Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
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Great books to curl up with!
I love journal-style! That will have to be my next book.
Okay: do I go for my walk or curl up with my book? Decisions, decisions..... :P
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You could go for your walk and then curl up with a book. Then you wouldn't feel guilty for reading when you think you should be walking.
Jeannette wrote: "Okay: do I go for my walk or curl up with my book? Decisions, decisions..... :P"
Walk! *pointing to door*
;-)
I managed to get 20 minutes in this afternoon. You can read later.
Walk! *pointing to door*
;-)
I managed to get 20 minutes in this afternoon. You can read later.
Okay -- thanks everybody!! :) I have a lot more of the day ahead of me to read.
Read while walking! Just kidding, of course. Walk first, read later *she says at she sits at the computer* !!
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I couldn't stop myself, I had to finish The Samurai's Garden. This is a really beautifully written story. I felt tears coming to my eyes at the end.
I'm so glad you liked it. Now if I could only find my copy. Did I lend it to someone? Drats...
Lee wrote: "I just started reading a book that I found at a library sale. Someone here recommended it and it's a definitel comfort read. The Hills is Lonely already has me giggling at the char..."Lee, I checked out this book at Amazon look inside and the prose was wonderful. Also I am a sucker for biographies...... I have added it to my wishlist-b! I am curious to hear more about it!
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I must say I was intrigued by the little I read. You know me, the writing has to just click and then everything will be fine. So the characters are interesting, and quirky I assume? Nice that you picked it up at a library sale :0)
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Lee wrote: "Yes, the writing is nice, not forced. The characters are definitely quirky. Just what you'd expect from a very isolated community. Someone mentioned the book here and I happened to see it a few ..."Nice!
I would like to ask those of you who have read The Samurai's Garden how much history is intertwined into the story? There is a huge antipathy between Chinese and Japanese. Is this reflected on in the book? I was very surprised to read that the Chinese family had a summer house in Japan. Please geive my your thoughts. Or is it more a personal story about the point of life and illness etc? Perhaps the book is more the latter..... Or is it a lovely mixture of both?
Jeannette wrote: "I couldn't stop myself, I had to finish The Samurai's Garden. This is a really beautifully written story. I felt tears coming to my eyes at the end."
I'm so glad to hear this! I'm totally motivated to pull my copy off of the shelf. I didn't have time to make any progress on Major Pettigrew's Last Stand yesterday, but I am sure I will this weekend. It's such a cute story already, but I'm only on chapter 5.
I'm so glad to hear this! I'm totally motivated to pull my copy off of the shelf. I didn't have time to make any progress on Major Pettigrew's Last Stand yesterday, but I am sure I will this weekend. It's such a cute story already, but I'm only on chapter 5.
The war is a background character in the story, definitely, from several aspects. There is Stephen's fear for his family in Hong Kong, and there is a very subtle undercurrent of Stephen being out of place in Japan, not only as the enemy, but also as one of the only young men not at war. And, Stephen comments more than once about how skewed the news is towards the Japanese pov regarding casualties and victories, and the glorious fight.
But, the story is really about Stephen, Sachi, and Matsu. It's about love, loss and family. And through Stepehen's eyes we get to see the story unfold.
This book just sucked me in somehow. It has a lovely, slow pace and beautiful imagery.
But, the story is really about Stephen, Sachi, and Matsu. It's about love, loss and family. And through Stepehen's eyes we get to see the story unfold.
This book just sucked me in somehow. It has a lovely, slow pace and beautiful imagery.
Jeanette, thank you for the info on The Samurai's Garden!Ughhh, I just finished The Return by Victoria Hislop. I didn't like it at all. The button doesn't work for this book.....
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... is my complainy review! Others DO like it, so maybe it is just me.
I am not having very good luck with this theme on the Spanish Civil War. I will now start Stone in a Landslide. Guernica: A Novel was good, but I read it last year.....
Jo wrote: "I'm reading The Gargoyle"
I have heard raves about this book, as well as pans. Let us know how you find it, Jo.
I have heard raves about this book, as well as pans. Let us know how you find it, Jo.
I like that adjective, Chrissie: complainy. I am looking around for a new theme right now -- I have been reading a lot of books set in Japan or China. I have enjoyed most of them, too.
p.s. You are welcome for the info! :)
p.s. You are welcome for the info! :)
Jeanette, if I am going to get really mean.....The Return by Hislop is a beach book for people who have to learn SOMETHING while they are flicking through the pages. That was mean! I know. I guess I am in a wicked mood.
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette, if I am going to get really mean.....The Return by Hislop is a beach book for people who have to learn SOMETHING while they are flicking through the pages. That was mean! I know. I guess ..."
You are! :P
So, this book is fluff pretending to be intellectual?
You are! :P
So, this book is fluff pretending to be intellectual?
Jeanette, no, not that. It is just that it has no depth. I felt nothing for the characters. NOTHING! The story is TOLD, not shown. The book does describe clearly what happens in the Civil War. The history is correct, and there is quite a bit. It is just that everything that happens has been added so that the author can recount what happened historically. It is like she is ticking off the historical events one by one. The modern thread is terribly superficial. There is ZERO discussion between the main characters. Each is walking around in their own world. This concerns both a married couple and two friends. Communication? What is that? I cannot tell you more. I do not want to give a spoiler. My review does not have a spoiler. Was my review unclear?
Oh, I didn't read the review! I just commented on your great word choice "complainy" to describe your review.
I think it is very important to connect in some way with the book's characters. If you can't then it doesn't matter how good the rest of book is (or isn't). I always enjoy a book when I can get involved in the story through the characters. I read a book once where I felt that the author himself despised his characters. It ruined the book for me.
I think it is very important to connect in some way with the book's characters. If you can't then it doesn't matter how good the rest of book is (or isn't). I always enjoy a book when I can get involved in the story through the characters. I read a book once where I felt that the author himself despised his characters. It ruined the book for me.
Jeanette, I agree. However other reader love Victoria Hislop. I have no intention of reading another by her!
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette, I agree. However other reader love Victoria Hislop. I have no intention of reading another by her!"Sounds to me like the book was more like a history textbook than historical fiction. I enjoy reading historical accounts and I actually also enjoy reading history textbooks, but if a book is supposed to be a novel, then the style, character development etc. must be novellistic, which from your account of the book, is not the case.
Gundula, I agree. And as Jeanette pointed out, you have to feel something for the characters. To be fair, maybe ask someone who loved the book...... MANY people are happy with Victoria Hislop's writing. I am not at all. It would be fun to really have a debate between the book's "lovers" and its "haters". BUT I do not want to destroy how a "lover" feels for the book. OK, if it works for them, fine...... But I tell you, it really got me annoyed.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, I agree. And as Jeanette pointed out, you have to feel something for the characters. To be fair, maybe ask someone who loved the book...... MANY people are happy with Victoria Hislop's wri..."I like reading historical fiction (both based on truth and purely imaginary) and I also like (what some would call) dry non fictional historical accounts and/or analyses. However, I don't like it that much when the two are too closely combined. A non fiction historical analysis which reads more like a novel does not generally work for me, same as a historical novel that is not novellistic, that sounds like a historical treatise would be somewhat untempting to me.
I finally caved in and started reading The Hunger Games. I didn't think I was going to like it but I kept hearing so many good things about the whole series that I decided I would give it a go. I'm so glad I did. I'm on chapter 10 and so far I love it. I can't wait to read the other 2 books and the good thing about having waited is that I can read all 3 in a row!
Gundula, I simply LOVED Stone in a Landslide. OK, you should first get the history in your head and THEN read this book to get one person's personal view of her experiences. And now I am reading No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. I have read so many about Teddy Roosevelt so I thought I should read about his cousin. I became particularly interested after reading The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
He he..I waited too for the exact same reason. I'm like a kid at Christmas. I want it now not look at one and then wait for the rest. I really love the book too.
Beth and Brenda, The waits were so hard. You guys are smart.Chrissie, I can't wait to hear what you think about the book about the Roosevelts!
Lisa wrote: "Beth and Brenda, The waits were so hard. You guys are smart.
Chrissie, I can't wait to hear what you think about the book about the Roosevelts!"
The book about Franklin and Eleanor sounds interesting!
I am just starting Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens, the first book I got through bookswap.
Chrissie, I can't wait to hear what you think about the book about the Roosevelts!"
The book about Franklin and Eleanor sounds interesting!
I am just starting Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens, the first book I got through bookswap.
Jeanette and Lisa. No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II is a big heavy book. I hope the author makes the time and people come alive. Otherwise I have a long haul ahead. She is said to be a wonderful wuthor.
Oh, no, I'm not very good with big heavy books. I hope the author does a good job, because I'm sure it is a fascinating story.
Jeannette wrote: "Oh, no, I'm not very good with big heavy books. I hope the author does a good job, because I'm sure it is a fascinating story."Big and heavy but still only a paperback!
I'm finally reading Last Chance to See, which a friend loaned me back in April. It's so long since I've read any Douglas Adams that I'd not already read a dozen times previously, I'd forgotten how surprising (and clever) he can be in the way he expresses ideas. I've resisted the temptation to read passages out to the cat, but I may need to mark a few passages to read to my mother next time I visit. I used to drive her mad as a teen, following her around the house, sharing bits of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with her.
Christine wrote: "I'm going to start The Samurai's Garden"
I hope you like it as much as I did! I am always nervous gushing about a book.
I hope you like it as much as I did! I am always nervous gushing about a book.
I have been wanting to read it, you just gave me the extra push to get it down.
I think you will like it. It was a pleasure just to read it.
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Paula wrote: "I'm currently reading Blameless which is a pure-pleasure read."I'm drumming my fingers, waiting for the local library to get this one in...
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Comfort Reads
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Oh, I have that one on my bookshelf waiting for me. Let me know how it is. I actually have a few books by this author, but ha..."
I want to be selfish and just sit and read it. It is written journal-style, so it's easy to just grab little snatches of it. So far I like it very much.