Goodreads Ireland discussion
Stuff Worth Sharing
>
Recently bought (acquired) books!
That leaning bookcase is a good idea, Barbara. And it'll come in handy if you're stuck for a ladder.
I was only teasing, Barbara. The bookcase looks cute but how many books does it hold?Cathleen, I didn't realize they had a bookstore too. I'd love to check it out.
Susan wrote: "I was only teasing, Barbara. The bookcase looks cute but how many books does it hold?Cathleen, I didn't realize they had a bookstore too. I'd love to check it out."
Susan - each shelf is 2 feet long and there are 5 shelves. The top one is narrow, but I checked and it will hold smaller books. So 10 feet of bookshelves is pretty good. I cannot fathom it when I see decorator magazines, catalogs, etc. where people have an empty shelf with maybe one thing on it. Space, space, space is what booklovers need.
Declan - I'll take a photo once I have it all set up and convert you to a believer.
Mod
I went to pick up my hold of At Swim, Two Boys. I also left with a copy of The Son. I have the audiobook version, but since it's a long read, I'll get through it much quicker if I alternate reading/listening depending on whether I'm somewhere I can listen (car/gym/etc.) or not.
On whim I picked One Hundred Names by Irish author Cecilia Ahren (daughter of Ireland's former prime minister) off the new fiction shelf. I'm a bit nervous that it will be chick lit, but it seems to have an interesting premise.
The library also sent me an email saying that my hold of Happiness, Like Water, a book of Nigerian short stories was ready, but they lied! It's merely on it's way.
I ordered a book for myself from Abe. I got a 1941 edition of Dorothy L Sayers English Mysteries. It from the Wartime Pamphlets series. I think it might be a volume of the articles Sayers wrote about the Wimsey family for the papers during the war. Looking forward to reading it when it arrives.
I bought a book of poems "Les Mains Libres" by Paul Eluard, and "Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert.
Sara wrote: "So today's trip to the library was very Goodreads Ireland centric.I went to pick up my hold of At Swim, Two Boys. I also left with a copy of The Son. I have the audiobook version, but since it's..."
I have read several of Ahern's books and liked them so put this one on hold at the library. Thanks, Sara!
I'm glad to see that you got a copy of the O'Neill, Sara, as it seems to have been hard for some people to get a hold of. I hope you enjoy it and The Son!I bought the DVD version of Harry's Game this morning, the Gerald Seymour thriller that I've enjoyed reading this week, to see how it portrays the Belfast of the 1970s. It was filmed in 1982 by Channel 4, so should be gritty. I look forward to watching, and will listen for the haunting music that Theresa remembers it by.
Of course, to get the free super saver delivery, I needed to spend a tenner, so I also decided to finally buy the second in the 'My Struggle' series by Karl Ove Knausgaard, which I've been interested in for a while, but which hasn't come down in price much-the free postage made it worth my while though.
My Struggle
ttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7429046
I picked up a book titled Black Dance at my local indie bookshop yesterday. It looked intriguing - a Brazil connection, capoeria, an older gay couple who make films, and the 1916 Easter Uprising. the author is a Canadian who writes in French.And I picked up Breakfast of Champions as the Kindle daily deal and the audible daily deal too which was On What Grounds. Funny one is about coffee and the other has breakfast in the title.
@Alan, I recently picked up my struggle on paperback myself. Looking forward to it.@ Sara I hope u enjoy cecelia ahern but she's generally pretty chick lit eg. Ps I love you.
Barbara, I'll be interested to see what you think of Breakfast of Champions-it's probably the most Sci Fi of Vonnegut's books that I've read, and was one that I absolutely loved. Old Kilgore Trout reappears in other Vonnegut novels. I'll have to download my audiobook version again-it was one of the first ones I bought, about 7 years ago. :)
Mod
Barbara, Black Dance sounds like one I might have to borrow if it's any good...Of course I should first get to one of the three other books you've loaned me(Frog Music, Unspoken, and >The Effect of Her...
I was also sorely tempted by On What Grounds, but I think I'll hold back.
I have, Sara, but wasn't Breakfast of Champions the one that involves a zoo on another planet etc? It's been a while since I read both books...I loved them both, though!
Mod
My daughter-in-law just said she is reading a series by Cassandra Clare. I had never hear of her so I went to our used book store to buy her some more of the series for Christmas. I asked the guy what kind of books they were and he said sci-fi fantasy dystopian. I thought, oh great. My three favorite genres. Then I thought of Paul. Paul, have you heard of this author?
Sara wrote: "Allan have you not read Slaughterhouse Five? I would consider it to be more scifi than Breakfast of Champions. Barbara, Black Dance sounds like one I might have to borrow if it's any good...Of co..."
Allan - If it's sci-fi you like, it's probably sci-fi that has general appeal. I don't read much of the genre but I don't rule it out. And Vonnegut is a must read for me. I know I read Slaugherhouse Five years ago.
Sara - I'd be happy to lend you Black Dance when I'm done and also Roxanne Gay's novel about Haiti.
Speaking of sci-fi- I happen to be watching the end of Person of Interest which was mildly futuristic, but it has definitely upped the ante. Anyway it's time for Outlander:)
Sara wrote: "So today's trip to the library was very Goodreads Ireland centric.I went to pick up my hold of At Swim, Two Boys. I also left with a copy of The Son. I have the audiobook version, but since it's..."
Sara, I bought One Hundred Names about a month or so ago. It was on sale for 1.99, so I thought I'd give it a try. It sounded like an interesting plot line for a story and a little more light. I'm not sure when I'll get to it, though.
@Allan and Seraphina, I'm not sure if you can get it there, but I noticed on the BBC World News we have here that there's a show called Talking Books and they interviewed the author of My Struggle. (I'm blanking on his name!).
Sara / Barbara, my lack of memory of the narratives for both books just shows how it's time I reread both of these novels! Considering the hundreds I've read since reading them, I'll excuse myself, but as mentioned, I do remember that I loved them both! I bought God Bless You Mr Rosewater recently, and will definitely get to Cats Cradle at some stage.Cathleen, My Struggle is written by Karl Ove Knausgaard, and is a 6 or 7 volume autobiographical novel. They're releasing them once a year in English, and I read the first one at the start of this year. Not much happened, with small events amassing mass detail, but I was still encouraged to read on, and have been tempted to buy this volume for months. Talking Books is on the BBC news Channel in UK I think, so I'll look for that interview via Sky or even on the iplayer-thanks for the heads up! :)
So, I found an audio version of the Talking Books episode you mentioned, Cathleen. I've posted the link below in case you are interested, Seraphina.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0212sbk
Susan wrote: "My daughter-in-law just said she is reading a series by Cassandra Clare. I had never hear of her so I went to our used book store to buy her some more of the series for Christmas. I asked the guy w..."That's probably The Mortal Instruments series?
Susan, I don't know if you followed the Lord of the Rings movies, but a whole lot of fan fiction came out of that, and Cassandra Clare did an hysterical batch of 'Secret Diaries' of the characters.
I don't know if they are still online though, since she hit the big time - Mortal Instruments was made into a film, although it bombed a bit and I don't think a decision has been made yet as to whether to continue with them.
They made a film of one of her books last year Susan . City of Bones . Its YA probably falling into the Hunger Games sort of sphere from what i can see but not someone ive read yet
It is the Mortal Instrument series. It is so far from anything that I would read. Thanks for the info.
I went on a George RR Martin splurge and ordered 3 anthologys edited by him Rogues Dangerous Women 1 and Dangerous Women 2Plus one novel The Ice Dragon
Three are preorders and Rogues should be here any day
I ordered a copy of Malcolm Orange Disappears by Jan Carson because she is coming to Washington DC soon. Here is the Amazon blurb on the author:"JAN CARSON completed a BA in English Literature in Queens University, Belfast, and a Masters in Literature in Theology and Contemporary Culture. Jan is a Community Arts Development Officer in the Ulster Hall in Belfast. She has led many creative writing workshops and read extensively in Britain, Ireland and the United States. She runs a monthly literary event at the Ulster Hall which has showcased Irish writers such as Jennifer Johnston, Glenn Patterson and Ciaran Carson. "
I can hear Allan salivating from here.I am anxiously waiting for my new Ann Cleeves book. The Book Depository has mailed it. Is there something wrong with me that I am looking forward to a new book when I have a ton in the house?
Sounds perfectly normal to me Susan :-)
That's got very high ratings Mara, I know there are a few regulars here who enjoy murder mysteries that might be interested in this.
I just listened to that link on talking books on my struggle alan. Sounds like it's going to be an interesting book if the author is anything to go by.
Barbara / Susan-I have seen the Carson book, and indeed had the chance to go to the launch, but didn't feel that it was for me content wise-a bit too fantastical perhaps? The book has received excellent reviews saying that-I'll see how you go with it, Barbara, before trying it myself. BTW Carson runs (or ran-I think she finished in the summer) the 'Literary Lunchtimes' programme in the Ulster Hall, which, as they are on during the week usually, I can't attend. I did go to one in August, and was one of 7 people-including Carson and the author-to attend...
Seraphina, I've yet to listen to the link myself, but have no doubt that Knausgaard will be engaging. When you read the book, be prepared for minute detail of very mundane events-sounds boring, but it actually works!
Susan wrote: "I can hear Allan salivating from here.I am anxiously waiting for my new Ann Cleeves book. The Book Depository has mailed it. Is there something wrong with me that I am looking forward to a new boo..."
Susan - I got an email yesterday from The Book Depository saying my Ann Cleeves book was on the way. I don't remember though how long they take to get here.
Allan - I heard that the Carson book was science "fictiony". But as she's coming, I figure it would help me reach my goal of 25 books by Northern Irish writers or about NI. Her Amazon bio mentioned she ran a program in Ulster Hall. Unfortunately, lunchtime is not a time most people can attend, especially in jobs such as yours. My bookshop Politics & Prose is doing most of their classes during the day. The bookstore has two big retirement homes within one block so they are able to fill the classes.
Mod
Mod
I'm still debating which of the 7 audiobooks from Audible's current $4.95 sale I really want to buy. It doesn't end until the 18th, but I think I'd like to make a decision this weekend. There's also a member sale at Barbara and I's local independent bookstore this week. Almost everything in the store will be 20% off. I'm not sure if I'll go or not. On the one hand, it's an opportunity to get 20% off on Rainey Royal written by an acquaintance of mine. I also need to replace my copy of Ancillary Justice after my cat rudely chewed on the cover. On the other hand, I don't really need more books, and I'm afraid the cornucopia would be too tempting. I can say I'm going just for two items, but I will inevitably get more.
Sara wrote: "If I don't, I'm sure Barbara will. I'm still debating which of the 7 audiobooks from Audible's current $4.95 sale I really want to buy. It doesn't end until the 18th, but I think I'd like to mak..."
Sara - you finished Ancillary Justice so why do you need a new copy? I have a class at Politics and Prose tonight so I will make a (short) list of books to look for while there. As for the $4.95 Audible sale, I noticed an overabundance of vampire-themed books. I didn't see anything that grabbed me, but as there is time, I may go back and pick something up.
though the topic is recently bought books - I think we are more or less in line as we will soon have some recently bought books:)
Mod
I'm amazed, Sara, that you have time to go back and reread books. I can't even keep up with the new ones I get. I'm impressed. :)
I'm amazed at how people can work full time, participate so frequently on Goodreads and still read so much!!
Some of us even have toddlers running around
Do you have a staff of servants to do the housework, cooking, shopping (other than for books), etc?
Hey . I more than pull my weight. I'm a 21st century dad
We were just teasing you. Dad's today are so much more involved than most of the previous generations.
And we're not married :-) to be fair Paul does most of the cooking and he is a very hands on dad. the only thing he can't do is ironing :-)
My dad wasnt too bad either. I do my best to make sure poor Trelawm doesnt get too stressed ☺
Goodreads Ireland
Books mentioned in this topic
From a Low and Quiet Sea (other topics)The Watson Girl (other topics)
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey (other topics)
Gabriela Mistral: A Reader (other topics)
The Convictions of John Delahunt (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Donal Ryan (other topics)Lisa Scottoline (other topics)
Edward Rutherfurd (other topics)
Rudolph Belarski (other topics)
Emma Donoghue (other topics)
More...
Since Barbara started me on this spending spre..."
Oh no!I'll except the blame because I know how it is when you buy one it opens the door to more buying. I managed to get in and out of Barnes and Nobel today only buying The Cold Cold Ground. However, I was on another kind of spending spree - got a bookcase, magazine holders, and at REI a sleeping bag for my son (on sale) and a nifty little travel case for tablets - my mini iPad. This is the bookcase which looks much nicer in real life:
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/sh...