Goodreads Ireland discussion
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Recently bought (acquired) books!
I think ive only owned two US paperbacks, one got ruined in the rain and the other I eventually gave away.
@ Seraphina without knowing your boyfriend's taste in non fiction it's hard to recommend much. However it's hard to go wrong with Bill Bryson. Technically a travel writer but he writes on lots of subjects. I am reading One Summer: America 1927 at the mo and it's really good. His Notes From a Big Country, a collection of short articles, is hilarious. He even wrote a biography of Shakespeare which was really good.
Seraphina, I was also going to suggest that you couldn't go too far wrong with Bryson-I've read / listened to many of his travel based writing, as well as his childhood memoir and his 'At Home' book etc, and I haven't ever been disappointed. I had the 1927 book in my hand again today, but have yet to take the plunge...Another one that combines murder mystery with non fiction is Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood', of which I actually have the US paperback edition, having bought it in NYC in 2007. Despite its 'classic' status, it's very accessible and very addictive and well worth reading.
My dad wouldn't be a big reader, but he occasionally asks for recommendations and has loved both Bryson and the Capote book!
I agree with Allan. You just can't go wrong with In Cold Blood. I actually have shivers just thinking about it. I, too, love Bill Bryson. He has one travelling across America that almost made me pee my pants from laughing. Same as the one when he was travelling England. I don't read much non-fiction but Unbroken is a stand out. It's not a mystery but it's so very good. Also, Seabiscuit by the same author is good. Seabiscuit is buried in Willits and it's owner build our hospital after his son died because we had no medical facilities.
I think that was Bryson's point. He was highlighting hpw much we don't know about Shakespeare. Other books try to be definitive but there are huge blocks of time when we really don't know where Shakespeare was or what he was up to.
Thanks guys, they all sound right up he's street. I might try the capote one myself.
Just a quick addendum to the Amazon US International shipping. I posted earlier about how I was surprised at the cost - $3.99 - to ship books to the UK-with current exchange rates, that's cheaper than Amazon UK shipping, and a rate that'll encourage me to buy from them.Out of interest then, I was looking at the 'Used and New' books from third party sellers through Amazon, and found that they have different shipping rates for UK-$25 for books over 1lb in weight.
Having had a few packages arrive at my house from US, I know that the latter price is more in keeping with the actual cost of shipping a book across the Atlantic, but I'm wondering if it's also kept high to encourage people to buy from Amazon directly, despite third party sellers possibly selling the actual product for less.
The behemoth marches on...
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In book buying news: Today I bough 11/22/63 to re"read" as an audiobook. I managed to finish 3 hours out of 30 while driving to and from Baltimore (The trip is normally not the long, but I took a couple of really bad turns and traffic was particularly bad).
I was in Baltimore to have dinner with a friend I haven't seen in months at a Baltimore restaurant I've been meaning to try forever, Cafe Hon. The food was above average (but not spectacular), but the atmosphere was terrific. Here's a mural that's nearby. I also enjoyed a tasty vodka based drink.
Of course while there I had to stop at my favorite comic/book shop, Atomic Books. Atomic Books is where the cult film director and Baltimore native, John Waters, picks up his fan mail. And of course if you're in a bookstore, it's simply rude not to buy a book or two...or five.
First picture of books
Henry and Glenn Forever was random comic book pick up, but my internet research tells me that it's a bit of a cult hit.
Bookstores and Baseball is a zine which centers around the road trips a family takes to visit both bookstores and ballparks. I'm almost done with the issue I bought,and have to say that the concept of a bookstore/baseball centered road trip is delightful. I may have to plan and take my own.
Second picture of books
Mermaid in Chelsea Creek: A young adult novel I've been reading good things about in various places.
Henry and Glenn Forever Ever: The sequel to the first book I mentioned above.
Homicide based upon Allan's recommendation. After I read it, maybe I'll finally sit down and watched the DVD box set of the show that my family owns. I got it for my Dad for Christmas about 4 years ago, and we (my Dad and Mom (who saw it when it first aired) and me (who was too young to watch when it first aired) made it through the first two seasons before we got distracted by other shows and didn't get back to it.
Sara, you can never resist a book buying splurge, can you? :) I love the look of Atomic Books-aside from No Alibis we have no independent bookstores in Belfast, so I'm envious!Re Homicide, if you remember the first two seasons of the tv programme, the book's narrative will be familiar to you, as from what I remember from the postscript in the book, the scripts were based on Simon's writing. Remember that Gerry also said that this was one of his favourite books ever, so he can share the blame if it's not for you! :)
So are you listening to the King audiobook at an increased speed as well? I've never heard a slower narrative at 1x speed, aside perhaps the East of Eden one. It is easy to follow at the increased speed though.
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I can also blame Barbara for giving you the Simon book in the first place! I think I will like it though. I quite enjoyed this book last year, so urban crime is definitely an area of interest.
I''m listening to the King book at either 1.25x speed or 1.5x speed. I agree that it's easy to follow at increased speed.
Sara, the Kennedy book looks interesting, and one that I'll maybe look at purchasing once I finish Simon's follow up to 'Homicide', 'The Corner'. Thanks for the recommendation.
I bought two new books today, I've been threatening to buy them for a while. I got The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer and The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. They're were on special buy one get one half price so I'm happy enough.
I went for the preorders. Ive ordered Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz, Retribution by Mark Charon Newton, A World of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett and to spoil myself A Signed cloth bound limited edition of The Vanishing Witch by Karen Maitland.
I have read the Miniaturist is very good. I think it's one of Amazon's books of the month. I can't wait to hear what you think of it.
I'll let you know when I get round to it Susan :-)
I love to hear of book buying trips-I'm glad yours went well today, Paul and Trelawn, and good to see you back, Paul. :)Talking of book buying, this evening the pair of us went across town to get a couple of fruit smoothies, which we successfully managed to do, but I also managed to pick up Sebastian Faulks' novel, 'Birdsong' on the way home, in a nice new WW1 centenary paperback edition. I know a number of people in the group have enjoyed this one, so I look forward to reading it.
Birdsong: The Novel of the First World War
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Trelawn wrote: "Cool. Are you still in Amsterdam?"The Miniaturist looks really good.
Paul wrote: "I went for the preorders. Ive ordered Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz, Retribution by Mark Charon Newton, A World of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, Dragons at Crumblin..."That's a good book buying spree, Paul. I want to read Karen Maitland at some point.
I really enjoyed Birdsong and Charlotte Gray too which is a follow of sorts. Sebastian Faulks is an excellent writer.
On the back of our proposed buddy read I bought the latest Peter Wimsey novel, The Late Scholar. It is one of the later books written by Jill Paton Walsh but based on Sayers ideas and characters.
I bought more books,I couldn't help myself. I bought Unnatural Death by DL Sayers. It's the third Peter Wimsey book. I also got The Vesuvius Club and The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss. He is one of the writers on the new She
I bought one today The Towers of Samarcand (The Mistra Chronicles, #2) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22... .Its epic historical fiction set in the 14th century. Its a sequel and i enjoyed the first part
Paul, have you ever read the Genghis Khan series by Conn Igguldon? It's quite good.
I've read all Conn Igguldens Historical fiction stuff. His Caesar stuff was really well written, great stories but so innacurate it hurt sometimes.The Ghenghis Khan books were brilliant. I really enjoyed them all right up to the Ogedai and Kublai Khan ones. His new series based on the War of the Roses has started very well with Trinity and i'm looking forward to its sequel later this year.:-)
I agree. Once Ghenghis died, it lost its luster. It is fascinating that Kublai Khan is a descendent. They were so different. I just loved the series.On the other hand, I didn't really care for the first War of the Roses. I've read better on that time period and it seems like everybody is writing on it now.
BTW, my book club is talking about reading Dune for our classic. Have you read it? If so, what did you think?
The War of the Roses had a good pace but not all well fleshed out characters. It was interesting for what it was. I'll read in as I always find his books an easy read. Dune is a bit on the heavy side. I wasnt too mad about it. Its a bit hard scifi for your tastes I reckon.
They wanted to read it because one woman said it was about water and we are in the middle of a drought. One thing good about being in a group where many of the women are in their 70's and 80's is they'll probably forget about it.
Its probably as well if they do ;-). If you want a drought scifi try Sand by Hugh Howey. Still scifi but set around a future Colorado completely buried in sand.A much more straight forward story and setup. still probably not your thing though.
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I saw a t-shirt on an elderly fellow once that read "Been there, done that, can't remember it"
After the non fiction recommendations from the group, I picked up Open , We the Animals , In Cold Blood ,Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption and Notes from a big country by bill Bryson.Now if only work would stop interfering with my reading plans!
And I defy you not to laugh out loud at Notes from a Big Country.It's really funny and helped me get a B1 in Leaving Cert French :-)
Agreed Theresa, I enjoy looking up at the bookshelves knowing there are gems waiting there to be read. The problem is choosing one :)Not a bad complaint.
That sounds like a challenge trelawn, there aren't too many books that can actually make u do that so it must be good
I agree, Trelawn. So funny. After that I didn't understand a thing you said. I have no idea what a B1 and I assume a leaving cert is something you get when you graduate from high school.
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If your group likes non-fiction, Cadillac Desert is a classic if a bit dated (1993).
I was going to recommend reading the book the movie Chinatown (1974) (SPOILER WARNING If you read past the first paragraph or so of this Wikipedia article, it will spoil the plot)is based on. It turns out it's not based on book, but I suppose you could read the script. This is not the film thread, but I do recommend the film to everyone who hasn't seen it.
The Forms of Water by Andrea Barrett: I haven't read this specific one, but I have enjoyed a couple of her short story collections.
Once In a Promised Land by Laila Halaby
Ox -Tales Water: I have read the "Fire" and "Earth" volumes of these short story collections from Ox Fam and quite enjoyed them.
Not specifically having to do with water but other books the women in the group might like (or at least ones I think you'll like Susan)...most set in the West or with exploration and nature as a strong theme.
Tony Hillerman's mysteries (which ah I see you like!)
Terry Tempest Williams's books
The Lace Reader
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
What You Call Winter by Nalini Jones
@ Susan yes the Leaving Cert is the final exams you take in about 7 subjects before finishing secondary (high) school. The highest grade in an exam is an A1 then A2 then B1 and so on. I read Notes in the run up to the exams to relax. During my French paper I had to read an article in French and answer questions on it in English. I was halfway through reading when I realised it was Bryson's article about spending the day shoving random items down the garbage disposal. Because I had read it I had no problem answering the questions that followed. Most of my classmates didn't find it so easy :-)
Seraphina, it's interesting to see 'We the Animals' on your list there-it's a novel, but based on the author's childhood, and is a very powerful, though at times difficult read. I definitely think you'll enjoy the Capote, though!
Thank you for your recommendations, Sara. We are loosey goosey about what a classic is. I'll look at the ones you suggest. I did read the Lace Readers and liked it.I am glad we don't have the pressure of exit exams. It sounds horrific. We believe that if you sat in your chair and are still breathing, you are going to get your diploma. I was so afraid that my middle son wasn't going to graduate because of his English grade. He went and mowed the teacher's lawn for a month and miraculously passed. Then he went to Junior College and got his AA in Business Administration and now runs a pool cleaning business with 4 employees. You never know what's going to happen.
Trelawn wrote: "I bought more books,I couldn't help myself. I bought Unnatural Death by DL Sayers. It's the third Peter Wimsey book. I also got The Vesuvius Club and The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss. He is one of..."If I lived near Chapters, Trelawn, I'd be there every chance I got. It looks like you got a good haul :)
@Alan, it appeared in some non fiction list I was trawling through but it's only semi autobiographical. I have seen it come up on so many recommended book lists that I had to pick it up.
After reading fantasy novels and non fiction about Second World War I have an urge for something different. More relaxing and light. Just bought Zadie Smith "London NW". Hope it's a good choice. My tbr shelf is expanding, lol.
Kat wrote: "After reading fantasy novels and non fiction about Second World War I have an urge for something different. More relaxing and light. Just bought Zadie Smith "London NW". Hope it's a good choice. My..."I read that last year, Kat, and really enjoyed it.
I'm fairly disciplined with my Goodreads TBR. Anybook down in my to-be-read-pile shelf I either own or have preordered. I add books to my wishlist on bookdepository or my Awaited shelf on goodreads rather than my TBR shelf and if I look in after a while and still want them I go for it, if not I delete it.
@ Paul I think I should learn more discipline regarding my tbr list, and it looks like I could learn a lot from you. I have a list at Amazon (over 600 items,not all of them are books), two lists at Merlin.pl (polish biggest online store, about 300 books in there), here I have no idea how many, too many I'd say. And in my notebook I keep a list from my friends recommendations, blogs, other websites, etc. And another list at bookmooch.org. It's pure madness. @ Jamie Lynn : "I sometimes wonder why the heck I put a certain book there and I delete it. I think I add some of them on a whim LOL" - oh yes, I know what you mean, too well, lol :)
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Some US fantasy novels use amazing epic works of art while the UK are a more symbol based cover.