds; is parental love above anything? I hope never to be faced with such dilemma.
Hales wrote: "Life would be dull if we all liked the same books. ."You're not kidding.
Tracey, thanks for stating the title and author of the book.
Just finished Wolf Hall (review). Overall, I enjoyed it. It didn't exactly live up to all of the hype, but it was a good book.
Alice wrote: "I've finished The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. I found it entertaining, but was a bit disappointed that it veers off too much from the subject of Catherine the Gre..."I also read this recently and thought it was mis-named as Catherine was not the main character. I was very interested in the "tongues", this is the first time I came across this term.
Evelyn wrote: "Alice wrote: "I've finished The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great. I found it entertaining, but was a bit disappointed that it veers off too much from the subject of Cat..."Yes, the "tongues" can be lethal! I would've thought "ears" would be the more appropriate term! It reminds me of eunuchs in Chinese dynastic courts, who served the same purpose.
Hannah wrote: "Just finished Wolf Hall (review). Overall, I enjoyed it. It didn't exactly live up to all of the hype, but it was a good book."Glad it wasn't a disappointment as such. I liked it more than you did, but I've always been very interested in that period of history and wasn't reading for the story so much as how she portrayed it.
Pam wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Just finished Wolf Hall (review). Overall, I enjoyed it. It didn't exactly live up to all of the hype, but it was a good book."Glad it wasn't a disappointment as suc..."
It definitely wasn't a disappointment, very good book. Mantel is an incredible writer. Have you read Bring Up the Bodies? I'm curious as to how it compares, if at all, to Wolf Hall. I concede that she portrays the era wonderfully, much better and more interesting than I've ever read.
I finished A Place Called Winter by Patrick GaleMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hannah wrote: "Pam wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Just finished Wolf Hall (review). Overall, I enjoyed it. It didn't exactly live up to all of the hype, but it was a good book."Glad it wasn't a disappoin..."
Haven't read Bring Up the Bodies yet but it's on my TBR list.
Just read The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, which I have discovered is number 2 in a series, and absolutely loved it.
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