What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 4,201-4,250 of 12,687

[Bionic Jean]

Thanks Joy - I understand your thinking, I think!

[Dale]

Mikayla wrote: "I have just finished reading Little Women by. Louisa May Alcott. I would personally recomend this book to any woman, young or old. Because, it is a wonderful story about 4 sisters that are living d..."

I read and re-read this as a child. Enjoyed the others but this was always the one I came back to. Haven't read it as an adult.

[Dale]

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Dale wrote: "Finished Rainwater. Thoroughly rapt in it. Finished it the day I started it. Only problem is after a few good or great books I am getting even more picky than usual an..."

Rainwater was very different to the last Sandra Brown book I read and much stronger, Nancy. Really worth reading. I still haven't found anything I want to keep , since. All I want is a good story with good characters.
Funny I had a chuckle when I read your comment Bette about the 4.5 stars as I think we have different ideas on books given your last one, which I never finished reading. Ah well, wouldn't do for us all to be the same.

[Diane S ☔]

Mikayla wrote: "I have just finished reading Little Women by. Louisa May Alcott. I would personally recomend this book to any woman, young or old. Because, it is a wonderful story about 4 sisters that are living d..."

Read this to all my grand daughters.

[Alice]

Dale wrote: "Mikayla wrote: "I have just finished reading Little Women by. Louisa May Alcott. I would personally recomend this book to any woman, young or old. Because, it is a wonderful story about 4 sisters t..."

"Little Women" was my first English Literature text book - read it in my first year in secondary (high) school, which was a French Catholic Convent School.

[GeneralTHC]

Just finished a new crime fiction book called The Killing Season. I found it through Kirkus Reviews--they had given it their Kirkus Star. This book had loads of potential, but in the end I don't believe it should have gotten their star. The last 1/4 of the novel just felt rushed to me, so I docked it half a star and rated it 3.75-stars. Probably the occasional genre fiction reader would love it.

[Chrissie]

Re Kirkus

Chuck, Kirkus used to be wonderful. You could find parts of Kirkus reviews on %Amazon, but they would only state the positive points. This got me really mad. Then Kirkus was sold and worked in conjunction with Barnes&Nobles. Maybe they still do. I am not sure, but after these changes I don't see their reviews as being reliable anymore. You had to even in the past, read them very carefully because they gave both good and bad points.

[Nancy from NJ]

Monica wrote: "Joy wrote: "I've just read Bellman & Black, which is the story of one man's life, set in Victorian England, with a supernatural and / or psychological element. I really enjoyed it ..."

I thought I would love The Thirteenth Tale but I didn't and sometimes I think I never really understood it.

[Nancy from NJ]

Dale wrote: "Nancy from NJ wrote: "Dale wrote: "Finished Rainwater. Thoroughly rapt in it. Finished it the day I started it. Only problem is after a few good or great books I am getting even mo..."

I feel the same way. For me a book which is character driven is my cuppaa tea.

[Chrissie]

I can recommend Etta and Otto and Russell and James.

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

[Angela M]

Just finished One More River . 4 stars - my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Julia]

Mikayla wrote: "I have just finished reading Little Women by. Louisa May Alcott. I would personally recomend this book to any woman, young or old. Because, it is a wonderful story about 4 sisters that are living d..."

This is one of my favorite books ever! I try to read it at least once a year.

[B the BookAddict]

Amber wrote: "Thanks Bette. I just knew there was a trilogy but not the exact name. :)"

Neither did I did, Amber, until I wrote about Alcott in Literary History thread:)

[Dale]

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Dale wrote: "Nancy from NJ wrote: "Dale wrote: "Finished Rainwater. Thoroughly rapt in it. Finished it the day I started it. Only problem is after a few good or great books I am ge..."

Exactly, Nancy!

[Chrissie]

Finished Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. I am glad I read it.

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

[Overbooked ✎]

Chrissie wrote: "Finished Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. I am glad I read it.

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

I loved the movie Chrissie

[Chrissie]

Kiwi, everybody tell me that. But I am NOT a movie or TV person. I know this is weird..... I don't see well so movies are even harder than before.

[Overbooked ✎]

Nothing weird about it Chrissie, I don't watch much TV either. Glad you enjoyed the book :-)

[Chrissie]

Kiwi, yeah, I am really glad I picked up Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence . It had been on my reading lists way too long.

[Diane S ☔]

Checked at my library and they do not have the book, only the movie.

[Pink]

Just read To the Lighthouse and here's my long rambly Woolfesque review! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[GeneralTHC]

Chrissie wrote: "Re Kirkus

Chuck, Kirkus used to be wonderful. You could find parts of Kirkus reviews on %Amazon, but they would only state the positive points. This got me really mad. Then Kirkus was sold and wor..."

Thanks for that info, Chrissie; I am very new to using Kirkus. Do you know of any other sites offhand I might find useful?

[Tom]

Finished Chthon by Piers Anthony. All I can say is, if all you've read is his Xanth series, this book is radically different - in a very good way. I can see why it was up for both Hugo and Nebula awards.

[GeneralTHC]

Tom wrote: "Finished Chthon by Piers Anthony."

Now there is an author I haven't thought of in a long time. I read the first few books of the Apprentice Adept series about 20 years ago. I liked them, but I was pretty young then. Be interested to see if that stuff holds up for me.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished God Help the Child
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Leslie]

Tom wrote: "Finished Chthon by Piers Anthony. All I can say is, if all you've read is his Xanth series, this book is radically different - in a very good way. I can see why it was u..."

I liked the Xanth books, in a light escapist YA way. This sounds like a more substantial book... adding it to my TBR.

[Chrissie]

Chuck wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Re Kirkus

Chuck, Kirkus used to be wonderful. You could find parts of Kirkus reviews on %Amazon, but they would only state the positive points. This got me really mad. Then Kirkus..."

None at all. I used to rely solely on Kirkus, and what has happened to them is super depressing. But I have so many books on my lists that I have umpteen to read before I die. And I have discovered I never quite know if I will react as others do. It is a bit of a guess always.

Chuck, was it you and I who discussed different books written by Sarah Waters? I discussed it with somebody here in the group and I don't remember who. We discussed all her different books, how they vary and where to start if one is hesitant.

[Shirley]

I've just read The Power Of One, which was recommended to me by Heather in the swap. I thought it was a really absorbing story, with some very memorable characters - well worth reading.

[B the BookAddict]

Shirley wrote: "I've just read The Power Of One, which was recommended to me by Heather in the swap. I thought it was a really absorbing story, with some very memorable characters - well worth reading."

I've read lots of Courtenay's novels, but think his best book is the non-fiction April Fool's Day.

[Amber]

Just finished Libriomancer which was a pretty good read. Here's my review:

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

[Pink]

Thanks Sandy :)

Shirley, that book does look interesting, but long, glad you enjoyed it.

[Shirley]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I've just read The Power Of One, which was recommended to me by Heather in the swap. I thought it was a really absorbing story, with some very memorable characters - ..."

Thanks, Bette, I will see if I can get hold of that - would definitely like to read more of his books.

[LauraT]

Finished my second Gamache mystery by Louise Penny, A Fatal Grace. Liked it a lot - wondering how you can find a place that cold attractive!!!
But some things were not entirely clear to me; I'll have to go on with the series ...

[LauraT]

Sandy wrote: "@Laura again. I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the Gamache series. Some people don't like them at all. I haven't tried them - yet."

Do and let me know what you think.
In Italy they are almost unknown - only the first has been translated. I was given them by Petra - my agent in Havana, pardon, in Canada!!! - and we usually agree in reading tastes!!!

Still I don't really know how you can live in those climates. Where I live it rarely goesd below zero, let's say 10/20 times per winter when it is really cold - this year for istance only once so far! And I find it barely bareble!!!!

[Petra]

Shirley wrote: "I've just read The Power Of One, which was recommended to me by Heather in the swap. I thought it was a really absorbing story, with some very memorable characters - well worth reading."

His books set in Africa are the most heartfelt, I think. His love for that country really comes through. I recommend Whitethorn.
I also enjoy his Australian books and highly recommend them:
The Australian Trilogy, Brother Fish and Jessica (which is based on a true story).
I'd stay far away from Sylvia. I was so surprised at the horribleness of this book after reading so many great books by him.
Bryce Courtenay is one of my favorite authors.

[Petra]

LauraT wrote: "Finished my second Gamache mystery by Louise Penny, A Fatal Grace. Liked it a lot - wondering how you can find a place that cold attractive!!!
But some things were not entirely clear ..."

I'm really glad that you're enjoying these, Laura. They just keep getting better.

[LauraT]

And every time I pick up one of them I think of you!!!!

[Book Ninja]

Finished reading The Namesake. I wanted to give it four stars but gave it one star less because I felt it was a bit long. The part where Nikhil's marriage doesn't work out could have been shortened. I like her short stories better than this book. Someone here was telling me the movie was good, will be watching that within a few days.

[Tom]

Chuck wrote: "Tom wrote: "Finished Chthon by Piers Anthony."

Now there is an author I haven't thought of in a long time. I read the first few books of the Apprentice Adept series abo..."

Same here. Thanks to the Bingo challenge though, I had to find a first book by a favorite author. After looking into Garcia Marquez, Faulkner, Asimov and Clarke, I settled on Anthony as I'd not read him in a LONG time.

[Leslie]

Rahat wrote: "Finished reading The Namesake. I wanted to give it four stars but gave it one star less because I felt it was a bit long. The part where Nikhil's marriage doesn't work out could have been shortened..."

I listened to that on the BBC Radio's Book at Bedtime and I agree that the bit about the failing marriage was the weakest part. Does anyone else listen to that show? I like the fact that they do pretty recent releases so I can find out about books people are talking about!

[Leslie]

I finished my first Sarah Waters today -- Affinity. There was some discussion about her and her books a while ago in one of the threads - I don't recall off-hand which one. I really didn't much care for this one -- I gave it 2½ stars mostly for the quality of the descriptions and the historical aspects. I found the characters unappealing and not very interesting & the plot predictable.

[Diane S ☔]

Love the Gamache series, Ruth and her ducks, have the newest one on my nook waiting to be read.

[Dale]

Leslie wrote: "I finished my first Sarah Waters today -- Affinity. There was some discussion about her and her books a while ago in one of the threads - I don't recall off-hand which one. I really ..."

Only one I gave read of hers was The Paying Guests and I was so bored I could not finish it. Got about half way and that was a struggle. On the other hand Bette and others gave it high ratings, while others responded as I did.

[Book Ninja]

Leslie I have never heard of this show. Sounds interesting would check it out.

[Bionic Jean]

Leslie - I sometimes have listened to the Radio 4 "Book at Bedtime", if it's a book I'm interested in, as you're right, they do tend to have more recently published works. But I find I'll forget, and the episodes are so short that it's over before I remember! So now I set it up to record anything I want, and listen at another time.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Blue Stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom]

Finished Phthor by Piers Anthony. Review

[Leslie]

Jean wrote: "Leslie - I sometimes have listened to the Radio 4 "Book at Bedtime", if it's a book I'm interested in, as you're right, they do tend to have more recently published works. But I find I'll forget, a..."

Ah, since I am here in the U.S. I have to listen through the website, so it is easier to listen when it is convenient. Sometimes I will listen to several 15-minute episodes in a row.

[Chrissie]

Leslie wrote: "I finished my first Sarah Waters today -- Affinity. There was some discussion about her and her books a while ago in one of the threads - I don't recall off-hand which one. I really ..."

Yeah, I know! Where did we talk about Sarah Waters? I cannot decide whether to read her or not!

[Gill]

Mikayla wrote: "I have just finished reading Little Women by. Louisa May Alcott. I would personally recomend this book to any woman, young or old. Because, it is a wonderful story about 4 sisters that are living d..."

One of my favourite books!