Constant Reader discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Constant Reader
>
What I'm Reading - May/June 2017
date
newest »
newest »
I know a lot of people loved this book but it was just okay for me.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry – Gabrielle Zavin – 3***
One snowy December evening A.J. Fikry finds that someone has left a baby between the shelves in his bookstore. This is a fable about second chances and the redemptive power of love. It’s a somewhat quiet story, as novels go, but it is full of the drama of every day existence. I also loved all the literary references.
LINK to my review
I picked up a "lucky day" newish book at the library, thinking it would be a quick and possibly diverting thriller. I have trouble believing that an editor/publisher actually read this book and said yes. I recommend avoiding Universal Harvester. I gave it one star, but I'm not sure what even that one star was for.
Bad luck with your read, Lyn. Not such a lucky day, I guess! :)This is one for fans of Charles Dickens. I reckon he'd have been an activist blogger if he'd been around today. My review of Select Short Fiction
4★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just read this chicklitty mystery. The Golden Hour by T. Greenwood.
3★ My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Formidable 'Nubian Queen, Thug Mama' Liza Jessie Peterson writes a powerful account: All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island
5★ A MUST-READ!
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ah, my in-person book club recently read The Sympathizer. I don't think any of us could say we enjoyed reading it, and for some the violence made it difficult, but we were all glad we had read it afterwards.
We Are Called to Rise – Laura McBride – 4****
McBride’s debut novel tells the story of four different people whose lives intersect as the result of one split-second choice. The novel is told by each of these four characters in turn. I was immediately drawn into their personal stories. McBride does a great job of writing these characters, making them real to the reader. I thought the ending was a little too contrived, but that was really my only complaint. I look forward to reading her next book.
LINK to my review
June 20 - Currently ReadingTEXT –
The Lowland / Jhumpa LahiriAUDIO in the car –
Something Rotten / Jasper FfordeMP3 Player AUDIO -
The Agony and the Ecstasy / Irving Stone
Really enjoyed News of the World by Paulette Jiles. Post-Civil War US. 4.5★
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Catch-22 – Joseph Heller – 3***
I definitely see why this is on its way to becoming a classic. Heller’s story of one unit fighting in Italy during WW2, could easily be updated to today and still ring true in many respects. It’s funny, irreverent, and disturbing. Still, satire is not my favorite genre. I appreciate it, but don’t necessarily like it.
LINK to my review
Just read Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips, which possibly aspires to be Hunger Games in the Zoo.
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Perks Of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky – 4****
This is a coming-of-age novel featuring 15-year-old Charlie, who tells the story via letters he writes to an unnamed friend. I like YA fiction like this. Charlie is very real. He is a great observer of teenage and family life. As he describes events and how he reacts to them, he gives the reader a pretty accurate view of high-school dynamics. This is Chbosky’s debut novel. I hope he writes another novel; I would definitely read it.
LINK to my review
On the recommendation of a friend whose reading tastes are usually aligned with mine, I read Joy Fielding's She's Not There. Some reviewers here on Goodreads say it's intense. I call it overwrought and give it 2 **.
I'm re-reading a favorite, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, by Louise Erdrich, for my college alumni reading group (MacReads). Hosting this time!
June 24 - Currently ReadingTEXT –
The Lowland / Jhumpa LahiriAUDIO in the car –
The Japanese Lover / Isabel AllendeMP3 Player AUDIO -
Eragon / Christopher Paolini
Aussie Catherine McKinnon's new book, Storyland is an inventive fictional history of the Illawarra coast of NSW in linked short stories from the 1700s to far in the future, very far - the 2700s!
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gunshot Road by Aussie Adrian Hyland is written by a man who knows the Territory and its people. Emily Tempest is an Aboriginal Community Police Officer extraordinaire. Lots of action, humour, mystery, Indigenous lore. Loved it! 4.5★
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Moonglow by Michael Chabon. The opening is slower than I expected, given all the hype. I'm hoping I get into it more as it goes on.
Melissa wrote: "I'm re-reading a favorite, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, by Louise Erdrich, for my college alumni reading group (MacReads). Hosting this time!"I loved this book. Erdrich can really tell a story, can't she?
Ellie wrote: "Moonglow by Michael Chabon. The opening is slower than I expected, given all the hype. I'm hoping I get into it more as it goes on."I'm looking forward to this one, Ellie. I've heard that it may or may not be based on fact. Perhaps it's up to the reader to decide (or care).
I just finished Crime and Punishment, and I will be beginning The Brothers Karamazov tomorrow morning. Crime and Punishment was a beautiful introduction to Dostoyevsky's philosophical themes, and I now feel well-equipped to tackle the titan that is the Karamazov family.
I think a lot of people will love Ache by Aussie author Eliza Henry-Jones. 
Sadly, I'm not one of them. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Amazing so far. At first, I thought it was fiction, but I was mistaken.
Mary Anne wrote: "I'm reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Amazing so far. At first, I thought it was fiction, but I was mistaken."That was one of our reading list books, one year, Mary Anne. It was depressingly good.
Mary Anne wrote: "I'm reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Amazing so far. At first, I thought it was fiction, but I was mistaken."Here's a link, Mary Anne: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'll check it out, Sherry. I'm sure that's when I put this book on my to read list.
Tylerjones wrote: "... I will be beginning The Brothers Karamazov tomorrow morning."I loved The Idiot 30 years or so ago when I read it, and so recently I listened to this podcast (and part 2) that I sort of came across by accident. Would never have predicted how much I enjoyed it, having forgotten practically every detail of the book. They talk a little about The Brothers, too. Give it a go if you are open to podcasts - I know some people really hate them!
http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2017...
Unfortunately I do not know how to respond to specific comments, but thank you, Tonya! I will certainly give that podcast a listen!
Tylerjones,I haven't read him in a long time, but Dostoevsky is one of my favorite classic authors - so much insight into the human psyche and the search for meaning in life.
I liked theThe Brothers Karamazov best of all of his books.
I finished Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Horowitz is the writer for one of my favorite TV series, Foyles' War. The story involves 2 mysteries - one that an editor of a book called The Magpie Murders is reading and another involving the "author" of that book that the editor feels compelled to solve.It kept me reading, but I think I expected more from the reviews. Also, I also bought the Kindle book, which always raises my expectations. :-)
The first mystery is written in the style of Agatha Christie novel, set in a little village where everyone is a suspect and red herrings are thrown out willy nilliy. The solution to the second mystery was more satisfying.
Tylerjones wrote: "I just finished Crime and Punishment, and I will be beginning The Brothers Karamazov tomorrow morning. Crime and Punishment was a beautiful introduction to Dostoyevsky's philosophical themes, and I..."C&P is one of my all-time favorite books. Unfortunately I gave up on TBK after about 600 pages ... I. Just. Could. Not. Take. Any. More.
Jane Steele – Lindsay Faye – 3.5***
Lindsay Faye’s re-telling of Jane Eyre , is an imaginative romp. Readers of the classic will recognize many plot elements, but Faye has let her imagination run wild. The story is still set in the same era as Bronte’s classic novel, but this Jane is a serial killer. If that makes you gasp is horror … well give the book a chance. It’s great fun to read
LINK to my review
Ann wrote: "I finished Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Horowitz is the writer for one of my favorite TV series, Foyles' War. The story involves 2 mysteries - one that an editor of a book ca..."I'm going to add this to my never-ending list, Ann. Sounds like something I'd enjoy.
It was a nice break from some of the heavier reading, Sue. I like both kinds, but I need to alternate.
Ann wrote: "It was a nice break from some of the heavier reading, Sue. I like both kinds, but I need to alternate."I do too, Ann and sometimes read them concurrently to decrease the tension of the longer and sometimes tenser novels.
I just finished Bel Canto. I was caught up in it immediately, my interest only deepened, and in the end I cared deeply about all the characters. I rarely give a book 5 stars, but I did for this one. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Megan Miranda's The Perfect Stranger was a very satisfying read!
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Something Rotten – Jasper Fforde – 3***
Book four in the Thursday Next fantasy / sci-fi “literary detective” series. What I most enjoy about this series is Fforde’s vivid imagination and all the literary references. The plots are completely unrealistic, but that’s part of the fun.
LINK to my review
Lyn wrote: "I just finished Bel Canto. I was caught up in it immediately, my interest only deepened, and in the end I cared deeply about all the characters. I rarely give a book 5 stars, but I did ..."Great review of a great book.
It's time to move over to the new thread for July & August.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
Bel Canto (other topics)Something Rotten (other topics)
The Perfect Stranger (other topics)
Bel Canto (other topics)
Magpie Murders (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Megan Miranda (other topics)Eliza Henry-Jones (other topics)
Michael Chabon (other topics)
Michael Chabon (other topics)
Adrian Hyland (other topics)
More...
Farwell My Lovely – Raymond Chandler – 3***
I came late to Chandler’s series about P.I. Philip Marlowe, but I sure am enjoying them now! The action is non-stop, and the characters so vivid they virtually jump off the page. I’ll definitely keep reading the series.
LINK to my review