You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED)
Same here, Kimberly! Hope all is well.Thanks, Judy! At this rate I have no idea when The Paris Wife will be read... but it's on the list. XD
Thanks Janice, Judy and Maria all should be fine now. I was in the ER 3 times since yesterday afternoon and to top it off today is my birthday but at least I got some reading done.
Yikes! That is not a fun way to spend your birthday. I'm glad to hear that all is well now. I hope you had a happy birthday in spite of all that.
At least you got to read! Happy birthday!
Janice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Janice, there has been so much talk about The Lifeboat, but I am pretty skeptical."The ratings seem to be all over the place. I see Kat gave it 5 stars."
It's a difficult book to say who would like it and who wouldn't. If you're a more character driven reader, then the main character is incredibly difficult to relate to. The mystery, twisty element over-rode that for me, which is why I gave it five stars, because it kept me guessing.
And I was incredibly impressed with it for a debut novel.
I've just read two historical fictions back to back - not a single zombie in sight!Belle & The Promise - not exactly the most intellectual of historical fictions but interesting and for a combined page count of 1100 pages, surprisingly quick reads (I started the first one Tuesday evening, finished the second Friday morning).
Kimberly, I am glad to hear that you are home again. Happy b-day!!! Janice, your analysis of the Lifeboat makes me more interested that any thing else I have read about it. Maybe you should write a review.
Finished up Red, White, and Blood- which I enjoyed. Not awesome literature, but fun, and the storyline kept me reading. Love Cade and Zach and all the political intrigue - combines some of my guilty pleasures - paranormal fiction, and political thrillers. In the vein of light fun reading, I'm on to Dead Reckoning - another Sookie Stackhouse book.
Chrissie wrote: "Kimberly, I am glad to hear that you are home again. Happy b-day!!! Janice, your analysis of the Lifeboat makes me more interested that any thing else I have read about it. Maybe you should write..."
Yes, I will likely do that this weekend.
I listened to the first chapter of The Chaperone (free advanced copy from audible.com). I won't be downloading it on June 6th when it's released. It was supposed to be my YLTO monthly challenge choise.
I just finished Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948. This was amazing - truly amazingly good.This is a book that makes learning fun. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I have begun Fiji: A Novel. Why? Well because I had it in my kindle. It was a freebie. I hope I learn a bit about Fijian culture and history.
Chrissie wrote: "I just finished Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948. This was amazing - truly amazingly good.This is a book that makes learning fun. My review: http://www.goodreads.co..."I have Fiji on my iPad Kindle app too, and I plan on reading it for my Around the World Challenge.
Janice,wWhen I got it there was no book description here at GR. Now there is. I was not aware of the "romance" theme. Those bits are pretty bad - the sexual fantasies of the missionary's daughter and an American, they could certainly have been better written. This I can say right away. But there are interesting points about Fijian life in the middle of the 1800s. I will continue reading.
Chrissie wrote: "Janice,wWhen I got it there was no book description here at GR. Now there is. I was not aware of the "romance" theme. Those bits are pretty bad - the sexual fantasies of the missionary's daughter a..."I'll still read it. Hopefully it will be a quick read because I'm behind in that challenge.
It is a very quick book because it certainly doesn't take much of your head. I have read half and I am not impressed at all. Imagine a book written for the movies on the exotic island of Fiji - that is about it and tons of "romance and sexual attraction" and a little cannibalism for excitement. I am being kind of brutal.
At the moment, a quick read that doesn't kill a lot of brain cells is up my alley.I started The Aloha Quilt last night and it's a fast read. I'm already at the half way point. It's for my year long challenge. Only problem is, it makes me want to do a Hawaiian quilt. I have an unfinished cushion top that I started in 2001. What makes me think I should tackle another? LOL!
Finished up Dead Reckoning, and I have moved on to Deadlocked, in order to get in the mood for the upcoming season of Trueblood. Heee!
I have gotten completely side-tracked on Fiji: A Novel. Why ? Because it is not really worth reading! Then, I simply had to start another audiobook. I chose Lolita, narrated by the fantastic Jeremy Irons! I cannot now stop listening to this. What I am wondering now is: what do I enjoy, the author or the narrator? Look, the author's words are excellent and the narrator's intonation is superb! I am embarrassed to say that Jeremy Irons manages to make the subject funny. The book is told from the pedophile's pov. And Nabokov as a wondrous way with words. It is even a travelogue too, a route twisting around the US with him and Lolita. Let me tell you, her remarks are sometimes just so perfect for a twelve year old. Now everybody is going to think I am terrible, having such fun reading this book. NO, remember! I am listening to it, narrated by Jeremy Irons.
Back to my point. I just don't really look forward to going back to Fiji: A Novel..... That surely says something!
Chrissie wrote: "I have gotten completely side-tracked on Fiji: A Novel. Why ? Because it is not really worth reading! Cheap garbage. In the car home from France we listened to Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's..."There's another book (fiction) about the Donner Party - someone's lost diary - that intrigues me. I've forgotten the name of it.
We'll let you abandon Fiji if you can't stomach it. There's no point in continuing on with a book that you dislike.
Oooo Janice - I think you are talking about Richard Rhodes The Ungodly: A Novel of the Donner Party. That looks awesome! My TBR pile just got bigger!
Chrissie wrote: "I have gotten completely side-tracked on Fiji: A Novel. Why ? Because it is not really worth reading! Cheap garbage. In the car home from France we listened to Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's..."That's funny, Chrissie. I have just ordered Lolita from the library, in honor of a friend of mine who died. Lolita was her favorite book and she was always telling me to read it. I thought I finally would. Unfortunately, the library does not have an audiobook of it. I'm sure Jeremy Irons is reading it magnificently.
Susan, you must tell me if reading it, rather than listening to it will show you the abundant humor. What a coincidence. I am sorry to hear of your friend's death.
Eileen wrote: "Oooo Janice - I think you are talking about Richard Rhodes The Ungodly: A Novel of the Donner Party. That looks awesome! My TBR pile just got bigger!"I had to search, but I found the book I was thinking of: Impatient with Desire.
Just started The Heretic's Daughter and am hopeful that it will be a good read. I did well with my close my eyes and pick one off of the library shelf (phew!) so hopefully I am on a roll. (This one was given to me by a woman in my bookclub).
Janice wrote: "I had to search, but I found the book I was thinking of: Impatient with Desire"Thanks, Janice. Friends have liked that one.
***************
I finally finished Fiji: A Novel!
Review:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Others have liked this. I thought it was totally terrible - stereotypical characters, cinematic plot development, bad writing and the romance theme was so poorly depicted it will bring tears to your eyes. Tears of laughter. Just my view, of course. I am just one of many. In my review I give examples so you can judge for yourself.
I've hit a reading slump, but I'm not worrying about it, since I'm writing... and reading romance novels.It's niiice.
Anyway, still on A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man... and I love Joyce's style, but I'm not getting through it as quickly as I normally would.
I really, really liked Lolita. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...Now I will read Galway Bay and listen to Thousand Cranes. I ought to be able to keep an Irish and a Japanese book separated in my mind. I get so excited when I start new books. I always think they will be wonderful. I have heard good things about both authors.
I tried to listen to The 19th Wife while reading Galway Bay. I did not succeed. The former was so complicated, flipping between different threads and time lines that I had to stick to just that. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I WILL now read both Galway Bay and listen to Scribbling The Cat. I just love anything Alexandra Fuller writes. I am already entranced. There are few authors that do this to me. One book per author is usually adequate for me.
Melanie, Lamb is suppose to be so funny. Please tell us what you think.
I have just started reading Brian Freemans new book Spitting Devil, free to download from amazon uk. its brilliant, if you have not read any of his books before give it a go. The main character and plot is great.
Sometimes when I have several books from the library and don't know what to read first, I read a number of pages from each books to see which one captures my mind. Last week I got Fifty Shades of Grey by whoever, Annie Dunne by Irish writer and poet Sebastian Barry, and Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. I read fifty pages each of Fifty Shades and Annie Dunne, got completely caught up by the poetry of the Barry's language and finished that in a few days. Then I read another 50 pages of Fifty Shades and read 50 pages of the Margaret Atwood. I couldn't put the Atwood book down. So, I think it will take me a while to get through Fifty Shades.
Currently reading A Discovery of Witches, after finishing up Dead in the Family - which I thought I'd read, but apparently, I did not. Keep reading things in books 11 and 12 and feeling like I was missing something big. At first I just thought I forgot the book, and then I reaslized, DUH, you just didn't read it! LOLSo far really enjoying Harkness' book. Way fun!
I finished Galway Bay yesterday.My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Today I finished the audiobookScribbling The Cat
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Many will enjoy the former, but me, I absolutely ADORED the latter.
Now I am reading A Golden Age, historical fiction about independence of Bangladesh, and I think I will start the audiobook Skeletons at the Feast. I want to try the author Chris Bohjalian.
Several years ago I readThe Legend of Colton H. Bryant by Alexandra Fuller, and absolutely loved it. I have been meaning to reread it. I also read Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, which I didn't care that much for. I never put it together that both books were by the same author.
I started In One Person for the Toppler, and for my personal new releases challenge. I also started Pompeii on audiobook. I've already done Italy for my Around the World challenge, and I'm thinking I may bend my rules a bit and call Pompeii it's own "country". And then, maybe not.
Judy and Susan, Alexandra Fuller has four books:Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
Scribbling the Cat
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness
All of which I have read and absolutely loved. I gave five stars to all of them.
and finally The Legend of Colton H. Bryant, I have yet to read this, but I will definitely. I think she is a fabulous writer. Each book has a different theme. The first three listed here are not really just about Africa, they are about human relationships too. It is quite simply HOW she writes that attracts me.
Chrissie wrote: "Judy and Susan, Alexandra Fuller has four books:Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
Scribbling the Cat
Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness
All of which I have read and absolutely loved...."
That's pretty amazing to find an author who rates a consistent 5 stars. I'm going to have to give Fuller a try.
Janice, it is amazing that I keep loving this author! Her writing is emotional and mixes grim and funny. I better add the "Scribbling the Ca"t has some really tough bits about war experiences.
I have finished A Golden Age and started The Blood of Flowers. Hasn't Amirrezvani written a new book? I certainly have to read this one first to decide if I should add the new one. My short review of "A Golden Age": http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Chrissie wrote: "I have finished A Golden Age and started The Blood of Flowers. Hasn't Amirrezvani written a new book? I certainly have to read this one first to decide if I should add the new one. My short revie..."
Yes, she has a new book out - published this month,
Equal of the Sun. I am definitely going to read it. I loved Blood of Flowers - gave it 5 stars.
Since my last update:Finished:
Worth Dying For,
61 Hours and
Persuader, all by Lee Child. On a Reacher roll, always like Reacher, but I have to admit reading his later books all in a row brings his recurrent formula of "town in trouble" into stark relief. I'd probably like them a teensy bit better if I spaced them out and didn't notice that so much. Hasn't stopped me from starting another one, though-- in my "currently reading," below.
The Rose GardenI liked this more than I thought I would-- I was just on the point of thinking she was going to wind it up as a typical time-travel romance when she changed it up at the end in a couple ways I never saw coming. Good book!
Finished
The Ghost and the Dead Deb -- I just love the ghost. And I like how the author has sort of cleverly expanded his abilities. Be reading more of these. 
Absolutely, Positively which I was able to read without a pang now that I know the series isn't ending and the new one is out!Currently reading:
11/22/63 which is enthralling although I'm taking it slow and reading other things alongside,
One Shot -said I was on a Reacher trip... And
The Poet which I think I read about 14 years ago but have no memory of. I'm enjoying it but I think I might like Bosch better. We'll see.
I just finished The Blood of Flowers. Great historical fiction. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I will now start The Question of Bruno: Stories. I hope I like it; I am a little worried because it is made up of stories and I don't ussually like stories. But they are interconnected! I have heard it has really good writing.
I am still listening to Skeletons at the Feast, which I love. Wonderful writing that grips you. You are right there in the middle of it all. Very moving. Thanks Barbara, for recommending this to me. And you other guys too. I cannot name everybody.
I loved Skeletons at the Feast, Chrissie.Chris Bohjalian is a great writer - I've got his new book The Sandcastle Girls: A Novel to read in the next few weeks.
Kat, I have added that too. I am particularly interested in it since it relates to his own background. Or so I have read. I tend to like books that take place in Europe and Asia. Unfortunately the audio version hasn't arrived yet. Maybe soon?
Chrissie wrote: "Kat, I have added that too. I am particularly interested in it since it relates to his own background. Or so I have read. I tend to like books that take place in Europe and Asia. Unfortunately the ..."The hardcover release is 17th July. I would think the audio version would be available soon after, his books are very popular as audio's too.
Kat, BTW, I have just now received a response from the Overdrive library you mentioned. Yes, I can join, but I cannot see what books would be available. Their Kindle books are NOT available to me. They are only available to those in the US. They said I could borrow stuff for my Ipod, but they forgot to send me a link so I can see which titles. I sent them a new email, requesting a link. Again, thank you.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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Now I'm back to reading Dragonfly in Amber which I'm hoping to finish this weekend or mayb..."
Interesting book to read in the ER. I hope everything is okay.