You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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Chit Chat About Books
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What Are You Reading? 2016.1
Funny how society's ideas about what belongs in a memoir change. So many of the WWII recollections by americans and brits focus on recalling the camraderie, muddling through and make it sound like a difficult but jolly good time...so different from the modern memoirs.I'm reading The Secret Life of Bletchly Park, codebreaking during WWII.
I finished Fated and discovered the most overused phrase in a novel that I have ever encountered. I looked into the future and discovered that I wouldn't be reading any more in the series. All this future gazing is hurting my eyes.
Janice wrote: "I finished Fated and discovered the most overused phrase in a novel that I have ever encountered. I looked into the future and discovered that I wouldn't be reading any more in the ..."LOL!!!!
I read The Last Animal for the toppler. It was an enjoyable, if inconsistent, collection of short stories. I gave it 3 stars.
I am starting The Girl on the Train for this month's group read and also for the geocache challenge.
I finished The Clockwork Scarab this morning, and...meh. Not really for me, but it was an easy read, and when I actually sat down to read it went quickly. A good book to get out of my slump.I'm now picking up The Lies of Locke Lamora, since the second book is part of my geocache challenge, I thought I should get the first one read.
Lynda wrote: "I finished The Clockwork Scarab this morning, and...meh. Not really for me, but it was an easy read, and when I actually sat down to read it went quickly. A good book to get out of ..."I hope you enjoy 'Lock Lamora' better than 'The Clockwork Scarab', Lynda. It has been on my TBR for a while so I will be interested to know what you think.
Sarah wrote: "Have fun Lynda with Locke Lamora. It's a great read :-)"Agreed!
The next book in the series is due to be released. I'm excited.
I finished Bloodsucking Fiends for the Toppler, and The Twelve for a buddy read. It's been a great day of reading!Next up -
On audiobook - Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy. It's come to the top of the queue, so it's next.
On print version - The Coroner's Lunch for my challenge read.
I still have Space to finish. I need to get back to it soon.
Janice, the Bloody Jack audio series is great fun in my opinion; although the first ones are much much better than the last one.
Lynda, I look forward to reading you thoughts on Locke Lamorra, I had not heard of the Gentlemen Bastard series but is sounds like fun.
Janice wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Have fun Lynda with Locke Lamora. It's a great read :-)"Agreed!
The next book in the series is due to be released. I'm excited."
I can already tell I'm going to enjoy this. I'm only 25 pages in and I don't want to put it down!
That is actually odd Lynda as most people go through the first 150 or so pages wondering whether to finish and then it picks up. I mean I really likrd it but that first stretch is kind of slow. Glad it is taking off great from the go for you
Joan wrote: "Janice, the Bloody Jack audio series is great fun in my opinion; although the first ones are much much better than the last one."I agree, Joan. I really enjoyed listening to the first book, but that is as far as I got. They are always checked out, when I check the titles.
I have had The Lies of Locke Lamora on my TBR list for a long time too.
I finished Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures for the toppler and fell asleep 49 pages short of finishing The Indian Bride, which I have since completed. I was trying to decide what to pick up next - The Twelve or my alternate Girl book, but I think I am going to read The Girl on the Train after all.
Joan wrote: "Janice, the Bloody Jack audio series is great fun in my opinion; although the first ones are much much better than the last one."I own the second book as well, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't be disappointed in the first one. So far, I'm enjoying it.
Boffin is the new word I learned today, seems to be a WII era word for absent minded, eccentric, intelligent professor types, used for the scientists developing computers in England. It's the perfect word to describe my biochemist husband!The word comes up alot in The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The WWII Codebreaking Centre and the Men and Women Who Worked There
I just finished it, 3 stars my review
Travis of NNY wrote: "That is actually odd Lynda as most people go through the first 150 or so pages wondering whether to finish and then it picks up. I mean I really likrd it but that first stretch is kind of slow. Gla..."I really like the writing and the world building, sometimes the details of the grift get to be a bit over the top. I'm glad, though, that I didn't have to warm up to this one. After two meh books, I don't know that I'd have the patience. I'm just hungry for a good read!
I'm starting The Czar's Madman for the monthly challenge. The book maybe based on real events so I am feeling a little frustrated because I don't know what is fact and what is fiction.
I finished The Girl on the Train for this month's group read and also for the geocache challenge. It was good but not great so I gave it 3*.
I've had my first DNF this year. The Dog That Laid Eggs. It was cute and funny, but just wasn't holding my interest. In a week I had barely read 100 pages because I kept falling asleep every few paragraphs. I was enjoying the many puns the author included though. The town baker's name was Tappetou Dia-Bêtes for example. I finished listening to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie yesterday. It was a pretty good book, but I doubt that I continue with the series. Some of the descriptions seemed to go on for far too long and I often found my mind wandering away from the story. It was still a 3 to 3.5 star read in my opinion.
I've started listening to Saving Fish from Drowning and I'm also reading Cobweb Bride.
I felt the same way about The Sweetness, Kimey. In part I think my expectations where too high due to some highly recommendations by GR friends. I have a hard time relating with Flavia de Luce. It was ok, but I don't plan to continue with the series. I have to admit I loved the beginning. Those two or three first paragraphs are really good.
I have just finished my reread of As Meat Loves Salt. I loved it just as much the second time round :)I am now starting The Séance: A Victorian Mystery because I am in the mood for something creepy.
Lisa wrote: "I am now starting The Séance: A Victorian Mystery because I am..."Oh, this sounds good! Reminiscent of Affinity perhaps.
Janice wrote: "Reminiscent of Affinity perhaps."It will be great if it is! I loved 'Affinity'. I think this could be a lot more creepy though. This is my first time reading anything by this author, although I also have another of his books, The Ghost Writer, sitting on my TBR pile.
Janice wrote: "I added The Séance, so I'll be watching for your response to the book."I will keep you posted :)
I finished Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy. I think the audiobook was the experience. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the print format as much.Next on my list is Nevermore - Novel of Love, Loss, & Edgar Allan Poe simply because it's next on the list.
puzzled by my Estonian book for the challenge. I can't tell if it is a political polemic, a love story or a family saga where everyone has a name, a patronymic and a nickname. The book is The Czar's Madman by Jaan Kross.
The Bloody Jack audio books are very popular, Janice. Every time I look for the next one, it is always checked out. There are so many of them though, that I have not been all that driven to go down that road. I think you are right too. The narrator may have been the largest part toward making the books more desirable. She is fantastic.
Cherie wrote: "The Bloody Jack audio books are very popular, Janice. Every time I look for the next one, it is always checked out. There are so many of them though, that I have not been all that driven to go down..."I have the second book in my Audible library. It looks like my library has the audiobooks for the whole series for download, so I'll borrow them if I decide to continue after the 2nd book.
"10 Things I Miss in Estonia" a youtube video by Artur Rehi is a humorous synopsis of the country by am emigrantI'm reading a book about Estonia in the 19th century for the challenge
I finished two books today, both rated 3.5 stars.The Coroner's Lunch my Tribute challenge book)
Nevermore - Novel of Love, Loss, & Edgar Allan Poe
I'll be starting Phoenix Rising on ebook and Neverland on audiobook.
I'm reading The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation and The Archer's Tale. I'm listening to The Orchardist.
I'm bailing on Neverland. I just can't get into it. Maybe it's my frame of mind right now. I don't know what I want to listen to in its place. I feel like I'm in a slump.
I don't know how hoarders do it. After 3 weeks, I still have all my office furniture and contents in my living room and bedroom. It really weighs heavy on me. We're waiting for new carpet to come in and be installed. If they don't hurry up, I'll be catatonic soon.
I just finished The Czar's Madman for the tribute challenge. It certainly deserves the awards it has received - if you like thinking and rich classic novels you will enjoy this one - but it is work.
Joan wrote: "TASHA, I'm 20 years late but I just watched the movie Seabiscuit and cried my eyes out."I read Seabiscuit: An American Legend and loved it.
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That's as far as I've gotten though. Eleven more to go.