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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Beth, we are in total agreement about Sarah's Key. I don't understand this fixation by contemporary authors that they must have different threads / time periods! Is it that they think they will attract different groups of readers?
Chrissie wrote: "Beth, we are in total agreement about Sarah's Key. I don't understand this fixation by contemporary authors that they must have different threads / time periods! Is it that they think they will att..."I don't know but I have grown tired of it!
Beth, me too, and we are not the only ones!
I finished Nathan Filer's The Shock Of The Fall earlier. Such a brilliant book! At times it made me feel uneasy and it was somewhat frightening following Matthew's story. It give it 5 ★
LauraT wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I did a reread of Invisible Man, having read it ages ago, but on my second reading I found it dated. I am extremely picky and only rate according to my own personal reaction. Since..."Have you read TransAtlantic, Colum McCann's latest? I thought you might be interested since it too deals with Frederick Douglass, and Colum McCann is such a great writer!
Chrissie , I have read Transatlantic and I really enjoyed it . I love McCann 's writing and I really liked Let the Great World Spin.I think both are worth resting . I want to get to his other books sometime .
Love McCann, still have a few of his to read but have read most of them Finished a novella The Fox, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Angela, I have read all of his novels, and found Songdogs best. He has collections of short stories, which as a form are not my favorite; I prefer long books over short. What is great is that not only does he write stupendously, but the books' content varies. If I have a group of favorite writers, he is one of them.Diane, you just have to read Songdogs!
I've just finished The Paris Wife. I liked it. Thought it was similar to Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald which I really enjoyed too.
Roderick wrote: "@Chrissie, I agree partly that it is a bit dated. Invisible Man is a different take on the racism issue though that I do believe is timeless. Instead of blasting the persecutors, it explores the inner psychology of African American culture."I have been thinking about what you said, so it took me awhile to answer! I am not sure I understand what you are referring to when you say, "Instead of blasting the persecutors, it explores the inner psychology of African American culture." There are numerous authors that try to show how is is to be black. Right now I am reading Roadwalkers, by Shirley Ann Grau, and she certainly succeeds with this. I think also of Shadow Country by Matthiessen. Then there are also those books that explore African American blues music of the South, for example Some Sing, Some Cry. Maybe I misunderstand you? I think also of To Kill a Mockingbird! All of these focus on the African American culture, each at different time periods.
Chrissie wrote: "Angela, I have read all of his novels, and found Songdogs best. He has collections of short stories, which as a form are not my favorite; I prefer long books over short. What is great..."I did Chrissie. I loved it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Diane, oh, I forgot! I have already read and liked that review you wrote!!!
Definitely recommended The White Princess by Philippa Gregory 4.5★Short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beth wrote: "I just finished Sarah's Key - really good book, 4 1/2 stars and I do recommend it."I really liked that too!
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I've just finished Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, which was a good read. I've given it three stars.
I've just read my book from the recommendation swap, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. Will post my thoughts in the correct thread a bit later. Really enjoyed it.
Read The Rise & Fall of Great Powersand loved every minute of this book.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have been on a shopping spree. I just bought The Rise & Fall of Great Powers too! Great to hear it is good.
I just read All the Light We Cannot See and I gave it five stars. It's an exceptional story.Here's my review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have finished The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa GregoryMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Angela wrote: "I just read All the Light We Cannot See and I gave it five stars. It's an exceptional story.Here's my review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
That's another one I just bought. i have certainly picked some good ones!!!! :0)
Chrissie , You really have ! I gave 5 stars to The Rise and Fall of Great Powers , too .
Both are great stories !
What else did you buy !
Bette BookAddict wrote: "I have finished The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa GregoryMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I really enjoyed The Boleyn Inheritance, Bette. I have read a few in that series and need to get round to reading the rest.
Angela wrote: "Chrissie , You really have ! I gave 5 stars to The Rise and Fall of Great Powers , too .
Both are great stories !
What else did you buy !"
I feel a bit embarrassed. I bought so many.....
The Rise & Fall of Great Powers
and
Far from the Madding Crowd
All the Light We Cannot See
When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine
The Cartographer of No Man's Land
The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie
The Son
The Member of the Wedding
Pereira Maintains
Snakewoman of Little Egypt
The Other Side of the Bridge
The Prince of Frogtown
I had a bunch of credits.
@ Chrissie, there are some interesting books. You will certainly love Pereira Declares: A Testimony. And Far from the Madding Crowd is the only Hardy book with the happy ending. And I will also love to hear from you your opinion of Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie.
Chrissie wrote: "Angela wrote: "Chrissie , You really have ! I gave 5 stars to The Rise and Fall of Great Powers , too .
Both are great stories !
What else did you buy !"
I feel a bit embarrassed. I bought so ma..."
Embarrassed? You should be ashamed of yourself, lol:)
Finished a Fault in our Stars a few days ago and it was pretty great tbh. Not quite as good as I perhaps hyped it up to be bet still a stellar novel. I would give it 4 stars.
Chrissie wrote: "Angela wrote: "Chrissie , You really have ! I gave 5 stars to The Rise and Fall of Great Powers , too .
Both are great stories !
What else did you buy !"
I feel a bit embarrassed. I bought so ma..."
No need to feel embarassed. I'm so glad I'm not alone. Last month I bought 12 books at once from Amazon for my kindle. ( I did have a gift card, though, but it burned a whole in my pocket.)
Enjoy your reads!
@AlanI recommend Mark Addon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and Nathan Filers The Shock Of The Fall. Also anything by Patrick Ness. :-)
I just read the novelization of the newest film of "Godzilla".Godzilla
You can check my review on the link!
Finished reading Saving Grace by Fiona McCallum 4★My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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You will certainly love Pereira Declares: A Testimony. And Far from the Madding Crowd is the only Hardy book with the happ..."
The Hardy's book I've not read!!!!
Angela, I do feel this was excessive, but I am a book addict, and my library sucks. Laura T, remember, I said I had to try another Hardy. One reviewer said that the animals were wonderfully portrayed in this one, and you know how important they are to me.
Chrissie, looks like you made some good choices, I believe one should never regret buying books, there are so many worse habits one could be spending there money on. Enjoy.
Finished reading : The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner 5★My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Laura, I really am hoping I like this one more, and I think I will because his writing IS good.Diane, I am so happy with all these books waiting for me to gobble them up!!! :0)
Chrissie wrote: "Laura, I really am hoping I like this one more, and I think I will because his writing IS good.Diane, I am so happy with all these books waiting for me to gobble them up!!! :0)"
Chrissie, are you a real book reader or an e-reader?
Finished The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory Not the best that I've read by this author; although it was probably the subject matter and not her talent that I disliked. 3.25★Finished The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory Recommended 4★
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Lovely!
LauraT wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I felt strange writing that as my profile picture is me standing outside Hever Castle which was Anne Boleyn's childhood home."Lovely!"
You should tag that on the photo, yes? It's a great pic, you look really happy:)
Bette BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Laura, I really am hoping I like this one more, and I think I will because his writing IS good.Diane, I am so happy with all these books waiting for me to gobble them up!!! :0)"
..."
Usually, I do audiobooks. Sometimes, when my eyes are better, I can do Kindle too.
Just finished Elixirby Ted Galdi. A pretty good YA thriller. recommended to anyone who likes an action packed adventureHere's my review if anyone wants to check it out. It was a read for review request from the author.
Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I've just finished Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham. Despite my negative comments, I think it's still worth a read.Here's my review:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Via another group, I was reminded of The New Republic by Lionel Shriver Highly RecommendedMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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I'll see to this then if you say so Petra
..."
This is like Coraline in the sense of the child having to follow adult rules and being afraid and uncertain, etc.
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is more along the lines of Neverwhere, in that 2 worlds blend together with odd (magical?) things occurring because of that.