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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
She is also an author on my radar. I remember enjoying the TV adaptation of Tipping the Velvet. I'm not too bothered by any graphic scenes particularly, just not got round to picking up her books
Chrissie wrote: " "Is this your first?
Yeah, I had never read her at all until last night. I'm planning on reading them all at this point, though.
Chuck wrote: "Chrissie wrote: " "Is this your first?
Yeah, I had never read her at all until last night. I'm planning on reading them all at this point, though."
Since I have read none and there are clearly many others along with me who are considering her, could you pinpoint what you like? And maybe also what you think might not be so popular? I analyze my reading choices too much.......
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I've only read Fingersmith by Sara..."
Same here Petra! Three weeks of holidays are too much for this group!!
I've read almost only mysteries - my usual readings for the seaside; the best? I think Still Life
I just finished an amazing book, The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt. I've added it to my favorites shelf because I liked it so much. I've read most of Husvedt's work, and I think she's a wonderful intellectual challenge to read.
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished Zorba the Greek. I really, really, really liked it. I put it off since I had seen the movie starring Anthony Quinn, although that had been ages ago. Definitely better to read than to watch.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
@Terri Excellent review! This book is on my tbr and just slotted into top position. I have read two of her others; one I loved, the other I liked. But she always chooses a topic you can sink your teeth into, doesn't she. She's married to the brilliant Paul Auster; can you even imagine the conversations they must share?
I've just finished A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, which I really enjoyed. It's about love and different cultures & expectations. I like how it starts out in broken English (Z is a Communist Chinese in England to learn English) and moves on into more precise English as she learns the language. She learns not only English but love, heartbreak, self and awareness.
Petra wrote: "I've just finished A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, which I really enjoyed. It's about love and different cultures & expectations. I like how it starts out in broken E..."Oh, Petra, I liked that one too. It was one of the first books I read after joining GR. Discussed with another GR member and we later became good friends! Great book about different cultures and how it is to live in a culture that is foreign. I had just moved to Belgium.
Better BookAddict wrote: "@Terri Excellent review! This book is on my tbr and just slotted into top position. I have read two of her others; one I loved, the other I liked. But she always chooses a topic you can sink yo..."
Thanks, Bette. I didn't know Hustvedt is married to Paul Auster. He's one of my favorite authors. What an interesting couple!
Thanks, Bette. I didn't know Hustvedt is married to Paul Auster. He's one of my favorite authors. What an interesting couple!
I just finished reading The Peach Keeperby Sarah Addison Allen and I absolutely loved it!! I recommend it to anyone!!
Yesterday I finished At the Sign of the Cat & Racket by Honoré de Balzac.This short story is part of "La Comédie Humaine" series and it deals with the family of a draper.
It was a nice read and we have also a pretty good insight in the psychology of the characters. We see the difference between a love marriage and a marriage in which love comes after some years; the difference between a closed minded family and the intelligence of the artist, two completely different worlds and way of living.
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This short story is part of "La Comédie Humaine" series and it deals with the family of a dr..."
Didn't know it! I'll have to look for it
I wasn't in love with Hunger. I wasn't interested enough to want to follow the central character's stream of consciousness delirium. Maybe I am being harsh. Hamsun is a Nobel prize winner, and this is one reason I chose the book. For me thought the book was just OK.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Angela wrote: "I have just read Evergreen, a sad but powerful story was 5 stars for me. My sort of review :https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I hadn't heard of this book until reading your review, Angela. It sounds like something I will like, so I'll add it to the list. Thanks!
Chuck wrote: "Anyone read any Sarah Waters or Tana French? I never have, but they both have new releases out that I've been waiting on for a while thanks to:http://www.themillions.com/2014/07/mo......"
I thought The Night Watch was extremely well written, with an interesting structure.
The Moonraker movie was so cheesy with Roger Moore as Bond and Jaws. I remember going to cinema as a kid to see it and actually had a replica Moonraker gun that fired caps. I liked guns as a kid although I did grow out of that phase very quickly. I expect the book to be far more interesting :-)
Jamie wrote: "The Moonraker movie was so cheesy with Roger Moore as Bond and Jaws. I remember going to cinema as a kid to see it and actually had a replica Moonraker gun that fired caps. I liked guns as a kid al..."I didn't know that there was a movie. I can see how it might be cheesy:)
I've finished the brilliant Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 5★My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great review, Bette. It's very much on my agenda although maybe not until the new year as it's so long!
Very good review from the opposite perspective to mine, Bette!Here's my review
Are we not a mixed bunch! LOL!
Better BookAddict wrote: "I've finished the brilliant Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 5★Bette, I too really liked it the second time around. Mantel (along with Stendhal) have really taught me that giving books second chances (and also without regret putting a book down for the time of being knowing I can try again) is really worth it. It took time for me to get into it, but I think what Mantel did with the character Cromwell is really impressive. Are you planning to read Bring Up the Bodies soon?
@Jenny Absolutely, Bring Up the Bodies sits on my coffee table right now; at the top of a whole pile of books. This time, however, I will read it in my normal fashion i.e. straight through, not in bits and pieces like I did Wolf Hall. Reading it in stages meant I kept saying just "hello" to Thomas Cromwell instead of having a nice long chat. In Bring Up the Bodies, Thomas and I will have a couple of good long conversations.@Jean I had seen your review on Wolf Hall. I thought rather kindly 'Jean must have been on some type of mind-altering medication' lol:) Seriously, we all have differing opinions; it would be so boring if we all were the same.
Really? Even though I gave lots of examples of what I was referring to? No, I was not at all confused, Bette, I just disliked the affectations and thus found it tedious. Each to their taste :)I am very relieved that I do not have to read another one. Some poor souls have to read it for their job!
(Say what you really think, Jean, why don't you...?)
Jean wrote: "Really? Even though I gave lots of examples of what I was referring to? No, I was not at all confused, Bette, I just disliked the affectations and thus found it tedious. Each to their taste :)I a..."
Oh Jean, I was very much joking with the 'mind altering medication' comment. I read and enjoyed your review. I respect the fact that you backed up your rating with concrete examples. I admire that in a reader.
I have very much been on a English history jaunt for the last four months so the book suited me. But I can see how a another reader might like like Mantel's style. I did need to keep my wits about me reading the book as Mantel does, as you say, leave you wondering at times, 'who in the heck is speaking now?' I did need to re-read certain passages and pages to sort out who was talking.
I admire a reviewer who low/medium rates a book and bothers to tell you why. So many readers just say 'I didn't like it' leaving us to wonder 'but why?'
After reading and enjoying 1984 I wonder if it would still be civilised to have a 2 minutes of hate against the UK Government? I loved the book and it made me think of all those people in North Korea. But even closer to home I was able to compare Oceania to NATO. So strange how relevant it all is.
Jamie, I read 1984 some months ago and I couldn't really get into it. I liked Orwell's views on war, peace and politics a lot, but the main story, that of Winston and Julia, I couldn't care less, it just never grabbed my attention. As far as dystopian novels go, my favorite remains Saramago's Blindness. Have you read it?-----
I finished Wuthering Heights yesterday. With classics, you never know. I ended up appreciating the book, but I didn't particularly love it... I couldn't get into the romance part so I really hated the main couple... Emily Brontë's prose was really beautiful, though. Here's my full review
All things considered, I do recommend this book and I was glad I finally read it!
Hi Renato, I have not read it and have now put it on my list. My wife told me about Brave New World which follows the same theme. I need to read more classics and really need to get hold of A 100 Years Of Solitude as well :-)
Jamie! I'm excited that you're considering One Hundred Years of Solitude! That's the book that first got me interested in literature. It's so unique and special. I've been meaning to write a review for it for months and can't seem to put my thoughts into words, haha!
Thanks for explaining Bette. Sorry! x As you intuitively picked up, my feathers got a bit ruffled there, not so much from the medication quip but the word "kindly"!! Totally unnecessary of me :(
Jean wrote: "Thanks for explaining Bette. Sorry! x As you intuitively picked up, my feathers got a bit ruffled there, not so much from the medication quip but the word "kindly"!! Totally unnecessary of me :("Jean, sometimes, I don't look before I leap! It would have sounded funny if I'd said it F2F; another case of 'the written word not correctly carrying the humour meant'.
Renato wrote: "Jamie, I read 1984 some months ago and I couldn't really get into it. I liked Orwell's views on war, peace and politics a lot, but the main story, that of Winston and Julia, I couldn't ..."Renato, what a fantastic review of Wuthering Heights. You got a big 'like' from me. Looking forward to seeing you post more reviews when you write them.
Better BookAddict wrote: "Renato, what a fantastic review of Wuthering Heights. You got a big 'like' from me. Looking forward to seeing you post more reviews and you write them."Wow, thank you so much for such a positive feedback! :)
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Same opinion!
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One of my favourite novel as well!
Shannon Noel wrote: "Renato - I wasn't much into the interpersonal story of Winston and Julia, but I thought the plot twist that came from it was a good one in my opinion. Really though it was the ending of 1984 that blew me away and redeemed the slow middle section. Dang. That ending."Shannon, I liked the ending as well. So sad... The highlight for me though was "The Book". I really enjoyed reading his visions on politics!
LauraT wrote: "One of my favourite novel as well!"LauraT, I'm happy to know that, as it doesn't get much recognition here on Goodreads :(
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The first thing I ever read by him was a short story "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings." That story immediately captured my imagination - so incredibly sad and a terrible truth in it. Have you ever read that story?
Anyway, I will make my way to One Hundred Years of Solitude sometime soon!
Great, I haven't read any other from García Marquez yet. I've been meaning to read Of Love and Other Demons, Love in the Time of Cholera and Memories of My Melancholy Whores for quite some time. I'll also look into the short story you mentioned!
Greg wrote: "Renato, I have greatly enjoyed several by Marquez. I haven't read One Hundred Years of Solitude, but I've read others, most recently Of Love and Other Demons (which I enjoye..."Here's the book Greg mentioned: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
I've read The Stars Look Down (in Italian translation) for the second time. I love this book.In my opinion, the story is touching and many tragic aspects of the described society are actual again, unfortunately.
I think that it's strange that it has a very little number of ratings...
I just finished listening to The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family on my run this morning. I liked this book. It was heart-warming that through all his troubles, David never lost his love & respect for his parents. He was troubled, yes; angry, yes and so, so hurt but through that all, he forgave.
I didn't realize that this was a sequel to A Child Called "It", although I did wonder whether The Lost Boy was an alternative title.
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All About Books
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I have also been waffling about reading Waters. Perhaps someone should nominate one of her books for our group fiction poll...