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Has Anyone Read This Book?
Thanks ladies, I will have a look at the thread and reviews. I have read Rebecca & My Cousin Rachel and very much enjoyed both.
Frenchman's Creek is my absolute favorite by Daphne du Maurier. NOTHING is as good as that one.ETA: Ooops, I made a mistake. I goofed up the titles. The Glass-Blowersis is my favorite:
Jean wrote: "Me too. Though my favourite is probably My Cousin Rachel.
I've reviewed them all, Gemma, if you fancy a look."
Mine too!
I've reviewed them all, Gemma, if you fancy a look."
Mine too!
Jean wrote: "I didn't like that one, Chrissie ... LOL!"Oh, funny. You see I like biographies, and it is essentially.....if I remember correctly.
I'm not sure I remember it very well at all, but I do remember I thought it was overblown, and a bit like a bodice-ripper. Harsh?
Jean wrote: "I'm not sure I remember it very well at all, but I do remember I thought it was overblown, and a bit like a bodice-ripper. Harsh?"It's funny, but I have read Frenchman's Creek too, and I can't really remember it either, except that I wasn't that keen on it!
No, Jean not harsh, just how you saw it. I loved it. It felt the most real to me. Strange how people react differently.And Shirley, you didn't like it either!
I am the weird one I guess....but I too have to say how I reacted to it.
Just goes to show, Chrissie, how we are all different, and there is no right nor wrong where liking books is concerned
Shirley and Jean, this is why I KEEP trying all sorts of books.You never quite know if you will react as others have.
Has anyone read The Book of Three? I'm almost halfway finished; it's pretty good for a book I didn't want to read. :)
And what about Fallen? Someone chose it for my book club, and I've seen mixed reviews.
And what about Fallen? Someone chose it for my book club, and I've seen mixed reviews.
Raevyn wrote: "Has anyone read The Book of Three? I'm almost halfway finished; it's pretty good for a book I didn't want to read. :)And what about Fallen? Someone chose it for my book..."
Not me. Maybe someone else here will know more...
John wrote: "I've forced myself to read this and others by her, but to me she's pretentious and self-absorbed as all the Bloomsbury set were. She commited suicide by walking into the water with stones in her po..."Amazing what one can run across. I'd never heard that was the way Woolf committed suicide. I sold a novel a few months ago in which the main character early in the story tries to kill hmself in just that manner, but fails. I foresee some reviewer paraphrasing your comment in regard to my character.
Jean wrote: "I didn't like that one, Chrissie ... LOL!"Jean, I made a mistake. It is The Glass-Blowers I like best. THAT is a story about her family, not the other one. Sorry.
I'm also wondering about Holy Cow: A Modern-Day Dairy Tale. Is it good? And is it YA or adult??? I've seen it marked both ways.
I'm wondering about The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's a doorstop. And apparently it's just the first chapter--he's writing 29 more to go with it! Anyone thought about reading this or know anything about it?
@Chuck Haven't heard of or read the book BUT I reckon with 35 books on your Currently Reading list, you maybe shouldn't even be considering another book, LOL:D
B the BookAddict wrote: "@Chuck Haven't heard of or read the book BUT I reckon with 35 books on your Currently Reading list, you maybe shouldn't even be considering another book, LOL:D"I know that's right, B! LOL! But I just can't help myself. What's one more at this point? Nah, but seriously, I'm hoping I can hit that reading gear I was in 2013 and knock out 20 or so books this month. Funny thing is if I do that it'll probably be mostly new reads knowing me, hehe!
I'm about to start The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery by Amitav Ghosh.
Has anyone read it?
Has anyone read it?
I've read it, Laura. It was years ago before GR. I have no review and I gave it only two stars. So not a winner for me. I remember nothing and that is certainly not good, is it?!
I haven't read the Ghosh book, but I've heard very good things about him and The Glass Palace in particular. He just released a new book--the latest in a series I want to read.
I haven't read that one, Laura. I did enjoy The Glass Palace. It was before joining Goodreads, so I have no review.
Raevyn wrote: "I'm also wondering about Holy Cow: A Modern-Day Dairy Tale. Is it good? And is it YA or adult??? I've seen it marked both ways."It's pretty good. I read it and its an adult story but the author said that all ages can read it. It's pretty funny.
Chrissie wrote: "I've read it, Laura. It was years ago before GR. I have no review and I gave it only two stars. So not a winner for me. I remember nothing and that is certainly not good, is it?!"
Definitly a strange book. Three stars for me, nothing more...
Definitly a strange book. Three stars for me, nothing more...
LauraT, The Shadow Lines is my favorite by Ghosh. His earlier books are I think better than the later ones. Dancing in Cambodia, at Large in Burma is also very good.
Thanks Chrissie; also my husband told me so. When I've got some times I'll give him a closer look
LauraT, just do no think Ghosh is bad b/c you happen to read The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery. He has some excellent books. The Hungry Tide and The Glass Palace are another two that are good.
Chrissie wrote: "LauraT, just do no think Ghosh is bad b/c you happen to read The Calcutta Chromosome: A Novel of Fevers, Delirium & Discovery. He has some excellent books. The Hungry Tide ..."
I think I've got the wrong one to start with; I'll definitly give him a second chanche
I think I've got the wrong one to start with; I'll definitly give him a second chanche
Has anyone here read Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert? I'm wanting to buy it, but I would first like to know if it's any good. Thanks :)
Benjamin, I've read and loved it, the book is slow to start but worth the effort if you like those sort of classics.
Glad to hear you loved it Pink -- it is a book that I have for some reason been avoiding reading even though I have owned it in paperback for perhaps 10 years! Benjamin, were you planning on reading it right away? If not, I might join you but I have a big library book I need to read first.
I really liked it Leslie, though I did moan a lot during the first 100 pages that it was boring. I had encouragement to keep reading and I'm so glad that I did, it's now one of my favourites.
Pink wrote: "I really liked it Leslie, though I did moan a lot during the first 100 pages that it was boring. I had encouragement to keep reading and I'm so glad that I did, it's now one of my favourites."This kind of info is what I love about GR! Without this, I am sure I would have started and then quickly given up and put it back on the shelf.
I have wondered if translation made a difference to my difficulties at the beginning, but I didn't look into this before I picked up my edition, so I don't know. Might be something to consider.
Pink wrote: "I have wondered if translation made a difference to my difficulties at the beginning, but I didn't look into this before I picked up my edition, so I don't know. Might be something to consider."Ugh. Probably I should as I have experienced the impact a bad translation can have on my enjoyment but since I already own a copy, I will stick with whatever translation that one happens to have.
I think that will be fine too. If I already have a copy of a book, or can get a free edition, then I go with that one. It's only if I need to locate a new copy that I consider which translation.
Leslie- thanks for the offer, but my bookshelves are so backed up that I may not reach it for years!
I'm late to the party, but I'll throw my vote in the positive category for Madame Bovary as well. It didn't move me as much as some books, but it was beautifully put together and well worth reading.
I tested a few translations before reading and found one I liked. For me, the more vivid and original the imagery, the more likely I'll stay interested. I know myself - dry writing just does me in.
I'm reading a book right now in translation (Chinese sci-fi The Three-Body Problem), and the story is interesting, but the unevocative language in the translation is just killing me.
I tested a few translations before reading and found one I liked. For me, the more vivid and original the imagery, the more likely I'll stay interested. I know myself - dry writing just does me in.
I'm reading a book right now in translation (Chinese sci-fi The Three-Body Problem), and the story is interesting, but the unevocative language in the translation is just killing me.
I read Madame Bovary many years ago and found it to be just OK. Yes I felt bored by it. I think I prefer to read Guy de Maupassant's novels.
I've heard a lot about Jonathon Franzen, but I've yet to read anything by him. I see he just released a new one. Anyone read this? I think I'm going to get the audiobook.
Purity
I haven't read anything by him but have friends who live his work and I generally trust their opinion
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book Thief (other topics)Arthur & George (other topics)
A History of the World in 10½ Chapters (other topics)
The Sense of an Ending (other topics)
Flaubert's Parrot (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Julian Barnes (other topics)Julian Barnes (other topics)
David Foster Wallace (other topics)
Don DeLillo (other topics)
Don DeLillo (other topics)
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Here is the group read thread -- it was one of the first books we read as AAB! I found it quite different in tone and style from Rebecca. If you want something that is more similar to Rebecca, try the one Jean mentioned, My Cousin Rachel.