What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 3,701-3,750 of 12,687

[dely]

Janice wrote: "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!"

I hope you will like it. The first chapter was a little bit boring but then it becomes always better.

[B the BookAddict]

I've finished The Queen Of Four Kingdoms by HRH Princess Michael of Kent

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

[Gill]

Petra wrote: "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)"
Ha ha!

[Leslie]

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, are you planning on reading the whole series? For some reason, Swann's Way has been a popular choice this January... Oh, I see Petra has also asked this.

I finished two books today, January Exposure and The Vicar of Wakefield.

January Exposure is the first book in a cozy mystery series set in Fargo North Dakota -- it was OK, not bad but not great either. I gave it 3 stars but 2½ is probably more accurate.

The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith I found pretty amusing. It is a satire of English society first published in 1762, so the writing style may not be for everyone. I am a fan of historical fiction set in Regency/Georgian England so it was interesting to read something that was actually written at the time. However, if you haven't read any Goldsmith before, I would recommend his play She Stoops to Conquer over this novel.

[Gill]

I'm starting The Vicar of Wakefield today, Leslie. Interesting to see your views.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished a book of short stories Almost Famous Women: Stories. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Renato]

Petra wrote: "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?"

Petra, I have and plan to re-read them all as well. Yes, I would advise you to re-read the first volume as it's where Proust sets all the themes he'll develop later.



Leslie wrote: "Renato, are you planning on reading the whole series? For some reason, Swann's Way has been a popular choice this January..."

Leslie, I'm definitely re-reading all the other volumes as well as I loved them as much as I liked Swann's Way on the first read!

[Petra]

Thank you, Renato. I'll reread Swann's Way before continuing the series. It was a beautifully written book and I enjoyed it a lot (in a quiet, meandering way). :D

[Renato]

No problem, Petra! Since you read the book, perhaps my review would help you in identifying how much you still remember or if you'll really benefit from a second read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'd re-read it anyway though! :-)

[Angela M]

Just finished The Jazz Palace: A Novel. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Greg]

I just finished A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld, a powerful graphic novel that interweaves the true stories of 7 separate people who survived Hurricane Katrina, beginning before the storm and continuing through the aftermath.

My review (4 stars): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kristi]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished a book of short stories Almost Famous Women: Stories. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Thanks for you review, Diane. I look forward to reading this book.

[Kristi]

I finished Stone Mattress: Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood this morning. Atwood is probably my favorite author, and she didn't let me down with this collection of short stories.

[B the BookAddict]

dely wrote: "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 ..."

I probably read it when it was first released so no longer remember exactly why I didn't like it. I'm certainly willing to give it another go and have listed it on my tbr:)

[Robin P]

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..."

I have loved the Musketeers since I read a children's version at about age 9. I then read a classics version when I was about 12 that included more details like Milady's past that had been left out. And it was only when I read the original in French as an adult that I found out there were parts that had still been left out of D"Artagnan's love life.

I was writing a PhD thesis on Dumas many years ago but never finished the degree. He was a fabulous character who would have been at home today going on talk shows and writing made-for-TV scripts. I think it is time for me to reread the whole series but I have so many other things I want to read!

[Petra]

I finished Valley of Strength by Shulamit Lapid last night.
All in all, I quite enjoyed it but Fania's relationship with her husband was a bit too "romancey" for me. I tried to remember that she was young, though, and knew so little about life. The rest of the story is powerful in the context of a new state being formed.
Here is my review, for more details.

[LauraT]

FInished between yesterday and today - had to stay at hospital for a check up - all well - so plenty of time to read being off line!!! - Five Quarters of the Orange.
Not bad, a good insight of children's psycology and a nice setting in France during WWII. Could have been a village in northen Italy ...

[[deleted user]]

Hope you're ok, Laura! I had similar feelings about the book

[LauraT]

Yes I'm well thanks Heather. It was just a check up of my thyroid gland and all is as before; so I'll have only to check next september and do nothing else!!!! Luky me: I was supposend to have another needle aspirate yesterday if things were different. Luky me ;)

[Bionic Jean]

So pleased for you, Laura :)

[Janice]

that's great news LauraT - my sister also has thyroid issues and has regular check ups - we're always please/relieved when she has good news. take care!

[LauraT]

Thanks everyone!

[Angela M]

Great news , Laura.

[Monica]

Sandy wrote: "A few days ago, I finished reading A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella L. Bird. My review is here."

Very nice review, Sandy.

[Diane S ☔]

Sounds like something I would like, Sandy. Nice review.

[Leslie]

Glad you are OK Laura!

@Robin, have you read the Dumas biography The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo? I've heard good things about it but haven't read it myself.

[Angela M]

Just finished A Land More Kind Than Home. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Can't stop thinking about this book .

[Laurel]

Nice review Angela - I've got A Land More Kind Than Home on my kindle and have been meaning to read it for ages now.

[Angela M]

Laurel , thanks . I had it for a while too and even though it's a tough read in some ways , it is just so good . Hope you like it too .

[Chinook]

I finally read The Bell Jar. I bought a copy right before my last year of university fifteen years ago.

I was very pleasantly surprised. I've heard it compared to Catcher in the Rye often, which I recall liking well enough when I read it as a teen but hated when I reread it to teach. I had thought that perhaps I'd missed the window for reading it, but i enjoyed the story a great deal. I'll have to tackle some of her poetry soon, though I generally don't read poetry.

[Beth]

Chinook wrote: "I finally read The Bell Jar. I bought a copy right before my last year of university fifteen years ago.

I was very pleasantly surprised. I've heard it compared to Catcher in the Rye o..."

I absolutely loved The Bell Jar. It has been one of my favorite books for the last 35 years or so.

[Alice]

I've finished reading The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire, which I find just as compelling as Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by the same author.

My review:-

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

[Beth]

Sandy wrote: "Beth wrote: "Chinook wrote: "I finally read The Bell Jar. I bought a copy right before my last year of university fifteen years ago.

I was very pleasantly surprised. I've heard it com..."

It is kind of depressing in ways - but it is also beautiful and poignant - I consider it a "must read" for it's literary merit.

[Leslie]

Sandy wrote: "I finished reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham a few days ago. It has been a struggle, but I finally managed to write a review, which is here."

Have you seen the movie? I am curious about how the book and the movie compare...

[dely]

B the BookAddict wrote: "I probably read it when it was first released so no longer remember exactly why I didn't like it. I'm certainly willing to give it another go and have listed it on my tbr:) "

I hope you will like it if you will re-read it ;-)
I wanted to write a review but hadn't time yet.

[dely]

LauraT wrote: "FInished between yesterday and today - had to stay at hospital for a check up - all well - so plenty of time to read being off line!!! - Five Quarters of the Orange.
Not bad, a good in..."

I'm glad everything is fine!

[dely]

I have finished With Downcast Eyes by Tahar Ben Jelloun.
It was so good and interesting at the beginning and till half of the book and suddenly everything changed. It could have been a really good book but I rated it only 2 stars.
It's the story about Fatima, a Berber girl, who has a very sad childhood and she is obliged to live with a bad aunt. Her father lives in France for work and when she is ten he goes and takes his family away from there leading them to Paris.
It was interesting to read about the difficulties and the feelings an immigrant had. There was a kind of love for the new culture and hate for the poverty and desperation of the native country. However, growing older, Fatima had to deal with her past and, above all, her roots.
Suddenly, in the middle of the book, the real characters mingle with characters from Fatima's dreams and fantasy. I wasn't anymore able to understand what was going on. It was a pity because it is a well written book with a poetic language and good quotes.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished A Spool of Blue Thread https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[E.A.]

I just finished reading Harvest by Beth Martinu you can read my Review Here

[Alannah]

Just finished Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult, I gave it four stars.

[Evelyn]

Just finished Daughter of Fortune, really liked it. I found the setting and the time frame interesting, Chile and San Francisco, gold rush mid 1800's.

[LauraT]

dely wrote: "I have finished With Downcast Eyes by Tahar Ben Jelloun.
It was so good and interesting at the beginning and till half of the book and suddenly everything changed. It ..."

I've seen and exhibition of his paintings in Torino last winter; really nice; I don't have read anything by him, but I know he is a really good writer and openminded as well

[Gill]

I've just finished reading The Vicar of Wakefield.

Here's a link to my review:

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

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Brown Girl Dreaming a book in prose about the author's life. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Monica]

Gill wrote: "I've just finished reading The Vicar of Wakefield.

Looks like something I might enjoy. Added to my reading list. Thanks, Gill.

[Chrissie]

Finished Rodin: A Biography. A very good book if you are curious about the sculptor.

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

[dely]

LauraT wrote: "I've seen and exhibition of his paintings in Torino last winter; really nice; I don't have read anything by him, but I know he is a really good writer and openminded as well "

Didn't know he was also a painter.
I have other two books by him (well, my son has them) and I will surely give him another try because he writes very well and the topic was interesting.

[Diana]

Alice wrote: "I've finished reading The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire, which I find just as compelling as [book:Genghis Khan and the Mak..."

Thanks for the review. That sounds like an incredible book.

[Diana]

I read Euphoria by Lily King on Sunday and was glad I did. The premise is based on three anthropologists who are studying various tribes in New Guinea during the 1930s. Layers of story reveal themselves like the peeling of an onion (sans the tears for the most part). I just love novels with plots an ideas that are at best unchartered, and at least not so familiar.

[Chrissie]

Diane,I too thought Euphoria was fantastic. I loved how King took Mead's life and made a fictional story of it. I loved how she captured the feel of the era, the excitement, when anthropology was still a new science.