gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
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Post by gottapeanow on Jul 6, 2014 22:06:29 GMT
I can't wait to read All the Light We Cannot See. Although I think it will be a while because I have lots of other books on my to-read list. I also adored Water for Elephants and just read it last month. Beautiful. The book is definitely better than the movie. I can't remember if I finished one or two this week. I made a mistake on my GR list and deleted the second book. So I will include it as well, just in case. I have never read any of Wally Lamb's books. What is his best one? Well, this week I read She's Come Undone. I thought it was OK, there were just some parts that were really hard to read. Tragic. 3/5 stars. Sorry if I put this on last week and if I am repeating myself. I also finished The Litigators by John Grisham. I don't know how I missed this before, but I was really happy to pick this one up. Grisham usually doesn't have a sense of humor when he writes. Well, this is pretty funny! Add a great plot, a very likable protagonist, Grisham's engaging writing and courtroom drama, and you have a home run as far as I am concerned. Definitely 5/5 stars. Lisa
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Post by carolynhasacat on Jul 6, 2014 22:14:55 GMT
Just finished The Light Between Oceans by Stedman and starting The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Zevin this week. Disappointed to read mixed reviews on this, had high hopes.
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Post by irisheyes on Jul 6, 2014 22:21:14 GMT
I can't wait to read All the Light We Cannot See. Although I think it will be a while because I have lots of other books on my to-read list. I also adored Water for Elephants and just read it last month. Beautiful. The book is definitely better than the movie. I can't remember if I finished one or two this week. I made a mistake on my GR list and deleted the second book. So I will include it as well, just in case. I have never read any of Wally Lamb's books. What is his best one? Well, this week I read She's Come Undone. I thought it was OK, there were just some parts that were really hard to read. Tragic. 3/5 stars. Sorry if I put this on last week and if I am repeating myself. I also finished The Litigators by John Grisham. I don't know how I missed this before, but I was really happy to pick this one up. Grisham usually doesn't have a sense of humor when he writes. Well, this is pretty funny! Add a great plot, a very likable protagonist, Grisham's engaging writing and courtroom drama, and you have a home run as far as I am concerned. Definitely 5/5 stars. Lisa I thought She's Come Undone was like watching a train wreck - sad and awful, but I couldn't turn away. I think 3 out of five stars is pretty accurate.
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Post by eversograceful1 on Jul 6, 2014 22:38:15 GMT
I just barely started The Swan Thieves. I've got a few others on my table as I'm flying from FL to AK next week
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Jul 6, 2014 22:49:58 GMT
We went to a lake house for the Fourth of July weekend, so i got a lot of reading done.
Bliss House by Laura Benedict was a modern haunted house story about a widow and her teenage daughter who buy an old Virginia house and become affected by the ghosts and secrets it holds. I liked this, didn't love it. I think my hopes were too high for it, and the story was dark in a way I didn't care for.
The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell was about two Scottish sisters whose parents die unexpectedly. The girls bury the bodies in the back yard so that they won't be put into foster care, and their neighbor, an elderly gay man, becomes involved in helping them keep their secret. Another very dark story, but well told. I enjoyed it.
Sundance by David Fuller was a re-imagining of the life of Harry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid--what if he had not died in Bolivia, but gone to prison instead? The book opens with him coming out from twelve years in prison and heading from Wyoming to New York City in search of his wife. It's a love story, but it's also about how time has passed this man by, and how he emerges into a more modern world. I liked it.
Right now I am reading A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees by Dave Goulson, a British scientist who has started a conservation group to protect bumblebees in the UK. It's a really charming book, lots of fascinating information about bumblebees, told with that dry British wit. Very enjoyable.
And I am also reading A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, about a woman in Canada who finds a lunchbox washed up on the shore. Inside is the diary of a 16-year-old Japanese girl. The lunchbox is assumed to be part of the debris washed away by the tsunami in Japan. I just started this, but it's drawn me right in.
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Post by fkawitchypea on Jul 6, 2014 22:57:31 GMT
I was at the beach last week so I read a lot!
First up was The Matchmaker, by Elin Hildebrand. I loved it. All of her novels are set in Nantucket and every one of them is a good read!
Then I read All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner. I loved this one as well. It was about a woman who gets addicted to painkillers and the effect on herself and her family. Again, I absolutely loved it.
After that I read Nantucket Sisters by Nancy Thayer. This is another author whose books all take place on Nantucket. It was OK.
Then after resisting forever I finally read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I was the crazy lady reading on the beach while sobbing. It was a great story and I really enjoyed it, as much as you can enjoy reading about kids with cancer!
That was it for vacation. I have nothing in the hopper for this week so I will be following this thread for ideas. Have a great week everyone!
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,076
Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jul 6, 2014 22:58:42 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread. I have a HUGE Amazon wish list thanks to the prolific reading Peas. I've added several from this thread to my wish list.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 6, 2014 22:59:07 GMT
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,184
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Jul 6, 2014 22:59:17 GMT
I've read a couple this week, as I lie in my cabana at St Pete Beach! The first was A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block. I'm a big Matt Scudder fan (the protagonist here) and I somehow missed this when it was published. It was definitely up to scratch, even though it was told as a reminiscence. I love catching up with old favourite characters! The next was All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner. I'm not sure if I liked it; it was well-written, but a bit facile. None of the characters was particularly sympathetic and the 'talent show' she put on in rehab was totally unrealistic. Another chic lit I completed was You're the One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher. Easy reading, unchallenging. And now I'm halfway through The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. I'm enjoying it, and am looking forward to finishing it.
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Post by tampascrapper on Jul 6, 2014 23:18:51 GMT
Thanks to the 3 day weekend I finished 3 books. First was Forgive me, Leonard Peacock. A quick read that I picked after reading about it on the reading thread. I enjoyed it. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars Next was We Were Liars. I found it just ok. 3/5 stars Last, I just finished The Weight of Blood. Pretty good 4/5 stars. Next up is yet another book from the reading thread, Unbroken: a WW II story of survival. So glad this thread followed us to the new board Thank you to every refugee pea that posts!
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Post by Yoki on Jul 6, 2014 23:22:15 GMT
I recently finished The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman. It's described as historical fiction and there were some interesting parts about the life of an immigrant in NYC in 1913. The heroine is supposed to be a true rags to riches story, but some of the plot was just a little too contrived for my tastes. i love historical novels like this, it was only 3.99 for my kindle so I got it. For that price even if it's not the best I've ever read, it was cheap. I hope you like it! I'll keep a lookout for your thoughts on a future reading thread!
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,259
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Jul 6, 2014 23:50:00 GMT
I'm reading Greg Iles' Natchez Burning. It's excellent---one of those books that you look forward to sitting down with every day. It's centered around some Civil Rights Era murders, and goes back and forth between present day and 1960's Mississippi and Louisiana. The main character is a mayor and author who is the center of a series by Iles, but this is his first book for me. I highly recommend. It can be very gritty in parts, but that's to be expected since it's based on such a horrific time in U.S. history. I have read just about all of his books. Most of them are very good. A couple were just weird. As for being gritty, most of his stuff is
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Post by zoeybug on Jul 7, 2014 0:18:13 GMT
Hi Refupeas who read! Thanks Paigepea, for the thread. Do NOT worry about not reading multiple books every week. Everyone reads at their own speed-to me it's just important that you do and enjoy it ! That being said ,I have two to share this week and I'm working on a third. First up, The Last Original Wife by Dorthea Benton Frank. This is really a fluffy book-a woman on the verge of her 60th birthday comes to the conclusion that she made a bad choice when she married the man she did and she's not really happy. It sounds really serious but it's not and her husband is enough of a jerk you wonder why she put up with him as long as he did! Second, I started a trial membership of Oyster (it's been described as "Netflix for Book" and, yes it really is!) and saw the YA book, The Selection, which is best described as a Dystopian society story with the show, "The Bachelor" thrown in! It's kind of goofy but it's a quick read and very very entertaining. Now, I'm reading my second book from Oyster- The Valley of the Dolls. Yes, THAT really old book from the sixties. It I actually begins in 1945 in New York and centers around three young women who are beginning their various careers in Manhattan. It's a little corny, but I do like it and the more I read the better it's getting. I'm waiting for several books from the library including Natchez Burning and China Dolls.
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kma
Junior Member
Posts: 85
Jun 29, 2014 13:58:23 GMT
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Post by kma on Jul 7, 2014 0:36:04 GMT
I have not been able to finish a book in months. I'm glad the reading thread is here though!
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,228
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jul 7, 2014 0:37:09 GMT
I will finish both of my books either tonight or tomorrow. Not sure what I'll read next but I will post again when I have some reviews to add.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jul 7, 2014 0:46:21 GMT
Finished Thr3e by Ted Dekker. Very Good. A revenge-type book with a twist. Just started Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult.
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Post by Pahina722 on Jul 7, 2014 1:01:51 GMT
Don't know what I'll read next. I have so many options on my kindle, and yesterday my sister in law suggested the Divergent series - is that really worth it? I did enjoy the Hunger Games. I've read the first book in the Divergent series and really liked it---and loved The Hunger Games, so perhaps that helps. I haven't done much reading lately, but did just finish Red by Kate SeRine, which is a spin on fairy tales and reminiscent of Jasper Ffordes' The Eyre Affair series. In this one, fairy tale and literary characters have moved into the Here and Now (real world) and are living among Ordinaries. Red, the main character, is a take-off of Little Red Riding Hood and works as an Enforcer, hauling in Tale criminals for prosecution.
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psychgirl
Shy Member
Posts: 37
Jun 26, 2014 1:27:38 GMT
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Post by psychgirl on Jul 7, 2014 1:06:38 GMT
I'm reading Greg Iles' Natchez Burning. It's excellent---one of those books that you look forward to sitting down with every day. It's centered around some Civil Rights Era murders, and goes back and forth between present day and 1960's Mississippi and Louisiana. The main character is a mayor and author who is the center of a series by Iles, but this is his first book for me. I highly recommend. It can be very gritty in parts, but that's to be expected since it's based on such a horrific time in U.S. history. I'm reading this one right now and turning the pages as fast as I can. I've got about 200 pgs left and it's due back at the library on Tuesday. I don't really have time to get it read, but I'm thinking I'll make it happen. My family is from Mississippi and my parents were teenagers there during the Civil Rights movement, which makes all of it just that much more compelling.
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Post by betsy on Jul 7, 2014 1:09:05 GMT
I'm reading two epics simultaneously - one in print, one on Kindle. Not a great idea! Written in my own heart's blood (Outlander) and Fall of giants (Ken Follett). Both are great, but there's a million characters in each!
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Post by jillonthehill on Jul 7, 2014 1:28:56 GMT
Does anyone know if Batya joined us? I just look so forward to this thread every week that I have to start it just in case. I know Batya reads a few books per week, and here I am not yet finished the book I wrote about last week. Does almost finished count? Life has gotten busy with the kids off of school. I'm almost finished The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes and so far it's really, really good. I've loved all I've read by her so far. Don't know what I'll read next. I have so many options on my kindle, and yesterday my sister in law suggested the Divergent series - is that really worth it? I did enjoy the Hunger Games. What is everyone else reading? Paige. Me too! I'm about half way through The Last Letter From Your Lover and I'm loving it. Not as much as Me Before You or The Girl You Left Behind, but still a good read.
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Post by genny on Jul 7, 2014 1:30:14 GMT
Currently in the middle of The Cuckoo's Calling. Enjoying it pretty well, although I won't say it's awesome. That said, I went to B&N tonight and see that the author has a new book out with Cormoran Strike as the lead again and I wanted to buy it, FWIW.
Tonight at B&N I bought Odd Apocalypse, Lone Wolf (Jodi Picoult), The Twelve (Justin Cronin), and Lots of Candles and Plenty of Cake (Anna Quindlen) off the clearance table. We are going to the beach later this month and I must have plenty to read while there.
Thanks for starting this thread OP, I look forward to Batya's posts every week as well.
genny
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cjp
Shy Member
Posts: 20
Jun 28, 2014 12:03:04 GMT
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Post by cjp on Jul 7, 2014 1:41:37 GMT
I finished the 2nd William Monk mystery A Dangerous Mourning. I liked it even better than the first, it had an upstairs/downstairs feel to it.
I'm about half way through State of Wonder and am really enjoying it!
I am am another huge fan of Liane Moriarty. I've preordered her newest book coming out later this month.
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Post by smokeynspike on Jul 7, 2014 2:24:54 GMT
I read When We Wake by Karen Healey over the weekend. It is a YA book set in Australia about a girl who dies in 2027 and gets frozen by the government and woken up a hundred years later. I started the second book in the series While We Run today.
Melissa
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Post by lightetc on Jul 7, 2014 9:39:55 GMT
I've just finished *Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children* which was not at all as I expected. There were a few parts that I didn't feel fitted together with the rest, but I liked it and I liked it more after I read how the author got his inspiration.
Also finished *All Quiet on the Western Front* by Erich Maria Remarque. I loved this. I don't know why. It just worked for me.
And Tracey Chevalier's *Burning Bright.* I haven't read Girl With the Pearl Earring but I was expecting far more from this book than I got. Reasonably disappointing.
Currently I have *The Help* on audiobook in the car which I can't wait to get back to. I've seen the movie but it was a while back.
And I've been sucked into Jeffrey Archer's *Only Time Will Tell.* I really hope this one lives up to its first few chapters.
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photohappycdn
Shy Member
Coffee Lovin' Cdn Pea
Posts: 10
Jul 6, 2014 10:46:47 GMT
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Post by photohappycdn on Jul 7, 2014 10:25:59 GMT
Hi peas who read,
I read "All Fall Down" by Jennifer Weiner and really enjoyed it. I am reading "Good Neighbours" by David Ryan Jahn. So far, so good.
i have both of Lianne Moriarty's new books on hold at the library.
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Post by scrapperjen1 on Jul 7, 2014 11:31:13 GMT
I am reading Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult. Interesting so far! I have Lost Lake by Sarah Addison allen to read next.
happy reading!
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Post by pjaye on Jul 7, 2014 11:45:31 GMT
Last week I'd just started All The Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld. This is an interesting book that certainly took me for a ride! The main character is Jake (a women) who lives alone on a small sheep farm on a remote British Island, only the sheep and a dog for company. The story is told in two times frames, present day and then her past is revealed in reverse chronological order. At first I liked Jake and felt sorry for her, as her story unfolds it becomes clear that something bad once happened to her. Her back is covered in scars, she is obviously running from something and there's mention of a strange & cruel older man. However as she gets younger and we learn more about her...I felt less and less sympathy for her. Although I didn't dislike the book, it's quite gritty and it's very "Australian" and the language might be hard for some non Aussies. I like that it went somewhere I wasn't expecting and challenged my feelings about Jake as we got to know her. 4 out of 5 stars.
Next one of the Goodreads groups I belong to is having a 'dark/horror/thriller' reading theme for July. My first book for that was The Kept by James Scott (his first book). Set in the early 1900s, Elspeth is a midwife who's been away working, she returns to their remote homestead to find her husband and 4 children have been murdered. Only 12yo Caleb has survived and at first he thinks the killers have come back so he then shoots his mother by accident. He tends to her wounds and eventually she recovers, they then set out on foot in the snow to hunt down the murderers and exact revenge. Elspeth has many secrets about herself and her children and they come out during their journey. It's definitely a 'dark' book & there are no happy endings. I still liked the writing and the ending while inevitable in some ways was still a surprise. Another 4 out of 5 stars.
I've just started The Vanishing by Wendy Webb. described as 'Gothic horror'. Set in modern day, the main character Julia is left broke after some shady dealings by her (now dead) husband. She gets an offer to be a carer for an old lady, a famous horror writer that everyone thinks died many years ago. When she gets to the house, which is a replica of a Scottish Castle, strange things start to happen It's off to a cracking start, so I hope it keeps up!
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,834
Location: NW PA
Jun 25, 2014 23:50:38 GMT
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Post by Judy26 on Jul 7, 2014 12:23:44 GMT
I have never posted on the book threads but I ALWAYS read them. I am not sure of exact dates that I finished these books so I am just going to post the last few that I read. The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain 4/5 Top Secret Twenty One by Janet Evanovich 3/5 The Wedding Bees by Sarah Kate Lynch 4/5 This one was short and fluffy. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Sea Change by Karen White 3/5 Between Husbands and Friends by Nancy Thayer 3.5/5 The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 4/5
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Post by lynnek on Jul 7, 2014 13:21:47 GMT
I enjoy these theads so much I have vowed to start posting each week so, here are my two books I read this week:
I read Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf. I have read and enjoyed all of her books and this new one was not an exception. It is about a mom who is a social worker and one busy morning she forgets her baby in the hot car. A timely subject. It was interesting to read the story from her point of view and it made me think about how we as a society are fairly quick to judge people. There was another storyline in the book about a little girl names Jenny and there were two huge coincidences in that story line that stuck out to me, they would probably really bother some readers, I was willing to go with the flow and excuse the coincidences in the name of reading a book I was enjoying.
Then I read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It is about four cousins who spend each summer together on their family island. It is apparent that something happened in their fifteenth summer and the book is about finding out what happened and why. The voice was a bit different and I didn't love the style, but it was a good book.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,738
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jul 7, 2014 13:37:27 GMT
Hi Reader Peas:
I've read this thread for years and years (Batya, I miss your contributions) but this is the first time I've posted. I read two Patricia Gaffney books last week, well finished one up and read the other. Both older books and both were good and held my attention, "The Goodbye Summer" and "Flight Lessons." Great summer reads, guess you would consider them "women's fiction" though not too fluffy. Started "The 19th Wife" by David Ebershoff, seem to remember discussion about this one on 2 Peas some time ago, maybe when it came out in 2008. Interesting so far, fiction about a polygamist cult in Southern Utah from the viewpoint of a young man who was excommunicated as a teenager. Thanks for continuing the weekly reading thread.
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