What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 3,201-3,250 of 12,687

[B the BookAddict]

@Laura Both you and your husband make very valid points.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Woman Who Borrowed Memories: Selected Stories https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Bette BookAddict wrote: "I've finished The Moment by Douglas Kennedy

My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Added this one.

[PDXReader]

I finished Margaret Atwood MaddAddam trilogy and I liked it quite a lot. I enjoyed Atwood's vision of the future and how humanity got there. There were some very imaginative sections that seemed very plausible. There were other aspects I was less impressed with, however. While the main characters were very well-crafted, some of the things going on around them seemed a bit cartoonish and over-the-top. Also, it was a real stretch for me to accept that (view spoiler)[a plague has wiped out most of humanity and yet the survivors all seem to know each other. Some connection is to be expected, but still. (hide spoiler)] I was also disappointed in events that occurred toward the end of the last novel, in that I thought the way she chose to relay it was a bit of a cop out.

It's definitely necessary to read all three books, in order, to understand the series (i.e., none of them except perhaps Oryx and Crake really work as a stand-alone novel). I thought the second book in the series was the strongest.

[PDXReader]

I also just finished a new biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Barbara Leaming. I thought it was relatively good as biographies go -- well-written and entertaining -- but I thought the author was overly gentle with her subject. She was definitely sympathetic to Jackie's problems, and at times I felt she probably should have been more objective. I'm curious now about what some of the other writers who've published books about Kennedy have to say about her.

[E.A.]

I just finished reading


The Temporal Knights

You can read my review Here

[Gill]

Miss GP wrote: "I finished Margaret Atwood MaddAddam trilogy and I liked it quite a lot. I enjoyed Atwood's vision of the future and how humanity got there. There were some very imaginative section..."

Yes, I think I agree re the order. I read the second one first, which was fine. It was quite odd when I then read the first one after that. I'm glad I've read all three though.

I also agree re your spoiler.

[Summerdale]

I just finished Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and I would recommend it to anyone who can get that silly green skinned, bolt necked movie character out of their head long enough to enjoy this beautifully told story.

[LauraT]

Summerdale wrote: "I just finished Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and I would recommend it to anyone who can get that silly green skinned, bolt necked movie character out of their head long enough to enjoy this beautiful..."

Great book Summerdale; I to had to overcome the preconcepts I had

[Dhanaraj]

Summerdale wrote: "I just finished Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and I would recommend it to anyone who can get that silly green skinned, bolt necked movie character out of their head long enough to enjoy this beautiful..."

That is one of my favourites too. Have you written a review for it? If so, give the link. I will be happy to read it.

[Kristin]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished The Woman Who Borrowed Memories: Selected Stories https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Lovely review, Diane. Tove Jansson is my favorite author, and it always makes me happy when other people talk about her, and like her.

I haven't seen that book before, but I know that I have read some of the stories you talked about (Travelling Light, for instance) Do you know if the book is entirely made up of selected stories from her published works? If it isn't, I might have to buy it :)

[Book Ninja]

I just finished A Storm of Swords. It was fun reading this but after 60% of the book I just wanted it to end, it took up too much of my reading time and it led to me ignoring other books. Also a lot of my favourite characters died so it was sad. Now I am on a break from the world of GOT and won't start the fourth book until January 2015!

[Jackie]

Just given up on A Girl is a Half Formed Thing by Eimear McBride. Managed to get to about page 90, then decided to throw in the towel. I'm baffled as to how it has won an award. 1 star barely. Utter tripe.

[Jenny]

The one star camp it is then!! ;) It's funny, this one really seems to divide readers.

[Jackie]

Jenny I'm really disappointed! Was looking forward to it. I hardly ever give up on a book and this one is only a couple of hundred pages long but I just couldn't stand it any more lol. If you get round to reading it let me know what you think!

[Jenny]

I will!

[Diane S ☔]

Finished and loved Lila https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kirsten]

Just finished Suspect by Robert Crais. It's been a long time since I gave a book 5 stars, but this book deserved it.

It was not just a really good mystery/thriller, it probably deserved 3.5 stars for that storyline alone. But add in the dog and relationship building and it shot up like a rocket!

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

[Angela M]

Just finished Dear Committee Members. My review of this really , really funny book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alice]

I've finished An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris. This historical thriller is one of the best novels I've read this year.

My 5-star review:-

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

I couldn't help but note the analogy between the story and the David vs Goliath situation that Hong Kong is now in :(

[B the BookAddict]

My short review of The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ensoleillé]

I am pilgrim. Overall it's a good story but I feel the protagonist (although it doesn't outwardly say) Is pro Israel and is also patronising his readers but I wouldn't expect anything less from a bestseller. You need the opium for the masses and that includes assuming all Muslims to be terrorists.

[Kaden]

I just finished Jeremiah's Codes a few days ago. Loved it and had trouble putting it down. it was easy to read and the story was non stop action, intrigue and suspense. I highly recommend it

[Shirley]

Ensoleillé wrote: "I am pilgrim. Overall it's a good story but I feel the protagonist (although it doesn't outwardly say) Is pro Israel and is also patronising his readers but I wouldn't expect anything less from a b..."

That's interesting. I'll be reading this in a couple of months as it's coming up to read in my book club. Not sure I will like it!

[Shirley]

I've just finished New Grub Street. Very well-written by George Gissing, who to my mind is an under-rated author.

[Greg]

Ensoleillé wrote: "I am pilgrim. Overall it's a good story but I feel the protagonist (although it doesn't outwardly say) Is pro Israel and is also patronising his readers but I wouldn't expect anything less from a b..."

Sonny, I am always leary of espionage and terrorist themed books because they're so often thinly disguised propaganda. Certain authors seem to make their living that way, doing slight variations of the same political themes over and over. Never read Terry Hayes though. John le Carré is one of the few exceptions - I liked The Spy Who Came In from the Cold.

[Ensoleillé]

I do have that book to read glen but I'm reading a couple of horror novels this month :)

[Gill]

I found I Am Pilgrim much better than I expected. It could have been cut a bit, but it kept my interest till the end. I found it frighteningly convincing.

[Shellie]

I just finished reading The Glenn. It was a great read, a few grammatical errors. However, if you love mystery/suspense you will love this book.

[Paula]

Angela wrote: "Just finished Dear Committee Members. My review of this really , really funny book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I just finished this one as well. Highly entertaining!

[Evelyn]

Just finished The Great Gatsby, loved the writing style, the descriptions were so vivid and original.

[LauraT]

Just finished Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!. A light read, nice, but iìhinting to racial problems we in Italy know only through american films: our immigrants are "brand new" - we have very few people coming to live in Italy from abrod before the '80s....

[Chrissie]

I wanted to read another book by Jane Smiley, so I tried The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.

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

I have also read her The Greenlanders. I do think she is a very talented writer, but each time something causes me to not give more stars..... STILL reading her is never a waste of time! Absolutely never. If you have not read something by her, you should. All of her books are so different in topic. How many authors can do that?!

[Michelle]

I have just read Once Upon a Christmas Miracle By Frank Cereo.

It was an amazing book, I couldn't put it down until was finished. It's a great book that shows how kind people can be when someone they love is in need. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Christmas-...

[Ensoleillé]

Gill I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed considering I was going to put it down after 50 pages. I finished the 890 page book in about 5 to 6 days. Quite a feat for me.

I've just finished Naomi's room by Jonathan aycliffe. It seemed promising, it certainly scared me in the first 80 pages but then it was a sore disappointment.

[Amber]

I finished a horror short story collection yesterday called A Murder of Crowsand it was a pretty good read plus you can get it as a free ebook download on goodreads right now. It reminded me of Tales from the Crypt and Are you Afraid of the Dark with Crows sitting around the campfire telling dark and twisted stories to a little girl.

[GeneralTHC]

Gill wrote: "I found I Am Pilgrim much better than I expected. It could have been cut a bit, but it kept my interest till the end. I found it frighteningly convincing."

It was a 5-star read for me. It made me want to read more spy-type books.

[GeneralTHC]

I wish I knew of really good creepy book for a Halloween read.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Norwegian by Night, Sheldon is a truly unforgettable character https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shirley]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished Norwegian by Night, Sheldon is a truly unforgettable character https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

That's on my to read list - someone else recommended it to be earlier this year.

[Chrissie]

I completed Christmas Holiday, which is not about Christmas. I liked it and will be reading more by Maugham. I hadn't realized he was born in France and that French was his first language. This book has a lot to say about the arts.

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

There is also a lot about the Russian community in Paris between the two wars. For me the most interesting character was Lydia, a Russian. In this book you get different cultures - British, Russian and of course French.

Thank you, Petra, for bringing this book to my attention. I think I will try Of Human Bondage. I am wondering if it is JUST about the British?

[Suraksha]

This Divided Island by Samanth Subramaniam..I have put my comments up. No review can do justice to this book,...in fact towards the end its as if the Author is depleted.
Human Bondage a classic on frailty passion and obsessions.

[Chrissie]

Suraksha, ok, I realize Of Human Bondage is about human behavior, BUT I am curious to know if some cultural differences are also examined.

[GeneralTHC]

Just finished what I consider to be a "guilty pleasure" read: Going Home.

[Suraksha]

Chrissie wrote: "Suraksha, ok, I realize Of Human Bondage is about human behavior, BUT I am curious to know if some cultural differences are also examined."

I did not observe any cultural nuances..maybe class differences between the educated and working class

[Petra]

Chrissie wrote: "Thank you, Petra, for bringing this book to my attention. I think I will try Of Human Bondage. I am wondering if it is JUST about the British?..."

I'm glad you enjoyed Christmas Holiday, Chrissie. It was the first of Maugham's books I've read, too. I also plan on reading more of his works. I like his writing.

[Chrissie]

Suraksha, thanks for explaining. The cultural themes was one of the things so good about Christmas Holiday.

Petra, I particularly enjoyed what he had to say about art. I like his writing too, but am a bit hesitant about reading something particularly English in tone, I mean that is not new territory. What are you going to read next? Still, since Of Human Bondage is partially biographical I guess I might choose that anyway.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Book of Strange New Things https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[GeneralTHC]

Oh yeah, finished Legion yesterday. Sorry to say I can't recommend it. Still looking for scary books...

[Angela M]

I finished Birdsong for the recommendation swap. Highly recommended. my brief review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....