Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
I just finished The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life which is BOTH about the author of Ali and Nino: A Love Story, which I loved, and tons about history and poilitical science. Now I will read Salonica, City of Ghosts: Christians, Muslims and Jews 1430-1950, which Bibliophile introduced me to! I can't wait to get into it!!!
I've finished After You'd Gone which was very, very good. It took me a while to get through it but only because I've had a lot of distractions cutting into my reading time. I am now reading Spoken from the Heart.
I'm about to start Finn Family Moomintroll for the Children's Books group here at Goodreads. I'm hoping I can get into it. I have doubts because every time I look at a sentence or description, it doesn't appeal. But, so many people love these books so I'm hoping I will too.
Lisa wrote: "I'm about to start Finn Family Moomintroll for the Children's Books group here at Goodreads. I'm hoping I can get into it. I have doubts because every time I look at a sentence or desc..."I have also started reading the book, but, like Lisa, just seem not to be able to get into it as much as I would like. I actually wonder if it's the English translation, because I read most of the Moomin books in German when I was a child and just loved them, but somehow, they don't appeal to me as much (at least style-wise) in English.
Translations can make a huge difference but I do depend on them. Gundula, I haven't truly started yet. I hope to start it later today. It could also be that this book is (one of the few for me) that is kid friendly but not appealing to adults.
Lisa wrote: "Translations can make a huge difference but I do depend on them. Gundula, I haven't truly started yet. I hope to start it later today. It could also be that this book is (one of the few for me) tha..."I think it also really depends on when the books were translated. I've often found that older translations are more often than not rather slavish word-for-word translations, while more recent translations try to avoid this pitfall (I've noticed this with German children's literature, I don't know if it's the same with others). I rely on translations too. If I want to read children's literature from countries like Sweden, Finnland, Denmark etc., I will have to read them in translation.
I'm reading Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and Summertime by Raffaella Barker
Northanger Abbey is a very funny (and fun!) book.
Jo wrote: "I'm reading 1984"
I think my daughter and I might read this book next school year. My husband is campaigning for it!
I think my daughter and I might read this book next school year. My husband is campaigning for it!
I am currently reading:- Gogol's Dead Souls
- Bokenkotter's A Concise History of the Catholic Church
- Alcott's Little Women (I'm actually re-reading it)
Fiona, Feel free to add it to our shelves. Just to let you know, Lee and I don't shelve books mentioned in this thread, but we will shelve any books mentioned as comfort reads in all the other threads if the members posting messages don't add the books to our group shelves. So you can also post about this book in any other thread where it fits and it will be sure to get on the bookshelves.
Fiona, We've talked about that in here. We all have different books that work as comfort reads for us. Many of us find depressing books comforting. So, the answer is: if you find it comforting in any way, whether others do or not, onto the shelves it goes!
The only books that don't get shelved are1. the ones in this thread because "currently reading" can be comfort or not comfort
and
2. if a member specifically says a book is NOT a comfort read and nobody disputes that in a post
Ha! Fiona, I know that problem. Yes, when you have time, peruse the threads, the bookshelves, the polls. Have fun! (Get some sleep too.)
Mod
I am now reading Dandelions in the Garden. I am thorughly enjoying myself! And as I read I hhope to learn more about the infamous Blood Contess, a descendent of Vlad Tepez, the "Ipaler", the guy Bram Stoker modelled his Dracula stories on!Both The Bridge on the Drina and The Historian piqued by interest in Vlad Tepez - NOT Dracula or vampire stories. Real life is always more fantastic than fiction. Historical fiction is great because if it is done properly you get more depth than what the dry facts can reveal. Well, that is my opinion.
Fiona wrote: "Ahh I see. Thanks Lisa - I should probably come back tomorrow and give this group a good read over. Right now I'm so tired my eyes are blurry - but you know every time I decide to log off there's a..."Fiona, I'm doing a little Tweety dance to see you here! As Lisa stated, there are all kinds of books that are considered "comfort" reads here. And, like you said, almost any book I read can be a comfort read if I like it. One of the subjects that we've discussed is one of my favorite, the plague/Black Death. Yep, a comfort read indeed. Who would have thought?
Kathy and Fiona, for ME a comfort read cannot be light and fluffy. If you read about someone who has it worse, then you feel better. You get perspective. If I can be in this group, then anyone can fit into the comfort reads. And there are such nice people here.!!!BTW Year of Wonders was horrible, but most people love it........ Don't pay any attention to ME. Yuck, it was so depressing. Don't plan on chuckling even once! People of the Book by the same author is much, much better. Sorry for butting in.
I've read her Year of Wonders and People of the Book and I thought they were both excellent, although I thought the ending of Y of W was weak. I haven't read March. Fiona, or anyone: Has anyone enjoyed that one.
Fiona, The end didn't ruin the book for me and I understood why she ended it that way, but I still would have preferred a different ending. Great book though! By the way, I read both Year of Wonders and People of the Book for my real world book club.
Fiona, no I haven't read March. I areally like books about difficult situations, BUT it is always possible to enjoy something even as you struggle through problems. Even if it is just some pretty leaves or a sunset. There is always SOMETHING that glitters, even though sometimes you have to look hard to find it. You read about the terrible things people go through in Cambodia, in Manchuris, in the Levant, in Turkey, in Armenia, in the Balkans..... I am sure you get my point. The list is never ending, right? But still there are little, little things that do bring happiness. That is my point. If an author forgets to see those little glimmers of hope, well then they haven't drawn a correct picture of the world. I am not looking for a fake happy happy story, but neither do I want the book to be devoid of all happiness. That is fake too. THAT is my point. That is what is wrong with Year of Wonders.
Fiona wrote: "It's comforting to know that the Black Death could probably be easily killed with a round of anti-biotics nowadays hehe.I'm glad to be here. It feels a lovely group with some good faces around! H..."
Yes, I loved Year of Wonders by Brooks. I think that she is an amazing writer. I agree with Chrissie that People of the Book was even better, thought it was more complexly layered, which I love. I haven't read March, but I own it and keep meaning to get to it. I, also want to read Brooks' non-fiction, Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women.
Oh, I do want to add, too, that I thought that the indomitable courage of Anna was very uplifting.
It is fun that we ALL discuss Brooks works. Fiona, for me, the end didn't glitter. It was so weird that iy simply smacked you in the face with surprise. I use the word glitter to imply a little bit of happiness rather than a wham boom bang thing. But that is just my preference. I would have preferred aa little "glitter" through all the sadness of the plague description. Kathy, I felt the same way as you about the People of the Book, you learned about different times and eras and cultures. I maybe should try March..... and her non-fiction books are probably very worth reazding! She definitely CAN write! One thing, she is a writer that gets people talking. That is wonderful!! Lisa and Lee, we have gabbed about her books numerous times now! Isn't it marvelous that we all have varying views and can discuss them?!
Chrissie, Yes, it is fun when we've read books in common!
Lisa, I read your comment and at the same time saw att the stupid grammatical and spelling errors in mine. I fixed them. Thank you for also giving me that opportunity...... Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy!
Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, I read your comment and at the same time saw att the stupid grammatical and spelling errors in mine. I fixed them. Thank you for also giving me that opportunity...... Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy!"Oh Chrissie, I make so many typos it's ridiculous. Sometimes they're in private messages or emails and I can't edit those. At least we can edit message posts in groups and at reviews. I find errors I've made all the time, sometimes long after my original post if/when someone else posts in the thread.
Lisa, yeah I really don't take these errors seriously! It is not like I am writing a thesis. There, you better get it right! But that is completely different. However when I read books with numerous spelling and grammatical errors I don't get upset but it is a bit jarring. You do wonder how the product ever reached its finished state with all these errors slinking through. Did the author actually write this way? THAT is kind of disturbing. Did no one proof read the print setting? That is bad publishing organization. I just wonder - how does this happen?! Do you know? Darn, are we getting off the subject of the thread again...... Maybe I should zip my mouth or clamp my fingers still.
Fiona - Referring to you r last sentence - that is a big shame if people think disagreeing is agruing!!!! It is fun to discuss stuff. I like books that get me thinking, and then one wonders if others are thingking the same things...... Also I like the spontaneous discussions more than the set-up ones done in group reads. anyhow, it was nice talking with you Fiona!!!
Fiona, I agree with you 100%+ about children's literature.Chrissie and Everybody, Typos in books do often bother me. I recently read Anna Quindlen's most recently published novel Every Last One, which I really enjoyed, but which had some absolutely horrible mistakes in it. And, she's a much published author, and I'd have thought she would have had a better editor and proof reader, etc. Typos & mistakes on Goodreads, I can almost always figure out what the person meant, and that's all that matters to me.
A few typos in a book don't bother me, but when they add up, it's just sloppy in my opinion. Actual grammar mistakes and/or stylistic problems bother me more though, as that affects the flow and style, and sometimes even the meaning of a book.
Gundula, In the case above, it felt very sloppy. Unusually so.
I didn't like March. The characters didn't seem consistent with Alcott's depiction. I just couldn't buy Marmie as a shrew.
Lynne wrote: "I didn't like March. The characters didn't seem consistent with Alcott's depiction. I just couldn't buy Marmie as a shrew."Lynne, Thanks for the warning. I wouldn't like that either.
Lisa wrote: "Fiona, I agree with you 100%+ about children's literature.Chrissie and Everybody, Typos in books do often bother me. I recently read Anna Quindlen's most recently published novel [b..."
Lisa, I'm getting ready to read this one soon. Yikes, at least I know what to expect when the errors come up. I, too, am surprised that Quindlen would allow that.
Lynne wrote: "I didn't like March. The characters didn't seem consistent with Alcott's depiction. I just couldn't buy Marmie as a shrew."I think the reason that I've put off reading March is because of the mixed reviews, some pretty negative. I'm sure I will get around to it, but I loved her other two fiction books so much that I hate to read a klunker by her.
Kathy, She probably didn't see the final version before it went to print.In one case an entire sentence was repeated. It was irritating. But, it's a terrific book, I thought. Highly disturbing though.
Lynne - hmmm. Another county heard from concerning Brooks' books. Little Women did nothing for me, so I haven't been drawn to read March. Gundula and Lisa, if the errors are excessive I find it disturbing. On GR it is different. Like you Lisa, if I understand the gist, I am satisfied. On internet it is more like talking.
BUT still somebody please explain to me how the typo errors occur. For example, instead of "you're" the book has "your". How is a book made? I know I am rather dumb here..... Don't they take the author's computer document and feed it into ssome machine that prints it on book size paper? That would mean the author doesn't know the difference between the two. This is hard to believe for an author. Or do I have this all wrong? Perhaps somebody else retypes the whole book from the author's manuscript, and THAT is when the errors occur. I feel happier with this explanation. Does anybody know?
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Chrissie, Maybe because of computer programs editors are relying on spell check more than they are their own eyes??? Sometimes I wonder.
Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, Maybe because of computer programs editors are relying on spell check more than they are their own eyes??? Sometimes I wonder."I would agree with that speculation, Lisa, and I have to wonder as well. Spell-Check is wonderful for a back-up checker, but it should never take the place of personally editing and reading your work(s), and editors should definitely not be primarily using Spell-Check (I would say, they should not use it at all, they are, after all, editors).
Is Forster Victorian writing?Ahh, computer spell-checks could be the culprits!
Back after my week of sun (yay! just a little rain one day) and fun with my best friend from high school. I took her to the airport this morning.
Glad to see that Fiona has joined us! Hi Fiona!
Finished Sophie's World. Interesting, but I can't say I really loved it. I was glad to read about the philosophy, but I couldn't love any of the characters.
Am now finishing the Mandela memoir and then will read The Help, which I am really looking forward to.
Glad to see that Fiona has joined us! Hi Fiona!
Finished Sophie's World. Interesting, but I can't say I really loved it. I was glad to read about the philosophy, but I couldn't love any of the characters.
Am now finishing the Mandela memoir and then will read The Help, which I am really looking forward to.
Would Forster be considered an author between-the-wars?
In Wikipedia it said the Bictorian Era was 1837-1901, so maybe Forster still fits in this style? Doesn't he sort of write about upper-class manners? I don't think I dare read Victorian literature. That is why I am asking.
After looking at publication dates and plot synopsis, I think he is considered Edwardian, so post-Victorian. What makes you hesitate to read Victorian literature, Chrissie?
Jeannette wrote: "After looking at publication dates and plot synopsis, I think he is considered Edwardian, so post-Victorian. What makes you hesitate to read Victorian literature, Chrissie?"I would agree with Jeannette, Forster is definitely more Edwardian. You know, sometimes it really bothers me when literary historians try to divide literatures into periods. First of all, most literary periods do not necessarily have a beginning and an end, but intermingle and interweave with each other. Secondly, I've always found that pigeon holing authors into literary periods only works with some authors; it doesn't work with those who straddle multiple periods and it also is problematic for those authors who wrote during certain periods, but did not fit into those periods, being either a throw-back to an earlier period, or too modern and avant-garde.
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Comfort Reads
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Going to library today to pick up CAU..."
I guess I need to get to Caught pretty soon. Everyone around me seems to be reading it or have read it and liked it. I will at least put it on my summer list.