Recently Read and Recommended

[Alan]

Just like the Topic sez.

Here are my most recent Read and Recommended:

Simple Dreams by Linda Ronstadt
As the subtitle says, very much a musical memoir. It took me a chapter or two to get used to her fairly unpolished writing style, but then it actually became part of the charm. Intelligent, human, relatable but special. For this fan it was like spending time with one of my favorite musicians.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn. First book in the Chet and Bernie series of mysteries. Told by Chet, who happens to be a dog. Not cute, just spot-on. If you love mysteries and dogs, this is a winner.

Thrones, Dominations by Dorothy L. Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh. I found this in a little bookstore in Cottonwood AZ. Not quite "Gaudy Night" but not far behind. A delightful way to spend time with one of my favorite literary couples, Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane.

[Marian]

I recently read "The Book of Negroes" and just today I finished "Three Queens Three Sisters" by Philippa Gregory and I highly recommend them both!!

[sonya]

I recommend bare bones by Kathy reichs

[Shelagh]

I recently read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner and I would highly recommend it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Amber]

I recently read An Indecent Proposal by JC Reed and loved it!! Highly recommend, Five Stars all the way!

[Shelagh]

I have just finished Breaking the Silence and I really enjoyed it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ned]

I am new to this group, all the way from Australia. In the last few years I have been alternating a classic with a contemporary work. I am reading Trollope's The Way We Live Now. It's very dense but a wonderful example of storytelling even if it is very old fashioned.

[Leslie]

I also like to read classics in between contemporary novels.
I've recently read Jude the Obscure by Hardy (very depressing actually), and The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. That book stuck with me for days!
Two contemporary books I would love to recommend are A Spool of Blue Thread, by Ann Tyler, and Imagine me Gone by Adam Haslett. Both are beautifully written family sagas, told in different formats.

[Diana]

The Beech Tree

From the Freedom Rides to atrocities of Viet Nam POW camps, The Beech Tree weaves a compelling tale of love, loss and redemption. Tissues required. I would love to see this book as a movie.

[Dave]

Diana wrote: " The Beech Tree

From the Freedom Rides to atrocities of Viet Nam POW camps, The Beech Tree weaves a compelling tale of love, loss and redemption...."

Definitely! Great book. I thought it was going to be a "summer romance" type book when my wife handed it to me after she'd read it. It's a very powerful read. There are lighthearted moments that make you laugh but just as many that will bring you to tears.

[Miss]

Marian wrote: "I recently read "The Book of Negroes" and just today I finished "Three Queens Three Sisters" by Philippa Gregory and I highly recommend them both!!"

I've read The kingmaker's Daughter and the White Queen by Philippa Gregory! I loved 'em a lot and now I'll definitely go for this one!

[Annie]

I recently discovered an author I had not read before, William Kent Krueger, and read his book, "Ordinary Grace", a tender, sweet story. That led me to search for another of his and I found "Thunder Bay" which was equally enjoyable. I recommend him highly.

[Rachael]

I just finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and I think it was the best book I've ever read!

[Alan]

I have had a really good run of books I've enjoyed lately, but this one stands out. Wonderful, wonderful characters, especially Elsa. Excellent on every level. Many laugh-out-loud bits, scenes that brought a tear or two, gentle wisdom, a helping of suspense, you name it.

I will be getting Fredrik Backman's other books "Britt Marie Was Here" and "A Man Called Ove" as soon as possible. He achieves what I strive for with my own writing and I'm glad to have found another incredible role model.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

[Cynthia]

Shelagh wrote: "I have just finished Breaking the Silence and I really enjoyed it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I'm putting that on my list to read... thanks!

[Jeffrey]

Thanks will add to list

[Shelagh]

I have finished two very different books Me Before You review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
both recommended for completely different reasons.

[Lorrea - WhatChaReadin'?]

I just finished this book, it was a great read. Highly recommended for female thriller lovers. Here is my review.
https://whatchatreadin.blogspot.com/2...

[Jane]

Rachael wrote: "I just finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and I think it was the best book I've ever read!"

I really liked this book as well Rachael.

[NICOLE]

Hi guys I'm Nicole .Im currently reading winter of the world by ken follet.I love reading this book so much

[Nalini]

Hello I'm Nalini. I'm reading Anthony Hyde's The Red Fox, a mystery and so far-about 1/4 into it-it has kept me glued to the pages!

[Tina Sullivan]

Hi everyone! My name is Tina and I am currently reading: Anne Perry The Murder of the Century by Peter Graham. I was really enjoying it, but suddenly I had some type of mental snag--I can only concentrate on a few pages at a time. I know I'll pick up speed because I have downloaded so many tremendous books that I simply cannot wait to read!

[Robin]

I am Robin Houghton and have recently read the excellent Don Phelan book The Beech Tree.
A great emotional roller coaster of a book. You will be taken through all the trials and tribulations, laughter and love of the owners of the initials carved in the beech tree. Not content with just that, the author then weaves all these lives into interconnectedness as the story progresses, and then finally when you least expect it, throws some wonderful twists into the mix towards the end. Entertaining reading that will draw you into every characters life, tissues needed for the tears of laughter as much as the sad moments.
Somehow, the author makes the unfairness of life readable, whether it be brutality, bigotry or racism, pointedly and atmospheric without overdoing it.
Nostalgic and emotional reading, short chapters make it ideal for those with a busy lifestyle who want to read for five minutes at a time, or holiday reading where you can just get stuck in and savour the intense feelings

[May]

Robin, this is on my TR list. Think I need to move it to the top!!! Thank you for sharing a great review!!

[Kathryn]

Just finished Gray Mountain by John Grisham and enjoyed it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...