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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
I'm so thankful to all you guys (including Chrissie, Dhanaraj, LauraT and dely) who urged me to read Pereira Declares: A Testimony! I was totally bewitched by Antonio Tabucchi's writing and the story itself. I can relate to Pereira so much because his predicament then bears much semblance to that faced by Hong Kongers now.Here's my review:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
♪Eleonora♪ wrote: "I've just finished "Tomorrow in the battle think on me". It's my first book by Marìas and I was captured by the "incantamento" of his style, by the haunting thoughts of the protagonist.5 stars"
Oh hooray, he's one of my favourite authors and this is one of his best I think. If you liked this one I am sure you'll also really enjoy A Heart So White and then, if you still don't have enough you could join me for a readalong of The Infatuations? ;)
Finished Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II, wonderful book. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oh Diane, I have that on my list. You know this author has another oneThe Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal that looks good too.
Jenny, sorry but I can't reply to your post with the app on smartphone!!! When do you want read "The infatuations"? Yesterday I've seen it in a bookshop here in Sardinia... I was tempted to buy it!
Chrissie wrote: "I just finished Bel-Ami and I absolutely loved it. Dely, you thought this would be for me, and YES it was! All I can say is that I never laughed so hard in my life, and given the them..."I was pretty sure you would love Maupassant and I really hope you can read others by him. I must still read Bel-Ami and I hope to find it in the second-hand bookshop; there was always a copy of it and I'm sure that now that I want it, I won't find it!
@Alice, good review and I agree with the thoughts you have expressed!
dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I just finished Bel-Ami and I absolutely loved it. Dely, you thought this would be for me, and YES it was! All I can say is that I never laughed so hard in my life, a..."Thanks, dely. And thank you for reminding me of Maupassant - he has always been in the back of my mind.
Alice wrote: "Thanks, dely. And thank you for reminding me of Maupassant - he has always been in the back of my mind. "By him I'm currently reading a collection of short stories and they are all so good!
♪Eleonora♪ wrote: "@JennyYes, it's ok!!!!"
Great! :)
dely wrote: "I hope to find it in the second-hand bookshop; there was always a copy of it and I'm sure that now that I want it, I won't find it!"That would be typical.
Mod
Didn't you find him unbearable? I codn't stand him! But yes, the book is extreamle wel written
Mod
GLad you liked it!
Mod
When do you want read "The infatuations"? Yesterday I've seen it in a bookshop here in Sardinia... I was tempted to buy it!"
Where in Sardinia are you? I'll be in Cagliari in 4 weeks!
Recently read :Boy, Snow, Bird - 2 stars - just didn't get it.
Do Not Forget Me Quite - 3 stars , heartbreaking story of a family impacted by WW I.
The Mill River Redemption: A Novel - 3 stars.
@LauraTI'm near Villasimius until Friday!
Do you know this zone?
Angela wrote: "Recently read :Boy, Snow, Bird - 2 stars - just didn't get it.
Do Not Forget Me Quite - 3 stars , heartbreaking story of a family impacted by WW I.
[book:The Mil..."
I feel as if I jinxed you by commenting on all your fives star reads in rows.LOL
Lol ! I think I have to be more discerning with my NetGalley picks . I still have more 4 & 5 stars of those but more 3 stars than I have had in a while .
Although Boy , Snow , Bird was one that I bought .
I just finished Portrait of a Turkish Family (finally) and I didn't enjoy reading it as much as other readers have. The start was really good but then it got boring. It's very well written but I'm not a fan of non fiction or autobiographies. So for me it was really slow. I had to push myself to finish it. I gave it three stars, the one extra star is for his writing.
I need recommendations for modern and serious adult fiction, Cutting for Stone, for example. Thanks!
Rahat wrote: "I just finished Portrait of a Turkish Family (finally) and I didn't enjoy reading it as much as other readers have. The start was really good but then it got boring. It's very well written but I'm ..."It is good for me to know how others react. I loved Portrait of a Turkish Family. It is kind of spooky when you adore a book and you see ofhers just do not think at all in the same manner. It makes me think sometimes, why write a review? we are all so different and is my view at all relevant? Still, I prefer to read "normal" readers' reviews over the famed magazine reviews.
Mod
I'm near Villasimius until Friday!
Do you know this zone?"
My mother was from Cagliari and I have all my relatives living there!
I have a little house in Flumini di Quartu, 30 minutes from Villasimius, one of my favourite seaside place ever - along with Chia, the other side of Cagliari.
What a pity that you go away before I come!
And is it your first time there?
@LauraTIt's my third time in the south-east of Sardinia and the fifth in the isle - I visited Santa Teresa di Gallura and San Teodoro in Costa Smeralda.
I've never seen the seasides near Cagliari.
The father's family of my boy-friend comes from the area of Sassari but we don't know those places.
Mod
Chia, on the southern coast and Capo Teulada are as beautiful as Villasmius, even if nowadays, as Villa as well, too turistic for my tastes. THat's why I almost never go there befre the 15th of august!
We found a beautiful place here, Cala Sinzias, with caribbean sand and sea and not too many people... A real paradise!!!!We'd like visit the east Sardinia too! Maybe the next year? :)
Chuck wrote: "I need recommendations for modern and serious adult fiction, Cutting for Stone, for example. Thanks!"
How about anything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Or Jeffrey Eugenides?
How about anything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Or Jeffrey Eugenides?
Mod
We'd like visit the east Sardinia too! Maybe the next year? :)"
I'm a "fixed admirer" of Cala Sinzias!!! Half of our holiday is on that beach. Since last year there's a road cutting through the mountains a bit behind the costal line going straight from Flumini to that part of the coast and we get there in 25 minutes, not having to pass through Villasimius.
@LauraTWe're in Cala Sinzias now!!!
No clouds, fresh wind... We've just eaten in a new amazing beach bar... I'm sorry I'm not able to upload a picture with my smartphone on GR
I really really love Cala Sinzias
Some weeks ago, a "caretta caretta" turtle laid her eggs here in Cala Sinzias, and maybe, Laura, you could see the disclosing! http://247.libero.it/focus/29730339/1...
Now I stop this OT :)
Oh wow! That is picture perfect. The water is stunning. Very jealous!
Completed reading two days' back Sigrid Undset's Jenny. I have said many times that Undset is a genius and I will say that again. What a way to construct a story and what an execution? The themes are many but the prominent one is (at least to me) the search for the identity/purpose of a woman. I will highly recommend it.
Laura, I always enjoy seeing pictures of "your" beach. Lovely!!I've finished one of the Giveaway wins I recently received, Her.
The book is described as a psychological thriller. It's an easy reading, light book that starts out with some mystery and intrigue. A good summer read, one thinks as one settles into it. But nothing happens.
Emma is an overwhelmed mother of 40, who cannot seem to enjoy even one aspect of her children & family. Nina is hell-bent on getting revenge from Emma for some earlier incident that we're not privy to (this is the mysterious, intriguing part at first....what is the secret?).
The burning question is: why doesn't Emma recognize Nina if their past collided in such a way that revenge is necessary?
That's the question that kept me reading. Although the writing is fine, the story was trivial. Nothing happened. No thrilling moments. You'd get a sense of "it's going to start happening now" whenever Nina caused some mischief and it didn't.
When the motive is revealed it's unbelievably juvenile and petty.
Then the book ended. Abruptly.
Petra wrote: "Laura, I always enjoy seeing pictures of "your" beach. Lovely!!
I've finished one of the Giveaway wins I recently received, Her.
The book is described as a psychological thriller. ..."
That does sound rather disappointing, Petra. I think that can be a problem with giveaways, they aren't always the best quality
I've finished one of the Giveaway wins I recently received, Her.
The book is described as a psychological thriller. ..."
That does sound rather disappointing, Petra. I think that can be a problem with giveaways, they aren't always the best quality
Oh so beautiful!!!!! I am talking about the beaches.
@Laura: Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics! You guys who live in Italy are so lucky to have so many heaven-on-earth places to visit!I've just finished reading Stone in a Landslide, which has left me quite speechless! This little book is packed with power with its simple but touching prose. The story is set in the Spanish Civil War period and tells how a Catalan woman bears her struggles with a kind of gracious but stoic fatalism. I was moved to tears. I would highly recommend this book to all who haven't yet read it.
@Chrissie: Thank you for recommending this beautiful book to me!
Heather wrote: "Chuck wrote: "I need recommendations for modern and serious adult fiction, Cutting for Stone, for example. Thanks!"How about anything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Or..."
Great suggestions, Thanks!
Mod
Finished When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine, a very touching and humorous memoir. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Completed reading a marvelous book, The Unknown Sigrid Undset: Jenny and Other Works. It contains a novel (JENNY), two short stories and some of the letters Undset wrote to her Swedish pen-pal. If not the entire book, I will strongly recommend the novel, JENNY.Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chuck wrote: "I need recommendations for modern and serious adult fiction, Cutting for Stone, for example. Thanks!"One thing you could try is Literature Map, which gives you authors similar to a given author...
I have finished a few mysteries:The Terra-Cotta Dog - Italian mystery set in Sicily; in addition to solving cases, Inspector Montalbano likes his food, swimming in the ocean, and spending time with his girlfriend... 4 stars
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline audiobook; narration pulled it from 2½ to 3 stars. I don't like 'fan fiction' so folks who don't mind that might like it better... the 'detective' is Sherlock Holmes' younger sister.
Aunt Dimity Digs In - sweet non-murder mystery book with slight paranormal aspects; 3 stars
Vintage Murder - early Ngaio Marsh with Inspector Alleyn travelling to New Zealand; recommended to any fans of Marsh or British Golden Age mysteries; 4 stars
Leslie wrote: "I have finished a few mysteries:The Terra-Cotta Dog - Italian mystery set in Sicily; in addition to solving cases, Inspector Montalbano likes his food, swimming in the ocean, and spen..."
Hi Leslie! I like the Montalbano books as well. I'm a Marsh fan as well, but I could never get into the Aunt Dimity books. One book with this premise and these characters was fine, but trying to read a second one? I put it down a third of the way through and never picked it up again.
Tons have read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and its average rating is over four stars, but I didn't like it.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paula wrote: "Hi Leslie! I like the Montalbano books as well. I'm a Marsh fan as well, but I could never get into the Aunt Dimity books. One book with this premise and these characters was fine, but trying to read a second one? I put it down a third of the way through and never picked it up again. ..."Yes, the Aunt Dimity books are very light and I can see them getting repetitive fairly rapidly. I have only read one previously (about 18 months ago)...
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All About Books
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...