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Fiction- What are you reading? Part 2
I have been recently been doing a lot of rereading using audiobooks; today started a reread of Scaramouche via Hoopla audiobook narrated by Simon Vance.
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Thanks, Greg and Karin. I'm enjoying the book a lot. Not many of us know of what happened in the past years in Namibia, and it's very interesting to read about it, even in fictional form. The prota..."It's difficult to get here, and on Amazon is ridiculously expensive for used copies.
Karin, I can't remember now, but I think I bought it on AbeBooks. They usually (not always) have cheaper prices than Amazon, although it is an Amazon company. Sometimes the shipping costs can be high, though.
I need to try and finish a few books- I've been reading Mansfield Park since February but I keep picking up other books. I'm also very behind on my read of Les Misérables
I'd like to finish Mansfield Park and read a good chunk of Les Miserables this weekend before starting something new!
I'd like to finish Mansfield Park and read a good chunk of Les Miserables this weekend before starting something new!
Greg, Middlesex is one of my favourites.
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It 's fantastic so far Bette!
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Good tip Marina!
Have you read So Long a Letter? It's by a Senagalese writer - I read it based on Raul's recommendation, and I wasn't disappointed. I tend to like everything he recommends.
Greg - Middlesex is an amazing work of art - the protagonist is in the middle in so many, many ways.I like it much more than The Marriage Plot, by the same author, though I find both have stayed in my memory.
B the BookAddict wrote: "Will be interested to see what you think, Joan."I’m not loving it. The book blurb compares the writing to Jane Austen but I feel it’s more like L.M. Montgomery, less wry social commentary and more moral subtext.
Greg wrote: "Have you read So Long a Letter? It's by a Senagalese writer - I read it based on Raul's recommendation, and I wasn't disappointed. I tend to like everything he recommends. "No, I haven't, Greg - I'd never even heard of it. Thanks for the recommendation, it looks good and I've added it to my wishlist :)
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I like it much more than The Marriage Plot, by the same author, though I find both have stayed i..."
It is amazing Joan - I love the treatment of historical events in it as well!
I've started 4 3 2 1. I've read three books by Paul Auster so far and loved them all, so my expectations are high. It seems good so far.
Thoroughly enjoying The Keeper of Lost Things - it’s sweet and the writing sparkles. I’m very glad because the writing in the last book I read was plodding, The Summer Before the War
And the books brefore that were very serious.
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I’m very glad because the writing in the last book I read was plodding, [book:The Summer Before..."
Glad you're enjoying it Joan!
This excerpt will make anyone smile, I think.“Eliza was a spirited child...and once spent the whole day walking everywhere backwards “just to see what it feels like.””
From The Keeper of Lost Things, an All About Books group read for July.
I have begun The Death of the Heart, an author and a classic I have not read. I thought I would give it a try. It's fine so far.Bette mentioned this author in the daily literary thread.
Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Karin, I can't remember now, but I think I bought it on AbeBooks. They usually (not always) have cheaper prices than Amazon, although it is an Amazon company. Sometimes the shipping costs can be hi..."Yes, the shipping costs make a difference--I always look at the total price of the book plus shipping :)
I just finished the Spanish classic (set in Venezuela) Dona Barbara by Romulo Gallegos. Loved it! Working my way through Lonesome Dove, which is really good, too!
Karin wrote: "Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Karin, I can't remember now, but I think I bought it on AbeBooks. They usually (not always) have cheaper prices than Amazon, although it is an Amazon company. Sometimes..."There is a great website www.bookbutler.com that compares against multiple sites and includes shipping in its calculation. The prices can sometimes be a bit out of date (particularly their Amazon prices) but it's a great resource.
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Thanks for the tip Jess, that site sounds great!!
Jess wrote: "Karin wrote: "Marina (Sonnenbarke) wrote: "Karin, I can't remember now, but I think I bought it on AbeBooks. They usually (not always) have cheaper prices than Amazon, although it is an Amazon comp..."Thanks--I've never heard of that before.
Just started
Snap by Belinda Bauer after finishing a 😍😍😍😍 read
The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Seen that in this time I need easy books, I put aside a long book about a Hindu saint and started The Dalai Lama's Cat by David Michie.It is nice and funny, nothing preachy or self-help and also not too much religious though we learn about the most important teachings of Buddhism through the eyes of a cat that lives with the Dalai Lama. I've read only the first chapter but like it till now.
Read that in high school, but have never forgotten it. Curious as to what you will think, Chrissie. Tough subject!Have started The Banker’s Wife.
Diane S ☔ wrote: "Read that in high school, but have never forgotten it. Curious as to what you will think, Chrissie. Tough subject!Have started The Banker’s Wife."
I find it very difficult to read. That it gives me the creeps I guess means that it is well written. Enjoyable? No.
Starting
The Silent Sister by Shalini Boland after finishing a 😍 😍 😍 😍 read
Snap by Belinda Bauer. My spoiler free review can be found on https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and on Goodreads.com https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finally read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have never even seen the movie. I'm glad I read it but I wasn't that impressed. 3 stars.I'm currently reading Lonesome Dove and a new English translation of Sand by Wolfgang Herrndorf. Lonesome Dove is really good. I'm not sure about Sand yet! It's kinda different and I'm not sure where it is going. But, I'm going to give it a few more chapters. It's nothing like the other book Why We Took the Car of his that I read, a YA road trip.
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I'm another one of the minority that wasn't impressed with it. For me, the allegory was a little too heavy handed and pat, and the characters are extremely undeveloped. I actually thought the movie did a great job of flushing out the characters a bit, taking the tiny amount that was there and expanding it to make them human. I would give the book the same rating you did, but I've never gone back and added any books I read pre-Goodreads. Too many years of reading pre-Goodreads .. way too much work.
Ron tells me that the later Narnia books are better. One day I'll read more.
Pam wrote: "I finally read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have never even seen the movie. I'm glad I read it but I wasn't that impressed. 3 stars.I'm currently reading [book:Lonesome..."
Yeah, Lonesome Dove is special. When I got my dog (Oscar) and had not chosen his name yet I was considering Gus, b/c of the Gus in this book. I got a bit sick of the book at the end b/c it felt like the author had a lengthy check list of all the events that had to happen to cover every aspect of the Western experience, still it is a book I will never forget.
Pam and Greg, I'm with you on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for the exact same reasons stated by Greg. I gave it two stars. I haven't seen the movie, though.
Greg wrote: "Pam wrote: "I finally read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have never even seen the movie. I'm glad I read it but I wasn't that impressed. 3 stars...."I'm another one of t..."
I loved The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and it was one of the first chapter books I read.
At that age I didn't notice the allegory.
My favourite of the series is The Magician's Nephew which as a prequel often gets overlooked and there is no doubt that as I older and got to the end of the series the religious themes became a little heavy-handed.
After not enjoying The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware, I tried to read a book by an author I really liked. I decided on The Lost Family by Jenna Blum whose previous book, Those Who Saved Us” I really enjoyed.
Still reading The Sunne in Splendour, which is about the War of the Roses. I had previously read three novels on this and feel this one is the best. I love the way the author portrays the complex relationships between the leading historical characters (Richard III, Edward IV, Duke of Warwick), whom she brings to life on paper.
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Sounds good Alice!
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The Thing Around Your Neck, which is great so far! A collection of great stories - anyone else read it?
The Sun and her Flowers, a collection of poems by Rupi Ka..."
I haven't read any of those yet AB - sound good though!
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It's a play; so it's quite short .. only 71 pages.
Pam wrote: "I finally read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have never even seen the movie. I'm glad I read it but I wasn't that impressed. 3 stars.I'm currently reading [book:Lonesome..."
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is definitely best read as a child.
Startied Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads], which will be a month long read.What age AB? Remember loving
,
,
,
, and of course Nancy Drew. Series books all and would get copies for birthdays and Christmas.
Diane S ☔ wrote: "Startied Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads], which will be a month long read..."
That was my first Theorux. If you like it as much as I did you will not want to spread it over a month! A week a go I picked up The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari! I still have not gotten around to reading a novel by the author though. Probably soon I will try this too.
AB wrote: "What’s everyone’s favourite fiction from their childhood?"Two of my favorites were
The Mouse and the Motorcycleand My Zoo Family
which is nonfiction
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One I remember loving was A Wrinkle in Time - it was read to us a chapter at a time by a grade school teacher. I also recall loving Where the Red Fern Grows as kid, though it is awfully sad.
My nephew adored the Goosebumps books - he just did not get tired of them and would want me to read them to him over and over as a kid. I actually enjoyed them too - the surprise twists can be a little silly but they're entertaining. That obsession went on for quite a few years - I can't remember how old he was when he started.
And my other nephew and niece (at about 5 years old) for some reason never get tired of Pete the Cat. I don't really get it, but for them nothing is better. :)
Joan wrote: "AB wrote: "What’s everyone’s favourite fiction from their childhood?"Favourites from childhood What Katy Did
What Katy Did Next
Little Women
Still currently reading The Weight of Ink by Rachel KadishIt's taking me a while as it's a big fat book but an interesting read.
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I finished Middlesex which I absolutely loved (possibly my favourite book of the year). I then went on to read ..."
I'm in the midst of reading Middlesex now - the tone & style are wonderfully entertaining!