Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
Literary Feline wrote: "I just finished readingThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and am thinking of picking up the second book in the trilogy. I'm sure it's around here somewhere. I love a ..."
The second one was more intense in my opinion...but you know me and what a baby I am.
The second one was more intense in my opinion...but you know me and what a baby I am.
Lisa wrote: "Chrissie, I can only see you & Oscar if I go to your profile page, and can only see the photo well if I click on it to make it big/part of your group of photos.A bunch of us have asked in the Goo..."
I chimed. Bigger avatars for all!
Kathy, I have requested that we get emails when friends dad photos to their profile. If you want this, there is a link posted here at Comfort Reads in the thread GR Questions and Suggestions!
What's your rating for Henry House, Mary?
Mary, I am sure you will enjoy City of Thieves. I think I gave that 5 stars. It is horrible and sad, but also funny and beautiful. It is exactly the full register of emotions the reader is drawn through that makes the book wonderful. I cannot imagine someone reading it, being left unmoved. You will have a few days ahead of you when all you want to do is read that book
Ummm, I ended up giving it 3 stars, Christine. Intriguing, fact-based concept and a strong beginning but I didn't feel it lived up to its potential.Chrissie, thanks for the good thoughts on City of Thieves. I am really looking forward to getting into this!
Chrissie, I loved City of Thieves. Did you feel that the characters were based on his parents?
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Maude, I have read that the novel has as it source a tape made by the author's grandfather. I really did enjoy it!
Lee wrote: "Last night I started Go Saddle the Sea by Joan Aiken which was recommended by one of our members. It's YA historical fiction set in Spain and a lovely read so far with..."
I have read Joan Aiken's Jane Austen continuations, but not too much of her YA. I'll put this one on my tbr pile.
I have read Joan Aiken's Jane Austen continuations, but not too much of her YA. I'll put this one on my tbr pile.
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Lee wrote: "Jeannette, I think you would enjoy it. It's good, clean, adventurous, fun! I just found out this book is the first in a trilogy."
Thanks, Lee! I'll bump it up on the list. I try to read the "deeper" stuff, but, I really just enjoy the lighter stories so much better! :)
Thanks, Lee! I'll bump it up on the list. I try to read the "deeper" stuff, but, I really just enjoy the lighter stories so much better! :)
Lee, I just added it on your recommendation.
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Yes. I even have a shelf for those books. :-D
Last night I started Sacrifice
by S.J. Bolton. It's a mystery set in the Shetland Islands off of Scotland, where a woman's body is found in peat on someone's land as they are digging a grave for a horse. I think it's going to be really good. I was a bit disappointed in The Little Stranger that I finished yesterday. I'm thinking it is one of those that would have been good to listen to on CD.
I've not too much left to go in Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. This book will be added to my all time favourites. I haven't gone out anywhere without it. I would almost relish a flat tire or a long wait in a Dr.'s office maybe? Hey, maybe I'll call for an appointment. LOL. Only a handful of stories have had me longing at one point to have a lovely, laboriously, uninterrupted read, cover to cover; Yet, I'm trying so hard to read slow, in an attempt to ward off the time when it will be no more..
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Elhara, I hope to be reading Major Pettigrew in a week or so. My friend Merry is sending me her copy and I've heard so many great things about it.
Elhara,
This book is coming up for me soon. I'm so glad to see your comments!
This book is coming up for me soon. I'm so glad to see your comments!
I finished Burnt Shadows and have begun The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom. What can I say about the one I am reading now? It is about a Pole who was accused of being a spy simply b/c he lived in Pinsk, on the broder between Belarus and Ukraine, he spoke Russian since it was his mother's language, was well educated and was in the Polish military force. The time is 1939. So he had to be a spy. They wanted him to sign a paper, which he wasn't allowed to read. He wouldn't. He was in prisons in Minsk, Kharkov and Moscow for over a year - he wouldn't sign, he wouldn't confess. He believed he would be killed if he signed the paper, probably stating that he was a spy. So I get in a conversation with my husband - what do you do? Do you sign to escape the torture? Does this mean you will be killed? Boy he got really grumpy at me. "How would he know," he says. But I replied, how would the poor Pole know, and he had to choose....... What do you do? I guess he was right not to sign. He got sentenced to 25 years in a gulag, forced labor. This is NOT a spoiler! I have only read 32 pages. You read a book like this and you defintiely pay attention! I wrote a review about Burnt Shadows - if you are interested. No point in repeating everything here too. Usch, it is hot here, over 30° C, about over 90°F, in the shade. We walked in a forest today to avoid the sun.
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Lee wrote: "Wow Chrissie, It's amazing to me that people actually survive those work camps. The little I've read about them sound horrific, body breaking, freezing, etc. It must feel like an endless hell. I can't wait to read your review. "The resilience of some people never ceases to amaze me. I can't imagine surviving many of the circumstances I read about in books. I'll be interested to see what you think too, Chrissie!
I really enjoyed Still Alice. It's one of those books that stay with you.On the last page of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand I am so sad to have the epilogue in view. I sure hope I haven't gushed so much as to overdo it. I still stand firm though. I have laughed out loud many times, risen my eyebrows, smirked, and probably bored many as I quoted tiny excerpts that didn't do justice. (never a good idea I suppose). I yearned for characters and wanted to slap a few. In these final pages I gasped, was frightened and felt joy. I don't care if I've overdone it but this book just filled me up. I sure hope everyone is as fortunate as I to find such simple pleasure out of a lovely simple story.
Everybody, just a reminder. Lee and I don't shelve the books in this thread. You can shelve them yourselves on all shelves where they fit, or you can make sure to post about them in the genre threads, and they will always get shelved that way!You're all making me want to bump up the books on my to-read shelf or add them to that shelf.
Still Alice really does stay with you, Elhara. Christine, glad you liked it, too. And, Beth, "amazing" certainly describes it well. I was almost scared to read it, but curiosity won over my fear. So glad it did, as the book was fascinating!
Lee wrote: "Kathy, your book sounds great. I love stories set in Scotland, I'm adding it!Elhara, I hope to be reading Major Pettigrew in a week or so. My friend Merry is sending me her copy and I've hear..."
Lee, I am almost finished with Sacrifice and am loving it. I put it down and got on the computer because I don't want it to end just yet. Is that crazy or what? LOL!
Oh Kathy you make me laugh. I too am sitting here with my book for the exact same reason. While I'm waiting for pages to load I'm playing a waiting game wondering if the page will take a few minutes, should I dare to read a few lines or wait. Yes that's crazy.
Elhara wrote: "Oh Kathy you make me laugh. I too am sitting here with my book for the exact same reason. While I'm waiting for pages to load I'm playing a waiting game wondering if the page will take a few minute..."I'm glad to hear I have a fellow crazy still up with me tonight. LOL! I'm heading back to my book now. I've screwed up getting up in the morning at a decent hour now. Enjoy the craziness, Elhara.
Lee and Lisa, concerning The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom what is so amazing is the lack of emotion of the narrator/author. Because it is so emotionless, you stop and think, pay attention, how would you feel if YOU were forced to do what he is?!Lisa I added Burnt Shadows to the bookshelves. Wouldn't it be good with a shelf entitled multi-cultural? I had a hard time placing the book. It is primarily about how different individuals and cultures relate to each other.
We have a foreign affairs shelf. If you want you can click edit on that book from the shelves area and there's a box to add a new shelf. You can add multi-cultural if you like. I'm sure there are many other books already on our shelves that can be added to that shelf. I'm reading a book right now that could go on that shelf. One that I know you've read: Cutting for Stone
Chrissie, I tried to add a multi-cultural shelf, adding your book to it, but I'm on my phone and it won't let me scroll past the chick-lit shelf so I can't get to the new shelf text box. If you can't do it post again and either Lee or I will do it. It's a good idea!
I got back on the computer and added the shelf. Thanks, Chrissie.Members: Be on the lookout for existing books that could fit on that shelf and add the shelf. Make sure you pay attention to shelves the book is already on because sometimes in edit when adding a shelf, the existing shelves get deleted and have to been added back in along with the new shelf. Thanks!
Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, that is great!"Chrissie, Thanks again for the suggestion.
Kathy wrote: "Still Alice really does stay with you, Elhara. Christine, glad you liked it, too. And, Beth, "amazing" certainly describes it well. I was almost scared to read it, but curiosity won over my fear..."
I was nervous about reading it too. I was also worried that it would be difficult because my mother has a disease that's taking her away quickly. However, it wasn't difficult to read at all. I'm so glad that I did.
I was nervous about reading it too. I was also worried that it would be difficult because my mother has a disease that's taking her away quickly. However, it wasn't difficult to read at all. I'm so glad that I did.
I'm afraid to read it for the very same reasons. My mother passed away years ago, but I get emotional about these kinds of stories. So, is the story really worth the read?
I agree with you Lisa, my TBR pile gets bigger and bigger and bigger every day. So many books, so little time. I think Major Pettigrew is definitely heading to the top of the pile though.
Chrissie wrote: "I finished Burnt Shadows and have begun The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom. What can I say about the one I am reading now? It is about a Pole who was accu..."
I found another book like the one you are reading, Chrissie: As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Escape from a Siberian Labour Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom which has also been made into a movie. I have had the movie in my queue for some time now.
I found another book like the one you are reading, Chrissie: As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Escape from a Siberian Labour Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom which has also been made into a movie. I have had the movie in my queue for some time now.
I cannot decide about the Pettigrew novel. Do you have to like victorian novels? I don't! But I do like multi-cultural ones...... What to do?!!! Isn't it kind of cute/sweet?
Jeannette wrote: "I'm afraid to read it for the very same reasons. My mother passed away years ago, but I get emotional about these kinds of stories. So, is the story really worth the read?"
I think the fact that it's written from her point of view instead of someone looking in made it different for me (I don't know if that makes sense, but I think if it was from a daughter's viewpoint it would have hit me harder). It's still sad, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't what I expected.
I just think it's worth reading, and I'm glad that I did.
ETA: So far 3 of the women from my bookclub have read their copies, and everyone said the same thing....read it in about a day, impossible to put down, glad that they read it.
I think the fact that it's written from her point of view instead of someone looking in made it different for me (I don't know if that makes sense, but I think if it was from a daughter's viewpoint it would have hit me harder). It's still sad, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't what I expected.
I just think it's worth reading, and I'm glad that I did.
ETA: So far 3 of the women from my bookclub have read their copies, and everyone said the same thing....read it in about a day, impossible to put down, glad that they read it.
Okay, I'll be brave. I like the idea that it is told from her point of view, rather than the daughter's. I'll let you know. :)
I'm juggling five books right now and only one would I call a comfort read (at least what I would call a comfort read). It's The Hypnotist by MJ Rose. It's a suspense/thriller. On the not so comforting front, I am reading two Vietnam War books for the Vietnam War challenge I am participating in this year (Paco's Story: A Novel & The Things They Carried). I am also reading Little Bee, which I don't know too much about at this point (I'm only a chapter in) and a collection of short stories by Nam Le called The Boat.
I'm generally a monogamous reader and so how I ended up reading five books at once, I'm not quite sure. All are good so far though.
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Wendy, I read Little Bee recently. I'll be looking forward to your review.
Lee wrote: "I started the third book in Nevada Barr's park ranger mystery series called Ill Wind and it's fantastic."Lee, I'm so glad that you're enjoying this series. You have some really great books ahead of you!
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Comfort Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Forever (other topics)The Big Sky (other topics)
Anil's Ghost (other topics)
Burial Rites (other topics)
Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Ondaatje (other topics)Wendell Berry (other topics)
Robert K. Massie (other topics)
Edmund Morris (other topics)
Susan Fromberg Schaeffer (other topics)
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Honestly, I do not think that the description is a spoiler...... I will not really know until I have read the whole book. I am pretty sure you just get a beginning outline. Just 40 pages into the novel I have already covered at least two paragraphs of the description. If you read the book's GR reviews they stress other elements. They do not have spoiler warnings either. You cannot judge all books by the same measuring stick. Some books are not read for plot, but more for an underlying meaning. In a mystery or crime novel you certainly shouldn't say who did it, but that doesn't happen here. Until one has read the whole book, it seems unfair to judge if the description is a spoiler..... Lisa, thank you for providing the link if it proves to be a spoiler. Personally, I like long descriptions. I want to know what I am getting myself into before I choose a book! I don't think you can ever please everybody.