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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Diane wrote: "The "Crankshaft" comic had a funny story recently where one character selected "Ulysses" for her book club and everybody hated it. They ended up reading Goodnight Moon!"Made me smile. I love it!
Leslie wrote: "I have finished Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier. I was disappointed with it as I didn't find it nearly as interesting as Girl with a Pearl Earring - maybe th..."Chevalier's writing varies. You are not the only one who disliked Burning Bright; I have chosen not to try it. The Lady and the Unicorn is excellent, if you want to try another. I have rater her books from 1 to 5 stars.
Like listening to gossip about first wife by second. Most enjoyable little book. Sisters by Lily Tuck.
5★ Link to my review
I do think think people who like Southern lit MUST check out this author: Silas House. I just finished my third book by him: The Coal TattooMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have finished Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier. I was disappointed with it as I didn't find it nearly as interesting as Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.I agree and would also recommend Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier
Chrissie wrote: "Chevalier's writing varies. You are not the only one who disliked Burning Bright; I have chosen not to try it. The Lady and the Unicorn is excellent, if you want to try another. I have rater her books from 1 to 5 stars. ..."I agree with Chrissie. Chevalier's novels seem to be all over the place in terms of enjoyability.
Petra, this is hard because you never know if you should read her new ones or not!
I know, Chrissie. I tend to not think of her books very often and just read them occasionally because of this inconsistency. I start each book by not expecting much. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
Good morning!On 28 August, 2017 I finished Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan, an eye-opening nonfiction in which Aslan uses three years of meticulous research to show the difference between Jesus the man, the revolutionary; and Jesus Christ as presented by the Gospel writers and Paul of Tarsus. 296 pages. It was #36 of 4,642 on my TBR.
Now on page 51 of 729 in Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes, #116 of 4,642 on my TBR.
Jim
Petra wrote: "I know, Chrissie. I tend to not think of her books very often and just read them occasionally because of this inconsistency. I start each book by not expecting much. I'd rather be pleasantly surpri..."That's a good approach.
I haven't read that one by Figes, but liked a lot his The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia. I can recommend it if you want more. On the other hand, I was not in love with Aslan's book; I only gave it two stars. That very little is known about Jesus, is a bit of a problem for the whole book. So instead, the text is expanded into how Christianity developed from the works of the disciples and early leaders. I found the book to be based on religious text rather than newly discovered information on Jesus.
Chrissie wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I have finished Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier. I was disappointed with it as I didn't find it nearly as interesting as [book:Girl with a Pearl Earring|2..."Thanks Chrissie, Evelyn & Petra - that helped me to not write Chevalier off altogether. I will just have to be more cautious about which ones to choose. Your recommendations have been noted.
I'm a bit late to the discussion here but I also found Burning Bright to be one of Chevalier's lesser novels. I think Remarkable Creatures was my favourite by her.I usually wait not until one of my favourite reviewers has loved the novel before I will read a new work by her.
Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2106406012.
Pam wrote: "Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."Yet another movie I didn't realize was based upon a book! In fact, several different movie versions have been made, including one in which the main characters are male instead of female (with Judge Rheinhold) but I think that the 2003 version with Lindsay Lohan, while not as true to the book as the '76 Jodie Foster one, is the best.
Recently enjoyed Sami Shah's informative, entertaining The Islamic Republic of Australia. Read and learn from a smart, ex-Muslim, Australian comedian!
4.5★ Link to my review
Leslie wrote: "I have finished Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier. I was disappointed with it as I didn't find it nearly as interesting as Girl with a Pearl Earring - maybe th..."Of the books by Tracy Chevalier that I have read I would say The Virgin Blue is my favourite and it was the first of hers I read. I also enjoyed Girl with a Pearl Earring but found The Lady and the Unicorn a bit ordinary.
Pam wrote: "Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."I spent a lot of my childhood wanting to see that film but ended up seeing the Lindsay Lohan version as an adult.
The book was fun but if I remember correctly it focused mainly on the daughter in the mum's body and her interactions with the neighbours.
Finished reading Maru, a beautiful book, strange in its way but still a great book. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not one of Harlan Coben's best, unfortunately The Innocent. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Suzanne wrote: "Not one of Harlan Coben's best, unfortunately The Innocent. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."It's been a couple of years since I read any Coben - sorry to hear that this one was not up to expectations.
I finished a thriller/suspense book of the "innocent person entangled with villains" type, Fool Errant. I have a fondness for this style of book (Mary Stewart and Helen MacInnes were staples of my teenage years).
Suzanne wrote: "Not one of Harlan Coben's best, unfortunately The Innocent. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."Here's your link, Suzanne. It's the first one that popped up for me on the book's page, which is the link you posted.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another 4.5★ read for me. Who'd have though that yummy Sourdough could lead to such an intriguing story? Author Robin Sloan, that's who. You may know him as the author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, which was equally delightful. 
Link to my review of "Sourdough"
Really liked
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden.Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am trying very hard to test genres outside my favorites. I have finished a thriller : Norwegian by NightMy reivew: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "I am trying very hard to test genres outside my favorites. I have finished a thriller : Norwegian by Night..."It can be a challenge to read outside one's comfort zone so congrats for doing so!
I think that to be a fan of thrillers, suspense novels and the like, you have to have a strong ability to suspend disbelief while reading. No offense meant but Chrissie, you don't strike me as someone who willingly suspends disbelief so I am not at all surprised by the comment in your review:
"Clearly the author tries to make the events believable, but I cannot but question the capabilities of Sheldon. I am not eighty-two yet, so what do I know?! Still, I doubt that many of his age could do what he does. "
It did make me chuckle though!
I just finished Flashman, a historical fiction adventure story (with some social commentary there as well) about the first Anglo-Afghan war (1839-1841). Flashman is an anti-hero but an engaging one who manages to make the reader like him despite some of his awful attitudes and acts.
Leslie wrote: "Pam wrote: "Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."Yet another movie I didn't realize was based upon a book! I..."
I'm not sure I've ever seen any of them Leslie, though I knew about Jodie Foster's as she's on the cover of the secondhand version I picked up.
Esther wrote: "Pam wrote: "Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."I spent a lot of my childhood wanting to see that film but ..."
Yes it does. We only get to hear what the mum has been doing after she comes back at the end and tells Amanda about it. I knew they must've expanded on that because a photo on the back of the 1976 edition I acquired shows the mum character apparently playing baseball.
Leslie wrote: "No offense meant but Chrissie, you don't strike me as someone who willingly suspends disbelief so I am not at all surprised by the comment in your review: "Clearly the author tries to make the events believable, but I cannot but question the capabilities of Sheldon. I am not eighty-two yet, so what do I know?! Still, I doubt that many of his age could do what he does. "
It did make me chuckle though!"
Leslie I am not at all offended. You are absolutely correct. I simply cannot forget reality, and am glad I could give you a chuckle.
I just went to look if you have read Norwegian by Night, but you haven't. I am dying to know how others see its humor, if they see it at all. What kind of humor it it? All that I know is that it is my kind of humor. It cracked me up in how it focuses on cultural peculiarities, how people from different countries behave in particular ways.
I really enjoyed a mystery, a Gothic mystery. This one: The Turn of the ScrewMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year Historyhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read Zinnia by Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz and posted a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2108841765.
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker was a disappointing 2.5☆ read for me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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All About Books
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I have also finished One for Sorrow by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer. This historical fiction mystery was set in Constantinople during the time of Justinian's reign (~550 A.D.). I thought that both the historical fiction & the mystery were pretty good. 3.5*