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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
My review of This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I thoroughly enjoyed Bilgewater by Jane Gardam. If you ever do audiobooks than pick the version narrated by Anna Bentinck. One of those times when the narration is the scrumptious icing on a delicious cake.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I loved the dialog, the lines, the writing, what Gardam imagines for her characters.
I've just finished reading The Rule of the Land: Walking Ireland's Border. I thought it was well written and very interesting.Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, and posted a review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1693679832
Finished The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1877789809
The Conjoined: A Novel by Jen Sookfong Lee is ostensibly about 2 bodies found in the freezers of a foster mother, but it's more about frustrated people and family dynamics with a lot of social justice messaging. My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished The Wonder by Emma Donoghue today. I listened to the audio and thought that Lib, the protagonist, sounded a bit snooty and stubborn. Not sure if that was the narration or if the author intended that. However, the story was well paced and there was a build-up of tension as Anna's fast continued. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished The Sojourn - writing excellent; story somber. 4****https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished a business book - work work work - Competing Against Luck by Clayton M. Christensen 3*
Took some notes - When the boss gives you a book for Christmas it is a pretty good indication it should be read. It is insightful. finding what the customer is hiring your company to do for them. One note was, "What the customer is buying, rarely matches what the company thinks its selling." or something close to that. discovering just what it is the customer is looking to get or "hire" you for is the key to innovation and success.
I rarely read mysteries, but I did like Some Bitter Taste. Really, one should try one of this series simply to meet Marshal Guarnaccia! You simply have to love the guy. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni a good solid 4 stars. I enjoyed it much more than the previous one in the series. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here's my review to the book
Heartless by author Marissa Meyer:-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Blood Wedding by Pierre LeMaitre - really enjoyed his Detective Camille Verhoeven series but, if anything, this was even better. Great twists and turns and very hard to put down.
Just finished Miranda and Caliban - 4 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Also finished Six Four - 3 stars
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...And finished two five star read reviews!
Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
City of Saints & Thieves
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have just read Elizabeth is Missing via audiobook. I was completely in love with it until the ending which I felt let it down. It's about an elderly lady called Maud with dementia. She is worried because she can't find her friend Elizabeth. There is also a back story in the 1940s where her sister Suki goes missing.
I thought the writing was amazing and the way that the author managed to portray the failing mind of a elderly lady with dementia was perfect. I found it really made me think about how I communicate with people with dementia. It was very frustrating at times to hear how people spoke to Maud and I wanted to shout at them and tell them she can't help it! I also thought that the character of Helen, Maud's daughter was also very well done.
Unfortunately the ending ruined it for me. I didn't feel it needed to go as far as it did and I would have ended it more subtly. So therefore only 3* but some very warm feelings towards the bulk of the book!
I thought the writing was amazing and the way that the author managed to portray the failing mind of a elderly lady with dementia was perfect. I found it really made me think about how I communicate with people with dementia. It was very frustrating at times to hear how people spoke to Maud and I wanted to shout at them and tell them she can't help it! I also thought that the character of Helen, Maud's daughter was also very well done.
Unfortunately the ending ruined it for me. I didn't feel it needed to go as far as it did and I would have ended it more subtly. So therefore only 3* but some very warm feelings towards the bulk of the book!
I agree completely Heather. It was a really well written, nice surprise of a book, but descended into silliness which took away some of my love for it.
Heather wrote: "I have just read Elizabeth is Missing via audiobook. I was completely in love with it until the ending which I felt let it down. It's about an elderly lady called Maud with dementia. She is worried..."Heather, please accept this 'like' as my like which would normally appear on a review page. like
Thanks Bette! I am planning on copying this into a review but I'm currently computerless and the app doesn't allow me to do that!
I agree Pink, it was such a shame and really didn't add anything to the story. Or even make sense. Otherwise it would have been a 5* read for me
I agree Pink, it was such a shame and really didn't add anything to the story. Or even make sense. Otherwise it would have been a 5* read for me
Heather wrote: "I have just read Elizabeth is Missing via audiobook. I was completely in love with it until the ending which I felt let it down. It's about an elderly lady called Maud with dementia. She is worried..."I've had a similar experience with a book I finished today which was a real let-down - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. I reviewed it here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1883937254
Just finished illustrated memoir The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir, a really beautiful, timely read, and this coming from a not typical reader of graphic novels. 4 stars.
my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
just finished Other People's Secretsa disappointing 2 star read for me
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is what I thought of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail: My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Lots of people love it, so consider their thoughts too. Everybody reacts so differently. I think a lot will depend on how much you enjoy hiking. Pay attention to the fact that there is both a title and subtitle to the book.
I finished The Difficulty of Being Good : On the Subtle Art of Dharma 4* for me. It could have been a 5 stars but towards the end the author repeated the same considerations he already dealt with. It's about dharma in the Mahabharata so I know that it's a particular book to pick up. We have to know the Mahabharata and to like it (and I do!).My English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've just finished Queen Bees: Six Brilliant and Extraordinary Society Hostesses Between the Wars. I've read individual biographies of some of these personalities before, but this book weaves together the lives of the six most prominent society hostesses, so it was interesting from that point of view. Sian Evans also explains why some of the "upper crust" of British society were pro-Nazi, or at least argued for appeasement of Germany, in the lead-up to WW2, which I didn't understand before.★ ★ ★ ★
I took 11 days procrastinating over this book to finally write a review. 5★ from me. Lovely lovely book. The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway
My review (with the help of a friend):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
While I slowly read through Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell, I've been reading and listening to shorter books because I like that feeling of finishing books. Wild Ones: A Sometimes Dismaying, Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America - an exploration of how humans feel about endangered animals and the futility of conservation efforts.
Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation - Having taught and looking to guide my girls through school, this was pretty interesting.
Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free - Great audiobook choice, with a glorious rant against Glenn Beck at the end.
Well, I finally finished
by Frank Browning, and it's my first stinker of 2017. Oh well. Back on the wagon and hoping for a five-star book to show up sooner rather than later!My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
The Secrets of Gaslight Lane by M.R.C. Kasasian which I rather enjoyed. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chinook wrote: "While I slowly read through Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell, I've been reading and listening to shorter books because I like that feeling of finishing books. ..."
lol! I did that too with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (plus it isn't a book you can carry around with you!).
Afraid Jonathan Strange was one of my handful of DNF ... just couldn't get into it. In theory should have loved it.Read a writing advice book - The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction - and reviewed it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1887501143
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All About Books
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Finished Everything You Want Me to Be
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...