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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "A lovely one which seems that I'm the last in the world to have read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. 4★ from me.My review: https://www.goodre..."
I haven't read it yet either!
Alice wrote: "I couldn't finish Red Sorghum. I don't feel for any of the characters, although the writing is fine."Good choice to give up in my opinion -- I slogged my way to the end and then was sorry I had wasted my time!
Gill wrote: "I've just finished Requiem for a Nun (the last book for my 2016 challenge. Phew!)It's not the best book I've read by William Faulkner, but it has its good points. Her..."
Nice review Gill.
Leslie wrote: "Gill wrote: "I've just finished Requiem for a Nun (the last book for my 2016 challenge. Phew!)It's not the best book I've read by William Faulkner, but it has its goo..."
Thanks, Leslie. I'm pleased I read the 6 books this year. I feel I have a better understanding of Faulkner and of the South now.
Just read With a Friend Like YouOnly three stars from me,
Review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Others seem to have liked it better.
Chrissie wrote: "Alice wrote: "I couldn't finish Red Sorghum. I don't feel for any of the characters, although the writing is fine."I started that one too, but didn't finish it. It is not often I gi..."
Chrissie & Leslie, in my opinion the author uses graphic violence with too deliberate an intent. There's not much else to the book.
Alice wrote: "Chrissie & Leslie, in my opinion the author uses graphic violence with too deliberate an intent. "Yep. I simply had to point out the graphic violence. He carries it too far.
Last night I finished a book of short stories, Mr. Tall.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I also finished Ill Will.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I also finished Ill Will.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison, one of the very best books I have read this year. A forever favourite! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Luffy wrote: "Just finished 
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I'm glad you liked it, since it's in my pile to be read this month.
Sam wrote: "Finished Pachinko, four star read for me of a multi-generational Korean family epic set in Korea and Japan predominantly: beautiful prose, fantastic historical and social context an..."I keep entering the Giveaways for this one but no luck. I will probably break down after the holidays and purchase it.
thanks, Sam, for the wonderful review.
I finally finished a couple of books this weekend:A Great Reckoning (5-star) This is a strong continuation of Inspector Gamache's story. Although it moved a bit slowly in the first half (I listened to the audio, which may have contributed to this feeling), the themes of forgiveness and grief were warmly and lovingly portrayed.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Barrakee Mystery (3-star) I enjoyed this story. The mystery is light (along the lines of Agatha Christie's books are light) but the characters are solid and real, as well the depiction of the Australian landscape is wonderful.
There are some racist comments throughout but I have to add that none of them was mean. The comments were "a part of the life"; not said to be mean but as a fact of what was. We know, of course, that these thoughts were not fact and they have changed. This book was written in 1929, probably when such thoughts were a part of society.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Loved this Aussie book Promise by Sarah Armstrong. My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sam wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Loved the writing but got annoyed at the extra people and chapters. Selfishly wanted more of the 'main' story in . . . I'm very excited to pick this up in early 2017, thanks for your candid thoughts, Patty! Idaho.
This is the first novel for [autho..."
I'll be interested to see what you think, Sam. Hope you enjoy it. :)
Diane S ☔ wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Loved the writing but got annoyed at the extra people and chapters. Selfishly wanted more of the 'main' story in Idaho. . . .
Reading this now, about a third of the way through. ."
Which means we'll enjoy your review any day now, Diane - you're so quick!
Petra wrote: "The Barrakee Mystery (3-star) I enjoyed this story. The mystery is light (along the lines of Agatha Christie's books are light) but the characters are solid and real, as well the depiction of the Australian landscape is wonderful. ..."
Was this your first Upfield book Petra? I have read most of his Inspector Bonaparte mysteries although not this, the first one!
Leslie wrote: "Was this your first Upfield book Petra? I have read most of his Inspector Bonaparte mysteries although not this, the first one! ..."Leslie, yes, it was the first of Upfield's books that I've read. I would read more of this series if they are available (I haven't checked yet). I hear that this series was made into a TV show. I think that show would have been fun to watch.
Suzanne,your review of Texas! Lucky did not show. Here it is for you: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished I Loved Her in the Movies: Working with the Legendary Actresses of Hollywoodhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Petra wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Was this your first Upfield book Petra? I have read most of his Inspector Bonaparte mysteries although not this, the first one! ..."Leslie, yes, it was the first of Upfield's books..."
Oh, I am unaware of any TV adaptations -- I have such a clear image of Bony in my mind I am not sure how well I would adapt to seeing one! But if you can find others in the series, I would recommend them - as you said in your original post, they are a product of their time but they always make me want to go to Australia to experience "the bush" (even though in reality that is not at all an experience I think I would enjoy!). I didn't originally read them in order & I don't think that it makes much difference in this series so if your library has some but not others I wouldn't worry about it.
Thanks, Leslie. That's good to know. I can get the second as an ebook for a very good price, so I'll do that. After that, I'll take what I can get. :D
Recent read was Paris Time CapsuleI was disappointed in this one given how interesting the subject and setting were.
review here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Luffy wrote: "I just finished reading Room by author Emma Donoghue:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I have this on my shelf - bought at the library sale last year. I need to get to it sometime soon!
my review for Fire Watch, a collection of short stories by Connie Willis - 4 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
my review for The Forever War, the 1975 Hugo & Nebula winner - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished listening to the audio of A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler today. This wasn't my cup of tea. I would have given up about half way through but thought that there had to be a point to this story and I'd have to read to the end to get it. I didn't get it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished the Chinese version of The Book and the Sword. Almost half a century after my first read, I still found this novel magical on this reread! 5 full stars.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished listening to
The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman. This was a bit 'meh' for me. I love a good family saga, but this wasn't it. 2.5 stars from me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished my review of
Five Are Together Again by author Enid Blyton:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Luffy wrote: "Just finished my review of Five Are Together Again by author Enid Blyton:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I loved Enid Blyton books as a child and the Famous Five most of all. I was hard for me when her writing became so unpopular but I am glad readers are starting to appreciate her again.
I also loved the Famous Five series. It's nice to see the books mentioned; it brings back memories of good reads.
Yesterday I finished a book about Saint Michael archangel but I didn't rate it because it wasn't what I was looking for. Sadly at the bookshop they had only this book about him so I bought it. I wanted more about Saint Michael's story or his apparitions, but the book talked above all about angels, their nature, their virtues and about the meaning of patron saints and the difference between the patronage of a saint and that of an angel.I've written only a very short review in Italian: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A challenge led me to discover this wonderful book by a young Mununjali writer, Ellen Van Neerven, whose first full book of fiction, Heat and Light, has deservedly won some awards.These are connected stories of Australian indigenous youth, trying to leave home, as teens do, but being pulled back to country in spite of themselves. Good writing, interesting look at something many readers know little about.
My review for 4★s
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I definitely think Hitler is one of those books that people should read. You needn't be scared of its length. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am very glad I picked it up.
I have whizzed through a few mysteries: Death on an Autumn River, a historical fiction mystery set in 11th century Japan. It was very good but I think that this series is best read in order so it might not be as good as a stand-alone. The other was an Inspector Montalbano book, The Age of Doubt.Both had a somewhat sad event in the detective's personal life which made them more melancholy than mysteries tend to be but which I found fitting for the grey weather!
I've just finished City of Lions. It was interesting, but not riveting. Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read The Company of Glory by Edgar Pangborn and reviewed it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1308688030
Finished reviews for two, very different three star thrillers for me:
You Will Know MeMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Book of MirrorsMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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All About Books
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