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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
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Angela M
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Aug 12, 2016 08:06AM
Finished The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko. 5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Finished Antigone by Jean Anouilh - very intense and affecting dialogues; the play pits realism against idealism, drawing parallels to the French Resistance's strife with the Vichy government. 4 stars.My Review
I finished Flow Down Like Silver: Hypatia of Alexandria. I thought the author inserted her ideals into this novel way too much. This is Hypatia's story; not the author's but she kept forgetting that. Generally, this was an intriguing time and this could have been better. The story is out there, just waiting to be told. This one isn't it.....at least, not for me.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
ETA: I'm still going to look for the movie. I think Hypatia is a wonderful character and would like to learn more about her, if possible. So much has been erased from history.
Mod
The film Agora that Alice mentioned is beautifully done Petra! Hypatia's story in the film was quite compelling.
"Mad Dad" (had vodka on his cornflakes!) is dying, her siblings have escaped into 'real' life, but she has brought him home while facing her own demons.4★ for The Language of Dying, a novella by Sarah Pinborough, which has touches of magical realism.
Insightful study of dealing with the past, siblings, and death.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A book that ended up being a better read than I initially thought. Australian factual history. Last Woman Hanged by Caroline Overington. Meticulously researched. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Greg wrote: "The film Agora that Alice mentioned is beautifully done Petra! Hypatia's story in the film was quite compelling. ..."Thanks, Greg!
I see mixed reviews for this mystery. All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker.
Mine is one of the lower-ranked ones. I did round up on the stars, though.
2.5★ Sadly not one of my better choices. Wasn't what I was looking forward to.
My review is not very flattering, I know.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Muriel Spark's The Hothouse By The East River. An interesting book with an interesting plot. Three and half stars.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished reading
Broken by Karin Slaughter. Not my favourite Slaughter book. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recently finished The House Between TidesReview is here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A good read though I wasn't quite as enamoured as some other readers have been, for reasons which I explain in the review.
I've just finished My Name Is Lucy Barton.Here's a link to my very short review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gill , I commented on your review but will mention it here too . I would recommend Olive Kitteridge.
Angela M wrote: "Gill , I commented on your review but will mention it here too . I would recommend Olive Kitteridge."Thanks, Angela. I'll have a look for that one.
I finished Thunder At Twilight: Vienna 1913/1914. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A June review I forgot to post: The Shortest Way Home by Juliette FayMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4 stars for the massive reference tome on the Salem witchcraft persecutions - The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community under Seige.It may be more of a book to dip in and check others against, but it is a good solid read with a lot of original research to back it up and on the strength of it, I've ordered her Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials
Mod
It may be more of a book to dip in and chec..."
Sounds interesting Pam! - I read Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts years ago. It really is amazing what happened to these poor women, but the world was so fearful & uncertain then .. there was plenty of fear & superstition for unscrupulous people to exploit.
Pam wrote: "4 stars for the massive reference tome on the Salem witchcraft persecutions - The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community under Seige.It may be more of a book to dip in and chec..."
Look forward to hearing how you like the Women of Salem. Your review of The Salem Witch Trails peaked my interest most certainly.
I've just finished The North Water. Here's a link to my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Jack of Shadows
by Roger Zelazny, a re-read of a book I loved years ago but now can only manage a 3 star 'like' given the flaws that jump out.
I have finished up several books lately (though not A Fine Balance!) -- updates are on my challenge thread with links to my reviews:http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
I thoroughly enjoyed My Family and Other Animals. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The audiobook is well narrated by Nigel Davenport.
I finished The Underground Railroad. 3.5 stars rounded up to four . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Entwined: Sisters and Secrets in the Silent World of Artist Judith Scotthttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished listening to The City of Mirrors, the last of The Passage trilogy. This was a good ending to the trilogy. I liked it but it was drawn out in some sections and I had a few quibbles about some details but they were tiny (for example, the clothing, all from pre-viral times 100+ years ago, still being strong and useable). But, all in all, a good story and a good ending to the trilogy.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
Serpents in Eden: A British Library Crime Classic collated by Martin Edwards. Five very brilliant stars from me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have just finished Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.It took me a ridiculously long time to read it but I enjoyed every word. Susanna Clarke has a lovely writing style and many times her turn of phrase brought a smile to my lips.
This is the kind of enchanting book about magic I have been looking for since I so enjoyed the books of Narnia and Joan Aiken when I was a child.
Organ donation, organ memory, flashbacks to the donor's murder? Can it happen? A Secondhand Life by Pamela Crane says YES.3.5★ for a mystery based on an idea that's gaining some interest in medical (and certainly thriller-writer) circles!
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished reading Muriel Spark's Territorial Rights. A great and funny entertainer. Three and half stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
It took me a ridiculously long time to read it but I enjoyed every word. Susanna Clarke has a lovely writing style and..."
So glad you enjoyed it Esther - I loved it too! And what a great ending!
Mod
Two warnings though:
1. highly disturbing in parts (prepare for 10 out of 10 on the disturbing barometer); certain passages in this book are perhaps the most disturbing I have ever read.
2. I feel very annoyed by one facet of the ending; this single thing dropped the book from 5 stars to 4 stars for me. What irritated me in the ending was a small thing, but for me, an important one.
Greg, I have that book on hold at the library though it may be awhile before I get it.
Mod
Hope you like it Ruth! Be sure to read it at a strong moment though - parts of it are very disturbing.
Greg, when I started it I had no idea I was in for such a difficult read. Could you put in a spoiler what you didn't like about the end? I am curious.
I finished The Night Strangers by Chris BohjalianMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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