Just finished Reading (2016)

[Sophie]

I finished The Girl Who Couldn't Read a couple of days ago. Very eerie and mysterious book set in an asylum in the 1800s. The follow-up to Florence & Giles

[Lisa]

Tracey wrote: "Finished this 5* book this morning Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Sounds great, Tracey. Might add that myself. Good to see another Murakami fan around these parts too!

[Tracey]

Hello Lisa anytime you fancy a buddy read Murakami let me know, I still have lots of his to read this year :)

[Lisa]

Ah, I'm afraid I've read them all apart from Underground and the Running book (both non-fiction). I know Jason of these here parts was aiming to make his way through all Murakami's books this year though!

[Tracey]

Aww shame but if Jason of these parts or anyone else fancies a Murakami read please let me know. :)

[Paul]

I am happy to set one of two up as read along books for those that are interested.

[Tracey]

Blown away by this one
Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Joy]

Not exactly just finished (been on holiday, so haven't posted for a few weeks) but I completed The Crimson Petal and the White, which I enjoyed very much. The characters are complex and I loved the way the author made me feel sympathy with (or at least understanding of) almost every individual. At the time the only thing that disappointed me was the very sudden ending. However I've since found out that there is a follow-up, tying up the loose ends, but now I'm not sure if I want that after all, or if I'd rather imagine my own endings for the characters.
While away I also read another L.M Montgomery (the author of Anne of Green Gables) - A Tangled Web - which was a heart-warming romance (great beach reading!)
I wasn't so keen on I Saw A Man. I felt it couldn't decide whether it was going to be a thriller or a psychological drama.

[Pat]

What is the follow up please?

[Paul]

Finished Future Crimes: A journey to the dark side of technology - and how to survive it last week. Terrifying book on how bad the security is for things online. It does get moderately techy at times, and can be a bit over dramatic, but is worth reading. my review is here

[Cindy]

I finished The Goldfinch about a week ago. It's definitely not a happy story, but I really enjoyed it due to the author's wonderful writing. Then I thought I'd get a head start on the March selection, Station Eleven. Thanks to some snow days, I polished that off in no time. I don't normally like dystopian novels, but this was great! I might actually be able to read another March Group Read.

[Paul]

I liked The Goldfinch, but thought that the ending let it down. Station Eleven is really good, I have read Last Night in Montreal and that is good too

[Cindy]

I agree with you about the ending, Paul. There was also a section describing the main character in his hotel room that seemed to drag on for a bit.

I'll definitely check out Last Night in Montreal.

[Jackie]

Finished What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. Don't think I'll have much trouble forgetting that book... 2 stars, thought it was predictable & pretty rubbish. Disappointing as I enjoyed Big Little Lies by her.

[Paul]

Finished Landskipping: Painters, Ploughmen and Places yesterday. The title is slightly daft and but is not bad, but has some flaws. My review is here

[Tracey]

Just finished Time and Time again .
Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jan]

Slade House by David Mitchell. Very fun read. Mitchell has an extraordinary imagination. But it's a one-time read, for me. Interesting to see all the incredible raves by different people, including the NY Times. While fun, it's not one that I found particularly profound, nor is it meant to be, in my opinion. Fun read's definitely have their place.

[Jackie]

Finished The Girl With All the Gifts. It was alright but not really my thing, even though I have enjoyed a couple of other dystopian/sci fi books.

[Richard]

Failed to update for a while. Have completed three books recently...

Five stars for the difficult but ultimately rewarding A Brief History of Seven Killings. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Four stars for Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

But sadly only two for Catherine O'Flynn's The News Where You Are: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Paul]

Finished Wild Coast: An exploration of the places where land meets sea over the weekend. Lovely pictures, and would make a great coffee table book, but no depth to it. My review is My review is here

[Pamela]

Just finished A Suitable Boy. A massive work at 1535 pages, but I loved every page. It covered such a lot of ground, I'll need to reflect a bit before writing a review, but it was brilliant.

[Joy]

Pamela wrote: "Just finished A Suitable Boy. A massive work at 1535 pages, but I loved every page. It covered such a lot of ground, I'll need to reflect a bit before writing a review, but it was b..."

It's one of my favourite books - I've read it twice. Have you read An Equal Music? It's also very good (and much shorter!) Plus The Golden Gate is superb.

[Pamela]

Yes I read An Equal Music last year. It was very good, but I didn't really warm to the characters.

[Paul]

Finished Summertime by Vanessa Lafaye a few days ago. (Been a busy week!!) Worth reading for anyone interested in American history, as it is a fictional account of a a hurricane hitting a part of the Florida Keys. My review is here

[Sophie]

I've literally just finished The House on Cold Hill by Peter James. I need to think about it a bit before I write a review but it was a very gripping and sinister ghost story. Think I need a cup of tea and to watch something upbeat before going to bed now!

[Catherine]

I love a good ghost story Sophie. I've added that to my TBR, thanks!

[Paul]

Not something you want to read alone Sophie!

[Sophie]

Haha I felt a bit silly after like! It's not gory or anything like that but it is quite sinister if you're a reader like me who imagines themselves in place of the character(s). Think I might have to look into some more Peter James books if they're like The House On Cold Hill...

[Tracey]

5* Review for Witch light
Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Paul]

Finished The Man Who Couldn't Stop yesterday. It is an interesting glimpse into the mind of an OCD sufferer. Worth reading for those who know someone who is affected. My review is here

[Jo]

Just finished listening to Three Wishes.

All a bit smarmy and formulaic. I've enjoyed others of hers, but this had no intrigue or real drama and just seemed like a book by numbers.

[Paul]

I'd never heard of the author Jo!

[Tracey]

Just finished this 'bio' of Alfred Hitchcock Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jackie]

Finished Half of a Yellow Sun. Gave it 4 stars, thought it was v good. Did struggle a bit with the numerous names and I'm sure the pronunciation of them in my head was wayyy off the mark.

[Paul]

Finished Rain: Four walks in English weather late last night. Excellent little book of nature writing on that most English of weathers; rain... My review is here

[Paul]

Finished Uprooted: On the Trail of the Green Man a couple of days ago. It is another ARC I had via Netgalley. Not a bad book and the author has managed to dig out some interesting detail on The Green Man. My review is here

Also finished Cannery Row. Lovely little book about a bunch of American misfits living in California.

[Jackie]

I've finished with Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. Gave it 4 stars. First book I've read by him, probably won't be the last. Enjoyed the story & liked his unfancy (is that a word?!) writing style.

[Richard]

Jackie wrote: "I've finished with Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. Gave it 4 stars. First book I've read by him, probably won't be the last. Enjoyed the story & liked his unfancy (is that a word?!) writing style."

I really love Tim Winton and by coincidence I've just finished The Riders. My five star review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Definitely worth reading some more Jackie. In a way Cloudstreet is untypical of his style. The Riders is different too as it's his only book not set in Australia, I can certainly recommend Breath and Dirt Music which are both wonderful.

[Richard]

Paul wrote: "Finished Uprooted: On the Trail of the Green Man a couple of days ago. It is another ARC I had via Netgalley. Not a bad book and the author has managed to dig out some interesting d..."

I really loved Cannery Row too Paul. Managed to read it while in Monterey a couple of years ago which added to the atmosphere - although it has to be said Cannery Row is a bit of a tourist trap these days.

[Pat]

Lots of Tim Winton on Borrowbox audiobooks. That's our library free audiobook site. I think its Australian as many are narrated by Australians.

[Paul]

I can imagine it is Richard. Have never been to America yet.

[Paul]

Finished the The Naked Shore: Of the North Sea yesterday. It is an interesting travel and history book as the author travels around the countries and islands that make up the North Sea. Reasonable book, but didn't have that extra something. My review is here

[Kevin]

Read Dark Days: The Long Road Home. Definitely a three star for me. Way more touchy feely than I like my apocalyptic fiction to be. Story telling was ok. At least it was free.

[Joy]

Just read The Forever Girl by Alexander McCall Smith. It's not one of any of his series but a stand-alone romance. His engaging style made it very readable but the plot needed work. Rather trite ending.

[Kirsty]

Just finished The Bone Clocks this morning, by David Mitchell.
I enjoyed the majority of this book, although as with Cloud Atlas, there were some chapters/characters which didn't really hook me in as much as others and felt like more of a slog to get through.
A very good writer, and some nice ideas (think "Intruders" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3552166/) crossed with the writing style of Cloud Atlas), worth hanging in there for, even if it takes a few hundred pages for the big plot reveal (or any kind of reveal at all, really)

[Paul]

Finished The Outrun over the weekend. Not the easiest of books to read give its subject matter, but Amy Liptrot is a fine author indeed, lifting this book and making it so readable. My review is here

[Cindy]

I just finished Everything I Never Told You, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is told in such a way that you see it from the viewpoint of each of the main characters, and not one seemed false to me. While it's not a happy story, it's beautifully written.

This is one of the best books I've read so far this year, and I think I'll feel the same way at the end of the year. I highly recommend it.

[Tracey]

Omy goodness what an emotionally involving story.
Here is a review by Tracey: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jackie]

I enjoyed that book too, Cindy.

I've finished The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. It was pretty good but I thought it was a bit dragged out. I seem to remember thinking along the same lines when I read Fingersmith too.

[Tytti]

It seems to be a common problem, many modern books would benefit from more editing.