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2023 - What Are You Reading?
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Margaret
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Feb 12, 2023 03:07PM
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I just finished reading Werner Herzog's The Twilight World, which was quite short (really more novelette than novel) but elegantly written and poignant as it illuminates a real-life story that's so inherently fascinating its details alone were enough to draw me in. Now I've begun Nicola Griffith's Spear and am enjoying it so far!
Just finished Oliver Clements' All the Queen's Spies
, the third volume in his mystery series set during the reign of Elizabeth I that features John Dee as the central character. He's a reliable writer who blends plotting, history, and occasional humor quite effectively. I'm always glad when he has a new title coming out.My ***** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished and enjoyed The Paper Palace
by Miranda Cowley HellerMy Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/4985349905
Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to The Little House in the Fairy Wood by Ethel Cook Eliot and am still reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to [book: The Little House in ..."'The Little House in the Fairy Wood' sounds very cute! How's it going for you?
Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to [book: The L..."I just finished American Dirt. Wow! This is one powerful book.
Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to..."Rosh and Linda, I loved American Dirt when I read it a few years ago. It showed so clearly why people are risking everything to seek asylum in the US.
5★ My review of American Dirt
The Transit of Venus, by acclaimed Australian author Shirley Hazzard, is now a modern classic that was reissued in 2021, 25 years after its first publication. Aussie sisters grow up in post-WW2 England, where their beauty is admired, but their southern hemisphere origins are disparaged. GREAT READ!
5★ My review of Transit of Venus
Hedy Lamarr was a true Hollywood bombshell, as this children's picture book by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara describes in an addition to the Little People BIG DREAMS series. She was not only beautiful, she was technologically brilliant.
5★ My review of Hedy Lamarr with several of the lovely illustrations and a drop-dead gorgeous photo of her
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Hedy Lamarr was a true Hollywood bombshell, as this children's picture book by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara describes in an addition to the Little People BIG DREAMS..."Love this series! A few years back Marie Benedict wrote a historical fiction about Hedy Lamarr: The Only Woman in the Room. On my tbr list :)
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am als..."Thanks, Patty! The book is on my agenda for sure. :)
Via NG, just landed an electronic review copy of The Witching Tide, based on 16thC witch-hunting in an English village. Not coming out until September; sounds like a gripping read.
Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to [book: The L..."I am really enjoying it, not the readers so much, but the story. I wish I had known about it when my children were younger because I think they would have loved it.
Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am also listening to..."I can't seem to put it down!!! Usually, I only read for about 30 minutes a day but so far I have been reading about an hour a day and I just got the book. Honestly, I don't know if I would have chosen to read it except it's for my in-person book club. I am so glad it was chosen.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am als..."It certainly has opened my eyes. I know that countries deal with cartels but this story feels so real. The characters, the people they meet, their fears, their reasons; it all is real for so many migrants.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "Yesterday I finished rereading Middlemarch by George Eliot and started reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I am als..."What an excellent review! I love the use of maps, and the statue is beautiful.
Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "... and started reading American Dirt by ..."Janice and others, you might be interested to know that an old friend of mine is one of the volunteers who drives with others around the desert, looking for asylum seekers who need help.
They aren't allowed to do anything except give them water and blankets, I believe, but I was told that recently, the Border Patrol people THANKED them for what they do! That is just wonderful!
On a grim note:This is a terrible, but important, story from what should be America's past. Now the nightly news is almost as bad.
Ralph Ellison wrote A Party Down at the Square in his youth, but it wasn't published until decades later.
Maybe humans should slink back into the swamp. Content warning, even for the review. (no pictures!) There are many excellent reviews of it Here's mine:
5★ My review of A Party Down at the Square including a link to a PDF of the story
Aussie author Michael Robotham is a favourite of mine.
Bleed for Me
is the fourth in his clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin series. It could easily be read as a stand-alone because he fills in the back stories so well but manages not to spoil the earlier books if you go back and read them later (as I have done). 
5★ My review of Bleed for Me
Freddie Mercury had a remarkable impact on today's music. The recent children's biography by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara gives us a bit of his life and the founding of the phenomenon that became Queen.
5★ My review of Freddie Mercury with several illustrations and links to some of the unforgettable music
I just finished A Bitter Remedy, a wonderful historical mystery that's due to be released in March. Set in 1880s Oxford, the novel combines a wonderful cast of characters (both historical and invented) and a solid mystery with an exploration of the struggle to allow women to pursue higher education. The novel features two narrators: one a brilliant young woman allowed to attend lectures at Oxford with permission of the professor, of course, and Basil, a young Don who has to be continually on guard so no one will realize he's homosexual.My ***** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "... and started reading American Dirt by ..."Janice and others, you might be interested to know ..."
I thank them for what they do and it must be just as dangerous for them as well! I find it so confusing and frustrating why people can't just move to other countries when they are in danger or seeking a better life! We are all humans who just want the basics of life such as food, clean water, safety for our families, medical help. a home, love...why does it have to be so hard?!
Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Janice wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Linda wrote: "Rosh wrote: "Janice wrote: "... and started reading American Dirt by ..."Janice and others, you mig..."
Couldn't agree more!!
I’ve been dumped off this thread for a while—sorry I’ve been missing out on what everyone has been reading! My most recent was a Mary Stewart classic, Airs Above the Ground, and next I’m going to read The Weight Of The Evidence by Michael Innes.
'My Father's House' by Joseph O'ConnorThis is a WW2 story that has been told before - for example in the vintage film ‘Scarlet and Black’. It’s the story of a Vatican priest, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who coordinates a network helping people escape Nazi-occupied Rome. Even if (as in my case) your other half has outlined the plot even before you open the book, the writing is of such calibre that the suspense has you by the throat. A skilful story that makes the most of its characters and setting.
The Grief Nurse by Angie Spoto
A missed opportunity here, because it had plenty of potential. Might work for historical fantasy lovers who like character-oriented stories.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Torrent by Dinuka McKenzie is set in the aftermath of the NSW Northern Rivers floods, where the mother of a flood victim says he was murdered. Good story with a great new detective, heavily pregnant Kate Miles (as if she didn't have enough to worry about).
4★ My review of The Torrent
I completed
The Huntress. A solid, five star, historical fiction. Kate Quinn introduces the reader to die Nachthexen. The night witches. An all female, Russian bomber group flying archaic bi-planes. They were real and had to have bigger brass then most men have.
I'm reading
John Brown's Body by Jack Martin for a couple of challenges. One of the characters, Ambrose Bierce, is discussing a scenario for a story he may write:"I’m thinking of calling it, ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.’ A Confederate spy is being hanged, and imagines a lengthy escape in the interval between the drop of the trap and the snap of his neck. The reader does not know the escape is imaginary until the last paragraph. I view it as a comedy.”
It sounded so familiar. Then I remembered a short film I had seen a couple times in high school English classes, so I googled it. I found it on YouTube...same name, same plot, same author. I never would consider it a comedy; it's actually quite dark.
Anyway, I think the author (Martin) surely did his homework. The book has been excellent so far.
Maybelle wrote: "'My Father's House' by Joseph O'ConnorThis is a WW2 story that has been told before - for example in the vintage film ‘Scarlet and Black’. It’s the story of a Vatican priest, Monsig..."
I am a fan of O'Connor's writing and have read about this new book. Glad to see your comments about it.
Finished Lock Up Honesty #8 Francis Bacon historical mystery by Anna Castle. Set in 16th century England. Rated 5 stars. Detailed historical setting, wonderful dialogue and characterizations. Disappointed there is no Audio version available for this title.
Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished Lock Up Honesty #8 Francis Bacon historical mystery by Anna Castle. Set in 16th century England. Rated 5 stars. Detailed historical setting, wonderful dial..."So glad you posted that. I haven’t read this series yet. By chance, the first book in the series Murder by Misrule, is free today on Kindle.
My Dear Henry is a gripping YA novel that retells the Jekyll and Hyde story, keeping the setting in Victorian London, but featuring mostly Black characters and, at the center of it all, a pair of gay men: Gideon Utterer and Henry Jekyll. Whether or not you regularly read YA literature, if you like horror/fantasy/mystery/queer lit and/or lit examining issues of the impact of racial hierarchies, you'll find this book a deeply interesting read.My **** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Donna wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished Lock Up Honesty #8 Francis Bacon historical mystery by Anna Castle. Set in 16th century England. Rated 5 stars. Detailed historic..."Thanks, Donna! I loved #1 so ended up purchasing the Kindle versions when they were on sale. #1 #2 #3 & #4 I only read on Kindle. If you have access to Hoopla the series (except #8) are also available on Audio. Philip Battley narrates #5 #6 & #7. He's excellent! The earlier books are narrated by Joel Froomkin although I didn't listen to Audio for those titles. Enjoy!
Finished The Weight Of The Evidence by Michael Innes and embarking on volume 3 of D. E. Stevenson’s Dering family series, Winter and Rough Weather.
Rosh wrote: "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
After a long time, I found a Booker Prize winner that ..."
This is on my list to read.
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Daniella Mestyanek Young has written a much-discussed story of her life in 'cults' - first a supposedly religious one, and then the US Army. The colourful cover art of [book:Uncul..."Thanks for this suggestion.
Janice wrote: "I just finished part 6 of Middlemarch by George Eliot and hope to start Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen."I loved Middlemarch. I should read it again.
Rosh wrote: "For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Impactful. Recommended to all lit fic lovers who don't mind slow reads.
https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."
Thanks for the suggestion. I just put it on my wish list at the library.
Eric wrote: "I completed The Huntress. A solid, five star, historical fiction. Kate Quinn introduces the reader to die Nachthexen. The night witches. An all fem..."I was lucky enough to find a copy of this book at a wonderful Little Free Library in my town and I still haven't read it yet. I am sure I will love it as I read The Alice Network and loved it.
Rachel wrote: "Janice wrote: "I just finished part 6 of Middlemarch by George Eliot and hope to start Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen."I loved Middlemarch. I should read i..."
You should! :)
Rachel wrote: "Rosh wrote: "For Lamb by Lesa Cline-RansomeImpactful. Recommended to all lit fic lovers who don't mind slow reads.
https://www.goodre..."
Hope you enjoy both For Lamb and Maali Almeida. :)
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