You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What are you currently reading and why? (CLOSED)
Chrissie wrote: "Janice, did you read my review? I like the book. I think people should read it. I have put spoiler warnings in the review. The two spoilers explain the two problems I had with the book. I still thi..."Yes, I did read your review. I didn't have the same issues as you over the book. It's been a while since I read it. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine wrote: "Currently reading a lot of romance novels...for various reasons. 1) To reduce work-related stress. 2) Gender wars are very interestingly depicted. 3) Pure Fun. And something with no violence I tend..."Romance novels are great for escapism. I used to read a lot of them for that reason. My book club started talking about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and the Twilight series as being pure escapism.
Janice, we both clearly agree that the book wants to talk about healing - physical, emotional and spiritual! I had a hard time with the Cree solution to this. I also wish there had been a clear author's note explaining what portions were factual. Hard, but moving reading in the sections about trench warfare.
Chrissie wrote: "Janice, we both clearly agree that the book wants to talk about healing - physical, emotional and spiritual! I had a hard time with the Cree solution to this. I also wish there had been a clear aut..."For me it wasn't a matter of agreeing with the Cree solution. The best way to heal is to return to your roots, and the Cree culture is heavily steeped in their spirituality. This is what the medicine woman was trying to do - get him to ground himself in the spirituality of his people.
When I read that something is "loosely" based on a person, I change "loosely based on" to "inspired by". I think Boyden took inspiration from the Objibway men (a different Native tribe and culture) and created a story. What is facts are the events surrounding the story - the residential schools, the roles Native Canadians played in WWI, and of course the horror of WWI.
Boyden's grandfather and an uncle fought in WWI and many of their stories were likely incorporated into the novel. He would have also likley included traditional stories from his own Metis heritage.
Janice, hmmm, (view spoiler) The healing in the book must be assumed to be symbolically portrayed. And that bothered me too. For me, to accept the healing as it is shown in the book, is to downplay the true difficulties of achieving such healing. To reach real healing is so dam hard after what he had experienced. I didn't want such an "easy, simplistic" solution. You are right, that this is the method a Cree might have been able to use, but only after many, many struggles. To quick and easy for my taste. The easy solution sort of diminished the gravity of his experiences. That is how it hit me.
Fun talking about it with you.
We have kind of hijacked this thread. Probably we should have moved our discussion to another thread.Because I live amongst native Canadian peoples and have been exposed to their way of life and spiritual beliefs, I believe I understand Boyer's point of view.
(view spoiler)
Janice wrote: "We have kind of hijacked this thread. Probably we should have moved our discussion to another thread.Because I live amongst native Canadian peoples and have been exposed to their way of life and..."
Oh, I am sorry! I didn't realize this wasn't allowed.
Just finished A Farewell to ArmsMy review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Now I will listen to Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. Could this possibly be as good as The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story Of Survival During The War In The Far East?
Chrissie wrote: "Oh, I am sorry! I didn't realize this wasn't allowed. ..."It's not an issue Chrissie. It's just that when people have a discussion about a specific book, like we did, people can refer back to it easier or join in on it if it has it's own thread. I just wish there was a way for moderators to move messages from one thread to another.
Janice, a little discussion seems good to me, but rules have to be stuck to. I understand.
I've been enjoying your discussion, ladies.
I am reading three books for the rainbow challenge.The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jean-Dominique Bauby
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill BrysonPomegranate Soup
Marsha MehranChrissie and Janice, I am so grateful that I read your discussion about Three Day Road because now I plan to read the book. It sounds like just the kind of story I will enjoy.
I hope you do enjoy it, Connie. Let us know how you like it.
Connie, wonderful. People always think giving a book three stars is a book not to be read. Not for me. It means I liked it. I am very glad our mini-discussion got you interested in the book. Enjoy.
According to the rating system on Goodreads, 3 stars is "I liked it".
Janice wrote: "Tea wrote: "I accidently stumbled upon Trudi Canavan and am on the 3rd black magican book 
"I see that there is a book numbered 0.5 in the series, The Magician's Apprent..."
I've read it it's a prequel, I read it 4th as the events (to me at least)seem to flow better. I think it was intended to be read 4th.
Thanks Tea. I'll keep that in mind.
I started reading The Sandcastle Girls last night, and again Chris Bohjalian has caught my attention. I think this is going to be a pretty sad book, but the writing is languid and intense at the same time - a difficult combination to get right!
Kat wrote: "I started reading The Sandcastle Girls last night, and again Chris Bohjalian has caught my attention. I think this is going to be a pretty sad book, but the writing is languid and intense at the s..."I have that on pre-order with iBooks. I'll have to check to see if it's ready for downloading.
I've been struggling to concentrate on anything for weeks, but I'm nearly halfway through The Sandcastle Girls now - I love the multiple perspectives, and I never had any idea of the Armenian genocide - just goes to show there's always something to learn.
Kat wrote: "I started reading The Sandcastle Girls last night, and again Chris Bohjalian has caught my attention. I think this is going to be a pretty sad book, but the writing is languid and intense at the s..."I would really like to read this as well if I can get my hands on it!
My ebook downloaded last night. Audible listed it today as a new release. Kat, are you reviewing this for Netgallery?
Yep - I received it months ago but only just got to it this week.
Judy wrote: "I finished [bookcover:Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny]. Susan and Chrissie were right on by recommending this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be posting a review some time in the next w..."Glad you liked it, Judy.
I like to have an audiobook, a print book, and an ebook going at the same time. I started the audiobook Daughter of Smoke and Bone this morning. It may be a bit too YA for me, but hey - a change is as good as a rest. I'm still working on Frankenstein.
I just got Prisoner of Heaven too, Judy! Can't wait to get to that on my TBR pile - which just keeps growing. And tomorrow, I'm getting the new Tana French book, Broken Harbor.
Let me know how you like Broken Harbour. I've only read Faithful Place and I'd like to read more of hers.
I was on vacation and away from a computer for a bit. I read The Magician King: A Novel, Cat's Cradle, Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - all were enjoyable, but I especially found Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir to be HYSTERICAL. The Blogess, (aka Jenny Lawson) has a sense of humor that is strongly in synch with mine, and I spend an enjoyable two or three days laughing out loud at this book. I'm currently reading Wolf Hall: A Novel, which I am thoroughly enjoying. Very well written fictional account of the Tudor court through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell.
Those are the best vacations in my opinion. I leave next week, but I have a funny feeling I'm going to be kept busy. On a Disney Cruise there is something going on all the time - or so I am told!
Despite my own aversion to contemporary YA, I'm reading Deadly Cool and it's actually pretty funny in a sarcastic way (which I love!).I'm also reading Birthmarked which is starting to pick up after 30%....!
Last night: Almost done with The Hard Way
-- guess I won't be off this Reacher roll until I run out of unread books in the series. Also about halfway through Very Valentine
and It Takes a Witch
. Still haven't started Four of a Kind: A Novel
which, along with Murder With Puffins
, is next-up.N. B. from today: Well I thought the two I mentioned above were my next-ups but I needed an audio book this morning so ended up starting Defending Jacob
. New author for me and also unusual for me to read so recent a fiction release. Usually I'm a decade or two back for general fiction, but I just finished 11/22/63
and I downloaded Gone Girl
-- unusual for me.
Janice wrote: "Did you like 11/22/63. I listened to in on audiobook as well. Gone Girl is on my wishlist."I liked it very much, and I'm not ordinarily a Stephen King fan.
To all of you so interested in The Sandcastle Girls. I can't wait to read this!!!! As Janice pointed out, it is now available at Audible. The audiobook is narrated by Cassandra Cambell and Alison Fraser. I will have to grab it soon. I simply cannot wait.
I was feeling adventurous (very!) yesterday, so I started The Winds of War. I'm already half way through so my adventurous spirit is paying off!
Chrissie wrote: "To all of you so interested in The Sandcastle Girls. I can't wait to read this!!!! As Janice pointed out, it is now available at Audible. The audiobook is narrated by Cassandra Cambell and Alison F..."I just went to listen to the sample Chrissie, it sounds like excellent narration, and I think it will fit really well with the book!
Kat, they are good narrators, and it is great to know that you think they will fit the book. How many stars have you given it? Are you done yet? I will buy it after I have l listened to Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War, which I have waiting for me on my Ipod.
Chrissie wrote: "Kat, they are good narrators, and it is great to know that you think they will fit the book. How many stars have you given it? Are you done yet? I will buy it after I have l listened to Birdsong: A..."I gave it five stars - it was one of the best Chris Bohjalian books I've read, and although it has changing POVs and timelines which I normally don't like, I enjoyed all of it equally!
I'm re-reading She's Come Undone for my face to face book club, and I'm not really enjoying it. I rated it very favorably from my memory of my original reading, but, this time around I'm finding myself wanting to smack everyone and make them get over themselves. No patience from the characters whatsoever. I'm hoping to finish it in the next day or so, so I can move on to The Prisoner of Heaven, and then the second book in Mantel's Tudor Triology, Bring Up the Bodies. I recently finished and greatly enjoyed Wolf Hall, and I'd much rather be reading those, than re-reading this one.
Kat, I am hopeless. I just bought the audiobook of Sandcastle Girls, exchanged it for Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, which I did not like and thus returned to Audible.
Chrissie wrote: "Kat, I am hopeless. I just bought the audiobook of Sandcastle Girls, exchanged it for Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, which I did not like and thus returned t..."You can blame me :). Why didn't you like Unbroken?
I read Mistress Of Nothing by Kate Pullinger a few weeks ago. It is the fictionalized story of the lady's maid who accompanied Lady Duff Gordon on her trip down the Nile in the 1860's. The book was very interesting. Lady Duff Gordon is renowned for her letters home from Egypt to her friends and family which were published at the time. I became interested in Lady D-G, so I started reading Lady Duff Gordon's book:[Letters From Egypt|108561], and also Lady D-G's biography Lucie Duff Gordon: A Passage to Egypt by Katherine Frank. I am about half way through both of them. Needless to say, the version of the story that concerns her lady's maid is completely different than the version given in MON. I haven't gotten to that part in Frank's book, however.
Kat wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Kat, I am hopeless. I just bought the audiobook of Sandcastle Girls, exchanged it for Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, which I did not like an..."There is way to much in "Unbroken" that stretches belief. I think the author just accepted all that was told to her without question. In one quick word - much of that story is "unbelievable". And the religious message wasn't palatable for me.
My short review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
In the last two weeks I have listened to five audiobooks:Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The Power of One
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Train to Trieste
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Joan of Arc
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82...
Now I am listening to one of my favorite authors: Ivan Doig Prairie Nocturne. I just love the western dialog.
Vacation in Sweden was really more full of chores than relaxation, this being my excuse for the reviews' brevity! Other than cleaning and emptying and selling my Mom's apartment I visited my son and DIL in Göteborg, southern Sweden. My fifth grandchild was born o,n 18/7. Oh, she is so
a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e! My Mom died and a new grandchild was born - life goes on.
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Sandcastle Girls (other topics)The Bachelor Farmers (other topics)
Anna Karenina (other topics)
The Hoard (other topics)
The Orchardist (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Leo Tolstoy (other topics)Alan Ryker (other topics)
Brenda Sorrels (other topics)
Anna Funder (other topics)
Patrick Carman (other topics)
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Also half-reading Game Change...which I keep dipping into but doesn't quite grip me.
To answer the question above? I pick books now mainly on mood or what strikes my interest on a gut level and for pure entertainment. Using online recs from various sources to aid in the decision making.
Also been mainly reading and purchasing on the Kindle.
It's cheaper and easier to lug around, since I do almost all my reading commuting by subway or train.