The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Pat wrote: "Have you read The White Bone by Barbara gowdy? I really loved that book. ..."Yes ... but long before I joined Goodreads, so it's not on my shelf.
Arranged Marriage by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – 4**** In her debut collection of short stories, Divakaruni explores the ways in which women raised with traditional values try to balance the realities of a new existence in America. I love short stories and there are some really great ones in this collection. The women may be different form one another, and very different from me, but I was able to connect to each and every one of them. We share the struggle between living up to others’ expectations and following our own dreams.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Double Fudge Brownie Murder and starting Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson – 3*** I hardly know what to write. In many respects the book is as mysterious and unbelievable as the dictatorship that is North Korea. Johnson’s nonlinear timeline and use of obfuscation, lies, half-truths and prevarications keeps the reader complete off balance – obviously mimicking what the citizens of North Korea must endure. And yet … I found it compelling and fascinating. Tim Kang, Josiah D Lee and James Kyson Lee do a wonderful job narrating the audio book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talkingby Susan Cain and starting Heart-Shaped Boxby Joe Hill
Hi!I finished All the Light We Cannot See on April 2, 2015 and Small Mercies: A Novel on April 6, 2015. Started The Pat Metheny Interviews: The Inner Workings of His Creativity Revealed April 6, 2015.
Jim
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare – 3.5*** Twins separated by a shipwreck; a woman disguised as a man; a Duke who loves a Countess, who falls for the messenger (really the woman in disguise). Eventually this comedy will be sorted out and the various pairs of lovers united as they should be. Great fun to watch it being performed; reasonably entertaining as an audio book (performed by a full cast).
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile – 3*** In her debut work Baszile explores one woman’s efforts to find herself by returning to her family’s roots – a sugar cane farm in southern Louisiana. It’s a good premise but an uneven effort. I liked Charley, but wanted more about her relationships. Thought her brother was an unnecessary distraction for most of the book. And the ending was a little abrupt. An okay debut.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am currently reading Hausfrau. Only 20% in so no real opinion yet.Will Grayson, Will Grayson is currently $3.73 for Kindle at Amazon.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – 5***** This is a modern fable; a story of faith, moral courage, destiny and friendship. Covering the period from 1953 to the late 1980s, Irving uses the narrator – Johnny Wheelwright – to comment on the politics of the day, social mores, the role of faith and religion in our communities, and the miracle of enduring friendship. I loved Owen Meany almost as much as Johnny did. He could be exasperating, but there was something so mature and wise and loving about him that simply drew me in. Joe Barrett does a fine job performing the audio version. His unique voice for Owen Meany is very effective.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson – 2** Clearly inspired by Harry Potter, but nowhere near so well executed. Sanderson includes all sorts of asides which seem to me just a desperate attempt to be clever. Although I can see how this story would appeal to the target audience (8-12-year-olds), it just annoyed me.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished "Heart Shaped Box and started "Pilgrams : A Woebegone Romance"
Book Concierge wrote: " A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving – 5***** This is a modern fable; a story of faith, moral courage, destiny and friendship. Covering the period from..."
One of my all-time favorite books!
Joyland by Stephen King – 3*** Say “Stephen King” and most people think horror, but this book gives a nod to the old-fashioned crime novel. It is more than just a “hard case crime” story; it is a ghost story, a coming-of-age story, a tender romance, and a serial-killer mystery all rolled into one. I thought the ending was somewhat contrived, but I sure enjoyed the ride.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale – 4**** An expanded story based on the Grimm’s fairy tale of the same name, about a princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen. Hale includes the basic elements of most fairy tales – love, betrayal, wicked enemies, loyal helpers, a little magic, a handsome prince, and a heroine I wanted to see succeed. The audio book was narrated by Cynthia Bishop and a large cast of actors who took on various supplementary roles, resulting in a dynamic and exciting performance.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
ChrisEverestSorry guys - fighting a nasty throat lymphoma - cannot concentrate on much during chemotherapy - this is gonna bugger my reading list/average up. Working on a Pratchett humour prescription for medicinal reasons - will rejoin when the corpuscles start behaving properly. Love to all my reading pals.
Chris... Sheffield.... England
I finished "Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance" and starting "The Red Tent"
I'm sad to hear that, Chris. I'm a lurker, to be sure, but I've enjoyed your posts and seeing your reading choices. Hope to see them again soon!
Lulu’s Christmas Story by Ludmilla Bollow – 3*** The subtitle says it all: A True Story of Faith and Hope During the Great Depression. It’s a charming memoir of a time gone by.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriraty – 4**** Three women’s lives converge as a result of one man’s secret. I will admit that the multiple points of view did confuse me at first, as the narrative switched from Cecelia to Tess to Rachel. I couldn’t help but consider “what would I do” if I were in the position of any one of these women. And some of their actions and reactions took me by surprise. Caroline Lee does a fine job performing the audio version of the book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Christopher wrote: "ChrisEverestSorry guys - fighting a nasty throat lymphoma - cannot concentrate on much during chemotherapy - this is gonna bugger my reading list/average up. Working on a Pratchett humour prescri..."
Hugs and best wishes to you Chris. It's no fun when you are not feeling your best.
I'm starting The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro, which just came in from my hold request at the library. After reading WWI historical novels, it will be nice to go back to fantasy!
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson – 4 **** What a delightful comedic romp! I just love Miss Pettigrew, who is in turn amused, shocked, befuddled, brilliant, compassionate, composed, or flustered. The ebullient and casual Miss LaFosse is a perfect counterpoint for Miss Pettigrew, who is restrained and formal. I was reminded of Damon Runyon’s stories, although with a bit more class.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished "The Red Tent" and starting "Anna and the French Kiss"
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci – 2.5** I’d never read anything by Baldacci before and somehow thought of him as a writer of “legal thrillers” so I was surprised to find this holiday romance with a little bit of mystery involved. I was quickly drawn into the story. . For the genre, it was fairly entertaining, but the resolution of the central conflict was just too over the top for me. The novel lost a half star with that. Tim Mathewson does a fine job performing the audio book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Christopher wrote: "ChrisEverestSorry guys - fighting a nasty throat lymphoma - cannot concentrate on much during chemotherapy - this is gonna bugger my reading list/average up. Working on a Pratchett humour prescri..."
Hope your corpuscles whip into shape quickly.
Finished: Anna Finished and the French KissStarting: Elementary by Mercedes Lackey
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – 4 **** Well, I don’t know why I waited so long to read this Newbery Award winner. It was really delightful. It’s a coming-of-age story, a ghost story, a thriller, and a murder mystery. It has all the best of traditional story-telling techniques – friendship, adventure, obstacles the hero must overcome, villains, an innocent child, and more than one surprise. The audio book is masterfully performed by a talented cast of voice artists, including the author.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal – 4**** When his great uncle Iggie died in 1994, Edmund de Waal inherited a collection of 264 netsuke. The bequest led him to research his family and the history of this collection. Told with eyes wide open, but with a great deal of love and respect, de Waal takes the reader back through time and breathes life into the history of art, culture, politics, and war. The audio book is capably narrated by Michael Maloney.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Running the Books by Avi Steinberg – 2** A disappointing memoir of a freelance newspaper obituary writer turned prison librarian. Most boring, navel-gazing, it doesn’t get interesting until after page 200. The few poignant stories at the end can’t save it. Now, the memoir that one of the inmates is working on? THAT, I’d like to read!
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Cold Day For Murder by Dana Stabenow – 2** I was hoping for a strong female lead, and Kate Shugak is ALMOST that character, but the book suffers from weak plotting, and most of the native Aleut characters are little more than stereotypes. It was a fast read, and the next time I need a book set in Alaska I might give book # 2 in the series a try.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished "Elementary" by Mercedes Lackey and starting "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd
To Begin Again by Jen Knox – 3*** This is a short-story collection wherein the scenarios, characters and locations differ, but they all share a theme of life-altering decisions. Most of the stories are rather dark – not too many happy endings here. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed reading the collection.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fever by Mary Beth Keane – 4**** Keane does a fine job with this work of historical fiction of a complex character facing an unimaginable scenario. Her “Typhoid Mary” is at once sympathetic and infuriating. I could not help but think of the recent Ebola scares in the U.S. – we imposed quarantines on those exposed, and some of them, just like Mary, refused to follow those restrictions.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan – 3.5*** A novel told in three parts – before, during and after WW2. Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans experiences the horrors of a Japanese POW camp during the war, but Flanagan seems to be saying that the drama of everyday life sometimes rivals that of war. I can believe this, but I wish he had done more to SHOW this. The audio version is capably performed by David Atlas. His pacing is good, but he does not do much to differentiate the various characters (other than the handful of women).
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dolled Up for Murder by Deb Baker – 1* Gretchen Birch mystery # 1 has Gretchen summoned to Phoenix by her Aunt Nina to help clear her mother, Caroline’s name. The characters are cardboard, the plot stretched thin. I finished only because it fulfilled a challenge. Not likely to pick up another. One star for the interesting information provided on doll-collecting at the beginning of each chapter.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Before I Die by Jenny Downham – 2** A teen with leukemia has a bucket list of things she wants to accomplish before she dies. I found it maudlin and manipulative, but I can see that the intended YA audience would probably respond well to it. Charlotte Parry does a fine job performing the audio version.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished "The Invention of Wings" and starting "Cat of Nine Tales"
The Goldsmith’s Daughter by Tanya Landman – 2.5** A novel of the Aztec empire in Mexico. I enjoyed the information on the culture and society of the Aztec empire, and liked how Landman revealed the differences in the religious beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec people. I thought the “Romeo & Juliet” side story was predictable, but appropriate for the target audience. BUT I was sorely disappointed with the constant message that all the bad things that happened were the fault of fifteen-year-old Itacate and her defiance of the restrictions placed on women of that society.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished: Cat O' Nine Tails and starting :The Garden of Evening Mists
Barefoot Heart by Elva Trevino Hart – 3*** An interesting memoir of life as a migrant child, traveling with her family from Texas to Minnesota each summer to work the fields. I found many of the stories compelling and could identify with much of it, but Part Three completely changed the tone of the book for me, and I dropped my rating from four to three stars as a result.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Maine by J Courtney Sullivan – 1* Three generations of Kelleher women descend on the family’s beach-front property one summer. The four women around whom the story revolves have little in common except that they are all part of this dysfunctional family. Their relationships are as rocky as the coast of Maine. I didn’t like any of them. I wasn’t interested in their stories. I didn’t care what happened to any of them. Ann Marie Lee does an adequate job performing the audio, but she doesn’t have good material to work with.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford – 4**** A coming-of-age story set in a small mountain town in New Mexico during WW II. Bradford writes believable teens (and adults), making sense of a world whose rules have changed. I was caught up in the story of Josh and his family, as they tried to make the best of the situation. The setting shields the characters from the war, but war will intrude eventually. In the meantime Josh and his friends maintain some of the innocence of youth, while still stretching the boundaries as they rush head-long towards adulthood.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Nine Steps to Financial Freedom by Suze Orman – 3*** The subtitle of this book is: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying. Orman includes practical information and clear, understandable definitions of various terms.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished 
The Golem and the Jinni
Written for You
Loved them bot so much
In the middle of
Hollow City
Did not like in the beginning is getting better, but not as good as first.
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini – 4**** Hosseini is a great storyteller. This is his most ambitious novel, covering several generations over six decades and across continents from Afghanistan to Paris to San Francisco to Greece. There are many heart-wrenching scenes that echo what happens to Pari and Abdullah, the two motherless siblings whose story bookends this novel, but however far apart – in terms of time, or distance, or relationship – these stories are, they are all connected. His central theme is the moral complexity of life. The audio features three skilled narrators: Khaled Hosseini, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Navid Negahban.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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A delightful children’s book about one boy’s passion for elephants. Given my own obsession with pachyderms (and books), I had to buy th..."
Have you read The White Bone by Barbara gowdy? I really loved that book.