Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
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Lisa
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Apr 17, 2012 10:20PM
Tomorrow, I think I'm going to start Petals in the Ashes. I liked the first book, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum.
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Just finished reading Ripple, which is by an indie NZ author who I 'met' here on Goodreads. It's very cool.
just started
today and will finish it here in bit!
Simran wrote: "I've kicked off this morning with 
Nicholas and Alexandra. Cant wait to get back to it later today !"I read (and reread) and loved that book, years ago.
Just started In Cold Blood and Nothing to Envy.
Just finished reading and reviewing The Garden of Happy Endings check it out, I'm going to read more by Barbara O'Neal...
'Nother one down, 22 to go, not reading all that quickly at the moment because I've had a lot of distractions this week! Finished
and what a great cozy mystery series this is. About 40% through
which I thought I'd find more compelling than I do so far. About halfway through
which I'm actually liking better than I thought I would.
"Lonely Millionaire" by Carol Grace
I've finished
by Tabitha Suzuma and now I'm reading
by Janet Evanovich.
I'm reading
and
for the author's blog tours and I'm still reading
Finished in same day. Nice easy read romance book.
Just starting A Grown Up kind of Pretty
So far so good
I enjoyed every minute of A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel, narrated by the author! This is so weird, it is not my usual kind of book. I adored the dialog, particularly what Mosey said.ETA: It is half price now at Audible. That is why I gave it a try. You will not be disappointed. It is so funny - the lines I mean.
I have been reading Carnevale for several days now. I am glad I am reading it, you learn about Casanova and Byron. The writing is sensual and there is LOTS of history too.Very few of the characters are in fact fictional. Just started listening to the audio book Cry, the Beloved Country.
Chrissie wrote: "I enjoyed every minute of A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel, narrated by the author! This is so weird, it is not my usual kind of book. I adored the dialog, particularly what Mosey said."
This is a departure from your usual reads. I'll give it a try.
This is a departure from your usual reads. I'll give it a try.
Jeanette, it is clearly a comfort read. I am terribly surprised at my own liking, but this author depicted three different women and living in the south, being down and out and being women. I loved how the youngest, the daughter Mosey, talked. Here is a world I do not know, but I really liked peeping into their lives. I was constantly chuckling at how Mosey and her friends talked. I really enjoyed every minute reading this book. I wish you would listen to it - then you would get the marvelous Southern accent.
I'll keep that in mind. My library has a big selection of audiobooks.
Jeanette, it was sort of a mystery too. Me liking a mystery?! Yup, I really wanted to know who Mosey's Mom was and who was buried under the willow tree! So weird. i really, really enjoyed every minute with this book. Once I started it my paper book got put on the side. Oh yes, I also listened to The Importance of Being Ernest. This is so famous and of course it was funny, but "A Grown Up Kind of Pretty" was better, funnier lines and a nice, comforting message.
I love The Importance of Being Earnest. It's quite a compliment to compare a book favorably to Oscar Wilde.
Chrissie wrote: "I have been reading Carnevale for several days now. I am glad I am reading it, you learn about Casanova and Byron. The writing is sensual and there is LOTS of history too.Very few of the characters..."We read Cry, the Beloved Country in high school, and I loved it. How are you liking it?
I'll have to read your reviews and perhaps add more books to Mount TBR, sigh (and finish reading all of the books I have started lately and not finished because I have had no time or leisure for reading).
Gundula, I am not writing reviews. I think "Cry, the Beloved Country" is beautiful. The words read like poetry. "Carnevale" was better when it was about Casanove, rather than Byron. Byron drives me crazy. The main character who loves both Casanove and Byron is fictitious. She is a portrait painter and was taught by Casanova. Basically to paint a person properly Casanova taught that you must discover who they are and put that into the painting. The art theme is very well done too. And the portrait artist is mischievous with her paintings. Goethe, Beckford, tons of famous people are part of the story - that is why there is so much history. The book is of course about love - physical, sensual and verbal. I had a much easier time with Casanova. Byron and his words and how he is gets me frustrated. I have read about half of the book. It is long.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, I am not writing reviews. I think "Cry, the Beloved Country" is beautiful. The words read like poetry. "Carnevale" was better when it was about Casanove, rather than Byron. Byron drives ..."
That sounds like a book I really need to read (interested in how Goethe is presented because even though he was a genius, he was also quite opinionated and could be a real "bastard"). Byron drives me crazy as well (I once read a German novel about Byron and no matter how much of a genius he was, he was also very much a loose cannon who made life hell for not only himself but his loved ones).
Cry the Beloved Country is beautiful and when I read it in grade nine English, it also had a profound effect on me (politically and philosophically speaking).
Hope you are enjoying your audiobooks etc. (and I hope life is not too hectic).
Gundula, what is wrong with Carnevale is that large sections read like a history book. We are to learn about Casanova and Byron. (He is so sell-centered and full of himself). The author does not change history so for large sections of the novel we are TOLD what they are doing. The fictional bits are in fact better than the flat historical sections, which are informative but without life. The imaginative parts are in fact more fun. There is a cat that talks..... And I like the mischievous, sensual fictional character who loves the two great men. There is not that much about Goethe, but a bit. You run into lots of people, the people the two met, but yo do not get an in-depth analysis of any of them. I think it will get three stars. The author has woven a story to fit around the real facts of their lives.
The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my very favorite plays. I've read it a bunch of times and I've also seen it a bunch of times.I'm officially in-between books. Have a bunch of picture books and cookbooks I should/want to read
and then for my next "real" book I'm trying to decide which to start next. It's between Persuasion, We Have Confidence! or book 2 in Booky: A Trilogy.
Lisa wrote: "It's between Persuasion, We Have Confidence! or book 2 in Booky: A Trilogy. ..."I'd be choosing Persuasion, Lisa. No contest!
Kim, Well, I'm going to be reading them all anyway. And Persuasion is for my book club, and the meeting isn't until June, so, a dilemma.
Yes, I can see that you have a dilemma and that there's something to be said for leaving Persuasion to closer to the book club meeting. On the other hand, you could probably read Persuasion TWICE before then.
You may be able to tell that Persuasion is my favourite novel in the world.
Kim wrote: "You may be able to tell that Persuasion is my favourite novel in the world.":-)
The Importance of Being EarnestA Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel have completely different humor - but I am often disrespectful of what one SHOULD like. I like what I like. Jest because it is a classic it does not mean I love it. In fact it took me quite a while to realize I was enjoying Wilde's humor. I was thinking of stopping.... In the beginning of listening to Wilde's I had to force myself to continue. I felt the humor was dated and disliked the Victorian attitudes. By the end I thought it was cute and not bad. I guess I am "uncultured" but I could not give it more stars than three stars. I mean I laughed more with Pretty and that got four. Lisa, the orphan theme of Pretty will definitely interest you.
I just finished Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, And Hope In A Mumbai Undercity
which was excellent but also broke my heart. Amazing nonfiction about India's slums.
which was excellent but also broke my heart. Amazing nonfiction about India's slums.
Chrissie wrote: "The Importance of Being EarnestA Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel have completely different humor - but I am often disrespectful of what one SHOULD like. I like what I like. Jest because it is a cl..."
You have to be into Wilde's type of humor to appreciate Wilde. He was skewering Victorian society, which does make his works dated. But, on the other hand, his plays are all about human nature, which makes them relatable, even today. But, I can understand that you didn't necessarily get it. And classic doesn't mean you have to think it's great!
You have to be into Wilde's type of humor to appreciate Wilde. He was skewering Victorian society, which does make his works dated. But, on the other hand, his plays are all about human nature, which makes them relatable, even today. But, I can understand that you didn't necessarily get it. And classic doesn't mean you have to think it's great!
I am currently reading Tea Obreht's The Tiger's Wife, Kevin J. Anderson's A Forest of Stars and Christopher Duggan's The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy Since 1796 (albeit really slowly; am reading this one on my eReader).
Jeanette, in the epilogue there was a discussion pointing out his criticism of Victorian society. I "got it", but it just is not my favorite kind of humor. I prefer a more friendly humor.
I'm sorry, Chrissie, I don't know why I used the phrase "get it" thereby implying that you didn't understand it. I really meant it more in the sense of finding it humorous. Lots of British humor is snarky or dark, or both, and it doesn't always appeal to me, either. Wilde, does, and maybe especially so, because he was part of the very society he disdained.
I finished Sacred Hearts interesting, but was a little slow, not sure whether I want to rate a 3 or 4 star. If I could I would rate it 3 1/2 but GR doesn't let you do half stars! Next up is Girl in Translation
Jeanette, I did not take your meaning negatively. If people talk in person no misunderstanding occurs. I KNEW you meant nothing bad. You are such a kind person!My Mom use to laugh AT people. I hated this. I only, only, only like kind laughing. I overdo this.
On Kindle "The Glass Case: A Short Story: by Kristin Hannah
and in paperback by Nora Roberts, "Sullivan's Woman"
and in paperback by Nora Roberts, "Sullivan's Woman"
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette, I did not take your meaning negatively. If people talk in person no misunderstanding occurs. I KNEW you meant nothing bad. You are such a kind person!
My Mom use to laugh AT people. I ha..."
Oh, good! I thought maybe you were having a bad day, and my comment didn't help! :0)
Yes, Wilde was definitely laughing at people, but I think he believed that most of these people in the Upper Crust of Victorian society were absurd. Jane Austen poked fun at people that way, too. She always has these over-drawn, annoying characters, like Mrs. Bennet and her nerves, or Mr. Collins.
My Mom use to laugh AT people. I ha..."
Oh, good! I thought maybe you were having a bad day, and my comment didn't help! :0)
Yes, Wilde was definitely laughing at people, but I think he believed that most of these people in the Upper Crust of Victorian society were absurd. Jane Austen poked fun at people that way, too. She always has these over-drawn, annoying characters, like Mrs. Bennet and her nerves, or Mr. Collins.
I am reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane; when I'm reading it, I'm enjoying it, but I feel as though it is taking me forever to get through.
It must be, because I remember seeing this in your update feed a while ago!
Jeannette wrote: "It must be, because I remember seeing this in your update feed a while ago!"It's still there !
Jeannette wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette, I did not take your meaning negatively. If people talk in person no misunderstanding occurs. I KNEW you meant nothing bad. You are such a kind person!My Mom use to laug..."
And it is kind of not so bad since Wilde was himself part of the group he was laughing at. For me, there is a huge difference between laughing AT a person and laughing WITH a person. The first I detest. The second is wonderful. And most people know which they are doing.....
I just finished Carnevale. It definitely grew on me. My review:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I do not know what paper book I will start now.....but I am listening to Cry, the Beloved Country. The narrator, Michael York, is fantastic. The lines in the book blow you a way. They are almost poetry, but not in verse.
I really hate reading two books at a time. I dislike being split.
Diane D. wrote: "I am reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane; when I'm reading it, I'm enjoying it, but I feel as though it is taking me forever to get through."I picked that up at a library sale; I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of it!
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