What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 2,601-2,650 of 12,687

[dely]

Chrissie wrote: "I'll tell you why I am hesitating. I tend to NOT like books that follow several threads. This is simply one of my own personal preferences. The Hours one has three character in three different time periods.....AND I will not get the one thing I like so much - Woolf's writing, her prose!"

No, you will not find Woolf's prose. It is more a book about Woolf's thoughts and life and about her book Mrs. Dalloway and how it can be part of some people's life.
It's because of this I suggested it but I understand your hesitation.

[Chrissie]

Dely, I understand your thoughts. Thank you for thinking of me.

One question - how do we know that Woolf's thoughts are correctly portrayed? Isn't it a book of fiction? Is there an author's note? Oh my, that turned into three questions!

[LauraT]

Elaine wrote: "I've just finished The Name of the Rose. Its been on my bookshelf for years but I had been told it was very difficult and complex so kept putting it off.Then I saw so many good review..."

Glad you liked it. It's my favourite by Eco

[Elaine]

@LauraT and Jean, I havn't read anymore but have looked at a few reviews of others by Eco and nowhere have I seen such rave reviews as for The Name of the Rose. Is it worth trying another one do you think or not? Some authors seem to write one brilliant book after another and you can rely on them but others have one masterpiece and a few disappointments.

[Gill]

Elaine wrote: "@LauraT and Jean, I havn't read anymore but have looked at a few reviews of others by Eco and nowhere have I seen such rave reviews as for The Name of the Rose. Is it worth trying another one do yo..."

I enjoyed NOTR Elaine. I also read Foucault's Pendulum and disliked it immensely, because I found it very boring. I know some people rave about it though.

I've read some nonfiction by Umberto Eco, that was very good.

[Elaine]

thanks Gill , that was the impression I was getting. Maybe I'll try the nonfiction :)

[Bionic Jean]

The only other one I read was Foucault's Pendulum, which I had as an unabridged audio book, and it seemed to go on for ever :( It was a few years ago now though.

I know Leslie, one of our mods, read it recently - I'll link to her review here (hope that's OK Leslie!) in case it helps, and if she sees this maybe she can fill you in a bit more than I can at this stage.

[GeneralTHC]

Just started The Name of the Rose this morning--reading along with the audiobook. Tried listening to Foucault's Pendulum last year, but I didn't make it through the whole thing. I plan on finishing it sometime, though.

[GeneralTHC]

I finished a really good thriller this morning. I think anyone who likes bestseller-type thrillers would really enjoy it:Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

[LauraT]

I didn't like Foucault's Pendulum much. Probably I'd try Baudolino if you like middle ages. And I agree with Gill:some of his non fiction us really interesting

[dely]

Chrissie wrote: "One question - how do we know that Woolf's thoughts are correctly portrayed? Isn't it a book of fiction? Is there an author's note? Oh my, that turned into three questions! "

Good questions! :D
I think the author knew about her thoughts because he is a huge fan of Virginia Woolf. He has surely read everything by her and about her so he was able to talk about a day in her life making it appear very realistic (one woman of the three in the book is Virginia Woolf).
Yes, it is fiction and in my edition there wasn't a note by the author.

[Petra]

Elaine wrote: "@LauraT and Jean, I havn't read anymore but have looked at a few reviews of others by Eco and nowhere have I seen such rave reviews as for The Name of the Rose. Is it worth trying another one do yo..."

The only Eco book that I've read is The Name of The Rose. I loved it yet some sections were very detailed and slow to read.
The next two of his books, The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana and The Prague Cemetery, I listened to in audio and found that his books are great in audio. Even the detailed sections were rich and vivid. I highly recommend the audios, if you enjoy listening to books.

I didn't know anything about the Protocals mentioned in The Prague Cemetery. I found this graphic novel, The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, very helpful. It gives the history of the Protocols. I suggest reading it before The Prague Cemetery to get some background on that story. Eco's book assumes some knowledge of the existence of the Protocols.

[Leslie]

LauraT wrote: "I didn't like Foucault's Pendulum much. Probably I'd try Baudolino if you like middle ages. And I agree with Gill:some of his non fiction us really interesting"

Elaine wrote: "I've just finished The Name of the Rose. Its been on my bookshelf for years but I had been told it was very difficult and complex so kept putting it off.Then I saw so many good review..."

I found The Name of the Rose much more enjoyable than Foucault's Pendulum (thanks, Jean, for linking my review!). I might try another Eco such as Baudolino or The Island of the Day Before but not in the near future. The books are dense & as you said Elaine, have many layers, so I can't read too many too close together. Maybe I will investigate an audiobook edition next time, as I like audiobooks & Petra has had good experience with Eco in that format...

[Chrissie]

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "One question - how do we know that Woolf's thoughts are correctly portrayed? Isn't it a book of fiction? Is there an author's note? Oh my, that turned into three questions! "

Good..."

Thanks for your help, Dely. I know it is stupid but I am an ingrained skeptic.

[LauraT]

I shoyld like to try Eco as audiobook! I don't know though if it is available in italian!

[Angela M]

I just finished Lisette's List: A Novel and now I want to read other books by this author.
My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Amber]

fortunately the milk by neil Gaiman was a pretty good read. I enjoyed it.

[Chrissie]

Lovely review, Angela. I can recommend The Passion of Artemisia. I was bit annoyed at some aspects in the beginning but by the end I thought it was very, very good.I liked Girl in Hyacinth Blue less, but it certainly was not bad! Luncheon of the Boating Party I have heard is very good, but have not read it.

[Angela M]

Thanks , Chrissie . I really liked this one enough to try some of her other books . Thanks for the recommendations .

[Petra]

Angela, I would also recommend The Passion of Artemisia, as well as Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Clara and Mr. Tiffany.

[Angela M]

Thanks ,Petra . I've added both to my never ending list !

[Chrissie]

Glad I could help.

[Petra]

Chrissie wrote: "Glad I could help."

Ditto. :D

[Greg]

@Chrissie, @Angela, I liked The Passion of Artemisia quite a bit! It was gripping and extremely moving. That's the only book by Vreeland I read so far, but I'd definitely read more. Which one should I read next? Are the other three mentioned all equally good?

[Chrissie]

Greg, yes, The Passion of Artemisia was moving. That was my favorite so I cannot tell you which other to read.

[Angela M]

Greg,
I have only read Lisette's List and I really loved it .

[Charbel]

I finished Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything today, and I really enjoyed it. Foer is a great author, maybe even better than Malcolm Gladwell.

[Laurie]

I just finished Eleanor and Never Let Me Go. I enjoyed both of them, however, I will say Never Let Me Go is the better of the 2. I am still int he after glow of that one. Hoping to keep the good feelings going I just started The Remains of the Day

[Greg]

Laurie, I've posted here before how much I loved Never Let Me Go .. wonderful! The Remains of the Day was very different, but I liked it just as much, a very subtle and nuanced story. If you can, let me know what you think of it when you're done - just curious :)

[Chrissie]

This afternoon I finished Hampton Sides' Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West. I ended up really, really liking it.

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

We all know about the atrocities committed by and against Native Americans but STILL you must read this book.

[Laurie]

Greg wrote: "Laurie, I've posted here before how much I loved Never Let Me Go .. wonderful! The Remains of the Day was very different, but I liked it just as much, a very subtle and nua..."

I loved Never Let Me Go- I fell in love with his writing, so subtle and yet so revealing. I have read about 25% of Remains of the Day and am finding the same quiet style and I really enjoy that. I will keep you posted on my feeling when I am completed.

[LauraT]

Petra wrote: "Angela, I would also recommend The Passion of Artemisia, as well as Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Clara and Mr. Tiffany."

In Perugia we have an exhibition of paintings by Artemisia Gentileschi. Would anyone be interested in seeing it? Petra, you know you're welcome to stay at my place!

[GeneralTHC]

Just finished a nonfiction book I really liked. It was about a man who was wrongly imprisoned for 25 years and thankfully the Innocence Project went to bat for him: Getting Life: An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace.

[Diane S ☔]

I loved all of Vreeland's books. The only one I have not read Luncheon of the Boating Party. I am reading Lisette now.

[Angela M]

Diane ,
Lisette's List is the first book I have read by Vreeland but not my last .

[B the BookAddict]

Angela wrote: "Diane ,
Lisette's List is the first book I have read by Vreeland but not my last ."

I wonder if she is related to Diana Vreeland?

[Angela M]

Not sure . Have to look .

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Nora Webster https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

[Alice]

Just finished Jenny. I love the author's insight into the female soul. The theme of women's struggle between the desire for self-development and the desire for love is sensitively handled. I also love her scenery description. Would highly recommend it!

My full review:-

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

[Greg]

The more I hear, the more I want to read Jenny.

[Alice]

I think you'll like it, Greg :)

[dely]

Alice wrote: "Just finished Jenny. I love the author's insight into the female soul. The theme of women's struggle between the desire for self-development and the desire for love is sensitively handl..."

I have finished Jenny too and I second Alice's thoughts: it is a deep look inside female nature. I'm sure a lot of women can identify with Jenny and her struggles.

[Diane S ☔]

i finished Jenny, weeks ago and am still thinking about it. The ending devastated me.

[Alice]

dely wrote: "Alice wrote: "Just finished Jenny. I love the author's insight into the female soul. The theme of women's struggle between the desire for self-development and the desire for love is sen..."

dely: I, for one, can surely identify with Jenny's struggles :)

[Alice]

Diane S. wrote: "i finished Jenny, weeks ago and am still thinking about it. The ending devastated me."

Diane, me too! It shocked and saddened me!

[B the BookAddict]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished Nora Webster https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit..."

Diane, that link takes us to a blank review page!

[dely]

Alice wrote: "dely: I, for one, can surely identify with Jenny's struggles :)"

Yes, me too.

[Diane S ☔]

Thanks bette. Hope this one works https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[B the BookAddict]

@Diane, Yup! that's it. I could see your review anyway thru my friend link but you write excellent reviews which all the group will benefit from reading.

[Angela M]

I just finished We Are Called to Rise. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also read When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine . My review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and Yellow Crocus. My rhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show... :