What are you reading these days? (Part ELEVEN (2015) ongoing thread for 2015 Showing 651-700 of 1,045

[Nina]

Jackie, Wondering if you might try, "The Perfect Son." It's not science fiction but it is good compelling fiction.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I'm back. I picked up some books at the library yesterday. I'm now reading Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Sam Kashner. I know I'm behind the times, but it's interesting nevertheless.

Just finished reading Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. Very interesting too. :)

[Nina]

Joy, you need to read, "The Queen Mother," as I think it would be a good companion to the Charles and Camilla book. I mentioned before that in that book it tells of Charles having not one, but two mistresses.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "Joy, you need to read, "The Queen Mother," as I think it would be a good companion to the Charles and Camilla book. I mentioned before that in that book it tells of Charles having not one, but two ..."

Thanks, Nina. I'll keep it in mind.

[Nina]

Joy H. wrote: "I'm back. I picked up some books at the library yesterday. I'm now reading Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by [author:Sam Kashner|4651..."Who is the author of "Charles and Camilla?"

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: ""Who is the author of "Charles and Camilla?"

Gyles Brandreth

[Nina]

Thanks Joy. If I don't turn on my computer tomorrow do all of you have a happy safe fourth. We are going to be with horses, Jim so will think of you/but only two at my daughter's bar b que. And so far perfect weather is predicted/not usual for us in July.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Happy 4th, Nina, and everyone!

[Jim]

Thanks, Joy. Nothing special planned here. The weather is supposed to clear today. We got another 2" of rain last night in an hour. The kids drove back from Josh's dad's house in it. Awful, but they made it safely. I'm glad we live on a hill. A lot of flooding lower down.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nothing special planned here either. That's OK with me. :) No sunshine here today. 40% chance of showers. Not good weather for vacationers but at least the temp isn't bad... in the 60s.

[Nina]

FIREWORKS

Falling Moons
Silver Flowers
Peonies strung on a thread
Lotus sprinkled with water
Lanterng of Heaven and Earth

Tun Li-shcen, 1900
naming fireworks in he book
The Annual Customs and Festivals in Peking

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, thanks for that poem. Very apropos.

[Jim]

I just finished listening to Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian. It's quite good & I look forward to the rest of the series. In many ways, I like it better than the Hornblower novels. The characters are better, more real. I don't care for O'Brian's writing style as much, though. It's a bit like Dickens. Still, I gave the first book 4 stars & intend to listen to more.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim, thanks for posting.

I started reading The Love of My Youth by Mary Gordon. It starts out well but after awhile it gets boring. I'll stay with it a bit more but I'm not looking forward to continuing. Nevertheless, Gordon seems like a gifted writer.

[Nina]

Just finished reading, "A Perfect Son," and it was very good.Dealt with Tourette's syndrom. Really fleshed out characters. Seemed real/like people who might have lived next door. Which reminds me, because I mentioned earlier that our next door neighbor had died, we will be getting new neighbors once the house is sold. Because our house is connected to the one next door we are anxious to see who moves in next.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, good luck with your new neighbors.

[Nina]

I'll keep you posted. Fun tlme eventually at my daughter's bar b que except for getting there/three detours/one on dangerous narrow road with sharp drop off that my husband had to manuver to get us turned around and then a long train blocking our way and the beginnings of a parade. What usually takes us a half hour took and hour and a quarter; but at least no accident and nice watching the little kids having fun in her pool. And guest of honor was six month old Lucy who loved playing and getting kisses from the rat terriers.

[Jim]

I read (listened to) a couple of things over the weekend. How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg was about a dozen famous people. Not bad to spark interest, but biased for making moral points. I almost gave it 2 stars for that, but finally decided on 3. I reviewed it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also listened to an old short western story, Glory Blast by T.T. Flynn. I was surprised by how good it was. I gave it 4 stars & reviewed it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, glad you didn't have an accident. Sounds like a successful family barbeque.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "I read (listened to) a couple of things over the weekend. How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg was about a dozen famo..."

That's an unusual approach for a book. Sounds interesting. I will listen to the audio sample at: http://www.audible.com/pd/History/How...

[Werner]

While returning from our Fulks Run trip today, Barb and I started on a new "car book," Stalking Ivory, the second installment in Suzanne Arruda's Jade del Cameron mystery series. We both really liked the series opener, Mark of the Lion, which we read last year; so we've been looking forward to this second book ever since I gave Barb a copy for Mother's Day.

[Nina]

I assume you were listening to an audio or do you read to one another/the other being the one who isn't driving.

[Werner]

I read to Barb while she drives, Nina.

[Jim]

I was excited to find that the Matt Helm books are available as audio books read by Stefan Rudnicki. They're available through Audible, but I got the first, Death of a Citizen, as a downloadable MP3 through Blackstone Audio's consumer site, downpour.com. Very cool. I'll get the rest as the budget allows.

I like Rudnicki's voice. He's narrated quite a few audio books I've listened to including many by Orson Scott Card. Here's the link to the book where it can be previewed, too.
http://www.downpour.com/death-of-a-ci...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I finished reading Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant by Dyan Cannon. A very touching memoir. Evidently, Cary Grant wasn't easy to live with. He was fine before they married but he changed afterward. When Diane came home from the hospital with their new baby, she found that Grant had given away her beloved dog without consulting her. She never saw the dog again. He said he was worried about the baby being harmed by the dog who might be jealous. I will always feel different about Cary Grant after reading this book, even though Dyan Cannon said many nice things about him. But she also told of the dark side of his personality. A sad story.

[pics&books]

Hi, everyone. Happy Friday!
I am currently reading Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...). I am at the half way mark. It's gritty and dark. The characters are complex and real. I am enjoying this book. Anyone who read Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train will like this one as well.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cori

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Hi Cori. Glad you're enjoying that book. Thanks for posting.

[Werner]

My Fans of British Writers group is doing a common read of Cakes and Ale, by W. Somerset Maugham, this month. Because of being out of town earlier this month, I didn't request my copy from the public library until I got back, and then had to wait for it to be sent up from the main library at Tazewell; so I didn't start on it until yesterday. But it's short, and I expect it to be a quick read. This is my first Maugham novel, though I've read and liked a couple of his short stories.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner wrote: "My Fans of British Writers group is doing a common read of Cakes and Ale, by W. Somerset Maugham, this month. ..."

Werner, I have always loved Maugham's writing. He's usually very readable. But I haven't read Cakes and Ale. I'll put it on my keep-in-mind list.

[Werner]

If you're interested, Joy, I'll try to remember to post a link to my review in this group, whenever I finish the book.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner, yes, I'd be interested in your review. No spoilers please. LOL

[Werner]

Nah, Joy, I've learned how to use Goodreads' spoiler tags to hide that part of the review if I have to share anything "spoilerish." :-) So you won't have to worry on that account!

[Jim]

I just finished the first Matt Helm book, Death of a Citizen, as an audio book. Read by Stefan Rudnicki, it was even better than I thought it would be. 5 stars for my review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Before that I read The Butcher's Boy by Thomas Perry. It was his first novel, so I gave it 4 stars, but I think I was being a bit generous. I reviewed it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mercurialgem]

I have four books on my currently reading BUT I've been a very slow reader......some days not even reading at all not bc of the books but just not in the mood maybe bc of wrk.....however, slowly pushing through Wharton's Old NY ( first of hers) n enjoying it. The Old Maid is in there which was a movie Bette Davis made. I want to watch it again after I finish the book.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Thank you for your posts here. I appreciate them.

[Nina]

Are there any Goodread comments on the book I just finsihed, "A Perfect Son?"

[Nina]

Joy H. wrote: "I finished reading Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant by Dyan Cannon. A very touching memoir. Evidently, Cary Grant wasn't easy to live with. He was fine before the..."It's true we imagine someone and then along comes the knowledge that he, Cary Grant isn't who we thought he was/I could never like anyone who gave my dog away.

[Werner]

Nina wrote: "Are there any Goodreads comments on the book I just finished...?" Nina, to see about Goodreads reviews of this book, check out this link: The Perfect Son. There are 249 Goodreads reviews altogether.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Werner, thanks for replying to Nina's request. We are having a lot of company here and I am sometimes too busy to post.

[Werner]

No problem, Joy; glad to help out. Enjoy your company!

[Nina]

Werner wrote: "Nina wrote: "Are there any Goodreads comments on the book I just finished...?" Nina, to see about Goodreads reviews of this book, check out this link: The Perfect Son. There are 24..."Werner, although there is a post stating how many reviews of this book there are/none appear when I click on it.

[Nina]

I tried one more time but unfortunately nothing appeared.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina, when you get to the book page, you have to scroll down to see the reviews. Here's the book page for The Perfect Son:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Nina]

Sorry, I couldn't get it. When I scroll down there is only blank white space. Guess it doesn't work with my computer. Wish it did.

[Werner]

Nina, I would say that this is probably NOT just a feature that doesn't work with your computer. Reviews attached to book descriptions are standard Goodreads content that should be accessible to any PC that has an Internet capability. IMO, the problem is some kind of glitch on Goodreads' end, and you should report it in the Goodreads Feedback group at www.goodreads.com/group/show/1-goodre... . (You'll have to first join that group, if you aren't a member already.)

[Nina]

Thnaks, Joy, I think I am already a member from having troubles before this but I'll check it out. It's not the first time this has occured.

[Jim]

I got the audio version of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee today. I'm going to start listening to it tomorrow with trepidation. It's relatively short, only 6+ hours.

[Nina]

Werner wrote: "Nina, I would say that this is probably NOT just a feature that doesn't work with your computer. Reviews attached to book descriptions are standard Goodreads content that should be accessible to a..."I am already a member and I posted my problem of not getting any customer reviews so we'll see what happens next.

[Werner]

Good luck, Nina! Keep us posted.

[Nina]

Werner wrote: "Nina, I would say that this is probably NOT just a feature that doesn't work with your computer. Reviews attached to book descriptions are standard Goodreads content that should be accessible to a..."Still doesn't work. Just tried it this morning after posting my problem yesterday. I haven't checked the Feedback page today. Will try that later.