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Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard (bluestocking7) | 104 comments I'm in Ghana with Homegoing. Something tells me I will be enjoying this book, it looks like another great debut novel.


message 352: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I'm in Ghana with Homegoing. Something tells me I will be enjoying this book, it looks like another great debut novel."

I've heard good things about that book.


message 353: by Story (new)

Story (storyheart) Denizen wrote: "Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I'm in Ghana with Homegoing. Something tells me I will be enjoying this book, it looks like another great debut novel."

I've heard good things about that book."


Me too. Keep us posted.


message 354: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
Michael wrote: "Denizen wrote: "I enjoyed The Revenant. It was an interesting time on the American frontier. ..."

Gee, I had that checked out of the library earlier in the month and got sidetracked and returned i..."


So far so good, but I'm not far in. I'm a fan of frontiersman fiction. I liked that they mentioned George Drouillard who I read a book about called Sign-Talker: The Adventure of George Drouillard on the Lewis and Clark Expedition


message 355: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Just finished a very harrowing book set in Sydney, regarding, mental illness, and subsequent pregnancies, and being overwhelmed by 'the system', not bad writing style. I Came to Say Goodbye by Caroline Overington. Read half of Reading Madame Bovary, waiting for the chapters to link up, and because I hadn't noticed they are all short stories, have now given it up. Well written by Amanda Lohrey


message 356: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Am now about to go to Adelaide, South Australia in Closed For Winter by Georgia Blain..


message 357: by Blueberry (new)

Blueberry (blueberry1) Post-apolcalyptic Los Angeles surrounded by vampires - I Am Legend

And at a prettier part of California where I like to go camping (Calaveras Big Trees State Park) after having left the Black Swamp, Ohio - At the Edge of the Orchard.


message 358: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera trying to survive conflicts with aliens and challenges of terraforming a planet, A Night Without Stars by Peter Hamilton. I can't believe how many door stoppers I've read this year.

Just returned from a huge library booksale. 44 books for $50. Ambitions that will take me down a long road. Like 5 volumes of Powell's Dance to the Music of Time. Gass' The Tunnel. Byatt's Babel Tower. Coover's The Public Burning. Rotjfuss' The Name of the Wind. But there were some shorter ones by Llosa, Patrick White, William Boyd, Cleeves' Little Bee, Yan's Red Sorghum. I look forward to this event all year. Between new books from Negalley, the library, and dirt cheap used books, I get by quite well without buying new books. I also like Bookbub as a means to collect the book deals from multiple sites in one daily message ($2 a book usually).


message 359: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Michael wrote: "I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera trying to survive conflicts wi..."

Whoa! 44 books for $50 is quite a haul! And some great titles, too.


message 360: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Michael wrote: "I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera trying to survive conflicts wi..."

Which Patrick White did you get. My favourite was Voss.. Good score.


message 361: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
Michael wrote: "I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera trying to survive conflicts wi..."

I have to stay away from library book sales. I don't know how I would fit another 44 books in my house....I stopped going to the library, because there were just too many excellent cheap books that I wanted to read on the friends of the library shelf. I envy you the feeling of all the wonderful book finds.


message 362: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Lesley wrote: "Michael wrote: "I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera trying to surv..."

Voss it was. A member on Shelfari was always promoting White, but the couple on my shelves for many years just were so fat and seemingly undelightful to crack open. Voss is short and looks fun and quirky. Need to attend more to your interest in Aussie books. I have a new Keneally in my Netgalley lineup and more Careys and Wintoms in the wings.


message 363: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Den, for non-fiction I have Ellis' Founding Brothers about the interplay among the Founding Father, Tobias Wolff's Vietnam memoir In Pharoah's Army, Turnipseed's Baghdad Express, Boorstin's The Seekers, and Aldo Leeopold's A Sand County Almanac. I walked away from Caro's biography volumes on Johnson. Someday next decade.


message 364: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments I just received notice that my hold on All True Not a Lie in It has come in. I think I've been waiting over a year for this book to be released in the US. The reviews have been mixed but I can't pass by a book on Daniel Boone. Hope to be able to start it tomorrow.


message 365: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
Denizen wrote: "I just received notice that my hold on All True Not a Lie in It has come in. I think I've been waiting over a year for this book to be released in the US. The reviews have been mixe..."

That one has been on my radar, so I will let you be the pioneer before I read it.


message 366: by Story (new)

Story (storyheart) Booknblues wrote: "Denizen wrote: "I just received notice that my hold on All True Not a Lie in It has come in. I think I've been waiting over a year for this book to be released in the US. The review..."

Someone gave me a copy and I didn't make it past chapter one. Can't remember why though.


message 367: by Karin (new)

Karin I've just left the Louisiana bayou, and am in NY with the doggone Yankees (I'm not a baseball fan, but have been reading a book about Mariano Rivera for an Olympics reading game, plus one other Olympic themed (sport in the Olympics) read.


message 368: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I'm in Ghana with Homegoing. Something tells me I will be enjoying this book, it looks like another great debut novel."

I missed this when you first posted. I read Homegoing this year and really enjoyed it. I rated it a 5. I didn't write a review when I first finished it. I'll be interested to hear your reaction to it.


message 369: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Michael wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Michael wrote: "I am still grounded in the mud and blood and personalites of the Civil War in Shelby Foote's wonderful prose, but I am spending many hoirs in a far-future space opera..."

Except for Schindler's Ark, I can't read dear old Tom.. hate (most of ) Peter Carey endings (you might remember my rant about this) however the last one I read, was superb, right to the end. The Chemistry of Tears...MMM mmm : Tim Winton last one I enjoyed was Eyrie.. I am one of a very few who don't vote 'Cloudstreet as 'best book ever'... I prefer Myfanwy Jones Leap, Inga Simpson Where the Trees Were... and of course The Natural Way of Things by the amaaazingCharlotte Wood.. MANY many others, I could mention.


message 370: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Thanks so kindly for the Winton recommendations. I only read Dirt Music, and it wasn't that special. But someone recommended The Riders, which I acquired. For Carey I loved Parrot and Olivier but the couple others I read weren't as good. Haven't got to Oscar and Lucinda yet--does that have a poor ending? What about the one where je channels that famous outlaw?

Any other Aussie writers you favor? For an Australian subject, I am interested in Chatwin's Songlines, where he tunes into Abo cultural practices about travel singing (I don't quite understand, but Macfarlane in his wonderful The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot was raving about it). I also bought a copy of a history of Gallipoli, which I have trouble startimg.


message 371: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Lesley wrote: "I prefer Myfanwy Jones Leap, Inga Simpson Where the Trees Were... and of course The Natural Way of Things by the amaaazingCharlotte Wood.. MANY many others, I could mention. ."

Just did a check of some of these titles.Leap is now available in US in audio. Where the Trees Were is available for Kindle and used paperback. My library doesn't have either of them (and my money is on them not getting them.) The library does have The Natural Way of Things as an ebook so have placed it on my wish list. All 3 were already on my TBR from previous Crossroads discussions. I may bite the bullet and buy Leap - the parkour theme interests me - but right now I am making a serious effort to read some of the audible books I've already purchased.


message 372: by Lesley (last edited Aug 21, 2016 06:09PM) (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Michael wrote: "Thanks so kindly for the Winton recommendations. I only read Dirt Music, and it wasn't that special. But someone recommended The Riders, which I acquired. For Carey I loved Parrot and Olivier but t..."

I am going down an internet rabbit hole (after my weekend at the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival, and meeting several amaaazing Aboriginal writers) chased and caught this one : Trauma Trails, Recreating Song Lines by
Judy Atkinson...

http://www.ultrakulture.com/2015/10/1...


message 373: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I prefer Myfanwy Jones Leap, Inga Simpson Where the Trees Were... and of course The Natural Way of Things by the amaaazingCharlotte Wood.. MANY many others, I could mention. ."

Just..."


I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 2016 at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Oh I wish I could go!!


message 374: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Michael wrote: "Thanks so kindly for the Winton recommendations. I only read Dirt Music, and it wasn't that special. But someone recommended The Riders, which I acquired. For Carey I loved Parrot and Olivier but t..."

OOH this really interests me, thanks Michael..The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot.. Am interested in making a collection and this could tie in well.


message 375: by Karin (new)

Karin I've just landed in Hawaii with Paradise News


message 376: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Lesley wrote: "I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 2016 at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Oh I wish I could go!! ..."


Be sure and post the winner when it's announced!


message 377: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 2016 at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Oh I wis..."


Yes, I will.. Have had a few lovely private messages with Myfanwy, hope 'Leap' wins, but think in all fairness, it will be Charlotte. Either one.. Sigh wish I could go to another festival... Maybe next year, except just heard Raphael Nadal will play in Brisbane next Jan...


message 378: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Lesley wrote: "... The Old Ways..."

I recently voted for 21 books on the Listopia list for "Biographies of Place". A great idea for a list or shelf, bit only 12 people have contributed to it. Seems well matched fro Crossroader's focus on place and geogrraphy.

As for entries on where and when I am, I am spending weeks all over the South in that 900 page Civil War history of Foote. Stuck in swamps, steams, and trenches in Mississippi around Vicksburg, galloping around Tennessee with Nathan Forest Bedford, defending Charleston with the Creole Beaurogard, and then over the line in Pennsylvania at Cemertary Ridge and Little Round Top at Gettysburg. Alternating this audiobook with a 700 page ebook from Peter Hamilton exiled with a lot of bad aliens at a solar system moved to intergalactic space, sort of a no place and no time.


message 379: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 2016 at the Melbourne Writers Fes..."

Winner of Miles Franklin Black Rock White City by A.S. Patric.. SOOO lucky, just downloaded it from Rural Library Services. Start reading soon.


message 380: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Lesley wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 2016 at the Melbou..."

Black Rock White City sounds great! I'll be watching for your take on it.


message 381: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
I'm currently in Long Beach reading the newest book in a series I like, Come Twilight. I think Michael might enjoy this series.


message 382: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Lesley wrote: "Denizen wrote: "Lesley wrote: "I am waiting to see which will win : The announcement of the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner will be on Friday 26th August 201..."I am in Melbourne, the setting for Black Rock White City.
I have read about half of it so far. Not a metaphor in sight, and my heart is pounding with empathy and fear for these damaged Sarajevo war refugees. PLEEEZE let them make a good new life.

I don't want to read any reviews, now. Wonderful , visual, true sounding, voices and rhythms.


message 383: by Karin (new)

Karin I forgot to mention that I was in Holland and Germany with The Hiding Place, but I've finished that so have left.


Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard (bluestocking7) | 104 comments It just finished Home going. wonderful read. I was in many places and then I ended up where it all started, back I. Ghana.It will take a while to write a review.


message 385: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "It just finished Home going. wonderful read. I was in many places and then I ended up where it all started, back I. Ghana.It will take a while to write a review."

I thought you would like it. It was a great read for me. Some of the characters I really wanted to read more about, but in the end I think having small capsules of each life worked in a way that a lengthy bit about one character.


message 386: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments I have now been in Australia for my last two Books, that I have read all the way through. . Melbourne in Black Rock White City and am now North West of Sydney, in a small outback home-town in the AMAAAZING Charlotte Wood The Children... Once again , such a 'real' family, I am a fly on the wall.. Mark of a great writer; NO metaphors, but the characters are sketched brilliantly. (IMHO)


Dosha (Bluestocking7) Beard (bluestocking7) | 104 comments I am now in Kentucy on Derby day with The Bourbon Kings. So much backstabbing and treachery! It has a good amount of rich, slutty folks secrets and desires and tribulations.


message 388: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments I left revolutionary era Kentucky and Dan'l Boone inAll True Not a Lie in It and have moved on to Wales and the delightful Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

On the NF front, I've started Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.


message 389: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments I am spanning the decades from the 80s on with a playwrite in NYC and the undermining of a marriage in Fates and Furies. Gorgeous prose, frozen story so far. I am also in a far future with veterans for old Earth's "Forever War" looking for a way to escape being a human zoo among post-humans with a group mind in Haldeman's Forever Free


message 390: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Michael wrote: "I am spanning the decades from the 80s on with a playwrite in NYC and the undermining of a marriage in Fates and Furies. Gorgeous prose, frozen story so far. I am also in a far futu..."

I'll be watching for your review of Fates and Furies. I enjoyed it quite a bit.


message 391: by Karin (new)

Karin I have left 20th century Hawaii, and am in 19th century England (Bristol) where George Muller et al are running those new orphanages where children of all classes and creeds are welcome as long as they have no financial means of support, they get a basic education, food, good clothes and are taught means of gaining employment when they leave inGeorge Mueller: Delighted in God. I'm also in Montana with Ready to Die.


message 392: by Blueberry (new)

Blueberry (blueberry1) I just left The Beach of Falesá in Polynesia but am not going far. Just jumping over to visit Seven Little Australians. On audio I will be visiting Philaedelphia, PN with Longmire in Kindness Goes Unpunished.


message 393: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments The Well byCatherine Chanter had me in a slightly future climate change affected Britain. Stunning debut, kept my interest with the good writing (no metaphors) , perhaps a wee bit long in the middle..
Now, in the deep north of early Canada inBarkskins by Annie Proulx.. One of my all time favourite authors, and even tho I don't usually like novels that start in 17th Century, I think if she wrote a bus ticket, I would read it..


message 394: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Blueberry wrote: "I just left The Beach of Falesá in Polynesia but am not going far. Just jumping over to visit Seven Little Australians. On audio I will be visiting Philaedelphia, PN wit..."

That was a great Longmire. Strange for nim to ne in Philly with Vic not there. But it made a good opportunity to get into her backstory of family roots and to get the cowboy into an urban setting.


message 395: by Michael (new)

Michael (mike999) | 113 comments Lesley wrote:"...Now in the deep north of early Canada in Barkskins. ..."

I liked Will Byrnes' recent review on this. I like the variety in jer writing but especially like her "exerimental" prose, which he mentioned not at all. Makes me worry if she has resorted to an old fashioned saga. On a related subject I got a lot out of a non- fiction exploration of all the ways that forests have captured human imagination: Forests: The Shadow of Civilization.


message 396: by Karin (new)

Karin I'm now in Utah with My Story by Elizabeth Smart.


message 397: by Lesley (new)

Lesley Moseley | 717 comments BarkskinsI amsorrry to say I gave up as after 200 pages, I also thought "on no, this is just a saga, and it will go on for another 300 years" Michael wrote: "Lesley wrote:"...Now in the deep north of early Canada in Barkskins. ..."

I liked Will Byrnes' recent review on this. I like the variety in jer writing but especially like her "exerimental" prose,..."



message 398: by Denizen (new)

Denizen (den13) | 566 comments Karin wrote: "I'm now in Utah with My Story by Elizabeth Smart."

I'm interested in your thoughts on this book.


message 399: by Karin (last edited Sep 05, 2016 07:08AM) (new)

Karin Denizen wrote: "
I'm interested in your thoughts on this book."


It's already not quite what I expected. I'm listening to the audiobook, and she does a good job for an amateur (we're so used to listening to actors) despite some bad directing from the producers (I can tell). She has a few chapters before she gets to the actual abduction. I am going to listen no matter what; like millions of others, I was very taken with this case and prayed for her, and have always wanted to hear what she had to say. I also highly respect the fact that she and her family didn't do this when she was a teen or before the trial and that she started telling it when she was strong enough and ready.


message 400: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 696 comments Mod
I'm in postwar England reading Life After Life.


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