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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations & reviews
I've just finished and posted my review of Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. It's his 6th novel - and the first one in the sequence (almost half way through) to get 5* from me. Yes, it's that good!Here's my review
That's a handy tip Sandy, I couldn't find where on earth that chat was afterwards either!! It wasn't a dramatisation, rather a feature on 'open book' one of their regular features, about a book based on it, but the trailer for it made it sound much more interesting than I do!! If you search for BBC Radio 4 you should have more success I think, or for BBC Radio iPlayer app and find radio 4 from there. They also run a lot of dramatisations & have many programmes based on literature, which is why I'm a touch obsessed with it!!
Here is the link again if it helps
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05rl3w6
I've managed to copy over some of their blurb:
Mariella Frostrup talks to award winning novelist Caryl Phillips whose latest book is influenced by Wuthering Heights. Set largely in Yorkshire in the sixties and seventies, it also flashes back to the eighteenth century to imagine Heathcliff's origins. Caryl Phillips talks to Mariella about his own childhood in Leeds, the all pervading influence of the English class system and how seventies music remains his guilty pleasure.
Also on the programme, playwright Mark Ravenhill and author Richard T Kelly discuss the life and work of Franz Kafka, 100 years after the publication of one of his most famous works, The Metamorphosis; Professor John Mullan takes a look at fictional elections and Alexandra Fuller explains how Graham Greene inspires her.
Diane wrote: "Hi chatterjak. I think you wrote and told me that Wuthering Heights is on audio BBC 4? I tried to reply on my ebook which is not playing "cricket" just now and kept freezing on me. Then when I w..."I've been meaning to do the pilgrimage (!) to Haworth forever! I will get there one day! The nearest I've made it is to Anne's grave in Scarborough, as my old school pal lives there!
I finished a Jo Nesbo book last night: Blood on Snow. I thought it was a pretty decent novella, but he's no Stieg Larsson.
Among the contemporary writers, I also read recently 'Salem falls' by Jodi Picoult. What I liked about her is: she does not expose only the evils of the society; she also shows our strengths right next to our frailties. To give you a few examples of the positives in her book:
- In the opening scene, I'm touched by the compassion of the taxi driver, who picks up Jack for free, when he is walking down the highway, barely clothed on a very cold day, with no money
- then you see the reciprocative acts of protection between him and the woman Addie, right at the beginning, when he shows up at her restaurant
- later, you see the dignity of Jack on many occasions
- the act of self-sacrifice that Jack does to protect Addie's drunk father
- the extent to which Addie goes for helping Jack, in spite of her inner conflicts
- the generosity of Wes for Jack, in spite of their rivalry
And, in terms of craft, this is an author who keeps us uncertain till the end, forcing us to read every line, because you never know how the end will turn out.
I find Picoult has done a great job here, portraying a realistic story, in a way that is a balanced mix of good and bad, where everything does NOT turn out predictably.
Another great writer I’ve appreciated is Tony Morrison. Although sometimes I have difficulty following her use of dialects, I think in ‘Shula’ and ‘Beloved’ she has really created some great characters, with some vivid descriptions and interior monologues.
I really wish we had some great female writers in France, as you have in America.
Sandy wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi chatterjak. I think you wrote and told me that Wuthering Heights is on audio BBC 4? I tried to reply on my ebook which is not playing "cricket" just now and kept freezing on me. ..."Sandy wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi chatterjak. I think you wrote and told me that Wuthering Heights is on audio BBC 4? I tried to reply on my ebook which is not playing "cricket" just now and kept freezing on me. ..."
Sandy wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi chatterjak. I think you wrote and told me that Wuthering Heights is on audio BBC 4? I tried to reply on my ebook which is not playing "cricket" just now and kept freezing on me. ..."
Chatterjak wrote: "That's a handy tip Sandy, I couldn't find where on earth that chat was afterwards either!! It wasn't a dramatisation, rather a feature on 'open book' one of their regular features, about a book bas..."
Found it! was looking in the wrong place! Thanks also for the additional info. will check it out.
Chatterjak wrote: "That's a handy tip Sandy, I couldn't find where on earth that chat was afterwards either!! It wasn't a dramatisation, rather a feature on 'open book' one of their regular features, about a book bas..."Thanks very much for this link, I am going to try it, also will check out the iphone app. I wish tho' I could get the program straight through my radio.
Sandy wrote: "You might like to know that it is possible to find a specific post from a link on the profile page of a Goodreads member (unless their profile is set as private)..."Sandy, a very helpful tip. If not already done, would you add it to the discussion thread "Basic How Do You Do This Tips" so we have it handy for future use?
Mod
Just finished Maupassant's A Woman's Life.I loved Maupassant's writing - his descriptive skills are imbued with sensitivities.
My 4-star review:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Same opinion
Finished Orhan's Inheritance. 3.5 rounded to 4 stars . My review :https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Restless was a disappointment for ME, but I think others may enjoy it.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I intend on reading more by the talented contemporary Italian author Elena Ferrante. I really enjoyed My Brilliant Friend. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Last night I read this pretty good creepy and weird horror short story called It Slices, It Dices.. Here's my review, enjoy!Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished L'ombra lacerata : cinque storie su tema by Giuseppe Giardina (there isn't an English edition).It wasn't a bad book but I had some problems with the writing style so rated it with only 2 stars.
Alannah wrote: "Just finished The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen and really enjoyed it."Glad you enjoyed it, Alannah. It's quite thought-provoking, isn't it?
And very different. I read it too and thought it was very well done.
Finished American Ghost: A Family's Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have completed Charlie Chaplin: A Brief Life and recommend it if you are curious about who he really was. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Thank You for Your Service and it helped me understand some of the challenges war veterans face, especially those with traumatic brain injury and mental health issues. Not a book I would normally read but well done. 3 stars.
Finished Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist's Adventures in the Clothing-Optional Worldhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Soldier's Wife by Pamela Hart just read. An interesting look at the effects of World war 1 particularly on those left behind.. I have reviewed it.
I finished Chéri by Colette today. Despite some beautiful writing, I found this book dull. For those who know me, you can tell I wasn't enjoying it when it took me 7 days to read 134 pages!! Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for it right now...
Oh dear, I didn't think it would be a dull book Leslie. I know what you mean about some books taking days and days though!
Leslie wrote: " Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for it right now..."I know the feeling. That happens to me a lot, which is why you'll find so many books at any given time on my CR--something for all moods, heh.
You simply have to read this: Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above AverageMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "You simply have to read this: Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above AverageMy review: https://www.goo..."
What a great title! :)
Bought it Chrissie, does sound good. Finished Sisters of Heart and Snowhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Leslie, I had trouble with the last part of the title. It seems that it is more men, rather than women, who have inflated egos....even if he consistently uses the pronoun we.Diane, there is a lot about health care in this book - some of it alarmingly shocking.
I highly recommend Macbeth. Even better than the first one I read by the author. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "I highly recommend Macbeth. Even better than the first one I read by the author. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
It sounds first-rate with Cummings doing the narration. He has narrated a whole stack of differing types of books.
I was in our school production of MacBeth; in response to my talking/giggling, I was given the part of one of the witches. I wasn't particularly interested in Drama.
My Latest Review - Let It Bleed by Francis Yamoah
It started out rocky, and I was about to give up on it, but I pushed through. And I'm so glade I did. The book turned out to be outstanding. You can read my full review by clicking on one of the links below. :)
Goodread: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My Blog: http://dontjudgeread.blogspot.com/p/l...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2CVWG...
-Emily
B the BookAddict wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I highly recommend Macbeth. Even better than the first one I read by the author. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
It sounds first-rat..."
I am not into drama over real(ha ha) books either, and yet I believe this book is one that will be enjoyed by very many. I just think that this is a good book and more people should check it out. That is funny about your being a witch. It would be fun to compare your performance and the new version.
Mod
Alannah wrote: "Just read The Spider in the Corner of the Room by Nikki Owen through netgalley.com, strongly recommend it. I think it comes out in June."I've already added it to my wishlist, Alannah!
Mod
I've already added it to m..."
Can't wait to see what you think of it! :)
I've finished 2 books this weekend:The Power and the Glory
My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Casual Vacancy
My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I enjoyed them both. Both had some powerful things to say.
I just finished Memoirs of a Geisha, Ragtime, and City Sticks: A Collection of 50 Poems.Here are some quotes I highlighted in my Kindle (the page numbers might differ with yours - I don't know if changing the zoom features changes page numbers; it probably does):
"I stumbled out into the courtyard to try to flee my misery, but of course we can never flee the misery that is within us." (Page 101) Memoirs of a Geisha
"Young girls hope all sorts of foolish things, Sayuri. Hopes are like
hair ornaments. Girls want to wear too many of them. When they become
old women they look silly wearing even one." (Page 291). Memoirs of a Geisha
"Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be." (Page 345) Memoirs of a Geisha
"she loves
the sweet taste and nothing other than the captive
breath wasted. Nothing fulfills her
more than the surrogate
hope crushed"
"the rising chill
is winter’s way
of letting you know
it is on its way
to seize not her days
but yours"
- from "Hammer and Anvil" City Sticks: A Collection of 50 Poems
"All her days, she hides
behind her hair"
"Cradle her
She is full of glass, and
the eyes of the world may break her"
- from "Handle With Care" City Sticks: A Collection of 50 Poems
"I rise from the cradle of sleep
an infant, in dreams,
and to work I go wearing the night"
- from "Do I Wear the Night?" City Sticks: A Collection of 50 Poems
"...to walk
where idle men are bad men
as all their thoughts combine into machines
And out of means ends produce
new worlds
smaller worlds
with narrow eyes
Come, narrow views
Where the vistas are ripe
there is food for all
the Dramatis Personae
It is a great opera"
- from "Keeping Time" City Sticks: A Collection of 50 Poems
"And why? Is our genius only in our wombs? Can we not write books and create learned scholarship and perform music and provide philosophical models for the betterment of mankind?" - Ragtime
"Writing is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." - Ragtime
I totally loved Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, RevolutionaryMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
ETA: I do not think my review does the book justice.
I just finished The Nightingale. I thought it started very slowly but then the story really took off and I couldn't put it down.
I read my first Agatha Christie today called The Under Dog: A Short Story and it was a pretty good short story.
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All About Books
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