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What have you just read? Opinions, Recommendations, and Reviews, part 3
I always enjoy Aussie 'national living treasure' Tim Winton's writing. His early collection of short stories, Minimum of Two, covers everything from childbirth to old age and the people we meet along the way.
My review of Minimum of Two
Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy
A literary crime drama as brilliant and as poignant as its title!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I loved Aussie author Benjamin Stevenson's quirky murder mystery Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. I enjoyed the mix of humour, snowbound location, and clever plot presentation. Good audio, too.
My review of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
I seem destined to be the outlier on most major prize-winning books, and this is no exception. A retelling of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, but highly stereotypical. Mine is an outlier opinion.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of:-Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
- 4*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I re-read Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev for an upcoming group read. I really enjoyed it. I think I have a better understanding of it now than I did when I first read it years ago. I also read Fight Night by Miriam Toews. A story about three generations of strong, resilient women told from the point of view of a nine-year-old precocious girl. It was hilarious, uplifting, and very enjoyable.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki BrammerMy review 4★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My reviews of Every Yesterday by Noelene Jenkinson
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin
4 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Robert Bryndza's latest novel, Fear the Silence, is a standalone thriller that takes place on a remote Croation island in wild, stormy weather. English doctor Maggie is alone and terrified!
My review of Fear the Silence
The Best Bad Day Ever is a cute, simple children's book that shows how nothing looks right when we're having a bad day, until... Author/illustrator Marianna Coppo has made it clear, funny, and universal. Little kids will love it (as did I). 
My review of Best Bad Day Ever with several illustrations
Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Nishioka Kyoudai
Do you like both Kafka and manga? Then this is for you.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rosh (Trying to catch up!) wrote: "Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Nishioka KyoudaiDo you like both Kafka and manga? Then this is for yo..."
That's a creepy combo, Rosh!
It isn't marketed as a thriller, but
Blood
by acclaimed Aussie Aboriginal author Tony Birch had me so nervous I couldn't stop reading. Little kids with a slack mother who keeps some seriously bad company makes for a scary read. Just terrific!
My review of Blood
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "That's a creepy combo, Rosh!It was one heck of a creepy book as well, Patty! 😓
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
I didn't find it funny as the blurb claimed it to be, but it was a good coming-of-age literary fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Things I Wish I Told My Motherby Susan Patterson with Susan DiLallo with James Patterson
1 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley.A powerful debut novel based on a real crime. I felt the description was a little overdone at times. The young narrator's voice was authentic and very compelling.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Christmas Morning by Rachel Greenlaw
An interesting debut work, but don't expect lighthearted Christmassy feels. It is quite intense. Think Groundhog Day + A Christmas Carol.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Parenting Revolution by Justin CoulsonMy review 4 stars:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Day We're All Going to Die by Elise Esther HearstMy review 4 stars:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When I link the title and cover, my post won't stick. But the review link seems to work."Calypso's Guest: A Short Story" is a unique, marooned-in-space retelling of Calypso's story from Homer's classic, The Odyssey. Pulitzer Prize winner, Andrew Sean Greer, combines tenderness with the Twilight Zone.
Here is my review of Calypso's Guest
My only regret with All the Devils Are Here is that Louise Penny set the story in Paris instead of Canada. All the family are together, though, and all are in life-threatening danger.
My review of All the Devils Are Here
Here are my reviews for my latest two reads:-The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane
- 4*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Blade Artist by Irvine Welsh
- 5*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tomb Sweeping by Alexandra Chang
An interesting collection of tales based on Chinese or Chinese-American experiences. I would have enjoyed it better had I liked the endings,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Catchup as I hadn't got round to posting the links to these reviews:The Exploits of Moominpappa by Tove Jansson - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5752924991
Precious Bane by Mary Webb - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5108297748
The Science of Stephen King: The Truth Behind Pennywise, Jack Torrance, Carrie, Cujo, and More Iconic Characters from the Master of Horror by Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5770905671
By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5770928944
Portent by James Herbert - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5770989911
The Returned: A gripping Irish crime thriller by Amanda Cassidy ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Dangerous One by Lori Foster
2 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
David Nicholls is so good at showing awkward relationships where each person of a couple blows hot and cold at different times.
One Day
is St Swithin's Day, when a boy and girl, later as man and woman, plan to stay in touch or meet each year through their lives.
My review of One Day
One Little Word
is all it takes to avert a crisis, as these children discover when The Argument (monster) takes over their playground in this expressive little book.
My review of One Little Word with lots of illustrations
My reviews for my latest reads:-Larapinta by Annie Seaton
- 4*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dishonour and Obey by Graham Brack
- 4*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein
- 3*https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sandy how are 3 of your books going?
I've fallen behind, so will share three classics, and two so far for Women in Translation month.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens was a bigger and much better story than I expected.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Island of Dr. Moreau, my third H.G. Wells.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And
Washington Square is my favorite Henry James, not just because it's short.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For WIT month:
The Memory Police by Yōko OgawaThis was haunting!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Vegetarian by Han Kang was a little too weird for me.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have at least two more women in translation I hope to fit in before the month is out!
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Someone to Remember (other topics)Murder in the Cathedral (other topics)
Sunrise on the Reaping (other topics)
The Lotus Shoes (other topics)
The Summer Place (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Kerry Greenwood (other topics)Suzanne Collins (other topics)
Jane Yang (other topics)
Aman J. Bedi (other topics)
Robert Thorogood (other topics)
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Great for literary fiction fans who enjoy a dash of magical realism in their novels.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...