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What have you recently finished and loved
I just finished Irma Voth by Miriam Toews and it was such a great read. Definitely heartbreaking stuff.
I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way to work this morning and will probably finish that one by tomorrow. HIGHLY recommend this author if you like fun, light reads with a little magic and southern zip.
I've been reading the Honor Harrington series. I'm up to book 11. I loved the early ones, but am not as enthralled with the latest. The basic story is suffering due to the universe expanding too much.
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way to work this morning and will probably finish..."I've read all of hers except The Peach Keeper...liked them all!
Shelli wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way to work this ..."SO good! I am from the south and so I love hearing some of the old wives tales she weaves into her stories that I grew up listening to. I just started the Peach Keeper last night and can tell it won't last me very long. :| Wish they were longer
Diane D. wrote: "Just finished 
and will give it 5*!"I'll have to look at this again.
I've just finished Larry Enright's A King in the Court of Fools. This essentially is a childrens' book. But Larry writes in such a lovely way that the reader cannot help being drawn in to this lovely story of childhood anecdotes. Beautifully written with a real poignancy, full of fun and it took me right back to my own childhood of tree houses and dens in forests - such a shame that children cannot play in this way these days. Larry you have a 'goer' with this and I must write a review for amazon for you
Well done
Faith Mortimer
Author of;
Children of The Plantation
The Assassins' Village
The Crossing
Echoes of Life and LoveA King in a Court of Fools
Thank you for the fantastic review Faith! I added it to my TBR list :)
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way to work this morning and will probably finish..."I agree. I love her books! The Peach Keeper isn't as good as her others have been, but still good. I'll wait to hear if you think the same.
Jo wrote: "I also finished Sister by Rosamund Lupton and really enjoyed the story and writing. Just a little drawn out for my liking, although maybe it was made worse by my onl..."I'm glad you liked it too, Jo! For a first novel, I thought she did a wonderful job.
Doug wrote: "I finished and loved Before I Go to Sleep"I see that lots of people seem to be enjoying this....it's on my tbr but who knows when I'll get to it...plus...I don't own it and it has a huge wait list at PBS!!!(paperback swap)
Shelli wrote: "Doug wrote: "I finished and loved Before I Go to Sleep"I see that lots of people seem to be enjoying this....it's on my tbr but who knows when I'll get to it...plus...I don't own i..."
Want me to send it to you? Shelli, I'll mail it to you tomorrow.
Doug wrote: "Shelli wrote: "Doug wrote: "I finished and loved Before I Go to Sleep"I see that lots of people seem to be enjoying this....it's on my tbr but who knows when I'll get to it...plus...."
AWESOME!!!!
Doug wrote: "Shelli wrote: "The Lords of Discipline....an excellent read!"Agree. He's a great writer, isn't he?"
He really is....
Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way to work this ..."I agree! It had the makings for another great one...but it JUST missed the mark. It was too short and I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I was in her previous works...also...that magic touch she adds in all of her books was not the same in this one. Not my favorite, but I gave it four stars because I love the author and it wasn't awful by any stretch. Just not my favorite. I did love the underlying theme of friendship. Although, have you noticed that an underlying theme in some of her books is about daughters having troubled relationships with their mothers? Very controlling mothers at that. I wonder if she has a controlling mother or mother-in-law...?
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way..."Possibly, or there is a fair amount of them living in the south! :) I agree with everything you said about The Peach Keeper. I wanted it longer, and the magic element to be better. I can't wait for more of her books. I hope she has plenty of stories laid away in that head of hers! :)
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I picked up the Peach Keeper on my way..."Interesting about The Peach Keeper...I must have heard this from other's too because I rushed to read all 3 of the previous books but not this one....will still probably get to it sometime...but agree with you both...hope she writes more and keeps up with her previous standards!!!!
Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I pick..."We are of the same mind! Have you come across any other writers you find are along the same line as Addison? I need something fun and magical for November. October's booked. So to speak....
Shelli wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a result I pick..."Shelli, I would still advise you to pick up the Peach Keeper...it's still good...it's just that we all have such high standards now for Addison...but I still liked it. :) Maybe a warm and cozy read on a day when it's raining out and you have a hot drink at your fingertips. :)
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Shelli wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As ..."Agreed, it wasn't a bad book by any means, just not quite up to par as compared to her others. Still read it!
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Sadie wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "I just zipped through The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Both by Sarah Addison Allen. As a..."I haven't found anything that is similar but I have heard that Alice Hoffman of "Practical Magic" fame is similar. Have you read any of her stuff? I haven't as of yet.
I'm currently listening to The Peach Keeper on audio, and I agree that it is not as magically infectious as the other two books of hers that I've read, but I'm still enjoying it. I've read a couple books by Hoffman - not Practical Magic - and I really liked them. I would never have drawn a comparison between her writing and Allen's, but now that you mention it, I can see some similarities.
Sarah wrote: "I'm currently listening to The Peach Keeper on audio, and I agree that it is not as magically infectious as the other two books of hers that I've read, but I'm still enjoying it. I've read a coup..."
I'll have to check her out then.
I will read The Peach Keeper then :)!! I'm trying to think of something else that would fit in this category....good, magical and warm and cozy......
I think Sarah Addison Allen's books have a lighter feel than Alice Hoffman's, but I like both authors.
Doug wrote: "I just posted the start of my review of The Bronze Horseman Loved it."I think I need to read that one!
FinishedMotherless Brooklyn....while the mobster story didn't seem all that new....the character of Lionel "Human Freakshow" Essrog was very memorable. I enjoyed it!!
Shelli wrote: "FinishedMotherless Brooklyn....while the mobster story didn't seem all that new....the character of Lionel "Human Freakshow" Essrog was very memorable. I enjoyed it!!"I have this book and keep meaning to read it, but haven't heard anything fantastic about it to give me the push I need. Did you LIKE this book or LOVE it?
Angela wrote: "I think Sarah Addison Allen's books have a lighter feel than Alice Hoffman's, but I like both authors."Can you tell me more about Hoffman pleeease :) I haven't read anything of hers. What do you like about her works? Is there a hint of magic to it? Is there humor? etc...what makes her kind of like Allen?
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Shelli wrote: "FinishedMotherless Brooklyn....while the mobster story didn't seem all that new....the character of Lionel "Human Freakshow" Essrog was very memorable. I enjoyed it!!"..."
I guess I would have to say I liked it and really liked Lionel....like I said...the story itself isn't anything new or exciting, it's just how Lionel approaches life in his situation that kept me interested. Plus.....I listened to the audio and the narrator was excellent....I'm not sure if the book would be as good without "hearing" Lionel.....although, my sister read it and she gave it 4 stars. It's a good read, but not one that is going to blow you away if that's what you're looking for...hope this helps!!
Shelli wrote: "Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Shelli wrote: "FinishedMotherless Brooklyn....while the mobster story didn't seem all that new....the character of Lionel "Human Freakshow" Essrog was ..."Very helpful :) thank you! I am putting this on my TBR for new year
Finished The Book Thief last night and I loved it! The writing was witty and the story itself was a unique take on the experience of living in Nazi Germany. This is going on my list of favorites!
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Angela wrote: "I think Sarah Addison Allen's books have a lighter feel than Alice Hoffman's, but I like both authors."Can you tell me more about Hoffman pleeease :) ..."
Jessica - I've only read a couple of Hoffman books, and it's been a few years since I read the last one. Her books, like Allen's, have a little bit of magic in them, but Hoffman's are a little more serious and not quite as light as Allen's. Both are good authors in my opinion.
I have a book by Alice Hoffman on my shelf but I've yet to it. Sort of like Meg Cabot. I know I should read them yet I haven't made time yet :(
Jessica~CoinOperatedJoy wrote: "Angela wrote: "I think Sarah Addison Allen's books have a lighter feel than Alice Hoffman's, but I like both authors."Can you tell me more about Hoffman pleeease :) ..."
Just to put in my two cents....:) I've read Here on Earth and it was about as opposite as you can get from a Sarah Addison Allen book....very heavy and depressing...I disliked the characters too and gave it only 2 stars...of course, that is just my opinion, but it was not light and magical!!!
Sarah wrote: "Finished The Book Thief last night and I loved it! The writing was witty and the story itself was a unique take on the experience of living in Nazi Germany. This is going on my list of..."I loved it as well!
Thank you all for your input. I think I will put Hoffman on my TBR list, but I probably won't get to her for a long while. Right now I have the rest of this year mapped out. I am reading the Graveminder and a few YA sequels that have just come out soooo I will report back on those asap. :) Happy Reading!
Sadie wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Finished The Book Thief last night and I loved it! The writing was witty and the story itself was a unique take on the experience of living in Nazi Germany. This is going..."Sarah and Sadie, can you believe how young the author is? I hadn't looked at the author information until after I had finished the book. I expected an older scholarly Jewish man, maybe 65 years old and here's this young handsome smiling face. What a huge future he has. I read another of his books, I Am the Messenger. It's much lighter, but it was also outstanding.
Shelli - I've never read Here on Earth. I own it, but it sounds like it would be a good one to skip.
Sarah wrote: "Shelli - I've never read Here on Earth. I own it, but it sounds like it would be a good one to skip."Sarah...just read up on it before you decide to read it if you do....I really found the characters offensive....that has stayed with me more than the actual story....really heavy and depressing.
I have so many great books sitting here on my shelf that I don't want to waste my time on one that's "heavy and depressing."
Sarah wrote: "I have so many great books sitting here on my shelf that I don't want to waste my time on one that's "heavy and depressing.""Agreed!!!
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Since I was supposed to be reading the second in September, I tried to slow myself down by re-reading Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson. I first read it 40 years ago & loved it. Amazingly enough, I liked it as much or more this time around. Now that's a good story!
;-)