Comfort Reads discussion
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What are you reading right now? (SEE NEW THREAD)
Christine, I've suggested it to our book club too, but so far it hasn't be chosen. We have a lot on our proposed future books shelf here, and we meet only 8 times a year, so most suggested books aren't chosen.
Christine wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Beth wrote: "im reading this,,,,,,
"Beth, That book has been on my to-read shelf for forever."
That was a book club book for my group last year, and ..."
i only have a free sample on my kindle , its like the first 2 chapters or so... so im not sure how im gonna get the rest of the book because its so expensive everywhere
Chrissie wrote: "Christine, that is so annoying.I have shied away from this book because Kirkus sums up its review with the following: "Relentlessly depressing and grim, Rai's book offers an array of unlikable ..."
With an assessment like that, I think I will stay away from the book. Relentlessly grim, and as Christine has suggested, with an artificially hopeful ending, does not sound very promising.
I'm rereading one of my absolute favourite books (for the children's literature group, our March group read), The Secret Garden, still as wonderful as ever, and the "Norton Critical Edition" I am reading is an added bonus, with annotations, secondary sources and analyses; I just love Mary, Colin and Dickon.
Gundula wrote:With an assessment like that, I think I will stay away from the book. Relentlessly grim, and as Christine has suggested, with an artificially hopeful ending, does not sound very promising
It was just one of those endings when suddenly too much changed to be believable to me. Others may not agree, but it just seemed like the author wanted to wrap it up on an inspiring note. I'm all for that, but this felt forced.
It was just one of those endings when suddenly too much changed to be believable to me. Others may not agree, but it just seemed like the author wanted to wrap it up on an inspiring note. I'm all for that, but this felt forced.
Christine wrote: "Gundula wrote:With an assessment like that, I think I will stay away from the book. Relentlessly grim, and as Christine has suggested, with an artificially hopeful ending, does not sound very promi..."That makes sense, and I think I will not read the book for the time being, too depressing is not what I want to read or need to read at the moment.
I so want to reread The Secret Garden, and Gundula, you've got me very interested in the Norton critical edition. I'm going to look for it. Haven't read it in years and I don't think I've reviewed it for Goodreads. Should reread it.Tomorrow I will start my next real world book club book: Midnight's Children. I'd really rather be reading other books, but I assume I'll end up enjoying it.
Gosh, there are hundreds of editions of The Secret Garden. Gundula, Can you find the edition you're reading and if so, post a link? Thanks!!!
Lisa wrote: "I think I found it: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38...Right?"
That looks like the one I'm reading, really a wonderful edition.
Gundula, I just ordered it. *sigh* Even though I really don't have money these days to spend on books. And even though I might not read it in time for the group. The book will be a reread but the extra material will all be new to me. It looks great though! I'm just not sure when I'll fit it in.
Gundula, I loved how Kirkus expressed themselves concerning ?!Someone Else's Garden: A Novel.Ugh, I am disgusted..... I am not getting my emails properly. Yes, I have checked everything on "my account"! It should be working, but it isn't! Instead I am going through the group discussions one by one......
Is anyone else having trouble. I get no emails about this thread either!
Kimberly wrote: "I just started 
."These books are so funny....
Lisa wrote: "Gundula, I just ordered it. *sigh* Even though I really don't have money these days to spend on books. And even though I might not read it in time for the group. The book will be a reread but the e..."I bought mine something like three or four years ago and I'm just getting to it. I know about ordering books you really, really should not. I've been pretty good the past few months, but I went a bit overboard this weekend and ordered Pran of Albania (I really wanted to read it after Abigail's glowing review, but it was just not available anywhere on ILL), like you, sigh (and I also ordered The Little Prince in French). And, I ordered the German translation of Crusade in Jeans, Kreuzzug in Jeans, it was more readily available and less pricey than the English translation.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, I loved how Kirkus expressed themselves concerning ?!Someone Else's Garden: A Novel.Ugh, I am disgusted..... I am not getting my emails properly. Yes, I have checked ev..."
The whole site seems to be having a sh*****tload of problems with email notifications, slow response time etc. lately. I just tried to respond to a PM from Lisa and it never posted. You should go to the feedback group and post a comment, but I think the website has some problems that the staff is working on, but that might take a while to fix.
Gundula and Lisa too, thanks for letting me know about the GR problems. You will not regret owning The Little Prince. Absolutely wonderful book. I have it in French and English! Another thing - while everyone sings praises about The Secret Garden, I in fact wish people would ALSO praise The Lost Prince, by the same author. It is just as good!
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula and Lisa too, thanks for letting me know about the GR problems. You will not regret owning The Little Prince. Absolutely wonderful book. I have it in French and English! A..."
Chrissie, I need to get a copy of The Lost Prince. It's on my to-read list, but I forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me.
Well, I also reserved the Tasha Tudor edition of The Secret Garden at the library. I might be able to read that whole book in time to discuss it with the group. My edition is nothing special at all; I feel like reading a pretty one or one with extra material. Usually I don't buy books unless I can get them at the library, unless they're vegan cookbooks or unless I really want to support the author, or I've loved the book A LOT.
Lisa, I am smiling at your list of UNLESSes..... I see that you still are a bookaholic!
Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, I am smiling at your list of UNLESSes..... I see that you still are a bookaholic!"I have a lot of "unless" as well. I decided to buy a copy of The Little Prince because ALL of the library copies were underlined and some had sticky stains on them, yuck.
Gundula, I would never part with my ancient English hardcover. Never! The drawings are gorgeous.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, I would never part with my ancient English hardcover. Never! The drawings are gorgeous."Chrissie wrote: "Lisa, I am smiling at your list of UNLESSes..... I see that you still are a bookaholic!"
Ooh, that copy sounds great.
I have a lot of unlesses. I am a bookaholic.
What's worse, is that I have an almost impossible time parting with owned books.
When/if Goodreads' swap goes international, I might try to force myself, but we'll see. (I have a LOT of trauma around book loss and some traumas are just too powerful to fight, at least for me.) So my apartment is mostly books. *sigh* At least as a kid and in the last 15-20 years, the vast majority of my books have been library books or books borrowed from friends, not purchased books.
Lisa, I am not holding my breath fo the GR international swap. The fees will be substantial! As I have posted elsewhere, mailing costs are high. To buy a new paperback at Book Depository with no additional shipping fee, is usually the same as sending a book for example using Bookmooch. For me, Book Depository is the best. However not EVERYTHING is availabe there...... The do not seem to have any books at all in Swedish!Yeah Lisa, you are trying to not be a bookaholic, but you are nevertheless. That is not such a bad thing. Being a minimalist generally,I feel I save on other things to allow me to spend a bit on books.
Chrissie, I think you're right about everything you said in message 3362. Yep re the swap situation and yep re my book addiction. I am much better than I used to be though. Which is good since I'm reading a ton of picture books, etc. that would cost me a fortune if I purchased them, even used.
Kathy wrote: "I am finally reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and loving it."I bought a copy of that, just have not gotten around to it (what else is new).
Kathy wrote: "I am finally reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and loving it."
I have gone back and forth on if I should get this one. Let me know what you think once you are done.
I'm still working on The Invisible Bridge and it's soooo good so far.
I have gone back and forth on if I should get this one. Let me know what you think once you are done.
I'm still working on The Invisible Bridge and it's soooo good so far.
Lisa wrote: "Li, That's my real world book club's book for this March. I have it sitting here too but I'm still in the middle of another book. I have to read this one relatively soon though. For some reason, I'm not that enthusiastic about this one, but I assume the odds are good that I'll end up liking it. "I hope you enjoy Midnight's Children when you get around to it! I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it at first (I guess I was intimidated a bit of the fact that it won the Best of Bookers and I've heard heaps of praise about it); it can be dense at times but I'm glad I read it, it was intriguing and the allusions to real-life events in the early history of independent India were great.
I'm currently reading Neal Stephenson's Anathem. It's another one of those slightly-intimidating books because of the amount of logic involved in the story but it's intriguing. Slow but it has my attention, lol.
YES!! I knew you would like the Invisible Bridge, Christine.
Gundula and Christine, I am loving The Forgotten Garden, halfway through it.
Kathy wrote: "Gundula and Christine, I am loving The Forgotten Garden, halfway through it."Thanks, I will have to move the book to my bedroom shelf, so I actually remember I have a copy.
Gundula wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Gundula and Christine, I am loving The Forgotten Garden, halfway through it."Thanks, I will have to move the book to my bedroom shelf, so I actually remember I have a copy."
LOL! It sounds like you have a lot of book shelves and places for your books like I do, Gundula. I have shelves, baskets, tables, and just temporary holding stations, too. I'm trying to use the library more, but I still have enough books at home I still need to read to lasts for a couple of years worth of reading, maybe more. Yikes!
Kathy wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Gundula and Christine, I am loving The Forgotten Garden, halfway through it."Thanks, I will have to move the book to my bedroom shelf, so I actually remember I have ..."
I also have books in boxes and books in storage (and I have been known to forget that I own a book and reorder it). I find using the library alright for picture books (for the picture book club), but if I read a book and like the book, I will always want a copy for myself, always (even if not at present, then sometime in the future).
I forgot about the boxes and tubs of books. LOL! I do know what you mean about wanting your own copy. I just read Left Neglected from the library, and I find myself wanting my own copy.
Gundula, don't feel bad! I too have bought the same book twice unintentionally. Several times. I forget I have already bought them. Now with GR, I am a little better organized.
Kathy wrote: "I forgot about the boxes and tubs of books. LOL! I do know what you mean about wanting your own copy. I just read Left Neglected from the library, and I find myself wanting my own..."
I really liked Left Neglected too. I traded mine into Amazon for credit towards another book, and now I'm wishing that I'd held onto it.
I really liked Left Neglected too. I traded mine into Amazon for credit towards another book, and now I'm wishing that I'd held onto it.
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula, don't feel bad! I too have bought the same book twice unintentionally. Several times. I forget I have already bought them. Now with GR, I am a little better organized."I've noticed that myself, thankfully.
I am currently reading, "Pillars Of The Earth." Comfort reading is probably not the best way to describe this story of hardship and sorrow, but it does also have warm heart-felt moments that make it all worth while to read.
Tiziana wrote: "I am currently reading, "Pillars Of The Earth." Comfort reading is probably not the best way to describe this story of hardship and sorrow, but it does also have warm heart-felt moments that make i..."
I had a hard time with that one. I'm not saying it wasn't a great book, but it was well beyond my comfort zone.
I had a hard time with that one. I'm not saying it wasn't a great book, but it was well beyond my comfort zone.
Beth wrote: "i am reading 
a nd i am reading "a 2 novels together person ;-) I wish I could do that.
Lisa wrote: "Beth wrote: "i am reading a nd i am reading "a 2 novels together person ;-) I wish I could do that."
so far, so good! lol
Chrissie wrote: "Gundula and Lisa too, thanks for letting me know about the GR problems. You will not regret owning The Little Prince. Absolutely wonderful book. I have it in French and English! A..."
I just got the "Little Prince" books in the mail yesterday, both the French and the English version (a new translation). The books have the restored artwork in full colour, I think I'm going to love reading and rereading this in both English and French. I also got one of my favourite books of poetry in the mail (after my copy finally completely fell apart), A Shropshire Lad, "Loveliest of Trees" is one of my absolute favourite poems of all time.
I didn't know that the drawings in The Little Prince were in color. My cover is a color print, but I assumed the rest were black and white drawings. I'll have to look around for these color prints. I'd love to see them.
I am reading Jane Eyre for the Goodreads Challenge
http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/3
I haven't read through Jane Eyre in a long time.
http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/3
I haven't read through Jane Eyre in a long time.
I finished The Royal Physician's Visit and here folows my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I thought it was amazing historical fiction. The style does not fit all readers, as the wide range in GR reviews show.
Now I will start Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman. This novel, by a contemporary German author, was immediately snatched up all over Europe. I am curious to try it!
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Comfort Reads
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Beth, That book has been on my to-read shelf for forever."
That was a book club book for my group last year, and we all loved it.