Retired: What are you reading? Showing 1,051-1,100 of 5,490

[Jane]

Eileen wrote: "Jane wrote: "I have just finished Villa America almost in one sitting !This is a wonderful novel that has captured the Murphy s lifestyle on the Cote d Azur in the 1920s and 30s. Th..."
You are welcome ! It s a good one for summer too

[Jane]

I am about to start The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend .Has anybody else read it ?

[Angela M]

Jane , I gave not read it but I plan to . It's gotten mixed reviews so I hope we like its!

[Jane]

Angela M wrote: "Jane , I gave not read it but I plan to . It's gotten mixed reviews so I hope we like its!"

As a light read it should be fun

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Last night I had the great pleasure of meeting T. Geronimo Johnson, author of . His discussion of the book coupled with several very intriguing reviews makes this a book I plan to read very soon. Oh yes, did I mention that Geronimo was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction?

[Angela M]

I finished The Shore. 4 stars . My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Just visited our Friends of the Library Store and picked up some real gems for a song. Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum. Rave reviews all round. And, ever hear of Eugene Walter? A real bon vivant of Mobile, Alabama.Happy Table of Eugene Walter: Southern Spirits in Food and Drink: An Ardent Survey of Southern Beverages, and How to Prepare Such, and a Grand Selection ... Dishes Employing Spiritous Flavorings is full of Walters' and recollections and ribald they are. GRIN

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I'm reading Saint Mazie. Only halfway through, but I'm going out on a limb here and predicting this one gets nominatedd for a National Book Award.

[Angela M]

What an endorsement, Diane ! I guess I need to move it up my list .

[Diane S ☔]

I am reading the short story, Maize by Joseph Mitchell. Saint Maize stayed reasonably true to the real Maize. Just had to read it after reading Saint Maize. I agree Diane, it should be nominated.

Finished The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LA]

If Diane loves it, then I'm reading it!

[Diane S ☔]

Mike, I just brought nine lives home as well. Lol

[Jane]

Diane wrote: "I'm reading Saint Mazie. Only halfway through, but I'm going out on a limb here and predicting this one gets nominatedd for a National Book Award."
I just finished Saint Maize and I thought it was brilliant and the narrative technique quite different

[LA]

After coming through a dry patch of so-so books, I followed some of the reviews several of you have written and found some five-star reads!

The Sisters Brothers, recommended by Laura and Josh, was total bloody fun; Rivers was the only post-apocalyptic book I've ever enjoyed and is set during a time when the entire Mississippi gulf coast has been declared a governmental no-go zone because of incessant tropical storms, looting, and some freaky characters.Sea Creatures was a novel based in south Florida, where I grew up, and it examines how parental love and responsibility rub against risk-taking while trying to find a balance. Lastly, I really enjoyed Fourth of July Creek - the tale of a Montana social worker who tries, with varying success, to save some very messed up families, one of which is his own.

Thank you, friends, for the recommendations. I'm on a five-star roll!

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Leanne
Oh no....don't jinx yourself, haha! I love home runs back to back!

[LA]

Laura wrote: "Leanne
Oh no....don't jinx yourself, haha! I love home runs back to back!"

Ha! Yep, I nearly stumbled and stepped into it with a Ukrainian book translated into English today, but it turned out well. Moving on to some short stories (Rash and then your buddy, Bass)... Cross ya fingers!

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Bass is no friend of mine. He's all Josh's!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Leanne wrote: "After coming through a dry patch of so-so books, I followed some of the reviews several of you have written and found some five-star reads!

The Sisters Brothers, recommended by Laura and Josh, was total bloody fun; Rivers was the only post-apocalyptic book I've ever enjoyed and is set during a time when the entire Mississippi gulf coast has been declared a governmental no-go zone because of incessant tropical storms, looting, and some freaky characters..."

I really enjoyed Rivers; it felt pretty possible.

[Ann]

I just finished AHAB'S WIFE by Sena Jeter Naslund and I'm glad I liked it since it was my choice to read for a f2f book club. Although I thought it was too long it was well written and had interesting descriptions of life and seafaring in that time.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

I've got that book Ann. I need to look at it.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I loved Ahab's wife. Then I read Moby Dick, which I somehow missed in high school. Hated that one, very over-rated in my opinion.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Diane wrote: "I loved Ahab's wife. Then I read Moby Dick, which I somehow missed in high school. Hated that one, very over-rated in my opinion."
I felt the same way but I know people who love it, adore it, etc. I'd like to read it with one of them, to get something else out of it.

[penneminreads]

I'm still quite a newbie when it comes to Southern literature, so I'm currently reading a few classics (and joined this group :) ). I enjoyed As I Lay Dying and To Kill a Mockingbird SO much, TKAM is a book I'm definitely going to re-read.

Currently I'm reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which I had already tried to read a few years back. As a non-native speaker, I found the language a bit tricky at first, especially Jim's accent, but it gets better.
I haven't really gotten into the story yet, although I love other books that I felt were rather slow-paced.

[Ann]

I wish I had reread Moby Dick before I read Ahab's Wife. I don't think I will get to it any time soon since I belong to two f2f book clubs, take a literature class at Adult Ed and just joined my third group here on GR. I just need to join a third book club and I'll be all set. But then I may not have any time for eating or sleeping.

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Under a Dark Summer Sky
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Joy]

Mike wrote: "Just visited our Friends of the Library Store and picked up some real gems for a song. Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death, and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum. Rave r..."

Mike, I just finished Nine Lives while in New Orleans on vacation. I think you'll like it.

[Mmars]

I also loved Ahab's Wife. but have not read Moby. I once asked a nephew (English major) what his favorite book was and he said Moby. I went out bought a nice edition. Still haven't read it!

[Jane]

I friends on the Southern trail , I won t have time to read along this month but I will be back ;)

Just picked up The Truth According to Us because I love this period of American History

[Diane S ☔]

Finished Embers
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ann]

I'm reading BURIAL RITES, a great novel set in Iceland way, way off the Southern Literary Trail.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Loved Burial Rites, good reading!

[Ann]

Laura, I hope she write a new one soon.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Doc. Mary Doria Russell may not be a southern writer but she darned well oughta be. Her fictional account of the life of gunfighter John Henry Doc Holliday is written in a lyrical prose that is a true thing of beauty. It also contains more truth than any published biographies on Holliday and possible even more than the actual events.

[Tina]

Tom, I could not agree more. I love the story of Doc Holliday and Mary Doria Russell does more for his story than any I have read.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Try Russell ' s "A Thread of Grace". Incredible WWII story of an Italian town trying to hide Jews.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "Try Russell ' s "A Thread of Grace". Incredible WWII story of an Italian town trying to hide Jews."

That was the first of her books that I read. My very favorite of hers, though, is The Sparrow. A coworker recommended it several years ago and I put it off for several years. I finally read it last year and could have kicked myself for having waited so long. It was the best book that I have read in years. I'm going to take the day off Thursday to drive over to Marin County for an appearance of hers. I want to get a signed copy of Epitaph.

[Angela M]

Diane , I've just added A Thread of Grace. Thanks for mentioning it here .

[Eileen]

Diane wrote: "Try Russell ' s "A Thread of Grace". Incredible WWII story of an Italian town trying to hide Jews."

That's good to know Diane; I've had that on my to-read list.

[Jason]

Tom,

I second THE SPARROW. What an incredible novel! I also liked Russell's DREAMERS OF THE DAY, an historical which takes place at the Cairo Peace Conference and includes Winston Churchill and Lawrence of Arabia. Russell deftly moves from such disparate genres as sci-fi and historicals and makes them all her own literary playground.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Jason wrote: "Tom,

I second THE SPARROW. What an incredible novel! I also liked Russell's DREAMERS OF THE DAY, an historical which takes place at the Cairo Peace Conference and includes Winston Churchill and L..."

That's a book of hers that I only heard of yesterday. Russell is one of only two authors of fiction whose books are on my buy sight unseen list. I'm with you in being amazed that she can effortlessly skip from genre to genre and still produce five star books every time.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Tom, like you, I keep putting off reading The Sparrow because it's sci-fi and I tend to avoid that genre. But it's been recommended to me several tines, and I've loved everything else I've read by her. I need to get to it.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Angela and Camie
I'm a little nervous..... I just found out Aquarium was written by the author who also wrote Goat Mountain which my husband hated. Have ya'll read that one?

[Angela M]

Laura , I haven't read it , although I have it on my tbr . I may have added it after I read Aquarium. It is a tough read and is disturbing at one point but I just feel that there is so much more here . I'll be interested in knowing if anyone else has read it.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Angela
My bookmark is already in the book so it's on like donkey kong!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "Tom, like you, I keep putting off reading The Sparrow because it's sci-fi and I tend to avoid that genre. But it's been recommended to me several tines, and I've loved everything else I've read by..."

Yes you do. It is so much more than just sci-fi.

[Beverly]

Laura
I read Aquarium and I have read and agree with Angela's and Cami's comments. I gave it 4 stars. There were some sad and disturbing parts but I thought it was a worthwhile read although I definitely would not read it a second time. Don't know if my comment will make it easier or harder for you to make a decision.

[Angela M]

Laura , now I'm anxious to see if you like it !

[Diane S ☔]

Aquarium is the only one of his novels I have read and I too have it four stars.

[Sue]

I read Aquarium as an ARC and thought it was excellent. It's the only book of Vann's that I've read. Yes it is emotionally quite difficult in places but he is a masterful writer.

[LA]

I've been lurking here, y'all, and snagging titles for my to-read stack. I so appreciate your insights and apologize for not participating in the group reads lately. We had to put my beloved golden retriever down two weeks ago, & on top of major shoulder surgery in May, Ive been totally self indulgent in book picks. Grateful for all your suggestions, though!