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2017: What are you reading?
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Linda
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Jun 03, 2017 10:47AM
I also read in the order books are due back to the library which makes challenges interesting.
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PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Not fiction, but it's about a lot of historical inaccuracies.Islam isn't sexist and feminism isn't "Western". Old cultural practices are just that - old.
Susan Carland's new b..."
Sounds good. I am also reading a non fiction The Bookseller of Kabul and it's fascinating. Was surprised at the back & forth of women's freedoms in dress, education, work etc depending on who was in power!
Finished The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2015310992
Fates And Furies – Lauren Groff – 4****
The book is told by the two central characters: Lotto (Fates) and Mathilde (Furies). Groff is masterful building these characters, with qualities that draw the reader into their circle. One revelation breaks the bond. Forcing first Lotto, and then Mathilde to examine their relationship. By the end I’m left feeling battered and bruised and stunned. I want to start reading it again from the beginning so I can pick up any clues Groff may have buried.
LINK to my review
22 Britannia Road – Amanda Hodgkinson – 4****
Hodgkinson’s debut novel is a beautifully told story of how a family torn apart by war slowly comes back together. Hodgkinson divides her chapters by location/time and by character, telling parallel stories: Poland during the war, England after the war. I was engaged and interested in the story from beginning to end.
LINK to my review
Thanks for the great review of Fates and Furies, Book Concierge! I’ve been very curious about that book. Lauren Groff certainly writes immersive, intense stories.
I've started Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart (non-fiction) by John Guy. The Prologue draws me right in.
Alice wrote: "I've started Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart (non-fiction) by John Guy. The Prologue draws me right in."She is so interesting to read about! Have you ever read Antonia Fraser's Mary Queen of Scots? I thought it was an excellent biography, albeit a definite challenge.
Chris wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Not fiction, but it's about a lot of historical inaccuracies.Islam isn't sexist and feminism isn't "Western". Old cultural practices are just that - old.
. . .
Sounds good. I am also reading a non fiction The Bookseller of Kabul and it's fascinating. Was surprised at the back & forth of women's freedoms in dress, education, work etc depending on who was in power! .."
I haven't read that but have heard a fair bit about it. Yes, it's all about the people in power, not the actual religious teachings that put so many of these traditions in place.
5★ Compassionate look at early-onset Alzheimer's disease: Who are we when we aren't ourselves? Still Alice is by neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova. I don't know whether or not the lower case i in the title, ALiCE, is to show that she is disappearing, but that there is still a bit of her left at the core.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Reading a new medieval historical by Can-Am author ,Wayne Turmel,
. A fast-paced read and first vol in a new series.
Just finished New York 2140, and am now reading The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars.
I just read a re-release of the 1979 Whitbread award-winner The Old Jest: A Novel by Jennifer Johnston.1920 Ireland, 18-year-old Nancy itches for Life, discovers war.
4★ My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm reading a very powerful first novel by an Australian author, set in Iceland in 1825. What a grim time and place that must have been! The heroine is accused of murder but we don't know until the end what really happened.Burial Rites
Finished Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps a collection of transcripts from interviews conducted through the Story Corps project. My daughter knows I like to listen to the interviews on NPR and gave this to me for Mother's Day. The stories are wide-ranging, diverse, and poignant. I did notice a pattern that a large majority of the stories were about women who had to raise children on their own due to death, divorce or abandonment. This book is a testament to strong women.
Jessika wrote: "Alice wrote: "I've started Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart (non-fiction) by John Guy. The Prologue draws me right in."She is so interesting to read about! ..."
Jessika, I had read Antonia Fraser's The Wives of Henry VIII and thought I'd try another author for Mary Stuart. I'm finding John Guy's writing lucid and smooth.
Loved my re-read of The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir by Vietnamese-born Australian comedian, (lawyer, who knew?), artist (we know now) Anh Do. 
5★ My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Now on #9 of the Holmes/Russell series, The Language of Bees.Also recently read The Summer Before the War for our group here. Looking forward to discussing it.
Zoe wrote: "I am reading evil under the sun by Agatha Christie as recently am wanting to read and acquire all of hercule poirot mysteries lol yes I know bookshelves will be tight but who needs empty shelves ri..."Zoe, I am listening a Poirot mystery right now as I drive, and love Agatha Christie. How does she always spin me around with her plots, even when I know to suspect that things are never as they seem?
Book Concierge wrote: "
A Christmas Memory
- Truman Capote – 5***** and a ❤
Capote was a gloriously talented writer and he is at his best here. The reader feels the anticipation..."
This is a lovely book, yes.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Just read my first James Lee Burke, and I'm sure it won't be my last.He sure can write! This is one of his latest, I think, The Jealous Kind, which paints quite a pi..."
I've been meaning to read a James Lee Burke novel for years, but others always find their way to my house faster for some reason. I'll check one out at the library today and then move to the bigger commitment of purchasing one if I like him as much as I suspect I will. Thanks!
Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but then ended up giving him something else (probably in an act of shameful selfishness since I was wanting to read it).
I recently read Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon. In the interest of full disclosure, she's a personal friend, but that doesn't diminish my admiration for the book or her as an author. FofD focuses on the Hindenburg's final journey, and it's told from the perspective of five different characters: a mystery into what actually happened to bring the dream ship down in flames.
One of the books I'm currently reading is The Memory of Us by Camille DiMaio. Fun fact behind the story: its inspiration is the Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby" and her relationship with Father McKenzie. The publisher's attorneys asked Camille to change the names, but the basic story question is still there. A wonderful readhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Beth wrote: "The Nightinggale by Kristin Hannah, finally!"Love this book, Beth!
Sarah wrote: "Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Both excellent reads."I'm also reading Small Great Things for a book club--but haven't yet started, to be honest. I expect to love it. Sounds like it will be painful, too, in the bigotry of some of the characters
Joy wrote: "Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but then ended up ..."Joy, I have Russka: The Novel of Russia and Paris on my to-read list. And I've learned that his latest tome "China" will be coming out in September.
I just learned about CHINA, as well. A must read for both of us, sounds like!
Joy wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Just read my first James Lee Burke, and I'm sure it won't be my last.He sure can write! This is one of his latest, I think, The Jealous Kind..."
I think he is uneven from one book to the next, but one of his early books that I really, really liked was Heaven's Prisoners
Joy wrote: "Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but then ended up ..."I've only read Sarum: The Novel of England a long time ago but as I remember I thought it was excellent. I must admit some of this very long books sit on my shelves for years, just reluctant to commit to the tomes!
Joy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Both excellent reads."I'm also reading Small Great Things for a book club--but ha..."
Excellent read!!! And great for book club discussions.
Chris wrote: "Joy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Both excellent reads."I'm also reading Small Great Things for a book ..."
I read Small Great Things and loved it.
Chris wrote: "Joy wrote: "Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but th..."I hear you, Chris. I love long novels in theory, but the ugly truth is that some of them sit on my shelves waiting their turn to be read but meanwhile I keep reaching for something else...
Chris wrote: "Joy wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Just read my first James Lee Burke, and I'm sure it won't be my last.He sure can write! This is one of his latest, I think, [book:The Jealous Ki...
I think he is uneven from one book to the next, but one of his early books that I really, really liked was Heaven's Prisoners "
Thanks for the suggestion, Chris. There are plenty to choose from, I realise!
Joy wrote: "Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but then ended up ..."One of our members, Amalia, just wrote a rave review for Edward Rutherfurd's Russka as well as raved about him in general. There's a fair bit of conversation in the comments about Rutherfurd's books on her review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is another long one, but not like Rutherfurd, I suspect. Absolutely mesmerising, compelling, overwhelming. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is both harrowing and full of love.
5★ My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Joy wrote: "Any Edward Rutherford fans out there? I have Paris sitting on my bedside shelf but haven't started it yet, I'm sorry to say. I'd bought it for my brother, who also loves history, but th..."Thanks, Patty!
Half way through The Son by Philipp Meyer which is fabulous so far. Felt compelled to read this after reading Meyer's American Rust which I loved.
Aussie author Louis Nowra wrote Into That Forest about Tasmania, inspired by stories of feral children elsewhere. I've added links in my review to the fascinating 'real' stories.My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished a Phryne Fisher historical mystery, Murder in the Dark, about murder and mayhem at a most decadent New Year's Eve party, ringing out 1928.
I am reading
Love this series set in 1511 Ireland.
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