Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
Jeanette, I know you are interested in Japanese books now. You absolutely MUST rad The Pure Land. It is one of my all time favorite books. Go for it Jeanette - you write great reviews!
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The Pure Land has been on my to-read shelf for way too long. I'm considering giving up most of my GR book groups that have monthly reads because I don't seem to have enough time to read other books I want to read, books such as this one.
Just started 84, Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street (double volume). This is the third or fourth time reading this and it is truly a comfort read for me. Highly recommended!
Great film too with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins.
Great film too with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins.
Hayes, that is lovely to hear. I have 84, Charing Cross Road sitting on my real shelf.
It's a fast read too, Chrissie. Every time I read it it cheers me up! So full of joy for books and life.
Maybe I should stick it in soon, but I utterly adore No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II, which I am currently reading! Definitely a 5 star book! Fabulous writer!
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette and Christine, I was not so happy to hear that you avoid writing what you really think here at GR - no spoilers and nothing too personal ..... Of course it is your choice! However if GR is..."I agree with Chrissie. You should write what you feel. Adding "Spoiler Alert" to any review or post helps everyone. As for the personal stuff, I think that's a matter of personal opinion (as to how much is too much).
Jeannette wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette and Christine, I was not so happy to hear that you avoid writing what you really think here at GR - no spoilers and nothing too personal ..... Of course it is your choice!..."Jeanette, I think you're wrong about not being as "eloquent" as other reviewers. I was reading some of your posts, and it sounds as if you put a lot of thought into what you write. I enjoyed reading them.
Thank you, Chrissie & Kristi for the compliments of my reviews. I decided to write reviews to remind myself why I rated a book the way I did. Plus, it really helps to see what people you know think about a book. I just re-read Chrissie's review of The Pure Land and think that I should bump it up on my list, too.
Lisa, I got out of most of the groups with required reads. I felt like I was having to read books, when I wanted the freedom to jump around to something that came up in a thread like this one. I really enjoy these casual, and sometimes intense, exchanges we have here about books. I am only in one group with a planned read, and they are really a small, gentle group. :)
I just started Mao's Last Dancer, but it didn't grab me. I'll try The Pure Land and find out if I need a break from Asia for a while. I will be reading The Pursuit of Love for an October group read. It might be the palate cleanser that I need.
Lisa, I got out of most of the groups with required reads. I felt like I was having to read books, when I wanted the freedom to jump around to something that came up in a thread like this one. I really enjoy these casual, and sometimes intense, exchanges we have here about books. I am only in one group with a planned read, and they are really a small, gentle group. :)
I just started Mao's Last Dancer, but it didn't grab me. I'll try The Pure Land and find out if I need a break from Asia for a while. I will be reading The Pursuit of Love for an October group read. It might be the palate cleanser that I need.
Chrissie wrote: "Jeanette and Christine, I was not so happy to hear that you avoid writing what you really think here at GR - no spoilers and nothing too personal ..... Of course it is your choice! However if GR is..."
I'll copy the review from my blog page and post it here. Sorry.
ETA: I just posted my review for The Samurai's Garden
I'll copy the review from my blog page and post it here. Sorry.
ETA: I just posted my review for The Samurai's Garden
Christine wrote: "I'm trying to decide between People of the Book, The Hunger Games, and a re-read of A Fine Balance."I haven't read A Fine Balance, but I loved both The Hunger Games and People of the Book. If you read and enjoy The Hunger Games though you'll most likely want to immediately read the next two books in the trilogy: Catching Fire and Mockingjay. All 3 are fast reads.
Lisa, My friend has my copy of The Hunger Games so I probably won't be able to start it until tomorrow or Monday. I think I may go ahead and order the next two anyway because Emma wants to read them (and I have an Amazon credit).
People of the Book looks really good, and I have had it for some time now. Glad to know that you liked it so much!
A Fine Balance is the book that ignited my love for books about India. I read it so long ago that I want to read it again soon, but it's one of those that beats you up emotionally.
People of the Book looks really good, and I have had it for some time now. Glad to know that you liked it so much!
A Fine Balance is the book that ignited my love for books about India. I read it so long ago that I want to read it again soon, but it's one of those that beats you up emotionally.
Christine, your review was truly excellent for the very simple reason that it clearly said why this booked moved you so. Well, that is my opinion!!! Thank yo very much for posting it here on GR. We wan GR to be the place to look to really find the next book to read. Right? And again thank you!Lisa, I NEVER read a book for a group read. Yes, I follow the discussions and then read it myself later if the discussion egged me on to read the book. For me it doesn't work to read a book until exactly that moment I FEEL for it. If I read the book b/c it fits a group's timetable, then I rarely enjoy the book. And it could be a marvelous book, just read at the wrong time. But that is just me.
I am so, so very happy that some of you will be reading The Pure Land. Now I worry..... I hope you like it. Well, I loved it.
I am going to have to request The Pure Land through inter-library loan. We don't have it here in town. :(
Chrissie, I love my real world book club and many of my Goodreads' groups that have group reads. I usually avoid the discussion threads for any book I plan to read until after I've read the books. I've read so many books I'd never have read if not for my book club and book groups, and I'd guess I've loved or liked 90% of them. But I'm spread too thin now. I belong to too many groups that have group reads, and even though I'm now reading maybe 1/2 of them at most, I'm finding myself frustrated that I don't have enough time to read books I just want to read sans groups. So, I plan to make some changes. It's just hard deciding which groups and/or reads to drop.
I'm so glad we don't have group reads in this group!!!
What no group reads here? Just kidding... :) I just enjoy following all the discussions and try to read the group reads that I can get at my library. I certainly have read a whole lot more than I was before and learn something new almost everyday.
I definitely like getting book recommendations from everyone I can! I like an organized discussion once in a while, too.
I love the chat thread! <3
I love the chat thread! <3
My next book is going to be for another book group, A Thrilling Term at Goodreads: The Girls' School-Story Group, but I am looking forward to this one!, and I'll finish ahead of time; it's the October selection: The School at the Chalet. (I'm really glad I finished Secret Son for my real world book club October meeting. I liked it, but I didn't love it, and I thought that it had a disappointing ending.)
I only have one group with group reads that I participate in - that's the History of Royals one - and I only join in if the book captures my interest and I can get it out of the library. And their group reads only happen every 2 or 3 months so that's just about the right rate for me to cope with. I love Comfort Reads for the number of recommendations I've gleaned from it - so many books that I wouldn't have considered or probably even heard of. Not saying anything about the tbr list getting out of control!!My current read is Wildwood Dancing, which was recommended to me by one of my students. She said it was her favourite book ever, which seemed like a pretty strong endorsement! It is beautifully written, and although I have suspicions about where some of it's plot threads are heading, the vibrant, fairy-tale quality of the writing is making the journey a most enjoyable one. And the author was born in NZ, although she now lives in Aus :-)
I love the cover art of Wildwood Dancing, Darkpool, but I haven't read it yet. YA fantasy/fairy-tale is sometimes predictable, but usually enjoyable.
I'm starting Still Missing
while I wait for my copy of The Hunger Games. It seems like it'll be a fast one.
while I wait for my copy of The Hunger Games. It seems like it'll be a fast one.
Well, here's another book I won't be reading: "abducted by a sadistic psychopath." Light reading before bed? I'm already creeped out.
I'm just trying to mix it up a little, sheesh. (Christine is sticking her tongue out at Jeannette)
Wellll, don't come to me when you don't want to get out from under the covers! :P
Hey Christine! I'm glad you've got a book to read. There's nothin' on TV but some dumb football game. I wonder what the big S on the field stands for??
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Jeannette wrote: "Hey Christine! I'm glad you've got a book to read. There's nothin' on TV but some dumb football game. I wonder what the big S on the field stands for??"
Hardy har har! Don't make me come over there.
P.S. My book is freaking me out.
Hardy har har! Don't make me come over there.
P.S. My book is freaking me out.
Lee wrote: "Christine, did you watch the Survivor premiere on Wednesday? I noticed there was a football coach on the oldster team."
I did, I did! Jimmy Johnson! We need to start our new Survivor thread, eh?
I did, I did! Jimmy Johnson! We need to start our new Survivor thread, eh?
Jeannette wrote: "Wellll, don't come to me when you don't want to get out from under the covers! :P"
I'm under the actual bed....covers shmovers.
I'm under the actual bed....covers shmovers.
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Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "Wellll, don't come to me when you don't want to get out from under the covers! :P"
I'm under the actual bed....covers shmovers."
I hope you're packin' a piece, kiddo! I don't think I'll go into real estate as my next career.
I'm under the actual bed....covers shmovers."
I hope you're packin' a piece, kiddo! I don't think I'll go into real estate as my next career.
Lee wrote: "Christine, did you watch the Survivor premiere on Wednesday? I noticed there was a football coach on the oldster team."
I saw Jimmy Johnson in his survivor guise. I'm almost tempted to watch for that!
I saw Jimmy Johnson in his survivor guise. I'm almost tempted to watch for that!
You should! Come to the dark side, Jeannette.
Christine wrote: "You should! Come to the dark side, Jeannette."
You, get back under the bed!
You, get back under the bed!
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Jeannette wrote: "Well, here's another book I won't be reading: "abducted by a sadistic psychopath." Light reading before bed? I'm already creeped out."
4 chapters in and I quit. It's way too intense for me.
4 chapters in and I quit. It's way too intense for me.
Did you notice sadistic psychopath on the book summary?? Hey, but your boys pulled off a win in overtime! :D
I actually didn't read a description before I started it (ebook....no jacket).
Yay Spartans!
Yay Spartans!
Christine wrote: "I actually didn't read a description before I started it (ebook....no jacket).
Yay Spartans!"
I read the description on goodreads. :)
Yay Spartans!"
I read the description on goodreads. :)
Sara wrote: "I'm reading Wicked Lovely. It's about Faeries. Except they're more Evil than good :)"Sara, It looks as though you've just found our group. Thanks for joining and posting. Welcome!
Well, lesson learned. Don't blindly download books even if you get a super deal.
Christine wrote: "Well, lesson learned. Don't blindly download books even if you get a super deal."
Well, it did turn out to be a fast read!
Well, it did turn out to be a fast read!
Thanks for the haiku -- I sent you a few back.
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Comfort Reads
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Anytime for a fellow book lover. Thanks for encouraging me to write my reviews, Chrissie.