What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 3,551-3,600 of 12,687

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Stone in a Landslide https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alice]

I've finished A Tale of Two Cities and have given it 3 stars.

My review:-

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

[Gisela]

Am reading my friend Siobhan Daiko's newest book In My Lady's Shadow. It plays out in Northern Italy. I love Italy. Unfortunately I have visited there in a long time, but when I still lived in Austria, I did. Reading Siobhan's book remind me of the days.

[GeneralTHC]

Ensoleillé wrote: "The spy who came in from the cold by John le carre"

Been meaning to read this author. I like spy novels, and he's supposed to be the best, from what I gather.

[Angela M]

Finished Everything I Never Told You. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Gisela]

Chuck wrote: "Ensoleillé wrote: "The spy who came in from the cold by John le carre"

Been meaning to read this author. I like spy novels, and he's supposed to be the best, from what I gather."

@Chuck What a great choice! After you read the book I can recommend the movie too. It's old and in b/w, but awesome. http://youtu.be/YY8Jn_YKJIs (This is the trailer). I was born in Austria (am living in the US for 26 yrs). One of our most famous actors, Oskar Werner, played a supporting role in this movie. Of course, Burton was phenomenal.

[GeneralTHC]

I finished The Accidental Universe: The World You Thought You Knew today. Pretty decent pop-science book.

I also just now finished Affinity by Sarah Waters. Not as good as THE LITTLE STRANGER, but she's definitely a great writer. I think I'll read The Paying Guests soon.

[GeneralTHC]

Gisela wrote: "@Chuck What a great choice! After you read the book I can recommend the movie too. It's old and in b/w, but awesome. http://youtu.be/YY8Jn_YKJIs (This is the trailer). I was born in Austria (am living in the US for 26 yrs). One of our most famous actors, Oskar Werner, played a supporting role in this movie. Of course, Burton was phenomenal. "

Maybe someone can explain something to me about this. I thought Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was the first book of a trilogy. GR is showing it as the first book of The Karla Trilogy, but then I see that it's the fifth book of the George Smiley series. I was going to start with that one. I heard a lot a good stuff about it--a lot people think it's the best spy novel. But if it's actually part of a larger series maybe I should hold off on it.

[LauraT]

binsie wrote: "Just gave up on Beloved. From the reviews it looks like a Marmite job, you either love it or hate it."

I loved it. Let's see what you think!

[Amber]

I read A Reversible Santa Claus and it was a pretty funny Christmas story.

[Monica]

Amber wrote: "I read A Reversible Santa Claus and it was a pretty funny Christmas story."

Thanks, Amber. I'll bite...short read (60 pages) and Kindle freebie
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...

[Kimberly]

I've just read Lullabies by Lang Leav. It was better than Love and Misadventures in my opinion. I'm currently experiencing waves of nostalgia.

[Petra]

I just finished reading The Whistling Season. Ugh! If it hadn't been highly recommended by a friend, I would never have gotten through to the end. Sigh. For her sake, I would have liked to have loved this book.
Here is my sad review.

[a_reader]

Just finished number9dream. I am reading David Mitchell's books in order of publication but this one was just okay. 2 Stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

I completed Jerusalem: The Biography. :0)))

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

[Bean]

I just finished reading Marked (House of Night #1). I can't wait to finish the series. I wonder if my theory of what happens next will be true. I don't want to give any spoilers but feel free to contact me so we can chat about the book.

[Julia]

Chrissie wrote: "I completed Jerusalem: The Biography. :0)))

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

I loved your review Chrissie, but I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction so I think I'll pass this one

Alvenia wrote: "I just finished reading Marked (House of Night #1). I can't wait to finish the series. I wonder if my theory of what happens next will be true. I don't want to give any spoilers but feel free to contact me so we can chat about the book.

Alvenia - I have this on my TR shelf but have not yet gotten around to reading it.

[Chrissie]

Julia, I DO love non-fiction. There are great authors and books out there. Such authors can write non-fiction so it grips you like a book of fiction. This one does NOT fill that bill. I really suffered while I was reading Jerusalem: The Biography. I was going to give it one star simply as a protest, but when I had cooled down I decided that since some parts sere in fact good I should up it to two. But this was a huge struggle, and I am immensely proud to have finished it. I have several friends who didn't finish and didn't rate the book. The GR star rating is exaggerated if people who quit don't rate the book.

Julia, thanks for telling me you liked the review. I finished the book last night and went to bed fuming. I was so annoyed I could hardly sleep. Then I got up at 4:30 AM to write the review.

[Diane S ☔]

Very good review Chrissie, many reasons why some people do not read non fiction.
Finished A Christmas Carol last night. First Dickens I have read in over 20 yrs. Loved it. Vhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

Diane, it is books like Jerusalem: The Biography that turn people away from non-fiction.

[Monica]

Just finished Steinbeck's The Pearl. Thanks, Greg, for recommending this.)

Steinbeck wrote an incredible variety of stories. Another of his books, read years ago: The Moon Is Down, is also a worthwhile read.

[Chrissie]

I do agree with you, Monica. The Moon Is Down was really good. Not so often is propaganda, which is what this was when it came out, used to a good purpose. Steinbeck certainly was talented.

[Julia]

Chrissie - do you have any non-fiction favorites? I do want to explore more of the genre, but every thing I pick up seems to be so lifeless and dry

[Petra]

I'm not Chrissie but here are a few that I really enjoyed, Julia:

The Emperor of All Maladies - easy to read and very positive in attitude. There's one chapter that gets a bit scientific but only the one.

Finding George Orwell in Burma - warning: there are lots of spoilers to George Orwell's books in these pages, if you haven't read his books yet. A nice mix of travelogue, history, politics, people.

Timothy, or Notes of an Abject Reptile - based on the real life notes of Timothy's owner in the time before Darwin. Timothy's owner is interested in evolution (although it wasn't known as that then) and makes avid notes on his surroundings and the changes, speculating on nature. Timothy, living longer and having a broader perspective, tells his side of things.

[Amber]

Okay enjoy Monica. I got it for free from Project Gutenberg with The Christmas Angel and The Romance of A Christmas Card. :)

[Chrissie]

Julia wrote: "Chrissie - do you have any non-fiction favorites? I do want to explore more of the genre, but every thing I pick up seems to be so lifeless and dry"

Lindbergh
Chanel: An Intimate Life
In Cold Blood
Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West
Ava's Man
Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie
The Life of Elizabeth I
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra
A House in the Sky
Sipping from the Nile: My Exodus From Egypt
Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
are some books I liked a lot. Pick something that looks interesting to you. I believe I have written reviews about most of these. They might help you to choose.

[Julia]

Thanks Chrissie and Petra! I'll check a few of these out.

[Diane S ☔]

I loved The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which I read not to long ago.

[Chrissie]

Julia, the only one that I gave five stars was Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, but I am not sure what kind of books you like best.

[Greg]

Monica wrote: "Just finished Steinbeck's The Pearl. Thanks, Greg, for recommending this.)

Steinbeck wrote an incredible variety of stories. Another of his books, read years ago: The Moon Is Dow..."</i>

My pleasure Monica! :) I will definitely check out [book:The Moon Is Down.

[Greg]

Petra, Finding George Orwell in Burma looks really good! Since I've read most of his work, I don't need to worry so much about spoilers. :)

[Diane S ☔]

Petra wrote: "I just finished reading The Whistling Season. Ugh! If it hadn't been highly recommended by a friend, I would never have gotten through to the end. Sigh. For her sake, I would have lik..."

Have never read anything by this author. Was this your first too?

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Secret Wisdom of the Earth https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Julia]

Great review Diane!

[Alice]

I've just read A Christmas Carol and am joining the fans club for this classic of Dickens' - 5 stars :)

[Greg]

Great Alice! I love that one too! :)

[Chrissie]

Waiting for Sunrise went down the drain. A total disappointment.

My very, very short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Julia wrote: "Great review Diane!"

Thanks, Julia.

[Diane S ☔]

Chrissie wrote: "Waiting for Sunrise went down the drain. A total disappointment.

My very, very short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Funny how one can love one book by an author and dislike another.

[Kristi]

I just finished Shotgun Lovesongs. It was only okay. The story was told by a group of friends, but they all had the same voice.

[Evelyn]

I have finished Big Little Lies and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Chrissie]

Diane S. wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Waiting for Sunrise went down the drain. A total disappointment.

My very, very short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Funny how one can l..."

Diane, re Waiting for Sunrise

I liked Boyd's language, even in this one. I like how he creates people that draw your interest and he throws in history and details about literature and music and other topics too. But then there is the story that is being told and the message that is being conveyed. Both completely failed me in this book. You get a very complicated spy story that is impossible to solve; and maybe the point is you are not even supposed to try. The ending is totally dissatisfying. This has nothing to do with needing a tight ending.

[Julia]

Just finished Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

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

[Diane S ☔]

Julia wrote: "Great review Diane!"

Thanks Julia,

[Diane S ☔]

Chrissie wrote: "Diane S. wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Waiting for Sunrise went down the drain. A total disappointment.

My very, very short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Fu..."
I have The Blue Afternoon, have you read that one?

[Diane S ☔]

Finished the thought provoking The Same Sky: A Novel https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

Liked The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories.

Carson McCullers can write. She says a lot with few words.

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

[Chrissie]

Sandy, glad I could help. My favorite by McCullers is The Member of the Wedding, followed by The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. But you must also try Shirley Ann Grau. For exampleThe Hard Blue Sky.

[Chrissie]

Diane S. wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Diane S. wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Waiting for Sunrise went down the drain. A total disappointment.

My very, very short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/sho..."

Diane, The Blue Afternoon is on my wish list. Philippines. Looks interesting. I do NOT want another complicated spy story.

[dely]

I've finished book 3 of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. I liked it but not as much as the first volume. In this one there are less surreal happenings and the story deals much more with the private and inner life of the main characters.