BOOK POOL is back! Nov-Dec 2018

[Erica]

It's running through Nov and Dec :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Sorry to start off on a bum note - but I picked a dud! :(

#4
Book # 0 - The Watchmaker's Daughter
Read: 01/11
Rating: 1.5★ Just terrible. DNF @ 24%

[Erica]

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Sorry to start off on a bum note - but I picked a dud! :(

#4
Book #1 - The Watchmaker's Daughter
Read: 01/11
Rating: 1.5★ Just terrible. DNF @ 24%"

Oh gutted Carol! It doesn't have a bad rating on Goodreads - so you weren't to know. Hopefully your next one makes up for it :)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Recent reviews on Amazon are more critical.

[Ninitha (Niko)]

Oh man! Hopefully your next pick be amazing!

[Erica]

Kathleen wrote: "Well, the only times I've got onto Goodreads in the last month I was on a computer that didn't link the books. I kept telling myself I'd do it on a better machine, but kept forgetting. Never mind. ..."

Oh that's a shame Kathleen - next time just type the title and author and I can find the right link for you. Glad you're still gonna try and read some of the books though :)

[Lesley]

When the books were being put in the Book Pool I had tagged 6 of them I wanted to read. One of them was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo which I had on reserve at the library. Unfortunately my reserve became available too early for the Book Pool so it won't count now. BUT let me tell you, it was a really good read I thought, so try it for yourself!

Another that I've had sitting on my reading shelf was also put in the Pool. It is a large book, but one I've wanted to read for quite a while, so today in all the rain and wind, I sat inside in the dry and started reading A Prayer for Owen Meany

It is going to take all the time I should think given the size of it, but I'll read other books along side. Not sure which I'll start next, but possible The Cleaner

I'll come back and let you know how I'm going. :)

[Erica]

So glad you liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Lesley! I'm hoping I can pick up a copy from the library soon. It's been getting a lot of hype of booktube.

I've also had A Prayer for Owen Meany on my TBR for years so would really like to get to that one :)

Happy reading.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Kathleen wrote: "Well, the only times I've got onto Goodreads in the last month I was on a computer that didn't link the books. I kept telling myself I'd do it on a better machine, but kept forgetting. Never mind. ..."

Hi Kathleen - this may be a GR bug rather than the computer you were using. There is a long thread in Feedback with people saying they can no longer "add book/author" in their reviews. Some people have also reported not being able to do this in group messages.

[Lesley]

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Well, the only times I've got onto Goodreads in the last month I was on a computer that didn't link the books. I kept telling myself I'd do it on a better machine, but kept forgett..."

Adding to that, another group I'm in people are able to add book/author, but when they complete the post the linked information disappears leaving just their text they wrote. Another person found that while it appeared she was linking to add book/author, once the post was completed the entire message had disappeared!

[Erica]

#1
Book #1 - In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
Read: 04/11
Rating: 4.5 Stars

I've read a few memoirs from North Korean defectors and this was just as heart-wrenching and hopeful. What I found most interesting in Yeonmi's account was the reality of adjusting to life in South Korea and what it meant to be 'free'.

[Josie]

#15
Book #1- Fishing for Maui
Read: 3/11
Rating: 4 stars

[Zellian]

I have to pay off my library fines before I can get anymore books out because I forgot about a late book I had! :(
I'm really hoping they're not all out at the library.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Carlene wrote: "I have to pay off my library fines before I can get anymore books out because I forgot about a late book I had! :(
I'm really hoping they're not all out at the library."

Oh no!

#4
Book # 1 Wild Tales
Read: 04/11
Rating: 4★ Just bear in mind you are dealing with a Gargantuan ego here & there is ( a lot) about drug taking, this is still a very interesting read. Even more interesting is Nash's life post this book's publication.

[Erica]

I'm in the middle of Euphoria - about anthropologists in New Guinea in the 1930s. Really enjoying it

[Erica]

I've updated message 1 with the book tally so far. I'll keep updated this every now and again as we go along :)

[Ninitha (Niko)]

So cool to see the tally getting updated. Realistically, I don’t think I’ll get much reading done in November. Work is being a pain. But I’ll keep at it, a page at a time. Happy reading everyone!

[K.M.]

#11
Book #1 Bulibasha by Witi Ihimaera
Read 6/11
4🌟
Really want to see the movie now. A great read but the sport play by plays lost me a little ☺

[Josie]

#15
Book #2 The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver
Read 7 November
Stars - only 3
Disappointing, although most of it was quite readable. Interesting futuristic scenario, but a bit preachy

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

#4
Book # 2 Be Frank With Me
Read 7/11
Rating: 4★ Loved the beginning, loved Frank. (one of the best child characters in fiction)Found some of the plot a bit pat.

[Erica]

Wow you guys have been busy today! Will update the tally :)

[Ninitha (Niko)]

#13
Book #1 The Cleaner by Paul Cleave
Read : 8/11
Rating: 🌟🌟
What a disappointment. This book was steering straight towards my DNF file but was seen through only because it was the first book I picked up to read for the Book Pool. The story line was utterly predictable. There was no rationale for the incidents and actions taking place, and it did nothing to capture my imagination. I also hated that for a book that is set in Christchurch, it does so little to weave the environment and locale into it. On the contrary it positions Christchurch as a nexus of drug addicts and anti socials. Such a shame as I’d been meaning to read Paul Cleave for a while.

[Erica]

Oh no! I've heard great things about Paul Cleave but I wonder if this was one of his earlier works and he's improved since then.

[Ninitha (Niko)]

Same. I’ve heard plenty awesome things about him and have interacted with him for Book Fairy projects too. Yet, this book just did not work for.

[Erica]

#1
Book #2
Euphoria
5*

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Lily King did an amazing job at bringing to life this part of the world. I felt so immersed in the New Guinea jungle at a time when it was just being discovered by the Western world. I loved the anthropological discussions and seeing the different methods/approaches of the three main characters in the novel in their quest to understand exotic cultures. Lily King also deftly built the tension between those characters - it was subtle but convincing. Incredibly well written. Will be checking out other works by this author for sure.

[Lesley]

#1
Book #2
Euphoria / Lily King
4 stars

An exciting, intriguing story about three anthropologists in New Guinea, their relationships with each other and the tribes they live among. The characters are well developed and the author gently draws you into the tensions and sometimes harrowing episodes of their lives in New Guinea. Inspired by the true story of noted anthropologist, Margaret Mead. How much the book is a depiction of her life I have no idea, as, while I know of Margaret Mead, I have little knowledge of the details of her life.

[Erica]

Lesley wrote: "#1
Book #2
Euphoria / Lily King
4 stars

An exciting, intriguing story about three anthropologists in New Guinea, their relationships with each other and the tribes ..."

Glad you enjoyed Euphoria too Lesley :) I'm thinking Margaret Mead must have been a fascinating person, might have to check out a biography in the New Year.

[Josie]

#15
Book #3 A Gentleman in Moscow
10/11
Rating 4.5 stars
A sweet, funny, entertaining book about Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to indefinite house arrest in a hotel in Moscow.

[Kerry]

Kim.J wrote: "#11
Book #1 Bulibasha by Witi Ihimaera
Read 6/11
4🌟
Really want to see the movie now. A great read but the sport play by plays lost me a little ☺"

My daughter just did a NZ Lit paper at Auckland Uni and this was one of the books she read for the course. I said I'd read it too, but as always I'm running late, she sat the exam last week. Good to know you liked it as well. I saw the start of the film, it looks pretty good too.

[Erica]

Josie wrote: "#15
Book #3 A Gentleman in Moscow
10/11
Rating 4.5 stars
A sweet, funny, entertaining book about Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to indefinite house arrest in a hotel in Moscow."

I read A Gentleman in Moscow this time last year - it is so well-written. Loved it. Glad you enjoyed it Josie.

[Erica]

#1
Book #3
The Dry
4*

I binge-read this over the weekend. Really good story - lots of suspense. Didn't guess the crime culprit. Enjoyed the setting of small-town Australia struggling due to a drought. Thanks to whoever chose this one - I've had it on my TBR since it came out :)

[Lesley]

Erica wrote: "

#1
Book #3
The Dry
4*

I binge-read this over the weekend. Really good story - lots of suspense. Didn't guess the crime culprit. Enjoyed the setting of..."

You must read No, 2 in the Aaron Falk series Force of Nature Every bit as good.

She's also just released a new stand alone novel The Lost Man
I've not read it yet,but I've had it reserved since they ordered it!

[Josie]

#15
Book #4 Mazarine by Charlotte Grimshaw
Read 11/11 (rainy Sunday)
Rating 2 stars

What am I missing with this book? Unpleasant protagonist, unsatisfying plot holes. Yes, language was good, but not enough to redeem it for me.

[Erica]

Josie wrote: "#15
Book #4 Mazarine by Charlotte Grimshaw
Read 11/11 (rainy Sunday)
Rating 2 stars

What am I missing with this book? Unpleasant protagonist, unsatisfying plot holes. Yes, language was good, but n..."

Oh that's a shame Josie. I've got this one out from the library.

[Erica]

I've been binge-reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's so addictive and easy to read. If 1950s/60s Hollywood interests you I'd definitely give it a go :)

[Lesley]

Erica wrote: "I've been binge-reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's so addictive and easy to read. If 1950s/60s Hollywood interests you I'd definitely give it a go :)"

It was really good, wasn't it Erica.

[Erica]

Lesley wrote: "Erica wrote: "I've been binge-reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It's so addictive and easy to read. If 1950s/60s Hollywood interests you I'd definitely give it a go :)"

It was really good..."

I'm still only about halfway through - but really enjoying it. Gotta go back to work tomorrow (had Monday-Tuesday off) so will try and read as much as I can today :)

[Angie]

2/3's of the way through Circe and enjoying it so far. Made it to the library today and found a few from Book Pool that are on my list. Especially looking forward to 'Euphoria'. Was really hoping to get 'In Order to Live' but both copies were out and have a waiting list so I might not get to read it as part of Book Pool, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Ninitha (Niko)]

#13
Book #2 Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Read: 13/11
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Frank has managed to lodge himself between Eleanor and Ove and is right up there as one of my favorite characters in recent times. A feel good book, Frank’s mind had me chucking loud one too many times Frank is an adorable blend of Sheldon (TBBT), Calvin (Calvin and Hobbes) and one other character who seems so familiar but whose name escapes me now. . It’s the characters who are the true heroes of this book. The author succeeds in etching out such clear images in your mind that you do not even realize that not much happened in terms of story line. Thanks to whoever it is who suggested this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[K.M.]

#11
Book #2
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
4.5 🌟
What a great read! Lots of depth : consent, abuse, identity.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Kim.J wrote: "#11
Book #2
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
4.5 🌟
What a great read! Lots of depth : consent, abuse, identity."

I might give in to peer pressure & request this one in December. I have heard only good things about this title.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

#4
Book #3
Kitchens of the Great Midwest
Read: 15/11
Rating:3★ I'm going to have to think very carefully about the wording on my review. Felt culturally alien to me, as well as a bit disjointed. A good but not great read.

[Erica]

Kim.J wrote: "#11
Book #2
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
4.5 🌟
What a great read! Lots of depth : consent, abuse, identity."

Glad you liked it KimJ! I'm so close to finishing this so hope to do that tonight :)

I've updated the table and just two weeks in we've had lots of reading done!

At the moment the leaders of the tally are:

Josie - 4 books read
Carol and Erica - 3 books read
KimJ and Ninitha - 2 books read
Lesley - 1 book read

Hopefully everyone else is enjoying their reads :)

[Erica]

#1
Book #4
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
4*

This was an engrossing read. If you don't get to this one during the bookpool I would highly recommend as your summer holiday read - you can just keep reading and reading and reading and you never really get bored.

[Ninitha (Niko)]

#13
Book #3 A Horse Walks into a bar by David Grossman
Read 17/11
Rating 🌟🌟

I just could not connect with the book. I found the main character faulty. I was bored. I yawned through the book. I wanted to like it but I just could not. As you can see, I can’t even muster enough enthusiasm to write it a decent review.

[Erica]

Ninitha (Niko) wrote: "#13
Book #3 A Horse Walks into a bar by David Grossman
Read 17/11
Rating 🌟🌟

I just could not connect with the book. I found the main character faulty. I was bored. I yawned through the book. I wan..."

Oh gutted Ninitha. I had heard mixed things about this novel - it sounded a bit 'literary' for me. Hopefully your next book will be another 5* :)

[Kelli]

#17
Book #1- Kitchens of The Midwest
Rating 3.5/5

One of the reasons I picked this book is because I grew up in the Midwest- but I now understand if without that connection, the book's references would seem weird and pointed. Still, I appreciated the way the story circled back on itself, without being a dramatic saga.

[Angie]

#2
Book #1 Circe
Read: 17/11
Rating: 3.5/5

A slow-paced tale and parts are sometimes unnecessarily long but still worth a read.

[Erica]

Sounds like you had decent reads to start off the Bookpool Kelli and Angie :) I've updated the main tally.

[Zellian]

:( I have screwed myself this month by forgetting to pay my library fine (naughty naughty) and then forgetting to hit the library when I was on leave for a week!
Hopefully I can at least get a couple of books in this month hahah.