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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations, reviews Part 2
Just finished a great 4.5 star read set in a small South Australian town
When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Finished Sarah and Solomon by Roberta Kagan. This book which begins during the Holocaust ends on an uplifting nite. Gave it a 4.
Just finished this odd mix of humor and malevolence:A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark - My Review
The Day Henry Died by Lynda Renham is an unconventional and entertaining 4 star read. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny. Another great debut novel. Loved it. Very funny. 5 stars. Here’s my review.
A strong story with no easy solution.
My Sister, the Serial Killer a high end 4 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The last thing I read was a book by Rudolph Steiner. it was a early 20th Century treatise on geology and internal processes of the interior of the Earth, dated 1906. While short about 10 pages, it was long on surmising and a lot less on science. It was to be expected until I saw it was very much opinion driven based on religious and short on the geology and more on the eschatology of the day. Needless to say, it was probably less useful for my project which focuses on the parts that volcanism plays with super volcanic development and eruptive behavior based on those which have experienced historical events with the accompaniment of large volumes of erupted lava, ash, poisonous gases, and covering large areas of surface destruction as well as large degrees of subsidence and exclusivity with destruction on a very large scale.
I just read Our Little Secrets, by Merry Farmer, it was really unusual. I don't often read western romance, but wanted something a little different. I really enjoyed it.
In 2004, journalist Tim Butcher takes his life in his hands and attempts to recreate Henry Morton Stanley's trip down the Congo (1874-1877). Butcher writes in a direct style and does not shy away from expressing his opinions. This book is so much more than a travelogue. It provides an informative history of the DRC, while documenting an extremely challenging journey, offering perspective on the immense issues facing the country, and providing thoughts on the outlook for the Congolese people. It is eye-opening and inspired me to look up the recent history of the DRC to find out what has happened since 2007, when this book was published.Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher - 4 stars - My Review
My review of The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Despite the size of the book, the meandering narratives and the 'teacher's pet' vocabulary I loved the beginning of this book and was sure it was headed for 5 stars but halfway through the editor seems to have fallen asleep and I began to lose my patience. When I finally got around to writing a review I realised I had completely forgotten the ending (thanks Wikipedia).
Gnomon - 3 starshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Bent World, Bright Wings by Anne Hamilton
4 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat by Leighann Dobbs
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Mitford Murders by jessica Fellowes
3 and a half stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished the amazing 5 star
The Museum of Forgotten Memories by Anstey Harris. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
A near seven-year reading journey has come to an end with my completion of Collected Essays of James Baldwin.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read The Familiars by Stacey Halls set in 17thC England. I'd read some positive reviews about the book, so I was expecting it to be good. I was disappointed. Perhaps it just wasn't for me.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Published in 1987, this book is filled with beautiful writing. It is a quiet book about life, love, friendship, aging.Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner - 4 stars - My Review
Catching up:The Coming Plague - Newly Emerging Diseases In A World Out Of Balance by Laurie Garrett - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3340242064
House of Echoes by Barbara Erskine - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1399414446
Ray Bradbury - Death Is A Lonely Business - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3374259155.
My review of The Bench by Saskia Sarginson
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
You Are Lovely! by words&pictures is a clever little board book for tiny tots.
5★ Link to my review of "You Are Lovely" with illustrations
John Boyne probably broke all kinds of rules writing his new novel, A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom, so of course, I loved it!
5★ My review of 'Traveller'
I read The Unpassing
by Chia-Chia Lin--a compelling narrative exploring the challenges facing an immigrant Taiwanese family in Alaska.My 4-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of A Registry of My Passage upon the Earth: Stories by Daniel Masonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read and enjoyed the historical romance The Devil's Own
My 4⭐ review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Atmospheric, Australian and Intriguing
The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks to Phrynne and Goodreads friends, I enjoyed a delightful short story, by Amor Towles who wrote the highly acclaimed A Gentleman in Moscow. This story, A Whimsy of the World, is a real treat. Trust me. Read it and enjoy!
5★ My 'Whimsy' review, with a link to the story
On a completely different note, I recently read Taboo by much-awarded Australian Indigenous author Kim Scott, about contemporary SW Western Australia. (the bottom left corner of the country) Pretty strong stuff. Australia's Black Lives Matter.
4★ My review of 'Taboo'
I’ve been reading Wicked Autumn. Good enough start to a series of mysteries set in contemporary England. Protagonist name is Max Tudor. I may continue with others in this series of mysteries
All About Books
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