Book Loving Kiwis discussion
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What Are You Currently Reading?
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Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)
(last edited Apr 08, 2018 01:13AM)
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Just finished
The Next Girl by Carla Kovach. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Starting
Portrait of a Murderer by Anne Meredith
Illuminae also for a reading challenge requiring a book of non fiction essays I'm working my way through The Suffragists: women who worked for the vote: essays from The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography which doesn't seem to be on Goodreads. Amazing, strong, principled, passionate women NZ women have to thank for the right to vote. Timely read for this year.
Always liked Fleur Beale so am delighted to find a copy of 'Mission Girl' on the give away shelf at the library.Mission Girl: the writings of Atapo, Paihia, c.1840
lots of historical details.
Jerkbait by Mia SiegertA random grab from the teens section of the library (I know I should stop grabbing from there haha).
Claiming Noah by Amanda OrtleppI don't usually read books like this, so this should be something different!
Currently reading Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie. This will be the third one of her books I've read this year. I think I have a new favourite author!
Maria wrote: "The Goldfinch"I absolutely loved this book, but found the ending a bit peculiar. The last ten or so pages seemed superfluous. What did you think?
Now reading Heart Berries by Terese Mailhot. Picked it up because it was the OSS bookclub pick. Can't say I I'm a fan of her style of writing. Those short sentences are keeping me from really focusing on her experience.
P.D.R. wrote: "Reading a stunning literary historical which is leaving me feeling so incompetent as a writer.'The Weight of Ink'
The Weight of Ink

The res..."
That sounds awesome, and scary at the same time! I've heard of the book. Sounds like I should try and source a copy!
Kirsten wrote: "Maria wrote: "The Goldfinch"I absolutely loved this book, but found the ending a bit peculiar. The last ten or so pages seemed superfluous. What did you think?"
Can't say I absolutely loved the book. Very memorable characters but it was sooo long. I think an editor's axe would have been helpful and not just for the last few pages. However I think about scenes and people from the book which to me is a sign of good writing.
Daughter of Gloriavale: My life in a Religious CultFascinating so far and Lilia's writing style makes it an easy read. Well done for someone who is not a writer.
Charging my Kindle before starting
The Retreat by Mark Edwards after finishing a delightful, heartwarming, happy/ sad and satisfying book
Cassandra's Secret: Sometimes the only way to move forward is to go back... by Frances Garrood. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
About to start
Half The Lies You Tell Are True by C.P. Wilson after staying up reading until 3am to finish
Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea. Yes, another 'stay up all night reading until you finish it' book! My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Crabwalk I recently read Salt to the Sea an excellent novel about the ill- fated MV Wilhelm Gustloff in WWII. Crabwalk was listed in the bibliography. It will be interesting to see how another author - and a German one at that - tackles this tragedy.
I'm currently 2/3s of the way through Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry. Really enjoying it. If you liked his other novel A Fine Balance or Vikram Seth's novel A Suitable Boy then you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Right in the middle of research again for my new novel and found this book.Constance Astley's Trip To New Zealand, 1897 1898
'Constance Astley's Trip to New Zealand 1897 -1898'She was a Scottish young women of independent means, an adventurous spirit and a gift for journals for the family which included her paintings. For those of you who like original documents and spirited women she's a must. Also she was well connected and met quite a few NZ notables and discussed topical events. It's a great research tool for me but a very good read. Her description of their Fiordlands trip is wonderful.
Erica wrote: "Crabwalk sounds really interesting - look forward to hearing what you think of it :)"Ah, books in translation and literary award winners, sometimes they are just hard to read. Gunter Grass has a very distracted style of writing and flits away from and back to the subject continuously - the crabwalk of the title. The history around this tragic event is well presented and that is why I read it - to find out more about this tragedy I’d never heard about. The characters lack any depth and are to the last one unlikeable.
Hasn’t inspired me to read anything else by Grass.
Had heard such good things about The Secret History by Donna Tartt, so decided to give it a go despite having read The Goldfinch and not particularly enjoying it. I'm about a quarter of the way into it, and looking for some encouragement to keep going :)
Have Sharp's Triumph on the go.Sharpe's Triumph
I prefer watching the DVDs as I can fast forward the grizzly bits!
The Pesthouse plus as part of a reading challenge to read something about science The Life of Poo: Or why you should think twice about shaking hands Very interesting but just makes me want to wash my hands, shut the toilet lid, move my toothbrush and never shake hands with a man!
'Reading 'The Secret Garden' for bedtime dreams. Finishing Sharp's Regiment and The Woman who walked into the Sea.
Currently reading
A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni after finishing a lovely read
When Archie Met Rosie: An Unexpected Love Story by Lynda Renham. If you are no romance fan, don't let that put you off. This is an amusing slice of life of a sixty something woman who has a turn of fortune that just may not be as wonderful as she first thought. My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Frozen by Melissa de la CruzI think I'm going to regret this book in all honesty, it kinda sounded like a good plot but I can already feel myself getting distracted with it.
Angie wrote: "Had heard such good things about The Secret History by Donna Tartt, so decided to give it a go despite having read The Goldfinch and not particularly enjoying it. I'm about a quarter of the way int..."
You won't get encouragement from me! It's not a bad book, but IMO overrated.
Other than our read I'm reading a collection of O Henry's short stories. It's over 700 pages, so I am expecting it to take me a couple of years to get through. Some of the casual racism gets me & as I'm not much of a short story reader, I can only read 2 or 3 at a time.
You won't get encouragement from me! It's not a bad book, but IMO overrated.
Other than our read I'm reading a collection of O Henry's short stories. It's over 700 pages, so I am expecting it to take me a couple of years to get through. Some of the casual racism gets me & as I'm not much of a short story reader, I can only read 2 or 3 at a time.
Altered Carbon It started with a hiss and a roar and remains very action packed ... but it’s a bit like Die Hard set in the future. Unkillable heroes arrgh!
Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Angie wrote: "Had heard such good things about The Secret History by Donna Tartt, so decided to give it a go despite having read The Goldfinch and not particularly enjoying it. I'm about a quarter ..."Struggled, but made it to the end. Agree, Carol, that it is overrated. Not one I will be recommending.
Angie wrote: "I've just started The Rosie Project and thoroughly enjoying the change of pace."
I loved the Rosie Project but hated The Rosie Effect. A non scientific study of mine has people who 5★ The Rosie Project are more likely to 1★ Rosie Effect than those who gave TRP 4 or 3★
I loved the Rosie Project but hated The Rosie Effect. A non scientific study of mine has people who 5★ The Rosie Project are more likely to 1★ Rosie Effect than those who gave TRP 4 or 3★
Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-LogstedNot going to lie, I only picked this up because I saw the big "Zombie" on it.
When I was younger in my teens I became a little obsessed with reading all sorts of zombie books.
Anyone read 'the Shepherd's Hut' by Tim Winton?The Shepherd's Hut
Australian and ouch. Language!!! What the review would call 'Gritty and real life from the white trash'
I have managed to finish it because Winton is a good writer.
Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Angie wrote: "I've just started The Rosie Project and thoroughly enjoying the change of pace."I loved the Rosie Project but hated The Rosie Effect. A non scientific study of mine has people who 5..."
Finished TRP and gave it a 4. Will have to find The Rosie Effect at the library.
Have just finished Diary of a Bookseller. Interesting to get a tiny look inside the book trade and the effect that Amazon has/has had on retailers. Some laugh out loud moments too with observations from the author on his various customers.
Have started The Woman at 1,000 Degree's, quite liking it, but finding it very wordy in parts.As an aside, and apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but does anyone keep a book journal or similar? Have just come across Literary Listography which looks interesting but I'm wondering if there are other options out there.
Just started
Snap by Belinda Bauer after finishing a 😍😍😍😍 read
The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah ThomasSuper interesting concept, a young boy who is allergic to electricity becomes pen-pals with another boys thousands of miles away.
A few pages in and they've both got interesting reasons why they would never meet!
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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Am finding it painful reading as I feel so sorry for Eleanor.