What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 1,501-1,550 of 12,687

[Petra]

I finished reading The Snow Child, which I found interesting but not great. It's a pleasant read and one I would recommend for a snowy winter afternoon.

I also finished listening to Last Man in Tower, which is an interesting look at what people will do to get what they think are their just rewards. I would recommend this author. His characters are real and alive, his commentary interesting and he adds a touch of humour to his stories.

[Bionic Jean]

I have finally finished The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter. If you like classic SF then I would definitely recommend it! It's the authorised sequel to The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and is an exciting read in itself, capturing Wells's "voice", and with lots of references which the reader may pick up.

The only reason it took me so long to read is that it was a complete audio book, and I do not spend much time nowadays listening. But when I do, then any "faults" in style are more glaring; it has to be a good book to stand up to this treatment! Here's a link to my review.

[Pink]

I have just finished the Death Note Manga series, after reading it over the past few months. Overall I think it was pretty standard stuff in this genre and it was okay, but I'm definitely not the target audience. Anyway my daughter enjoyed it in her early teenage years and I made use of her books for free :)

[Beth]

I just finished The Night Circus which I liked but did not love. 3 Stars.

My review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LauraT]

Beth wrote: "I just finished The Night Circus which I liked but did not love. 3 Stars.

My review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Same opinion!

[Beth]

Glad I am not the only one! (the person I was reading this with for a Buddy Read rated it the same and I believe basically felt the same way).

[Bionic Jean]

I had very mixed feelings too and gave it the same rating!
Here's a link to my review of it.

[dely]

I have read Chiara di Assisi: Elogio della disobbedienza by Dacia Maraini and there is no English edition of this book.
It is a biography about Saint Clare of Assisi and it was an interesting read. I recommend it if you are interested in the life of this saint.

[Dhanaraj]

Finished reading Hiroshima. After reading the book I seriously hope (a hopeless hope) that there will not be any more war in the world.

[B the BookAddict]

I finished The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman. 3.5★

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[B the BookAddict]

Finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith 5★. A rip-snorting read; Most Highly Recommended

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Charbel]

Bette Book Babble wrote: "Finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith 5★. A rip-snorting read; Most Highly Recommended

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Sounds like a good book.

[Leslie]

Bette Book Babble wrote: "Finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith 5★. A rip-snorting read; Most Highly Recommended

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Oh good, as that is on my long list of TBR! I might move it up some...

[Tracey]

I finished Virginia Woolfs Mrs Dalloway today and I was blown away by it. I gave it a massive 5*

[B the BookAddict]

Last week, I read Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter Most Highly Recommended and definitely 5★.

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Leslie]

I just finished Young Miles, which is an omnibus edition containing The Warrior's Apprentice, The Mountains of Mourning, and The Vor Game. 4½ stars - I would recommend the entire omnibus to anyone who likes sci fi or thrillers, but I would recommend the middle novella, The Mountains of Mourning to anyone, to everybody.

[B the BookAddict]

Leslie wrote: "Bette Book Babble wrote: "Finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith 5★. A rip-snorting read; Most Highly Recommended

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/..."

Oh good, as that is on my long list of TBR! I might move it up some...

I would! It was recommended to me by another GR friend and I'm so glad I read it.

Charbel wrote: "Bette Book Babble wrote: "Finished On Beauty by Zadie Smith 5★. A rip-snorting read; Most Highly Recommended

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/..."

It's excellent and well worth reading!

[Beth]

I just finished What She Left Behind and I would recommend it.

Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[B the BookAddict]

Just finished and highly recommend Arcadia by Lauren Groff

My review can be read at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shirley]

I've just finished reading Divergent on my kindle. It was quite readable but a bit too teenage for my liking and not as well written as The Hunger Games.

[Ramona]

I have just finished "reading" "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", 1st book pf The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. This is my first time reading an audio book, so I didn't actually read the book, but listened to it. I liked it very much. I listened to the story online, the one who has read it is Christie Hart, If I got her name right.

The story was very nice and I enjoyed it veeery much, even though it's a children book. I enjoy quite a lot reading fantasy books for children. It seems to me they are not only for children. I think I will listen to the other parts as well and see what more adventures will those 4 kids encounter.

[LauraT]

Ramona wrote: "I have just finished "reading" "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", 1st book pf The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. This is my first time reading an audio book, so I didn't actually ..."

How did you like listening to a book? I like ti a lot!

[Ramona]

I have to admit I was quite skeptical toward it, but surprisingly I enjoyed it tremendously. It's my first time experiencing it without giving up on the endeavor, so I think I shall listen to some more audio books in the future. It helps me spare time. I listened to it while I cook or even when I do workout... Plus, I doesn't tire my eyes. I think it's a great thing.

[Ramona]

Sorry, I wanted to say "I listen to it" above, not "listened".

[Sigourney]

Shirley wrote: "I've just finished reading Divergent on my kindle. It was quite readable but a bit too teenage for my liking and not as well written as The Hunger Games."

I've heard a lot of people saying things like that about it :/ I still want to read it but I'm worried it won't live up to my expectations.

[Shirley]

Sigourney wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I've just finished reading Divergent on my kindle. It was quite readable but a bit too teenage for my liking and not as well written as The Hunger Games."

I've hear..."

Sigourney, I wouldn't want to put you off reading it - you may well enjoy it! But it wasn't as good as I had hoped...

[Sigourney]

Shirley wrote: "Sigourney wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I've just finished reading Divergent on my kindle. It was quite readable but a bit too teenage for my liking and not as well written as The Hunger ..."

I know :) I'm going to keep my fingers crossed about it, but a lot of reviews are making me feel quite dubious about it.

[[deleted user]]

@Shirley & Sigourney;
I really enjoyed Divergent and the sequel, Insurgent, but my issue with the series is that I didn't like the last book. That might just be me though, I am quite particular about series endings :-P

[Shirley]

Becca wrote: "@Shirley & Sigourney;
I really enjoyed Divergent and the sequel, Insurgent, but my issue with the series is that I didn't like the last book. That might just be me..."

I will read Insurgent, but I'm not in a rush - I think I will go and see the film of Divergent, though.

[Leslie]

Ramona wrote: "I have just finished "reading" "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", 1st book pf The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. This is my first time reading an audio book, so I didn't actually ... I listened to the story online, the one who has read it is Christie Hart, If I got her name right."

You listened online? What site?

[Sigourney]

Becca wrote: "@Shirley & Sigourney;
I really enjoyed Divergent and the sequel, Insurgent, but my issue with the series is that I didn't like the last book. That might just be me..."

Fair enough :P I remember a lot of grumbling about the last book when it came out. I'll give Divergent a read at some point and see how I go from there.

Shirley - I think I'll watch the film as well, probably before I end up reading it :3

[Ramona]

@Leslie: ancientfaith.com

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, I'll probably go and see the movie of Divergent too. I really like Shailene Woodley. When is it out anyway?

[Sigourney]

I'm not sure, I think it's only recently out at the cinema. I'm holding my judgement on Shailene Woodley until I see her in something...still not convinced about the casting in general for The Fault in Our Stars film.

[Leslie]

Ramona wrote: "@Leslie: ancientfaith.com"

Thanks - the set of Narnia books I read growing up went with my brother (only fitting as he was a bigger fan) but I have been wanting to reread these.

[[deleted user]]

Sigourney wrote: "I'm not sure, I think it's only recently out at the cinema. I'm holding my judgement on Shailene Woodley until I see her in something...still not convinced about the casting in general for The Faul..."

Yeah, I'm not convinced of the TFIOS casting either. I do think she's perfect for Tris though. I saw her in The Descendents and thought she was really good :) All I can see when I look at the guy who plays Four is James from The Inbetweeners Movie :-P

[Sigourney]

Becca wrote: "Sigourney wrote: "I'm not sure, I think it's only recently out at the cinema. I'm holding my judgement on Shailene Woodley until I see her in something...still not convinced about the casting in ge..."

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens! :) I've not seen either actor is anything, so I don't have any preconceived notions regarding Divergent apart from reviews. I did have a completely different view of what Hazel and Augustus would look like for TFIOS though. Ah well!

[Beth]

I just finished The Glass Castle and I highly recommend it - 5 stars!

[Angela M]

I just finished Radiance of Tomorrow and I highly recommend it.
Here's my review for anyone who is interested:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LauraT]

They look really interesting both of them; I'll write them down - and read them in my third life I suppose!
I've just finished The Stonecutter and found it quite a good mystery, better than the secind of her novels. I also liked the description of how life with a kid of two months for the mother is totally not idyllic as tradition too often depicts!!!

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Hiroshima and although it was hard to read, I feel it is a book everyone should read. A copy should be sent to all world leaders. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro]

I just finished The King and Pure. I would recommend the former even for the people who dropped the BDB series, but the latter was rather disappointing and metaphore-heavy that sadly the paper-thin main character couldn't carry.

[Leslie]

I just finished My Cousin Rachel and I would strongly recommend it! One of the best books I have read so far this year.

[Shirley]

Leslie wrote: "I just finished My Cousin Rachel and I would strongly recommend it! One of the best books I have read so far this year."

So glad you liked it, Leslie!

[Christie]

I just finished Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know (recommended to me by a friend) but I was pretty indifferent about it. I thought that it was just okay - I didn't come away with any groundbreaking insights about my dogs. (However, my friend loved it and we usually have pretty similar tastes in books!) I probably wouldn't recommend it.

[Diane S ☔]

In Paradise: A NovelFinished , found it to be brilliantly done. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Never a good idea to read Hiroshima and a book about the Holocaust at the same time.

[Erica]

I've just finished The First Rule of Swimming. Although it didn't blow me away I really enjoyed it. The writer was very skilled in moving seamlessly between past and present. I would give it 3.5/5.

[Bionic Jean]

A cry from the wild and yes! Beautiful, heartbreaking and life-affirming in turns.

[Leslie]

I finished Cocaine Blues, a historical fiction mystery set in Australia in the 1930s. I quite liked this first book in a series, and it was a bit unusual in that the mystery did NOT involve a murder! Attempted murder and (as the title implies) drug-dealing, but no actual murder. I would recommend it as an fun light read.

[Dhanaraj]

Finished reading a wonderful biography on the 14 century Italian saint, Catherine of Siena by the Nobel prize winning author Sigrid Undset (Catherine of Siena). A lovely biography.....