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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Jorge Amado? He's Brazilian, like me :)
Greg wrote: "Thanks Bette! :)":) I've added that book to my tbr!
Petra wrote: "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 trouble..."
One of the most often replaced books at my library.
I've just finished reading The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. I liked the crisp breezy flow of the writing but had a problem with the first-person narration and the use of present tense for this ancient character and ancient settings. I can't say that I like the character of Elizabeth Woodville as portrayed.Here's my review:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Diane S. wrote: "Petra wrote: "I just finished listening to The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family on my run this morning. One of the most often replaced books at my library.
..."
That's interesting, Diane. I found it by accident on the audiobook shelf. It's nice that its still so well read.
Gill wrote: "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..."
Thanks Gill! I'll definitely be reading it.
I finished the Sarah Waters' book I was reading: The Little Stranger Absolutely superb! The closest thing to a perfect novel I've ever read. It's a shame it was up against WOLF HALL for the 2009 Man Booker Award.
I finished reading 'Confessions of a Mask' by Yukio Mishima yesterday. It was a wonderful read, as it made me open my mind to some hidden matters regarding my own honesty towards sexual instincts. What I appreciated was the ability of telling a story so true about one self (I truly admire Yukio Mishima and his book because of this). I came to understand that I may never be able to open myself to the world the way he did: it made me sad, frustrated, and yet excited (that I might one day find the power of doing the same). I connected with many feelings the author seems to have experienced, though the circumstances and explicit content are completely distinct. As far as I am concerned, this was one hell of a read. I am glad to have read it. And yes, it is profound, though not as depressing as you might suppose (we know Japanese authors have a great tendency towards depression, or that's how europeans tend to perceive it). I am not saying it lacks the 'depressing' element, because it doesn't. However, the book in itself preserves an interestingly honest tone, while even though the facts aren't easily pointed out as 'common' or 'normal', the circumstances and scenario seem strikingly real.
Confessions of a Mask sounds very intriguing Ramona. I am trying to remember where I have heard of Yukio Mishima before, it might have been Dhanaraj who recommended him during his literary Japanese excursion. However I found Spring Snow by him on my TBR, have you read this one too Ramona?
Yukio Mishima is always in my radar. I had read a novella by him and liked it a lot. I am yet to read his full fledged novels.
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 ..."I read Wuthering Heights this summer and felt much the same way about it. I can appreciate the good things about it, but I didn't like the characters or even enjoy reading it.
Kristi, after Madame Bovary, Emma and now Wuthering Heights, I'm starting to learn how to enjoy a book even though I can't endorse the characters... I'm beginning to find the possibility to peek their brains and understand why they're so reprehensible a very attractive exercise.
@Jenny,I haven't read anything else by Mishima until now, only 'Confessions of a Mask'. I am planning to read some more of his work when I get the chance. When/if I read the one you mentioned as well, then I will tell you what I think about it.
Nice review, Amber. I've seen the movie but not read the book. I'm glad that the book follows the movie. The movie was so touching. I finished Cutting for Stone last night. It was a wonderful story of family and forgiveness. I loved it. It's going to be a hard book to review, though. I've really got to mull this one over.
Petra wrote: "Nice review, Amber. I've seen the movie but not read the book. I'm glad that the book follows the movie. The movie was so touching. I finished Cutting for Stone last night. It was ..."
Thanks Petra. Glad you enjoyed it. Definitely check the book out sometime. You'll enjoy it. I read it as the complete serial novel with all six parts put together as an omnibus volume but he has them as the six individual skinny books too by themselves.
Amber wrote: "here's my review for The Green Mile, enjoy!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Good review, Amber. I, too, cried at the end of the book and the end of the film. I think all who have appreciated the film should read the book. There is only so much a film can portray; a book takes you closer to the heart of the story.
Thanks Bette. :) Glad you enjoyed it.
@Jenny. I bow in the face of Dhanaraj's literary excursions; he makes my reading seem like comic fodder.@Dhanaraj. Your reading scope is commendable.
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I love him. Started by reading his Showdown - a gift from my philosophy teacher! - and fell in love with his stories and his way of telling them. Read a lot of his books
LauraT wrote: "Renato wrote: "Jorge Amado? He's Brazilian, like me :)"I love him. Started by reading his Showdown - a gift from my philosophy teacher! - and fell in love with his stories and his w..."
I'm adding to many books to my wishlist!
Petra- I loved Cutting For Stone as well. I look forward to your review when you write it.
Great review, Amber. I've not actually seen the film but maybe I should read the book first!
Great review, Amber. I've not actually seen the film but maybe I should read the book first!
Can anyone please recommend books along the lines of The Sense of an Ending? And is there a name for this type of story? It essentially seems to be the opposite of a "coming of age" story.
LauraT wrote: "Renato wrote: "Jorge Amado? He's Brazilian, like me :)"I love him. Started by reading his Showdown - a gift from my philosophy teacher! - and fell in love with his stories and his w..."
I really liked Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by him.
Some months ago, an association of Pavia, that collect books for the mobile library in the hospital, gave a social event wherein they offered brazialian dishes cited or illustrated on the Amado books :)
I absolutely loved that book Chuck. As like you I would be happy to read more like that. I think there is a cleverness too with books written in the first person.
Heather wrote: "Petra- I loved Cutting For Stone as well. I look forward to your review when you write it. Great review, Amber. I've not actually seen the film but maybe I should read the book first!"
Thanks Heather. Definitely do both. Read the book and then watch the movie adaptation of the Green Mile as the movie is true to the book and glad you enjoyed my book review of it. :)
Wow, how cool! I'm surprised how much Jorge Amado is known outside of Brazil! :-)
I've finished Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary MantelMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heather wrote: "Petra- I loved Cutting For Stone as well. I look forward to your review when you write it. "
Heather, I'm glad I saw your post. I don't often come back and post my reviews (should I be?).
Here is my review for Cutting For Stone.
Finished Em and The Big Hooma story about a family in Bombay whose mother has bi-polar disorder and how it affects the family. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Renato wrote: "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.."</i>I saw the movie adaptation of [book:Love in the Time of Cholera and thought it was very touching.
A few days ago I've finished Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev and liked it.The book portrays Russian society around 1860 and from one side we have the nobilty near to decay and from the other the new revolutionaries; from one side Bazarov, a nihilist from the new society, and from the other side Arkadij, a young man still attached to the principles of his aristocratic family.
I would recommend it to who likes Russian literature or who wants to read about Russian history of that time.
Dely, you say nothing about the father/son relationship. Didn't that move you? I saw that we both have given it four stars.
Chrissie wrote: "Dely, you say nothing about the father/son relationship. Didn't that move you? I saw that we both have given it four stars."In my opinion also the father-son relationship was there only to show the gap among an old aristocratic family and the new upcoming generation. It was to underline the main theme of the book but I couldn't find something touching in it perhaps because I didn't give a lot of importance to their emotional bond but rather to the differences of opinion among fathers and sons.
Father/Son relationship is one of my preferred themes. I might try this book.
Alice wrote: "I saw the movie adaptation of [book:Love in the Time of Cholera and thought it was very touching."I really want to see it as well, as it features the greatest Brazilian actress (Fernanda Montenegro), but I want to read the book first!
dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Dely, you say nothing about the father/son relationship. Didn't that move you? I saw that we both have given it four stars."In my opinion also the father-son relationship was the..."
#dely,
'Fathers and sons' is one of my favourite books, at least from Russian literature and surely from Turgenev's works. I quite agree with your opinion regarding the father-son relationship: it isn't touching, and I don't suppose it should be. I also believe it stresses the difference between two generations, rather than anything else (and this is the true 'relationship' between fathers and sons that's supposed in the book, as I see it). It's a great read (and handsomely written, if you ask me), and I would also recommend it. Great to see other people appreciate it as well :)!
dely wrote: "In my opinion also the father-son relationship was there only to show the gap among an old aristocratic family and the new upcoming generation. It was to underline the main theme of the book but I couldn't find something touching in it perhaps because I didn't give a lot of importance to their emotional bond but rather to the differences of opinion among fathers and sons. ..."I reacted very differently!
Dhanaraj, do read it. Even if Dely and I liked different aspects we both gave it four stars.
For my part, I think fathers and sons (or parents and children) often end up on opposite sides of the scale but there remains love that binds them.
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We all seem to love Fathers and Sons if for perhaps different reasons. The varied ingredients do end up working for many readers.
I finished The Finisher and it was a pretty good read for my first David Baldacci novel. I'll post my review later.
Renato wrote: "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 ..."@Renato, 1984 is one of my all-time favorites! As well, George Orwell is one of my favorite authors! He seemed to be one idealist about politics but I love him for it!
i've just read heated by j. kenner and what a book it was it is the second in the most wanted erotica series and the best one so far. i couldn't put it down and took me only two days to read. im just reading the third now, ignited and so far theirs no disappointments
I've read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 4★My review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A book I read before joining AAB and one I really liked: The Paris Wife by Paula McLainMy review is at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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LauraT, I'm happy to know that, as it doesn't get much recognition here on Goodreads :("
You're right. Not a lot of south american literature. But it is great nontheless. I also like Amado a lot, from another language...