Retired: What are you reading? Showing 4,251-4,300 of 5,490

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

LeAnne, look under General Bookishness - topic St. Martin's Press free read.

[LA]

Diane wrote: "LeAnne, look under General Bookishness - topic St. Martin's Press free read."

Thank you, hot mama!

[Brina]

I am still determined to read a book recommended by Kirk before the end of the year so I hope to read Cannery Row next month. In the meantime a lot of my favorite authors have new books- Amy Tan, Isabel Allende, Alice Hoffman. So that is what I am focusing on.

[Book Concierge]

It's set in colonial North Carolina ... but this isn't really a "southern" book ...


Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabaldon – 3.5*** (rounded up)
Book number four in the bestselling Outlander series, has Jamie and Claire making their home in the mountains of North Carolina. I just love this series. Gabaldon writes compelling stories with characters I care about. Even the ones I hate (Brianna) keep me interested and engaged, and the action is non-stop.
LINK to my review

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished reading Vertigo. It's much different than the movie but its French setting makes for an intriguing read. Don't expect it to be like the movie, though.

Here is my review.

[LA]

In the category of READ THE BOOK BEFORE THE MOVIE GETS HERE, Ready Player One is a total blast of a book, like watching Back to the Future and Wargames while simultaneously dancing to Billy Idol and Blondie and playing Space Invaders. And probably eating Capn Crunch cereal.

Is this high literature? No way, Jose. It is similar in feel and tone to The Martian - a young male voice narrates from a futuristic world, but the thing is loaded -and I do mean loaded - with 80s pop culture references, secret little homages and Easter eggs to real things and real people. The author even gave away a DeLorean - really - to promote the book!

This is from Wikipedia... Ten months after the first edition release, Cline revealed on his blog that Ready Player One itself contained an elaborately hidden Easter egg.

This clue would form the first part of a series of staged video gaming tests, similar to the plot of the novel. Cline also revealed that the competition's grand prize would be a DeLorean. The game Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale by Austin-based developer Portalarium was featured in one part of the contest. The final stage of the contest was announced on August 1, 2012, and was to set a world record on one of several classic arcade or Atari 2600 games. This was completed on August 9, 2012 by Craig Queen, who set a new world record in Joust. He was awarded the DeLorean on the TV show X-Play.

At any rate, if you lived through and loved the 80s or were/are a gamer, this YA adventure is a hoot. Is it perfect? Nah. But it is FUN! If you want the basic plot, here is my review with no spoilers, but I recommend skipping my review and others. Just launch the joy stick! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

LeAnne wrote: "In the category of READ THE BOOK BEFORE THE MOVIE GETS HERE, Ready Player One is a total blast of a book, like watching Back to the Future and Wargames while simultaneously dancing t..."

It was a lot of fun to read. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of it and knew right away it would be a hit.

[Jane]

May not be the correct link for this but am reading "Violence and the Hearth: Lynching and Resistance in Go Down, Moses" in academia eu site by E Clough and is extremely interesting you can download the pdf

[Kim]

My son put me onto RP1 very early on, he games with friends from around the world & 80s music blasts from his room. His best friend is currently in Sapporo, & they make appts to play when they both have time off.

[LA]

Tom wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "In the category of READ THE BOOK BEFORE THE MOVIE GETS HERE, Ready Player One is a total blast of a book, like watching Back to the Future and Wargames while simultane..."

Indeed! When I got a copy for my 14 year old, I also picked up a cheap Space Invaders t-shirt for him. You can bet one of us will be wearing it when the movie debuts!

[LA]

Kim wrote: "My son put me onto RP1 very early on, he games with friends from around the world & 80s music blasts from his room. His best friend is currently in Sapporo, & they make appts to play when they both..."

How about that! He must be psyched about the movie debut!! I had no idea that the author actually gave away a DeLorean to promote the book, but it just makes me love it more. Life imitates art that was created from this man's life.

[Book Concierge]

Miss Julia Hits the Road – Ann B Ross – 3***
Book number four in the popular series starring Miss Julia, a widow of a certain age. I just love Miss Julia, who frequently gets embroiled in one scandal / scheme or another when she jumps to conclusions and/or fails to fully understand the implications of what she’s been told. But her heart is always in the right place. Miss Julia is just a hoot, and I was laughing aloud at several scenes.
LINK to my review

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I recently started Six Wakes for another group. This is a genre-bending tale set on a space ship that begins with six clones waking up in space to find that someone has murdered the entire crew. The clones begin life with the adult body of the crew member they were cultured to replace but they only have their memories prior to the launch, which appears to have taken place about sixty years before. In this scenario, each clone is stuck on the ship with a murderer who, for all they know, could turn out to be themselves. This coud turn out to be fantastic!

[Faith]

Tom wrote: "I recently started Six Wakes for another group. This is a genre-bending tale set on a space ship that begins with six clones waking up in space to find that someone has murdered the..."

I already had this on my Overdrive wish list and I've now borrowed it. Thanks for the tip.

[Sue]

Tom wrote: "I recently started Six Wakes for another group. This is a genre-bending tale set on a space ship that begins with six clones waking up in space to find that someone has murdered the..."

Sounds really interesting, Tom. Talk about a looked room mystery! I'm currently reading The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books. Wouldn't those authors have been amazed at this concept!

[Kim]

I am currently reading Six Wakes, Tom. Am loving it. Going back and forth between it andA Brutal Telling, reading about Canadian art while immersed in the mystery, fascinated by Emily Carr. Dreaming of a trip to Canada, helps with PT to build up stamina for travel. Weird juxtaposition as I move between books, the forest In ABT gives similar closed-in feeling of menace as the ship does in SW.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Kim wrote: "I am currently reading Six Wakes, Tom. Am loving it. Going back and forth between it andA Brutal Telling, reading about Canadian art while immersed in the mystery, fascinated by Emily Carr. Dreamin..."

I have The Brutal Telling on audio but I haven't gotten around to reading any Louise Penny. I hope to start with Still Life which I also have.

[Kim]

I read Still Life years ago, and took a strong aversion to it, thought this was one author I could strike off my tbr list. Then, a few months back, another group with which I read finished reading Tana French’s series, and voted to read Louis Penny’s series, which meant a year+ not reading with them. I decided to read the second book in the series, just to see if anything had changed for me, and I fell in love. Something changed, and now I can’t wait after finishing one to get to the next one. My husband is worse, keeps bugging me to read faster and pass on the book on to him. He likes mysteries but wants me to vet everything, I usually distract him with a nice, weighty military history, his other love, until I finish a bunch of
books to pass on to him. Anyway, don’t judge the series by the first one, I’ve read some people took until 3 or 4
books in to fall in love, but then it was a deep love.

[Sue]

Kim wrote: "I read Still Life years ago, and took a strong aversion to it, thought this was one author I could strike off my tbr list. Then, a few months back, another group with which I read finished reading ..."

So glad to read this. I haven't begun the series yet but have the 1st on my kindle waiting for that right moment. I will definitely give the series a try beyond the first book if Still Life doesn't pull me in.

[Carol]

I am approximately half-way through The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty and am delighted that my IRL book club picked it.

[Brina]

Carol, I requested that from my library. I love cooking and travelogues and am excited to read it. I finally read a book recommended by Kirk as I was determined to do so before the end of the year, choosing Steinbeck's Cannery Row. Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Artemis. I'm a bit disappointed but I still love Andy Weir's writing. Here is my review.

[Tina]

Just finished Behind Closed Doors. This is a quick read and very good. Sometimes a relationship is just too perfect.
Behind Closed Doors

[Book Concierge]

Not a Southern book ... but a really fascinating read


The Making of the President 1960 – Theodore H White – 3***
Subtitle: A Narrative History of American Politics in Action. About a year before the November 1960 election, Theodore H White began studying the likely candidates for President. He followed them through primaries, state caucuses, the national convention and the campaign for the Presidency. It’s somewhat dated – the process is different more than half a century later. And yet, there is something timeless about this story.
LINK to my review

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Book Concierge wrote: "Not a Southern book ... but a really fascinating read

The Making of the President 1960
– Theodore H White – 3***
Subtitle: A Narrative His..."

A classic of journalism lit.

[Book Concierge]

Patchett grew up in and lives in Nashville ... though this is not a particularly "Southern" read..


The Magician’s Assistant – Ann Patchett – 3.5***
What I have come to love about Patchett is the masterful way she draws her characters. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, much as it would in real life. You don’t tell everything at once to someone you’ve just met, and likewise Sabine and Dot each keeps some things to herself. The environment also plays a role; Sabine is a different person in Los Angeles than she is in Nebraska.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

The Good Lord Bird – James McBride – 3.5***
McBride looks at John Brown and Harpers Ferry through the lens of a “freed” slave, Henry Shackleford (known as Onion). I’ve seen reviews that compare McBride to Mark Twain, and I guess I see that here – an adventure tale that is about a serious event / issue, but that includes room for humor.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

This is NOT Southern lit .... but My Stars, it's a great book!


A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles – 5***** and a ❤
Well this book cements Amor Towles in my list of favorite authors. I love the Count and the way he leads his life. His accommodations may be limited, and he may be confined to the hotel, but his life is certainly *not* limited. They may take his possessions, they may restrict his movements, but they cannot make his less a gentleman.
LINK to my review

[Kim]

My review of A Gentleman in Moscow is a love letter, Book C. If I knew how to do a Link, I would put it here. One o best reads of the year for certain, and a great read for my lifetime of reading, as well.

[Sara]

I am so with you on this. It was my favorite book of 2016.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Kim wrote: "My review of A Gentleman in Moscow is a love letter, Book C. If I knew how to do a Link, I would put it here. One o best reads of the year for certain, and a great read for my lifetime of reading, ..."

Sara wrote: "I am so with you on this. It was my favorite book of 2016."

Book Concierge wrote: "This is NOT Southern lit .... but My Stars, it's a great book!


A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles – 5***** and a ❤.."

Alrighty, then. It appears that this book needs to go on my must read list, and soon.

[Beverly]

Tom wrote: "Kim wrote: "My review of A Gentleman in Moscow is a love letter, Book C. If I knew how to do a Link, I would put it here. One o best reads of the year for certain, and a great read for my lifetime ..."

I am currently reading A Gentleman in Moscow and am thoroughly enjoying it! I am reading it very slowly in order to hopefully absorb the many historical and literary references.

[Kim]

I tried to read A Gentleman from Moscow slowly, because I enjoyed it so much & it made me happy before I fell asleep, but it read too fast despite my best efforts. Such wonderful characters, such a heartwarming, engaging, well-written book.

[John]

Somebody I Used to Know by David Bell
★★★

Would you do anything for you child even if such action was illegal? This is the primary question explored in this mystery/thriller. Here is my review.

[John]

You have the right idea Kim. I tried slow. Like you, it was tough to do. Tom, I think you'll like it.

[Sara]

Oh, Tom, you will like it. Not a book you want to miss.

[Connie]

Tom, I've read A Gentleman in Moscow twice and loved it each time. It's a five star book!

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Just finished All the Missing Girls. Cudos to North Carolina author Megan Miranda for having the stones to tackle writing a book told from back to front. I am curious, though, why she named the book what she did when there were only two missing girls. Perhaps Both of the Missing Girls was taken?

Anyway, Here is my review.

[Faith]

I read A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton. My review:

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

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished Some Kind of Fairy Tale, a recently recommended novel that was magnificent. Is it a mystery or a fantasy? Either way, it is pure magic.

Here is my review.

[Kim]

A mysterious fantasy? It was selected by one of my fantasy groups, but genre is more a marketing tool to me than a hard & fast rule.

[Book Concierge]

Rio Grande Fall – Rudolfo Anaya – 2**
Book two in the Sonny Baca mystery series is set during the Albuquerque NM Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. I like magical realism, in general, but this series has gone too far. I wasn’t interested and all the spiritualism detracted from the plot (what little there was of it).
LINK to my review

[Brina]

After reading John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, I decided to read its sequel Sweet Thursday. Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cathrine ☯️]

I'm in withdrawal from writing about the books I've been reading but just could not let this one pass without saying something. He's the man. Brief thoughts on Ron Rash's One Foot in Eden.

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

[Brina]

Cathrine, I read One Foot in Eden earlier this year, really liked it, was 4 stars for me. I just read and enjoyed Tom Hanks' book of stories Uncommon Type: Some Stories:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cathrine ☯️]

Rash followed by Taylor Brown, I'm a happy reader.
Thoughts on Gods of Howl Mountain.

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

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "Rash followed by Taylor Brown, I'm a happy reader.
Thoughts on Gods of Howl Mountain."

I'm really loving Gods of Howl Mountain. The characters are magnificent. The beautiful prose full of Appalachian and moonshiner lore has me highlighting almost every page. I think this may be Taylor Brown's best book yet.

[Cathrine ☯️]

Tom wrote:
I'm really loving Gods of Howl Mountain. The characters are magnificent. ..."

Amen! to that Tom. I'm really looking forward to his debut soon.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I finished I Let You Go before Christmas but haven't had time to write my review until now. In a nutshell, the book struck me as two different stories. I was reading along, barely able to maintain my interest and 'Pow!' it totally changed. The characters changed, the subject changed, even the plot changed.

Here is my review.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I just finished reading Gods of Howl Mountain, Taylor Brown's next book. It's his best yet. Those of you who haven't taken advantage of St. Martins' offer of a free copy of this book are really missing out.

Here is my review.
Footnote: We've had conversations about snake-handling churches in the past. This book touches on this and has the most aptly-named snake-handling preacher I've ever come across, The Rev. Asa Adderholt.