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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
Jean wrote: "Rahat - You are certainly not alone in loving "Wuthering Heights"! My hearty dislike of the novel was actually the impetus for me joining Goodreads. I'd been surrounded for so long by people I resp...""Beauty lies in the eyes of its beholder", this novel is not a beauty but what you are saying is true (and the quote proves that) that its people's imagination that might be making them love this novel. Maybe people like me are seeing this novel in a different light that's we like it.
In the easier version the story doesn't change, the characters and their feelings don't change so I don't think that it shaped my opinion of the actual novel. The story was the same if I wouldn't have liked it then I would have hated the easier version too. The story and the characters attracted me to read the longer version later on.
I didn't really enjoy Jane Eyre, I don't know why. The Tenant is on my list to read as well
Tweedledum wrote: "I just read, or rather listened to The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing and thought it so funny and clever that I persuaded the librarian to borrow it when I returned it to the library today!"I really like this series.
I read Address Unknown last night. It's a very short book with a big punch. It's chilling in the story it tells in such a few words. I thought it was very well done.
Petra wrote: "I read Address Unknown last night. It's a very short book with a big punch. It's chilling in the story it tells in such a few words. I thought it was very well done."This looks interesting, I shall look out for this one...
Petra wrote: "Tweedledum wrote: "I just read, or rather listened to The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing and thought it so funny and clever that I persuaded the librarian to borrow it when I returned it to the..."My daughter read this for her GCSE studies last year and lent it to me afterwards. I thought it was a really clever and well written short story.
Maggie, that's good to hear, I have them both on my kindle to read!
I have just read..Atonement I absolutely loved it. I tried to read this a few years ago and couldn't get past the first few chapters, something must have changed I was completely gripped. I highly recommend this book!
The Night Circus I don't want to say too much about this one as it's the October read. But,I was a little disappointed.
Killing Plato If you enjoy crime novels, I'd recommend this one. It was quick and easy to read.
The Troll Trap This is a children's book, and I won't be reading it to my child. It had a lot of similarities to The BFG, and it had a really bad storyline where the Trolls decided to live like humans but had no money, so claimed benefits to live!
Gemma wrote: "I have just read..Atonement I absolutely loved it. I tried to read this a few years ago and couldn't get past the first few chapters, something must have changed I was completely gripped. I highl..."
I haven't read the latter two, but had pretty much the same response to the first two novels.
Jenny wrote: "Gemma wrote: "I have just read..Atonement I absolutely loved it. I tried to read this a few years ago and couldn't get past the first few chapters, something must have changed I was completely gr..."
Me too, I loved Atonement - and I liked The Night Circus, but not as much as I had hoped, it didn't quite live up to the hype for me...
I just finished The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. I think that fans of spy thrillers would probably be disappointed in it - although it has a bombing and a murder, it isn't really a thriller as much as a character study. It delves into the personalities of both the anarchists and the police, into what motivates them or drives them.
Leslie wrote: "I just finished The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. I think that fans of spy thrillers would probably be disappointed in it - although it has a bombing and a murder, it isn't really a thriller as m..."Hmmm, how would you rate it compared to Heart of Darkness, Leslie?
I'm almost finished with The Mark of Zorroand it is a pretty good read. I'd definitely recommend it to others as well as the movie version the mask of zorro.
Amber wrote: "I'm almost finished with The Mark of Zorroand it is a pretty good read. I'd definitely recommend it to others as well as the movie version the mask of zorro."Is the film version very true to the book, Amber? I have seen the film.
I'm not sure if it is because I saw the films first before I read this book so it may be different. I haven't finished the book yet so am not totally for sure.
@Shirley - It has been a long time since I read The Heart of Darkness (in fact I plan to reread it someday soon by listening to it on audiobook!) but I would say The Secret Agent is more readily accessible. I gave it 4 stars but really 4 1/2 stars would be more accurate.And re: The Mark of Zorro, I would say the book is a good, fast read. I think the original movie (with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) was probably closest to the book with the more modern film versions getting farther and farther away from the original plot.
Thanks Leslie for that information on the mark of Zorro. I wonder if you could find the original film on Netflix. It is still a pretty good read though.
Amber wrote: "Thanks Leslie for that information on the mark of Zorro. I wonder if you could find the original film on Netflix. It is still a pretty good read though."Very good! I would definitely recommend it, especially for people who like swashbuckling adventure :)
I think I have seen most of the Zorro films and enjoyed them all. But the ones with Antonio Banderos are not at all similar to the book!
Yeah the Zorro films with Antonio Banderas are the only ones I've seen besides when they used to do the mickey mouse club on the Disney channel and show the Zorro episodes.
Leslie, the Antonio Banderos film is the one I've seen, quite enjoyed it, but now I know it's quite different to the book!
Leslie, I think I will give The Secret Agent a try, as I would like to try another of Conrad's books.
The mark of zorro was a pretty good read. I finished it today and definitely reccomend it. :-) now back to the end of your life book club.
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Read a couple of years ago and really liked it! AS you said Petra!
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I haven't read the latter two, but had pretty much the same response to the first two novels. "
Me too, exactly same twos I read and same impressions!
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Shirley wrote: "Leslie, I think I will give The Secret Agent a try, as I would like to try another of Conrad's books."Hope you like it :)
I finished The Return of Sherlock Holmes today - only 2 more collections of short stories and I will have finished The Complete Sherlock Holmes :)
That's great Leslie! It's so hard to stick to a whole series when there are so many other books to tempt us... and now you're making me want to read them all in order too! :)
Jean wrote: "That's great Leslie! It's so hard to stick to a whole series when there are so many other books to tempt us... and now you're making me want to read them all in order too! :)"Yes, I find myself pulled in the direction of so many books that it is sometimes hard to continue a series! When Perks was doing Scandinavian books, I got hooked on two more mystery series also (Arnaldur Indriðason's Erlunder series and Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö's Martin Beck series) & I have a book from each of these series checked out from the library waiting for me to get to them.
Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by trying to participate in the group reads for all my groups & read books for my personal challenges that I have to remind myself that I don't have to read these books, that I actually want to!
Me too! And I've done it again for October...
The End of Your Life Book Clubwas a pretty good and pretty sad read. It is about a mother and son who do a book club together and the mom has cancer.
Leslie wrote: "@Shirley - It has been a long time since I read The Heart of Darkness (in fact I plan to reread it someday soon by listening to it on audiobook!) but I would say The Secret Agent is more readily ac..."I really struggled with the heart of Darkness. Disliked it intensely but references to it keep cropping up in lots of things I have been reading . The secret agent I found much easier to engage with. I was actually very gripped by it as I went on and decided to look into the real events that inspired the book.
Leslie wrote: "Jean wrote: "That's great Leslie! It's so hard to stick to a whole series when there are so many other books to tempt us... and now you're making me want to read them all in order too! :)"Yes, I ..."
Leslie wrote: "Jean wrote: "That's great Leslie! It's so hard to stick to a whole series when there are so many other books to tempt us... and now you're making me want to read them all in order too! :)"
Yes, I ..."
Totally agree... Why am I putting myself under reading pressure.? But doesn't it feel good to be able to complete a good book and have goodreads friends celebrate with you! I don't talk much about books at home as my dyslexic kids don't get it and my hubby likes to read but our tastes don't often co-incide.
Amber wrote: "The End of Your Life Book Clubwas a pretty good and pretty sad read. It is about a mother and son who do a book club together and the mom has cancer."
Gemma wrote: "I have just read..Atonement I absolutely loved it. I tried to read this a few years ago and couldn't get past the first few chapters, something must have changed I was completely gripped. I highl..."
Glad I have decided to borrow rather than buy The Night Circus in that case!
Tweedledum wrote: "Leslie wrote: "@Shirley - It has been a long time since I read The Heart of Darkness (in fact I plan to reread it someday soon by listening to it on audiobook!) but I would say The Secret Agent is ..."That's good to hear, Tweedledum! I liked Heart of Darkness, more for the writing style than the story itself, but I shall try The Secret Agent, as it does sound good.
I've had a lightbulb moment! I expect you all got there long ago but I'll share it anyway. Avid readers are DESPERATE to share their enthusiasm and book clubs like this enable us all to write as much or as little as we want without ever having to watch someone getting bored with us! In fact someone out there IS INTERESTED! Fantastic!
Tweedledum wrote: "I've had a lightbulb moment! I expect you all got there long ago but I'll share it anyway. Avid readers are DESPERATE to share their enthusiasm and book clubs like this enable us all to write as mu..."Agreed!I go to a real life book club too, and that helps, but it's great to be able to share how you feel about a book!
Have just finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, really liked it, 4 stars, would definitely recommend.
Laurel wrote: "Have just finished The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, really liked it, 4 stars, would definitely recommend."I have just read Norwegian Wood. It wasn't bad. I have heard other recommend The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
Does anyone else have the same dislocated/disjointed feeling when trying to keep all these threads in their head? Sometimes it's like reading a play by Pinter! Love it!! :)
I've finished reading The Collector by John Fowles. I think it's an acquired taste, but it was well written and drew me into the story.
Vicann wrote: "I've finished reading The Collector by John Fowles. I think it's an acquired taste, but it was well written and drew me into the story."Well-written but I found it profoundly creepy!
Leslie wrote: "Jean wrote: "That's great Leslie! It's so hard to stick to a whole series when there are so many other books to tempt us... and now you're making me want to read them all in order too! :)"Yes, I ..."
Leslie, I can relate to getting overwhelmed too! For me, I just had to decide to read only what I wanted to read and nothing more.
I have just read A Tale of Two Cities and for me it is one of the best books ever written. I would recommend it to everyone as there are lessons in the book we all could do to be reminded of. It was my first Dickens and I was immersed in it from the start. Some people may think that it is a tricky one to start with however once you get in to the way he writes the long descriptive prose and the foreshadowing of the story it flows along. The opening lines must be some of the most famous in literature. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times",,,,
Tracey wrote: "I have just read A Tale of Two Cities and for me it is one of the best books ever written. I would recommend it to everyone as there are lessons in the book we all could do to be reminded of. It wa..."That sounds like it was a great introduction to Dickens! I have this to read as my next Dickens, so am looking forward to it now!
Shirley wrote: "Tracey wrote: "I have just read A Tale of Two Cities and for me it is one of the best books ever written. I would recommend it to everyone as there are lessons in the book we all could do to be rem..."The copy I have is a 2 volume book the other being Great Expectations which i aim to read next month but I intend on getting a beautiful cloth bound copy of a Tale of Two Cities to keep and read again and again :)
Tracey wrote: "I have just read A Tale of Two Cities and for me it is one of the best books ever written. I would recommend it to everyone as there are lessons in the book we all could do to be reminded of. It wa..."Yay! It is one of my favorites too! Great Expectations was not nearly as good, in my opinion. But I am in a minority opinion there, as many people think GE is Dickens best work of all.
Leslie wrote: "Tracey wrote: "I have just read A Tale of Two Cities and for me it is one of the best books ever written. I would recommend it to everyone as there are lessons in the book we all could do to be rem..."Well I don't know if this can be topped Leslie but it will be tremendous fun finding out and I can't wait :)
...and on my TBR it went ;) (A Tale of Two Cities that is)
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ditto"
Why do you guys hate..."
Hahaha.. I did a psychological analysis of the characters.. it was fun writing it. Although there were somethings which if one views them realistically and from a psychological point of view they are true but as just a reader, I didn't want to write them. But it was a paper and I had to include stuff. Even I got good marks on it :)