What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 3,651-3,700 of 12,687

[Renato]

I also finished and reviewed Ulysses recently: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

While it was a crazy trip, I do encourage everyone at least attempting to read this book one day!

[Ensoleillé]

Dark places by Gillian Flynn possibly my favourite book by her

[[deleted user]]

old stone: haiku, senryu & haibun by Ashley Capes. Freedom never tasted so good. Highly recommended to the lover of minimalist poetry.

[Evelyn]

Whoo Hoo! I join Renato in finishing Ulysses!

[Angela M]

Whoo Hoo is right ! Finished Ulysses after an 18 week read along. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[[deleted user]]

Very impressed with all you Ulysses readers. I hope when I get round to it at some point in the future that I can find a group to read it with that is just as engaging and involved

[Jenny]

dely wrote: "I've finished my first book of the year, Cassandra by Christa Wolf. It was my first book by her and at the beginning I've struggled a lot to get into her writing styl..."

Very glad you enjoyed it dely, her Medea is really good as well

To all of you Ulysses readers: congratulations! :)

[dely]

Jenny wrote: "dely wrote: "I've finished my first book of the year, Cassandra by Christa Wolf. It was my first book by her and at the beginning I've struggled a lot to get into her..."

If I will be brave enough I want to try her in German. In the afterword I've read that in the Italian translation they had to change some punctuation in order to give a meaning to some sentences. Surely also the assonances and onomatopoeias are different in the orginal language and so all the "music" of the language changes.

[Beth]

Just finished Still Life with Bread Crumbs - 4 stars and here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[dely]

I have finished Waiting for the Mahatma by R.K. Narayan. I always like to read books set in India. This was an easy and fast read and I needed something relaxing after Christa Wolf's Cassandra. For my tastes there wasn't enough insight neither in the history of that time (the years around the Independence), neither a deep insight in the love story among the two characters but I however liked it, it's a 3*.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Girl on the Pier https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A psychological study of a man and his memories from a debut author.

[Petra]

The Ulysses read-along was a lot of fun....we're thinking of doing it again next year, aren't we, Ulyssians? ........ {{ducking head and running}}

(seriously, though, it was a lot of fun)

[Evelyn]

Run Petra Run! Lol

[Angela M]

Maybe in a couple of years !

[Robin P]

I was also disappointed in The Crimson Petal, which was a shame as I generally love faux Victorian novels.

Just read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I seem to be one of the few people in the world who didn't love it. It seemed like average chick lit to me, unrealistic characters and way too many personal tragedies per capita. I think the setting of a bookstore is what attracted people but I'm sure there are better books with that setting.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Bryant & May and the Bleeding Heart: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery, one of my favorite series https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chrissie]

I finally pushed myself to read the first of the seven volumes that make up Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust. The first book is Swann's Way.

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

[Ensoleillé]

Tarantula (the skin I live in) by Thierry Jonquet

[Greg]

Ensoleillé wrote: "Tarantula (the skin I live in) by Thierry Jonquet"

How was it Sonny? The description on GR sounded a bit disturbing.

[Kathryn]

I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family court cases. Her legal career is very successful but few in her life realize that inwardly she agonizes over her own inability to procreate. McEwan's prose is lovely to read and his characters are fascinating to follow. McEwan authored the prize-winning novel, Atonement, which ultimately was made into an excellent movie.

[Leslie]

I have finished the audiobook of The Three Musketeers, narrated by John Lee. I have read my print edition of this several times before but it still gets 5 stars! Even knowing the plot, I get so caught up in the story that I can't put it down. And it never feels too long to me. I am excited to be reading the whole series as one of my personal challenges this year! :-)

[[deleted user]]

Leslie wrote: "I have finished the audiobook of The Three Musketeers, narrated by John Lee. I have read my print edition of this several times before but it still gets 5 stars! Even knowing the plot, I g..."

It's on my tbr list and one I'd love to get to this year

[Ensoleillé]

Greg, it is disturbing but really worth it. It kept me guessing fright to the end.

[Greg]

Good to know Sonny - thanks!

[Diana]

Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family court cases. Her legal career is very successfu..."

Agree - it was very good... Did you find yourself wondering who might play the lead in a film adaptation?

In addition to "Atonement", are there other McEwan titles you'd recommend? I thought Amsterdam was quite good even though it seems to be less favored than some of his other work.

[Book Ninja]

I just finished The Miniaturists and I rated it two stars. It wasn't what I expected it to be. I thought I would be mesmerized by the story but I was disappointed instead.

[Monica]

Finished The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain from Vienna 1900 to the Present, and highly recommend it...a fascinating read.

[Kathryn]

Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family court cases. Her legal career i..."

I plan to read Amsterdam as soon as I get it - this was recommended to me by a co-member of our local Book Club. Haven't thought about other books by McEwan. As for the female lead in a film version of The Children Act, that's a toughie! Maybe someone like Emily Blunt or Kelly McDonald but I'm biased when it comes to these two (Big Fan) - both are very good performers.

[Amber]

Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates was a pretty good read and is the author's first ever YA title. I read two of her mystery thrillers but this was my first time I read her YA title.

[Greg]

Monica wrote: "Finished The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain from Vienna 1900 to the Present, and highly recommend it...a fascinating read."

Looks good Monica - I added it to my to-read list!

[Monica]

Greg wrote: "Monica wrote: "Finished The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain from Vienna 1900 to the Present, and highly recommend it...a fascinating ..."

Wonderful, Greg. It takes some time. Written for the layperson, but packed with info. The first section is heavily "Freudian" (central to the time period). I especially enjoyed the sections dealing with the biology of the brain. (If nothing else, read Part V...creativity and the brain...fascinating.)

[Kathryn]

Monica wrote: "Greg wrote: "Monica wrote: "Finished The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain from Vienna 1900 to the Present, and highly recommend it...a..."

Monica, your description has whetted my appetite! I'm going to get a copy ASAP. Love reading about the brain's workings. Hope to find one that explains why I so strongly prefer to read a hard copy of a book rather than read using a different method.

[Kristi]

Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family court cases. Her legal career i..."

If you like The Children Act, then you might want to try Enduring Love. I also liked Sweet Tooth. I have read several of his books, and Atonement remains one of my favorite books of all time. A lot of people really like Saturday. It wasn't one of my favorites, but I can't remember why I didn't like it. I don't usually tell people not to read a book, but I would avoid The Cement Garden. I believe it was his first book, and I probably wouldn't have read anything else by him if this had been the first I had read.

[Kristi]

I finished Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel earlier this week. I enjoy speculative fiction, and I thought this book was very plausible. I really liked it and plan to read more by this author.

[Monica]

Kathryn wrote: "Monica, your description has whetted my appetite! I'm going to get a copy ASAP. Love reading about the brain's workings..."

Kathryn, I found it quite interesting. Looking forward to your thoughts.

[Angela M]

Catching up here from the past week or so .

Finished Ulysses with the read along group . Fun experience with great people . My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also read : Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mr Mac and Me. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Finished my first five star read for this year. The Birds of Pandemonium https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[dely]

Yesterday I finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. 5 stars for me. It was an amazing, engrossing, touching and interesting book. It is based on true events though some parts are fictionalized. It talks about the history of a 500 years ancient manuscript, the Haggadah, a Hebrew prayer book.
It was also a moving story and what touched me the most is that love for art, books and culture goes beyong religions. This Hebrew manuscript has been saved twice by muslim librarians; also when we read about the history of the book, people of different religions are bound by the love of art, history and culture.

[Janice]

HI dely,

thnks for your review - I've been putting off reading this as I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it, but based on your rev,I'm pulling it off my TBR shelf and going to it!

[Dhanaraj]

Read a collection of stories in which the major theme was REVENGE. The human mind in moments of vengeful feelings is deeply analysed in these stories.

If interested try out the review for Revenge:

The link - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nancy from NJ]

I just finished All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. A magnificent book which I highly recommend. You can read my review for this book at Amazon or Goodreads.

[Renato]

I finished yesterday my second read of Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, the first volume of his amazing À la recherche du temps perdu, which I consider to be my favorite work in literature and urge everyone to read it!

Anyway, here's my review - it's a bit too long, but I had a lot to say: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diana]

Kathryn wrote: "Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family court cases. Her ..."

I hadn't thought of Emily Blunt - but believe she'd be great (I'm a fan, too). All I could think of was Helen Mirren, but perhaps she's not the right age.

[B the BookAddict]

dely wrote: "Yesterday I finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. 5 stars for me. It was an amazing, engrossing, touching and interesting book. It is based on true events..."

I've given this book a try some years ago and didn't really like it. I must read it again and hope I draw the same emotions you did.

[B the BookAddict]

Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who handles family co..."

I admit I haven't read it but hasn't the m/c been married thirty years? Emily Blunt is a good actress but wouldn't she be too young?

[Amber]

You are not supposed to self-promote here Aaron. They have a No self-promotion policy here and it is self promotion if you talk about your sisters book.

[Petra]

Renato wrote: "I finished yesterday my second read of Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, the first volume of his amazing À la recherche du temps perdu, which I consider to be my favorite work in literature..."

Renato, have you read the rest of the books? I read Swann's Way (beautiful writing) a few years back. Do you think it would be wise to reread Swann's Way before continuing with the rest?

[Chrissie]

I enjoyed The Blue Afternoon and would recommend it to others.

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

[Kristi]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Diana wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I recently read The Children Act by Ian McEwan. I found it very engrossing and enjoyable. It involves a female High Court judge who han..."

You're correct that Fiona is older. I remember her being in her late 50s, or maybe even early 60s.

[dely]

B the BookAddict wrote: "I've given this book a try some years ago and didn't really like it. I must read it again and hope I draw the same emotions you did. "

Do you remember why you didn't like it? I found it really touching above all with what is happening nowadays. All the hatreds due to religion could be overcome if people watch what they have in common and not what separates them.