What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews Showing 4,801-4,850 of 12,687

[Diane S ☔]

Loved Rules of Civility. Waiting for his next book.

[Angela M]

In with Sandy and the others in Rules of Civility . I loved it too .

[Chrissie]

I have completed Doctor Zhivago. It is my second reading.

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

Must continue now with The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book.

[Diane S ☔]

Would be a really good pairing, Chrissie while it is fresh in your mind. I liked it and was surprised at many of the things I read.

[Chrissie]

Diane S. wrote: "Would be a really good pairing, Chrissie while it is fresh in your mind. I liked it and was surprised at many of the things I read."

It will be interesting to see how it compares to what is said in the Afterword found in Doctor Zhivago and what I myself think after rereading the book. Yep, we can talk.

[Corinne]

I'll check out 'Giovanni's Room' by Bladwin, but I've also read 'Sonny's Blues' by him, and it's indeed touching how one brother can try to help another when he needs the most.

Please don't get me wrong: The decrease of quality literature is not a phenomenon in the Anglo-Saxon market alone. We see the same in France, with writers like Guillaume Musso and Marc levy, who you can say are the equivalents of Michael Connelly and John Grisham. The same way the fast-food makers use taste enhancers (in French we say 'exhausters de gout') to get us addicted to their junk foods, these thriller writers use accelerated but empty actions to get us hooked to their plots, and at the end we come out feeling smaller in life.

In this category, the worst I have come across is Karin Slaughter, who has literally slaughtered my sensibilities through her perverted stories, and have made me wonder what kind of a pervert she is in her real life.

The other problem with this junk literature is this: the same way the junk foods thicken our tongue and we can no longer appreciate good foods, the junk literature thickens our senses and make us insensible to good literature. At least that's what happened to me; after I stopped reading junk literature, it took me a long long time to get back my sensibilities. And now that I have them back, I can see what difference it makes in terms of pleasure and personal growth, when we read authors like Hemingway, Steinbeck, Wallace Stegner, and in France authors like Victor Hugo, Stendhal, and Gustave Flaubert, and Albert Camus.

I recently read four great short stories that I wanted to share with you: 'The Chrysanthemums' and 'The white Quail' by Steinbeck, and 'Going to Town' by Wallace Stegner, and 'The snows of Kilimanjaro' by Hemingway. They're so moving, they give you so much insight into human beings, without the pompous arrogance. I'll really appreciate if you could recommend me some great short stories like these. On the French side, the short stories by Camus ('The Guest', for example) and Flaubert ('A simple Heart', for example) I find really good.

Have a good day!! And a great reading maybe.

[B the BookAddict]

Wow, how great to see other people have also loved Rules of Civility. I actually picked the novel because I loved the cover:/ but I went on to love the story.

[Alice]

Corinne wrote: "I'll check out 'Giovanni's Room' by Bladwin, but I've also read 'Sonny's Blues' by him, and it's indeed touching how one brother can try to help another when he needs the most.

Please don't get me..."

Corinne, I love Victor Hugo and Albert Camus! I liked Stendhal's The Red and the Black. I also love Emile Zola and beginning to love Guy de Maupassant, who is most well known for his short stories.

Right now, I almost only pick classics to read.

[Greg]

Corrine, I'm not sure you'll like Giovanni's Room - that was more violent than usual for him.

I liked The Snows of Kilimanjaro when I read it - such a sad story!

I'll think about short stories to recommend, and I'll definitely check out some of the ones you mention. I don't think I've read either 'A Simple Heart' or 'The Guest' yet.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished The Pain Cure Rx: The Yass Method for Diagnosing and Resolving Chronic Pain https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Alec]

I just finished A Little Life and it is incredibly trying but also really beautiful. I read her other book The People in the Trees and after reading that decided to buy a little life without even looking at the description of it. Its tough and sad and almost had me crying in a coffee shop, but you should read both her books! I'm sure her next book is going to make her a household name.

[Leslie]

I ended up liking Cloud Atlas far more than I expected. You can read my review using the link below or in my 2015 challenge thread.

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

[Angela M]

Alec wrote: "I just finished A Little Life and it is incredibly trying but also really beautiful. I read her other book The People in the Trees and after reading that decided to..."

Alec , I recently read A Little Life and loved it too as hard as it was to read . Just amazing .

[Angela M]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished The Pain Cure Rx: The Yass Method for Diagnosing and Resolving Chronic Pain https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Diane , so glad to see you posting and adding books to read ! Hope you're doing okay and are comfortable at home !

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Leslie wrote: "I ended up liking Cloud Atlas far more than I expected. You can read my review using the link below or in my 2015 challenge thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Hi Leslie, I just read your review and I totally agree about (view spoiler)[ using the American brand names as nouns. I thought it was a clever idea, but it bothered me that about Kodak too! They went out of business about 10 years ago, so why would it be a household name in the future? (hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

Terry wrote: ", I just read your review and I totally agree about (view spoiler) ..."

Thanks Terry. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed that!

[GeneralTHC]

Corinne wrote: "Please don't get me wrong: The decrease of quality literature is not a phenomenon in the Anglo-Saxon market alone. We see the same in France, with writers like Guillaume Musso and Marc levy, who you can say are the equivalents of Michael Connelly and John Grisham. The same way the fast-food makers use taste enhancers (in French we say 'exhausters de gout') to get us addicted to their junk foods, these thriller writers use accelerated but empty actions to get us hooked to their plots, and at the end we come out feeling smaller in life.

In this category, the worst I have come across is Karin Slaughter, who has literally slaughtered my sensibilities through her perverted stories, and have made me wonder what kind of a pervert she is in her real life.

The other problem with this junk literature is this: the same way the junk foods thicken our tongue and we can no longer appreciate good foods, the junk literature thickens our senses and make us insensible to good literature. At least that's what happened to me; after I stopped reading junk literature, it took me a long long time to get back my sensibilities. And now that I have them back, I can see what difference it makes in terms of pleasure and personal growth, when we read authors like Hemingway, Steinbeck, Wallace Stegner, and in France authors like Victor Hugo, Stendhal, and Gustave Flaubert, and Albert Camus.

Corinne wrote: "Don't you think that there are too many commercial fictions around (very light reading)."

Here's what I think:

One person's trash is another person's treasure. People said the same things about Burroughs and Joyce and a million other authors--it's all subjective. Even morality itself is subjective.

[GeneralTHC]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Sandy, The Sense of an Ending and Rules of Civility are both wonderful novels."

Love, love, love THE SENSE OF AN ENDING! I started to re-read it just a couple of days ago. Ever since I've come to GR, I've been asking people for recommendations for similar books; I've yet to find anything, though. Is RULES OF CIVILITY a similar type of thing?

[Leslie]

Chuck wrote: "Here's what I think:

One person's trash is another person's treasure. People said the same things about Burroughs and Joyce and million other authors--it's all subjective. Even morality itself is ..."

I am not sure what this comment is referring to...

[Diane S ☔]

Have you ever tried this Chuck? Found some great authors this way and many books I have liked. http://www.literature-map.com/julian+....

[Gill]

Corinne wrote: "I'll check out 'Giovanni's Room' by Bladwin, but I've also read 'Sonny's Blues' by him, and it's indeed touching how one brother can try to help another when he needs the most.

Please don't get me..."

As far as I'm aware Karin Slaughter is definitely not a pervert in her real life, as you suggest, Corinne. I think it's a bit of a leap from not liking a particular author's books, to thinking detrimentally about them as a person.

[Chrissie]

I completed The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book

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

to be followed up with The Wives: The Women Behind Russia's Literary Giants.

[GeneralTHC]

Just finished Jon Krakauer's latest: Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. I rated it 4-stars, as I "really liked it." However, I didn't agree with everything in it. But it's an important book about an important topic, I think.

[dely]

Benjamin wrote: "Dely- I haven't read the book, so I might be wrong, but perhaps the Judas of My Name Was Judas was Judas son of James, not Judas Iscariot, the traitor? He was one of the apostles mentioned in Luke 6:16. "

I don't know. Reading the plot I think it's Judas Iscariot.


I've finished some days ago Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow by Jerome K. Jerome.
I wanted to read an easy and light read and in part this was one but behind the irony there were also some serious opinions about a lot of topics: memory, vanity, time...
It was an interesting read, not bad.

[GeneralTHC]

Diane S. wrote: "Have you ever tried this Chuck? Found some great authors this way and many books I have liked. http://www.literature-map.com/julian+...."

I actually have tried that, Diane! I can't remember where I came across that, though; it's been several months--or longer.

[B the BookAddict]

Diane S. wrote: "Finished The Pain Cure Rx: The Yass Method for Diagnosing and Resolving Chronic Pain https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Goodness, this guy looks like a muscle bound monolith! Have you checked his About page on his link: http://www.mitchellyass.com/bio

Is he a qualified doctor? Can PT's call themselves Dr in US?

I'm not demeaning him, if his methods work then I say "Go for it". But in some cases, some form of medication is a necessity.

[GeneralTHC]

Sandy wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Love, love, love THE SENSE OF AN ENDING! I started to re-read it just a couple of days ago. Ever since I've come to GR, I've been asking people for recommendations for similar books; ..."

Oh, okay. Thanks for the answer! I may read it anyway.

[Corinne]

Gill wrote: "Corinne wrote: "I'll check out 'Giovanni's Room' by Bladwin, but I've also read 'Sonny's Blues' by him, and it's indeed touching how one brother can try to help another when he needs the most.

Ple..."Gill, how do you explain that she can imagine such pervert and unhealthy situations in her books, this is coming from her mind, right ? she could have choosen to write differently to communicate messages to her readers... think about it, it takes time to write a book, she would be spending days on a subject she is not at ease with or ,even worse, enjoy ..I can't believe that

[dely]

Corinne wrote: "Gill, how do you explain that she can imagine such pervert and unhealthy situations in her books, this is coming from her mind, right ? she could have choosen to write differently to communicate messages to her readers... think about it, it takes time to write a book, she would be spending days on a subject she is not at ease with or ,even worse, enjoy ..I can't believe that "

We had once a member (Robert perhaps?) who is a copywriter and he told us he had to write dinosaurs pornography. Well, I don't think this is his real-life perversion :P
In my opinion, thinking and writing about a subject doesn't make us what we write. Sometimes some authors give to the readers what could work. If a book full of perversions sells then an author may write it. Perhaps it's the publisher who tells to the author what to write.

These aren't the kind of books I would ever read, but I don't think that the author always is what he writes. And also the reader isn't always what he reads. Do you think that whoever reads De Sade is a pervert or a child abuser?

Don't understand the wrong way, I have similar tastes as you, but I don't feel to condemn an author because he/she has a vivid imagination.

[Diane S ☔]

This can easily turn into to contentious of a conversation but I don't believe a person is what he writes, and I believe everyone has the right to read whatever he wants, no one is forcing anyone to read nor listen to anything they don't like. All kinds of books, all kinds of readers.

[[deleted user]]

I have just finished The Buried Giant. I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Elaine]

I've just read The Girl on the Train. I really enjoyed it and read till 3am till I decided I'd better get some sleep before work the next day! It's a quick read but very enthralling. It seems to be a marmite book with violently opposed opinions mainly based on how quickly people had worked out the guilty party. In my opinion that's not the only basis on which to give a rating, characters, writing style etc all have a place too

[Hannah]

I recently read The Secret History and I loved it! Although, I think it might be aimed at those in high school and college. It deals with some dark themes but at times I think the characters are so pretentious that it becomes frustrating.

[Bionic Jean]

I too take the view that an author is different from their writing.

But I am heartily glad, all the same, that my other half writes silly, humorous books about dwarves and wizards, and not something on the lines of Stephen King. I know that when he gets a faraway look in his eye, he's more likely to be working out his next jokey footnote, and not dwelling on unspeakable vile grossness. That works for me anyway :)

Of course, I understand that others may prefer the people they live their lives with to be making plans for decorating, gardening, cleaning etc ... Indeed, we are all different! ;)

[[deleted user]]

Elaine wrote: "I've just read The Girl on the Train. I really enjoyed it and read till 3am till I decided I'd better get some sleep before work the next day! It's a quick read but very enthralling..."

This is rapidly creeping up my TBR!

[Diane S ☔]

B the BookAddict wrote: "Diane S. wrote: "Finished The Pain Cure Rx: The Yass Method for Diagnosing and Resolving Chronic Pain https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Goodness, this guy looks lik..."<

[Diane S ☔]

I never blindly follow, anyone, but from every book at least one good idea comes. Strengthening area muscles is a good thing I think, but you are right sometimes nothing works but the drugs. One of the good things that happened while I, was in the hospital is that I was started on a new drug for my MS pain. The gabapentin I had taken before wasn't working So they started my on Lyrical. My legs have not hurt formweeks,now. Everything hurts but not my legs, so out of so much calamity came a bit of good. Unfortunately there is not much done for autoimmune diseases so we all manage the best we can.

[B the BookAddict]

Diane S. wrote: "I never blindly follow, anyone, but from every book at least one good idea comes. Strengthening area muscles is a good thing I think, but you are right sometimes nothing works but the drugs. One o..."

I've taken Lyrica for about eight years now; it was like a miracle drug for me. Gabapentin did absolutely nothing for me. Until recently, Lyrica cost $180 per month over here but now, fortunately, only $36. You are certainly right about autoimmune diseases, you just have to struggle on.

I didn't realise you'd been in hospital and am happy for you that you're well enough to be home:)

[GeneralTHC]

Drugs work for a time and then you have the pain, plus an addiction--or rather a dependency, I should say. The bottom line is you have to do what you have to do to make it through the day, I guess, but we have so got to learn more about treating chronic pain.

[Angela M]

Finished Little Bastards in Springtime: A Novel . 5 stars . My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diane S ☔]

Angela M wrote: "Finished Little Bastards in Springtime: A Novel . 5 stars . My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Sorry I missed this one.

[Angela M]

Diane S. wrote: "Angela M wrote: "Finished Little Bastards in Springtime: A Novel . 5 stars . My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Sorry I missed this one."

That's too bad , Diane . I had it for a little while and finally got to it . It was published earlier this month .

[Petra]

I read an Inspector Gamache short story, The Hangman. I prefer Louise Penny's novels over her short stories if this one is an indication. The characters were cooler, more aloof.

I also finished reading a GR Giveaway win, Jacob's Odyssey. I quite enjoyed this book. It was fun, interesting and suspenseful; was told with a lot of warmth and humanity. It was a fun read.

[Shirley]

Leslie wrote: "Terry wrote: ", I just read your review and I totally agree about (view spoiler) ..."

Thanks Terry. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed that!"

I noticed that too, but it didn't spoil the book for me, I think it just dates the book - wasn't it written about ten years ago? If I were to try and guess which brands were going to still be going strong in ten years plus, I might not get them all right!

[Shirley]

Chuck wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Sandy, The Sense of an Ending and Rules of Civility are both wonderful novels."

Love, love, love THE SENSE OF AN ENDING! I started to re-re..."

I loved both books, but they are both different - very well written, both of them, in my opinion.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

But he assumed that people in Japan, far,far into the future would be using American brands as household names. It just struck me as odd.

[Leslie]

I read a bunch of mysteries for the April readathon (what a surprise, right?):

The Three Coffins, also known as "The Hollow Man", a classic mystery from the 1930s. Carr's writing is a bit didactic but he is a genius at coming up with extremely difficult to solve mysteries. 4*

Rumpole of the Bailey -- I reread this via audiobook. Unfortunately, the narrator couldn't compete with the voice of the TV actor in my head so this was disappointing. 3*

Wine of Violence -- first book in a series of historical fiction mysteries set in the late 13th century at a Fontevraud abbey. Mixed feelings about this one; it has some unusual but historically correct features such as a strong female character in the prioress (who was in charge of both nuns and monks) and a homosexual monk, but the motive for the murders made me cringe. 3*

[Bionic Jean]

Just finished my review of Is Heathcliff a Murderer?: Great Puzzles in Nineteenth-Century Fiction by John Sutherland

here

And here are a couple which have come up on my newsfeed when people like them,

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch

Jean's review

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Jean's review

[GeneralTHC]

I recommend the one I just finished: You. It was entertaining as can be. I guarantee no matter how sophisticated one fancies themselves, if they give it a chance they will LOVE it. This was just such a fun book.

I usually try to avoid giving people any kind of synopsis when I come across such a great book because it seems to lose something that way, but here's a reasonably safe review I just read that is spot on: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...