The Book Vipers discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
General Archive Folder
>
Just finished Reading (2015)
Mod
Lisa wrote: "Joy wrote: "I seem to be reading a whole stream of time-travel books lately. Most recently I've finished 11.22.63 and Making History, which I didn't realise was one wh..."Ill see if theyve got it at the library.
Mod
Worth reading the original books and the then this one. My review is here
Finished Hotel California: The True-Life Adventures of Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles, and Their Many Friends. I reviewed it, but don't know how to link the review.Jim
Mod
Mod
I've not long finished 11/22/63 too, as part of the full deck challenge. It wasn't bad. Was my first Stephen King novel but it hasn't particularly made me want to rush to read others of his. :/
Mod
I finished This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate a few weeks ago, but just got round to writing a proper review. Here's my 4 star thoughts if anyone wants to take a look https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wow...been nearly two months since I have been on here! Thought the summer holidays would mean more reading time, seeing as I am a teacher, but my tot has been taking up most of my time and reading has gone out the window mostly. Have read a couple of books in the meantime, including Archangel by Robert Harris, A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor, The Goldfinch and The Miniaturist...after months of waiting. Best get focused on finishing that reading challenge!!
Just finished Crossing to Safety and The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks. Both good reads. Using the Stewart book to help me make my own bitters. A very interesting process.
A bit of a reading sprint: Borges A Universal History of Iniquity (he is always great, even if this is leaning heavily towards pastiches), Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray (Extremely boring and verbose), Buchan The 39 Steps (great spy story!), and Brookmyre Quite Ugly One Morning an awesome crime novel - I'm raving about it here.
I just finished reading Wool Omnibus Edition. It was sooo good, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
On a roll here, finished The Woman In White yesterday and sped read Four, the divergent prequel last night/this morning. Getting back into the swing of this full deck challenge!
Just finished reading"Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?" with my 10 years old son. A 5 stars book for kids (I would say) between 9 and 12. Here is my review.
Jan wrote: "I just finished "A Concise History of the Russian Revolution." I've been curious about that event and finally got around to doing something about it."I remember when I tried to study the year 1917 at school, especially for the test. It was so complicated to remember who was on which side at what time, even when I had the book in front of me (also because depending what was happening in Russia, the Finnish parties were either for or against certain things). Also I always get a bit confused when it's just "the Russian Revolution", as I think, which one? Though I am not sure if I would remember Kerensky's name that easily without one song... And to answer to your question, I guess it was their ideology. If you weren't with them, you were against them and you had to be purged. (It's funny though reading some of the criticisms in the reviews. I probably would agree with the author of the book in most cases.)
Mod
Mod
Just finished 'Awakening' by Stevie Davies, great characters and well written. Have just ordered 'Impassioned Clay' by the same author.
I finished reading Two Brothers by Ben Elton. I did enjoy it, it was very easy to read, but I struggled to get his voice out of my head at times while reading it, which was annoying.
Mod
I know what you mean; he does have a distinctive voice
Mod
Would read this author again though as it did strike a chord with me nevertheless.
Just finished reading Ghostly Thief of Time: An EMU Club Adventure, great read for 8-11 years old kids. My review here.
Broken Spirits. I would only recommend it to those in the psychiatric/social work field. If you know all the argot, it's an extraordinarily detailed account of the effects of extreme trauma (torture, war, terrorism, general savagery). It does get rather technical, but I learned some new words, e.g. "adrenergic". Strange pronunciation via Webster's.
Now reading "Middlesex". Eugenidies spins quite a tale. Love his gentle sense of humor.
Mod
Trying to catch up on my reviews, and finally have written one for The Secret Throne a new children book but the SF author Peter F. Hamilton. Not entirely my sort of thing, this was a review copy I had for Nudge, but he had some interesting ideas woven into a reasonable plot. My review is here
Also finsihed Travels With My Aunt a day or so ago. Classic Green really, buy not quite a edgy as some of his others. Here is what I thought about it
Jan. I've got to that place in my life where, if I do read work books, it's the non traumatic ones. I see it a lot at work. I'm sure it will be helpful but I find it exhausting to work, then read about it too. That said I do like some less traumatic ones...I guess I like to read to escape. After a 2 week break I did find myself reading health related books again. Maybe just a lapse. It does sound useful and I may read it though. Our peeps at work have had awful lives, most of them.
Mod
Here is my long-overdue review of The Paris Wife by Paula McLain:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've just finished Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Quite a light, easy read but still a solid 3.5/4* in my eyes. I do love a bit of magic and fantasy occasionally and would definitely read the second book in this series. 
Mod
Mod
Finished Cobb: A Biography by Al Stump, a comprehensive book on one of the greatest (and meanest) baseball players who ever lived.Jim
Finished 2312, but very frustrated by this sci-fi book. On the one hand it's a wonderfully detailed, clever and convincing portrayal of human expansion into and colonisation of the solar system. On the other hand there's not really any plot to speak of. The main character is also bizarre as shes supposed to be over 100, but behaves emotionally like a teenager.
I just finished Imperfect Strangers I read this book as a BOTM group read and really enjoyed discussing this book with the author.
This was a very good book that delves into the mental health issues of the main character Keith. Overall Keith is a good guy but he has some serious demons from his mother and his upbringing. He becomes obsessed with his co worker Sally. She befriends him and the story progresses from there. It was a good story with some very strong characters.
I was afraid this would be similar to another book called You but thankfully it is not. Imperfect Strangers is much better and the characters are much more likable even though they are flawed. Where You is sleaze Imperfect Strangers is more creepy.
Joy wrote: "Finished 2312, but very frustrated by this sci-fi book. On the one hand it's a wonderfully detailed, clever and convincing portrayal of human expansion into and colonisation of the ..."Hmm, think I'll skip that one.
Mod
Paul wrote: "Finished Coraline this morning. Creepy and sinister, you can see why children love it. My review is here"From your review, it does sound creepy but really fascinating.
I just finished "Wise Blood" by Flannery O'Connor. I'd never read anything by her or Erskine Caldwell, so I thought I'd educate myself. Wise Blood is definitely creepy in an existentialist kind of way. O'Connor get my vote for weird, but believable, characters.
Mod
Just finished reading my "Natural History" choice for the full deck challenge: Ten Million Aliens: A Journey Through the Entire Animal KingdomHad a long look at the Nat. hist-section in the largest Edinburgh bookstore and came away with that one. I never would have picked anything from that shelf if not for the challenge - and it was GREAT! A fun and curious run down of the entire animal kingdom. Highly recommend it review here.
Mod
Paul wrote: "Not sure the link is working Anetq. Great review, it has been on my to read list for a while"Go for it, it's fun! (And thanks for the heads up - I've fixed the link now.)
Anetq wrote: "Just finished reading my "Natural History" choice for the full deck challenge: Ten Million Aliens: A Journey Through the Entire Animal KingdomHad a long look at the Nat. hist-secti..."
This looks really interesting. I added it to the TBR and bought it.
Mod
Just whizzed through Opening Night, a traditional who-dunnit with a really good pace. Its the first book I've read by Ngaio Marsh and ill definitely try another by her.
Mod
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Book Vipers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Three-Body Problem (other topics)The Farming of Bones (other topics)
Now You See Me (other topics)
God's War (other topics)
Career of Evil (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Penn (other topics)Anthony Horowitz (other topics)
Charles Cumming (other topics)
Elizabeth Haynes (other topics)
Elizabeth Haynes (other topics)
More...
I do know what you mean about Fry, but I love Moab Is My Washpot - probably the best autobio I've read. I've not heard of the one you mention, will have to check it out.