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What Are You Currently Reading? (doesn't have to be an Aussie book) - Part 2
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Laziness? Arrogance? Lack of respect for the reader?"
All of the above!
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One of my favs too Christine:)
I'm currently reading Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses by Helen Rappaport. I'm reading it for a Personal Challenge, in which the title of the book starts with the number of the month. So, it's April, fourth month, thus the title must start with four. I've been really enjoying this well-written academic text, although it is a bit heavy-going and my progress has been slow. Only a few more days til the end of the month. Will I finish in time???Yesterday I finished Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, and have been suffering serious eye strain ever since. The typefaces and fonts, and particularly the typeface tones used caused me a grand headache, quite literally. I'm really struggling to read anything today.
I feel like writing to the publishers, Allen and Unwin Australia, to tell them of my difficulty. I've never done anything like that before. Do you think the publishers would just dismiss my complaint as that of a whinging old cow, or would they appreciate feedback? I am certain that Illuminae will go into several editions, as it is such a popular and excellent book. what would other Aussie Readers do in my situation??
Sally906 wrote: "I do loath books that have no punctuation. I have no idea why some authors do it - seems to be getting common. All I can say is that it guarantees that the book becomes a DNF!"
I am with you in that, Sally. It seems to be becoming a 'modern' type of prose but it's one I really dislike. The book goes straight to my 'not for me' shelf.
Mary, I've seen other GR members who describe the format as 'phenomenal' so maybe it's just a personal taste. But heck, I'd certainly write to the publishers if the format has had that negative effect on me. Go with your instincts and write!
B the BookAddict wrote: "Mary, I've seen other GR members who describe the format as 'phenomenal' so maybe it's just a personal taste. But heck, I'd certainly write to the publishers if the format has had that negative eff..."I agree the format overall is indeed phenomenal Bette. It's the grey font on black page dialogue between the key protagonists which caused me the trouble. Insufficient contrast, and the grey is very faint. And, of course, that dialogue is fundamental to the story...
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They would definitely appreciate the feedback Mary...I'd email them. I'm sure they will respond to you in a favourable way:)
I'm currently reading "My Life on the Road" by Gloria Steinem in preparation for seeing her at the SWF next month. I have just started it but enjoying it so far.
Brenda wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "I'm currently reading Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses by Helen Rappaport. I'm reading it for a Personal Challenge, in whi..."Thanks Brenda. I'll wait a few days - my eyes are STILL watering and I'm keeping my computer use to a minimum!
Christine wrote: "Christine wrote: "I am currently reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty This would not normally be a book I would read but I was reading the preview and curi..."I too greatly enjoyed this book. You're right - it does indeed touch on emotions that may be a bit raw for some of us. She's a wonderful writer IMHO, and I hope you will get to read more of her titles.
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Hope you enjoy My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem Charlie as well as listening to her talk at the SWF :)
I received two books in the post today so I will begin reading book one
by Erin HunterHas anyone read this series? I bought these books in the hope that I can get my granddaughters interested in reading them after me. It pains me to see that they do not read books. I got this series as they both own a cat and thought it may trigger an interest.
Sally906 wrote: "I do loath books that have no punctuation. I have no idea why some authors do it - seems to be getting common. All I can say is that it guarantees that the book becomes a DNF!"
I agree 100%!
MaryG2E wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "I do loath books that have no punctuation. I have no idea why some authors do it - seems to be getting common. All I can say is that it guarantees that the book becomes a DNF!"
..."
One of my pet hates. I get halfway through reading dialogue before I realise it's dialogue, and then I'm bumped right out of the story.
And just to top it off, as an author myself, I suspect that if I submitted an unpunctuated manuscript to a publisher, it'd end up on the reject pile after reading the first sentence, or maybe even before.
Christine wrote: "I received two books in the post today so I will begin reading book one by Erin HunterHas anyone read this series? I bought these books in the hope ..."
My son adored these books when he was in primary school and sparked an interest in many of his friends, mostly girls, who wrote their own stories featuring the cats.
well, I did finish it, by skipping pages of unpunctuated inpenetrable text. Some bits were interesting, but soo hard to read. I never thought I would long for capitals and apostrophes!!I posted my review in the review thread....
MaryG2E wrote: "I'm currently reading Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses by Helen Rappaport. I'm reading it for a Personal Challenge, in which the title of ..."I struggled with Illuminae as well. Not the concept of a mixture of files and emails and written notes - but the lurid colours in some of the backgrounds making it hard to read the font. I did toy with the idea of writing to publisher - but didn't in the end as I feared they say something along the lines of it is a YA book your eyes are too old for the target audience - lol
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Sally906 wrote: "MaryG2E wrote: "I'm currently reading Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses by Helen Rappaport. I'm reading it for a Personal Challenge, in whi...""the lurid colours in some of the backgrounds... Sally? I should have been so lucky...!!
My edition was strictly B&W, and that's what caused the trouble - too little contrast between the blacks and faint greys. And, guess what, when I do write to the publisher, I don't intend to reveal my age LOL!
Follow-up to the great eye strain drama, courtesy of Illuminae :-I'm determined to finish my personal challenge for April, despite my present enfeeblement. So I did an advanced search on my library's catalogue for book titles which include the word 'four' and which are Large Print. The densely typeset academic treatise on the fate of the four Romanov duchesses has been shelved indefinitely and I'm now reading a pleasant, light piece of contemporary fiction with huge print, Four-Cornered Circle by the late Jon Cleary.
MaryG2E wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Mary, I've seen other GR members who describe the format as 'phenomenal' so maybe it's just a personal taste. But heck, I'd certainly write to the publishers if the format ..."I'd hate that grey on black font type, my eyes would ache.
I had to return Notes from an Exhibition unfinished as it had 6 reserves waiting. That's a first for me:(But I picked up same author Patrick Gale's A Place Called Winter and started it yesterday.
B the BookAddict wrote: "I had to return Notes from an Exhibition unfinished as it had 6 reserves waiting. That's a first for me:(But I picked up same author Patrick Gale's [book:A Place Ca..."
Oh Bette I loved that book! (A Place Called Winter)
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Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Is this the one you're reading Taleah? There are a few with the same title :) Can you link your books for us please? Thanks..makes it easier for us to check the books out which others are reading :)
☼♄Jülie wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "I had to return Notes from an Exhibition unfinished as it had 6 reserves waiting. That's a first for me:(But I picked up same author [author:Patrick Gale|1...
Oh Bette I loved that book! (A Place Called Winter) "
Ditto, Bette, it made me look out for more by this author
Julie and Marianne, I just adore how Patrick Gale writes and the subject of this book is both real, shocking and heartbreaking (as you both know). I have reserved every book Mr Gale has written at my library or via InterLibrary Loan and am looking forward to an Author Marathon.
I have finished 2 outstanding books - Ghost River by Tony Birch and The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante - which I will review soon and post it in the Review thread. I'm now in the middle of reading 2 aussie books - Crucifixion Creek by Barry Maitland and Summer At Mount Hope by Rosalie Ham - and both are very good!
Finished this morning
I have just started reading
by Robert Bryndza. It seems to have rav reviews and I can see why so far as it is page turning.
I'm hoping to start The Girl In The Ice soon Christine. It does sound good. I've just finished The House of Frozen Dreams which I really enjoyed. One of my favourites so far this year :)
Started All These Perfect Strangers last night and am 33% in, just wondering if this should be shelved as YA?
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Have you got it down as YA Jools? I read it as an adult psychological thriller...
☼♄Jülie wrote: "Started All These Perfect Strangers last night and am 33% in, just wondering if this should be shelved as YA?"My sister is reading that at the moment. She made a similar comment about it being for younger readers.
Brenda wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Started All These Perfect Strangers last night and am 33% in, just wondering if this should be shelved as YA?"Have you got it down as YA Jools? I read it as an adu..."
No I haven't, it really doesn't make any difference to me but just reading it sounds like it could fit under that category as well as thriller/mystery...I'm not really far enough in to tell...except that atm it is all about young students.
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I just started an Aussie book. The Best Feeling of All, by Jack Ellis. It's set in Sydney during the 90s, a time and place that was the high water mark of my life.
Ryan wrote: "I just started an Aussie book. The Best Feeling of All, by Jack Ellis. It's set in Sydney during the 90s, a time and place that was the high water mark of my life."Great title. I'll have to check it out.
I've started The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer. It's very good so far :)
☼♄Jülie wrote: "Started All These Perfect Strangers last night and am 33% in, just wondering if this should be shelved as YA?"I had trouble deciding where to shelve it too Jools. I decided on psychological thriller because nothing else seemed to fit, but you're right it's not really a thriller despite a few deaths and murders. Could be YA.
I'm enjoying Rush Oh! which I decided would be a very appropriate read as we will be going to Eden on Thursday....
Marianne wrote: "I'm enjoying Rush Oh! which I decided would be a very appropriate read as we will be going to Eden on Thursday...."Ooh that's good to hear Marianne, I got that one from Carolyn at our last swap meet and am looking forward to including it in a future challenge...maybe a requirement will be for a book about big fish ;))
Well, Jools, whales are not fish, but there are also killer whales which are, so you would be right with a book about big fish, once that challenge comes along. Maybe a zodiac challenge, then you would need a book about fish for Pisces...
Finally finished The Sending, and already started The Red Queen. This is probably going to take a long time as well...
Marianne wrote: "Well, Jools, whales are not fish, but there are also killer whales which are, so you would be right with a book about big fish, once that challenge comes along. Maybe a zodiac challenge, then you..."
:)
I am SO excited to have picked up the latest Augusten Burroughs title, Lust & Wonder. I really love his writing. Dry is probably one of my all time favourite biographies. Hoping this will be just as good!
I'm getting back into goodreads for 2016 after a break last year (busy times, just had my fourth baby) and thought I'd start with my current read, Alexandra Bracken's Passenger. I'm just over halfway and finding it hard to get in to. The time travel is interesting but the romance feels a little contrived. Hopefully it will improve!
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Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Welcome back and congrats on your new addition:)
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Aussie Readers
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I intensely dislike those sorts of books Marianne - so much so that I avoid reading them even if they're supposed to be good!