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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
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Pam
(last edited Jun 03, 2016 09:27AM)
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Jun 03, 2016 09:25AM
Just finished three cosy crimes by Rebecca Tope - 1st and 2nd in the Thea Osborne series - A Cotswold Killing and A Cotswold Ordeal and the 4th A Cotswold Mystery.
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Hannah wrote: "I've just finished the following:Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (4 stars) - Usually not a fan of Austen adaptations but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The ..."
I had forgotten Peter Mayle! I also found A Year in Provence charming. I think that I might have gotten another of his books last summer in the big clearance of my folks' shelves; I will have to look :)
Leslie, it really was charming, and so enjoyable. I would love to hear your thoughts if you do have another of his books when/if you read it.
Here are my two latest reads, one from last night and one read today. The House We Grew Up In https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and Choosing Xaverique
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4.5★ for The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian -a terrific book about how the Titanic passengers may well have been rescued but weren't, and the cover-up and lies that followed.Interesting - written by a man who really knows his stuff, Aussie author David Dyer, who worked in the law offices of the firm that represented the owners after the disaster.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yep, I just finished Marlene. I am glad I read it but I wasn't totally satisfied. It is amazing how every story about war experiences is different. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I’ve just finished The Swans of Fifth Avenue, a fictionalised account of the relationship between Truman Capote and his “swans”, the uber-wealthy society ladies of New York, and how it all went pear-shaped after he published two thinly-disguised and very bitchy stories about them. It was a gripping read, but I deducted a star for the overly-melodramatic passages.★ ★ ★ ★
4.5★ (rounded up to 5) for Aussie author Dean Mayes's terrific medical, cyber-hacking novel Recipient.I've just re-read the final version, and it was even better the second time around. Complex but easy to follow. Frighteningly believable. I recommend it. (And yes, I know I have a bias towards Aussie writers - no apologies!)
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4★ for The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon.Just posted my review for this quirky, sensitive debut novel about a couple of little girls who want to find God because God knows how to find things - including missing people, they reckon. Good fun.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have completed Indonesia, Etc.: Exploring the Improbable Nation .My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently read "The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes"....it was beyond a 5star read for me!!!
Angela M wrote: "I finished LaRose. 5 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I see so many 5-star reviews for this one. I'm hesitant though because I read THE ROUND HOUSE when it came out, and though I liked it, it was just a 3-star book for me. I wonder how similar the writing is?
I really enjoyed this one - a change of pace for me.
The Fairbairn Fortunes by Una-Mary Parker. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Suzanne wrote: "Larry's Party strange. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I do not understand the popularity of Carol Shields. i read her Small Ceremonies and figured that was enough for me.
Re LaRose:I have read several of Erdrich's novels but the only one that I really liked was The Master Butchers Singing Club. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was so bad/confusing that I gave up on the author.
Just finished number 11 in the Bryant and May crime series Bryant and May and the Bleeding Heart, and number 8 in Rebecca Tope's cosy crime Cotswold series A Grave in the Cotswolds.
Chrissie, I could have told you that Shields would not suit you as a reader, long before you picked up any of her books. She writes what I call 'women's fiction' and what GR defines as:Women's fiction is an umbrella term for books that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels, romantic fiction, "chick lit,"and other sub genres. It is distinct from Women's writing, which refers to literature written by (rather than promoted to) women. There exists no comparable label in English for works of fiction that are marketed to males.
The Romance Writers of America organization defines women's fiction as, "a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship."
I read these types of novels until about a decade ago, when my brain started needing 'something meatier, more fact driven, more true to real life'.
B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie, I could have told you that Shields would not suit you as a reader, long before you picked up any of her books. She writes what I call 'women's fiction' and what GR defines as:Women's fi..."
I wouldn't define Shield's Unless as woman's fiction, Bette though I don't think Chrissie would like it. The book has stayed in my mind for years,
No, I'd class Unless as more a general Fiction; I found it to be quite haunting. What is not commonly known is the the story is semi-autobiographical.
Unless has been sitting on the side table in my spare bedroom (stacked with books bought at library sales) since mid-year last year. Must get to it this year :)
Diane S ☔ wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie, I could have told you that Shields would not suit you as a reader, long before you picked up any of her books. She writes what I call 'women's fiction' and what G..."B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie, I could have told you that Shields would not suit you as a reader, long before you picked up any of her books. She writes what I call 'women's fiction' and what GR defines as:
Women's fi..."
Bette and Diane, when you see me eyeing an author that you are pretty sure will not be for me, warn me, OK? Of course it doesn't hurt to try and branch out. A good friend thought I wouldn't like Bastard Out of Carolina and I ended up giving it five stars!
Also, I have decided to always in the future use bold print on GR. There are many of us who have poor vision. I wish GR used bolder, sharper print.
4.5★ a great surprise! I really enjoyed Tommy Wallach's novel Thanks for the Trouble. I think it's listed as Young Adult, but I think it's much more than that.Interesting story of a reserved mute teenager and a worldly livewire who changes his views as he changes hers.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have finished Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. At the end I gave it 3 stars. The English title is misleading, it isn't a book about Nigeria and the exodus of Ghanaians.Here's my English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie, I have seen you mention as your next read books that I know you probably will not like, but then you throw a curve ball by '5 starring' Bastard Out of Carolina, and I lose confidence in advising you. But yes, I will make mention, if I see something you starting something 'not Chrissie-ish' in the future:)
Leslie, the link goes to the book page not your review which I was about to read .
Angela M wrote: "Leslie, the link goes to the book page not your review which I was about to read ."Thanks Angela - I will fix that!
I just finished All Our Yesterdays - two years after starting, basically. I tried it out as my first audiobook back when I was pregnant with Kait, but I couldn't focus enough on listening to a narrative. While Kait was little I got in the habit of listening to podcasts and it turns out that I can now handle books!It's a YA and pretty good. I think that the experience of listening to it actually resulted in me adding an extra star because I really enjoyed the experience. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Well, I thought I'd give Jonathan Franzen a go again, but I only read part of The Corrections before I got impatient with characters I didn't like and a story line I wasn't interested in.I didn't rate it, but I did write a review of sorts. I'd be interested to know what others thought, although it's old news by now.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I can definitely recommend Main Street.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It would be a great book to discuss. It is a classic that has not gone out of date.
I've just finished
. I liked the story but the ending got me thinking. If anyone has read it, I'd love to discuss.
Sarah, in the future could you please include the title of the book? It can be difficult to identify the book by cover, especially on the app. Thanks!
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Well, I thought I'd give Jonathan Franzen a go again, but I only read part of The Corrections before I got impatient with characters I didn't like and a story line I wasn..."Oh dear -- I own this :(
I finished our group classic Agnes Grey yesterday: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
and also our seasonal poetry book, Crow, which I discussed in that thread...
A few days ago I reread a play for our seasonal drama theme, Antigone by Jean Anouilh. A powerful play 5★!
Time for some lighter reading!!
Yes, and I have both The Corrections, and Freedom, but can't bring myself to start them. Not my cup of tea, I think. Maybe later!
John and Leslie, be brave, try Jonathan Franzen and make up your own mind. Here's my review of The Corrections, just to give you a positive point of view: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Bel Canto - so, so amazing. I loved it from start to almost finish (I'm not fond of the epilogue). Then I read Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler. It was a bit of a letdown - whether just in comparison to Bel Canto or in general, I'm not sure. I expected more of a Pulitzer Prize winner, perhaps. But I've read her before and enjoyed it more, so I'm sure I'll return to another book by her one day.
Chinook wrote: "I finished Bel Canto - so, so amazing. I loved it from start to almost finish (I'm not fond of the epilogue). Good to hear! I need to move it up the list...
I finished 2 books today:Swing Low: A Life by Miriam Toews - I enjoyed this. It's a warm and loving memoir of Miriam's father. Her love and respect for him shows through every page.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ulysses by James Joyce - what a great read! We had a read-along here and it was awesome! This is the third time I've read the book and it gets better every time. A bit easier to read as well....but never easy and always something new is discovered. Love both Leopold and Molly Bloom.
Review (includes all 3 readings; 3 reviews): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
John wrote: "Yes, and I have both The Corrections, and Freedom, but can't bring myself to start them. Not my cup of tea, I think. Maybe later!"Sometimes you just need to hit a book at the right time, John and Leslie. I loved a lot of James A. Michener's lengthy tomes, but every time I tried Hawaii, I got bored and bogged down.
Then one day, when we were planning a trip to the island of Kauai on the way to visit family, I picked it up and was completely engrossed. I just needed to need it, I guess. In a different frame of mind, I might quite like Jonathan Franzen. (not yet)
Don't take MY word for it - try one!
Finished three in the last couple of days: number 10 in Rebecca Tope's Cotswold cosy crime series - Malice in the Cotswolds, a children's historical about the Highland Clearances by Mollie Hunter, A Pistol in Greenyards, and volume 1 of a horror anthology New Terrors 1.
Chinook wrote: "I finished Bel Canto - so, so amazing. I loved it from start to almost finish (I'm not fond of the epilogue). Then I read Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler. It was a bit of a letdown - w..."I can't really comment since I read Breathing Lessons a decade ago; had forgotten this one was a PP winner. I have read most of Tyler's books and enjoyed them all.
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