What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 8,501-8,550 of 12,687

[Susan C]

I have to say I loved Bel Canto too!!! What an ending!!!! Bel Canto is by Ann Patchett not Anne Tyler - easy to confuse!!!!

[B the BookAddict]

Sue, yes, I know that. Was responding to second part of Chinook's msg where she then read Breathing Lessons by Tyler. :)

[Suz]

My latest two reads, kids books. Just happen to be Aussie pieces of goodness!

I Got This Hat - part of a nation wide initiative promoting childhood literacy, the "National Simultaneous Storytime'
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cuddle Time - awesome illustrations.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Goodnight, Beautiful Women
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alice]

Finished The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile. An engrossing and educational read! 4 stars. I love Gortner's writing.

My Review

[Leslie]

B the BookAddict wrote: "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.goo..."

I haven't given up on reading Franzen but my enthusiasm is just not as great. Thanks for providing an alternate viewpoint!

[Evelyn]

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 loved Bel Canto, however, I have blocked the memory of the epilogue!

[Chrissie]

Chinook and Bette and Sue and Evelyn, I am with you on really liking Bel Canto. I also liked Breathing Lessons a lot, but reading it was ages ago. When I think back it is Bel Canto that stands out more.

[Chrissie]

Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different.

[PattyMacDotComma]

You may not follow Aussie politics, but we recently had quite an era of coups.

5★ for a terrific behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Aussie political TV documentary of the same name (but not uncut) The Killing Season Uncut by Aussie political journalist, ABC's Sarah Ferguson (wife of Tony Jones, well-known ABC interviewer and Q&A panel host, if you didn't know but are interested in that kind of thing).

Fascinating, funny, revealing look at the backroom wheeler-dealers and king- (and queen-) makers. Love all this stuff! I think the reports of the demise of the Labor Party was a bit premature. Or maybe they're all zombies?

My lengthy review (with lots of quotes)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Naila]

The Teenage Spy
The Teenage Spy !
Glad to read it again and again feel fun to read it! I enjoy the plot mainly its interesting.

[Suz]

Such a nice read. Recommended! The One-in-a-Million Boy. Here's what I thought:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Susan C]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Sue, yes, I know that. Was responding to second part of Chinook's msg where she then read Breathing Lessons by Tyler. :)" OMG I am so sorry!!! I did not see that!!

[Alice]

Chrissie wrote: "Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different."

Chrissie, I think I like them both. Yes, they do have a different style.

[Chrissie]

Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different."

Chrissie, I think I like them both. Yes, they do have a d..."

OK, I guess I too would have trouble picking. It is easier picking which books one likes best by the two authors.

[Tom]

Finally cleared out my reading backlog - I don't like to take too long to finish a book, so I am very happy that I've completed these. Both were quite good and the time I took to finish them is in no way representative of their quality.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon 4 Stars

The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks by Amy Stewart 5 Stars

[Chrissie]

B the BookAddict wrote: "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 co..."

I know, it is impossible to figure out how I will react. You are not the only one surprised about my liking Bastard Out of Carolina! One thing is clear, I prefer dark over light themed books. I do appreciate your help. (((Bette)))

[Alice]

Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different."

Chrissie, I think I like them both. Yes, th..."

I look forward to reading Dunant's In the Company of the Courtesan, having only read just one by her. And I will certainly read more by Gortner later.

[Chrissie]

Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different."

Chrissie, I think I like t..."

That is my favorite by her. You should read Gortner's one on Chanel. Mademoiselle Chanel, but I think I liked Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life a teeny bit more. I gave both four stars.

[Alice]

Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, so whom do you like better C.W. Gortner or Sarah Dunant? They are quite different."

Chrissie, I ..."

Thanks for the recommendations Chrissie - I will bear them in mind :)

[Chrissie]

Sure. You are welcome.

[Gill]

I've just finished The River. It's a delightful novella. I gave it 5 stars. I'll definitely be reading other books by Rumer Godden.

[Diane S ☔]

I too liked Mademoiselle Chanel.

[John]

Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Very difficult to judge/grade this very famous and early (1740) novel. In the form of letters from 15yo servant-girl to her parents about her struggle to remain pure while under siege from her master, it is extremely long, earnest and moral, but also a tease by the standards of the time, I think. Clear and flowing prose and dialogue, and a range of interesting household characters.

Very much a slog, but I mainly listened to it as an audiobook at a rattling rate, so can say I really enjoyed it - 4*

[Esther]

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 loved The Magician's Assistant so expected great things of Bel Canto but was disappointed. I felt a lot of it was overly melodramatic and the ending predictable.
On the other hand I really liked Breathing Lessons. I never expect to enjoy Anne Tyler's books. Normally that slow quiet style would bore me insane yet I always get to the end of an Anne Tyler book feeling satisfied.

[Chinook]

I have the Magician's Assistant as well - I'll have to read that one soon then.

I usually like Tyler, so I was surprised that I wasn't so fond of this one. But I also went right into one from the other and read most of both in 48 hours. It may have just been a style switch issue - sometimes I find that it's hard to go from one kind of voice to another.

[Leslie]

John wrote: "Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Very difficult to judge/grade this very famous and early (1740) novel. In the form of letters from 15yo servant-girl to her parents about her strug..."

That's pretty much how I remember this - I will have to remember to try it in audiobook form if I ever decide to reread it!

[Leslie]

I finished listening to Michael York narrate the modern classic Cry, the beloved country -- excellent look at life in South Africa in the late 1930s/early '40s.

[B the BookAddict]

Sue wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Sue, yes, I know that. Was responding to second part of Chinook's msg where she then read Breathing Lessons by Tyler. :)" OMG I am so sorry!!! I did not see that!!"

No problem:)

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Enchanted Islands
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[B the BookAddict]

Tom wrote: "Finally cleared out my reading backlog - I don't like to take too long to finish a book, so I am very happy that I've completed these. Both were quite good and the time I took to finish them is in ..."

I am like you, I don't like taking too long to finish a book. A book read in great chunks over only a few days is a more satisfying read for me than one read in small dips over a matter of weeks.

[B the BookAddict]

John wrote: "Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Very difficult to judge/grade this very famous and early (1740) novel. In the form of letters from 15yo servant-girl to her parents about her strug..."

A great quote by Richardson is: “People of little understanding are most apt to be angry when their sense is called into question.” Very true too!

[Chrissie]

B the BookAddict wrote: "A book read in great chunks over only a few days is a more satisfying read for me than one read in small dips over a matter of weeks.."

That is exactly how I feel too.

[[deleted user]]

I just finished The Girl With All The Gifts which wasn't what I expected but was enjoyable. I've been in such a reading slump all year I think I needed something easy to read and fast paced which I found in this book. And some of it was set near where I grew up which was funny!

[John]

Re Pamela

Leslie - if you ever re-read it, you'll be the first non-academic student of Richardson to do so!

BtheBA - yes, yes!

[Esther]

John wrote: "Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Very difficult to judge/grade this very famous and early (1740) novel. In the form of letters from 15yo servant-girl to her parents about her strug..."

I keep promising myself I will start Richardson's Clarissa this year. 1,500 pages in letters!

In addition to Pamela I always wanted to read Henry Fielding's Shamela which is a parody of Pamela and if Fielding's Tom Jones is anything to go by it must be pretty racy.

[John]

Esther - thanks for this. Tom Jones is the next 'basic' of this era on my list, but I need a rest first. And others later still!

[Chrissie]

I definitely recommend Leningrad: Siege and Symphony: The Story of the Great City Terrorized by Stalin, Starved by Hitler, Immortalized by Shostakovich if you have any interest in the Siege of Leningrad. It complements Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad. I explain in my review how the two books differ. Moynahan's pulled me in more, even if I gave both four stars.

My review of Leningrad: Siege and Symphony: The Story of the Great City Terrorized by Stalin, Starved by Hitler, Immortalized by Shostakovich:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Here is my review of Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Leslie]

John wrote: "Esther - thanks for this. Tom Jones is the next 'basic' of this era on my list, but I need a rest first. And others later still!"

Once I got used to Fielding's style, I found Tom Jones a hoot!

[Leslie]

I have finished Tempest-Tost which I enjoyed -- 4★

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Chrissie]

Leslie, Esther and others who have read Tom Jones, I have been considering The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. It is in my wishlist. So you have to get into it to appreciate it? Tell me more, please.

[Leslie]

Chrissie, I read it a long time ago so my comment is based upon a hazy recollection. In general I find books prior to 1800 have a style that takes me a while to adjust to - and sometimes, even if I like the plot and characters, I don't enjoy the book. The Last of the Mohicans was like that and lots of people have this difficulty with Daniel Defoe.

What I remember of reading The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is it took me a few chapters to get into the swing of things and then not wanting to put it down until I had finished!

[Gill]

Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, Esther and others who have read Tom Jones, I have been considering The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. It is in my wishlist. So you have to get into it to appreciate it? Tel..."

Here's a link to my review, Chrissie:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

Re: Tom Jones

Gill, I have earlier checked out your review and I remember you liked HOW the book is told, that you felt comfortable with the way it was told. Sounded good!

So Leslie, it seemed to really work for you too.

I feel like I want to try it!

Thank you.

[John]

Re Tom Jones, etc, I have just bought for £1 a nice pocket hardback OUP The World's Classics version of Joseph Andrews, Fielding's first novel (apart from Shamela?) about the sister of Richardson's Pamela.

From a lovely second-hand bookshop in Kedleston Hall, the lovely Robert Adam-designed 1750s National Trust house in Derbyshire.

A good day in the pouring rain!

And it's only 379 pages, so I'll start with that!

[Chrissie]

Sounds good, John. Glad you are happy. Even in the rain.

[Gill]

Chrissie wrote: "Re: Tom Jones

Gill, I have earlier checked out your review and I remember you liked HOW the book is told, that you felt comfortable with the way it was told. Sounded good!

So Leslie, it seemed to..."
Let us all know how it goes, Chrissie!

[Chrissie]

I will, Gill, but first I have to finish off the books I have already purchased!

[B the BookAddict]

John wrote: "From a lovely second-hand bookshop in Kedleston Hall, the lovely Robert Adam-designed 1750s National Trust house in Derbyshire."

John, I just googled Kedleston Hall and I am super jealous that you spent a day there, and found a bookshop there, to boot!

[John]

BtheBA - yes, Kedleston is just an hour from home, and the Adam ceilings are awesome. And the scone, jam, clotted cream were great too!