What are you reading or what books have you read or heard about? (Part TWELVE) Ongoing general thread. Showing 2,301-2,350 of 2,793

[Nina]

It is by Patrick DeWitt and I did finish it hoping it would redeem itself and turn out better but it didn't and probably one of the worst books I've ever read.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I guess you mean French Exit by Patrick deWitt. (not "Paris Exit")

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Now reading, "Paris Exit," and don't think I'd recommend it. Just a bit too weird for my taste but interesting enough for me to want to get to the finish. Think I can guess the ending and I'm only ..."

I guess you mean French Exit by Patrick deWitt. (not "Paris Exit")

[Nina]

Yes, that is the correct title.

[Jim]

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (Yes, the guy that wrote the Oz stories.) was a lot of fun. Highly recommended for all ages. Best of all, it's completely free of any taint of religion. I gave it a 5 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim, thanks for the recommendation!

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (Yes, the guy that wrote the Oz stories.) was a lot of fun. Highly recommended for all ages. Best of all, it's co..."

Listen here: https://librivox.org/the-life-and-adv...

[Nina]

I have my childhood book, "The Wizard of Oz," copyright 1903 with the original illustrations by W.W. Denslow. My mother probably got it at a used book store and this would have been in the thirties. The first copyright in the book said, 1899. I also have two other Oz books. And Dorothy's slippers were silver not red.

[Nina]

It was one of my very favorite books as a child. Along with "Heidi," and "Bambi."

[Joy H., Group Founder]

The first book ever that gave me enjoyment was: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

The second book I remember for grabbing my interest was: Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I loved the film adaptations of both too.

[Nina]

Yes, both were good as were the movies. I once read the autobiography of Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was great.

[Jim]

I liked Baum's Santa Claus book better than any of the Oz books, although I've only read the first one recently.

[Nina]

But, I read "Wizard of Oz," probably when I eight years old and was enchanted. I guess I wasn't the only one but I'll have to check out the Santa Claus one

[Nina]

Because our January book club selection is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyln," by Betty Smith I am currently reading it again as I'm certain I read it years ago. And not too long ago saw the movie. Very well written. Not wonder it is a classic/

[Mary JL]

Currently finishing up this year by reading another science fiction book. It isGames of Command and is a fun, fast paced space adventure. It is my third book by this author and I am enjoying it very much.

[Mary JL]

Joy: The Prince and the Pauper was a favorite of min and I have read it several times.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for posting, Mary and Nina.

Happy Holidays to all!

[Linda]

Nina wrote: "Because our January book club selection is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyln," by Betty Smith I am currently reading it again as I'm certain I read it years ago. And not too long ago saw the movie. Very w..."

One of my very favorite books - read as a teenager. Loved the book. Movie was good as well.

[Linda]

Happy Holidays Everyone.
Stay Safe! Have fun. Be Merry.

Merry Christmas

[Jim]

I've read a few more really good books lately. Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740 A History of US by Joy Hakim is the second of her 10 book series on US history that's aimed at kids. I gave it a 5 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Killing Rain by Barry Eisler is the 4th in the series about an assassin & it's still going strong. I gave it a 4 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

At the Helm, Volume 1 is an SF anthology filled with great stories by new & emerging authors. It was unexpectedly good. I gave it a 4 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Behind the Throne by K.B. Wagers only got 3 stars, but it was interesting. An Indian civilization in the future full of political intrigue & cool tech.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

THANKS FOR POSTING, JIM!

[Nina]

Thursday was sixty three degrees and today is twenty nine..Brrr and my blood doesn't know whether to be thick or thin.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

37°F HERE.

[Nina]

I loved getting the book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," as a present from my great aunt as a child. As an adult I enjoyed touring his home in Hartford, CT. and seeing his fence in Hannibal MO as a child.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Books make great gifts!

[Jim]

I finished my review of 2018 on Goodreads. It was a super year for my reading!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

GOOD WORK, JIM.

[Nina]

Besides reading all those books, your listing and reviews is also work. So interesting. Glad you made the effort to post it. I, too, loved "A Man Called Ove," and although my husband never considered suicide he so reminded me of him. Once Ove was frustrated at not finding a parking place and his words, "Doesn't anybody work anymore?" I have heard my husband say those exact words. And I think I have read every book Farley Mohawt perhaps I spelled that wrong, ever wrote. He is one of my favorite authors.

[Jim]

Thanks, but it's not work. It's pure pleasure, Joy. My work reading doesn't make it on GR lists since it is all technical & generally not in books. The computer world changes too fast to actually write a book on the subjects I'm interested in.

Thanks, Nina.

[Jim]

I just finished The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor & grudgingly gave it a 3 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm excited to start Head On which is a sequel to Lock In by John Scalzi. I really liked it. SF mixed with a murder mystery is great reading for me.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for posting, Jim.

[Nina]

Just wondering if you saw my message about my ailing health this past week. I had written that I had a lingering cold that turned into a virus and then when I took some medicine to combat those problems I sort of went into shock/shaking all over/icey cold and finally got relief and stopped shaking by covering with a comfort and using heat. I think I was too dehydrated to absorb it. So, dr said I had to come in and after exam he discovered I had Shingles. Not what I had expected to hear. However, he gave me medicine and today I am actually feeling some better. Not a good way to start the New Year.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Sorry to hear all that, Nina. Hope things will improve.

[Jim]

That's awful, Nina. Hope you feel better soon. I think I'm supposed to get the vaccine for that soon. I opted to get the Hep A vaccine this time, though.

[Nina]

Not well yet; but better. And Shingles medicine seems to be helping also. Been a rough week but things looking up. Daughters supplying us with food and liquid and nice next door neighbor brought me two new African violets. Keeps my spirits up.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Glad to hear you're improving, Nina.

[Jim]

Glad things are better, Nina.

[Nina]

The vaccine is only good for five years but believe me I wish I had gotten it. I was told that because I had already had shingles there was almost no chance of me getting them again..Yeah.. Here I am again.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Get better soon, Nina.

[Earl]

I've had shingles twice, 40 or 50 years apart. Druggist who injected two-shot $100 Shingrix recently told me that if you had shingles once you're MORE likely to get them again. I didn't know that Shingrix was only effective 5 years though.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Earl. Thanks for posting.

[Nina]

Well, it seems likely I got it again. DARN.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Oh, no!

[Jim]

Oh no! That's awful. Like Earl, I've always heard once you get it once, you're more likely to get it again. I've known a couple of people who got it & while I never spoke to them in detail about it, they always had issues with it. I was hoping with the new drugs that wouldn't be an issue. Good luck.

[Nina]

Just finished, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," and I did like the book but it was a bit too long.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thanks for posting, Nina. I remember the title but I don't think I read the book.
WIKI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tree_...

You can watch the movie on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6CBJ...

You can also listen to it being read on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0LzH...

[Nina]

Thanks for info but after reading the almost five hundred page book I don't care to listen to it and I do remember the movie. Just finished a very good book, "The Beekeeper's Promise," by Fiona Valpy. Setting in a village in France both during WWII and then 2017. I even had tears at one point. However, good ending and much history of those times.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, I know what you mean.
Too bad I can't get "The Beekeeper's Promise" via OverDrive.

The Beekeeper's Promise by Fiona Valpy

I don't use Kindle Unlimited anymore because I don't enjoy most books anymore.

[Nina]

We were out of power for two days so had to resort to going to our daughter's and thankfully she had power. There were one hundred thousand without it in our area. Our street looks surreal as we had nine inches of snow. Some limbs down and others almost invisible under the blanket of white. Glad my freezer held it's own.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Oh, how awful!