Retired: What are you reading? Showing 2,001-2,050 of 5,490

[LA]

Darrel, so glad you're enjoying Steig's work. I bought the "Dragon Tattoo" book just a couple of months after it was published and was hooked. You will definitely want to go back and read it - I actually liked it the best out of the three, but the later two are good as well. The new sequel, written by a crime writer hired by Larsonn's father, falls waaaaaay short of the trilogy, so if you're contemplating which of the "girl" books to open next, I'd stick with the trilogy. Enjoy!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Darrell wrote: "I'm in the middle of reading "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," by Stieg Larsson, and found it a good example of how it's sometimes necessary to be a little patient with a book. I didn't read..."

I'm of the opinion that this trilogy really needs to be read in order.

[John]

Just finished The Girl in the Spider's web, I thought it. fit right in and that the trilogy didn't suffer. I think Lagercrantz did an admirable job of filling someone else's shoes. There is an interview on the Diane Rheems Show at NPR. Well worth the listen. Lagercrantz is sufficiently humble and realizes the responsibility he steps into. Would also recommend reading them in order.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Anyone have good recommendations for a fictional book about the coal mine wars set in West Virginia? I'm watching a documentary on Npt and would like a historical fiction account of this.

[LA]

Laura, The Unquiet Earth??

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Ooh, LeAnne, that looks spot on. I am adding it.

[LA]

It has high stars!

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

The summary sounds like what I was searching for. Library doesn't have any copies. May purchase from Abe Books.

[LA]

$3.00 plus $3.99 shipping for a used hard copy from Amazon, but no Prime delivery.

[Lawyer, "Moderator Emeritus"]

Laura wrote: "Anyone have good recommendations for a fictional book about the coal mine wars set in West Virginia? I'm watching a documentary on Npt and would like a historical fiction account of this."

Dinner and a movie, Laura? Watch Matewan John Sayles' film on the battle of Blair Mountain in 1920. A magnificent film.

For a read, try Return to Matewan by Rg Yoho.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Thanks Mike, will look into both.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Laura wrote: "Anyone have good recommendations for a fictional book about the coal mine wars set in West Virginia? I'm watching a documentary on Npt and would like a historical fiction account of this."

I'm guessing you watched The Mine Wars on American Experience. That was Excellent! So is Murder of a President that I watched yesterday and which has prompted me to want to get Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Yes Tom, I record them all. Very, very interesting.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Laura wrote: "Yes Tom, I record them all. Very, very interesting."

I don't know if it has anything to do with the strikes but I will soon be reading Homer Hickam's new book, Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of A Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator which is about his parent's courtship and life in the West Virginia coal fields. It sounds interesting.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Murder of a President, crazy stuff. That one was good too.

[Connie]

Kaye wrote: "Connie wrote: "I just finished Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League.

Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Lovely review in the magazine, Kaye. We probably had slightly different reactions to the book because you're a Southerner, and I live in the Northeast but enjoy Southern writers. You were also writing a more extensive, professional review. I especially appreciated Odell's ability with dialogue which was humorous in some situations, and could break your heart a few pages later.

[Diane S ☔]

Kaye wrote: "Connie wrote: "I just finished Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League.

Here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I have loved both of Odell's book, maybe The Healing, has a bit of an edge.

[Rachelle]

Laura wrote: "Anyone have good recommendations for a fictional book about the coal mine wars set in West Virginia? I'm watching a documentary on Npt and would like a historical fiction account of this."

How funny I was watching the PBS documentary Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People this weekend and was looking up the same topics. They had two authors on the film that have books both deal with coal mining - Mary Lee Settle and Denise Giardina.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

I will look them up. I think Leanne suggested the latter author.

[Tina]

Tom wrote: "Laura wrote: "Yes Tom, I record them all. Very, very interesting."

I don't know if it has anything to do with the strikes but I will soon be reading Homer Hickam's new book, [book:Carrying Albert ..."

Tom, this one really interests me. Anxious to see what you think.

[Angela M]

Finished In the Land of Armadillos: Stories. 5 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[LA]

Y'all, MO Walsh is doing his paperback tour this spring and summer. My pals & I are going to his birthday bash in April!
http://www.mowalsh.com/site/c918ab96b...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

LeAnne wrote: "Y'all, MO Walsh is doing his paperback tour this spring and summer. My pals & I are going to his birthday bash in April!
http://www.mowalsh.com/site/c918ab96b......"

The link isn't working for me. Try this one.
http://www.mowalsh.com/CONTACT.html

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Iron Lake, the first in a series of mysteries featuring Minnesota native Cork O'Connor. I was very impressed. My review is here.

[Kim]

I like the Cork O'Connor series, Tom. Enjoyable reading.

[Meran]

I just finished When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

It's 5 stars, I can't recommend it highly ~enough.

Non-fiction, memoir... Surprisingly, it's written so we can all read it without tears running down our cheeks constantly (though tears will appear for his last two pages, and for his wife's epilogue, unless you're made of steel). It may be rather technical for many, but isn't that what Google is for?

And I'd suggest you don't start reading it at, say, 10pm. You may end up reading it in one fell swoop like I did. (I guess I slept plenty yesterday...

[FrankH]

Laura wrote: "Anyone have good recommendations for a fictional book about the coal mine wars set in West Virginia? I'm watching a documentary on Npt and would like a historical fiction account of this."

'The Devil Is Here in These Hills: West Virginia's Coal Miners and Their Battle for Freedom' is a stirring historical account of the labor movement in the Mountaineer state. The labor strife was much more bloody and lengthy than perhaps most folks realize.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Thanks Frank. I'll look it up.

[LA]

Harper Lee has died. :(
http://nyti.ms/1oPsbCx

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

LeAnne wrote: "Harper Lee has died. :(
http://nyti.ms/1oPsbCx"

I'll be raising a parting glass to her tonight. I imagine a good Kentucky bourbon is appropriate.

I noticed today that I mention TKaM in my profile at the top of a list of Ten Books that Have Stayed With Me. I wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee taught me the meaning of justice."

She made the world a better place.

[Kim]

I saw the movie the first time when I was very young, when it first came out, and it stuck with me. I grew up with a very different attitude about race from the rest of my family. Read the book numerous times, taught the book numerous times, rewatched the movie countless times. She opened a window in my heart and soul that has let a lot of people in that otherwise might not have enriched my life if I had not questioned the unspoken bigotry that permeated the America of my youth. She was a national treasure.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Kim wrote: "I saw the movie the first time when I was very young, when it first came out, and it stuck with me. I grew up with a very different attitude about race from the rest of my family. Read the book num..."

Well said.

[Anne]

I highly recommend the audio version of To Kill a Mockingbird, read by Sissy Spacek. It is one of my favorite audiobooks and a nice way to revisit the story.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I imagine TKAM has elicited more strong feelings in readers than any other piece of fiction. That's a heck of a legacy to leave behind.

[Kim]

I agree, Diane. & thanks, Tom. It is from the heart.

[Tina]

I've read TKAM and seen the movie more times than I can count. What an amazing woman to write a novel that has affected and touched so many people for so many years.

[Connie]

Harper Lee was a great lady and "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a true classic.

Umberto Eco also died today.

[John]

The Girl on the Train
A long cast of characters that one loves to hate. She is a piece of work. A barely functioning alcoholic at the stage of blackouts with an overdeveloped imagination. The author is skilled enough to create these misfits, yet compelling enough to carry us into this story in spite of them. Hitchcock could have done something with this. Kathy Bates could play the lead. Donald Sutherland as her ex. Tea Leoni as the new wife.

[John]

Nora Webster

After all the contrived and exciting books of late this is a gem of understatement. A coming of age, or experience, story following a widowed mother as she develops an understanding of being free to make her own decisions, her care for her children, and refining her own tastes in music. Absolutely no suspension of disbelief. A very true kind of story. A talented writer which I will follow.

[Diane S ☔]

Loved Nora Webster.

Finished Lab Girl
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Phantom Lady by Cornell Woolrich. You may want to read this if you enjoy noir fiction but you may find the plot a bit over the top. My review is here.

[Kim]

Going to read Night Has a Thousand Eyes, Tom, for another group next month. Read some of his books some years ago, looking forward to a revisit.

[Connie]

I also read a Cornell Woolrich story recently, "It Had to be Murder" or "Rear Window", which was the basis of the Hitchcock movie.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Connie wrote: "I also read a Cornell Woolrich story recently, "It Had to be Murder" or "Rear Window", which was the basis of the Hitchcock movie.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

I'd like to read Rear Window. An advertisement at the end of Phantom Lady was the first I knew that Woolrich wrote it.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I'm starting an ARC of Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of A Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator by Homer Hickam. I love the gentle humor of the first few pages.

[LA]

Many of y'all have already enjoyed Tomato Red and Winter's Bone, so you'd likely not be surprised to hear that I'm over the moon for another one by Woodrell Daniel. This one is set during the Civil War, and though I'm not quite old enough to confirm the accuracy of phrases and vocabulary from that time period (wink), Woe to Live On feels like time travel to me.

You know how Ron Rash does that "I'd not think to cause him harm" instead of "it wouldn't have dawned on me to beat him" thing, right? Because in the hills of the Carolinas, apparently they still speak that way? Yeah - this sounds similar, but with beautiful antiquity on top of gorgeous and brutal descriptions of scenes and people. I've got to read everything Woodrell has ever written now and see the movie version of this book.

[Kim]

My son and I are big Woodrell fans, and happened upon the movie before we knew there was a book, but everything felt so "Woodrell-ish" we paused the movie while I went hunting for the book in my "tbr" pile. Lo & behold, our ears & instincts were on the money.

[LA]

Kim wrote: "My son and I are big Woodrell fans, and happened upon the movie before we knew there was a book, but everything felt so "Woodrell-ish" we paused the movie while I went hunting for the book in my "t..."

That is great that you both recognized his tone and style like that! I saw that he wrote a book called A Single Shot...something like that...and know that I've read a book with a similar, if not the same title, ages ago. Like you, I'm going to look over my shelves and see if that one was his. I've got to see that movie!

[Kirk]

Keep reminding me how good Woodrell is and I'll have to change plans for my next book. I keep Woodrell's in reserve to savor like my last McCarthy's. I'm into something completely pleasurable just now, www.goodreads.com/book/show/25677598-... For A Little While by Rick Bass. Some people like comfort food, this is the reading equivalent and it's all good!

[LA]

Ooo, Rick Bass is somebody whose work I keep meaning to sample. We have two of his books here at the house that I got for my husband but have yet to open them. I used to work for a small oil company in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Bass brothers had a firm we did business with. Rick is one of their kinfolk, maybe one of the sons.