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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations, reviews Part 2
Who'd have thought Tom Hanks was an auhtor? I didn't know. So I grabbed this one quick smart Uncommon Type
. I was impressed. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
The Hanged Man by Simon Kernick. My review https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Suzanne wrote: "Who'd have thought Tom Hanks was an auhtor? I didn't know. So I grabbed this one quick smart Uncommon Type . I was impressed. Here ..."I have requested a copy of that on Net Galley. I was pleasantly surprised by Graham Norton's writing in Holding: A Novel and was hoping Tom Hanks would also prove to be a decent author.
Finished another excellent David Malouf story set in Queensland, Harland's Half Acre. He's one of our best Aussie authors. 
4.5★ Link to my review
My son thought Cat's Eye, by Margaret Atwood, would fit me better than the other books I have before read by the author. Well, he was right. This is my favorite by the author so far. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished a good mystery, The Heavens May Fall. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also finished a great book of short stories, The Relive Box and Other Stories:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also finished a great book of short stories, The Relive Box and Other Stories:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Loved your review of Cat's Eye, Chrissie. My favorite Atwood too.I'd like to recommend Augustown, by Kei Miller, which I absolutely fell in love with.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Tom wrote: "I am pleased to report that I have successfully completed my Proust challenge for this group. I've finished In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. 4 Stars..."Well I can't say that I understood it all, but I can say I left eyeprints on all the words. It was a bit of a slog at times, but I think Proust writes in a way that a modern generation would have trouble getting through. He demands attention and careful consideration so finely tuned are his observations couched in huge run on sentences. Am I glad I read the whole thing? Yes, because Time Regained would not have been nearly as impactful without the previous volumes leading up to it. Would I do it again? Maybe but at a much slower pace . Does that answer your question?
Chrissie, other reality based Atwood books that you may be interested in looking at are:Alias Grace (I read this ages ago and don't have a recollection of it, other than it was based on a true story)
Hag-Seed (I really enjoyed the audio of this one)
Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth (non-fiction)
Tom wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Tom wrote: "I am pleased to report that I have successfully completed my Proust challenge for this group. I've finished In Search of Lost Time by [author:Marcel Proust..."Bravo, Tom! Not a challenge I plan to attempt, but never say never!. :)
I have a soft spot for good short stories, but not soft enough to include this collection, Skating on the Vertical by Jan English, Leary. 
3★ Link to my review
Kathleen wrote: "Loved your review of Cat's Eye, Chrissie. My favorite Atwood too.I'd like to recommend Augustown, by Kei Miller, which I absolutely fell in love with...."
Have your read Cat's Eye? I have been considering Augustown. Your thumbs up is encouraging.
Tom wrote: "Well I can't say that I understood it all, but I can say I left eyeprints on all the words. It was a bit of a slog at times, but I think Proust writes in a way that a modern generation would have trouble getting through. He demands attention and careful consideration so finely tuned are his observations couched in huge run on sentences. Am I glad I read the whole thing? Yes, because Time Regained would not have been nearly as impactful without the previous volumes leading up to it. Would I do it again? Maybe but at a much slower pace . Does that answer your question?"Yes, you have answered by question, and what you say makes perfect sense. Your first sentence left me chuckling. For me, one book, the first, was enough. I am glad I read that one book though.
Petra wrote: "Chrissie, other reality based Atwood books that you may be interested in looking at are:Alias Grace (I read this ages ago and don't have a recollection of it, other than it was based ..."
Alias Grace I have already read. That I gave three stars. I am going to go now and check out the others you mention.
I have finished reading La linea sacra dell'arcangelo Michele 4*No English edition. It's a book about the "sacred line" of Saint Michael Archangel. Very interesting! It talks about Saint Michael in the bible, his worship, the prayers, and then of course of the seven sanctuaries: the appearances that led to their construction, some legends about these places and their architecture.
Petra, I have just checked out Hag-Seed, but it is a retelling. Having just read Longbourn, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, I am a bit skeptical; I admire more those who create something new. I admit I am not sure; this is my problem. I never know what I will think of a book until I have read it. Maybe I should give this a try.
I am not always keen on retellings but I found Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold to be really good. It stands out as one of the best Hogarth Shakespeare series so far.
Phrynne. I have now put it on my wishlist.
My review of The Last Hours by Minette Walters
. This is HF not the author's usual genre of crime but she does it well!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Have your read Cat's Eye?..."Yes, I've read Cat's Eye, but it was long ago. I still think of it as my favorite, but need a re-read after all of this time. I'd recommend Atwood's short stories. There's lots of reality based stuff there, without the big investment in a novel if you don't like them. I've read most of the latest one, Stone Mattress: Nine Tales, and it was really good.
I also read her poetry for the first time this year, Morning in the Burned House. I had a similar connection with some of the poems that I did with Cat's Eye.
Kathleen wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Have your read Cat's Eye?..."Yes, I've read Cat's Eye, but it was long ago. I still think of it as my favorite, but need a re-read after all of this time. I'd recommend Atwood's ..."
I prefer long over short, so stories do not appeal to me. I do still appreciate your suggestion.
I wish I could read Surfacing by Margaret Atwood. I wish everyone would go to Audible in the US and the UK and request it........ maybe it does exist but is only sold in the US. I am not sure.
Phrynne wrote: "I am not always keen on retellings but I found Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold to be really good. It stands out as one of the best Hogarth Shakespeare series so far."Chrissie, I'm glad you've put this on your list to give it a try. I agree with Phrynne. This book has made me look more closely at the rest of the Hogarth Shakespeare series. It was really well done.
Great to know that many of you think Hag-Seed is good. Thanks, all of you.
Recently finished 11/22/63 by Stephen King - good read though I might have preferred a bit more editing down (my review).
I have completed Gardens of Stone: My Boyhood in the French Resistance. Stephen Grady.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright yesterday. My review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... or
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
He sounds like a good writer. How do you get the lines under the titles and authors. I cant' seem to do that.
On the desktop version, just above the comment box is an add Book/author option. It’s not on the app, nor the mobile version of the site I think.
Phrynne wrote: "My review of The Last Hours by Minette Walters . This is HF not the author's usual genre of crime but she does it well!https://ww..."
I like you review and am glad you were so positive. I have that on my kindle and am looking forward to it.
Esther wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "My review of The Last Hours by Minette Walters . This is HF not the author's usual genre of crime but she does it w..."If you enjoy HF you will like it Esther. She is a good writer.
Phrynne wrote: "Esther wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "My review of The Last Hours by Minette Walters . This is HF not the author's usual genre of crime bu..."Actually I am so-so on HF. Didn't like Doomsday Book or The Other Boleyn Girl but I loved An Instance of the Fingerpost and The Virgin Blue.
I absolutely adored Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark. The narrator of the audiobook is the talented Wanda McCaddon, also known as Nadia May. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is a mystery and it is short. Two things I usually do not like, but against all odds I found it perfect. Wonderful lines.
Finished listening to
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson which has been on my TBR list forever. My review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...or https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great mystery in Far North Queensland, Crimson Lake by Aussie author Candice Fox, who writes a fine story. Her own outrageous story is the stuff of fiction, so I included a link to an interview with her in my review.
4.5★ Link to my review
I finished reading The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley. This is a wonderful continuation of Flavia's story. I hope Alan Bradley continues the series.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished Humboldt's Gift and it was a real struggle. I was torn between 2 and 3 stars: it was a very well done profile of the two characters but I felt like I had to drag myself through it to the finish. So then Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches as a palate cleanser - after the jerky men of Bellow, I needed a good focus on women and this definitely delivered.
My latest audio read One Small Act of Kindness by Lucy Dillon
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chinook wrote: "I recently finished Humboldt's Gift and it was a real struggle. I was torn between 2 and 3 stars: it was a very well done profile of the two characters but I felt like I had to drag my..."Humboldt's Gift was painful for me as well.
All About Books
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