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What have you just read? Opinions, recommendations, reviews Part 2
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..."I've had trouble with Bellow too. I keep thinking I should try another, but maybe I shouldn't!
Read a couple of supernatural tales lately, The Pet by Charles L Grant - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2198127903 and The Fetch by Robert Holdstock - review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2198127903.
My review of The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Spent a little time with my favorite author Margaret Atwood reading Oryx and Crake
, and now I have to read the whole series!Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finally finished The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh 4,5*"Finally" because it's very long, not because I couldn't stand it anymore, and because I put it on a hold while my sister was here for 8 days.
It's historical fiction about Burma. Very interesting and engrossing.
My English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have completed The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig. I have tried to explain in my review what this book gives. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
dely wrote: "Finally finished The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh 4,5*"Finally" because it's very long, not because I couldn't stand it anymore, and because I put it on a hold while my ..."
dely, very glad you enjoyed Ghosh.
Check out The Shadow Lines, For me it was even better.
Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "Finally finished The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh 4,5*"Finally" because it's very long, not because I couldn't stand it anymore, and because I put it on a h..."
Thanks, it is already in my wishlist.
I've finished Wonderful Town: New York Stories from The New Yorker edited by David Remnick.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've also finished The Histories by Tacitus.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Something for everybody, from mysteries to science, fiction to sports. The Best American Series 2017: 16 Short Stories & Essays has two full articles or stories from the volumes they publish of each genre. Great stuff, and still on NetGalley.
5★ Link to my link review
I didn't realize it had been so long since I popped up on Goodreads! I've still been reading, though: A couple of classics and some brand-new books:
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi CoatesReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and the Devil for Doubters and the Disenchanted by Richard BeckReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oliver Twist by Charles DickensReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Strange Weather by Joe HillReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen KingReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Story of the Treasure Seekers by Edith NesbitReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another new author and new series for me to follow.
Dying Breath by Helen Phifer is suspenseful and chilling. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have moved from one Israeli author to another. I have finished Judas by Amos Oz. My review of the book by Oz: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's taken me a while to get to Aussie author Sofie Laguna's award-winning The Eye of the Sheep, where a "difficult child" tries to understand how Life works and what the soul is. Superb!
5★ link: Link to my review
I am going through some really short books. It becomes such a hassle writing all these reviews, one after the other. I have completed A Horse Walks into a Bar.David Grossman is a talented, contemporary Israeli author. I highly recommend him. The book is emotionally draining, but only because it has such emotional depth. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Diane, you wondered what I would think of this. I gave it four stars.
Will pick it up at work tomorrow then. Like yourself I am not a fan of standup comedy so was wondering how I would find this. Will give it a try, thanks Chrissie.
Diane, it is not easy reading. Particularly the beginning, where it is very much standup comedy with crude and vulgar language; this is not pleasant reading. Note that in To the End of the Land, the very, very beginning is confusing. It is interesting how the author makes the beginning of his works particularly hard.
I finished White Houses. 3+ stars rounded up to 4 . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Chrissie wrote: "Diane, it is not easy reading. Particularly the beginning, where it is very much standup comedy with crude and vulgar language; this is not pleasant reading. Note that in [book:To the End of the La..."Thanks Chrissie. Will keep that in mind as I read. Yes, he does seem to make readers work for understanding.
Just finished
Her Best Friend by Sarah Wray 4.5☆ A slow burning read that draws you in ... my no spoiler review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... or
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I just finished Marlborough Man by Alan Carter - a crime / thriller with plenty of attitude and lots of laughs, will add this to my 2017 favourites. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished the excellent An Instance of the Fingerpost. I may or may not write a review; it's hard to say much about this one for people who haven't read it. I did write some updates as I was reading, though (no real spoilers):https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
I finished The Turning Point by Klaus Mann. I've only written a review in Italian, since lately I have no time for reviews in English unfortunately. However, Chrissie asked about it when I first started it three months ago (yes, it took that much time!). So, Chrissie, this is in no way a book about the Mann family. Obviously the author talks about his parents, siblings and relatives, but it's NOT a book about them. The first part is about the family, the second about his career as a writer, the third about Nazism and war. I should add that the book is not split into three parts, this is just a way to describe the three most important topics covered in the book. I found it extremely interesting and beautifully written, but if you're looking for a book on Thomas Mann you should look elsewhere.
Marina, thank you so very much for this information. You are super sweet.
Just finished
. This is going on my to be remembered love this book list.My review: //www.goodreads.com/review/show/1896144745
Lorenzo Marone's colourful, politically incorrect, old Italian widower is a bit of a character who keeps trying to resist The Temptation to Be Happy. 
4★ Link to my review
I finished listening to a light, cozy mystery: Eleven Pipers Piping by C.C. Benison. I enjoyed this mystery and am looking to get the other 2 books in the series from the library.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This was a lovely read and a nice break from my diet of crime thrillers.
Chord of Evil by Sarah Rayne is almost a cosy mystery. My spoiler free review can be found at https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... or https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Forest Dark
. I loved The History of Love so I was really looking forward to this but it was just meh. 3 stars because of the writing style rather than the meaning or content and because some of her comments about Israel made me smile.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This one I highly recommend for book lovers old and new! The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately this one was not for me! Too Close by Gayle Curtis
Here is my review; https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All About Books
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My spoiler free review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...