All About Books discussion
General Archive
>
What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations, reviews Part 2
I have completed Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England by Alison Weir. Good, but not exactly light reading!My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recently finished
Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry. A great ☆☆☆☆ read. My spoiler free review can be found on https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... orhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished The Child Finder. My first 5 star of 2018 but my 2nd 5er with Denfeld. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished The Remains of the Day. Didn't love it as much as I thought I would. The ending left me with an empty feeling. 3.7 stars if I may.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read The Boat People. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Take the spoiler alert seriously.
I finished The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale last night. I enjoyed the read but thought it didn't draw a reader in as much as it could perhaps have done.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recently finished an amazing debut novel
Where We Went Wrong by Andi Holloway. My spoiler free review can be found on https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
by Kate Quinn-- 4.5 StarsTook me a long time to finally align with this book, but once I did-- it was all over.
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished reading Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. CoetzeeMy musings can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir really pulled me in. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished the book about the murder of the trappist monks: Più forti dell'odio.Here my Italian review if someone that knows Italian is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I loved it that much that I started rereading it.
Kate Atkinson writes about about both WW1 and WW2 and times before during and after in Behind the Scenes at the Museum. It's a story of a (mostly) English family, extended family, would-be family (failed suitors), births, deaths and marriages (and extra-curricular activity). A busy book by an excellent writer!
4★ Link to my review
dely wrote: "I finished the book about the murder of the trappist monks: Più forti dell'odio.Here my Italian review if someone that knows Italian is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."
dely, here's a non-sequitur question: I noticed that you rated The Remains of the Day 1 star, but your review is in Italian so I couldn't read it. Would love to hear your thoughts (in English)!?
Alice wrote: "dely, here's a non-sequitur question: I noticed that you rated The Remains of the Day 1 star, but your review is in Italian so I couldn't read it. Would love to hear your thoughts (in English)!?"Sure, though I know I'm here the "black sheep". I really hated that book and the character, Mr. Stevens the butler. First of all, the whole story was really boring. For me it has been a real challenge to finish this book. I also couldn't stand the butler. He was so full of himself, thinking he was absolutely necessary, but also the fact that he put his job before his emotional life. He totally put in the background his feelings and his emotions only for his job, to be the perfect butler. It was as if he was part of the house, only an object, and he thought that this was the most important thing in his life. And when he becomes aware that he had sacrificed his life, well he doesn't do anything. I can't stand such a behavior. If a person is aware that something is wrong, that there is something more important, then they have to do the possible to change life or to change themselves.
He didn't live "his" life, he has never been a "real" man, but only a butler (though a perfect butler) for all his life. But he doesn't do anything to change it, not even at the end when he has a choice (if I don't go wrong).
dely wrote: "Alice wrote: "dely, here's a non-sequitur question: I noticed that you rated The Remains of the Day 1 star, but your review is in Italian so I couldn't read it. Would love to hear your thoughts (in..."Thank you, dely, for sharing your thoughts on the book. I admit that I have more or less the same feeling. That's why I was asking this question: did the author mean this as a satire, or is the book meant as an honest and sympathetic account of a butler's life? To me, the author doesn't seem to have sympathy for the butler. The way he describes him is way too dramatic and overdone (example: the incident where his father lies dying). Just my own two cents.
Finished Twilight of Empire: The Tragedy at Mayerling and the End of the Habsburgshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Behind Closed Doors. If you want a great thriller, this isn't it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just read Little Mercies by Heather GudenkaufIt puts a human face to what is too often a news story. I found it a compelling read.
my review is herehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford - didn't get into it as much as most other people, still gave it 3 stars though. Here's my review
Finished
by L.M. Montgomery-- 3 StarsThe last in the Anne series, should I read the others? (Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, and The Road to Yesterday)
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alice wrote: "Thank you, dely, for sharing your thoughts on the book. I admit that I have more or less the same feeling. That's why I was asking this question: did the author mean this as a satire, or is the book meant as an honest and sympathetic account of a butler's life? To me, the author doesn't seem to have sympathy for the butler. The way he describes him is way too dramatic and overdone (example: the incident where his father lies dying). Just my own two cents."I don't know if the author feels pity for the butler and wants to alert the reader to change life before it's too late, or if it is a portrait of life at that time. In both cases in my opinion the author failed, or there is something I'm missing seen that everyone likes this book.
Maybe someone else who liked it (and there are a lot of people who liked it) is able to tell you his/her opinions.
dely wrote: "Alice wrote: "dely, here's a non-sequitur question: I noticed that you rated The Remains of the Day 1 star, but your review is in Italian so I couldn't read it. Would love to hear your thoughts (in..."You have made valid statements/opinions. "He totally put in the background his feelings and his emotions only for his job, to be the perfect butler. It was as if he was part of the house, only an object, and he thought that this was the most important thing in his life."
You have nailed it with those sentences.
Finished a mammoth collection, introduced by Montague Summers, The Supernatural Omnibus: Being a Collection of Stories of Apparitions, Witchcraft, Werewolves, Diabolism, Necromancy, Satanism, Divination, Sorcery, Goetry, Voodoo, Possession, Occult, Doom and Destiny and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2241020706.
Just finished
The Confession by Jo Spain. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished listening to The Flying Troutmans today. I really enjoyed this quirky family road trip. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have read 9 books till date in January and I would probably continue reading Indian Authors whom I had deeply neglected all my life. Would also be picking up another Ishiguro, as I liked The Remains of The Day. Although I was initially not so impressed, the novel won me over soon. My Current Read is Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford.
Amalia wrote: "Finished The Flu Season and Other Plays
by Will Eno. Weird, beautiful... 5 stars. My review: www.goodreads.com/revie..."
Dear Amalia, just wanted to let you know that we cannot access your reviews nor send you a message unless we are friends with you. Regards, Paul
I read The Atomic City Girls. 3.5 stars rounded up . my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
Keep Her Safe by Richard Jay Parker. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
recent read Last Ragged Breath (Bell Elkins, Book 4): A thrilling murder mystery by Julia Kellerhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Dark Mode (other topics)Critical Mass (other topics)
The Go-Between (other topics)
One, Two ... He Is Coming for You (other topics)
Death at Hungerford Stairs (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ashley Kalagian Blunt (other topics)Daniel Suarez (other topics)
Willow Rose (other topics)
L.P. Hartley (other topics)
Luis Alberto Urrea (other topics)
More...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...