Retired: What are you reading? Showing 3,651-3,700 of 5,490

[Faith]

I had to wait for the audiobook for a few weeks. I'm seeing the movie on Wednesday.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished reading a review copy of Earning the Rockies: American Ground and the Fate of Empire. It's curious that a book that I received before the election, and one that focuses on geography no less, has offered me the most cogent explanation to date of how Donald tRump came to be elected.

Here is my review.

[Brina]

Finished The Piano Lesson. Hope to finish both Miller's Valley and Small Great Things this week.

[Carol]

I finished The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. I'm putting aside a few books I'm in the middle of for a Christmas Eve present: In the Cold Dark Ground, my first Stuart MacBride. Given all the tomfoolery and shenanigans and noise and interruptions at our house, it's perfect because it doesn't require excessive focus on my part.

[J.]

I finished the "Pecan Man." I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the dialogue, and the pacing of this short novel/novella. The author has told a compelling and engaging story. Very, very Southern. J. Keck, author.

[Brina]

Diane I see why you loved Miller's Valley. I devoured it in a day it was lovely and I want to reread it as well. Now starting hyped Small Great Things, Fences play-- so I'm prepared for movie, and poetry by Gwendolyn Brooks. And then on to 2017!

[Kim]

I taught Fences back in the day, glad to see it being lovingly made into a movie by Denzel.

[John]

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
★★★★

Although this novel is one for young readers , I read for two reasons: first, it was recommended by my daughter and she and I have similar tastes, and second, the story is set shortly after the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., was constructed in the late 19th century, a place I have visited several times. Serafina is the adopted daughter of one of the employees hired by the Vanderbilts to maintain the estate. Her father discovered her as a foundling in the woods. She possesses certain innate abilities, such as the ability to run fast, squeeze into tight places, and seeing acutely in the dark. Having no home in the village, her father and she hide and live in the basement after the other employees leave for the day. While her father sleeps, Serafina moves about the mansion and grounds doing her job she claimed for herself, Chief Rat Catcher. No one with the exception of her father is aware of her existence.

During one night, she encounters a man in a hooded cape chasing one of the many visitor's daughter. As the man catches the girl, his cape becomes animate and envelops the girl and absorbs the girl within its folds. The next night another child is found missing. As the Chief Rat Catcher, she believes it is her responsibility to discover who the caped man is and to stop him before he takes another especially the Vanderbilt's young nephew.

I found the book enjoyable and suspenseful. Although this books is rated for 9-12 year olds, some in the younger age bracket might find this book too disturbing. Some of the book's scenes were the subject of my nightmares as a child.

[LA]

For Brina and other fans of Crimes of the Heart - Im on a train and just pulled in to Hazlehurst, MS ❤

[Brina]

Wow Leanne. Our library has 1 copy in the whole system and I'm finally first in line so I hope to read soon.

[LA]

Super! Sending you a real-time, cyber hug!

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

LeAnne, I am so jealous of your train journey. What a great idea for your family.

[Kim]

We love the train. We take the Starlight Coastal from Oakland to L.A. at least once a year, want to take it to Seattle next year.

[LA]

My copy of Pelican Road wouldve been perfect, Diane! Itll be here next month for us to read :)

[B. R.]

Carol wrote: "I finished The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. I'm putting aside a few books I'm in the middle of for a Christmas Eve present: In the Cold Dark Ground..."

Carol, I read Greene's The Quiet American last month and enjoyed it very much. It was my first Graham Greene book. I have The Heart of the Matter in my book pile at home. BRR

[Patrick]

I've read The Heart of the Matter, The Power and the Glory, and Brighton Rock, and loved them all. Living permanently in Mexico as I do, I often say that I am living out my Graham Greene fantasies.

[Carol]

B. R. wrote: "Carol wrote: "I finished The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. I'm putting aside a few books I'm in the middle of for a Christmas Eve present: [book:In the Cold Dark Gr..."

I may tackle The Quiet American in Q1. I'd like to give him another shot, in one of his other sweet-spot topics.

[B. R.]

Carol wrote: "B. R. wrote: "Carol wrote: "I finished The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. I'm putting aside a few books I'm in the middle of for a Christmas Eve present: [book:In th..."

Carol, The Quiet American was a great story that kept my interest. It was set primarily in Saigon during French colonialism and just before we (U.S.) got more involved in Vietnam in the 60s. In a way the book predicts the problems that America would encounter in Vietnam.

[Kim]

I've read and re-read most of Greene, he was very insightful about the world.

[B. R.]

Patrick wrote: "I've read The Heart of the Matter, The Power and the Glory, and Brighton Rock, and loved them all. Living permanently in Mexico as I do, I often say that I am living out my Graham Greene fantasies."

I have been looking for a used paperback of The Power and the Glory. A Catholic priest on the run in Mexico sounds interesting to me.

[Patrick]

It is interesting! Many people do not know that even though Mexico is an intensely Catholic country, it went through an anti-clerical period in the 1920s and 1930s.

[Dawn]

B.R. - I love Graham Greene ! He is so awesome ! Did he also do My Beloved Infidel ? I watched that movie over Christmas. Great old black and white! Wow! Graham Green has so many to choose from too ! The Power and the Glory was my first and fave !

Keep me posted on what you have been reading from GG . I miss my BYT's reading era readers to talk with. So many great authors in that time period 1900- 1945 . So mush history to study and with so many new findings lately relevant today also are the past wars to the present situations. There are always two points of view to every book and I love trying to hear or try to understand every side so I am still a compassionate and just human being . I hate being judged and I try so hard not to reach conclusions without facts .

It is such a shame we have reached the day when we can't trust journalism or the media . It has come to the point that when I write an opinion I still feel I must site facts with sources to be believed and trusted. I have even though of writing this way on my blog . Some of my fellow bloggers have started to do this already .

A sad day has come now that a man or woman's word cannot be taken on its on honor or dignity.
Thank you for listening , I hope your Christmas was Grand and
Your New Year will turn out fabulously!

Dawn

[Brina]

One book and double collection of poems to go and I will have averaged 12 books a month this year. Amazingly many were quality books. Thanks to the amazing goodreads groups I am in I have varied my reading and increased my speed. Looking forward to a bright 2017!

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Brina, I am in awe of how much reading you get done, while raising 4 children, taking care of a home, and being very active in your synagogue. And it's a quality list you have compiled. You're an inspiration to us all.

[Brina]

Aw Diane. Thank you. All I read before Goodreads was mysteries and memoirs. I have about a year of "catch up" to do and then Id like to tackle the tomes. I am looking forward to next month's group reads.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

@Dawn, To be fair, journalists and the media have never been saints. In this online age, though, whoppers can spread farther and faster than ever before. It is always a good idea to check your facts and if you can cite your sources, so much the better. That said, it is the fourth estate that we must rely on to keep us aware of what our government is doing and, on occasion, hold our leaders' feet to the fire. History tells us of what can happen when leaders successfully besmirch the role of the media.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

As an example of how suspicious I am of "fake news", when I read of Debbie Reynolds death on FB, I refused to believe it until it showed up on the NYTimes site. I do still trust the newspapers to get their facts.

[Beth]

I'm reading The Widow of the South.. very good Civil war story based on a true account.

[Donna]

I'm currently reading Pickers and Poets: The Ruthlessly Poetic Singer-Songwriters of Texas by Craig E. Clifford. If you are into music, into singer-songwriters, into Texas or Texas music, or the background of many prolific musicians to come out of Texas, this is an excellent read.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Diane wrote: "As an example of how suspicious I am of "fake news", when I read of Debbie Reynolds death on FB, I refused to believe it until it showed up on the NYTimes site. I do still trust the newspapers to g..."

When I first read it I had to check the source of what I was reading too before I believed it.

[Brina]

Thanks Donna. I am always looking for off the beaten path read.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

If anyone is interested in reading and discussing Howard Bahr's Civil War Trilogy, I have set buddy read board at the link below.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jane]

Great Tom thank you for the link

[Book Concierge]

Long Man – Amy Greene – 4****
Greene delivers a riveting story that explores the question: What cost, progress? The Dodson’s loss of their home is representative of the hundreds of families displaced by such projects. The novel is peopled with strong characters, with tangled relationships. Their competing loyalties are what made the decisions so difficult: to stay or to go, to delay or to embrace change
LINK to my review

[Faith]

I finished A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. My review:

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

[Book Concierge]

Great Southern writer ... but not a really a "southern" book


The Prince and the Pauper - Mark Twain – 4****
This is a wonderful classic that explores the difference in class in 16th century England, and the ways that appearance effects how one is treated. Both boys learn much from their experience as “the other.” It’s a wonderful lesson in “walking in the other person’s shoes.” Twain’s use of 16th-century English may be a little off-putting to today’s readers; I recommend listening to the audio.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

A Christmas Memory - Truman Capote – 5***** and a ❤
Capote was a gloriously talented writer and he is at his best here. The reader feels the anticipation of a child, smells the piney woods, shivers in the crisp morning, and is comforted in the warmth of love.
His writing is never so brilliant as when he is mining his childhood for stories such as this. The emotion is evident and genuine. His descriptions are gloriously vivid without overwhelming the story. The lessons learned – about kindness, tolerance, family, love and forgiveness – are gently told but ring loud and clear in the reader’s heart.
LINK to my review

[Brina]

I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude. Despite my love for Allende's books I have never read Marquez before. Looking forward for this read.

[Carol]

Brina wrote: "I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude. Despite my love for Allende's books I have never read Marquez before. Looking forward for this read."

oh, man. I think you'll love it. it is a truly, memorable, accessible read.

[Dustincecil]

I just finished Sherwood Anderson's "A Storytellers Story" and really got into it. I'm been working through Anderson's catalog in the last year, and enjoying it for the most part. I know he's technically prob. not part of the Southern trail, but he had so much influence on some of the really greats.

[Dawn]

Book Concierge ~ so happy you read A Christmas Memory ! It was always a favorite of mine. When I taught school , I would take time right before lunch each day to read this aloud to my 6th grade class that I taught for a couple of years . They loved it right about Christmas ! I suppose it just made them a bit more excited , but I would spoil thier lunch with a candy cane each day the bell rang for them to leave ! HA! I was so bad at Christmas around the kids ! I had none of my own so I spoiled them all ! LOL !

Dawn

[LA]

Carol wrote: "Brina wrote: "I'm reading One Hundred Years of Solitude. Despite my love for Allende's books I have never read Marquez before. Looking forward for this read."

oh, man. I think you'll love it. it i..."
Ditto to what Carol said. I'm not one to ever to read magical realism (am far too dull and unimaginative for it), but the classic Latin mystical aspects here are fantastic! Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a master!!!!

[LA]

Book Concierge wrote: "
Long Man
– Amy Greene – 4****
Greene delivers a riveting story that explores the question: What cost, progress? The Dodson’s loss of their home is representative ..."

Nicely said! If you're interested in an older work by our beloved Ron Rash, I highly recommend his debut novel called One Foot in Eden. It is also set in a community which was about to be intentionally flooded by the government, and the varying points of view here will keep you utterly mystified and rapt.

With the "Eden" reference, you'll also find little hidden parallels to biblical stories, but the mystery we want solved is going to take the reader through three separate families to get there. I think you'd love this!

[Jane]

I adored One Foot in Eden !

[Brina]

Ok y'all realize that magical realism is my forte. I'm reading for classic bingo. My favorite author of all time is Isabel Allende and yet this is the first time I have read anything by Garcia Marquez. Go figure. Also I told myself this year in only doing group reads in any group of the book has been on my tbr for awhile so if I don't participate in book discussions here and only on this thread y'all know why.

[Jane]

I have already read January and February choices and I seem to at a loss of what to read except for the Bahr trilogy

[LA]

Generally, I wont bring up what I'm reading here unless it is a socks-knocker-off one. Got a few!

I've been nibbling at the 2016 Man Booker Award list for a bit, and many of you have already loved one of its long list nominees, My Name Is Lucy Barton, as I have.

On the short list, however, I've been happily bowled over by Eileen - a book with a bizarre protagonist and His Bloody Project which is a faux-real-crime story. I gave them both five excited and happy stars and am currently working on another short-lister, All That Man Is. There are slobbering reviews on my profile page if you are interested.

This one is likely going to be most appreciated by men (go figure!) and is a bit funky in that the Man Booker is supposed to go to a novel. This is actually a collection of nine stories.

Now, maybe you're thinking like I did initially - The Tsar of Love and Techno is supposed to be a collection of stories, but the plots and characters are all so interwoven that the "short stories" are really just chapters in one tale. I'm not getting that with "All That Man Is," although it does show characters who progressively are older with each chapter (short story!). If one were to generalize men into one big heap, we could see a snapshot of: angstish teen love, a sybaritic lifestyle, maturing desire for love, need for professional respect, and....I dunno because I've only read three and a half men so far.

There is a New Orleans Katrina book called Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans that operated on the same scheme that "All That Man Is" is using. None of the nine in the Nola book overlap, but the impact of the storm on quite varying personalities with different lifestyles shows, as a single book, how natural disaster is an equal opportunity monster. Practically everybody's life was changed. With this Man Booker short-listed man-book, perhaps we will see every male's typical aspirations as he marches through life. Dunno yet!

[John]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the epitome of magical realism. I still remember how a man dies and his blood ran out the door and down the street.

[LA]

John wrote: "Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the epitome of magical realism. I still remember how a man dies and his blood ran out the door and down the street."

And the ants! Maybe because I read him so many years ago, I'm forever spoiled by anyone else who tries to pull his tricks :)

Brina, I also adored his Love in the Time of Cholera. It is quirky and fun and sad and romantic and brilliant. I actually have a really old print hanging on my wall right now that shows a gentleman seated at a small desk, writing love letters for small pay. It'd be nice for Valentines!

[Brina]

Might have to make an exception for My Name is Lucy Barton- it is not on my tbr but if it's long listed for the man Booker and a probable long list for the Pulitzer as well, it sounds like a book I shouldn't skip. Still haven't read Olive Kittredge so I guess I'm behind the times.