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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
I finished Red Cavalry by Isaac Babel 1*It's a very short book (my edition had 130 pages) and the various chapters are like short stories of the Russian-Polish war (or at least I think so). There is no development in the story, there are only events explained in a very detailed (and boring) way. But also the events don't start and end, the reader is in the middle of an event. There is also no characterization of the characters, they come and go, and I wasn't able to remember their names or who they were. Everything was so confusing.
I picked up Six of Crows from the library only because some brilliant soul in a publisher's office somewhere decided the page edges should be dyed black. Well, it worked. I loved it, and put its sequel, Crooked Kingdom, on reserve (red page edges, in case you're curious). I was surprised and a little sad to learn this is only a two-book series. I would eagerly have read three or seven books following Kaz, Inej and the gang.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished two books this week:Pictures from Italy, which I found interesting. Charles Dickens' humor shows through and his writing is recognizable. The people he meets in his travels aren't as "real" as the characters in his books, though. It all seemed a bit distant in feel. Perhaps it's because a travelogue was meant to bring the country to people who couldn't go there themselves and therefore the descriptions are detailed and yet impersonal? This would be an interesting read while travelling to these cities and towns today to compare one's observations with Dickens'. How much has truly changed in all these years?
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Testament of Youth....a bit of an uneven read for me. Vera tends to be wordy. However, as I read, I gained perspective into the turmoil of those years, her personal growth before, during and after the war, as well as the changes that encompassed Europe after the war. A really interesting read.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Diane S ☔ wrote: "Alice wrote: "My short review of The Art of War:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
This was the book my son's college football coach had the whole team read."
Diane, indeed some of the theories may well apply to any competitive games or business.
Love me a bit of Harlan Coben. This one was good. The Woods. Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "I have finished Letters Against the War by Tiziano Terzani. It is a must read! I rated it 5* but it's worth even more.My Italian and English review (Eng..."
Go with it Chrissie. *:D
Just finished
The Hanging Club by Tony Parsons a breath-taking 5 star read. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "I have finished Letters Against the War by Tiziano Terzani. It is a must read! I rated it 5* but it's worth even more.My Italian and En..."
Ooops sorry.
Thanks for the help Sandy.... with Duplicity
Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "I have finished Letters Against the War by Tiziano Terzani. It is a must read! I rated it 5* but it's worth even more.My I..."
My pleasure *:D
Petra wrote: "I finished two books this week:Pictures from Italy, which I found interesting. Charles Dickens' humor shows through and his writing is recognizable. The people he meets in his travels..."
Did I tell you I've bought Judas: The troubling history of the renegade apostle for my kindle after your comments about it, Petra? I'm hoping to get round to it in the next couple of months
Gill, I hope you enjoy it. The pressure is on for me. I would hate to lead you astray. I liked the examination of how the image of Judas was changed and used over the ages.
Petra wrote: "Gill, I hope you enjoy it. The pressure is on for me. I would hate to lead you astray. I liked the examination of how the image of Judas was changed and used over the ages."Pressure, pressure! Well, you were right about Ulysses!
Ah.....Ulysses......always a good time..... :D
Finished my review of The Animators. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I want to shout it from the rooftops and can't recommend it enough. Characters, writing, emotional heart completely captured me. Five stars.
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Milan Kundera's Life is Elsewhere left me confused. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I gave A Great Reckoning 5 stars.A very short review for a very gripping read:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Five stars! A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber. Here's my review, just in time for Christmas: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
On a roll - three 5★ books in a row, I think. The latest is Nicolas Rothwell's book of essays, Quicksilver.He knows whereof he speaks, and he speaks well about European art, Russian literature, Australian Aboriginal art and history, and the growing interest in Australia's 'real' history.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
Play Dead by Angela Marsons, a consistently excellent author. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Miracle and Other Christmas Stories by Connie Willishttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Whoa, everyone with their five star reads. Wonderful.Finished The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Kingdom of Summer which was better than book 1 of the trilogy, and posted a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1390905922.
A short review of A Snow Garden and Other Stories, a pleasant holiday read:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished some books over the last few days:
Faithful--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Waiting Room--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Miracles and Conundrums of the Secondary Planets--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4 stars all.
Faithful--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Waiting Room--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Miracles and Conundrums of the Secondary Planets--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4 stars all.
I've finished In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant and am giving it 3.7 stars. The first half is a bit slow, but when it picks up, it really picks up!My Review
I've finished 3 books recently:The Hothouse by the East River - odd but ok, 3 stars. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Disappearance of Émile Zola: Love, Literature and the Dreyfus Case - I found this interesting, 3.5 stars. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Florence Diary - very short, very nice writing, 4 stars. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year: Holiday Memories Written and Performed by Our Favorite Narrators.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I see these freebies ans good fillers when you are busy with visitors.
Amalia wrote: "I have finished Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days 
by Jeanette Winterson. W..."Sounds lovely, Amalia.
Finished City on Edge. A light fast paced crime mystery. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read All about Strange Monsters of the Recent Past: Neat Stories and reviewed it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1851060669
I love me my holiday reads! Coming Out by Danielle Steel. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4★ for Aussie author Joan London's historical fiction Gilgamesh.Before WW2, a poor Aussie farmgirl from W.A. treks around the world (like Gilgamesh of old) to find the Armenian father of her child. Quite a journey.
When war encroached on Armenia, people were fleeing TO Syria and safety. How times (and wars) change.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Somehow had never managed to read A Christmas Carol before now. Started reading it to our kiddos last week and finished it up on Christmas Night. I don't know how much they enjoyed listening to it, but I sure enjoyed reading it. :-)My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've just finished Light and Shadow: Memoirs of a Spy's Son, by Australian journalist Mark Colvin, which I found very disappointing.My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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All About Books
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This was the book my son's college football coach had the whole team read.